Snowy Owls - April 02, 2012

While I watched 3 Snowy Owls on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, April 01, I could only relocate 2 on Monday. The first on the dike at Hellcat, sitting behind the fence post.

It eventually came out to see what the commotion was all about.

Watching the people that were watching it!

The video below, showing both owls was taken at 1300mm giving both owls room to breath...

Snowy Owls - April 02, 2012 from Phil Brown on Vimeo.

The 2nd Snowy Owl moved around the Pines Field a fair amount, perching in one of the Pine Trees across the street from the field where it encountered a Great Black-backed Gull that was non to happy about it's presence. The owl can be seen in the video above snapping it's bill at the gull as it flew over.

The owl spent a fair amount of time watching a Wild Turkey that was feeding in the Pines Field. I wouldn't have been surprised to see the owl take out the Turkey but that didn't happen while I watched.

Warblers and Eagles - Feb. 20, 2012

The Cape May Warbler I visited 2 weeks ago at Odiorne state Park in Rye, NH is still alive and well. I found it in the same area foraging around the storm tossed lobster traps.

A brief video, the brine flies weren't active yet, it was quite a bit cooler than my last visit.

I love the colors on this wayward warbler.

and it's ability to find enough food to make it through some of the cold nights of late.

Warmer temps for the next few days should help it survive until spring.

A stop at the Chain Bridge in Newburyport found a few Bald Eagles flying over.

This Cooper's Hawk shot was taken in February 2011, re-worked here using Nik Color Efex 4.0 I like the contrast filters they've added and to this plug-in, giving this photo much more punch.

Owls - Feb. 19, 2012

A bit of luck with a Barred Owl late this afternoon. Returning home from a slow day of birding I came across this dark eyed owl sitting directly across the street from the house.

A brief video of the Barred Owl checking out it's surroundings.

I've heard Barred Owls calling around the house through the years but hadn't seen one during the day until today.

I spent the better part of a half hour watching it as it watched the traffic go by.

Earlier in the day I came across a Screech Owl enjoying a bit of the late February sunshine.

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend's Warbler - Jim & Nat Berry, Ipswich, MA

Wintering a few thousand miles north of its usual winter home this Townsend's Warbler was fortunate to happen onto the Berry's property in Ipswich where they fed it meal worms each day along with a shaved suet chaser!

A huge thank you goes out to Jim & Nat Berry for hosting all of the birders and photographers that have made their way into their yard!

One of the meal worms I mentioned after being picked up from the feeder which this little warbler defends from all that dare land on it.

and down the hatch it goes, a protein packed meal to help it stay warm on the cold nights of late.

Having a bit of a squabble with a Chickadee that ventured to near.

Keeping a watchful eye on its favorite diner.

and wondering what all of the clicking sounds are coming from that big round thing across the driveway...

Another visitor to the feeders an American Goldfinch

And a rather shy Northern Flicker that peered around the suet feeder.

Cape May Warbler

February 06, 2012

A Cape May Warbler has chosen to winter along the coast at Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. It's been there for a few months and seems to be doing quite well as it chases down the numerous brine flies that reside in the wrack line. It's relatives are wintering in south america, a few thousand miles south of here and many degrees warmer.

A brief video showing the warbler as it forages, catching flies from a perch towards the end of the clip.

Perched on a snag just above the wrack line.

and on a lobster trap that washed up sometime ago. What a beautiful little Warbler!

One last shot of the Cape May and its lunch of Brine Fly... Yum!

Owls - Feb 06, 2012

February 06, 2012

A couple of Owls made their way in front of the lens today. The 1st is one of the Screech Owls I've seen at this location for a few years running.

The 2nd, a Snowy Owl, much larger and more entertaining as it flew from perch to perch on a few occasions.

and in flight....

and coming in for a landing....

I hope to spend some more quality time with this beautiful owl of the north quite soon!

Peregrine Falcon Nest Box

February 05, 2012

A pair of Peregrine Falcons are once again nesting, or are in the beginning stages of nesting, in the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, the world's largest mill clock tower, along Merrimack Street in Lawrence, MA. Here's the male as he chased a few pigeons around the tower.

The tower, seen below, has hosted a pair of nesting falcons for several years now. I've had the pleasure of photographing a few of the young from this nest in recent years. The male can be seen on the weather vane along with the placement of the nest box.

A close up of the nest box showing the nest cam and perch. The nest box can be seen from the side of the road along Merrimack St and should be fun to watch as the nesting season progresses.

And lastly the male as he came in for a landing on the weather vane.

Screech Owl Feb. 05, 2012

February 05, 2012

One of the few Screech Owls sitting out this winter has been in the same area since fall according to the folks that live in the neighborhood. A very cooperative owl and quite used to both the traffic and attention.

A few more shots of the Screech Owl that spent a few days in the yard recently. These were taken on January 22, 2012 at dusk just prior to the owl heading out for the night.

Wondering what the clicking noise is that's coming from the kitchen window...:)

Screech Owl 02-03-12

February 03, 2012

The Screech Owl made another appearance in the box in the yard this afternoon. This 1st image below was taken around 3pm

A brief video taken from a few different perspectives.

The next 3 were shot between 5 and 5:30 with much less available light as the day came to a close.

I walked around to the front of the box for the next two. The Owl spent a fair amount of time watching something in the distance, I never saw what it was.

The last shot was 15 minutes prior to the owls leaving the box. Not much light with a shutter speed of 1/25 of a second but a sturdy tripod and a bit of sharpening in Photoshop helped loads.

Screech Owl

January, 21, 2012

The 1st real snow of the year fell this week with a few inches coming down today. One of the benefits of the frozen precipitation was the arrival of the 1st Screech Owl to use the nest box in the back yard for 2012 .

It sat in the hole for a brief time mid-afternoon only to be chased back into the box by several scolding Chickadee and Titmouse which can be heard in the brief video below.

It came back out a bit later and sat in the hole until leaving for the evening around 5pm.

Cooper's Hawk

January 19, 2012

Another Cooper's Hawk sat long enough for several photos this morning. This one a young hawk, less than a year old.

I use my Toyota Corolla as a portable blind when the conditions allow and today was no exception. The shot above was taken at a fair distance allowing the hawk a bit of time to get used to the car. I drove a bit closer for the next shot.

Or should I say, backed up a bit closer, as this was the best approach without spooking the hawk.

No the hawk isn't yodeling in the image below. This was just one of the many poses I saw prior to it regurgitating a pellet.

Just after dropping the pellet as it pulled itself back together and tucked it's foot back in.

A look at it's eye in the image below and you can see the nictitating membrane or 2nd eyelid as it begins to pass over the eye.

And one more look prior to my driving off, leaving the hawk where I found it. I love it when I can pull that off!