White Breasted Nuthatch Finding A Spring Snack

One of our favorite yard birds is the White Breasted Nuthatch. We can usually hear this bird before we see it, as its unk, unk, unk sounds accompany its movement up and down the three trunks. We are lucky to often see some visit our bird feeders right through the winter. But it is in the trees where this yard bird is best viewed. It seems equally comfortable moving up or down the trunks of trees, search the crevices of the bark for seeds and insects. I found this one working one of our large maples in our side yard, discovering a little seed that must have been stored over the winter.

Another Tough Photo: Golden Crowned Kinglet

The Golden Crowned Kinglet is fairly common in the fall and the spring, and can be found pretty regularly in the winter around Connecticut. But since they are always darting from branch to branch, they are often difficult for me to photgraph.

Yesterday, at Cedar Lake in Chester, I spotted a couple of these kinglets working branches of Rhodedendrons, with faint chips as they worked.

I took a million photos with the hole of getting at least one. This isn't THE one, but it shows the bold yellow head stripe and the hint of yellow on the wings. I know, i know...it is the back. I'll keep trying.

Spring Birds: Ospreys Are Back!

Living on a cove off the Connecticut River, we are neighbors to several Ospreys who use the nesting platforms on Thatchbed Island off South Cove in Essex. They are so common, cruising the skies looking for fish in the shallows of the cove, that when they leave, there is something indeed missing from the landscape.

Well this week, our friends have returned, and have begun fishing right away. This one is hovering over Cedar Lake in Chester, Connecticut. It didn't make the dive, but I have already seen two of these raptors with wiggling fish in their talons. Welcome back, friend.

Costa Rica Birds: Roseate Spoonbill

I guess this doesn't really count as a Costa Rica bird, but at the hotel grounds a tidal pond attracted a great many waders including herons, egrets and this Roseate Spoonbill.

We first saw Spoonbills in the Everglades a few years back in one of our earliest nature trips. At that time, we were more interested in the Alligators and Crocs versus the birds. But the Spoonbill really stood out.

In Costa Rica, this Spoonbill spent most of the day searching through the muck and seaweed/algae for little tidbits to eat.

Another New Yard Bird: Red-Throated Loon

Yesterday, we endured a mid-March Nor'Easter here in Connecticut, with ice and snow everywhere today. While the winds have died down, various birds must have been swept in from all points. Right outside our window we spotted two unusual visitors: Red-Throated Loon and Ruddy Duck.

The loon was spotted with its head tucked under its wing, most likely tired battling the wicked winds yesterday. I assumed it was a cCommon Loon, but as I got closer, it lifted its head and I could see the upturned, thinner bill. It was gray outside so it was difficult to discern any color, but I thought I could also see a red eye.

In the center of Middle Cove, I spotted a tight group of small ducks. A quick look with binoculars indicated the stiff tail and white markings on the face of the male. There were 15 of them.

Costa Rica Birds: The Amazing King Vulture

One of Paul and my target birds in Costa Rica was the King Vulture. With frequent sightings of Turkey and Black Vultures around our hotel, we were excited that we might get a chance to see the endangered King.

Our guide took us up to the top of a cliff where a viewing platform was erected to watch raptors work the thermals around Carara Wildlife refuge. I was intently watching two Kings very far off when our guide said one was getting close. I didn't see it. Suddenly, not 20 feet away, a huge raptor swooped up the cliffside below us and gave us lifetime looks at this magnificent vulture.

My camera was not in position to take the close up (might have been too close anyway), but I managed to take a few shots. Incredible experience with a special bird

New Essex Yard Bird-- Northern Pintail

Upon returning from Hammonasset, I spotted a group of ducks off our little dock on Middle Cove, Essex, in Connecticut. Obvious were the Mallards, all greened up for the season. Not so obvious were longer-necked ducks with white necks and blue bills. Paul immediately identified them as Northern Pintails....a new yardbird for us.

Three males and two females were mixing with the Mallards near the ebbing tide edge of the cove near our home. My first photos caused them to fly...after I took several nice shots.

But just a few minutes later, they came back and continued their search in the mud and weeds for nourishment. Very clean colors and beautiful posture with its neck erect and straight, and pointy tail jutting out. Gorgeous duck.

Springtime Migrant--Killdeer Begin Arrival!

Yesterday, from our home, Paul and I heard a familiar "dee dee dee" in the air. We have had just a few days of enjoyment watching newly arrived Grackles, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and Brown-Headed Cowbirds, so we were on the alert for more springtime visitors.

We watched as two Killdeer flew up the Connecticut River and into Middle Cove in Essex where we live, settling on a mudpatch.

At Hammonasset today, Paul and I looked around for more evidence of these early migrants, and found two more on the newly created salt marsh areas. All bright and newly plumed, these birds looked ready for a full year ahead.

Warm Bath For American Tree Sparrow

Temperatures were up into the high 40s today, with sun shine melting much of the ice and snow. We are beginning to see some of the early spring migrants at our home, like large Grackle and Red-Winged Blackbird flocks.

At Hammonasset today, I spotted this little winter visitor--the American Tree Sparrow--taking a little bath in the warming ice melt. While others were quickly gathering seed in mixed flocks, some were getting a mid-afternoon cleaning.

I wonder if he is getting ready for his trip to the north.

Costa Rica Birds-- The Colorful Hoffman's Woodpecker

In several places at the hotel, we heard the tap tap tapping of a woodpecker. Invariably, the bird making the noise was the Hoffman's. I could tell as I looked at it from my binoculars that it had a colorful nape and crown...but it was not until I sat and watched one working a ficus tree that I saw just how colorful it was.

Orange nape, red crown, yellow lores....it was actually a mess of colors.

After taking several photos, I could see that whatever it found in the tree, it was sticking red to its beak...just adding to the colors.

Why Did The Bittern Cross The Road?

Driving last week in Hammonasset, I saw something by the side of the road. Two years ago, I saw an American Bittern standing nearby in the reeds, giving me a lot of nice looks for photos. So I was not surprised when the bird I was now looking at raised its head in its disguising pose.

Focusing my camera, I watched in amazement as the bittern, still pointing its bill in the air, began walking closer to the road....and then stepping onto the road. The Bittern was going to walk across the street.

Perhaps it was the car....or my verbal amazement....but halfway across it leapt into the sky and flew to the reeds across the road.

An unusual sighting to say the least.

Costa Rica--Hungry Orange-Chinned Parakeet

Been back from Costa rica for a week, and am sorting through many photos. Paul and I picked up about 65 lifers our of 125 species seen from our spot in Los Suenos on the Pacific coast.

This hungry parakeet sat with several others on our hotel grounds, munching away on tree fruits.