5-28-16: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts

5-28-16  Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA

Baltimore Oriole

We only saw two Baltimore Orioles in the 3 days we birded this refuge so when we found them in good sunlight we took advantage of the conditions to take several photos.

This bird is the state bird of Maryland.

We so enjoy watching animals when they are doing natural behaviors.  This adult male is preening his all-important feathers.

The range of these birds overlaps with that of the similar Bullock's Oriole of the Midwest, and the two species are often considered essentially the same (conspecific) under the name Northern Oriole because they form fertile hybrids.




Chestnut-sided Warbler

This is a non-breeding adult male.

This is NOT my picture, though I wish it were.  We just wanted to show you what an adult male in full breeding regalia looks like.  Pretty spectacular, eh?!





Common Grackle

These birds actually walk instead of hop.  In coastal areas like here in the refuge, they forage in the tide line for small invertebrates and often wade into the water to capture small fish.

He is blinking his right eye so it looks rather odd.



Song Sparrow in the cattails

Killdeer on the beach.  They are technically shorebirds, though they are unusual in this group because they often nest and live far from water.

Adult male Eastern Towhee

 Green-winged Teal

 This is the smallest North American dabbling duck.

Take off time!

The males are indeed handsome ducks.




Tree Swallow, adult male

These swallows winter farther north than any other American swallow, and they return to their nesting grounds long before other swallows come back.

Preening is so important.

These swallows are common and nest in bird houses or tree cavities.  The lower hole houses the nest of this pair of Tree Swallows.  They feed over fields or water for berries or insects.




Black-throated Blue Warbler

The adult males looks so different from the females they were originally described as two different species.

The bluish tint of their feathers is very subtle in the shaded light under the tree canopy.



Signs for Seniors