Today UC Davis ecologist Susan Harrison sends us photos of birds she snapped in Massachusetts. Susan’s captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
. . . and send in your photos as we’re running low.
November at a bird feeder in New Salem, Massachusetts
On a November visit to the ‘Five Colleges’ of western Massachusetts, it was too late to see either peak fall colors or migrating songbirds. My photographic urges turned to the resident (non-migratory) songbirds and small mammals, many of whom were hungrily frequenting a bird feeder at my friend’s house on a nearly-freezing day in New Salem. Settling on a cozy covered porch, overlooking the wildly busy feeder that hung next to a Red Oak (Quercus rubra) branch, I was able to catch pictures of some common East Coast birds that had previously eluded me – particularly the first two species, which can be shy and fast-moving.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata):
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor):
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura):
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis):
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus):
Feeder scenes:
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis); although I had been surprised to see one of these striking black rodents in western Washington State, this melanistic form is apparently common in parts of the species’ native range in northeastern North America:
American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus):
Habitat photo from the Quabbin Reservoir overlook:
Ah – yes…. the light and color of the leading blue jay … I can feel the scene!… the sounds, the smell, the temperature!
Red and blue at the feeder – wow – a delight!
Ah, birds that I see in our backyard. The bluejay, with its easily recognizable call, is a favorite. The doves are such dodoes, but sweet natured. Tamiasciurus hudsonicus might have been a scribe in the imperial halls.
very nice
very nice Susan
Beautiful photos, lovely, colorful birds.
I wonder if there are any Celebrating Doves out there.
Just gorgeous. I especially love that last photo of the Blue Jay with the golden leaves and sun shining through. The pattern on that bird is is wonderful.
I also love that last photo of the landscape.
Thank you.
Thanks Susan. Welcome to the East Coast! Reservoir overlook is beautiful. Interesting that Western Massachusetts wildlife looks pretty much like our eastern Virginia backyard this month.
Beautiful! The animals I grew up with.
Lovely photos. Bluejays and Cardinals — two distinctive birds I enjoyed in Wisconsin and miss in Oregon, though we have other Jays in the Northwest. As Debra C already mentioned, the Blue Jay with the leaves & sun, detail of wind-ruffled (breast?) feathers is a standout. I’m intrigued by the metal bird feeder and the indentations — did someone try to crack the bank?
Beautiful photos! I just got back from a trip to the east coast, and the sound of eastern bluejays always makes me a little homesick for Georgia. (We have scrub and Stellar’s jays here in SoCal that have their own distinct calls, but the blue jay’s call takes me back to my childhood.)
We also have – and feed- raccoons. Mother raccoon brings the kids up and then they come up on their own. They are now about the size of Mom. One, in particular, is not inclined to leave should someone go out on the porch to provide more shelled peanuts – a favorite.
That Quabbin Reservoir photo is stunning.
The titmouse looks very bright-eyed. Your photos make me appreciate anew the birds I see daily in our own yard.
Gorgeous. That third bluejay photo is incredible.