• Northern Cardinals are one of our most beloved backyard birds. They're known by many nicknames, including red-bird and Virginia Nightingale.

    January 30, 2025
  • Winter is the best time of year to see American Tree Sparrows in Pennsylvania. I came across a flock of over 60 last week in some weedy fields north of Pittsburgh.

    January 23, 2025
  • I photographed the Downy Woodpecker in the photo above in the white oak in my backyard on New Year's Day. From that picture, someone unfamiliar with Downy Woodpeckers might think they're mostly black.

    January 16, 2025
  • Winter is the best time of year to see my wife's favorite bird, the Brown Creeper.  I found one in my backyard on the morning of New Year's Day.

    January 9, 2025
  • My sons and I were taking care of some last-minute Christmas shopping last week when we came across a flock of Cedar Waxwings eating some cherries in trees bordering the parking lot of the mall in Lancaster.

    January 2, 2025
  • Just last week when I wrote about Song Sparrows, I mentioned that other common backyard sparrows like Chipping Sparrows aren't here in the Susquehanna Valley all year long. 

    December 26, 2024
  • Song Sparrows are one of the Susquehanna Valley's most common, and most commonly overlooked, bird species. They also happen to be one of my favorites.

    December 19, 2024
  • I make a point of going bird watching every day. Sometimes that means a fun trip to a beautiful natural area, sometimes it's watching birds in my back yard as my dog chases her tennis ball.

    December 12, 2024
  • The Northern Cardinal may be the most recognizable backyard bird in the Susquehanna Valley.

    December 5, 2024
  • A few days ago a birdwatcher found a MacGillivray's Warbler less than ten miles from my house.

    November 28, 2024