Author Archives: Richard

Snowy Owl — finally

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As all birders know, Snowy Owls by the thousands have shown up across the northern tier of the U.S.  I think I’m the only birder in Vermont who hadn’t seen one, until yesterday.  We had some show up in Vermont but I missed them before we left for Texas, and then kept reading about folks throughout New England seeing owls left and right.

Since we returned from the Southwest several weeks ago, there have been Snowy Owls reported at Plum Island.  I knew that we had a trip planned to MA for grandparenting in late April/early May and hoped that one would hang around — and it did.

I can’t take the dog on the refuge so Mary dog-sat Thursday and I made a quick run to seek out the Snowy.  Two friends from Vermont had seen it the week before and as I approached the Hellcat area, where it had been hanging out, I thought, “With my luck, it probably just headed out.”  I met two women coming out and asked and they said, “It’s right up there sitting on a post.”

And sure enough, it was.  It kept looking the other way and was pretty bedraggled from the heavy rains of the day before.  Dozens of birders watched, took photos, and admired the visitor from the north.  Here’s my low-quality photo — never could get it to turn our way.

Here’s a little recap on the irruption of Snowy Owls from Reuters:

“What we’re seeing now — it’s unbelievable,” said Denver Holt, head of the Owl Research Institute in Montana.

“This is the most significant wildlife event in decades,” added Holt, who has studied snowy owls in their Arctic tundra ecosystem for two decades.

Holt and other owl experts say the phenomenon is likely linked to lemmings, a rodent that accounts for 90 percent of the diet of snowy owls during breeding months that stretch from May into September. The largely nocturnal birds also prey on a host of other animals, from voles to geese. An especially plentiful supply of lemmings last season likely led to a population boom among owls that resulted in each breeding pair hatching as many as seven offspring. That compares to a typical clutch size of no more than two, Holt said.

Greater competition this year for food in the Far North by the booming bird population may have then driven mostly younger, male owls much farther south than normal.

 Research on the animals is scarce because of the remoteness and extreme conditions of the terrain the owls occupy, including northern Russia and Scandinavia, he said. 

 It was great to finally see a Snowy and add it to my life list.  Now, I worry about whether this guy will make it back north.  May is very late to be hanging out in Massachusetts even though the food supply is plentiful.  I’ll watch the lists and see when he’s headed out.

Southwest Trip Wrap-up

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Now that we’ve been home a few weeks and are seeing spring birds in Vermont, it’s interesting to think back about some of the neat birds we saw this winter.  I saw about 210 species with 25 new to me.  There were no extremely rare ones this year like in the past although the Brown Jay was one that hadn’t shown up for a few years.  Here are some of the ones that I particularly liked — some of my photos are not wonderful but give a taste of what we saw.  Great birding all in all.

We saw large groups of Black-crowned Night Herons at Goose Island SP

Brown-headed Nuthatches at Lake Fountainbleau SP in LA

Black-capped Titmouse

Brown Jay at Salenino, TX

Curve-billed Thrasher singing at Falcon SP 
Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Laughing Gulls

Pine Warbler at Clarko SP, MS 
Roadrunners were less prevalent this year, perhaps because of the Texas drought.

One of my favorites and a life bird — Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Semi-palmated Plover

Roseate Spoonbill developing breeding plumage – Rockport, TX

Whooping Cranes.

Willets courting.

Digiscoping With Frozen Fingers

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Two weeks ago, I was birding in shorts and T-shirts.  That was then, today in Vermont it was 28 degrees with blowing snow flurries as I birded early this morning at Berlin Pond.  A Bald Eagle was spotted there yesterday but I dipped on it today but saw a nice array of birds before quitting to thaw out a bit.  I used my point&shoot to try some digiscoping with so-so results.  Here’s a couple:

A Common Grackle looking pretty sharp on a Saturday morning.
Ring-necked Ducks are reliable visitors each spring.
A pair of Tree Swallows posed patiently but the photos were blurry.  May be the wind.

