There are so many new birds arriving this time of year that I find myself taking shortcuts while birding. Here are 5 examples: 1) Ears only: When I’m walking through the woods I rely mostly on my ears to hear signs of bird activity. If I don’t hear anything then I keep moving. 2) Scanning […]
Author: Larry Nichols
Married, I am not a casual weekend birder,-still learning-still making mistakes. I am not a writer or photographer but enjoy blogging about my outdoor adventures. I am currently using a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS camera, Meopta Meostar 8x42 binoculars, and a vortex spotting scope. The Name Brownstone Birding Blog comes from the fact that I in which Portland has been known for its brownstone quarries for many years. Much of the brownstone used for older buildings in New York came from the town of Portland.
What’s Worse Than Forgetting My Camera?
Sometimes when I get up early to go birding on the weekend I forget some of my birding gear because I’m in too much of a hurry. If I forget my scope it’s no big deal. I can still get by with the use of my camera and binoculars. Forgetting my binoculars is more of […]
Thankfully Pileated Woodpeckers Aren’t Extinct
I remember a few years ago there were reports of a possible sighting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker which was thought to have been extinct. It must be quite a sight to see a 20″ long woodpecker with a 30″ wingspan. We don’t have any Woodpeckers quite that large in Connecticut but we do have the […]
More sun – more food – more birds
We had a winter warm-up this week with temperatures exceeding 60 degrees. Most of the snow melted and the birds were loving it. I’ve seen Mourning Doves basking in the sun. American Robins have already started their switch from a winter-berry diet to picking out meaty morsels as the surface of the soil begins to […]
Ruddy Ducks Catching A Little Sun
I had the pleasure of seeing Ruddy Ducks sunning themselves this morning. It is usually difficult for me to get a good view of the subtle plumage detail on the wintering Ruddy Ducks (breeding males have bold color). From a distance I usually identify these diving ducks out by seeing their scoop-shaped bills and upright […]
Don’t Prejudge A Cloudy Winter Day
When I looked out the window early this morning I was discouraged by the sight of piled up snow and grey skies. I decided to take a pass on birding for the day and headed to the local diner for breakfast but tossed my birding gear into my trunk just in case I had a […]
The Horned Larks Are Back In Town
Over the last couple of years I’ve spending a lot of time along the shore during the winter months. There are a lot of birds I get to see at the shore during the winter that I don’t see other times of the year. The Horned Lark is one such species. They stay mostly on […]
Mesmerized By One Proud And Noble Bluebird
It was a beautiful Fall morning yesterday with crisp, clean air and bright blue skies. I was out making my rounds looking for birds that I haven’t seen yet this year. I don’t consider myself to be a “lister” but I have been keeping track of bird species that I see in my county during […]