Vermont Birding – Page 21

Local Birding With The Vizsla

I decided to stay close to home today as I work through a partial recovery of my pinched neck nerve. Walking and exercise seems to help while driving can be problematic.

Just before we started out, this White-throated Sparrow was chowing down on thistle seed.

So, Penny and I trucked down to the Wrightsville Reservoir where she can run free and where there are few visitors this time of year. She did her best, running to and fro, to scare off every bird in Washington County. There were plenty to satisfy her and me.

The first birds we saw on the water were these Common Mergansers.

As Penny raced up and down the paths and along the shoreline, the Mallards and mergansers just moved out a little further, while a couple of Canada Geese honked their displeasure, from a distance. The whole area is flooded all winter and spring (this a flood control dam) and only now is drying out. Dozens of Song Sparrows sang their hearts out and chased one another in the morning 40 degree temperatures.

You can't see me here. A Song Sparrow watched us pass by. — You can’t see me here. A Song Sparrow watched us pass by.

There were many Swamp Sparrows singing their “sewing machine” song and I got wonderful looks at several. My fingers were numb from the temperatures and they keep moving, and are in the brush, so they made photography impossible. They are my 70th County bird.

Later in the day, we birded our property and the adjacent forest. One of the highlights was a pair of Brown Creepers working on our white pines. I heard them first and then laid on the forest floor to watch them (easier on the neck). We have a couple of pairs that seem to be in residence and it is always a treat to hear and see them.

I love Hermit Thrushes. They don't seem to be vocalizing yet but we have a few that I hope are nesting here. — I love Hermit Thrushes. They don’t seem to be vocalizing yet but we have a few that I hope are nesting here.

We came home to an array of birds in our backyard, both at the feeder and in surrounding trees. Here is a shot of a Dark-eyed Junco and a pair of Purple Finches on the same branch of our old apple tree.

The Song Sparrow to the right looks too red and the Dark-eyed Junco looks too light but it was just the afternoon lighting angle. — The Dark-eyed Junco to the left looks too light but it was just the afternoon lighting angle.

Here are the eBird reports from today.

Wrightsville Reservoir – East Montpelier (190 acres), Washington, US-VT
Apr 26, 2013 8:25 AM – 9:44 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Northern end by swimming area <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.3
17 species

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 6
Common Merganser 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee X
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow X Numerous singing lustily
White-throated Sparrow 6
Red-winged Blackbird X
Purple Finch 2

Dick’s Backyard-woods, Washington, US-VT
Apr 26, 2013 3:00 PM – 4:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Dog walk – long <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.3
13 species

Mourning Dove 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Song Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco X
Purple Finch 2

It’s 8 PM, Cue the Timberdoodle

Early last evening, I went for a Woodcock Walk sponsored by the North Branch Nature Center. We were there to observe the aerial displays of the American Wood cock, and our leader, Larry, told us — “They’ll start about ten of eight so we can go over and visit the pond where all the Spring Peepers are first.” I must say I did not share his certainty but I also had never been on a walk like this before.

In true naturalist fashion, he introduced our small group to some caterpillars, a non-lightning bug, several types of spring ephemeral flowers, and hundreds of randy frogs. As one who tends to move too fast in the woods, it always amazes me at the sharp-eyed observation of people who notice insects, plants, as well as birds.

Woodcocks are usually very hard to spot on the ground. Our guy was right out in the open. Photo by aecole2010

We ambled up into the large field as it darkened and just about 8 PM, we heard the first “pent” call. The bird makes this call on the ground, and rotates between calls, to send it in different directions. We heard two males calling and waited to see if they would fly. They are normally well-hidden in the brush and grass but we noted a dark shape up ahead on the mowed path and through the binoculars, saw a Woodcock. About then, he took off, climbing crazily in a circular pattern above us, sending out a whistling/twittering call, until he was out of sight, and then came spiraling back down, landing right on the spot he started from. It reminded me of a slightly out-of-control model airplane with furious flapping wings, and a deft pilot at the controls. It killed by pinched nerve neck to watch but was worth it.

