December 29 - End of the Year

White-breasted nuthatch

     The year 2018 is quickly drawing to a close.  It's been a very good year for our family.  While not the most productive birding year with a lack of major birding trips to any unusual haunts, I've still managed to find some wonderful birds in wonderful settings.  One of our favorite spots in the northeast is Bent of the River Audubon Center in South Britain, CT.  My son's family as well as good college buddies live in that neck of the woods, so it is quite convenient to stop by and take a stroll or simply check out the feeders from the observation deck.  Although feeders are obviously wonderful for attracting birds and providing good photo-ops, pictures of wild birds on the feeders are not the most sought after shots.  A place like Bent of the River, however, offers a great deal of nearby cover and natural perches for the birds which makes for a much more natural setting and thus a more desirable photograph.  And so today, I managed to photograph many of the common winter "feeder birds" sans feeder.  A representative group follows.

American goldfinch

Black-capped chickadee

Northern cardinal