American Bittern eats a HUGE frog!

May 2, 2016 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

This bird had quite a struggle with the frog, but it finally got eaten. Took over 10 minutes from capture to swallow.  Here is a sequence, lasting about 10 minutes. (Just a few pictures culled from the whole).

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Posted in American Bittern, Bird Photographs Tagged , |

SPRING 2016 BIRD SIGHTINGS in VERMONT

April 17, 2016 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

Spring is always an exciting time with the return of songbirds and migrants. Here are a few that I’ve seen in the past month. They are, in order:

Fox Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Bohemian Waxwings-from a flock of about 45, Black-capped Chickadee, Evening Grosbeak (female), Evening Grosbeak (male),  Goldfinch male-(molting into new plumage), A pair of Hooded Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers in flight, Dark-eyed Junco, Belted kingfisher, Mourning Dove, Pine Siskin,  Rusty Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Tree Swallows on a nest box, Tree Swallows fighting over the nest box, Vesper Sparrow (3 pictures) (this bird came very early in the season, in the snow),  Wilson’s Snipe and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-just arrived,  Killdeer and Green-winged Teal (female).

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Posted in Belted Kingfisher, Bird Photographs, Black-capped Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco, Eastern Bluebird, Evening Grosbeak, Fox Sparrow, Goldfinch, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Pine Siskin, Rusty Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Vesper Sparrow, Wilson's Snipe, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Visit to Vermont’s Dead Creek Wildlife Preserve-Snow Geese!

December 10, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

Every year thousands of Snow Geese come to Dead Creek Wildlife Refuge in Vermont. It is also a wonderful stopping point/residence for many other species. Some of the Snow Geese pictures are “photo-paintings”.  Besides Snow Geese in these pictures, there is a Red-tailed Hawk, and three Snow Buntings.  Ironically, we have no show here in Vermont yet.

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Posted in Bird Photographs, Dead Creek Wildlife Refuge Vermont, Red-tailed Hawk, Snow Buntings, Snow Geese Tagged , , |

2016 CALENDAR AVAILABLE !

November 14, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

Here are some of the photos included in my new 2016 calendar. It is 11″ x 8 1/2″ (11′ x 17″ unfolded), wire bound on heavy stock, in beautiful color. Price is $20.00 plus $4.50 shipping and $1.47  Vermont sales tax . After I sell a certain number I can afford to donate 5 or more calendars to a fundraiser for a local shelter-“The Haven” in Wilder, Vermont.

UPDATE:  Five calendars were sold at auction for the Haven!  THIS ITEM IS SOLD OUT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.  CHECK OUT THE SHOPPING CART DROP DOWN TO PURCHASE HIGH QUALITY PRINTS OF INDIVIDUAL BIRDS. IF YOU DON’T SEE A SPECIES YOU WANT, CONTACT ME AT  CYNTHIA DOT CRAWFORD AT GMAIL DOT COM. (If you are REALLY desperate for a calendar, I can special order one. However,t might cost a bit more.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

 

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Posted in 2016 Calendar, Bird Photographs

SPRING BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY 2015

May 9, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

 

So many beautiful and interesting birds arriving every day in this beautiful spring weather! Northern Cardinal, male (2), Baltimore Orioles, female and male, Blue-winged Warblers (2), Green Heron, Indigo Bunting (immature (2), Northern Mockingbird, Palm Warbler.

 

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Posted in Baltomore Oriole, Bird Photographs, Blue-winged Warbler, Green Heron, Indigo Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Palm Warbler Tagged , , , , , , |

OTTER FISHING

April 24, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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THIS OTTER WAS HAPPILY CATCHING AND EATING FISH AT LAKE RUNNEMEDE IN WINDSOR, VERMONT ON APRIL 23, 2015

 

Posted in Animals, Otter Tagged |

AMERICAN KESTREL GETS THE WORM !

April 13, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

I was watching a female Kestrel fly to a rooftop where it seemed to be watching a Robin. Suddenly it descended on the Robin, and I expected trouble for both birds, since a Robin is mighty big prey for a Kestrel. They are about the same size.  So I was surprised to see the Kestrel on the ground alone.  Then it flew up to a telephone wire…with the Robin’s worm!  After a (presumably) tasty meal, she flew off. I later saw the robin in the same space, apparently searching for a new meal .

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Posted in American Kestrel, Bird Photographs

RED-THROATED LOON in VERMONT

March 13, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

This Red-throated Loon is a rare bird here in the White River Junction area of Vermont. It has been fishing at the Wilder Dam outlet where the water is open, perhaps a bit warm, and fish are churned up. Bald Eagles hunt here too, so this Loon is very wary.  This appears to be a non-breeding plumage bird- sex unknown.  I watched it for about 20 minutes today, and got photos of it taking off, and  flying around. Like all Loons, it needed an extensive runway and much foot-paddling before it was air-borne. It landed downstream a ways. I suspect it saw something I didn’t- just a few mallards flying by.

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Posted in Bird Photographs, Red-throated Loon

BARRED OWL VISITOR

February 26, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

My daughter spotted this Barred Owl in our yard today. It flew all around trying to catch red squirrels. Last seen perched on a low branch near a tunnel hole, waiting for a squirrel, or maybe a mouse to appear. Hope it gets something!

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Posted in Barred Owl, Bird Photographs

HAWK ATTACK!

January 13, 2015 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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I found a pile of Blue Jay feathers in the snow right near my house today. Soon after I saw the culprit- a Cooper’s Hawk, I believe. Quite the drama!

Posted in Bird Photographs, Cooper's Hawk Tagged , |

CATTLE EGRET-a very rare visitor in Vermont

October 29, 2014 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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Posted in Bird Photographs, Cattle Egret Tagged , |

Peregrine Falcon-Immature

September 6, 2014 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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An exciting view today of an immature Peregrine Falcon at Dewey’s Mills Pond in Quechee Vermont. It flew overhead and through a flock of Mourning Doves in a tree. Missed!  Then it flew across the river where it encountered several crows. A chase ensued, seemingly with the crow chasing the Falcon, then the falcon chasing the crow.  (The last picture is a crow fleeing from the Peregrine.)

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged |

Evening Grosbeak Gallery

August 15, 2014 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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We have had a wonderful flock of Evening Grosbeaks at home in Vermont this summer. I think there have been two successful  broods in some cases. The assortment of colors and degrees of maturity or molt is amazing. As I was taking these pictures yesterday, one immature bird landed on the porch rail, not more than a foot from my face. It gave me “the eye”, and went on to sip water drops and forage for tiny bits of—who knows what. Only a phone call interrupted our happy encounter.  

Posted in Bird Photographs, Evening Grosbeak Tagged , |

Amazing and Unusual Bird Sightings in Vermont May 23 2014

May 23, 2014 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

After a big rainstorm here, we had quite a “fallout” of birds that are almost never seen in mid-state on the eastern side of Vermont. First up are the “Redheads”.  Although a Pileated Woodpecker is common here, it is not some common to see one up close. This one was excavating an old log on the bank of the Ompompanoosuc River, and ignored me as I approached him.  (first 2 photos). The second bird is a Red-Headed Woodpecker.  Last seen in this area around 2004-2005, according to Vermont ebird reports. (second 2 photos)

Next we see about 50 Dowitchers on the Ompompanosuc river- another rare occasion. (one photo).  Then on the V.A. Hospital Grounds in Hartford, Vt., a Northern Wheatear appeared in the parking lot, creating a major sensation amongst local birders. (Three photos). This bird lives in the far north-has been noted in Greenland, and migrates to Africa> How it got here is a mystery!

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

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Posted in Bird Photographs, Dowitchers, Northern Wheatear, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker Tagged |

Swainson’s Thrush

May 13, 2014 by animalartist2 | Comments Off

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Posted in Bird Photographs