Tag Archives: birds of New England

For the Birds: Sometimes patience is needed in the fall for those who feed birds

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A blue jay perches on a log and grabs a peanut in New England, October.

There’s a viburnum bush outside my window at work that is bursting with red berries. I watch it carefully this time of year, as I’ve seen robins, cardinals, hermit thrushes and blue-headed vireos chowing down the berries in previous years.

Also in years past, as winter approaches and a few of the berries remain, I’ve seen white-throated sparrows enjoying the fruits.

This viburnum is just one of many examples of why birds are sometimes scarce at birdfeeders in the fall. One day, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, blue jays and mourning doves are visiting the feeders frequently, and, seemingly, the next day there is very little activity at the feeder.

Just as our gardens flourish and provide a bountiful harvest in late summer and fall, so does the rest of nature in New England. Berries ripen, flowers and grasses go to seed and insects remain numerous. Birds don’t need feeders in the fall as much as they do in other seasons.

Sure, some feeders will remain active, but others will experience a slowing down period. Once nature’s fall bounty is consumed or dies off in the cold, the birds will be back to the feeders. Birds will, however, still get a fair amount of their diet from natural sources, but the feeders provide a welcomed supplement to the fruits, seeds and insects that remain.

Birds that migrate are a mixed blessing for those who feed birds. They provide much-needed excitement in the spring when they return from their wintering grounds. It’s always a thrill when the first rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore oriole, gray catbird or ruby-throated hummingbird shows up at a feeder in April or May. But these same migrating birds also contribute to the fall slowdown, as they make their way out of the region once again.

It is fun, however, when a southward migrating bird makes a surprise stop at your feeder. The other day, a yellow-rumped warbler stopped by for a bite at my suet cake cage. I also recently saw a blue-headed vireo in a bush next to my feeding station. It was likely looking for berries, but I don’t think the fruits were quite ready. It’s also nice when kinglets flit among my flower garden looking for coneflower, black-eyed Susan or daisy seeds. Usually, I get ruby-crowned kinglets, but the occasional golden-crowned kinglet will show up as well.

“Where are all my feeder birds?” is a common question this time of year. It is most likely because they are finding food elsewhere. The trick is to be patient and continue to maintain the feeders through this slow period. Keep the feeders filled and clean so they are ready when the birds need them in late fall and winter. Birds will occasionally stop by during the fall to grab a seed or two. If they visit and there’s no food for them, there’s a chance they’ll seek out another feeding station and not return in the winter. That would make for a long winter – not for the birds, but for the person looking for the birds.

Feeding birds in the fall will not prevent them from migrating. Those that need to migrate will migrate; those that don’t won’t.

If you’re experiencing a slow time at your feeders, hang in there. The action will pick up again soon enough.

For the Birds: Veery and wood thrush share the title

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A veery stakes out territory in New England, spring 2025.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A wood thrush sings from a branch in New England.

I wrote back in early July that the veery had taken the lead as the Bird of Summer, my very unofficial designation that goes to the bird that I see most frequently, or at least more frequently than usual.

With summer now over, I can officially—or unofficially—name the Bird of Summer. The veery and wood thrush share the distinction. Early in the summer, I saw and heard veeries on every walk. In the middle of summer and into late summer, it was the wood thrush that stood out more. I didn’t always find the often-secretive bird, but I certainly heard the unmistakable flute-like song way more often than I usually do.

It was encouraging to hear the wood thrush so often, as they are one of the many birds that have experienced a sharp population decline in recent decades.

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For the Birds: Nothing like finding migrating American oystercatchers

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Photo by Chris Bosak
American oystercatcher, summer in New England.

A few weeks ago, I previewed the fall hawk watch season and encouraged anyone interested in seeing that spectacle to head to the nearest hawk watch site.

Mid-September is the prime time for hawk watches, so get out there now if you can.

There is a lot more to fall birdwatching than hawk watches, of course. Songbirds are heading south in large numbers too. Presumably, there are many more songbirds passing through New England in the fall than in the spring with all the first-year birds making their initial southward journey.

With all the excitement around hawks and songbirds, it’s easy to forget about the shorebird migration, which can be equally as fun. Shorebirds are an often underrated category of birds and it’s understandable considering most people do not live near the coast. Sure, certain shorebirds may be found along the edges of lakes, ponds and rivers, but they are usually found as individuals or pairs. On the other hand, the coasts of the ocean and Long Island Sound may hold flocks of dozens or even hundreds of shorebirds. 

I visit from time to time a preserve on Long Island Sound in southern New England. American oystercatchers, among other birds, nest there and may be seen in pairs in the spring and summer. If a pair is successful in raising young, then, of course, the family unit will swell to three or four birds.

If a visit is timed right during fall migration, however, a dozen or more oystercatchers may be seen together on the shore poking around for food to fuel their southern migration. 

Such was the case the other day when my friend Wayne and I visited the preserve. We hadn’t had a lot of luck on our previous walks in the woods looking for songbirds, but the trip to the shore more than made up for the previous birdless walks. 