The other guy seemed to fly less but our Timberdoodle flew about every five minutes for about a half hour. It was getting very dark and we quit before he did.

It was a wonderful outing — and I learned that this goes on for weeks during the spring, even after the females have started nesting. We were really impressed with the display of our little flyer. I hope the females waiting in the wings were as well.

Ospreys at the Naval Academy

I took another long hike yesterday morning down to the U.S. Naval Academy for some birding. It was interesting to remember that the many times I was here before, when our Marine son and family lived there, I was not a birder. So today, I walked some of the same routes I’ve taken in past years, past the grave of one my squadron commander (killed in North Vietnam) and by the apartments where the kids and their babies lived. It was a pretty morning but the wind was tough and the Severn River had whitecaps.

I encountered a nice mix of waterfowl (ducks, grebes, gulls, cormorants) and birds (tree sparrows, starlings, mockingbirds, cardinals) as I made my way around the perimeter of the academy grounds. Lots of young runners, older walkers, and patrolling campus security on a nice Maryland Sunday morning.)

As I neared the end of the walk on the southern edge, adjacent to Annapolis Harbor, I heard a gull crying overhead. I’d seen a Greater Black-backed, a few Herring, and several Ring-billed gulls but couldn’t spot this one, which seemed right overhead. I walked further and it was behind me — then I spotted the Osprey nest on a tall light tower and a juvenile begging for food.

This noisy juvenile was waiting for his parents. It looks like an owl decoy on the platform as well -- not working too well. — This noisy juvenile was waiting for his parents. It looks like an owl decoy on the platform as well — not working too well.

One of the parents came back with a fish -- not this one. — One of the parents came back with a fish — not this one.

And the other parent just hovered over the scene in the stiff breeze, giving me some great looks.

I did not attend the academy but through Robb and Mary’s work there, have come to appreciate it as a lovely, historic campus adjacent a neat little city. As I expected, it’s a pretty decent birding site as well. Hope to get back before we leave.

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Songs of Spring

As the days get into the 40’s and the snow slowly melts, it’s great for Vermont’s maple syrup producers but also a spring tonic for birds and birders. Suddenly, there’s a lot more avian vocal activity in our woods and it is heartening. Yesterday morning on an early walk, I noticed all the different calls and songs coming from the ubiquitous Black-capped Chickadees who have toughed it out all winter and ready to celebrate.

Then, further up in our woods, I heard the distinctive call of a Red-shouldered Hawk off in the trees. I listened for five or ten minutes but when I tried to get a little closer, either the dog or I may have spooked it. Mary thinks she saw it later in the day. We’ve had a family or two of RSHA’s in the area for the last few years and it’s nice to have them back.

I heard some tentative singing from what sounded like a Golden-crowned Kinglet mixed in with chickadee calls. I had my iPhone and played a recording briefly, and that kinglet just let it fly. It sang for five or ten minutes but other than a brief glimpse, I never did get a good look. I moved on as it merrily kept cranking out it’s territorial song.

This Common Merganser was one of the quiet birds I saw yesterday.

It was only a week or so ago when I was searching for Red-winged Blackbirds and excited to see my first of the year. Now, they are everywhere. At Berlin Pond yesterday, dozens sang from trees and cattail stalks in a wonderful chorus of Konk-kor-ree’s. I even saw a dozen or more fly over this morning on their way further north. They are truly a sound of spring.

One of the many RWBBs that I saw, and heard, yesterday.

This morning, out again early with the dog, I heard, over the tin horn tooting of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, some Canada Geese. Sure enough, a small skein of honkers noisily flew over on their way north. It’s a little unusual — we are not on a normal flight path for them so it was fun to watch them, and hear them, drown out the other birds as they motored north. Now, to hear some Eastern Bluebirds, White-throated Sparrows, and the first warblers.

A small skein of Canada Geese overflying the woods this morning, honking all the way. They are right in the middle of the photo.

