Category Archives: Washington County

Flashes of Red

For the last several weeks, we have had dozens of Purple Finches coming to the feeder and just hanging out in the trees around the house.  They remind us of the influx of Common Redpolls we got last winter. Like them, finches chow down on sunflower seeds big time.  It’s wonderful to hear them sing each morning as I walk the dog — they seem to go on forever and their melodies are delightful.  They have gotten more red in their appearance and are parading in full breeding plumage these days.  Here’s one on our apple tree last evening.

Purple Finches not only sing like angels but are beautiful this time of year.

Purple Finches not only sing like angels but are beautiful this time of year.

Today, I birded early with the dog and got an email from Mary with a subject:  “At The Feeder.”  Because of poor reception on the iPhone, the message did not download — but I suspected what she was writing about.  When I got home, I got cell coverage off our home system and read as I sat in the truck in the garage:  “Rose-breasted Grosbeak!!!”

We’ve been hoping for some orioles because birders in the area have been seeing a few.  Of course, the bird never showed again as I prepared for a doctor’s appointment in Hanover.

Several hours later, after successful lab test results, I got a text from Mary:  “He’s back again.”   Of course, I was an hour and a half away in another state.

Arriving home in the afternoon, I hoped our friend was not just passing by.  Sure enough, about a half hour after I got home, I saw him in the apple tree.  What a handsome addition to a tree already laden with Purple Finches (and a few apple blossoms.)  So, he’s County Bird 95 and we are hopeful that he’ll stick around and nest in the neighborhood.

"Hey, are you pointing that camera at me?"

“Hey, are you pointing that camera at me?”

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Savannah Sparrows

Yesterday morning, I went up to the aptly-named Sparrow Farm in East Montpelier for a repeat visit to a spot where I picked up five new County birds yesterday.  The area is a fine combination of wetland, farm fields, and forest and has a nice variety.  It’s a favorite mountain biking trail but early in the morning, no one is around.  I got another FOY as I ended the outing by crossing a large hayfield.  Perched on a clump of last fall’s hay was a small brown bird, indistinguishable through the binoculars.  It let the dog and I get closer and I could hear and see it singing — sort of a buzzy call.  It was a pretty Savannah Sparrow.

A Savannah Sparrow at the Sparrow Farm.

A Savannah Sparrow at the Sparrow Farm.

Later, I went up to the airport to do a little work on my plane and then took a walk with the dog to check out grassland birds there.  A sparrow came flying across the runway and perched on the perimeter fence not far from our position.  It was my second SASP of the day.

At the E.F. Knapp airport in Berlin, VT.

At the E.F. Knapp airport in Berlin, VT.

So, now I am looking for White-crowned Sparrows which have been reported in the County.  There’ll likely be a few other species, like Vesper, that I will watch for as we head toward summer.  It really helps, this time of year, when the sparrows sing, to help me sort out those little brown jobs.

Springtime Yellows

I went up to Berlin Pond yesterday morning looking for what many of us consider the true sign of spring — the arrival of Yellow Warblers.  I had the truck windows down and could hear them singing before we even parked.  These are the kind of warblers I like — they are at eye level and are little yellow beacons in the shrubbery.

Yellow warblers, even females, are easy to spot and delightful to hear. They bring a smile to birders.

Yellow warblers, even females, are easy to spot and delightful to hear. They bring a smile to birders.

I saw several other FOY birds (Barn Swallows, Purple Martins) as well as a great  selection of birds.  I then went over to the airport looking for new arrivals and way out in a field, I saw and heard my first Eastern Meadowlark.

The meadowlark was way out there and I shot from the truck window -- pushing the camera system big time. They are a beautiful bird -- even at a distance.

The meadowlark was way out there and I shot from the truck window — pushing the camera system big time. They are a beautiful bird — even at a distance.

