It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted a birding quiz, so here goes. OK, so it’s obviously not a birding quiz, but it is a quiz nonetheless.
What is going on in this photo? Hint: it’s a zoomed in look at a broader photo. No multiple choice this time. Either comment (under “Leave a Reply”) or email me your guess. Or keep your guess to yourself and wait until the answer post, which will come in a couple days.
Thanks for playing along and checking out http://www.birdsofnewengland.com
Thanks to everyone who took a guess at the latest bird quiz: “Whose legs are these?”
The most popular response was the correct one so you’ve all been doing your homework (even in the summer).
Below is the answer. A longer post will follow soon regarding the differences between the legs of great and snowy egrets.
For now, here’s the answer …
I was walking through Selleck’s and Dunlap Woods when this bird popped out of a slow-moving stream and jumped up (really flew) onto a nearby branch. The sun was behind the bird so all I got was its silhouette. It doesn’t make for a nice photo, but it gave me an idea for my next “birding quiz.” I haven’t done a birding quiz in a while so here you go …. what is this bird?
Here are some choices:
Photo by Chris Bosak
American Goldfinches eat from a feeder at Cove Island Park in Stamford, March 2015.
Photo by Chris Bosak
Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches share a Nyjer feeder at Cove Island Park in Stamford, March 2015.
What’s the difference between these two photos?
It’s not one of those find 10 subtle differences puzzles, but rather a pretty simple quiz and lesson in paying attention closely to your feeders. These photos were taken about 10 minutes apart the other day at Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Stamford, Conn.
The top photo, taken first, shows all American Goldfinches on a feeder offering Nyjer seeds. At first glance the next photo appears to show a bunch of American Goldfinches, too. But there’s more to that seco Continue reading
So who is this anyway? The guesses were great and the correct answer got the most votes. Good job to all and thank you to everyone to “voted” whether you got the right answer or not.
Click below for the answer.
Here’s the answer to the “find the shorebird” post of last week. I hope you have fun looking. If you missed the original post, check it out here before looking at the answer below.
Photo by Chris Bosak
Where’s the Least Sandpiper in this photo?
You all did so well on the last “find the bird” quiz, that I figured I’d give you another one. This one, I have to say, is much more difficult with its two distinct sides of the photo (a dry side and wet side.)
I grabbed this photo of a Least Sandpiper while volunteering to monitor Piping Plovers and Least Terns at Coastal Center at Milford Point in Milford, CT. It demonstrates the challenges birdwatchers have when it comes to finding and identifying shorebirds. It’s no wonder why so many people refer to them all simply at “peeps.” The camouflage is remarkable. The eggs laid by shorebirds are even more amazingly camo’d.
More importantly, it demonstrates how well their coloration and markings make it difficult for predators, such as Peregrine Falcons, to spot them.
So good luck in finding the bird. As a small hint, the bird is small in the photo, but not impossible to find. I’ll post the answer in a few days. If you can’t wait and need more hints, drop me a line at bozclark@earthlink.net
If you missed the last one — in which a Piping Plover was hidden in the photo — here it is.
Thanks for checking out http://www.birdsofnewengland.com.
Birds of New England.com 