Birding on the First Day of Spring

We got about a foot of new snow Monday and all day, the birds hit the feeders pretty hard. It was interesting to see some of them pause under the feeder’s eaves to take a break out of the snowfall. One Red-breasted Nuthatch sat there, nearly motionless, for about 15 minutes before finally flying off with his sunflower seed.

So Tuesday, the first day of spring, was beautiful but not too birdy. Chickadees, like this one, were active as usual and doing all their spring calls as we took our first walk.

Nothing stops chickadees from getting their breakfast.

As the dog and I started out to the drumming of a Hairy Woodpecker, we headed up into the red pine grove. I was on snowshoes and Penny ranged ahead — until some gusts of wind started dumping snow off the trees. Here she is heading back to me all a dither. It only lasted for five minutes.

The Vizsla does not like surprise snow dumps like this one.

We weren’t seeing a lot of birds but it was a good workout in the new snow. We made a long loop and came out on a west-facing slope where I found several birds’ nests that overlook the Shady Rill brook and road. Here’s my favorite with an old barn below.

When we returned to the house, about an hour and a half later, we found the thistle feeder and feeders covered with Common Redpolls.

Happy Spring – Not!

Normally, we’d still be in Texas this time of year, enjoying some of the early migrating birds, and planning our trip back to Vermont. This year we stayed home – and yesterday’s late snowstorm of a foot or more (and still coming) did not give us a “Hey, it’s the first day of Spring!” feeling when we awoke this morning. The Airstream may not be dreaming of being in warmer climes – but we are.

April Birding Events in Central Vermont

After a morning of 4 degrees and a forecast of a foot or more of snow, it is encouraging to see calendars of birding events popping up on local web sites. I took three local groups and put their outings on a Google Calendar which you can visit here.

The North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier has a wonderful series of bird walks that are free to members ($25 single/$50 family) or for $10 for non-members. Led by expert birders, they are low key and popular with skilled birders and beginners. They are on Fridays and Saturdays in April/May.

The MadBirders club in the Mad River Valley is a collection of avid birders who have a great schedule of events, ranging from the Valley floor to the top of Mount Ellen. The dues are only $15 a year for individuals/$20 for families, and they welcome newcomers.

Over in Huntington is the Birds of Vermont Museum, a must-see venue for any birder. They have a bird monitoring walk on their property the last Saturday of each month. The event is free but they ask that you pre-register by emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org or calling (802) 434-2167.

Are there other bird walks in April in Central Vermont that I’ve missed? Mention them in the comment section and I’ll add them to the calendar. Good birding.

A Low Expectation Saturday Outing

Things are really slow birding-wise right now with some of the winter birds gone (haven’t seen Common Redpolls for a few days) and just a few early arrivals. We’re seeing some Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and a few Killdeer but it will be a few weeks until water opens up more and we get more activity. So, not expecting much this morning, I headed out with the dog in the truck to check out a few of the back roads. We had an inch or two of snow last night and the temperature was in the 20’s — nice morning for January but not as welcome, to some of us, in mid-March.

It was early Saturday morning — things just waking up — when I drove into downtown Montpelier. I noted a swirl of a dozen rock pigeons and then saw a raptor cruising along, having probably made a pass at them. Big, long tail, easy wing-strokes, and a brief look as it headed west. I also had to dodge a sidewalk snowplow and city sand truck but the look and the Jizz* told me — Cooper’s Hawk. I snaked my way up State Street, hoping to see it perched, but no luck. I pulled over, entered it into Birdlog on my iPhone, and had a new County bird for the year.

Encouraged by such a great start, I headed out on some back roads that we often cruise on local bird outings. At one reliable spot, I saw a flash of red and sure enough, a pair of Northern Cardinals brightened the dull morning scene. I saw all the normal suspects (blue jays, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, and crows) and then moved off to a pull-off along the Winooski River where Canada Geese and four Hooded Mergansers plied the icy waters. Here’s one of the few pictures I took:

Five geese ignore a male Hoodie paddling through the ice flows on the Winooski River. photo dickmfield — Five geese ignore a male Hoodie paddling through the ice flows on the Winooski River. photo by dickmfield

Returning on the rut-frozen River Road, I picked up a couple of Common Grackles – a species that I had yet to see this year — and drove home hoping to spot a Red-tailed Hawk. Stopping to pick up coffee and a killer scone at Birchgrove Baking (to bring home to share with Mary) made a nice end to a nice outing.

