Category: Local Birding

Fall Woods Walk 1

Ginger and I have been exploring a local forest and its network of trails. Yesterday, we walked and birded for nearly three hours and never saw anyone. 

It was quiet: there were no road noises, chainsaws, people, or dogs – all was I could hear was the jingle of her harness, the chirps and trills of the ever-present chickadees, and calling of crows and the drumming of woodpeckers. It was lovely as the temperature climbed from 45 into the sixties – a perfect Fall morning and a welcome break from the onslaught of disturbing news in the nation and the world.

I took my time and saw a lot of birds but thought I’d first give you a flavor of the trek. I’ll sort the birds out next post. 

These old farmlands have a variety of stone walls, old foundations, interesting debris, and lots of natural features that catch your eye. This massive boulder right near the start has a big crack and missing piece that piques the imagination.

Just across the trail is an old hubcap which probably has a story behind it.

The leaves are starting to turn and it’s goldenrod and aster time in Vermont.

A Common Yellowthroat enjoying fall color

Some of the forest is being used for sugaring.

The sap transmission lines are left up year-round.
Ginger explored some of the old pails
This tree had an interesting burl
This tree had an interesting family using it.

Here are a few more shots from the walk:

My Birding Buddy – ready for the next adventure

It is heartening to know that these trails and quiet forest have been preserved and protected for future generations.

House Wrens Fledged Yesterday

We have enjoyed the energy and singing of our House Wrens and wondered about their offspring, which they been feeding pretty continually the last week or two. It was only yesterday when I saw faces at the bird house entrance and I spent some time quietly watching them yesterday afternoon.

The youngsters were waiting, noisily, for lunch.
I saw one of the parents gathering a snack for them.
It was pretty noisy when food arrived. There were three fledglings.
They leaned out more each time food arrived and I saw some tentative moves toward leaving.

I left them alone and I think they left in shortly afterward. Last evening, I could hear the adults and some begging sounds but the fledglings were buried in the thick foliage. This morning, I saw this proud parent on the woodpile.

Ovenbirds

Ovenbirds are loud in the woods, their “teacher, teacher, teacher” call resonating loudly but they themselves tough to spot. Yesterday I saw a number of them, chipping at me as the dog and I walked along the trail. I’m not sure if they were youngsters upset with the intrusion or adults distracting us from nearby ground nests. In any case, they were the first I’ve seen this year.

Chipping, not singing
Watching us as we watched the Ovenbirds

Some June Birds

Bird walks in the woods these days seem to feature persistent calls from two birds that are tough to see: Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird. And these shots from the last couple of outings don’t include them. However, in spite of heavy foliage there are other birds, often young ones, moving about. Here are a few starting with one of our most common, Song Sparrows. Lots of young ones around.

Common Yellowthroats are also pretty common but hard to photograph — always moving. This one faked me out at first but my friend Rich wrote: “I think we can safely say that this is a male Geothlypis trichas trichas, too, or at least in that grouping on eBird, as it lacks a yellow border to the black mask, has a white-ish belly, and an extensive yellow throat.”

Lastly, one of the most persistent singers are Chestnut-sided Warblers, but again, often buried in the leaves these days.

As I write this, I can hear a Black & White Warbler in the woods just across the busy street. This is “birding by ear” time and that sure beats “frozen fingers on the binoculars” time. Be safe and enjoy the birds of summer.

Cedar Waxwings

This Spring we have many birds nesting right here in our backyard. House Wrens are on their second batch while we know there are other nesters like Song Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats, woodpeckers, and Grey Catbirds. Yesterday, we added Cedar Waxing to the list.

I’ve yet to find nests but hear a lot of feeding activity — the thick brambles and foliage are perfect for them. I’d just as soon just leave them alone and wait for the youngsters.

Neighborhood Geese

For several weeks, we have enjoyed seeing a pair of Canada Geese rear a young family on the river right out back. We seen them teaching the goslings to bathe themselves and get started on learning to fly. Some days they are right out back, other times they are up to a half-mile upriver. The youngster count has stayed at six for several weeks. Here they are on an outing yesterday:

Not just birds

While foliage covers up some of the birds this time of year, we enjoy the wildflowers and critters that we see on our walks. Ginger has a fetish about squirrels and today, several crossed our path.

This Red Squirrel was just above Ginger’s sight line and waited for us to pass by.
A Grey Squirrel hunkered down, staying out of sight.
Well, not exactly

Late in the walk, I saw something I’d not seen before. There was a wake on the river and I thought it was a River Otter but …..

This Chipmunk was motoring along, and casually departed onto the sandy shore. The dog was none the wiser.

We also saw and heard a number of birds so we’ll share some images next post. Great time to be out and about in Vermont.

May Outings

It’s a great time for birding here: birds are back and singing and flirting, foliage is just starting to pop, and it’s getting a little warmer. Here are some photos I took in the last two days.

Several Spotted Sandpipers are on a marshy area just a quarter mile from the house.
Black and White Warblers are noisy with the creaky wheel song.
Chestnut-sided Warblers are back and vocalizing.
This is a long-range shot of a pair of Wood Ducks and their chaperone turtle.
Two Grey Catbirds out back this morning.
Eastern Kingbird
American Redstart.

Birds provide a wonderful respite anytime but especially now. Good birding and good health to you.

Wrens

Last week I came across several singing Winter Wrens on a nearby preserve and grabbed this shot of one, in spite of the dog tugging at the leash.

Yesterday, several House Wrens showed up in our back yard and seemed to be interested in our one bird house.

They’ve been checking things out and bringing in some nesting material — we’ll see.

Here are some more shots — it’s wonderful to hear their singing and chattering.

We’ve had a nice variety of new visitors in our back yard this week including a Ruby-throated Hummer, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Black & White Warbler, and a Spotted Sandpiper. Still waiting for the Great Blue Heron.

Killdeer are here

This morning on a dog walk at the airport, I heard and then saw Killdeer — a neat sign of spring and a diversion from the terrible news around us. The striking plumage, frenetic feeding, and noisy chatter are a nice tonic.

Yep, we’re back.

Birds are bringing us a special bit of joy during this tough period of our lives.