Category Archives: Local Birding
Hoodies in the Snow
Midst a major snowstorm, hopefully the last of the season, we’ve had a lot of activity in the backyard including the resident Carolina Wren, dozens of goldfinches, and even a mink and a beaver. Today, a pair of Hooded Mergansers … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
Posted in Birding With Ginger, Local Birding, Winter Birds
2 Comments
An Early Arctic Visitor
Last week a friend contacted me to let me know that a Snowy Owl had shown up on his patch. I was out birding with my gear and within a half-hour, was looking at the wayward bird from up north. … Continue reading
Posted in Irruptive migrant, Local Birding, Owls, Vermont Birding
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Backyard Birds 2
Some of the visual treats for us are the mergansers, both hooded and common, who motor past our spot on the river. The last few days, between snow squalls, some handsome Hoodies have been out and about. They’ll head south … Continue reading
Backyard Birds 1
Living next to a river is great — we paddle on it, ski on it some winters, and have an ever-delightful array of wildlife to watch. On perhaps my last paddle of the year, I flushed these mallards just upstream … Continue reading
Posted in Backyard birds, Local Birding, Vermont Birding, Winooski River North Branch
Tagged Backyard birds
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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 … Continue reading
Stick Season 2
Each day I take Ginger, our labradoodle, on walks around the city or on trails throughout the county. We spend an hour or two and try to integrate a little birding into each adventure. Montpelier itself has some nice birding … Continue reading
Posted in Local Birding, Local trails, Stick Season, Vermont Birding
3 Comments
Stick Season 1
Stick season in Vermont means that the leaves have fallen, many of the birds have left, as have most bugs and tourists, and we get some cold clear days to get out and about. Next week is the start of … Continue reading
Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding, Washington County
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Paddling With Mergs
Until the last few days, we’ve had a small group of Common Mergansers on the river behind our house. In several kayak outings I’ve mixed with them, and when I had my camera onboard, trying to photograph them. With a … Continue reading
Posted in home patch, Local Birding
Tagged Backyard birds, mergansers
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August Juveniles
We’ve enjoyed seeing a lot of bird youngster activity in our yard this summer including a brood or two of House Wrens as well as young Blue Jays and Common Grackles begging their parents for food from the suet feeder. … Continue reading
Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding
Tagged juveniles, local birds
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