Birding USA IV

Down at the beach and the surrounding wooded habitat, several birds can be seen. For those who split everything that moves (like me) these Pale-bellied Brent Geese are of interest. Whether or not you split them, they are a natty little goose.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese

This Black-crowned Night-Heron had a last feed before heading off to roost.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Back at the H. Smith Richardson reserve the warm sun meant birding was more pleasant, it also meant some of the birds had moved on, we did finally get a record shot of an incedibly elusive Common Yellowthroat and a passing Northern Parula was not much more confiding.

Common Yellowthroat

Northern Parula

Butterflies basked in the sun including these two species; American Painted Lady and the Question Mark, so named for the small but discernaly white crescent and dot on the under wing.

American Painted Lady

Question mark butterfly

A male Orchard Oriole was in good voice and close by a female Black-and-white Warbler put in a brief appearance.

Orchard Oriole

Female Black-and-white Warbler

A Downy Woodpecker performed well for the camera feeding away with no concern for our presence, the tiny black spots on the outer tail feathers can just be made out in this picture. Overhead a Red-tailed Hawk circled.

Downy Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Elis was really enjoying her time in these verdent forests seeing many new birds and experiencing the New England spring in all its glory.

I, on the other hand, seem to be slightly less enthralled! I just closed my eyes for an instant (honest) enjoying the warm sun on my back, lovely!

Birding USA III

While in Connecticut I am staying with my brother, Andy, who was responsible for me being interested in birds in the first place, he has since lapsed, but is now becoming a 'born again' birder and came out with me to see some of the local birds that he hadn't seen at his feeders.

Andy and me checking out the sparrows

Among the birds that were new to him were Yellow Warbler and Baltimore Oriole, and Elis found a stonking Prairie Warbler.

Praiarie Warbler

After this my brother went off for a spot of fly-fishing in a beautiful spot where water tumbled over rocks and Elis' arty side came to the fore.

Trout fishing river

Aparently this is a relaxing pastime, but being up to your gonads in freezing water is not my idea of fun.

The master at work

I learnt something about fly-fishing, when your line gets snagged in a tree, you simply wade over and retreive it, no problem!

Not such a masterful stroke

As my brother fished away to his hearts content, Elis and I birded along the river, here we found some interesting birds with Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Cedar Waxwing and Red-bellied Woodpecker being added to Elis' life list.

Eastern Phoebe

Chimney Swifts

Cedar Waxwing

Red-bellied Woodpecker

My sister in law, Catarina, also a Brazilian, has no interest whatsoever in birds, but was happy to cart Elis and me around to show us some of the best birding places near to their home, lunch by the beach USA style, not quite the bikini and shorts style of Brazil at this time of year.

Catarina, Elis and me lunching at the beach

Meanwhile back at the feeders a pair of House Finches brought their youngster to be fed, both the male and female fed their squawking offspring.

Male House Finch feeding its young

Now it's the female's turn

The feeders were busy, with the House Finch pair and a pair of American Goldfinches it was full house.

Full house at the feeders

When space allowed a White-breasted Nuthatch put in brief appearances, mostly nabbing a sunflower seed and flying off to eat it elsewhere.

White-breasted Nuthatch

This splendid Northern Cardinal enjoys the facilities too from time to time.

Northern Cardinal

Chipping Sparrows visit the feeder, but also pick up fallen seed on the decking,

Chipping Sparrow

often in the company of this charming little fellow, a Chipmunk.

Chipmunk

Birdng USA II

More local stuff around the Westport city area. This well-ordered well-to-do town if very leafy and is also by the beach making it a good place to look for birds. Here is another offering of Elis' photos of some of the birds and other creatures we saw today.

Greater Yellowlegs

Red-winged Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Horseshoe Crab

American Black Duck

Northern Mockingbird

Savannah Sparrow

Least Flycatcher

American Redstart

Bumble bee

Red Admiral

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Herring Gull

Common Grackle

Pine Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Eastern Kingbird

Birding USA.

First day of a trip to the New England region of the USA. Birding around the Westport Connecticut area. The day started gently with a bit of feeder watching whilst forcing down a bacon and eggs breakfast. Visitors to the feeders in the rain included;
White-breasted Nuthatch,

Chipping Sparrow,

Northern Cardinal, this is a female,

this is the striking male,

House Finch,

and Common Grackle.

Also seen passing in the garden were several Wild Turkeys,

and American Robin.

We then went to the beach area where the weather continued to be rather murky and there was a mist that made identifying the distant waders impossible, however one Greater Yellowlegs was found along a creek.

Other birds seen on our tour of the local area were Northern Flicker,

Northern Mockingbird,

Osprey,

Yellow Warbler,

this crow eating a bird, we're not sure if it killed it or not, this may well have been a Fish Crow as we heard them calling in the vicinity.

Returning to the beach area we got good views of Song Sparrow,

and returning to the house along Sasco Creek road we passed the H. Smith Richardson Connecticut Audubon reserve,

where we saw Northern Oriole,

Black-capped Chickadee,

and Grey Catbird.

Upon returning home Tufted Titmouse was at the feeders,

 with this splendid male American Goldfinch.

Although the weather was pretty atrocious all day we did get to see and photograph some good birds.