Bird Photos and their Stories
Lauren Shaffer wrote 146 posts
Red-headed Woodpeckers are fairly rare in our area, so it’s a treat to catch a sighting of their bold white patches on black wings, bright red head, and stark white belly. They nest in the excavated holes of dead trees and they require an under-story that is clear. Cornell’s website, All About Birds, says that […]
During the Acadia Birding Festival, I took a morning off to meander by myself along the shore and the road near our hotel. Some movement caught my eye low in the brushy area beside the road. A female American Redstart was busy stripping the long fibers of a dead branch in the thicket. […]
After getting so many interesting and beautiful photos, that I can’t seem to keep up with my blog, I’ve decided to do some of my posts as “Bird of the Day” with very little commentary. Hope you enjoy the pictures, and hopefully more frequent posts! These photos of the Green Heron were from the kayak […]
Razorbills and Common Murres were among the penguin-like birds that were observed on our trip to Machias Seal Island, along with the Atlantic Puffin. All of these species are Alcids. Razorbills and Murres look very similar with their black and white coloring, but the Razorbills have a very thick, blunt bill with a white line […]
Seeing Atlantic Puffins was the principle reason for wanting to go birding in Maine this Spring. Getting there by boat can be iffy, depending on the fog and the wind. When the seas are too rough to land on Machias Seal Island, one of three islands where Puffins nest, they can at least be observed […]
Early to mid-May is a warbler frenzy, both for the warblers migrating through the area and for the photographer who wants to catch these little jewels on camera. So what do you do when you are at Presque Isle for less than 24 hours, the light is horrible, the leaves are out, and it’s threatening […]
Harlequin Ducks are a feast for the eyes with all those stripes, spots, and exotic coloring going on! If you really want to see them though, it may require a trip in winter to Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey, and a treacherous walk along the giant rocks that make up the almost mile-long jetty. This year […]
For years, I have attempted to attract Baltimore Orioles to oranges during migration. I would see them in the yard, but they turned up their noses, er, beaks, at the expensive gift that I put out for them. Finally, last year, not one, but several came to sample the small Clementines that I put out […]
In their breeding plumage, Common Loons are the elegant black and white tuxedo-clad birds of the northern lakes and the oceans. They sport a dagger-like bill and a red eye, white stripes on the neck and spots on the back, making for a handsome sight. Their tremulo calls and yodels have been called “the […]
While watching Canada Geese come into a private pond, I couldn’t believe my eyes! They assumed all kinds of crazy positions, even upside down, and fell to the water helter-skelter. I’m not sure why the geese did this, but perhaps it’s a way to slow themselves down and put them over the water for a […]