I fumbled with cold hands trying to set iso and aperture but ran out of patience.  So, it’s time to read the manual again.  One “expert” advised me to shoot automatic and let the camera figure it all out.  I think I’ll continue to work on settings and see if I can get the Canon SD3000 working the way others have it working.  Next time, it will be in a freezing-free temperature without a gale blowing.

Critters We Left Behind

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Having been back in Vermont for over a week, I’ve been thinking about some of the critters we encountered on our Southwestern trips.  While we have a wood fire going and snow pellets in the air here, it also is nice to take walks with the dog and not worry about poisonous or dangerous things.

We first encountered potential trouble in Louisiana when I was out on some trails hiking with the dog and saw this sign. It sort of got my attention but it was early spring and I figured that probably snakes were still staying warm underground or wherever.  Of course, it was a warm day for January and as I poked through some brush off trail, I was startled to see this cottonmouth coiled up on an old stump.  It had one of these, “And who might you be?” looks if snakes can have expressions.  Penny was off leash and sniffing here and there but I grabbed her before she found our friend.

After taking a couple of iPhone pictures, I made a quiet retreat and stayed on the trail the rest of the walk.

This state park, Lake Fausse Pointe, also gave us our first real exposure to mosquitoes.  Southern mosquitoes are big and nasty and it’s not fair to have them around in January.  Mary seems to attract them and we had several bouts later in Texas.  They seem to find any small opening in the Airstream and with a white ceiling, give us a pre-bedtime ritual of swatting them.

Of course, you never know where you’ll run into alligators.  It didn’t raise our confidence level when one park ranger told Mary, “Ma’am, don’t worry about them — they only go after the old and the slow.” Well ….   I tend to worry more about the dog hassling them and keep her on leash in alligator country.  Some of these get pretty big — here’s one we saw at a Louisiana refuge.

We have a few black bears here in Vermont but they are hardly ever about – I’ve only seen three or four in our woods in ten years of outings.  On the other hand, in Texas I’ve heard and seen coyotes frequently and also seen many wild pigs and javelinas.  Here’s a coyote that crossed right in front of us at a campground at Big Bend.

Javelinas love to browse at feeding stations at Falcon State Park.  They seem skitterish but when they have young ones with them, they reportedly can get ornery.  We just give them a wide birth at any time.

And the worst critters we encountered this trip came at the end when both Penny and I hit infestations of ticks.  Now, we worry some about ticks in New England and Penny is on meds for fleas and ticks but we were out in the brushy woods at Village Creek State Park, north of Beaumont, Texas, and just got whacked.  I was wearing shorts and both of us were covered.  These suckers were hard to remove and we kept finding them.  We moved on to Mississippi and like an idiot, I went out again and apparently brushed by vegetation with more of them and we spent another evening searching and removing them.

I had bought some tick medicine from a vet in Texas.  I normally use Frontline on Penny but she carried something else, saying that it was just as good.  Well, these ticks just laughed at the generic substitute.  Our friends Jason and Kevin picked up some Frontline for Penny and we dosed her in Mississippi and it did the trick.  I just wore long pants and tucked in socks and stayed out of tick areas.  Neither of us seems to have developed any issues from our encounters.

And lastly, while we were at Falcon, a neighbor told me about a scorpion that some folks found dead in the women’s bathroom.  He then showed me a live scorpion that he caught underneath a rock down by Falcon Lake.  He was going to bring it to his grandson who reportedly was excited to get it.

The thought of capturing a scorpion to bring back to one of our grandkids never crossed my mind.  I have a good relationship with my daughter and daughters-in-law and want to keep it that way.  We left all the critters behind us.

Paddling in Mississippi

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I took the kayak out this morning for a little exercise/birding here at Natchez State Park. There’s an impoundment that’s about the size of Wrightsville Reservoir where I’ll paddle this Spring and I saw many of the same bird species (Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Wood Ducks, Common Yellowthroats, etc.) I’ll see in Vermont this summer. But that’s where the similarities end.

A Great Egret fished nearby and dozens of Black Vultures wandered around waiting for thermals. The water was greenish and tepid, and several big bass boats were already tucked into coves.

