A few birds from this weekend …
A few birds from this weekend
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Tag Archives: birds of New England
For the Birds: Nesting season has its ups and downs
A northern flicker hollows out a hole in a snag for a potential nest site, New England, April 2026.
While the majority of spring migrants are still working their way north, many of New England’s year-round birds are already getting down to the business of nesting.
I’m sure I’ll see plenty of nesting activity as the spring progresses, but last week I witnessed two interesting scenes related to nesting.
The first was in my backyard. As I approached one of my birdfeeders to throw in a handful of safflower seed, I noticed a northern flicker dart off into the woods. Its white rump patch gave away its identification. I was fairly certain the flicker had been clinging to a topped-off dead tree a dozen or so yards away from the feeder, and I made a note to approach the feeder more carefully next time.
Continue readingSuccessful day finding migrants
White-eyed vireo at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026.
I got up early and headed to Huntington State Park in Redding, Connecticut, and was rewarded with a good mix of migrants I hadn’t seen since last year.
Blue-gray gnatcatcher at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026.
Fun, feisty little bird.
Yellow-bellied sapsucker at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026.
Not exactly a migrant, and I had seen sapsuckers all winter, but I had to include this handsome bird anyway. This is a male as indicated by the red throat.
Louisiana waterthrush at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026.
I’ve been seeing these for a few weeks now.
Hooded warbler at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026
Not the best photo, of course, but this was as close as I could get. Cool bird though.
White-eyed vireo at Huntington State Park, Redding, Conn., April 24, 2026.
Piping plovers and oystercatchers highlight trip to shore
A male piping plover (back) pursues a female at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
I took a trip to the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point today to see piping plovers, American oystercatchers, and whatever else may be around. I timed it nicely, as I found several piping plover pairs doing their mating ritual and even saw one pair copulating.
The male plovers followed the females around the rocks and sand, standing tall and performing a type of stomp dance with their feet and legs. It was quite entertaining.
While the plovers and oystercatchers were the highlight, there were dozens (hundreds maybe) of brant still hanging around New England.
A male piping plover (back) pursues a female at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
A male piping plover (back) pursues a female at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
Piping plovers copulate at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
Piping plovers copulate at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
Piping plovers copulate at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
American oystercatcher pair at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
Brant at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
A male piping plover (back) pursues a female at Milford Point in New England, April 16, 2026.
For the Birds: Spring waterfowl migration never disappoints
There is a pond 20 minutes from my house that I pass frequently. For 50 weeks of the year, the pond holds little interest for me other than being an aesthetically pleasing landmark to look at as I drive past.
In the summer, a few mallards and Canada geese are the only birds present. It being a small pond in New England, it is frozen for most of the winter, which is great for the skaters who have fun on the ice, but not so much for birdwatchers.
However, during one week in early spring and one week in late fall, the pond holds a surprisingly solid variety of migrating ducks.
Continue readingFor the Birds: Sapsucker make surprise winter visit
At first it looked like a growth on the tall bush near my bird feeding station. I quickly realized it wasn’t a growth at all but rather a yellow-bellied sapsucker hugging a small branch.
It was a first-year bird, and its dark coloration, lack of red head or throat, and barred plumage made it look like part of the bush. It also caught me by surprise because yellow-bellied sapsuckers are migratory and are not frequent visitors to feeders. It was also perfectly still for several minutes as, from the comfort of my living room, I watched it brave the single-digit temperatures.
Continue readingFor the Birds: Great Backyard Bird Count is coming
A red-shouldered hawk perches on a branch during a snowy day in New England, January 2026.
It should come as no surprise that birdwatching is growing in popularity, according to several studies and other metrics. It had been gaining in popularity for years, but the pandemic greatly accelerated the movement.
As I researched the Great Backyard Bird Count for this column, I was surprised at how much birdwatching had gained in popularity, at least as it is measured by the number of GBBC participants.
Continue readingJanuary 25, 2026, snowstorm bird photos: round 4
Yet a few more bird photos from the snowstorm on January 25, 2026, in New England.
A male cardinal perches on a branch during a snowstorm, January 2026, New England.
Some wintry bird photos
White-throated sparrow in snow, New England, January 2026.
You didn’t think I’d let a snowy weekend go by without posting a few snowy bird photos, did you?
American goldfinch eats seeds from a spent flower in New England, January 2026.
Eastern bluebird in a birdbath in New England, January 2026.
A fox sparrow perches on a snowy branch in New England, January 2026.
A Carolina wren searches for food under a feeder in New England, January 2026.
A red-breasted nuthatch takes a safflower seed from a feeder in New England, January 2026.
For the Birds: Evening grosbeaks on the move
There is a thing in birding called a “spark bird.”
It is not a species of bird like a bluebird, mockingbird or blackbird, but rather the type of bird that piqued (or sparked) someone’s interest in birding and got them hooked. For many people, it is something big or colorful, like a loon or eagle or Baltimore oriole or great blue heron.
Because I have to be different, my spark bird is actually a moose. Yes, I know a moose is not a bird, but my quest to see a moose in the Vermont woods led me to my love of birdwatching.
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