Birds are special creatures. With a constant ethic to hunt, forage, nest, migrate, and reproduce, they are a reminder of the hard work that is required to survive in the wild. Yet through that hard work they provide us with a grand variety of vibrant colors, unique songs and surprising personalities. Thank you for visiting my own little corner of this wild feathered world, and please enjoy the images.
Hummingbird Summer!
This has been a wonderful year for me. Why? I've put a Hummingbird feeder on my back deck. A gift from my beautiful wife, the feeder has provided the whole family with close encounters of the "Ruby-throated" kind since the end of April. Unfortunately I have not spotted any of the hovering nectar lovers in a couple weeks, so I assume the time has come for these diminutive migrants to depart until next spring. I am highly anticipating their return already.
On a side note, I managed to entice several nesting Baltimore Orioles this past spring with...you guessed it...sliced oranges. No quality pictures were captured, but this will be at the top of my list next year. For what it's worth, the Baltimore oriole produces the sweetest "sonically mid-ranged" chorus I've ever heard.
Here's to 2010.
The Caribbean, August 2009
My family and I were fortunate enough to take a Disney Cruise approximately six weeks ago. Being that I live in and spend most of my time in New England, many of the species down there are new to me. Luckliy I brought my trusted 70-200 "L" and managed to capture three new birds (Ruddy turnstone, Magnificent frigatebird, Black vulture), in between the food, island tours, and Disney shows of course.
Hammonasset
On Tuesday, April 14th I took an early morning (pre dawn) trip to Hammonasset State Park in Madison, CT. Bird encounters were plentiful that morning. Within my first half hour of walking I spotted Cardinals, White-throated Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Flickers and Ospreys. Several hours were spent enjoying the quiet of the park during the pre-seasonal morning. My first Cedar Waxwings of the season were noted here, close to 10:AM, in the picnic area. Dozens of them moving from one barren post winter tree to the next. After exhausting my legs on every trail available, and enjoying the numerous landscapes of rocky beach and endless salt water marsh, I decided to call it a day. Upon return to the car I spotted a focused "fisherman", a Great Egret , just 30-40 feet off of the parking lot edge within the marsh. I hunkered down for a spectacular 20 minute show.
For those who are interested, Hammonasset has some of the best Spring and Autumn birding in the state. The Menunkatuck Audubon Society provides a highly detailed list of birds to expect at the park.
Gillette's Castle
On the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, in the town of East Haddam, stands an unique structure. From www.ct.gov:
"Atop the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, William Hooker Gillette, noted actor, director, and playwright, built this one hundred and eighty-four acre estate, the Seventh Sister. The focal point of his effort was a twenty four room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle... Built of local fieldstone supported by a steel framework, it took twenty men five years (1914-1919), to complete the main structure."
What makes this location relevant to birding is it's location on the CT River, near the ice edge during the deepest freeze of the typical winter. During these coldest of weeks the migrating northerly Bald Eagles make there way down here to nest and hunt.
Two weeks ago, I visited the grounds to atttempt some spotting and photography. This was my first taste of Eagle watching, and although I came away with sad photos of distant Juveniles hunting for fish in the river, the thrill of watching them was simply outstanding!
From the courtyard of the castle I followed the eratic hunting patterns of two possibly second year birds. I have much to learn, so I'l leave that estimation as a vague guess, and nothing more.
Unfortunately, I timed the visit poorly, as I arrived there a week after the retreat of the ice already began. Hopefully I will have better opportunity next year.
