Tufted Titmouse in Pennsylvania

Spending Thanksgiving holidays in Pennsylvania provides an opportunity to renew some old aquaintances, such as the Tufted Titmouse that enlivens the chilly woods along Perkiomen Creek. They behave much like Chickadees, and I often see them in the same patch of woods. They must utilize different resources or features within the same habitat, but I have not yet been able to identify the differences.

Booby and Shearwater on Kauai

Brown Booby

Wedge-tailed Shearwater, juvenile

One of the best things about returning home from a trip is the replay of memories of interesting places and beautiful sights, and sometimes photos are all I have to prove to myself that I did not just imagine the experience. For example, this Brown Booby flew past me at the Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai so fast that only by chance did I get a shot of it, and certainly I could not see in that moment what I can now see in the photo.

On the other hand, the juvenile Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (that were patiently waiting in their burrows for their feathers to grow in so they could launch from the cliffs) provided plenty of opportunity for both watching them and listening to their weird baby-like whining among the bushes. Such closeup views made it easy to see why they fit in the family of seabirds called "tubenoses." (Remember to click on the photo for a larger image.)

I'iwi and Laysan Albatross, Maui and Kauai

I'm on assignment again in Hawaii, with a few hours here and there for birding. At Hosmer Grove at about 7000 ft. on Haleakala on Maui the I'iwi were noisy and numerous, but rarely paused for a second to give me a chance for a photo.

On Kauai today at Kilauea Lighthouse this Laysan Albatross chose just the right moment to cruise by at eye-level.

Anna's Hummingbird singing

A male Anna's Hummingbird seems to have taken up residence in my backyard, and today was chasing the House Finches around in "his" hawthorne tree. Whenever he wasn't chasing them or hovering at the feeder he was perched somewhere in that tree singing his squeaky, raspy song. I hope he sticks around to entertain me all winter.