Red, White and Blue - II
Today, the challenge is to find three species of birds that will represent the colors of our flag - Red, White and Blue. Surprisingly, the most difficult niche to fill was that of the white stripes. Had I remained in Florida for the summer season, this would not have been any problem. White is a great color if your a bird trying to beat the intense heat of the southern climes. But up here in New York, white birds are simply not that easy to find if you are not in close proximity to the sea or other large bodies of water. Well, first on to RED.
Scarlet tanager - Silver Mine Park - 6-26-28
When I set out to find and photograph a red bird to be the representative for this color of the flag, I kind of assumed I’d be photographing a Northern cardinal. These birds are very vocal and are here in large numbers at this time of year. If worse came to worse, I could always resort to photographing one of the constant visitors to our feeders in the back yard. To my surprise, however, I ran into a Scarlet tanager calling loudly and close by when I stopped by one of my favorite birding locations in Harrinan State Park. I took some time and patience, but eventually, I was able to spot the crimson beauty perched out on a branch high above my head. I was able to squeeze off about 4 frames before the bird disappeared, still announcing his presence but unwilling to show himself again. I was more than happy that this bird obliged to present himself as the standard bearer for the category “Red”.
For the color White, I headed down to the shores of the Hudson River at our local park. Sadly, I came up without any gulls, my assumed “sure thing” for the White category. I was willing to wait for a straggler to pass by, but was informed that the location where I had stationed by RAV4 was in fact a “NO PARKING” zone and would have to move on. I tried several other nearby ponds with no luck and had run out of time to travel up to the Newburgh waterfront where gulls are pretty much a “shoe thing” (if indeed that exists). And so, the image I have chosen to use for represent White today is from November of this past year - a Ring-billed gull.
Adult Ring-billed gull - Newburgh Waterfront - 11-15-25
Had I planned ahead a little better, I would have made the quick trip up to Newburgh and been pretty much assured that this white species would be there. Over the course of each year, we are treated to visiting gulls and terns which always make the waterfront an exciting place to bird. You just never know what species may show up….Iceland, Blackbacks, Laughing, You just have to be prepared to expect the unexpected. But for today, we’ll take this most common resident, the Ring-billed gull.
And last but certainly not least, I was fortunate enough to find a beutiful Eastern bluebird out on Iona Island. As was the case with the tanager earlier in the day, he only made a brief appearance, but with the camera at the ready, I was able to fire off several frames before he beat his hasty retreat. I beautiful addition to our collection of Red, White and Blue in the avian world.
Eastern bluebird - Iona Island - 6-26-26
