Local birds

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Richard

One of the toughest birds for me to photograph is the Common Yellowthroat. They are everywhere with their “witchety-witchety-witchety” call but usually buried in bushes and always on the move. Here’s one recent shot I got:

Ten kids to protect and raise – not an easy task.
Eastern Kingbird
Brown Thrasher

While checking out the airport this morning, I saw a large bird dive into the underbrush up ahead. Parking and searching with the binoculars, I found this young turkey.

As I scanned, I came across this guy, a Wilson’s Snipe, hiding in the grass. You never know what you’ll find when you just slow down and look.

I’m used to seeing these birds flying – “winnowing” using their tail feathers, during courtship.
Posted in Birding With Ginger, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Comments Off on Local birds

Some May Sparrows

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Richard
Song Sparrows bring their joy to our backyard and raise families here.
This one thinks it’s hidden.
Savannah Sparrow
White-throated Sparrows delight us with their singing.
Here’s my birding buddy who “helps” me find sparrows.
Posted in Birding With Ginger, Local Birding, Local trails, Vermont Birding | Comments Off on Some May Sparrows

Mid-May Outings – part 1

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Richard

With migration in full swing and trees leafing out fast, it’s been a good time to get out with the dog and check things out. The other day we came across this guy who was waiting for the morning sun to get up and going.

A big one ..

Shortly thereafter, a Bald Eagle, being harassed by a Common Raven, flew over.

This female Baltimore Oriole never really showed itself but was singing loudly in our back yard.
This Mourning Dove, in the next tree branch over, was a perfect subject, sitting still for minutes.
And just upriver, a Solitary Sandpiper, all by itself, was patiently feeding, ignoring us.

It’s a great time of year in New England for birds and birders. Get out there!

Posted in Backyard birds, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Comments Off on Mid-May Outings – part 1

Hasta Luego, Florida Birds

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Richard

While we have been home a while, I still have some photos of neat birds we saw. This is the last group – time to focus on Vermont birds.

Two Purple Gallinules
A Snowy Egret and a Common Gallinule.
A Glossy Ibis.
A juvenile White Ibis.
A Little Blue Heron foraging.
A juvenile Little Blue Heron – first winter. You can just make out the yellow-green legs.
A Green Heron who blended in very well.
And finally, a Limpkin – which we only see in Florida.
Posted in Florida, Florida_Birds | Comments Off on Hasta Luego, Florida Birds

More Cedar Key Birds

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Richard

With temperatures in the forties in Vermont, it’s fun to recall the warm days we had just a couple of weeks ago — 1500 miles south.

We’ve got some Great Blue Herons back but not spiffed up like this one – yet.
We certainly don’t have White Ibises cruising overhead.
Brown Pelicans greeting a fishing boat which just arrived.
Most of the American White Pelicans had migrated northward. These are juveniles who are nonbreeding birds who will remain through the summer.
Posted in Florida, Florida_Birds | Comments Off on More Cedar Key Birds

Florida Yard Birds – Part 2

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Richard

One of the birds we enjoyed watching was this Spotted Sandpiper, who liked to admire his image in the antenna cover next door.

Another we watched for some time was this Tri-colored Heron – hunting a short distance from our deck.

Just a block away, a flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks came through one morning.

And out back in the yard, these folks were chowing down. I’m not sure what they are but loved their design and will try to look them up.

Posted in Backyard birds, Florida, Florida_Birds, Yard birds | Comments Off on Florida Yard Birds – Part 2

Florida Yard Birds – Part 1

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Richard

The place where we stay in Florida has wonderful birding right out back – a tidal estuary which at times, can tax the ability of a northern birder who hasn’t seen a shorebird in six months. We decide just to enjoy them and not worry about getting everything sorted out – in fact that’s our general approach to birding.

It’s Florida and cool but no snow in sight — perhaps a Snowy Egret.
On the far bank at low tide, hundreds of egrets, herons, ibises, and an occasional Brown Pelican congregate.
On this morning, a few Roseate Spoonbills, one of our favorite birds, joined the party.
But then, you look out again and there’s a gaggle of dowitchers, dunlins, willets …
Some birds, like this Willet, get in closer and next post I’ll share some up close and personal yard birds.

Posted in Florida birds, Florida_Birds, shorebirds, Yard birds | Comments Off on Florida Yard Birds – Part 1

Backyard Surprise

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Richard

Mid-day, Sally noted an unusual bird out back hassling with the Common Grackles, called me, and we decided that we had our first Brown Thrasher on our list of yard birds. After a brief visit, it came back later when I had the camera available.

It was wary but came back several times during the afternoon.
Pretty bird on the just-cut straw.
It even tried the suet, having seen the grackles and woodpeckers eating it.

It was a treat, and now we are waiting for our first hummer of the year — any day now.

Posted in Backyard birds, Local Birding, Vermont Birding, Yard birds | Comments Off on Backyard Surprise

Ospreys – Comeback Kids

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Richard

Cedar Key has hundreds of Ospreys – nesting on platforms, pine tree snags, rooftops, and even the tower of the local Episcopal church. Like the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, Ospreys have overcome many complex threats—including DDT damage to eggs and habitat loss. We have an Osprey family living next door on a shed roof and another across the street. They are wonderful birds to watch flying, fishing, or just tending the nest.

Every morning, from our back deck, we were greeted by our neighbor Osprey family perched and ready for breakfast.

They had a nest a stone’s throw away and were continually adding materials such as sticks and moss.

Adding a little more moss. It appears that two adults are tending the nest – no evidence of feeding yet.

On every walk we saw Osprey nests.

This gives a nice example of the weaving of sticks and moss, ready to withstand the storms ahead.
In the “catbird seat.”

We have returned to Vermont as spring migration arrives. The car is unpacked, the camera files are next. Happy Spring.

Posted in Florida, Florida birds | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ospreys – Comeback Kids

Florida Gators

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Richard

One of the reasons we keep Ginger on a leash is Florida’s State Reptile, the American Alligator. We saw several during our trip to Sweetwater Wetlands Park.

We saw one today at a local park.

But this guy was all business.

Posted in alligator, Birding With Ginger, Florida | 1 Comment