It is Turkey season here but I’m not used to warning signs where I paddle.



As I lugged the kayak down to the water, a good ol’ boy setting out in his shiny rig said with his barely-understandable Southern drawl, “you might not want to go up the cricks – I’ve seen a bunch of ‘gators in them. One of them was as long as that boat of yours!”

I thanked him for his advice, noting that we don’t see many alligators in Vermont.

As I paddled, I wondered if he, having seen the license plates, was putting me on but I think not. It’s funny how floating logs and cypress knees can look like gators. I did see a great-looking “crick,” sort of like the inlet at Wrightsville, as was tempted to follow a gaggle of beautiful Wood Ducks up it. But, discretion won over and I cruised back up the center of the lake, enjoying the workout and keeping my heart rate normal.

Last Day at Goose Island

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I started the day early yesterday with a life bird – a couple of Franklin’s Gulls with their pretty pinkish chests beside their cousin Laughing Gulls – and then added a Sedge Wren and a Seaside Sparrow as birds new to me this trip. But most of the warm day, I watched and listened to birds in the campsite yard.

The Northern Cardinals are matching up and their chirping and singing is just standard background noise that is easy to take for granted. Likewise, the White-eyed Vireos are calling continually and flitting through the dense foliage, offering periodic looks. I saw one yesterday with a mouth full of fluffy nesting material.

Most of the Red-winged Blackbirds have left – hurrah – as have the White Pelicans – boo.

I spent some time sitting in a lawn chair, listening and watching Northern Parulas work the leaves for insects. They are such beautiful birds and we seem to have a good influx, some of whom will stick around and nest.

Warblers are moving through but in small numbers. I’ve seen Nashville, Hooded, Black & White warblers but missed several others. I’ll get another chance with some of them in Vermont.

Goose Island is a special place for us. I’m already developing a target list for birds I’ve missed with thoughts that we’ll be back next year. Meanwhile, I’m going to spend part of this last day just watching some of the birds in the woods and along the shore and make one last attempt to sort out the Dunlins, the Sandpipers, the Plovers, and the Dowitchers.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Planning Our Return to the Donut Shop

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Well, even though migrating birds are starting to show up, it is time to think about our return home. We’ve had a couple of objectives: celebrating Easter with our Mississippi friends and seeing Rich, Lydda, and grandson Bronson in Ohio. I want to take our time and check out the birds that are migrating with us.
So we will say goodbye to Goose Island this weekend. I like to go through Houston on a weekend so we’ll do that Sunday stopping at Viilage Creek SP north of Beaumont. It’s a small park with some nice trails and a river where we may be able to kayak. ( It was too high on the way through in January.)
Then to another park we’ve enjoyed, Natchez, for a few days. We stay at Clarko in Quitman, MS while visiting our friends in Laurel.
Two years ago, we stumbled on a coffee/donut shop outside Alexandria, LA while heading home. It was a beautiful morning and we ate outside in the springtime air just enjoying the moment. It was one of those “remember that place we had donuts?” that we mentioned when recalling our first trip.
Then last year, on a different route home, things suddenly looked familiar and I said to Mary, “I think our donut place is up ahead.” Well, we drove and drove and I was starting to think I was wrong ( for the first time all trip) when sure enough, up ahead was the place. The tables were gone and a new building next door but the people were friendly and the coffee and goodies as we remembered. And it was another nice day to sit outside a while.
Well, in planning this trip, I realized that the shop, if still in business, is right on the route from Natchez to Clarko.
We’ll head north the Monday after Easter, probably stopping in Alabama and Kentucky for a few days, arriving in Xenia on Thursday. We’ll park beside the house for a few days and then, Monday the 16th head east toward Vermont, arriving Tuesday night if all goes well.
So, I roughed out the segments and made the mistake of adding up the mileage, saying to Mary, “Do you know that it’s 2216 miles home the way we’ve planned?” it’s a good thing we want to see friends and family -otherwise she’d be tempted to fly to Dayton, then Albany.
But then, she’d miss the donut stop.
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Great Day in Texas

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Mary and I loaded up Penny and left early for some back road birding north of Rockport. We started tallying gulls and “telephone line” birds and soon were on a Farm-to-Market road heading toward the hamlet of Bayside. These “farm roads” in Texas are usually narrow with a speed limit of 70 and lots of white pickup trucks in a hurry. Not too conducive to birding although usually there is a wide shoulder (or ditch.)

