Category Archives: Washington County

A Look Back and Birding Goals for 2014

Last year, I decided to do an informal County Big Year in my home county since we were not heading out for the winter. It was successful in spite of operations, injections, and general immobility for over two months. I ended up with 154 species, tied for second place with a birder friend, and probably missed a dozen during the spring and fall migrations. I was very pleased with the results.

I ended up with 179 species for the year, most of the rest being in Massachusetts.

I only added six life birds with the best being a Northern Shrike – a nemisis bird which, after I got it, seemed to pop up everywhere, including our back yard.

The best bird of the year for me, like many other birders this year, was the Snowy Owl I found in December.

2014 Goals

Since we are enroute to Texas and Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California, I am raising my sights. Here’s what I am aiming for:

  • 250 species for the year

  • 50 new life birds (come on, you Western birds!)

  • Five counties with at least 100 species (Starr & Aransas in Texas, Essex in Massachusetts, Washington & Caledonia in Vermont)

  • Explore 25 under-birded areas in the Northeast

So, I’m off to a good start with 27 species on the first dauy of 2014. I don’t get crazy about the numbers, they are just fun targets. Today, my best birding moment was the 15 minutes I watched Cedar Waxwings and American Robins work over a choke-cherry tree with Yellow-rumps diving into the fray from time to time. It was an avian fast food frenzy.

We are off to Louisiana in the morning, hoping to see a pair of Great-horned Owls who in the past, have raised families there. What are your birding goals for the New Year?

County Bird #153 — Snowy Owl

As we all know in birding, sometimes you just have to show up.  This morning is a case in point: I had a dermatology appointment (nothing like getting your ear frozen to start the day) and afterwards, decided to do my normal loop up by the nearby airport to check for owls or snow buntings.

I pulled into a favorite spot of ours near the Eye Center where we’ve seen Northern Shrikes and stopped the truck, noting a crow sweeping low over what looked like a grayish Walmart bag in the middle of the field.  Sure enough, it was a young Snowy Owl about 100 yards away looking at me.  I rolled down the truck window, watched it for a bit with binoculars, and fired off a bunch of shots with the Canon SX50.  I called my friends at North Branch Nature Center and emailed a couple of others as I watched for about ten minutes.  I decided to leave so as to not draw attention from the many patients coming and going from the medical offices.

A young Snowy Owl a long ways from home in a field in Berlin, VT.

A young Snowy Owl a long ways from home in a field in Berlin, VT.

After getting some coffee I swung back to see if my friends had seen it and sure enough, they were there with big smiles.  The bird had moved into some taller grass and like me, they got it with a harassing crow’s help.

I can stop checking every clump of snow, every plastic bag, every abnormal lump in a field.  With only three days left in Vermont before heading out, it’s great to end of a nice note — and to give some of my birding buddies a Christmas gift – a look at a Snowy.  And I can write most of the mileage off as a medical expense.

Northern Shrike

Yesterday, I took a drive with the dog down to Warren, VT to check out Blueberry Lake where friends of mine are always running into interesting birds.  It was a cold windy day with flurries and I was happy for four-wheel drive in a couple of spots.

The lake, which appears to be a Forest Service impoundment, is very small and snuggles up to the Green Mountain National Forest.  Parking and letting Penny out to roam, I took the scope down to the water and immediately regretted leaving my leather mittens back at the truck.  I was cold and the water was rough from the stiff wind, and the sun glare was awful.  But, I was out birding so big deal.  I did spot five dark objects bobbing around way out there but had no idea what sort of duck they were.

The lake has several access points and as I drove around it, I got to a spot where the light was good, but the wind was straight in my face off the water.  Walking down toward the lake with the telescope, I saw what appeared to be a Blue Jay whiz by me but then I saw it hover in mid-air, like an American Kestrel, with its wings going a mile a minute.  I got the binoculars on it and thought, “That’s not a Blue Jay … perhaps a shrike.”

It flew off to the top of a nearby small tree and through the bouncing scope (from the gusty wind) I could see it clearly.  I snapped off some digiscope shots and then watched it hunt again, using the wind as buffer, and returning to the same branch.  Then it saw the dog and vanished.

A Northern Shrike in snow flurries -- Blueberry Lake, VT. Vortex Razor HD, 20-60 eyepiece at 20x, Canon SD4000, Vortex DCA & PS100 adapters.

A Northern Shrike in snow flurries — Blueberry Lake, VT. Vortex Razor HD, 20-60 eyepiece at 20x, Canon SD4000, Vortex DCA & PS100 adapters.

