Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk, by Steve Thornhill

Friday, March 28, 2014

White Red-winged Blackbird

This striking, nearly pure white Red-winged Blackbird was at my feeder briefly here in James City County yesterday...a rather poor picture through the glass door. Abnormal white feathering may be caused by a variety of processes.
Brian Taber

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Golden-crowned Kinglets at Feeders

This Golden-crowned Kinglet has been faithfully visiting my feeder daily, here in Williamsburg, for nearly a month...it's a species I haven't seen at my feeders and I've had feeders for decades. It's proudly showing its flashy namesake feature...there's no hint of the orange tones of an adult male. They are so tiny and usually forage for insects so high, it's nice to get this view. It has been eating suet and a peanut butter/cornmeal mix during the recent very cold and snowy weather. I would be interested to know if others have been hosting this species at feeders...if so, please contact me at Taberzz@aol.com.
Brian Taber

Saturday, March 1, 2014

White-winged Scoters

In addition to the Snowy Owls, Short-eared Owls, Red-necked Grebes, Common Mergansers, Iceland Gulls, Glaucous Gulls and Razorbills seen during this unusual winter, White-winged Scoters are being recorded from all over VA. They are usually quite uncommon and mainly just along the coast, but the 90+% freezing of the Great Lakes and other water bodies appears to have forced many to move south and to inland locations as well...this bird was on Chesapeake Bay near Kiptopeke last week at dusk...and what a lucky and spectacular water pattern as well!
Brian Taber