We pulled off on a little narrow road alongside Copano Bay called Egery Flat aka Mosquito Alley and were immediately confronted with a small mudflat/pond with hundreds of shorebirds. As we tried to sort through Dowitchers, Dunlins, Willets some Black-legged Stilts, and lots of sandpipers, I was wishing that I had an expert along. Just ahead, we saw and photographed a Reddish Egret – a white morph in breeding plumage – which turned out to be a new bird for each of us. It is neat to watch them fish, stirring up the water with their feet and then grabbing stuff they’ve scared.

The American Golden Plovers were in his pasture

As the road turned to dirt, we saw several birds flush out of the grass and settle. I knew right away that they were one of the species we were after – and it turned out that they were American Golden Plovers, passing through on their way north. I got out my scope and we got some good looks, an so-so photos. As I watched, a steer (seen above) watched us and started plodding our way. Time to move on.

American Golden Plover

It was a pretty spring day with no one around on this straight back road so we let the dog go and walked for a while. The temperature was about 80 with a light breeze and blue skies with sparrows and meadowlarks rising from the fields. Of course, the mosquitoes found Mary.

We passed another flock of plovers and then, just as we were nearly done with the loop, Mary spotted more birds. We pulled over, looked at them through the binos, and took some photos. About then, a deputy sherriff pulled alongside asking “Everything ok?” I guess the red Vermont truck with kayak on top looked pretty unthreatening and he was off. (I learned later that the birds were migrating Upland Sandpipers, another new one for us.

Upland Sandpiper

One of the purposes of the outing was to check out a local eating place which friends had raved about. Crofutt’s Sandwich Shop & Bakery calls itself “An Oasis in a Junk Food Desert” and it is. Plain looking and frequented by local oil and ranch workers, it has been running for 33 years. We had the Shrimp Po-Boy and they were great. I had to eat mine next to the truck since Penny had an anxiety meltdown and started pulling the rubber stripping from the door .. again. Washed down with iced tea, with a couple of decadent cookies for later, it was quite a feast.

We returned in time for a short nap and then Penny and I drove to the vet for a last checkup. Her leg is nearly there and after a quick check, the doc said goodbye giving her a few treats for the road.

While our more ardent birder acquaintances go out for all day, we found that a few hours, some fresh air, some good food, and a nap is our preference.

We have managed to see 201 different species this trip so far with about 25 new ones for me. Now to follow some them as they migrate northward.

A Great Birding Outing

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Yesterday, Mary and I loaded up Penny and left early for some back road birding north of Rockport. We started tallying gulls and “telephone line” birds and soon were on a Farm-to-Market road heading toward the hamlet of Bayside. These “farm roads” in Texas are usually narrow with a speed limit of 70 and lots of white pickup trucks in a hurry. Not too conducive to birding although usually there is a wide shoulder (or ditch.)
We pulled off on a little narrow road alongside Copano Bay called Egery Flat aka Mosquito Alley and were immediately confronted with a small mudflat/pond with hundreds of shorebirds. As we tried to sort through Dowitchers, Dunlins, Willets some Black-legged Stilts, and lots of sandpipers, I was wishing that I had an expert along. Just ahead, we saw and photographed a Reddish Egret – a white morph in breeding plumage – which turned out to be a new bird for each of us. It is neat to watch them fish, stirring up the water with their feet and then grabbing stuff they’ve scared.

The American Golden Plovers were in his pasture

As the road turned to dirt, we saw several birds flush out of the grass and settle. I knew right away that they were one of the species we were after – and it turned out that they were American Golden Plovers, passing through on their way north. I got out my scope and we got some good looks, an so-so photos. As I watched, a steer (seen above) watched us and started plodding our way. Time to move on.