I was then able to get a good look at the five ducks and identified three Mallards and two Least Scaup (which are a County Year bird for me — #145), before they flew.  It was only a half hour drive back to Red Hen Bakery for coffee and roll with Mary.  Good morning outing.

Hey, Stop Harassing That Eagle!

It was a chilly morning with a stiff wind.  Penny and I were headed down the closed-off road to the Wrightsville Reservoir rec area to check for waterfowl and get some exercise. Lugging my scope over my shoulder and binoculars and camera from my neck, I felt like a pack mule while the dog ran here and there.  There’s no one around this time of year so it’s a great place for us – and only a mile from home.

My hands were freezing in the thin gloves — I realized that the hand warmers, guaranteed for 10 hours, were last year’s supply and had lost their pizzaz.  I didn’t even get 10 minutes.

As I carefully approached the water, I set up in the woods and immediately saw a Great Blue Heron fishing on the far bank.  The water was roiling and the wind was tough, so I headed down on the loop we often take, planning to keep it a short one.

I saw some movement — a large bird flying — and thought that the heron had flushed.  Then, in my binoculars, I saw that it was a Bald Eagle, being harassed by crows.  I fumbled for the camera, turned it on, set the dial for action shots, and with frosty fingers, took a few shots.

Two crows pester a young bald eagle -- Wrightsville Reservoir, VT

Two crows pester a young bald eagle — Wrightsville Reservoir, VT

The trio circled above us, whipped by the winds and disappearing now and then over the tree line.  I fired away but in situations like this, I find out that I am a birder who carries a camera, not a photographer who happens to bird.  Here are a couple of highly cropped shots:

I have seen this eagle once before here -- I am guessing that it is a 2nd-year bird from the markings.

I have seen this eagle once before here.  I am guessing that it is a 2nd-year bird from the markings.

Eagle2W

It was only a show of several minutes but exciting — Bald Eagles are scarce enough in the area (I saw one other last February) that they are a treat for a birder.

We struck out on waterfowl and the wind had driven all the sparrows and friends deep into cover so we cut it short, but I for one didn’t feel cheated.  As an aviator, to see the eagle gracefully soaring on flat wings ignoring  the dive-bombing of the crows was fun and worth a few white fingers.

Late Summer Bird Gatherings

I took the dog and my bum knee out birding in the truck yesterday morning and we cruised some of our normal routes — Berlin Pond and the E. F. Knapp state airport.  There were few birds on the pond but what I noticed was the large numbers of Tree Swallows swirling over the water and trees — probably several hundred.  It looked to me like they were gathering for a trip southward.

At the airport, I noted three Eastern Kingbirds feeding together.  I took a shot of one but the morning sun made the lighting poor for photography.  I hadn’t ever noted Kingbirds in groups before.

Kingbird1W

At the other end of the airport, I saw a larger bird off a ways acting a little like a swallow, swooping and zooming.   As I got closer, it flew right over the truck and landed in a tree.  An American Kestrel.  I grabbed a couple of shots from the truck window and then it flew, did its hovering act, and then was joined by three other Kestrels.  They actively hunting and interacting but moved off, out of site, once I got out of the truck.  It sure looked to me like they were getting ready to migrate.

This Kestrel paused for just a moment before flying again. It was then joined by three more.

This Kestrel paused for just a moment before flying again. It was then joined by three more.

I have noticed that the Chestnut-sided Warblers who were so noisy along our driveway a week ago, seem to have left.  The American Goldfinches and Purple Finches are hitting the feeders like mad.  Change is in the air.

 

Birding Hubbard Park

Last week, I had the truck in for maintenance and rather than sit in the waiting room with a mindless tv program blaring, I decided to take a walk with the dog and do a little birding. Fortunately, we have a wonderful forested park right in downtown Montpelier so off I headed toward the golden dome of the statehouse.

Hubbard Park rises straight up behind the statehouse and has a winding trail that weavesbup through tall pine and hardwood trees to an observation tower. No sooner did I enter the wood when I heard an Ovenbird over the din of morning traffic. There is construction underway downtown so the singing Red-eyed Vieros and Hermit Thrushes competed with back-up signals from dump trucks. This faded as we climbed and I began to hear Black-throated Greens (and Blues) and other woodland birds as we climbed.

The trail was rebuilt by Youth Conservation Corps teams who also built some clever resting spots like this one.

The trail was rebuilt by Youth Conservation Corps teams who also built some clever resting spots like this one.

In 1899, Montpelier was given 134 acres of land by John E. Hubbard for use as a park and then, in 1911, was donated additional land was donated where the present stone observation  tower stands.

You come out of the woods into a lovely clearing, filled with birds, in which stands the Hubbard Park tower. Penny and I don't do towers -- but I hear the view is great.

