Category Archives: backyard birding

Birds to brighten your day: April 21

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Photo by Chris Bosak An American robin visits a yard in Danbury, CT, April 2020. (Merganser Lake)

A Day on Merganser Lake XII

In all my years of feeding birds, I’ve never had American robins visit my feeders. Until a few days ago, that is. They technically haven’t visited my “feeders” yet, but they are regular visitors to my deck railing on which I place dried mealworms for the bluebirds and pine warblers. And robins, apparently.

We’ve all seen a million robins before, but we can’t ever really tire of them, can we? They are a traditional harbinger of spring (even though many spend all winter with us) and a beloved, easy-to-learn bird. So here’s a neat photo of a robin I got yesterday. Hail to the regular 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 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 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.)

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 9

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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 II

Yesterday I mentioned that I had seen a pine warbler but hadn’t gotten a photo of it. An hour later, the bird was back and I got a few photos. Then I got a few more, and a few more. Turns out, the bird was here all day eating mealworms. He visited the suet feeder as well, but mealworms were clearly his favorite — the same tastes as “my” bluebirds. Sometime in the afternoon, a female pine warbler showed up as well. Below are photos of the male and female for comparison.

So with that sighting I can officially declare: It’s warbler season!

(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.)

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

Birds to brighten your day: April 8

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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 1

As promised, I’ll start a new series today. 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, it’s just a nod to my favorite duck family.

Plus, it’s a great time to do this because spring migration is picking up steam and new birds are arriving every day. Yesterday, I saw my first chipping sparrow and this morning I saw my first pine warbler (not that I got a photo of either one of them.)

I hope you are doing well through this crisis. As always, feel free to send me your bird or nature photos. I’ll post them on my reader submitted photos page. Leave me your name and town, state.

Birds to brighten your day: Part XI (Bonus edition)

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Photo by Chris Bosak Gray Catbird at birdbath.
Photo by Chris Bosak Gray Catbird at birdbath in summer.

In keeping with the birdbath theme, but expanding on it a touch, here is my For the Birds column from two weeks ago that I hadn’t posted here yet.

…

Water is a vital part of bird habitat. This is true for backyard bird habitats as well. I will admit, however, that I sometimes get lackadaisical about keeping my birdbath filled with fresh water. My house and yard are set up in such a manner that I can’t have my feeders and bath in easy view from my back windows. The bath, therefore, got relegated to the side yard and I don’t often look out those windows.

Often, it’s a case of “out of sight, out of mind,” and the bath goes dry. Then the bluebirds came around and made me pay more attention. I know what you’re thinking: Oh boy, there he goes with his bluebirds again. I don’t have a good comeback for that other than to say: Yes, here I go with my bluebirds again. But I promise it’s not all about bluebirds this time. I walked outside the other day to throw some mealworms on the deck railing Continue reading →

Birds to brighten your day: Part IX

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Photo by Chris Bosak An eastern bluebird gets a drink from a birdbath in New England, March 2020.

Last week brought frozen temperatures back to southern New England. The birdbath was mostly frozen but a few industrious birds found the right spots to get a drink. Here’s a male eastern bluebird.

(Repeat text from yesterday) With many of us working from home or otherwise “physical distancing” as we combat COVID-19, I will post series of photos that are at least vaguely related to our dealing with the crisis. I’ve already done commingling species as a nod to social distancing. This week’s theme is birdbaths to highlight the need for hand washing. (Even though most birds in this series will be drinking and not bathing.)

Birds to brighten your day: Part IV

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Photo by Chris Bosak A Tufted Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch share a feeder during a snowstorm in Danbury, Conn., Jan. 23, 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Tufted Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch share a feeder during a snowstorm in Danbury, Conn., Jan. 23, 2016.

Bird feeders often bring together birds that would otherwise rarely be seen commingling. In this case, however, nuthatches and tufted titmice, as well as chickadees, are often seen together “in the wild” as they help each other forage for food. This is one of my favorite shots showing two or more bird species together. I guess I like the symmetry.

(Repeat text from yesterday:) With many of us working from home or otherwise “physical distancing” as we combat COVID-19, I figured I’d start a daily series of photos showing different bird species together. Why not? Maybe it will brighten somebody’s day to see commingling bird species each morning as we’re all stuck inside.