American Golden Plover

It was a pretty spring day with no one around on this straight back road so we let the dog go and walked for a while. The temperature was about 80 with a light breeze and blue skies with sparrows and meadowlarks rising from the fields. Of course, the mosquitoes found Mary.
We passed another flock of plovers and then, just as we were nearly done with the loop, Mary spotted more birds. We pulled over, looked at them through the binos, and took some photos. About then, a deputy sherriff pulled alongside asking “Everything ok?” I guess the red Vermont truck with kayak on top looked pretty unthreatening and he was off. (I learned later that the birds were migrating Upland Sandpipers, another new one for us.

Upland Sandpiper

One of the purposes of the outing was to check out a local eating place which friends had raved about. Crofutt’s Sandwich Shop & Bakery calls itself “An Oasis in a Junk Food Desert” and it is. Plain looking and frequented by local oil and ranch workers, it has been running for 33 years. We had the Shrimp Po-Boy and they were great. I had to eat mine next to the truck since Penny had an anxiety meltdown and started pulling the rubber stripping from the door .. again. Washed down with iced tea, with a couple of decadent cookies for later, it was quite a feast.
We returned in time for a short nap and then Penny and I drove to the vet for a last checkup. Her leg is nearly there and after a quick check, the doc said goodbye giving her a few treats for the road.
While our more ardent birder acquaintances go out for all day, we found that a few hours, some fresh air, some good food, and a nap is our preference.
We have managed to see 201 different species this trip so far with about 25 new ones for me. Now to follow some them as they migrate northward.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Big Day

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Mary went on a bird walk this morning and came back with a long list of birds — several which I had not seen.  It was my day to watch the dog since she (the dog) gets anxious when separated for any lengthy period.
After lunch, we decided to go for a drive and look for birds so we left for Refugio, a small town about 35 miles away.  Birding at 70 mph on a narrow highway is a challenge but we were seeing hawks (Redtails, Kestrels, perhaps a Rough-legged) when I blasted by a Scissor-tail Flycatcher sitting on a fence.  This was one of the birds we were after.
No one was behind me so I slowed, turned around on the narrow highway, and of course the bird spooked as soon as we approached.  It flew, gracefully, up and then dropped down to a spot further up the fence.  We got some good looks.
We saw several more, slowing each time, and then birded a local park up in Refugio with no success.  Returning, we saw two flycatchers sitting close to one another and slowing the truck, got some photos.  They were very patient and chirping away at us and we left them undisturbed.  Fortunately, the road is little traveled even though those that do use it cruise at 70-80.  
Scissors-tailed Flycatcher, Refugio County, TX
It was a two mile detour to check out a spot on Highway 35 where folks have seen a burrowing owl.  I’ve been by there two or three times with no luck but we decided, in spite of the heavy traffic, to give it a try.  The spot is a large drainage culvert exactly two miles from an intersection so as we approached, I could see the culvert.  We pulled to the side and checked it with binos.  There was a small owl-looking lump on top (She comes up through a crack in the pipe.)  so once traffic cleared, we crawled ahead and shot a couple of photos of her looking at us.  We then left her undisturbed. 
Burrowing Owl alongside Highway 35, Aransas County, TX
It’s interesting — hundreds of trucks, RV’s, and cars go past that culvert each day, oblivious to the unusual bird watching them.  Of course, she’s tiny and blends into the scenery.  It was a great find — I never expected to catch her out of her haven.
Returning to Goose Island State Park, I took the Vizsla for a walk and decided to check the feeding station near our site.  Not much activity in the late afternoon but I sat down and right away, a Hooded Warbler — a handsome male — began using the bird bath.  Mary had seen the warbler earlier in the day and it was one I was looking for.  Of course, my camera was back at camp but I got a wonderful look at the bird — and my third life bird of the afternoon.  
We are here in Texas later than normal for us and we are starting to get some early migrants.  Hopefully, a few more will show up in the next week.  Then, some of them, we’ll get to see again in New England later on this Spring.  But not these three.