Here’s another shot of the volunteer sunflowers I have growing in the backyard. Here’s the original story in case you missed it.
Another ‘volunteer’ sunflower shot
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Hummingbird Week, photo 3
I’ll be venturing out of New England for a few days and don’t want the birds here to think I forgot about them so I’m instituting my own Hummingbird Week. Each day this week I’ll post a new or old photo of a ruby-throated hummingbird, the only hummer that occurs regularly in New England. There is no such thing as too many hummingbird photos, after all. Each day will also include a joke or fun fact about hummingbirds.
Fun fact: Their wings aren’t the only things that move fast as a hummingbird’s tongue can sip from a feeder at 13 times per second.
Freeing the kingbird, in photos
Here’s the photo version of the story about freeing the eastern kingbird from abandoned fishing line. The original story may be found here.
Pondering the first move …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
A pretty pathetic sight …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
Getting the branch within reach …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
Getting the knife ready to cut the line …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
Cutting the line a safe distance above the bird …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
The scared, agitated kingbird. Kingbirds have a red or orange crown that is rarely seen …
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
Checking for a hook and untangling the rest of the line. It was released, line free, a few moments later.
Kingbird rescue, Danbury, CT, 2019.
I was glad we were able to find and free this bird. Who knows how many birds perish unseen in such a slow, painful manner?
Jack-in-the-Pulpit: A shady character
Here are a few shots of my favorite, shade-loving plant: Jack-in-the-Pulpit. They can be grown from seed in a shady garden, but I have always just randomly come across them in the New England woods. They are interesting to see and have a unique life history. (More about the plant may be found here: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/arisaema_triphyllum.shtml )
Being a plant, Jack-in-the-Pulpits make for cooperative photographic subjects. These shots were taken with an iPhone during my recent camping trip to New Hampshire.
Some non-bird wildlife from Pillsbury State Park
An eastern tiger swallowtail at Pillsbury State Park in New Hampshire, June 2019.
I’ve posted the loons and other birds from a recent camping trip to Pillsbury State Park. Here are a few shots of some Continue reading
Photos of the ‘other’ birds at Pillsbury State Park
Chipping Sparrow, Pillsbury State Park, N.H., June 2019.
I think I shared enough loon photos for a while, so here are some of the other birds I saw during a recent camping trip to Pillsbury State Park in New Hampshire. I saw plenty of birds, but wasn’t able to photograph many as the leaves are out in force and a foot injury limited my mobility. (Enough excuses for you?) Anyway, here are a few other Continue reading
Father’s Day loon bonanza, part 3
Stop posting photos of loons, said no one ever. So, to celebrate Father’s Day, BirdsofNewEngland.com presents a common loon bonanza. Every hour on the hour, a new loon photo will post. All photos were taken earlier this week at Pillsbury State Park in New Hampshire. Happy Father’s Day. Enjoy the loons.
Monitoring a phoebe nest
An eastern phoebe finally built a nest on a large piece of wood I had nailed to the underside of my porch three years ago.
Unfortunately, a brown-headed cowbird egg is among the five eggs currently in the nest. Brown-headed cowbirds are brood parasites and lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Conventional wisdom says to remove the egg, but that would likely result in the vindictive mother cowbird coming back to destroy the other eggs.
Also, a new line of thinking says to let nature take its course and not let human values interfere with nature. It’s difficult, but I’ll leave the nest alone. I’ll check it daily to see how this all shakes out.
The first egg was laid on Tuesday, June 11. On Wednesday, another phoebe egg and the cowbird egg was discovered. Thursday and Friday brought one phoebe egg each for a total of four phoebe eggs and one cowbird egg.
Here’s the progression of the nest …
Here’s the female bobolink
She’s not as flashy as the male, but quite a looker anyway.
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.
Birds of New England.com 