Sunday, March 28, 2010
Trumpeter Swans in Stratford...
Monday, March 22, 2010
FOY...
- Mourning Cloak butterfly (3/08) - Stratford
- Pine Warbler (3/11) - Stratford
- American Woodcock (3/13) - Stratford
- Spring Peepers (3/13) - Stratford
- Wood Frogs (3/13) - Stratford
- Red-backed Salamander & 'Lead-backed' form (3/13) - Stratford
- Tree Swallows (3/18) - Stratford
- Garter Snake (3/19) - Stratford
- Eastern Phoebe (3/20) - Shelton
- Osprey (3/20) - Guilford
- Eastern Comma butterfly (3/20) - Guilford
- Spring Azure butterfly (3/20) - Guilford (one of my favs)
- Black Racer snake (3/20) - Guilford
- Pickerel Frog (3/20) - Guilford
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (3/22) - Stratford
OK! back on track.... Below is a (terrible) shot under my feeders that shows an interesting group of birds, all migrants. The photo was taken on May 2nd, and contains Indigo Buntings, White-crowned Sparrows, and White-THROATED sparrows (May 2nd)... a species which is a winter visitor (and maybe northern CT breeder????) in CT. Winter and Spring migrants together, all feeding together. I thought it was really neat.
(White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and Indigo Buntings feeding under my feeder tree in Stratford, CT yard. Photo taken: 05/02/09)
**Anyone can click on any photo throughout my blog to view a larger image**
-Brian-
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Backyard Woodpeckers...
Woodpeckers have evolved extremely thick and strong tail feathers which act as a prop when clinging to the side of a tree. They have long bills that slam into wood and chip away to find food, and bore out a nesting hole. Most fly in an undulating pattern, dipping and flapping their wings as their altitude varies. And for the purposes of my blog, I'm only going to speak of those I have, or see, in my yard and the woods behind it.
Throughout the year, and in migration times, I have been able to pull all but a Red-headed in one day in my immediate area (within 1/10mi.). Those species are, from smallest to largest... Downy WP, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (mostly in migrations, sometimes later into winter), Hairy WP, Red-bellied WP (the former and later are similar in size... only), the Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted ssps), and the huge Pileated WP.
(all photos were taken by me in my yard or woods...I have better photos of all but one of the species, but not from my yard/woods)
Just these 6 species have dramatic differences in their appearance and behavior... but all can be in the same woods at the same time. The Downy WP is basically a miniature of the Hairy WP, with defining characteristics being the longer bill of the Hairy, the often obvious difference in size, Hairies have completely white outer tail feathers while Downies have slight black spots/barring on their outer tail feathers... and I've seen the subtle black 'spur' that slightly creeps downwards into the white breast of the Hairy. In the males of both species, they have red coloring in the back of their white supercillium towards the back of the head. This red is absent in females.
Both species show a lot of white on the breast and in the barring, and sometimes can become 'stained' by the sap when boring out nesting cavities in the Spring.
After the Downy and Hairy, the next closest look-alike would be the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.... but only at a far distance without optical aid. The YB Sapsucker has a mainly black back with slight white barring, which varies from male to female and from individual to individual. The YB Sapsucker has a black breast, while Hairy and Downies have white. The wingtips of the Sapsuckers (not just the YB) extend much closer to the tip of the tail than in the 'twins'. Though called the Yellow-bellied, it isn't a bright yellow, and can be washed out in certain angles and light. The sure-fire field mark I go by is the red forehead in both sexes, and the red throat of the male. YB Sapsuckers also have large and obvious white wing patch.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do (I believe) breed in the northern climes of CT... as I've seen a male in Kent, CT in mid-July. However, that range is limited and does not extend to my town (which is both coastal and in-land due to a tall skinny outline). Though they do indeed pass through my area in Spring and Fall migrations. As a matter of fact, there should be a few around as I creep up to my departure date (45 days!!!!!!!) and the Spring migration gets into full swing.
Up next is an often confusing woodpecker for the common backyard birder who doesn't know the rarity of what they are often mistaken for. The Red-bellied woodpecker does indeed have a red head, though the entire side of it's face is grey, and females only have red present on the nape and the feathers juuuust before the bill... the much rarer Red-headed WP has an entirely red head, and has much more solid black than the Red-bellied. The Red-bellied WP doesn't have an intense red belly (another reason why this species can be incorrectly identified) when seen, though some have a heavier hue than others. This color variation and it's ease of viewing is very similar to the yellow of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
(male Red-bellied Woodpecker)
The Red-belly, as opposed to the solid black and solid whites of the Red-headed, are mostly grayish with black and white barring on the entire back and it's central tail feathers. When scrutinized together, the difference between the Red-bellied and Red-headed woodpeckers is quite measurable.
Next in line, and in size, is the Northern Flicker. Here in CT we have the 'yellow-shafted' ssps of the Northern Flicker. Among others, the main differences are the color of the underside of the wings (hence, yellow or red shafted), and the mustacial face stripe in males... yellow-shafted Flickers have a black stripe, while male red-shafted have red. Also, the yellow-shafted has a red crescent on the nape that is absent in the red-shafted race. Hybrids have been seen in CT, and are not uncommon in middle American and the Great Plains (same thing?).