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County List Update

Four months gone and in spite of pinched neck nerves and out-of-state travel, my list is doing pretty well.  I’m at 79 species and most of those seen with my Vizsla alongside.   I’ve missed some birds early (like Pine Grosbeak) that hopefully I can pick up at the end of the year.  No big deal — this has been an interesting low key effort.  I suspect that my target of 170 is about ten too high but we’ll see as we proceed.  Here’s a couple of local birds I got this week:

I saw this FOY Spotted Sandpiper yesterday at Wrightsville Reservoir wet lands, along with four others.

I saw this FOY Solitary Sandpiper yesterday at Wrightsville Reservoir wetlands, along with three others.

This Warbling Vireo was singing up a storm the other morning at Berlin Pond. It's nice to have buds instead of leaves on the trees.

This Warbling Vireo was singing up a storm the other morning at Berlin Pond. It’s nice to have buds instead of leaves on the trees.

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Looking for Mr. Bluebird

One of the birds I’ve missed seeing for my County bird list is European Bluebird so yesterday morning, I took the dog for a Saturday morning bird walk at the North Branch Nature Center.  I knew that they had been seeing a couple there but I’d missed them each visit.  This time, I saw one before I even got the truck parked.

A male bluebird was staking out a nesting box but being hassled by Tree Swallows.  I watched a dozen swallows chasing each other, harassing the bluebird — just doing their thing.  Now the center has a “leash your dog” policy and since I’m a board member, I adhere to that — so the first thing I did was to hitch Penny’s leash to my belt.  Nothing like having a 60 pound lunger, explorer tied to you while trying to focus on birds.  Even more challenging taking photos but I got a few.

Tree Swallows were competing big time for the nesting boxes.

Tree Swallows were competing big time for the nesting boxes.

Here a male bluebird watches while a swallow races by.

Here a male bluebird watches while a swallow races by.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bluebird was watching it all far away in the community garden.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bluebird was watching it all far away in the community garden.

Penny and I had a good outing, hearing and seeing a number of birds.  It was a certain amount of tangled leash, stopping to sniff clumps of grass (her, not me), but a beautiful morning to be out.  Toward the end of the walk, I heard and then saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet working it’s way around some leafless trees.  I had never heard, knowingly, the wonderful vocalization these tiny guys and gals have.  Here’s a photo I took as it landed or departed — you’ll have to take my word that it’s a kinglet.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet comes in for a landing.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet comes in for a landing.

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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.

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.

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.

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

 

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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County Big Year Goals – February

January was a good birding month for me in Washington County.  I missed by monthly goal of 35 by one but also picked up several birds I didn’t expect: a Bald Eagle and a Barred Owl, and saw my nemesis bird, the Northern Shrike, for the first time.  I now see one at least weekly but we knew that would happen. I got two new life birds, the aforementioned shrike and a Barrow’s Goldeneye (over in Chittenden County.)  In spite of my whining about missing Texas birds, it was a good winter birding month.

The best January bird was this handsome Bald Eagle along the Dog River just south of Montpelier. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Settings: 1/160 ƒ/6.5 ISO 640 215 mm

The best January bird was this handsome Bald Eagle along the Dog River just south of Montpelier. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Settings: 1/160 ƒ/6.5 ISO 640 215 mm

Looking over the birds I missed in January, I’m only concerned about one — Pine Grosbeak —  because if I don’t get them now they may not  be here in November or December this year. I have reviewed historic eBird sightings in Washington County for February and frankly, there aren’t a lot to add to my missing list.  Things will heat up a bit in March as early migrants return.

Here’s the list of birds I am targeting for February:

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Great Black-backed Gull  (a little iffy but seen at Grow Compost)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (I know they are here but hard to spot, or hear)

Cedar Waxwing

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Pine Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow (I’ve been walking around parking garages and strip malls with no luck)

Red-winged Blackbird (Perhaps an early returnee)

Common Grackle  (Perhaps an early returnee)

Brown-headed Cowbird  (Perhaps an early returnee)

While I know I won’t get all of these, I may pick up something I hadn’t counted on so my modest February goal is 14 more for a total of 48.  Stay tuned.

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