New England wildlife photos and stories. What's your story?
Reader submitted photos
Here are some photos submitted by readers of the For the Birds column and http://www.birdsofnewengland.com. Want to show off your work or need help with an identification? Feel free to submit your New England wildlife photos to chrisbosak26@gmail.com. (Try to keep files under or around 1 MB, thanks.) Thank you to all who have (or will) submitted photos!
Wind in my hair (or feathers)
Jeanne from Marlow, NH, got this great shot of a barred owl holding its ground against a strong wind.
Share alike
Marie Anne from Gilford, N.H., got this shot of a bluebird and red-bellied woodpecker sharing a feeding station in winter 2020-21.
Towhee time
Susan Ferency of Fairfield, Connecticut, got this nice shot of a female eastern towhee in fall 2020.
Keene cottontail
Heidi from Keene, NH, got this shot of an eastern cottontail in summer 2020.
Crowd at the hummingbird feeder
Jill from Keene, NH, got this shot of a crowded hummingbird feeder in her yard.
Cuckoo for New England
Linda of Swanzey, NH, got this shot of a yellow-billed cuckoo.
Blue jay bat?
Roxanne Rubell of Swanzey, N.H., got this photo of a blue jay hanging upside down in a tree, spring 2020.
Mealtime!
Katharine from Ridgefield, CT, got this great shot of a fox with a meal in April 2020.
Katharine from Ridgefield, CT, got this shot of a fox with a squirrel in her backyard.
Getting there
Arthur from Keene, N.H., got this nice shot of a goldfinch gaining its breeding plumage.
Arthur from Keene, N.H., got this nice shot of a goldfinch gaining its breeding plumage.
Welcome visitor
Jim from Keene got this shot of a wood duck visiting a feeder.
Jim from Keene got this shot of a wood duck visiting a feeder.
Bluebirds and pileateds
Raynee of Walpole, N.H., got these shots during the winter of 2019-2020
Pileated woodpecker by Raynee of Walpole, N.H.
Eastern bluebirds by Raynee of Wallpole, N.H.
Turkey future safe for now
Wayne Snelley got this shot of copulating wild turkeys in his yard in Pepperell, Massachusetts.
Gino Farina of Jaffrey Center, NH, caught these wild turkeys at the right moment, spring 2019.
Tanager time
Tom Chabot got these terrific tanager photos in Keene, N.H.
Up close and personal
Leslie Crossmon of Keene, N.H., got this close look at this rose-breasted grosbeak.
Room for rent?
Susan Longsjo of Jaffrey, N.H., had this yellow-rumped warbler feeding and looking for a nesting area in her yard.
Oriole fest
Richard Donohue of NH had these handsome visitors to his suet feeder.
Pintails!
Brian Thoele got this great shot of a northern pintail pair in Norwalk, Conn.
Year of the Barred Owl
Frank and Debbie Lucius had this barred owl for several days at their Surry, NH, home, winter 2019.
Visit from a Pileated
Tom Clark of Norwalk, CT, got this great shot of a pileated woodpecker.
Rockin’ Robins
Allen Cates of Fitzwilliam, N.H., got these terrific shots of American robins in the winter.
Barred owl special delivery
Photo by Annemarie Farrar Annemarie Farrar of Bedford, N.H., got this great shot of a barred owl during the fall of 2018.
Snow buntings descend on N.H. yard
Richard Schmidt of Westmoreland, N.H., had these snow buntings in his yard during Feb. 2019.
Richard Schmidt of Westmoreland, N.H., had these snow buntings in his yard during Feb. 2019.
Barred owl Feb. 2019 I
Photo by Dale Woodward This barred owl was spotted on a feeder pole in February 2019 in Walpole Village, N.H.
Barred owl Feb. 2019 2
Photo by Rick Allen This barred owl perched on a feeder pole in Swanzey, N.H., during February 2019.
Barred owl Feb. 2019 3
Photo by Bob Sullivan This barred owl perched on a bird feeding pole and took several dives at a vole under the snow in Westmoreland, N.H., as photographed by Bob Sullivan.
Evening grosbeak irruption
Stephanie Tickner got these shots of evening grosbeaks at her Marlow, N.H., feeding station.
Stephanie Tickner got these great shots of evening grosbeaks at her Marlow, N.H., feeding station. Evening grosbeaks are being seen throughout New England in higher-than-usual numbers in the fall and winter of 2018.
