Author Archives: Chris Bosak

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About Chris Bosak

Bird columnist and nature photographer based in New England.

For the Birds: Time for a chat

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Photo by Chris Bosak A yellow-breasted chat sings from a shrub in New England, June 2025.

I was walking along a productive section of a trail in southern New England when a loud birdsong caught my attention. As is often the case, I didn’t recognize it immediately, but knew it was worth stopping for and investigating. 

Sometimes when that happens, it turns out to be a seldom-used song or call from a familiar bird. Tufted titmice have a wide variety of sounds and they often throw me off. The same goes for catbirds, robins and orioles. But this time, it was indeed something uncommon. 

I used the Merlin app on my phone and it identified it as a yellow-breasted chat. That would be cool, I thought, but let’s get visual confirmation. The Merlin app is a great new tool for birdwatchers, but it’s not 100 percent accurate, and I always like to get visual confirmation. 

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For the Birds: This trip up north was a long time in coming

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Photo by Chris Bosak A pair of loons at Second Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg, NH, June 2025.

It had been several years since I had been to Pittsburg, NH, a place I used to visit three times a year or more back in the day.

My visits gradually became more infrequent as I got older, gained work and family responsibilities and grew less inclined to make the long drive. Besides, moose sightings had become increasingly rare up there, while they used to be a sure thing. Moose had always been the main attraction for me and many others who visit there.

Even so, the area has retained a special place in my heart, and I often long to be there. I just wish I could teleport there with my truck, canoe and camping equipment.

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For the Birds: New England has plenty to offer birdwatchers

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Photo by Chris Bosak An American robin eats border privet berries in New England, January 2025.

I was finishing up a bird walk the other day when I came across another birder just starting their day’s adventure. She asked a question common among birdwatchers: “Did you see anything good out there?”

Of course, all birds are good, but the underlying question is whether anything rare or uncommon was spotted. I shared that there were a few warblers and songbirds around, but I hadn’t seen anything too noteworthy.

I started naming off some of the highlights. I had found a bluebird nest in a snag (dead tree) and the parents were busy feeding the youngsters. The warblers included American redstart, common yellowthroat, yellow warbler, ovenbird and black-and-white warbler. I had spotted a few rose-breasted grosbeaks and Baltimore orioles, but no scarlet tanagers or indigo buntings.

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Warblers up north

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Photo by Chris Bosak A Canada warbler in Pittsburg, NH, June 2025.

Here are a few warblers I saw on my trip up north. Previously, I had posted photos of loons and an eagle. Canada warblers and magnolia warblers are similar looking with their bright yellow chests and bellies streaked with black. There some obvious differences, such as the eyes. Canada warblers have an obvious eye ring, while magnolia warblers have a black mask with less obvious broken eye ring.

Photo by Chris Bosak A magnolia warbler in Pittsburg, NH, June 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak A Canada warbler in Pittsburg, NH, June 2025.

Eagles up north

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Photo by Chris Bosak A bald eagle perches at the top of an evergreen in Pittsburg, NH, June 2025.

As promised, here’s another shot of some wildlife I saw during my recent trip to northern New Hampshire. Here’s the original post with loons.

Bald eagles are getting more common throughout New England and the U.S., but there’s always something special about seeing one up north.

Loons up north

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Photo by Chris Bosak – Common loons in Pittsburg, NH.

I took a trip to Pittsburg, NH, near the Canadian border over the weekend. I’ve been going up there for more than 30 years now, although the frequency of my visits has dwindled in the past few years. While the moose sightings have decreased dramatically in the last 10 years or so, the other wildlife never seems to disappoint. Here is a shot of a loon pair I got one extremely foggy morning from my canoe. More photos will follow in the coming days.

For the Birds: Oriole nests are something to behold

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Photo by Chris Bosak A Baltimore oriole builds a nest at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

Everything about a Baltimore oriole nest is ingenious. From the design and materials to the location selection, the nest is a perfect haven to raise young birds safely from predators (for the most part).

Fall is the best time to find oriole nests, after the leaves have fallen. Of course, by that time, the orioles are long gone, and the nest is a mere relic of the past breeding season, but it’s still interesting to see one of the pouch-like nests dangling from the end of a branch.

The other week, I was lucky enough to watch a female oriole build one of those remarkable nests. I was walking along a trail that was teeming with yellow warblers, catbirds, and Baltimore orioles when I glanced up and saw an oriole perched at the end of a branch overhead.

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Green heron in the rain

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Photo by Chris Bosak Green heron at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

I missed an opportunity to photograph a least bittern (it would have been my first photos of that species) when I noticed it too late, and it quickly and silently disappeared into the reeds never to be seen again.

A few hours later, I found this green heron as a consolation prize. Not that I consider the heron a lesser bird, but I already had plenty of photos of green herons. A light rain was falling and at one point the heron shook its body to get rid of the excess water.

One day I’ll get that least bittern.

Photo by Chris Bosak Green heron at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Green heron at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

Brown thrashers never fail to stir excitement

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Photo by Chris Bosak Brown thrashers at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

Brown thrashers are one of my favorite birds. I think I’ve now said that about 88 birds or more. But, really, brown thrashers are one of those birds that make me stop in my tracks every time I see one. In this case, I saw two. Thrashers are usually quite timid and do not allow for a close approach. I didn’t even try to get closer to these birds because I knew what the result would be. So, I let my zoom lens do the work from a distance that would not disturb the birds.

Below are a few shots of just one thrasher. (Just the name itself is awesome.)

Photo by Chris Bosak Brown thrasher at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Brown thrasher at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Brown thrashers at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

A few more warbler photos

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Photo by Chris Bosak Blackburnian warbler at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.

Here are a few warbler photos I took earlier this month and never got around to posting, until now. The photos don’t do it justice, but the blackburnian warbler is one of the more strikingly colored birds that pass through New England. The warbler migration is winding down, but the ones that nest in our region will keep us busy and occupied for the next few months.

Photo by Chris Bosak Blackburnian warbler at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Bay breasted warbler at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Chestnut-sided warbler at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Black-and-white warbler, New England, spring 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak Blackburnian warbler at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa., May 2025.