You come out of the woods into a lovely clearing, filled with birds, in which stands the Hubbard Park tower. Penny and I don’t do towers — but I hear the view is great.

We started to encounter dogs and walkers as we entered into the roads of the park.  It is a popular exercise spot for canines and at present, there is no leash requirement so it can be a little dicey with a bossy Vizsla, who is on a leash.  We maneuvered by several groups of people and dogs as we moved down toward the new shelter.  There were some American Redstarts and Blackburnian Warblers calling high in the foliage and a half dozed Red-eyed Vireos.

The park is extensive and hooks up with trails at the North Branch Nature Center and other city land.

The park is extensive and hooks up with trails at the North Branch Nature Center and other city land.

As we descended back toward the “Meadow Area” of Montpelier, we started running into some field-habitat birds and I grabbed a couple of photos:

This American Goldfinch was chowing down on some plants and ignored us.

This American Goldfinch was chowing down on some plants and ignored us.

A juvenile Common Yellowthroat played hide and seek as I tried to take a photo.

A juvenile Common Yellowthroat played hide and seek as I tried to take a photo.

We were soon back on city streets and heading back toward the garage to pick up the Ford. It was such a lovely outing, right smack in the middle of the capitol city of Vermont.  Without a lot of work, I logged 20 species, and know that I missed some.  So if you are visiting Montpelier, carve out some time to walk the trails of this great resource.  You can drive most of the way up this time of year and avoid some pretty steep climbs.  It is a safe place and a great place to air out a restless pooch — and see and hear some neat birds.

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Mid-July Birds

After a nice cold front passage, the dawn chorus this morning, starting before five, was lovely. Several very persostent and loud American Robins sang non-stop, nearly drowning out the other singers. Song Sparrows tuned up as did Common Yellowthroats and Purple Finches. A ways off, a White-throated Sparrow sang the “peabody, peabody” tune. Then, about 5:30, it got very still except for the quiet cooing of a Mourning Dove. What a lovely way to start a summer Sunday in Vermont.

I put out the bird feeder and suet about six and a Hairy Woodpecker shows up right away with a “it’s about time” attitude. Four finches hit the feeder as does a chickadee. I hear our first Chestnut-sided Warbler and Blue Jay.

On our early morning walk, the dog and I took our time, she checking new smells, I listening for bird calls and enjoying the cool morning air.  A sweatshirt felt good — a little unreal after the 90+ temperatures of last week.  I heard a Brown Creeper and then an Ovenbird.  The bird activity picked up again as the sun rose.

I heard a Black and White Warbler and then a Yellow-rumped Warbler began singing right overhead.  I chased it around with the binoculars and then the camera but it moved pretty erratically.  I grabbed a couple of lousy shots including this one:

YRWarblerW

Down in the meadow, things were hopping in the dew-soaked goldenrod.  Several Common Yellowthroats and about a half dozen Song Sparrows cavorted.  The foliage and weak morning light made photos tough.  Here are a couple:

Yellowthroats love to hide in the underbrush -- and are a challenge to photograph.

Yellowthroats love to hide in the underbrush — and are a challenge to photograph.

There were several juvenile Song Sparrows like this chasing each other around.

There were several juvenile Song Sparrows like this chasing each other around.

I happened to look up just as a hawk, likely a Broad-winged, flew over with a rodent in its talons.  It was being harassed by a group of smaller birds.  It returned, empty-handed, a bit later and I suspected it might have youngsters to feed.  Several Red-eyed Vireos started up in the tall sugar maples, singing their seemingly never-ending song.  I could spot them but they were way up there and moving a lot.

As I headed back, I thought about how precious these days are, filled as they are with bird song and many youngsters learning the ropes.  They’ll be heading out soon — I haven’t seen our Rose-breased Grosbeak pair in about a week and suspect they are easing southward.  I was encouraged, as I poured another coffee, to see one of our juvenile hummers tanking up.  They have a long trip ahead of them.

HummerAW

Drink up buddy, you’ve got a long trip ahead of you.

O’ Canada

I’ve taken a break from birding for the last three weeks, aside from walks with the dog in our woods, as I work on some Airstream projects. Today, my friends at Grow Compost, a wonderful local business, had a day-long event which included a brief afternoon bird walk. A friend of mine was leading it and the owners hoped I might drop by, and so I did with very low expectations. After all, it is mid-afternoon in July.

A few of us gathered including the leader, Patti, and another Mad Birder friend, Pat Folsom. The six of us, after a repast of lemonade and cookies, trudged out by the fermenting piles of compost, aiming toward a Turkey Vulture perch at the end of the property. We saw and heard the usual suspects — Song Sparrows, Ovenbird, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and once at the edge of the woods, found a few flycatchers that we finally decided were Eastern Phoebes.