Stephanie Tickner got these great shots of evening grosbeaks at her Marlow, N.H., feeding station. Evening grosbeaks are being seen throughout New England in higher-than-usual numbers in the fall and winter of 2018.
Up close and personal
Mike Stoudt of Keene, N.H., got these shots of a titmouse and junco in his backyard.
A great shot of a great blue heron
Carol Story of Norwalk got this great shot of a great blue heron in the fall.
Evening grosbeaks
Karla Wallace of North Stratford, N.H., got these great shots of a evening grosbeaks (and a blue jay) during the winter of 2014-15.
Snowy owl visit
Norman Spicher of New Hampshire got this photo of a snowy own in the Keene, N.H., in January 2018.
Vulture time
Jason Farrow of Norwalk, Conn., got this shot of a turkey vulture while visiting the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bluebird morning
Lenny Cornwell of Greenfield, NH, woke up to this scene one morning in Nov. 2017. A female soon joined the male eastern bluebird.
Mr. Bluebird
Lee Borden of southwestern New Hampshire got this shot of a bluebird in the backyard.
Home building, bird style
Amanda Landry of Gorham, Maine, got this shot of a chipping sparrow collecting nesting material.
Mr. and Mrs. Sapsucker
Pete Nielsen of Swanzey, N.H., got these shots of male and female yellow-bellied sapsuckers. The male has the red throat.
Pete Nielsen of Swanzey, N.H., got these shots of male and female yellow-bellied sapsuckers. The male has the red throat.
Palms up
Paul E. Miller of Vernon, Vt., got this this of a palm warbler, spring 2017.
Long legs
Paul E. Miller of Vernon, Vt., got this this of a lesser yellowlegs, spring 2017.
Barred owl with prey
Lynn Kossakoski of New Hampshire got this great shot of a barred owl with a chipmunk.
Lurking predator
Joyce Campbell-Counts of Alstead, N.H., got this shot of a sharp-shinned hawk.
Some outstanding ‘regulars’
Paul E. Miller of Vernon, VT, snapped this shot of a White-breasted Nuthatch.
Paul E. Miller of Vernon, VT, got this great shot of a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Stranger to New England
David Hoitt of Swanzey, N.H., got this photo of a Varied Thrush that was seen hanging around a feeder during the winter of 2016-17. Varied Thrushes are western birds that sometime stray to the East Coast.
Barred Owl pays a visit
Jeannie Merwin of Marlow got this shot of a Barred Owl in her yard. She said the owl returns to her yard every January.
Evening Grosbeak kind of winter
Pam Hoyt got this great shot of Evening Grosbeaks at her feeder in SW New Hampshire in late fall 2016.
Alert Song Sparrow
Paul E. Miller of N.H. captured this nice shot of a Song Sparrow in Vernon, Vt.
Perched Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Marsha Vetare of Connecticut got this great shot of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in her Connecticut yard.
Beautiful heron shots
Jason Farrow of Norwalk, Conn., snapped this terrific photo of a Yellow-crowned Night Heron.
Jason Farrow of Norwalk, Conn., got this great photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron.
How many colors can you fit into a bird photo?
Ben Thomas from Fitzwilliam, N.H., got this colorful shot of a House Finch, American Goldfinch and Indigo Bunting at a feeder in May 2016.
Unusual feeder visitor
Ben Thomas of Fitzwilliam, N.H., got this photo of a female Red-winged Blackbird at his home.
Eagle on the water
Mary Ellen Powell of New Hampshire got this photo of a Bald Eagle fishing on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale, N.H.
Sharpie on the Farm
Teenager Hailey Sinon got this great shot of a Sharp-shinned Hawk at a horse farm in Southwick, Mass.
Vulture Avenue
Janet of Norwalk, Conn., got this photo of Turkey Vultures congregating at a house in winter 2016.
Look out below for hawks
Vicky Kelly got this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk while she was walking along the Norwalk River in southwestern Connecticut on New Year’s Day 2016.
Love those doves
Photo by Dennis Austin Dennis Austin of Keene, N.H., got this photo of a group of doves at a bird bath during the fall of 2015.
Great Blue Heron in the backyard
Photo by Jeanie Sy Jeanie Sy of Westmoreland, N.H., got this photo of a Great Blue Heron checking out a backyard birdfeeding station. The bird did not eat any seeds, Jeanie said.
