The Joy of S*x

Ah yes ... the joy of the Spring activity. A couple of bird walks this weekend yielded many warblers hurrying toward their breeding grounds, feeding frenzily, and singing lustily. Most were high in the canopy, but this Black-throated Green Warbler was closer to lens ...

Black-throated Green Warbler

The walks in the woods are marvelous, but for theatrical entertainment, sitting quietly on the back porch provides front row seats to drama, intrigue, and rivalry.

Five Evening Grosbeak males (perhaps six) are vying for the attention of four (best count) females, so there is sorting, accommodating, and liaisons to figure out. The guys are getting serious, with raised crest, raised tail, and flared wings becoming prevalent and insistent ...

Evening Grosbeak

 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (we have had five males and a lesser number of females) are gentlemen toward one another, but they have their moments ...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

For shear truculence, there is nothing that can match the 1 gram package of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This guy perched 15 feet in front of us, until an intruder came along. He did his rapid "U" shaped display and totally cowed the poor rival who sped off - tried again - and again - and was driven off each time ...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

By contrast, the dispute between Northern Cardinal males was almost gentlemanly, but no less serious ...

Northern Cardinals

Two transients made brief stops in the yard - welcome visitors not seen in the yard every year ...

Brown Thrasher ...

Brown Thrasher

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Not to be overlooked in the profusion of life bursting forth as the tiny gems at our feet, like the trout lily ...

Trout Lily

... or in the garden, the Crown Imperial ...

Crown Imperial

Listen to the birds ... visually consume the flowers ... celebrate Spring!!

A Photo Review of 2012

Sometimes it is good to look back, and a New Year provides a good opportunity/excuse to do so. Here are a few of the Birding/Photography images which stand out for me during 2012.

"Morning Flight" - Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache, NM, 02/02/12

"Why Is It Called Ring-necked?" - Ring-necked Duck, Forsyth NWR, NJ, 03/07/12

"Alone" - Solitary Sandpiper, Herricks Cove, VT, 05/05/12

"Untitled" - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Herricks Cover, VT, 05/06/12

"What's Up" - Chestnut-sided Warbler, Brookline, VT, 05/27/12

"Kids!" - Hooded Merganser, Putney Wetlands, VT, 05/27/12

"Leap" - Spotted Sandpiper, South Newfane, VT 08/02/12

"Yellow Blossom" - Ruby-throated Hummingbird, South Newfane, VT, 08/17/12

"Untitled" - American Oystercatcher, Cape May, NJ, 08/29/12

"On Your Way" - Red-tailed Hawk, Cape May, NJ, 08/29/12

"The Stoop" - Merlin, Putney Mountain, VT, 09/14/12

"Ignore Him!" - Red Crossbills, Salisbury Beach, NH, 12/06/12

"Friends" - Sanderling & Dunlin, Parker River NWR, MA, 12/06/12

May your birding be good in 2013!

The Hot Days of July

The lazy, hazy summer days of July bring plenty of entertainment as fledglings are fed and juveniles begin to figure out what life requires without mom and dad catering their needs.

Among the many juveniles in the last week is the Tufted Titmouse ...

Tufted Titmouse - juveniles

 American Goldfinch young do not have signs quite as obvious as other birds that identify the young (e.g. the pink at the base of the bill). But there has been lots of "chasing" going on, as young follow adults. This young bird did some wing fluttering and generally appeared a bit perplexed about everything ...

American Goldfinch - juvenile

Even young Blue Jays have an attitude that seems to say, "Well, I can figure this out!" - as did this young jay who studied the suet feeder from the nearby dogwood ...

Blue Jay - juvenile

... and then took a lesson from the topsy-turvy nuthatches to feed on the suet ...

Young Blue Jay feeds in nuthatch fashion

Evening Grosbeak families have had a very successful season and the young birds often outnumber the adults at the feeders. This youngster was even chasing off adult birds from his perch ...

Evening Grosbeak - juvenile

The bee-balm is in full bloom (early it seems), but no complaint from the many young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds working the flower beds ...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

... the complaints come from the resident male Ruby-throat, who simply cannot keep up with all of the intruders on his exclusive domain. After several territorial flights to chase off these upstarts, he took this breather. He seemed to express his displeasure at the invaders - and the photographer - by sticking his tongue out ...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

A bonus to the summer bird seeding is the sunflower seeds that have been scattered on the ground - a few have managed to sprout and thrive, providing bright spots of sunshine in unexpected places ...

Add caption

Favorite Photos of 2011

Happy New Year!!

A new year has begun, but I am still looking back on the old year. While it often seemed that birding and photography got swamped by other things -such as a hurricane :( - when I look back I realize that I had many good trips and good opportunities for both. Here is a first sampling of a few of my personal favorite photos from 2011.

Green Heron - late February, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida

Olive-throated Parakeet - March, Tikal, Guatemala

Golden-crowned Kinglet - November, Heinz NWR, Philadelphia, PA

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - July, my backyard, South Newfane, VT

Yellow Warbler - June, wetlands along Connecticut River, Hinsdale, NH

Bohemian Waxwing - mid-February, Putney School, Putney, VT

Tricolored Heron - late February, Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Roadside Hawk - March, Hopkins, Belize

 
More soon. Hope you have good birding in 2012.

Youngsters

One of the things I enjoy about late summer is seeing the young birds learning how to be independent. Here are a few recent encounters.

This fledgling Northern Cardinal had only been on its own for a few days when he visited the platform. It is probably a second brood youngster. The parents are probably back on the nest, and in mid-September, new youngsters will be coming around.

Northern Cardinal

Movement through the willow tree caught my attention, and then briefly I had a few glimpses of recently fledged American Redstarts chasing their parents. Even with difficult lighting, lots of foliage, and constant movement, a few passable photos were possible.

American Redstart

Again this year the Evening Grosbeaks have been nesting in the neighborhood, raising multiple broods. This one had been on its own for a while and was faring quite well.

Evening Grosbeak

The Eastern Towhee had just left the nest and was waiting impatiently for a parent to bring food.

Eastern Towhee

This is a "just because" photo. In early August, the resident male Ruby-throated Hummingbird was still vigorously defending his flowers and feeders. Now he has just about given up, or perhaps moved on, leaving the territory to the young birds and the females. But he'll be back next Spring, with a pugnacious attitude that gram for gram significantly outweighs anything else in the neighborhood.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Good birding!

Random Backyard Photos - New Camera

The last week and a half was expected to be busy with more family and grandkids visiting, but unexpected things made it even busier. However, I have managed to begin getting familiar with my new camera and lens - Canon 50D, 28-135mm lens, & 100-400mm L series lens.

Heading to Newburyport tomorrow for a Bird/whale Watch trip, then Plum Island and shore birds.

Here are a few photos from the last week.

Chipping Sparrow in apple tree ...

Chipping Sparrow on platform feeder ...

Madela, the grand-dog (just finished eating cat food - was hoping she might get the groundhog - some hunter!) ...

Mourning Dove in apple tree ...

Downy Woodpecker (young female) ...

Day Lily, one of many varieties in the garden ...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ...

Good Birding!