Out and About: Cannon Grange Edition (I did a thing...)

Ever since my Nikon and I met, I've thought about entering some kind of photo contest, usually the Cannon Grange Fair. I've just never put together an entry and sent it anywhere. Well, this year I put one together, filled out the form, and mailed it in.  After a lot of patience from the good folks at The Grange, I saw the results this afternoon.

It's my first recognition for creeping around bird sanctuaries or sitting in my backyard for hours. I love this new, 3 1/2-year-old) hobby and love sharing it with you.

Some Local Residents and an Unexpected Visitor

I received the gift of a new folding chair last night and wanted to see how it would work for birding. It works great.

Today we had a lot of young folks at the feeders. Also some regulars and a very unexpected guest.

Either an Immature or Molting Male Cardinal.

Common Grackle (Immature)

Common Grackle

Black-Capped Chickadee

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Red Squirrel

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Immature Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Immature Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Immature Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Out and About: A Short "Low Water" Edition

I had some errands to run in the center of town so I packed the camera and headed south. After errands were run I stopped by the pond to see if anyone was around.

The pond is 2/3rds covered in algae so there were no wading or soaring and diving birds as they really couldn't see anything and I'm assuming that most of the mobile submarinian pond life was seeking shelter under the "pond scum" living their absolute best life, or as best a life as one could be living as a fish or frog in a pond that bakes in the sun all day and, due to drought, is about four feet shallower as well as being quite a bit warmer than usual.

Anyway, there were some Canada Geese making use of some recently exposed rocks and shallow spots in the center of the pond so I took these shots.

Canada Goose

Canada Geese

Out and About: Connecticut Audubon Society Milford Point Edition (again).

I went up this afternoon, with better lighting on the beach, and was able to capture a Great Egret, American Oyster Catchers, a Semi-Palmated Plover, and an Osprey over the beach.

Then the biting flies came out, like tiny winged piranhas, and it was time to go. 

American Oyster Catcher

American Oyster Catcher

American Oyster Catcher

American Oyster Catcher

American Oyster Catcher

Great Egret

Great Egret

Osprey

Semipalmated Plover

Just Hanging Out

Had a Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird just hanging out on the feeder this afternoon. I shot with a tripod out the office window.

I love the fact that I have a pair living in the swampy area behind the house.

 

Out and About: Connecticut Audubon Society at Milford Point Edition.

 It was a very hot day at Milford Point today. I arrived at about 11:15am and left around 1:30pm. A lot of walking without a lot of cover from the sun. Heat distortion, the heat waves you see coming up from the driveway, was a problem.

Anyway, here are today's captures. There's one that I've reached out to the Bird Nerd Hivemind for help on so for now I'll label it as what I think it is and then update it as the correct ID comes in.

American Oyster Catcher

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Sanderling?

Sanderling?

Ospreys

Semi-Palmated Plover

Semi-Palmated Plover

Semi-Palmated Plover