Songbirds and Near Passerines
Eastern Bluebird, female
IMG_5224.jpg 2009-10-14
House finch, male
09.jpg 2009-04-01
Eastern Phoebe
whatisit2.jpg 2009-10-14
American goldfinch, female
01.jpg 2009-03-05
Pine siskin
04.jpg 2009-03-05
Tufted titmouse
03.jpg 2009-03-04
House finch, female
06.jpg 2009-03-05
Black-capped chickadee
Chickadee15.jpg 2009-03-04
Field sparrow
11.jpg 2009-02-20
Chipping Sparrow
IMG_5259.jpg 2009-10-14
Red-winged blackbird, female
2548550928_5cae3eff1f_o.jpg 2008-06-03
Northern cardinal, male
12.jpg 2009-04-28
Belted Kingfisher, female
IMG_5108.jpg 2009-10-07
Common grackle
IMG_1610.jpg 2009-07-01
White-breasted nuthatch
13.jpg 2009-02-09
American robin, female
14.jpg 2009-02-17
American robin, male
16.jpg 2009-04-14
Northern cardinal, male
IMG_1668.jpg 2009-07-01
White-throated sparrow
17.jpg 2009-01-27
Blue jay
_MG_2609small.jpg 2009-10-01
Tufted titmouse
_MG_2021.jpg 2009-04-28
Blue jay
_MG_3804-01.jpg 2009-03-01
Northern flicker
_MG_3833-01.jpg 2009-03-01
House finch, male
_MG_276801.jpg 2009-01-27
Northern cardinal, male
IMG_1042.jpg 2009-10-01
Northern mockingbird
IMG_1619.jpg 2009-07-01
American robin
2398058087_a6a52f6822_o.jpg 2008-04-08
House finch, female
IMG_1626.jpg 2009-07-01
Common grackle
IMG_1654.jpg 2009-07-01
Black-capped chickadee
IMG_4640.jpg 2009-09-07
American goldfinch, male
IMG_7607-01.jpg 2009-04-18
Eastern towhee
IMG_8760-01.jpg 2009-04-30
American robin, male
IMG_9462-Edit.jpg 2009-05-11
Black-capped chickadee
IMG_8807-012.jpg 2009-04-30
House finch, female
IMG_20551.jpg 2009-07-06
House finch, male
_MG_5321-01.jpg 2009-03-25
Gray catbird
IMG_9559.jpg 2009-05-13
Palm warbler
IMG_48442.jpg 2009-09-21
Waders, Waterfowl and Shorebirds
Hooded merganser
07.jpg 2008-02-19
Great egret
15.jpg 2009-04-14
Ring-billed gull
_MG_4808-01.jpg 2009-03-15
Great blue heron
Juvenile
Killdeer
IMG_6449-01.jpg 2009-04-14
Hooded merganser
2277803064_bd48fb0eda_o.jpg 2008-02-19
Great egret
inflight.jpg 2009-04-14
Mallard
_MG_6338-01.jpg 2009-04-16
Ring-billed gull
05.jpg 2009-03-15
Canadian goose
08.jpg 2009-04-18
Herring gull
2364134214_304dfd31ab_o.jpg 2008-03-26
Ruddy turnstone
MG_3642.jpg 2009-08-18
Magnificent frigatebird
female18.jpg 2009-08-19
Ring-billed gull
_MG_4874-01.jpg 2009-03-15
Great egret
IMG_6601-01.jpg 2009-04-14
Great blue heron
IMG_0508.jpg 2009-10-01
Great blue heron
IMG_0958.jpg 2009-10-01
Great egret
IMG_6735-01.jpg 2009-04-14
Double-crested cormorant
MG_4364.jpg 2009-10-01
Bird Site Stuff
The flight lens
Canon 70-200 1:4 EF L
full setup
When I feel like spending a full morning out in the field I'll bring the total package. It really doesn't happen that often. In fact, I believe the last time I set it all up was to take this picture...
Golden Trees and the Sapphire Sky
The 393 Monopod Bracket overlooks a mid-morning Kingfisher hunt.
Goofy and the Goldfinch tree
Yours truly spending a warm spring evening out at the lower crab apple tree in my side yard. Being an easy tree to hang thistle socks, it manages to attract the majority of the Goldfinches.
$8 blind
Actually, I think it was $8 and change. Made from scrap 1x3's, clearance fabric, and a couple of spare cabinet hinges.
Landscapes
Nature's watercolor
EarlyMorningMarsh20090403.jpg
EarlyMorningMarsh20090403.jpg 2009-04-03
Lilypads
IMG_4882.jpg 2009-10-01
HammonassetBeach20090414.jpg
HammonassetBeach20090414.jpg 2009-04-14
Grand Canyon Sunrise
2345101369_6648281501_o.jpg 2009-10-01
HammonassetTrees20090414.jpg
HammonassetTrees20090414.jpg 2009-04-14
Marsh grass
IMG_4775.jpg 2009-10-01
HammonassetRocky20090414.jpg
HammonassetRocky20090414.jpg 2009-04-14
Driftwood20090414.jpg
Driftwood20090414.jpg 2009-04-14
Winter marsh
2291336273_99dd2f3846_o.jpg 2008-02-25
The tree, the Moon, and the Belt of Venus
2284212715_581603e2a8_o.jpg 2009-10-01
Hammonasset20090414.jpg
Hammonasset20090414.jpg 2009-04-14
caribbean_sunset.jpg
caribbean_sunset.jpg 2009-08-20
As the leaves fall
Waterfowl shooting, in HDR.
Moon and Venus
IMG_4816.jpg 2009-10-01
BabcockPond200903302.jpg
BabcockPond200903302.jpg 2009-04-17
Morning reflections
IMG_4862.jpg 2009-10-01
ForestThroughtheTrees20090418.jpg
ForestThroughtheTrees20090418.jpg 2009-04-18