Oh those downies
Eileen Sarson of Keene, N.H., got this photo of a Downy Woodpecker in her backyard feeder.
Surprise visitor
Alex Kossakoski of Keene, NH, got this shot of a Red-tailed Hawk in his yard.
What lurks at night?
Rich Conklin captured this image of a bobcat walking through Wilton, Conn., with a game camera in Sept. 2015.
Learning to fly from a pro
Jerry Blore got this photo of an adult Osprey about to take flight as two young Osprey watch at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Conn.
Not grousing about this sighting
David J. Scheuring of Dublin, N.H., got this shot of a female Spruce Grouse while hiking at Mt. Madison in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Wren on a wren house
Jim Hood of Norwalk, Conn., got tihs photo of a House Wren on a birdhouse in summer 2015.
Indigo Bunting experience
John Martin of southern New Hampshire got this shot of an Indigo Bunting. The bird was injured, but recovered and flew away.
Colorful warbler visitor
Gail from Keene, N.H., got this shot of a Blackburnian Warbler on her deck in late spring 2015.
Hummingbirds welcome!
Dick & Louise Richards of Swanzey, N.H., got this photo of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at their feeder in spring 2015.
Time for a washing
William Cleary of the Monadnock Region in New Hampshire sent this photo of the handiwork of an American Robin. He said the bird pecks at the side-view mirror, but does not attack the reflection. Apparently the bird likes pick-up trucks.
Snuggle with mom
Ginger Katz of Norwalk got this photo of a Mute Swan with babies in Norwalk (Conn.) Harbor.
A little color in New England
Brian Thoele got this shot of a Little Blue Heron in a small pond in southern Connecticut, April 2015.
Big prey for a brave Red-tailed Hawk
Judie Szuets of Norwalk, Conn., got this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk eating a Ring-billed Gull on top of a car in March 2015. Szuets said the neighbors watched the unfazed hawk eat the meal for several minutes.
New Hamphsire resident Ann Firestone was visiting the Agway store in Walpole, N.H., when she noticed this Lapland Longspur feeding with a flock of Horned Larks.
Bluebirds at the window!
Susan Stevens of Portsmouth NH, took this photo of a group of Eastern Bluebirds eating hulled sunflower seeds at her window feeder in March 2015. She said the bluebirds also eat suet.
Peregrine Falcon, master hunters
Brian Thoele of Norwalk got this shot of a Peregrine Falcon enjoying a meal at Veterans Park in East Norwalk in Dec. 2013.
Bluebirds in winter
Elena from Winchester, N.H., got this shot of Eastern Bluebirds at her warm-water birdbath during the cold snap of Feb. 2015.
We all need to eat
Riley Rising of Connecticut got this shot of a Red-tailed Hawk eating a squirrel in Feb. 2015, in Waterbury, Conn.
A burst of color in winter
Peter Wells of New Hampshire got this shot of a Northern Cardinal in a star magnolia tree in the harsh weather of Feb. 2015.
Whooo’s that on the porch?
Jim Huntley from Keene, N.H., had this Saw Whet Owl pay a visit to his back porch in Feb. 2015.
Snow Bunting in breeding plumage
– L.S. of West Chesterfield, N.H. grabbed this shot of a male Snow Bunting in breeding plumage in her backyard in Feb. 2015.
Roadside owl sighting
Mary Ellen Powell got this photo of a Barred Owl along Route 9 near Otter Brook State Park, Roxbury, NH, winter 2014-15.
Surprise visitor to feeder
Tom Jenkins of Norwalk, CT, got this shot of a Dickcissel sharing a feeder station with a Mourning Dove, Jan. 2015.
Eagle over Shepaug
Brian Thoele got this shot of a Bald Eagle flying over Shepaug Eagle View in Southbury, Conn., in Jan. 2015.
Woody in the berries
Peter Wells of New Hampshire got this photo of a Pileated Woodpecker in a bush among winter berries.
Hairy and Downy together
Jeannie of New Hamphsire snapped this photo of a Downy Woodpecker, right, and Hairy Woodpecker. It’s a good photo for seeing the size comparison between the two common woodpecker species.
Timely for Thanksgiving
Dr. Robert Weiss of Westport, CT, sent in this photo of some visitors to his yard. No coincidence that I’m posting this the day before Thanksgiving. Thanks Bob.
“You want a piece of me?”
Andy Christie snapped this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk in his southern New Hampshire backyard. He titled it “You want a piece of me?”
Strange visitor
Andy Christie got this photo of an albino or leucistic Dark-eyed Junco in his southern New Hampshire backyard. Keep an eye out for these guys (or gals) among the flocks of Juncos at your feeder this winter.
Grebes!
Carol sent in this photo of Red-necked Grebes on Spofford Lake in southwestern New Hampshire. She saw them in the spring.
Hitching a ride?
Mary Eccles of Norwalk, Conn., had this visitor waiting on her car in this August 2014 photograph. Not sure where the Cooper’s Hawk wanted to go.
Black-crowned Night Herons in their element (title suggested by photographer, thanks)
Black-crowned Night Herons photographed by Norwalk’s Jason Farrow in Norwalk, Conn.
Coyotes at play
Daniel Shevchik of Wilton, Conn., grabbed a shot of this coyote family playing in his backyard in summer 2014.
Dinner time for this hawk
Dick Alley of Connecticut saw this scene of a Red-tailed Hawk taking and eating a small rabbit. It was a prime example of the laws of nature, sometimes cruel but very real, wrote Dick, a long-time fishing columnist for The Hour newspaper.
Ospreys in flight
Lori Baker of Norwalk, Conn., sent in this photo of an Osprey pair near Long Island Sound in summer 2014.
Hummingbird on the Wing
Danielle Gallant of Dighton, Massachusetts, took this shot of a hummingbird at her feeder.
Danielle Gallant of Dighton, Massachusetts, took this shot of a hummingbird at her feeder.
Cormorant drying off
Jason Farrow got the excellent shot of a Double-crested Cormorant in Norwalk, Ct., in summer 2014.
Thrasher. What a name for a bird.
Brian Reilly snapped this excellent shot of a Brown Thrasher in the Keene, N.H., area.
Brian Reilly snapped this excellent shot of a Brown Thrasher in the Keene, N.H., area.
What ate my decorative fish??
Mike Mushak and David Westmoreland of Norwalk, Conn, got this photo of a Great Egret on their porch. The egret was picturesque, but also ate several expensive fish, such as gold comets, out of their small pond.
A short, squat wader.
Lisa from Norwalk, Conn., took this photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron at Wood’s Pond in Norwalk.
Awesome Osprey shot by Jason Farrow in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Osprey in Norwalk, Connecticut, May 2014, by Jason Farrow.
Nice shot of Barred Owl taken by a New Hampshire resident visiting Florida:
Jim Gibbons of New Hampshire got this great shot of a Barred Owl at Corkscrew Swamp in Florida.
A great shot of a welcomed visitor ..
L. Grimes of Hinsdale, N.H., got this photo of an Eastern Bluebird on Saturday, April 12, 2014.
Well, I complain every March that I have trouble finding American Woodcocks. Bob and Rosalie Boucher did not have any trouble this spring. They saw at least eight in a five-day stretch in their yard in Norwalk, Conn.
Rosalie Boucher captured this photo of an American Woodcock in her yard in Norwalk, Conn., in March 2014.
Rosalie Boucher captured this photo of two American Woodcocks in her yard in Norwalk, Conn., in March 2014.
Bath time for Mourning Doves!
Bitsy Farnsworth of Norwalk, CT, grabbed this shot of bath time for Mourning Doves in March 2014.
Ever held a Pileated Woodpecker. I sure haven’t.
Bob Bray of Norwalk, Connecticut, was returning from walking his dog one March 2014 morning when he heard a thud and found this Pileated Woodpecker on the ground. He held it for a while and the bird flew off — thankfully.
Some Great Blue Herons try to stick out our New England winters. Here’s one in southern Connecticut. Or was this an early migrant?
Bill Zak grabbed this photo of a Great Blue Heron braving the half-frozen marshlands of Rowayton, Connecticut, in March 2014.
Jeannie Merwin of Marlow, N.H., said this Barred Owl returned to her property on the same exact day as it did last year. This photo was taken in early March 2014.
Barred Owl by Jeannie Merwin in Marlow, N.H.
Jason Farrow of Norwalk, CT, sent in this photo of an Osprey he took in the summer of 2013. He said the winter is getting long and his mind is straying to what he did last summer.
Jason Farrow of Norwalk, CT, sent in this photo of an Osprey he took in the summer of 2013.
