One of my favorite groups of birds is the order that includes kingfishers, motmots, todies, bee-eaters and rollers. The order Coraciiformes contains three families from the Americas and two Eurasian families. In 2024 I saw species from three of these families, so that's where we're going next! My Belted Kingfisher is flying up the Quinebaug River in Plainfield Connecticut - a favorite spot for fishermen, birders, and fishing birds.

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon, Quinebaug River in March.

The Connecticut River is tidal from its mouth at Old Saybrook to the dam at Windsor Locks north of Hartford, a distance of over 55 miles. Jorge drove out to the ferry landing at Rocky Hill to see what birds might be around - and found a few Ring-billed Gulls out walking around on the ice!

Riing-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, Connecticut River

AvesInArt January Challenge continues

January 22nd. My sketch for today is the bold and brilliant blue jay. Throughout the Americas, jays fill the niche of noisy omnivore, often living in close proximity to people.

BLUE JAY, Cyanocitta cristata. Colored pencil and sharpie marker.
January 22, 2015. Willington, Connecticut, USA.

Jorge's bird of the day was photographed at the coast, where we have three common species of gulls year 'round.  During the winter other gulls show up as well, but you have to be a full-time bird-chaser to be able to photograph those guys!

RING-BILLED GULL, Larus delawarensis.
January 2015, Connecticut, USA.