I’ve been having so much fun watching my homemade birdfeers attract so many birds I decided to video a few of the visitors. I have a longer video planned and in the works, but here’s a quickee I threw together (partially just to reacquaint myself with iMovie.)
Photo by Chris Bosak
An American Goldfinch with Avian Conjunctivitis visits a birdfeeder in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
Here’s the latest For the Birds column, which runs weekly in The Hour (Norwalk, CT) and Keene (NH) Sentinel. I don’t always post my columns to this site, but this is an important topic so I figured I would. Thanks for supporting http://www.BirdsofNewEngland.com
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I was stretched out on the lounge chair on the deck, binoculars and camera on one side, a fresh cup of coffee on the other. The sun was warm on this particular late morning. (The sun is that bright, hot thing in the daytime sky, just in case anybody forgot with all this gray, wet weather we’ve been having.)
Suddenly an American Goldfinch appeared out of nowhere. It didn’t attack the feeders from the flanks like the goldfinches and most other birds usually do. He flew right over my head and approached the feeders directly. His flight was awkward; not at all Continue reading
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits a homemade platform feeder in Danbury, Conn., on May 5, 2016.
Sure enough, this morning (May 5) I was awakened by a small commotion at my window feeder. It was a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak trying to land on the narrow perch. Even without my glasses on I could tell what it was. How do you mistake a bird like that? It eventually figured out how to land on the small window feeder. I hoped he would get tired of the narrow perch and eventually find his way into the backyard where the real feeding station is. I made sure the homemade platform feeder had plenty of seeds.
Sure enough (again), about 11 o’clock there he was. Standing on the platform feeder eating seeds. Grosbeaks are like finches or cardinals in their eating habits in that they will perch and stay there to eat seed after seed. That is unlike birds such as chickadees, nuthatches and titmice, which grabs seeds and go. So with the grosbeak sitting there chowing down, it presented a nice, long photo opportunity.
I’ll write more about it in a later post, but for now, I wanted to get these photos out there.
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Here’s one more shot, for now:
Photo by Chris Bosak A Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits a homemade platform feeder in Danbury, Conn., on May 5, 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Blue Jay eats an acorn at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
As shown in the photo above and the photos below, they break the shell and eat the nut in pieces. I’m sure most of you knew that anyway. Just wanted to provide photographic evidence.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Blue Jay eats an acorn at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Blue Jay eats an acorn at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Blue Jay eats an acorn at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Blue Jay eats an acorn at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Here’s a quick quiz on Blue Jays for you. The answer will be revealed in photos tomorrow, so time is limited to give this question some thought. The question is: How do Blue Jays eat acorns?
Do they swallow them hole? Break the shell and then eat the nut hole? Break the shell and eat the nut in pieces?
No need to officially cast a vote. Just give it some thought. Answer coming tomorrow morning.
Photo by Chris Bosak
An Ovenbird stands on a railing in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
The Ovenbird is an odd little warbler. It looks more like a thrush with its light brown plumage and spotted breast, but it is a warbler — a warbler that prefers to walk along the ground instead of fly among the treetops.
It is perhaps most known for its song — the ubiquitous “teacher-teacher-teacher” that rings out from the woods throughout May and June in New England. But just because their song is loud and proud, that doesn’t mean they are easy to find. They lurk among the leaf-strewn forest floor, blending in with their surroundings.
I’ve been lucky enough to have one (or more?) visit my yard over the last few days. I’ve enjoyed the visit, but know it won’t last long. Soon, perhaps it’s even left already, it will head farther north.
Photo by Chris Bosak
An Ovenbird perches on a branch in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
An Ovenbird stands on a log in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Chipping Sparrow visits a homemade birdfeeder in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
With all the talk of warblers lately it’s easy to overlook the other birds visiting us this time of year. One such non-warbler that has been around in large numbers is the Chipping Sparrow. It’s a handsome, small sparrow and nests throughout New England. It will visit feeders to eat seeds. I’ve had at least four visiting regularly over the last week or so.
The above photo shows a Chipping Sparrow visiting one of the platform birdfeeders I made in the backyard.
Enjoy the spring migration and let me know what you’re seeing out there.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Chipping Sparrow visits a homemade birdfeeder in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Chipping Sparrow visits a homemade birdfeeder in Danbury, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Palm Warbler perches among pussy willows at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Here’s one more photo of the Palm Warbler, which was the subject of my longer post yesterday.
He strikes an interesting pose here. Any help with the caption?
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Photo by Chris Bosak
A Palm Warbler perches among pussy willows at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Palm Warblers are one of the earlier warblers to show up during the spring migration. You’ll know the Palm Warbler by its rusty cap and brown and yellow plumage. Palm Warblers also pump their tails, somewhat distinctive among warblers. I found this guy the other day in Selleck’s Woods in Darien. We’re heading full steam into the spring warbler season!
Here are some more shots of the Palm Warbler.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Palm Warbler perches among pussy willows at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Palm Warbler perches among pussy willows at Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Palm Warbler perches on a branch near a pool of water in Selleck’s Woods in Darien, Conn., April 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Great Egret stands on a deck railing overlooking the Norwalk River in Norwalk, Conn., April 2016.
I parked the car at work, opened the door to get out and noticed a Great Egret standing on the railing of the boardwalk that runs along the Norwalk River. I closed the door, opened the car window, grabbed a few shots of the egret and watched as a guy on his phone completely clueless about his surroundings walked directly toward the impressive bird and chased it away. I was a bit miffed, but then again, let he who has never walked around on the phone completely clueless about his surroundings cast the first stone.
Oh well, not a bad shot anyway, especially with the considerable grayness of the day.
Birds of New England.com 