Rich Jenkins sent in this great shot of a Snowy Owl in late February 2014. The great Snowy Owl winter continues!
Rich Jenkins got this shot of a Snowy Owl at Silver Sands State Park, Milford, in late February 2014.
Carl Cederstav of Norwalk, CT, sent in this photo of a red-morph Eastern Screech Owl that was under his deck.
Eastern Screech Owl sent in by Carl Cederstav of Norwalk, CT.
A telltale sign of a Pileated Woodpecker.
Julie Parrott of Alstead, NH, grabbed this photo of the handiwork of a Pileated Woodpecker while walking in the New Hampshire woods.
Last week a reader submitted photos of a Barred Owl that they saw out a window in Fitzwilliam, N.H. This week, over in Hinsdale, N.H., a reader submitted photos of a Snowy Owl perched in a tree outside their window. How cool would that be?
Snowy Owl in Hinsdale, N.H., taken by L.Grimes., January 2014.
Snowy Owl in Hinsdale, N.H., taken by L.Grimes., January 2014.
What is that out the window?
Nancy Robie of Fitzwilliam, NH photographed this Barred Owl in her backyard. The owl was perched in a tree a few feet from her back deck on a Jan. 2014 day.
Lots of robins. A few are pictured in this photo by Ginny Tyburski of Norwalk, Conn., but she said the holly bushes were filled with robins on this winter day.
Ginny Tyburski of Norwalk, Conn., photographed these robins during a Jan. 2014 winter day.
A towhee in the snow.
Peter Hermance of Wilton, Conn. capture a photo of this Eastern Towhee at the beginning of a snow storm in Jan. 2014.
Who doesn’t heart chickadees?
A chickadee visits a heart-shaped feeder in this photo taken by Karen Wells of Peterborough, N.H.
Here’s a reader’s first bird of 2014! Thanks for sharing.
Downy Woodpecker on suet feeder in Norwalk, CT, Jan. 1, 2014. Jason Farrow captured the moment.
Bright green birds in New England? Yes, Monk Parakeets may be found along coastal Connecticut.
Bob Weiss of Westport, CT., had these visitors to his backyard feeding station in Dec. 2013. Monk Parakeets are sometimes found at backyard feeders in coastal Connecticut.
Here are a few Pileated Woodpeckers taken in Nov. 2013 by Jacqueline Gorgues of Keene, N.H.
Pileated Woodpeckers taken Nov. 2013 by Jacqueline Gorgues in Keene, N.H.
Deb McWethy of Harrisville, N.H. sent in this photo of an Eastern Bluebird pair on a nesting box in mid-November, late for a sighting.
Deb McWethy of Harrisville, N.H. sent in this photo of Eastern Bluebirds at a more appropriate season.
Here’s a bold white-tailed deer taking bird seed from a birdfeeder. Photo submitted by Doris McKee
Here’s a downy woodpecker photo submitted by William Kenney.
Hi, New to this site. Hubby spotted an unusual, small bird which he described as looking “like a skeleton” on the greens of a nearby golf course in Halifax, Massachusetts. The lawn care manager also saw this peculiar looking bird but could not find it in any pics online. “It has a small, thin body, small head and not many feathers, and is a gray color”, husband Bill reports. Do any of you know of this unique species of bird? Could be it is not “from around here”. ?????
Hmmm. Good question. I’m not sure what bird that might be, especially without many feathers. Upland Sandpiper is the only bird I can think of with a small head, but it’s not likely to be seen near a golf course. I’d love to help, though. Maybe he can get a photo. Doesn’t have to be a great photo. Thanks for writing.
Hi, New to this site. Hubby spotted an unusual, small bird which he described as looking “like a skeleton” on the greens of a nearby golf course in Halifax, Massachusetts. The lawn care manager also saw this peculiar looking bird but could not find it in any pics online. “It has a small, thin body, small head and not many feathers, and is a gray color”, husband Bill reports. Do any of you know of this unique species of bird? Could be it is not “from around here”. ?????
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Hmmm. Good question. I’m not sure what bird that might be, especially without many feathers. Upland Sandpiper is the only bird I can think of with a small head, but it’s not likely to be seen near a golf course. I’d love to help, though. Maybe he can get a photo. Doesn’t have to be a great photo. Thanks for writing.
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What stunning photography skills! Keep it up!
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