tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679338775921481872024-03-19T04:48:35.711-04:00Rosyfinch Ramblings...finding birds and beauty close to homeKenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.comBlogger648125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-16774804373321305162024-03-07T07:32:00.001-05:002024-03-07T07:32:34.329-05:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to March, 2021As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in March, 2021, to remember how things were then as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes whichKenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-61122487552974979032024-02-15T10:18:00.001-05:002024-02-15T10:22:03.828-05:00 Window watchOn Tuesday night, a coastal cyclone type storm (Nor'easter, so named because its strongest winds are from the northeast) pounded us with high winds and overnight snowfall accumulation of 14 inches ( 35 cm). The next day the sky was clear, but the temperature remained well below freezing with strong gusty winds. Lights flickered and some residents lost electrical power.The day before the Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-39743634109330616992024-02-08T06:48:00.001-05:002024-02-08T07:10:42.181-05:00 Bluebirds brighten the dayWhen I started birding as a kid in New Jersey in the 1940's, Eastern Bluebirds were generally absent from the northeastern US during the winter, although some did persist all year in coastal areas. They have since expanded their year-round range northward and inland, to include southern New England. The provision of artificial nest boxes as well as other factors such as climate change and feedersKenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-8751382182437157842024-02-01T06:47:00.001-05:002024-02-04T08:27:38.351-05:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to February, 2021 #1095As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in February, 2021, to remember how things were then as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-37774156584395320442024-01-25T07:27:00.002-05:002024-01-25T07:41:06.545-05:00Garden variety birds plus oneAs compared to the breeding season, a greater number of birds visit our back yard during the winter months, but there is less variety in species. We had several bouts of light snow and very cold temperatures. This morning all the snow has disappeared, drenched by warm overnight rainfall. I did not venture out except for a medical appointment. All of this week's photos were taken through the Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-81869598021122838552024-01-18T09:06:00.002-05:002024-01-18T09:06:34.253-05:00 White throats and red belliesSparrows are the most common birds to visit our yard and feeders. During the warm months, resident Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Eastern Towhees and a few Field Sparrows prevail, along with introduced House Sparrows. All disappear in winter, except for a few hardy Song Sparrows and House Sparrows, replaced by an influx of Juncos and White-throated Sparrows. Less common to rare during the Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-12080233817556664922024-01-11T07:00:00.003-05:002024-01-11T14:16:21.546-05:00 First measurable snowThis week we had our first significant snowfall in 2 years. It was preceded by mostly dry and cold weather. Because of the prolonged sub-freezing temperatures, there was a lack of natural water sources for wildlife. We kept the bird baths filled. My observations and photos were limited to views through the windows. A male Red-bellied Woodpecker brightened the scene and dominated the Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-17854441691119082352024-01-04T08:48:00.000-05:002024-01-04T08:48:36.888-05:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to January, 2021 #1091As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in January, 2021, to remember how things were then as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-65081543822377872582023-12-28T07:40:00.000-05:002023-12-28T07:40:21.215-05:00 Christmas and warm memories A few days of storms with tree-felling winds were followed by freezing cold clear weather, but so far there has not been any measurable snow. Christmas Day was mostly dreary and drizzly. I captured a Christmas Black-capped Chickadee through the window, perched in the small White Pine:As if to lessen the disappointment of a such a gray Christmas, the few days of sunshine did deliver a brief&Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-80715681693033941052023-12-21T07:16:00.001-05:002023-12-21T08:55:19.398-05:00 Winter BluebirdsEastern Bluebirds are regularly inspecting one of our two nest boxes. A few weeks earlier I had cleaned out this one after seeing the bluebirds enter them. They often emerged from the entrance to discard some of nesting material left over by the Tree Swallows which nested in it this past spring. I had let nature take its course and allowed the Tree Swallows to usurp the original occupants. Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-26714670404142760302023-12-14T06:41:00.000-05:002023-12-14T06:41:52.575-05:00Peanut- butter pinecone poetryA large plastic jar of peanut butter was damaged in shipping and some of its contents spilled out, rendering it inedible. The shipper's policies did not provide for refund or replacement of food items, but the incident turned out to be positive for the birds. Conveniently, our small White Pine had produced its first crop of a dozen female cones. We stuffed the spaces between the bracts with Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-16816796839285860432023-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:002023-12-07T07:00:29.788-05:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to December, 2020As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in December, 2020, to remember how things were then as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-4299948783296164082023-11-30T07:34:00.000-05:002023-11-30T07:34:53.793-05:00 Winter Goldfinch #1090During the last half of November I only had a few opportunities to walk out in the back yard. It was usually very cold and windy. Worse, very few