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.)

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: Bluebird Days VI

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Photo by Chris Bosak Bluebirds appreciate the awesomeness of BirdsofNewEngland.com

This will be the final Bluebird Days posting. I’ve gotten quite a bit of mileage out of my several-week long visit by “my” bluebirds. They are still coming daily, but soon they will be off to find a place to nest. My property is very wooded, which is not good habitat for bluebirds, so I don’t think they will try out one of my birdhouses. I wish them luck wherever they end up. (I couldn’t resist ending the series with this photo.)

Birds to brighten your day: Bluebird Days V

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Photo by Chris Bosak An eastern bluebird visit a backyard in New England, March 2020.

Yesterday we saw the tail and wing feathers of the female eastern bluebird. Today is the male’s turn. No question as to why they call it a bluebird.

Birds to brighten your day: Bluebird Days IV

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Photo by Chris Bosak
An eastern bluebird visits a backyard feeder for mealworms in New England, Feb. 2020.

Here’s another shot of the female, showing her tail and wing feathers. Bluebirds will be picking out their nesting sites soon. Last spring, I found a pair nesting in a hole in a tree at a nearby conservation area. Most eastern bluebirds these days nest in manmade boxes.

Birds to brighten your day: Bluebird days III

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Photo by Chris Bosak
An eastern bluebird visits a backyard feeder for mealworms in New England, Feb. 2020.

Here’s one of the females perched on a stick in my container garden. I think that stick helped to support a “volunteer” sunflower that grew from a seed that the birds (and squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and whatever else shows up at night) somehow missed. Have a great weekend everybody!

Birds to brighten your day: Bluebird Days II

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Photo by Chris Bosak An eastern bluebird looks for food on a deck in New England, February 2020.

This guy was out hunting (in other words looking for mealworms on my deck) in the rain, hence the funny hairdo.