Category: Birding With Ginger

Early May Birds

New migrants are arriving daily and the trees are just budding — it’s a great time to get out an check things out. Here are a few recent sightings.

This pair have been here for weeks but always nice to see.

Eastern Kingbirds showed up last week, as did Common Loons.

And I’m still sorting out sandpipers — this one, which I saw just up from the house, I’m calling a Solitary Sandpiper, not a Spotted.

Warblers are here but their movement and the dog’s leash make them difficult to photograph. But all the Yellow Warblers and American Goldfinches add lollipops of color to enjoy.

Cherry Hill – Part 2

As we walked a couple of miles alongside the reservoir, there was a quite a mix of birds. Here are more — some of the images are poor because of the grey skies. The first was this American Kestrel which we flushed walking in but was perched again of the same branch an hour later.

This Red-breasted Merganser was moving away from us.

Several Killdeers were foraging.
An uncooperative Eastern Bluebird
Double-crested Cormorant

My “helper” who like me, enjoys our birding outings.

Cherry Hill – Part 1

When I visit my daughter in Massachusetts, I often try to go birding with Ginger at Cherry Hill Reservoir. We spent a few good hours on a chilly morning last Thursday. Here are a few of the waterfowl we saw.

Buffleheads were everywhere – dozens of them.

There were also a number of Scaup – I’m calling them Lesser due to the rounded head.

Scaup and a Bufflehead

Ruddy Ducks are often here, in large rafts, resting. They are delightful to watch as they dive and re-appear, usually farther away.

We had a great hike and saw 33 species. I’ll include more in the next post. Happy migration birding.

Back Home

A lot of birds arrived during our trip to North Carolina. On the first morning back, I had a wonderful outing.

My first Vermont Gray Catbird of the year
This Mallard was spectacular in the morning sun
A Solitary Sandpiper
A Red Trillium along the trail

Many birds were singing including warblers (Yellow, Black & White, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, and Common Yellowthroat) and at the end of the walk, this American Robin was singing its heart out. So it made it into the photos.

Vitamin C

We still have some fruit left on trees around town and in the last few weeks, large flocks of birds have hit them. Perhaps the best are the Cedar Waxwings, which are beautiful, if not noisy with the high-pitched calls.

American Robins come and go and join in the feasting.

The other day, I heard lots of bird song coming out of a large bush downtown and knew that I’d find House Sparrows.

I’m still looking for Bohemian Waxwings, Grosbeaks, Redpolls, and other potential visitors but these guys were fun to encounter.

Stick Season 3

The last few days, Ginger and I have been exploring the trails along Wrightsville Reservoir. Today the rain stopped early and a beautiful Fall morning ensued.

The usually suspects were there: crows, geese, chickadees, blue jays, and goldfinches but then we came upon this Northern Shrike, a bird I only see once or twice a year.

Airport Birding

Over the years, I’ve owned a number of small planes and spent a lot of time around airports. Our local airfield is a great place to find some birds and exercise the dog when not much is going on aviation-wise. This summer, Ginger and I have had some nice morning sessions. Here’s one:

Killdeers, always in motion, love the macadam surfaces.
While the state mows too much for grassland birds, Eastern Meadowlarks show up every year.
They even share space, here with a young Common Grackle.
Song Sparrows are great to hear and fun to see.

And here’s my birding buddy, returning down the taxiway without the tennis ball I threw. I think it’s still there in the tall grass.

Enjoy the rest of these summer days. Before long, we’ll be up there looking for Snowy Owls.

Early Summer Birds

Early June is a great time to be outside in Vermont – birds are still singing, young ones are clamoring for food, and everything is lush and green – but ticks abound.

Song Sparrows are everywhere with youngsters trying out the voices.
A new crop of Cedar Waxwings made a cameo appearance the other morning.
This juvenile Baltimore Oriole hiding in the brush was one of several.
Threatened by loss of habitat, Bobolinks are wonderful birds – so much fun to listen to and watch.

Just up the trail, these three gals watched us with great interest. Ginger, on her leash, likewise was ready to play but we moved on.

The Jersey breed was developed so that dairy producers would have “less cow to feed, more cow to milk.”
Ginger pausing on one of the East Montpelier trails.

Some Singers

There is a medley of bird songs in the early hours these days and here are a few of the chorus members.

One of the most common songs is from the many Chestnut-sided Warblers whose “pleased to-pleased to meet ya” calls are easy to identify.
Likewise, the Ovenbird’s “teacher, teacher, teacher” can drown out others trying to get a song in edgewise.
The Northern Waterthrush has a distinct call -a loud, ringing, three-part “sweet sweet sweet swee wee wee chew chew chew chew” according to the Cornell site. This guy perched patiently for me as I dealt with a dog leash, binoculars, and the Canon.

Just down the road, these Yellow Warblers were singing, flirting, and just jumping around. They are easy to see but tough to photograph.

Driving Vermont backroads, some early mornings you see more birds than vehicles. It reminds me of the neat bumper sticker, “Caution, I brake for birds.”

Local birds

One of the toughest birds for me to photograph is the Common Yellowthroat. They are everywhere with their “witchety-witchety-witchety” call but usually buried in bushes and always on the move. Here’s one recent shot I got:

Ten kids to protect and raise – not an easy task.
Eastern Kingbird
Brown Thrasher

While checking out the airport this morning, I saw a large bird dive into the underbrush up ahead. Parking and searching with the binoculars, I found this young turkey.

As I scanned, I came across this guy, a Wilson’s Snipe, hiding in the grass. You never know what you’ll find when you just slow down and look.

I’m used to seeing these birds flying – “winnowing” using their tail feathers, during courtship.