March 26, 2021 — This time of the year Wood Ducks are found in good nesting habitat. That includes almost all freshwater bodies and wetlands with nearby large trees and adequate cover.
Posts Tagged ‘waterfowl’
Daily Bird: Spring waterfowl — Wood Duck
Friday, March 26th, 2021Cranes and Waterfowl
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019April 4, 2019 – Connecticut Audubon EcoTravel sent a group to the prairie to find these birds last week. The birding and the landscape were awesome.
Blue-winged Teal
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019March 13, 2019 – A male Blue-winged Teal is truly unmistakable. Its dark blue-gray face and black bill stand in strong contrast with the large white crescent that extends vertically between the bird’s bill and eye. That huge white slash on the front if its otherwise dark face can be seen from a great distance.
King Eider
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018November 20, 2018 – All birders, and now some non-birders after the arrival of the escaped Mandarin Duck in New York City, know that there are some seriously amazing plumages among duck species, among them the King Eider. One was found in near-shore waters of Long Island Sound off Waterford just a few days ago.
Wood Duck
Wednesday, November 7th, 2018November 8, 2018 – Once the temperatures begin to drop, the fall migration is just about over, and the bird diversity in woods drops significantly, there’s nothing quite like catching a glimpse of a beautifully marked Wood Duck passively floating on an otherwise vacant pond.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Another Connecticut First!
Tuesday, August 14th, 2018August 14, 2018 – You may have heard by now that there is a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in Essex! It’s quite the buzz in the birding community and if accepted by the birding powers as a wild bird, it will be a first state record.
Red-headed Strangers
Wednesday, March 28th, 2018March 28, 2018. Redheads and Canvasbacks occur in Connecticut in winter, one somewhat regularly, the other not so much.
Pink-footed Goose
Friday, March 9th, 2018March 9, 2018. Pink-footed Goose is becoming a more regular visitor to the United States east coast, with recent sightings in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, and out on Long Island.
Red-breasted Merganser
Wednesday, December 20th, 2017December 20, 2017. Red-breasted Mergansers can be found in large groups, as big as 50 to 60 individuals at times.
Thanksgiving Treats
Tuesday, November 21st, 2017November 22, 2017. Our Bird Finder authors are taking the week off so I’ve compiled a selection of their work from last fall and winter, and the previous fall and winter, as a guide to birds you might want to look for over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Barnacle Goose: Bird Finder for February 18, 2017
Friday, February 17th, 2017Barnacle Goose. Vagrant Barnacle Geese can be found in Connecticut, with the most reliable location today being along the Connecticut River in Enfield
Bird Finder for January 27, 2017: Harlequin Duck
Friday, January 27th, 2017Harlequin Duck: Taking its name from a colorfully dressed character in Commedia dell’arte and long touted to be the “fashion plate of the winter seas,” Harlequin Duck is a rare sight in Connecticut.
Northern Shoveler: Bird Finder for January 6, 2017
Friday, January 6th, 2017Northern Shoveler: One of the most distinctive of our dabbling ducks, small numbers of Northern Shovelers are most frequently seen in our area in late winter and early spring.
Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup & how to tell the difference
Saturday, December 10th, 2016Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup & how to tell the difference
Canvasback — King of the Waterfowl
Saturday, March 28th, 2015March 28, 2015 – Of all the waterfowl found in North America, perhaps none are more deserving of the title King than the dramatic Canvasback.
American Black Duck
Thursday, March 5th, 2015American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Black Ducks are a large-bodied dabbling duck about the size of a mallard. They have a yellowish bill with a gray head and dark body. When in flight they appear to be black in color, which helps distinguish them when mixed with Mallards.
Black Scoter
Friday, November 15th, 2013November 15, 2013 – Black Scoters seem to be more prevalent this year than in recent years. They are rarely seen in fresh water but this week you can look for these unusual scoters inland, in areas such as the Connecticut River off Vibert Road in South Windsor and Bantam Lake in Litchfield along North Shore Road. You can also look for them on the coast, off Penfield Reef in Fairfield, off Reef Road, where there is public access (go at low tide). Black Scoters are uncommon but regular migrants. They breed in subarctic regions and winter in coastal areas along both coasts. Diving ducks (rather than dabblers like Mallards), they dive to find crustaceans and mollusks to eat. Click the link below to read the entire post.
