Bluebird Baby!

Happening now! Daddy bluebird feeding his fledgling baby mealworms from the feeder. Sooo cute! Soon the fledgling will learn to use the mealworm feeder itself. In this cold, rainy weather when the insects the parents also feed the young are less active, the mealworms are a welcome help to the busy parents. Love the bluebirds it is such a special treat to have them breeding right by.

Scarlet Tanager Neotropical Beauty!

Scarlet Tanager, male

There's a Scarlet Tanager singing in our backyard right now. These beautiful neotropical migrant birds fly each fall across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in South America then return in spring to breed in forests across most of the upper two thirds of North America and southern Canada. Look for them up high in the tree tops and learn their raspy song that sounds a little like a robin with a hoarse voice.

Warbler Excitement Still Going On!

American Redstart, male

Northern Parula, male

Blackpoll Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Warbler excitement still going on here. A few of the warblers that have passed by our deck in the last few days. American Redstart, Northern Parula, Blackpoll Warbler, Nashville Warbler. It takes them a while to get here, but such a treat. For those moving on to their breeding grounds we wish them a successful breeding season.

Mt. Auburn Cemetery Birding Hotspot!!

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Northern Parula

Birders searching in the tall trees.

Veery

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

You can drive and park on the roads and get out to bird.

Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA is a world famous birding hotspot and the birds showed up today. Lots of warblers and lots of birders were there including us with our friends, Bill Riley (one of the founders of the Everglades Foundation) and his wife Suzie. Blackburnian Warblers were one of the highlights and we saw many other warblers including Northern Parula, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided and Prairie Warblers. Plus other species like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles and a nice Veery. However, the birds are way high up in the trees and the trees were partially leafed out obscuring the birds. Thus photography was a challenge with the point and shoot Canon SX 50. It is such a beautiful place with multiple habitats and lots of mature oaks whose flowers attracted the many insects the warblers were actively feeding on. Safe journey birds!

Hummers Arrived!

Pine Siskin

Is anyone else tired of the rain and gloom? Hopefully we will get some light in the next several days. Meanwhile at the feeders, White-throated and White-crowned (right) Sparrows coming through, Ruby-throated hummer just arrived, Pine Siskins still here and goldfinches not wanting to share the feeder.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Have Arrived!

Rose Breasted Grosbeak, male

They're back! Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male singing in our backyard here in New England! One of my favorite birds! I chose this bird for the cover of our The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region (also available as a western edition). Attract them to your feeders with black oil sunflower offered in a feeder with ample perching room. Btw, I took this photo at the Tawas Point Birding Festival, MI. It was a rainy day, just like today and in the soft light many of the warblers and other birds came down low to feed. 

The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region, Buy Now!