The walk along the shore got off to a slow start as well. We had walked about 15 minutes before we saw our first bird, a semipalmated plover. They are small shorebirds that could easily be mistaken for a killdeer. 

As it turns out, there were three plovers foraging together, not a single bird. That happens often when looking for shorebirds. What starts out as a sighting of one bird quickly turns into several birds as they eventually all come into view as they move among the rocks, shells and sand.

Finally, as we neared the end of the out-and-back walk, we spotted the oystercatchers. It started as a lone bird flying across the scene, uttering its high-pitched, repetitive call. We followed that bird until it landed on the mudflats. Once our eyes were trained on the shallow pool, one of several pools left over from high tide, we saw the rest of the oystercatchers. There were a dozen or more of the flashy, large shorebirds.

American oystercatchers have black heads and chests, brown backs and wings, and white underparts. The interesting parts of the oystercatcher are the eyes and bill. They have yellow eyes with a black middle and noticeable red eyering. The bills are long, sturdy and bright orange. To see a dozen or more together is a magical sight. 

As we walked along the mudflats toward the oystercatchers, I was again reminded how well some shorebirds blend in with their environment. At one point, I got to within about five feet of a least sandpiper before it quickly scurried away from me. If it hadn’t moved, I probably would have walked right past it. Then, of course, five or six more least sandpipers suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

Eventually, I got close enough to photograph the oystercatchers. The first couple photos I got were of banded birds with two coded rings around each leg. The others were not banded. A lone black-bellied plover joined the oystercatchers on the hunt, while a few snowy egrets worked the shoreline a few yards away.

American oystercatchers are one of those birds I never tire of seeing and, no matter how many times I’ve seen them before, it’s always like I’m seeing them for the first time. Loons evoke a similar emotion. To catch them during migration in large numbers is that much better.

For the Birds: Hawk watch season upon us

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A broad-winged hawk perches in a tree in northern New Hampshire, July 2020.

Last November, I wrote consecutive bird columns based on the results of the Pack Monadnock Hawk Watch. As I wrote the second column, I made a mental note to write another one before the start of the next hawk watching season. Well, here we are.

Instead of reading about what happened already, now you can get out there and see the spectacle for yourself. So here it is, all you need to know about planning a trip to see the thousands of raptors that will pass over southern New Hampshire this fall.

There are other hawk watch sites in New Hampshire, but Pack Monadnock is the most popular, and for good reason. Expert hawk watchers are on site from September 1 through the middle of November to count the hawks, lead talks and answer questions from visitors. Also, it is the place in the state where the most hawks and greatest variety of raptors may be seen heading south. Hawk watches include hawks, eagles, falcons, ospreys and vultures. 

The Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory, as it is officially called, is located near the top of Pack Monadnock Mountain within Miller State Park off Route 101 in Peterborough. Visitors can drive or hike to the site.

A few hawks have already been counted in August, but the numbers have not started to heat up yet. The most thrilling time at Pack Monadnock, and most other hawk watch sites, is when the broad-winged hawks pass through in staggering numbers. When that happens exactly is both predictable and unpredictable. It will happen sometime in mid-September, that much we know, but weather and wind conditions will determine the exact window. 

Last year, I spoke with Phil and Julie Brown of Hancock about the timing. If anyone will know, it’s them. Phil is the Bird Conservation Director and Land Specialist at the Harris Center for Conservation Education. His wife, Julie, is the Raptor Migration and Program Director of the Hawk Migration Association.

Here are a few paragraphs from one of those columns from last November:

“While the broad-winged hawk migration is truly a spectacle, with as many as 3,000 or more seen on a single day, it is very time-specific. September 14-20 is the sweet spot when nearly all of the broad-wingeds pass through, the Browns said. Phil said many people take the entire week off from work to not miss the right day.

“Mark your calendars for the middle of next September and keep your eyes out for a forecast that calls for light or variable winds from the north (or northeast or northwest), particularly following a cold front.”

Last year, the best two-day window by far at Pack Monadnock was September 14 and 15, when 3,160 and 562 broad-winged hawks, respectively, passed over the mountain. September 19 and 20 were also solid with 458 and 403 broad-winged hawks soaring past.

Mid-September is also the best time to see sharp-shinned hawks, the second-most-counted raptor at Pack Monadnock. Last year, there were two days (September 14 and 19) when more than 100 sharpies flew overhead. 

Last year, September accounted for 7,280 of the 8,581 total raptors counted at Pack Monadnock. While September is obviously the best month to visit, October is still a strong month. The broad-winged hawks, which account for the majority of the birds counted each fall, are mostly gone by the time October rolls around, but there are still good numbers of species such as sharp-shinned hawks, turkey vultures, northern harriers and red-tailed hawks to be seen. American kestrels and merlins, both small falcons, are also passing through in decent numbers in October. 

The hawk watch remains open until mid-November, but the action is fairly slow by then. Red-tailed hawks are still moving through at a decent clip, but most of the other species have stopped completely or slowed to a trickle.

This year I’ve given fair warning. Keep an eye on the forecast in mid-September, head to the mountain and see some hawks. Lots of them.

