Author Archives: Chris Bosak

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About Chris Bosak

Bird columnist and nature photographer based in New England.

For the Birds: Warbler season already

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A pine warbler visits a backyard in New England, April 2020, Merganser Lake.

Another quick, one-day break from the A Day on Merganser Lake photo series to bring you the latest For the Birds column …

Could it be warbler season already?

It sure is and I’m just as surprised as the next person. Not that the first week of April is unusual for the early warblers to arrive; it’s right on time.

Still, I was surprised when I looked up and saw a pine warbler perched at the top of my bird-feeder pole system the other day. I wasn’t ready for it. In a normal year, I’d be counting down the days until the first warblers arrived. But this is no normal year. I think we can all agree on that.

Like many others, I’m sure, I’ve been consumed with COVID-19, or coronavirus. It’s on the news 24/7. Grocery stores have one-way aisles, most people are wearing masks and the cashiers are wearing face shields. My work (thankfully I am still working) is busier than ever due to the virus and the days start earlier and end later than ever.

No sports. No concerts. No parties. Heck, no talking to your Continue reading →

Birds to brighten your day: April 18

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A tufted titmouse visits in a yard in Danbury, CT, April 2020. (Merganser Lake)

A Day on Lake Merganser X

Tufted titmice are a common occurrence in my backyard; perhaps the most common. I still appreciate the small birds, no matter how many of them I’ve seen. Titmice are not known for their vocal prowess, but I’ve heard a lot of different songs and calls come from them. They have quite a range of sounds. Yet another reason to like these little birds.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 17

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A white-throated sparrow visits in a yard in Danbury, CT, April 2020. (Merganser Lake)

A Day on Merganser Lake IX

For whatever reason I don’t get a lot of white-throated sparrows visiting my yard. I have a good property for them, too, with edge-of-woods habitat and a few brush piles for shelter. I get tons of juncos, but few white-throated sparrows. So when I looked up and saw this guy perched in a branch right outside my window yesterday, I had to take action. He is in crisp breeding plumage and was a cooperative subject. It’s easy to see why it is called a white-throated sparrow.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 16

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Photo by Chris Bosak A male northern cardinal visits a backyard in New England, April 2020.

A Day on Merganser Lake VIII

I was all set to run a photo of another bird when I came across this one in the photo folder from yesterday. The other bird would have been just fine and it’s a bird I don’t feature too often, but how can I resist publishing this shot of a male cardinal? Besides, I’ve learned that you can’t go wrong posting photos of hummingbirds, bluebirds or cardinals. So here he is.

It looks like his bill, or beak, is a little beaten up. I’ll have to check my sources on why that is and if the bill will return to normal. My guess is the bird will be just fine regardless of whether his bill returns to normal or not.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 15

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Photo by Chris Bosak A chipping sparrow visits in a yard in Danbury, CT, April 2020. (Merganser Lake)

A Day on Merganser Lake VII

Here’s a welcome sight in the spring: a chipping sparrow. I saw my first-of-the-year chipping sparrow last week, but they typically feed off the ground underneath my feeding system. This one jumped up to the railing to check out the mealworms that the bluebirds and pine warblers have been feasting on. Another positive sign of spring, even if it is in the 30s right now.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 14

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Photo by Chris Bosak An eastern bluebird visits a backyard in New England on a rainy day, April 2020. Merganser Lake.

A Day on Merganser Lake VI

That was quite the storm yesterday. I haven’t seen rain fall that hard and for so long in years. Plus, the wind was enough to uproot one tree and snap another in the backyard. Still, the birds came.

The birds didn’t visit as frequently as they do on calmer days, but they were there. And they were wet — soaked is more like it. I have a few decent photos from yesterday, but the bluebirds were my best ones. The bluebirds were hardly recognizable they were so wet and the lack of sun dulled their usually electric brilliant plumage.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 13

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Photo by Chris Bosak
Male and female eastern bluebird in Danbury, CT, 06810, April 2020, Merganser Lake.

A Day on Merganser Lake V

I know I’ve been posting a lot of bluebirds lately, but I couldn’t resist this one of a male and female together. The bluebirds have been coming for my mealworms for over a month now. It’s been great, but any day now they will leave for suitable habitat for raise a family. Hopefully they will be back next winter.

Today will be a challenge to get a good shot for tomorrow. It’s windy, dark and rainy. Maybe the weather will break later.

(Repeat text for context:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

For the Birds: Goldfinches return to full regalia

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I’m taking a one-day break from my photo series so I can share my latest bird column, which runs in several New England newspapers. …

Photo by Chris Bosak An American goldfinch perches on a wire in New England, March 2020.

I alluded in last week’s column to a goldfinch being in transitional plumage.

The truth is, in a way, American goldfinches are always in transitional plumage. Unlike most songbirds that look pretty much the same year-round, goldfinches look dramatically different in their breeding and non-breeding plumage. All birds molt (replace) their feathers at least once a year, usually at the end of summer. Most songbirds, whether the molt is done gradually or all at once, look the same at both ends of the molt.

Male American goldfinches are a brilliant yellow in their breeding (summer) plumage. They are a beloved bird and they adorn calendars, magazine covers, bookmarks and conservation promotional materials. It is this brilliant yellow-and-black plumage that makes them desirable fodder as bird models.

However, you rarely see goldfinches in their non-breeding (winter) plumage on magazine covers. The non-breeding plumage is Continue reading →

Birds to brighten your day: April 11

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Photo by Chris Bosak A blue jay perches on a branch in a yard in Danbury, CT, April 2020. (Merganser Lake)

A Day on Merganser Lake IV

I’ve been giving a lot of love to eastern bluebirds on this site and in my nature columns over the last several weeks, but here’s a nice shot of another blue bird; the blue jay. I filled a feeder with peanut suet nuggets and spilled a few on the ground. I scooped them up as best as I could and spread them out on the railing of my deck. Within minutes the blue jays arrived and carried them all away.

Yesterday was a gray day and even snowed on and off. As long as there’s enough light, gray days can work in your favor for photography as you don’t have harsh sun and shadows to contend with. I like how the blue jay’s bright plumage contrasts with the dreary background in this shot.

(Repeat text for explanation:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)

Birds to brighten your day: April 10

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A pine warbler visits a backyard in New England, April 2020, Merganser Lake.

A Day on Merganser Lake III

Back-to-back pine warblers in the early stages of my “best photo from yesterday” series. As long as the pine warblers (there are at least four of them) keep visiting my suet and mealworm feeders, it’s going to be tough to not consider them my best photo. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, though.

Thanks for checking out BirdsofNewEngland.com as we get through this crisis together.

(Repeat text:  I’m running out of COVID-19 lockdown themes so from now until things get back to some semblance of normalcy, I will simply post my best photo from the previous day. You could say it fits because of its uncertainty and challenge. I’ll call the series “A Day on Merganser Lake,” even though that’s not the real name of the lake I live near in southwestern Connecticut, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.)