(Northern Flicker from behind at suet feeder... I think this was a female)
(female Pileated Woodpecker)
(female Pileated Woodpecker...notice BLACK mustacial stripe... males show red.)
Woodpeckers are a common backyard feeder visitor, feeding on a range of things offered to them.... mostly suet cakes, but also apples, seeds, peanut butter mixtures, and bugs on the ground (Flickers are pretty much the only woodpecker I get that will actually feed, and forage, on the ground and lawns). The most common, and bravest, is the smallest... the Downy. When I open the back door, everyone leaves except the Downies. And the reason that brought me to write a post about woodpeckers, is the ferocity in which the Red-belly defends it's chosen suet cake from other woodpeckers, blackbirds, house sparrows, or any other feathered intruder. They are the only ones who refuse to leave... this morning a lone female came to the 3 cake linked chain, and successfully fended off about 8 Starlings.... who are notorious for devouring suet cakes in minutes.
All but one of the 6 species mentioned has fed in my yard at my suet... the only one who hasn't is the Pileated, though they certainly will go to them. I believe my problem is that the cages, and the tree they are on (a 3 year old Maple) may be too small for this huge bird.
Woodpeckers are amazing examples of evolution, and are always interesting to watch. I like to equate the Pileated Woodpecker with the Bald Eagle.... no matter how many times you see it, it remains an awesome sight.
-Brian-
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Norwalk Islands, 3/09
-The mid-day sun shining on the wake of Larry's boat-
-The same big poppa Gray seal. Notice the longer face, big eyes, and somewhat ugly face of the Gray-
-Two Harbor seals enjoying the sun. Notice the shorter face, with smaller eyes and a puppy dog/'cute' face.-
-A club/pod (is that what a group of seals are called?) of eight Harbor seals.-
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Penfield Reef, 03/05/10-
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A quick round-about this morning....
('Stand-Alone'-Birch Tree)
I got awful photos of both, and on the juvenile I was able to see the pale bar across the 'back shoulders' of the bird. They were almost as orange as the front of the bird. Perhaps the 9:00m sunlight enhanced the colors, but it looked so cool either way.
Other than nothing, the pool there behind the warehouses had 3 male Boat-tailed Grackles int the reeds in the back of it.
Next on the route is sometimes the pools on either side of the intersection of Access Rd. and Lordship Blvd in Stratford. One of which is usually referred to as the Access Pool. In the pool on the south side there were 4 Hooded Mergansers and a small flock of Black Ducks. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but as I drove along the Blvd, EVERY little pool had Hoodies and Blacks in it. I found myself creating a long line of cars behind me as I was hoping for something else too!!
On deck was Long Beach in Stratford, where a 2nd cycle Glaucous Gull has been found (for the 2nd winter in a row). As soon as I pulled in I noticed the amount of gulls, and amount of heavy machinery. The job has begun to demo the cottages at the end of Long Beach West in Stratford. Nonetheless, I had a nice conversation with one of the workers, and they allowed me to scoot on past a bit to scope out the gulls on the other side of the jetty where the Glaucous usually is seen. Sure enough, about 1/4 of the way down, there he was!! A big boy too! A Bobcat-type machine spooked him and he flew to 'his' Jetty, and was near a Brant. I never new Brant were that small!!
(1st cycle Glaucous Gull, Long Beach-Stratford, 2009)
*Not trying to top yours, Larry!!*
- (+/-50) Common Goldeneye
- (2) Horned Grebe
- (2) Great Cormorants
- (2) Red-throated Loons
- (1) 2nd cycle GLAUCOUS GULL
- (1) young LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL**
**I couldn't tell age other than not adult with the sun and the streaking and my lack of larid skills... so I wasn't comfortable with calling it. Thankfully Frank Mantlik showed up as I was on my way out and found it later. He knows the age/cycle).
I also had a female Scaup species that seemed kinda Greater than Lesser. But again, my skills aren't up there yet to be totally sure. It's white spot behind it's bill and on the front of it's cheeks was much larger and more prominent than the female Lessers that were there. Also, when the small group of Lessers moved along and started diving elsewhere, the unidentified stayed in with the Canvasbacks. Who knows... not me, obviously.
Below are some numbers from Frash Pond in Stratford:
- (26) Canvasbacks
- (5) Lesser Scaup (3 male, 2 female)
- (1) Scaup sp. (grrrr...)
- (1) Pied-billed Grebe
- (8) Bufflehead
- (1) awesome fly-over of sub-adult Bald Eagle heading S/SE
Monday, March 1, 2010
Hybrid Ducks are cool...
Wooster Pond is also known for producing good waterfowl, in a less than clean and less than 'wild' area. This winter season, the pond has produced numerous Green-winged Teal (often over 20 at times), Northern shoveler, Northern Pintail, Pintail x Mallard, Black Duck x Mallard, American Wigeon, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Snow Goose, and Cackling goose.
-Brian-