She’s not as flashy as the male, but quite a looker anyway.
Here’s the female bobolink
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Oh, for goodness snakes!
It took a few seconds for us to unravel the scene in the above photo but it eventually became clear it was a large northern water snake eating a fish and a smaller northern water snake clinging close to the larger snake. Although we happened upon the scene at this stage of the battle, I’m fairly certain the fish was a catfish. To give credit where it is due, my 12-year-old son Will was the one who discovered the scene and called the rest of us over.
The snake had pulled the fish onto the shore and the fish continued to fight with everything it had. It was quite the battle and we watched for a good 15 minutes. Not having my camera equipment with me, I did the best I could with my iPhone while at the same time being respectful of the natural scene unfolding. The struggle took place a few weeks ago at Lake Waubeeka in Danbury, Connecticut, along the same shore where I often launch my water tube for a relaxing day on the lake. Guess I’ll watch where I’m stepping next time I do that.
Northern water snakes are large and intimidating looking, especially when moving through the water, but are non-venomous and harmless. They do bite but only when antagonized. They aren’t going to aggressively pursue a human and attack. They are often mistaken for copperheads or water moccasins (cottonmouths). Copperheads live in Connecticut but are snakes of the forest and mountains. Water moccasins are snakes of the southeastern U.S. and do not range into New England.
After about half an hour the snake was able to completely swallow the fish. By that time, the other snake had disappeared. The larger snake, complete with a bulging body behind its head, retreated to the water and hid under a rock along the shore. I’m pretty sure it’s the same rock I use for footing as I launch my tube. Good thing water snakes are harmless.
Here are some more photos to get you ready for summer …
Below, the marking of the harmless northern water snake.
NSFW bird photos
I’ve never happened across copulating turkeys and until this spring I had never been sent photos of turkeys copulating. That changed earlier this month when, in the span of a few days, I received two such photos. Thanks to Wayne Snelley of Pepperell, Massachusetts, and Gino Farina of Jeffrey Center, N.H., for taking these excellent shots and sending them to me.
The future of turkeys seems safe for now. (NSFW means Not Safe For Work for those not fluent in Internet speak.)
For more photos submitted by readers from throughout New England, click here, or click on the Reader Submitted Photos link from the menu above.
Scarlet tanager singing
Here’s a video I took a few years ago, but it’s appropriate for the season as these beauties are passing through (and in some cases staying) New England now.
Great turnout for bird walk yesterday
There was a great turnout at yesterday’s bird walk at Oak Hills Park in Norwalk. It is a beautiful park and the folks involved with the nature trail area of it should be proud of their work. It was a decent turnout for the birds as well, highlighted by a very cooperative scarlet tanager. I’ll post more photos and a more complete species list later.
Could be worse …
A Scarlet Tanager sings in a tree in Danbury, Conn., July 2016.
Well, it’s cold and rainy in New England … at least it’s not snowing like it is in some parts of the country.
With that said, here are some thoughts of the warm weather ahead and what we can expect to see in our New England yards and woods soon. (Many people are already seeing the rose-breasted grosbeaks and indigo buntings.)
Feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you’re Continue reading
Happy Easter from BirdsofNewEngland.com
Wishing you a great Easter from http://www.birdsofnewengland.com
Coming soon to Birds of New England: photos from a recent visit to Florida and updates and photos of the ongoing spring migration in New England. Warblers and other songbirds are here. Feel free to let me know what you’re seeing out there.
One more brant post
One more brant photo post. The bird above demanded it. Again, here’s the original post.
More brant photos
You didn’t think I’d see thousands of brant and limit the experience to just one post, did you? Here is the first follow-up to Saturday’s post. The original post is here in case you missed it.
Brant at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut, 2019.
This brant is banded with silver bands on each leg. I can’t make out the numbers and letters, however.
Brant at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut, 2019.
Brant haven’t migrated yet and that’s a good thing for New England
Brant are geese that breed in the Arctic. Many of them spend the winter in New England and massive flocks may be found at various coastal sites in the region. One of those sites is Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut, where flocks numbering in the thousands hug the coast.
A quick visit to the park yesterday yielded a staggering number of brant. The birds were eating grass in the lawn areas of the park and were surprisingly tolerant of humans walking and jogging close by. Typically, the brant are seen on the beach near the water or on the water of Long Island Sound. Perhaps the birds were more tolerant because they are filling up for the pending migration. Just a thought.
Not all brant will depart at the same time. I’ve seen brant along the Connecticut coast as late as June. Those stragglers are likely young brant that aren’t ready to mate. At any rate, it’s nice to see the brant every year and they add a reliable bit of wildness to our coasts in the winter and spring.
Brant are often confused with Canada geese, but there are obvious differences. Brant are smaller and darker overall and do not have trademark white “chin strap” of the Canada goose. They do have a white marking under their chins, but it is not as large and pronounced as that of the Canada goose. The brants’ call is also croakier and quieter than the loud honk of the Canada goose.
For now, brant are still around in large numbers, which is good for New England birdwatchers. Many of them will depart shortly for points well north. Then we’ll be left to keep an eye out for the stragglers — or wait until late fall.
Here is a photograph showing a small portion of the flock.
Brant at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut, 2019.
Here is a shot of Canada geese, for the sake of comparison.
Birds of New England.com 