Bill Danielson, Author at Daily Hampshire Gazette - Page 18 of 22

Unlike the American goldfinch, the plumage patterns of the European goldfinch, pictured, are almost identical between adult males and females. The only real difference is in the extent of the red feathers of the male, which extend slightly behind the eye.

Speaking of Nature: I’ll take ‘our’ goldfinches any day

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteDecember 14, 2022

The jay on the left has turned to watch the effects of its arrival. One bird has taken flight and the bird on the right has kicked up a spray of seeds as it attempts to escape. This photo captures the joy that jays take in thier mischievous attacks on one another.

Speaking of Nature: 22,000 photos: An unexpected milestone

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteDecember 6, 2022

This is the bonus shot! This bird is posed in such a way that you can see the beautiful blue feathers on its wings.

Speaking of Nature: My Sicilian nemesis: The magpie

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteNovember 29, 2022

Growing only 5 to 6 inches tall, the sporophyte of the princess pine produces yellow haploid spores on a special "cone" at the top of the plant. Imagine how many of these plants you would need to make fireworks.

Speaking of Nature: Remnants of the past: The princess pine

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteNovember 22, 2022

The dead vegetation in the background of this photo draws out the sumptuous browns in the plumage of this adult female dark-eyed junco. Is this photo more "authentic" than a photo of the same bird sitting at one of my feeders?

Speaking of Nature: Examining the rules of nature photography

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteNovember 15, 2022

Speaking of Nature: The effects of this summer’s drought on the winter ahead

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteNovember 8, 2022

I found this little brown bat, looking at me with a decidedly sleepy expression on its face, in my garage. The bat’s huge ears, used for echolocation, are the inspiration for the genus name "myotis," or "mouse ear."

Speaking of Nature: Getting to know bats

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteNovember 1, 2022

A yellow-rumped warbler in fall plumage sits atop the dry flowers of a goldenrod plant and reaches out to grasp a tiny, hidden insect.

Speaking of Nature: A final fall warbler

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteOctober 25, 2022

While humming a gentle lullaby, Autumn paints the landscape with a beautiful palette dominated by the colors of fire.

Speaking of Nature: Autumn’s lullaby: Preparing the world for sleep

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteOctober 18, 2022

Little Bruce (left) appears to have the beginnings of some nice long crest feathers. Big Bruce (right) has a stunted crest, a black patch behind his eye and some new tail feathers growing in. Both birds might qualify as a "hot mess."

Speaking of Nature: Like father, like son: Big and Little Bruce

by Bill Danielson For the GazetteOctober 11, 2022