For the Birds: Towhee saves the quest

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Photo by Chris Bosak – An eastern towhee perches on a tree branch in New England, August 2026.

I got home at 6 o’clock in the evening and had two hours of daylight left.

Did I have enough time to change and get to the park for a bird walk? Or should I sit around the house and do nothing?

I wouldn’t be writing a bird column about that evening if I chose the latter, so yes, I decided I did have enough time to look for some birds before it got dark.

It had been a long time since I had taken a decent bird photo, so my goal was to get one on this walk despite not having a lot of time. I didn’t care what bird it was, I just wanted to capture a good image. 

As I pulled into the parking lot, I started making odds in my head about what bird would present itself for a good photo opportunity first. I was about 90 percent sure it would be a catbird. They are reliable sightings all throughout the summer and often are not shy about being seen. If not a catbird, I thought, perhaps a song sparrow, mourning dove or cardinal. But catbird was definitely my best shot, I figured.

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For the Birds: Female birds have a more subtle beauty

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A female bobolink perches in a field in Brookfield, Connecticut, summer 2026.

Every spring I head out to the same field to photograph bobolinks.

I know the hotspots to find them and wait patiently on the trails that cut through the fields for one to perch within reach of my zoom lens.

Even as I write this, several months after my latest adventure, I am picturing a male bobolink with its amazing black and white plumage accented by a large yellow patch on the back of his head. New England boasts many colorful birds, especially in the spring, and bobolinks certainly fit that bill.

As I was walking out of the field, I noticed a female bobolink perched among the tall grasses. I stopped in my tracks and snapped several photos of the willing subject. She didn’t have the striking colors or patterns of the male, but she had a subtle, understated beauty nonetheless. 

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the female bobolink as “warm buffy brown, streaked with dark brown on the back and flanks, and bold brown stripes on the crown.” That sounds about right. It must be a tough job having to write descriptions of brownish birds and capturing the subtle beauty they each possess.

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For the Birds: Turnstones and plovers add excitement to fishing trip

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A ruddy turnstone looks for food at Milford Point, Connecticut, summer 2026.

My son Andrew and I moved quickly along the beach to the fishing spot several hundred yards away. He lugged the heavy bag with a cooler, fishing supplies, and snacks. I carried the rods and chairs.

We passed dozens of shorebirds on the way to our spot at the mouth of a river that feeds into Long Island Sound. I noted mostly piping plovers, but there were also ruddy turnstones and a few American oystercatchers.

Normally, I would drop everything and obsess over trying to get photos of the birds, but we had this day planned for a while, and I didn’t want my hobby to take over the father-son time. Maybe I’ll stop for a few photos on the way back, I thought.

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For the Birds: Warbler distribution in New England is interesting

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A blackburnian warbler in Pittsburg, NH, summer 2026.

The birding action was relatively slow as we tromped along a skid trail used recently by loggers in the wilds of northern New Hampshire. 

It was mid-afternoon in July, so the lack of birds was not a surprise. Merlin, the app that identifies bird sounds, picked up the calls of a magnolia warbler and a golden-crowned kinglet, and we found both of them with little effort. 

Another bird, not detected by Merlin, flitted among the top of a spruce. Before lifting the binoculars, I would have guessed it was a magnolia warbler because I noted some yellow in the plumage, and magnolias had been plentiful the entire trip.

Through the binoculars, it was evident the bird in question was a blackburnian warbler. It lacked the brilliant fiery color of a breeding male, so it was either a female, first-year bird, or male transitioning to non-breeding plumage. Such is the challenge (and frustration) of summer and fall warbler identification.

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For the Birds: Loons and eagles highlight trip up north

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A common loon rests on a pond in northern New Hampshire, summer 2026.

It was a scene you might see in the opening frames of a movie.

The mist was thick coming off the water, and the sunrise peaking over the distant mountain painted the eastern sky a brilliant orange. Tall pines marked the edge of the pond, and a pair of loons silently floated on the mirror-like water.

Heather and I slowly paddled toward the loons but kept a respectable distance so as to not disturb their morning routine, which seemed to be not much more than sitting still on the water. Neither one of the loons made any of their iconic sounds, but the scene was still quintessential New England regardless.

As we paddled east toward the rising and slowly brightening sun, belted kingfishers on either side of the pond rattled simultaneously, creating a stereo effect among the din of birdsong that filled the morning air. Based on what we heard, common yellowthroats, Swainson’s thrushes, red-winged blackbirds and red-breasted nuthatches were the dominant songbirds hiding in the thick woods.

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For the Birds: Veery takes lead in Bird of the Summer race

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A veery at Huntington State Park in Redding, CT, May 2026.

It’s still too early to declare my Bird of the Summer, but one bird has become the clear favorite.

Of course, catbirds and robins are always common sightings in the summer, and I have certainly seen many of those on my recent walks. But ever since early May, my walks seem to be dominated by veeries.

Veeries are thrushes and indeed closely resemble the more common hermit thrush and wood thrush. There are some obvious differences, however, as veeries are a warmer reddish-brown overall with fewer and lighter spots on their chests.

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