Ma., USA, May 2011 - Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Blue-winged Warblers

Surprisingly ubiquitous around the Warren homestead, a feature of most walks in any given direction, and hard to tire of.

Ma., USA, May 2011 - chipmunks

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Eastern Bluebirds

A familiar breeding species throughout the area (thanks mainly to the profusion of bespoke nest boxes in many rural gardens), Bluebirds are, like so many other north American passerines, almost unfeasibly colourful. The pictures above were taken on Larry and Judy's farm in Cummington, Ma, a true rural paradise....

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Chestnut-sided Warblers

Of all the Dendroicas I've been lucky enough to observe so far, Chestnut-sided Warblers are simultaneously the most brash, characterful, tame and exquisitely plumaged. Most of the shots above were taken in the garden here in Warren.

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Mississippi Kite

An opportunity to kick back in the garden here in Warren on the sunny afternoon of the 26th allowed for a pretty lazy raptor-watch; a trickle of hawks moving inspired a little more focus, but to look up and be confronted with this exotic beauty approaching low over the treetops, gracefully from the east was off the radar to say the very least.

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Black-and-white Warblers

Ma., USA, May 2011 - Common Yellowthroats

One of the commoner and more tolerant warbler species locally, anywhere there's a patch of swampy undergrowth there's a pair of these beauties.

Glenridge, New Jersey, mid-May 2011

A few days in the affluent, leafy, Stepford Wives suburbs of N.J. catching up with family followed our 48 hours in Brooklyn; the deluge continued pretty much solidly for the duration, but no matter, much-needed relaxation and creature comforts were very welcome.

Common Yellowthroat, Bald Eagle, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing (all from the back garden)