It was fun being out and with some good birders and we ticked off about a dozen species, and then watched a warbler working away, actively feeding. It was pretty plain and of course, silent, so we sort of chalked it up to “unknown female/juvenile warbler.” Pat said, “Sometimes you just have to let them go.” Up ahead, we heard some chipping in a thicket, and stealthily approached, thinking that it might be a Common Yellowthroat. It was pretty aggressive calling and Pat got a glimpse of yellow but that was it. And it stopped.

We waited a while and since the time was over for the walk, had just decided to head back when a bird popped out on a hemlock branch. I spotted it and said, “I see it, it’s yellow, get over on it, Canada Warbler, got it …” I was sure it would disappear but the group got on it right away and sure enough, a male Canada Warbler was scolding us. He hopped around, giving us great looks, and I grabbed this shot of him. (Warblers are tough, they are always moving.)

This guy is life bird 346 for me -- a long time coming.

This guy is life bird 346 for me — a long time coming.

It was a year-bird for all of us and I was pretty sure that it was a life bird for me. (It was) We realized that it likely had a nest nearby, and that we had likely seen the female earlier. We quietly withdrew, with him still chipping away at us, and finished the outing on a real up note. It got us thinking that we should bird this area more extensively since there are miles of trails up high that have great potential.

The takeaway item for me was: you just never know with birding — sometimes it just pays to show up.

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Bobolinks and Snipes

The fog was just lifting this morning when the dog and I launched out on a wet birding adventure at the Sparrow Farm trail.  I was looking for Bobolinks since I had yet to see one in the county this year — and no sooner had we left the truck when I heard and saw several in the large unmowed hayfield before us.  They were fun to follow with the binoculars and were very actively flying, courting, and calling.  Taking photos of them was a challenge: they were up and then back down in the grass before I could focus on them.  They were pretty heavy for the wet stalks and sort of drooped down out of sight.  Here’s one just to prove I was there.

I logged six into eBird but think that probably a dozen were there. It was encouraging to see, given their challenges due to the lack of grassland.

I logged six into eBird but think that probably a dozen were there. It was encouraging to see, given their challenges due to the lack of grassland.

I also heard Wilson’s Snipes winnowing – something I had heard before there.  Today, they were flying, high in the sky like remote controlled model planes, winnowing as they zoomed and dove.  I tried some flight shots — what a joke?   They were fast and quite a ways up there.  Here are a couple of lame photos.

You'll probably have to take my word that this is a high-flying snipe. It is an amazing flier,

You’ll probably have to take my word that this is a high-flying snipe. It is an amazing flier,

 

I tried to get this one coming in for a landing. In retrospect, I probably should have tried the video option since they were calling the whole time.

I tried to get this one coming in for a landing. In retrospect, I probably should have tried the video option since they were calling the whole time.

We had a nice walk through the marshy area into the woods and picked up, by ear and site, about 28 other species.  As we finished, the high pitched call of Cedar Waxwings alerted me to a couple just behind me on a low tree.  Here’s one of them.

It's hard to beat Cedar Waxwings for looks - they are cool characters.

It’s hard to beat Cedar Waxwings for looks – they are cool characters.

And then, in a birding bonus, a young woodchuck posed for us.  The dog was on her leash and never saw it — fortunately for my arm muscles.

 

"I know I'm just a rodent but I am pretty cute."

“I know I’m just a rodent but I am pretty cute.”

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Teacher, Teacher, Teacher

Ovenbirds seem to thrive in our woods.  Each morning, I hear six or more calling back and forth and sometimes, there seems to be even more.  But to see them is another thing.  They can be right next to you calling but if they don’t move, they blend with the forest floor and the low branches.  I always am surprised at how small they are – given their loud voice.  The other morning, two were courting or fighting, and not only did I get a good look, but one perched on a branch 10 feet away.  Of course, it was on of the few dog walks were I left my camera home.

Yesterday morning, I got lucky.  I saw a cooperative Ovenbird who sat still long enough for me to find him in the branches and take a couple of shots.

It's a tough life being a small migratory bird. Studies estimate that half of all adult Ovenbirds die each year. The oldest known Ovenbird was seven years old.

It’s a tough life being a small migratory bird. Studies estimate that half of all adult Ovenbirds die each year. The oldest known Ovenbird was seven years old.

You can see just a bit of the orange crown bordered by black stripes.

You can see just a bit of the orange crown bordered by black stripes.

The other fun fact from my perspective is that Ovenbirds are usually low – on the forest floor or low branches.  They are great for birders, like this one, with a pinched neck nerve.