birds were out. The only exception was on November 17, when a lone male Eastern Goldfinch suddenly perched on the fence rail. Males resemble the females in drab winter garb, but their plumage is suffused with varying degrees of yellow, most evident Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-84466857585380447752023-11-23T07:52:00.000-05:002023-11-23T07:52:47.842-05:00 Perennial BluebirdsAt our previous home in south Florida, Eastern Bluebirds were rarely encountered. They depend upon tree cavities for nesting and face competition from introduced House Sparrows and European Starlings. Widespread development in southern Florida during the 20th Century resulted in loss of bluebird habitat, particularly pine forests. There have been a few attempts to reintroduce them, with limited Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-16475889947295416982023-11-15T07:29:00.002-05:002023-11-17T17:49:01.696-05:00 Feathered royalty wearing golden crowns Temperatures have dropped well below freezing, so my photographic excursions into the back yard have been brief and often unproductive. Highlights over the past two weeks have been visits by a troupe of diminutive kings and queens. The procession included two species.Golden-crowned Kinglets move down from their breeding grounds in northern New England and Canada. Some stay here all winter, Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-26769348106567173922023-11-09T07:23:00.002-05:002023-11-09T07:24:31.180-05:00 A crabapple perchWe had snow flurries on the first day of November. Rain and dreary days discouraged outdoor activities. One sunny morning in late October I discovered an unlikely "perch" for bird photography. I had noticed bird activity in the three young crabapple trees just outside the windows of the main kitchen of the home we share with our daughter and SIL's family. In early morning I identified Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-9103747889120597502023-11-02T08:24:00.000-04:002023-11-02T08:24:09.011-04:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to November, 2020As is my custom on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in November, 2020. This reminds me of how things were then as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-31299846062929373562023-10-26T08:20:00.000-04:002023-10-26T08:20:43.397-04:00Bright spot in back yard #1085We had a few clear days among the rainy, windy and even cold weather the past two weeks. My walks in the back yard were often uncomfortably chilly. Birds, if seen were wind-blown and quickly disappeared into cover. One morning the skies briefly cleared, the wind died down and I was suddenly rewarded, sighting 22 bird species during a 90 minute watch.A few Yellow-rumped Warblers may remain Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-25043377982537233922023-10-19T06:36:00.000-04:002023-10-19T06:36:03.626-04:00Picture imperfectIt has been a week of appointments and tests, punctuated by rain, wind and a cold snap, all of which greatly limited the number and duration of my back yard photographic excursions. Sultry skies and elusive subjects contributed to poorly exposed and fuzzy images.Eastern Bluebirds gather together during the cold months in family or multi-family flocks. My poorly-focused encounter with Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-67025737093378339502023-10-12T08:28:00.001-04:002023-10-15T06:34:17.418-04:00 A photogenic mantisAs the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia drenched us in late September, a second storm named Phillipe slowly meandered northward off the Atlantic Coast. It threatened to strike Bermuda, but instead took a left turn in early October. As it broke up over land, the storm brought heavy rain and gusty wind to New England and northeastern Canada. Although there was local flooding, The major Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-66939124971312469982023-10-05T05:58:00.000-04:002023-10-05T05:58:35.955-04:00 Crops & Clips:Flashback to October, 2020As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, in October, 2020, to remember how things were then in south Florida as contrasted with events this year at our new home in central Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-77817234093810660972023-09-28T06:54:00.001-04:002023-10-01T06:40:40.794-04:00 Between the raindropsHurricane Ophelia developed as a sub-tropical storm off the coast of Florida on September 6, strengthened briefly to a Category 1 Hurricane on September 8, weakened to a Tropical Storm the next day, and then meandered up the Atlantic coast, regaining Hurricane force on September 11 and again on the 13th. As it moved slowly along its winds caused a storm surge and severe coastal flooding up Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-4073643654299167712023-09-21T07:29:00.003-04:002023-09-23T08:36:48.640-04:00 Summer is losing its grip #1080We have had more than our share of rain and windy weather during the past few weeks. Too often, the sky is leaden gray which makes it difficult for eyes to see clearly and cameras to focus properly on small and elusive fall migrant birds. No amount of post-processing could bring up the color of some of the migrating birds I have photographed during the past few days, such as this male Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-14109820756492735932023-09-14T06:44:00.000-04:002023-09-14T06:44:17.850-04:00Chainsaw HeronFall land bird migration should be peaking about now, but I have had very poor luck in seeing many migrants. Admittedly, it was very hot this past week, followed by several stormy days. My forays into the back yard have been infrequent and unusually brief. MaryLou helped out by sighting this Red-shouldered Hawk as it perched on top of the bluebird house. The photo was taken through a badly Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267933877592148187.post-22458985006218028502023-09-07T07:42:00.000-04:002023-09-07T07:42:15.331-04:00 Crops & Clips: Flashback to September, 2020As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously in September, 2020, remembering how things were then in Florida as contrasted with events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.com24