Two feet of snow still stand on my deck and long icicles hang from the roof's edge. They are rippled from the freeze and thaw cycle and they drip onto my deck one droplet at a time. There is plenty of winter wildlife, even after a snow storm. They call them Winter Birds. And this … Continue reading High Seas and Harlequins
For at least two years now, I have been hoping to see a Snowy Owl up close. The first time that my friend Wendy and I saw one, it was a very distant view into the field on Plum Island. I have made several trips out to Hampton to try and find this owl. This … Continue reading My Search for the Snowy Owl.
Sauntering through the trails at Odiorne State Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is interesting because it is one of the hottest birding spots around and there is a rich cultural history here as well. Not only can one see a myriad of bird species during migration, but the physical landscape and monuments are testament to … Continue reading Birds and History on the New Hampshire Seacoast
Come along with me on my birding journey! I've been discovering birds that I've never seen before, photographing them and looking them up in my Sibley Guide when I return home. I've gotten out of the house several times since April to witness spring migration in all it's glory! The first rare bird I searched … Continue reading Spring Birding in New Hampshire
Our Casa owner, Adrian, gesticulates excitedly in broken English. He then energetically drags Marietta and I to his back yard oasis. "Come... Come!" he says, as we follow him with exhaustion after a long day. Bird Feeders hang from native trees and shrubs and a bird bath stands waiting for the birds to use every … Continue reading The Birds of Cuba
Known as the playground of the rich and famous, Martha's Vineyard is jam-packed with visitors each summer. Traffic and parking can be problematic. Every July, the population on the island peaks at around 125,000, but in winter, the number of year-round residents dwindles to 15,000. This is why our Mass Audubon group heads out in … Continue reading Winter Birds of Martha’s Vineyard
In the early morning hours of Friday, September 13th, our Ipswich River Audubon group scrambled into the vans with coffee in hand. It was (yawn) 5:30 a.m. and the sun had not yet risen. The only unlucky thing about that Friday the 13th was that I spilled Latte all over the van's cup holders, and … Continue reading The Magic of Monhegan Island, Maine.
The cooler temperatures are here and I decide to venture out into the wilds. I return to the marsh to see our NH Trumpeter Swan, who I've named"Louie", but I can't find him anywhere. I keep searching, dragging myself and my heavy lens into the woods. No swan in sight. Could he have already migrated? … Continue reading Our Native Trumpeter, et al.
The odyssey begins in March, on my way to the Seacoast. The last time a Trumpeter Swan was seen in New Hampshire was way back in the 1700s, before most of them were all but exterminated from North America, which occurred between the 1600 and 1800s. They were hunted for meat, skins that were used … Continue reading Springtime on the New Hampshire Seacoast
This spring, I visited several wildlife sanctuaries on the North Shore of Massachusetts looking for migrating spring birds. I have only been birding for 2-3 years, but it is such a fun hobby and honestly, I'm kind of obsessed with it. You can see and experience many species right here in your own back yard. … Continue reading Spring Birding on the North Shore