*Jizz is a term used by birders to describe the overall impression or appearance of a bird garnered from such features as shape, posture, flying style or other habitual movements, size and colouration combined with voice, habitat and location.

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Multi-tasking Birding

It’s a good thing that we have no neighbors close by. We have a 30 acre wooded parcel that has a nice mile long walking trail which I trod with the Vizsla two or three times a day. I always have binoculars, and often a camera, and bird while I get some easy exercise and the dog roams freely. The trail is still snow-covered and rather icy from our recent melts but today, I decided to incorporate another set of tasks: PT exercises for my pinched nerve. (Which I promised not to write about until it was healed.)

My physical therapist has given me a number of nerve glide exercises to do to encourage my ulnar nerve to glide normally as I move my joints. I usually do them down cellar but this morning, I thought, “Why not do them while walking?” So, picture a 73-year-old guy, walking down a snowy path, binoculars strapped to him with a camera hanging off a shoulder, extending a mittened arm in sort of a ballet move, ending with a wrist roll. Fortunately, the dog is oblivious to weirdness while hunting and no one else walks our woods trails. I wonder why?

It was a nice way to get one more set of exercises in, especially since the birding is still pretty slow. And it got me thinking that nearly all birders multi-task: we bird while driving, cycling, canoeing, or sitting near a window in a meeting in springtime. I do some birding from my airplane, especially for hawks, and I suspect that we could come up with quite a list of multi-tasking birding activities. That’s a great thing about birding — it’s there for us all the time.

What’s your most unusual task while birding?

eButterfly is Ready for Vermont!

Kent McFarland of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies posted this on the VCE blog. In case you don’t get their material, here’s a way to keep track of the butterflies you see — and have seen. It looks like a great international effort and pretty easy to use. The hard part is photographing and identifying them — they are worse than warblers. Why not bird early in the day and butterfly while the birds are napping? And use eBird and eButterfly to keep track.

From 2002 to 2007 volunteer butterfly enthusiasts spent thousands of hours in the field in an effort to record the status and distribution of Vermont butterflies, the first systematicstatewide butterfly atlas to be undertaken. Observers have since made new discoveries, like the first state record for White-M Hairstreak or the incredible invasion of Giant Swallowtails. Where can we share and store all of our collective butterfly discoveries? Introducing our newest tool for the Vermont Atlas of Life, eButterfly, a project in which VCE is proud to be a partner.

eButterfly aims to bring butterfly enthusiasts like you together with scientists like those at VCE. With this new online database you can:

• Record the butterflies you see, photograph, or collect

• Build a virtual collection of butterflies

• Keep track of your butterfly lists (life, year, provinces/states)

• Find butterflies you have never seen

• Explore dynamic distribution maps

• Share your sightings and join the eButterfly community

• Contribute to science and conservation

With the flight of the first Mourning Cloak nearly upon us, I hope you are as ready as we are to discover and report your sightings of Green Mountain butterflies to eButterfly. But you don’t have to wait for the snow to melt. Many of you have records in your notebooks, photo files (must be less than 1mb in size) and collections that can be uploaded right now!First, make sure your internet browser is the latest addition, then visit the tutorial on eButterfly (http://www.ebutterfly.ca/contents/tutorial) to familiarize yourself with the system. Once you learn a few basics and enter some of your sightings, it will become quite fast and easy for you to use.

eButterfly was built for butterfly enthusiasts by butterfly enthusiasts. We are always striving to improve the experience and tools. Should you run into a problem or have any great suggestions for future updates and tools, please don’t hesitate to provide feedback.

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