We’ve been stopping at the Orleans Yacht Club almost daily to see what new birds we could find. Most of the time they were “just ducks,” but as we looked closer among them, we could see one that was just a bit different.
“The Northern Pintail is a widespread, migratory duck known for its elegant, slender build, long neck, and the male’s long, pointed tail feathers, which give it its name.” It is rare to see this bird on Cape Cod this time of year and the first time we’ve ever seen one. What a treat!
We’ve seen so many new and very interesting birds at the Town Cove by the Orleans Yacht Club this winter. Some have even been lifers for us! (Click on blog link for other photo.)
These male and female Wood Ducks have been hanging around for a while. I usually see them together which is so sweet. Have you seen them? Beautiful colors, but very different, on both the male and female.
Well, it’s been quite a week so far and it’s only Tuesday. As of now 97% of the people in our town are without power. All of my friends keep telling me to send them photos. How many photos can you take from your back yard when there’s a blizzard outside?
I took this photo yesterday when it was snowing like crazy. I thought it was cute. “Who’s looking at who from my snowed in bird feeder.”
I was so surprised to see this beautiful Hermit Thrush sitting up on our feeders and looking for food under the feeders the other day. I’d never seen one around here this time of the year. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
In doing some research I learned that indeed, it is rare to see them here on the Cape this time of the year. “It’s a shy, solitary bird that forages on the forest floor and is identifiable by its reddish tail, spotted breast, and pink legs.” It usually winters in the southern states or Central America.
I was so excited when I saw Hootie, an Eastern Screech Owl, sunning himself at our owl house the other day. I’ve been waiting for him to come back for a long time. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
We have two owl houses and last year they were both occupied for a while. We thought we would have some little owlets to watch, but that never came to be. The 2 owls left their houses last March and this is the first we’ve seen them since.
Hootie loves to sit in the sunny door of his house and look out… or take a nap. Fingers crossed that this one finds a mate who moves in with him.
Did you know that Screech Owls are 7-10” tall and have a wingspan of 18-24?” Wow! They are known to eat up to 1,000 mice per year!
I was just commenting to Phil that I hadn’t seen a Great Blue Heron in such a long time when there he was, patiently waiting for a fish to swim by at Pahwah Landing on Little Pleasant Bay.) Click on blog link for other photo.)
We hadn’t been there in a long while either, so it was a treat to see so many birds in the water. The Great Blue Heron has always been my favorite bird. It’s so beautiful and so regal!
I couldn’t decide which photo I liked better, what do you think?
Well, the Robins found our bird bath yesterday in the heavy snow and there were frequently 15-20 of them there… with others waiting on the deck for their turn. It was nuts but certainly fun to watch! They were everywhere!
There was a large flock of about 20 Ring-necked Ducks on Great Pond at Wiley Park the other day. They were just gorgeous!
We saw a lot of these ducks out in Colorado way up high on a pond in the Rocky Mountains, so it’s always a treat to see them here too.
Ring-necked Ducks are medium diving ducks that have a blue-gray bill with a white ring and a black tip. I always wondered why they aren’t called “Ring-billed Ducks.”
Beautiful bird, don’t you think? Have you ever seen a Ring-necked Duck?
Cape Cod daily articles and photography on places to hike, experience and enjoy. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
