Category Archives: Cape Cod Birding

Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography

Baltimore Oriole Nest Survives The Nor’Easter High Winds On Cape Cod

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I was so surprised when I went outside the other and saw that the Baltimore Oriole’s nest from last summer was still intact and hanging from the Oak tree in our yard. Totally amazing! I can’t believe that a nest that is made hanging from a branch could still survive  in 75+ mile an hour winds when trees were falling all around them.

You can see in the 2nd photograph that the nest was woven high up in the tree, about 20 feet off of the ground. It is in the center of the photograph about 2/3s of the way up.

The Baltimore’s innate ability to weave a nest this secure is just amazing. Don’t you think?

Cape Cod Beaches, Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography

Beautiful Red-Breasted Mergansers At Boat Meadow Beach On Cape Cod

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I saw my first Red-Breasted Mergansers the other day at Boat Meadow Beach, before the big storm. What a gorgeous bird! They were feeding in the little pond that comes out at high tide on the salt marsh. I had never seen one before.

Red-Breasted Mergansers are a medium-sized diving ducks with black upper parts, gray sides, rust-brown breast, white belly, green head, double crests and a white neck ring. Their long thin bill, legs and feet are bright orange. The female has much duller colors.

The Red-Breasted Mergansers were so interesting to watch as they feed. They would swim along with their heads in the water, almost like a shovel,  as you can see in the 3rd photograph. Or they would dive under water for food. It was very cool to watch!

Have you ever seen a Red-Breasted Merganser? Gorgeous bird, don’t you think?

Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography

Bluebirds Love The Mealworms At Our Home On Cape Cod!

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We hadn’t seen any Bluebirds in the past couple of weeks so we decided to put out some dried Mealworms to see if we could entice them to come to our feeders. We’ve tried the Mealworms a few times in the past, but all they seem to attract are the Blue Jays who will gobble them all up in seconds. But, why not?

I put them out and within 10 minutes we had about 15 Bluebirds trying to get to them. It was awesome! This photograph is where one Bluebird was there alone enjoying his Mealworms, when another Bluebird flew in thinking that they could share the bounty. Fat chance! This guy scared him away in seconds!

But, we had so many Bluebirds on our feeders yesterday, it was totally incredible! I loved the Goldfinch on the left watching the whole thing. Too funny!

 

Cape Cod Beaches, Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Photography

Black And White Brants On Cape Cod Bay

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There were about 30 Brants at Boat Meadow on Cape Cod Bay the other day. It’s the most I’ve ever seen together. I stopped and took some photographs, but couldn’t get more than 2 in each frame.

Brants have a black head and neck with a white collar, grey underparts and white on their tails. They are about the same size as a Canada  Goose. They are common in this area in the winter.

On my way back from my walk to Rock Harbor about 1/2 hour later, they were all gone. Wonder where they went?