Category: Vermont Birding

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.

Some Spring Songsters

These mornings, it seems like every bird is showing its singing prowess.. Yesterday I heard four Downy Woodpeckers calling back and forth and just further ahead, was serenaded by a flock of eager Chickadees. Here are some of the others:

Northern Cardinals are very vocal – both of these were singing in the crisp morning air.
Robins were flocking and vocalizing
Even Common Grackles were more musical than usual
Song Sparrows were the singing stars but were very camera-shy.
House Finches were in full voice as well.

Shortly after returning home from the long walk, we got our first look at the Great Blue Heron, spotted by Sally, and hopefully a bird we’ll have out back on the river all summer. A true sign of spring.

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..

Elegant Trogon

As we headed out for a morning hike, a birder shouted, “Have you seen the Trogon yet?” Just down the road, a gaggle of people with cameras and binoculars marked where the bird had been seen but it was gone. After a little looking, we crossed down to the trail and sure enough, Sally spotted the male Elegant Trogon just ahead.

The Lodge owner had told me that this bird has returned for three years and last year, found a mate. What a a delightful start to our walk.

Patagonia Lake State Park

With brisk weather but bright skies, we spent a morning enjoying a lot of birds at the State Park.

Several Say’s Phoebes were out and about — this one puffed up do to the chilly morning.
Cinnamon Teals are common here but not always cooperative for photos.,
Vermillion Flycatcher
Same guy, different lighting
This hummer, which we think is a Broad-billed, came to another feeder and put on a brief display in the sun. Photographer was not ready.
Just as we were leaving, several Verdin, always a favorite, b bounced around the trees, calling away.

It was nice to get back to Patagonia Lake State Park, a true birding hotspot. I even saw the relatively rare Clark’s Grebe who has been hanging out there. It was also nice to bird in sunshine, with more coming.

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.

A Snowy Christmas

About a week ago, a Snowy Owl was reported at the local airport — and then was unreported for several days in spite of many people looking. Then, Christmas Eve morning, as I was readying for a family visit, I heard that friends had seen it the previous day.The airport was on my route so I stopped, looked without success, and then, with the help of my friend John, who is the facility manager, I found the white adult owl perched on a snowbank in the middle of the field.

Snowy Owls are not used to humans. It can be too easy for over-zealous photographers to closely approach them. This was shot from a vehicle at rather long range.

I returned from my trip today and my spouse and I went up and found the bird again, a little further away, but still a wonderful treat. It has been a great holiday present for dozens of Central Vermont birders.

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.