Category: Local Birding

Birding With Ginger

We have a new dog, a nine-week old Labradoodle named Ginger Ale, who I took birding for the first time this morning. I promised not to pepper the blog with puppy pictures but let me introduce her.

5.3 pounds of energy

I wanted to go up to the local airport in search of Eastern Meadowlarks, since few have been seen in the state this year, but what I found was a beehive of activity with seven Civil Air Patrol planes giving rides and towing q glider – and very little bird activity.

We walked the ramp area, watching planes and getting some exercise — it’s a place I’ve had several planes stored so it’s a little stroll down memory lane. Ginger found a nice spot to catch a rest.

After an hour or so, we loaded up and were heading down the road with the windows opened when sure enough, I heard a Meadowlark. After shedding the car behind me, turning around on the busy road, I was able to take a few shots. The cameral wasn’t set right and I had to rush things but it was a successful end to the outing.

A June Morning

I took a drive in the van, perhaps one of the last, up to a local tourist highlight – The Morse Farm – which is known for maple syrup and all sorts of items, but also has some good birds. I was looking for Cliff Swallows and Wilson’s Snipe and saw/heard them along with my first American Bittern of the year. A great spot, a lovely morning, and several hours well-spent.

Mourning Dove
A Cliff Swallow gathering mud.
The shape, long tail, streaking, says Song Sparrow brfore it even sings.
What’s not to like about a Red-winged Blackbird against a blue June sky?
One of the Wilson’s Snipes calling and foraging
Purple Finch
Eastern Bluebird

Goslings

After a stint of damp grey weather, we got a nice treat of our first crop of goslings this morning. I noticed the adult out back and was surprised to see she had a baby poking out from underneath her.

As I watched the youngsters quietly, a couple of braver ones headed out, and were soon joined by four others.
Mom/or Dad joined them on the grass, keeping an eye on me.
Pretty soon, all were foraging and I left snuck away, with plans to watch them in the days ahead. I hope they avoid the local cats and other predators – it is a tough environment in which to survive.

Mid-Week Birds

Local birding is great these days with lots of bird song to hear, new arrivals to identify and watch, and striking breeding plumage to admire – and hardly any leaves, yet.

Yellow Warblers are are easy to spot but hard to photograph.
American Goldfinches will at least pause for a moment.
Warbling Vireos are lovely to hear but always on the move.
Tree, Barn, and Bank Swallows coming and going
Song Sparrow thinking it is hidden.
Mallard in the shade.

Fish for Breakfast

On one of the first sunny days we’ve had in ages, I took the van (which by the way is for sale) out for some birding and at Berlin Pond, after seeing my first Baltimore Oriole of the year, too high and bouncy to photograph, came across this Osprey perched over the pond. It was windy and at the far range of my little camera and it was not until I got home that I realized it had a big fish breakfast.

They’re Back

In spite of several feet of snow on the ground and chilly temperatures, we have had a lot of new avian arrivals in the last few days.

While crows have been around all winter, the recent surge in numbers is a nice sign of Spring.

The ice in the North Branch of the Winooski out back just is disappearing and we saw Hooded Mergansers for the first time yesterday.

The first two Canada Geese splashed in this morning.

This Ring-necked Duck is .the first we’ve ever seen on the North Branch
A Mallard cruses downstream as a female hoodie goes by.

This afternoon, while watching the river, I watched an Eastern Phoebe alight on the deck railing, pump its tail and probably wonder where Spring is — I certainly am..

Flocks

In the past week I have seen large flocks of American Crows, Dark-eyed Juncos, European Starlings, and Snow Buntings. In the last post I showed some photos of a 25-bird Pine Grosbeak flock. Yesterday, while looking in vain for a Golden Eagle, we came upon a 44-bird group of Bohemian Waxwings in a line of maple trees.

Shortly later, we came upon a flock of 59 Wild Turkeys foraging in a cornfield. Finding flocks is often just getting out there – and being at the right place at the right time.

Bittern Out Back

Earlier in the week, Sally came upon an American Bittern right at the end of our path to the river. All I had was my iPhone and the photos, in poor light, were not good. Yesterday, we saw it again, without phone or camera. Today, at the end of a long bird walk, I snuck down the path and Voila!

Our friend will be on his way southward soon but what a great backyard treat.

Muggy Mid-day Paddle

Like most of the East, and it seems, most of the world, we have been enduring a long stretch of hot and humid conditions with sparse precipitation. While the river is low, paddling seemed like a nice option to get a little workout and perhaps see some birds.

As I was getting kayak ready, I noticed this Monarch working one of our flower bushes.

It has been a good year for Monarchs

Several young song sparrows chipped away at me as I got the gear together.

Our local Great Blue Heron was downstream fishing.

While upstream, this moma Mallard shepherded her three youngsters,

We have watched this brood go from about a dozen fluffballs to the three nearly-grown youngsters.

I saw a larger bird fly into some undergrowth and after some maneuvering and stealth, I spotted this neat Green Heron. It gave me an interesting challenge of balancing the boat, the paddle, and the camera as it played hard to get.

But the master of “catch me if you can” seems to be the Belted Kingfisher who is noisy, flashy, and usually just out of camera range. I followed this one for a quarter mile, shooting and missing, but finally …

Birding by boat is not just about trying for photos. I got really close to several Grey Catbirds, deep in the honeysuckle, and watched an Eastern Phoebe singing away high on a dead branch. It iwas a peaceful way to enjoy a humid Vermont mid-day.

Sunday Birding

I awoke to the song of a Carolina Wren, sort of unusual here — and going out to look for it, saw this trio in the back yard.

I suspect that the second fawn is hiding. Note the Joe Pye Weed in the background.

I did some reading on the back deck, watching the birds coming toward the feeder. We are getting a lot of youngsters and quite a mix. Here are a few:

Goldfinches have been numerous all spring/summer and some, like this guy, are simply stunning after molt.

Common Grackles show up in bunches — this appears to be a young one — no yellow eye and a little drab.

What’s not to like about a Northern Cardinal?

Finch – House or Purple? Their singing can be ethereal in the early morning.

This young Blue Jay is one of many who have boundless appetites and are constantly begging, doing their “wing” shake to get their parents to feed them.

We have a new “squirrel-proof” feeder which the greys have sort of given up on but the reds are still trying.

The other challenge is the Rock Doves aka pigeon who show up each day in droves. They generally go for the dropped seed but also try to get on the feeder, in a flail of flapping wings and clumsiness. I must say, they are pretty handsome birds — one or two at a time.

I looked up from my book to see this guy moving down through the reeds. We had a Great Blue here the last few years and he returned this Spring. After a surprise late snowfall, he vanished. This bird showed up months later and whether it’s our regular, or a newcomer, it it warms our heart to have that wonderful fisherman/woman in our back yard.

Slow birding is a nice way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon.