Vermont Birder

Stuff

Posted on October 24, 2020 by Richard

It’s “stick season” in Central Vermont: the leaves are down, most of the birds have left, and hunting season is yet to start. It’s a great time to hike in the woods. I’ve often leave my binoculars and camera in the car – and have recently started to focus, with my iPhone, on other things I see on outings. I’ll start with a mailbox I saw this summer on a backroad.

Old farms have all sorts of interesting things in their woods, like these two “fixer-upper” projects.

Quartz outcroppings show up nicely this time of year.

When I’m not concentrating on seeing and hearing birds, I seem to notice a lot more around me as we walk – I guess there’s a lesson there. Just being able to get out and walk for a hour or two without meeting anyone is a blessing in these tough Covid-19 days. Be safe.

Posted in hiking, Vermont Birding | Comments Off

Weekday Walks

Posted on October 11, 2020 by Richard

Montpelier is blessed to have many multipurpose trails within the forest land of the city – trails that are not used much midweek. The dog and I walk them most days and aside from meeting a few runners and mountain bikers, have the trail to ourselves. Here’s a stretch we walked this week.

As Ginger and I move along, we see the usual bird suspects including many Yellow-rumped Warblers who are foraging and moving continually. I find them tough to photograph, and the dog, usually roaming ahead on a short loose leash, is not a great help, Here’s a shot I grabbed as the bird launched.

At the start of a walk the other day, this Eastern Phoebe posed for me. It will be migrating soon.

It looks like a Pileated Woodpecker found this tasty.

This is an interesting time of year, the leaves are nearly gone, as are the summer birds, but we are starting to see juncoes and finches and so it continues. Good birding.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Misty Monday Morning

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Richard

In very light drizzle and temperature about 70, the dog and I took a walk at one of our favorite spots, North Branch Nature Center. It was shorts and t-shirt weather, perhaps the last for a while.

White-crowned Sparrow foraging in the Community Garden

Just one of several dozen Song Sparrows. Note that this was has a leg band, likely put on by NBNC staff.

Northern Flickers are gathering before migration

Ginger has little interest in the birds along the trail but the chipmunks and squirrels are another story.

Staring contest between two intense packages of energy.

Posted in Birding With Ginger, Local Birding, Sparrows, Vermont Birding, Wildflowers | Comments Off

Late Summer Birds

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Richard

Here are some birds from several outings we’ve had locally during a beautiful but too dry, Fall season. Many of these shots were taken with a Labradoodle straining on with leash to “help.”

This Hermit Thrush was one of many foraging along trails.

This Winter Wren was inquisitive but not ready to hop right out there for a photo.

I’m thinking this is a Broad-winged Hawk, now well on its way south. Let me know if its a Red-shouldered.

A fast-moving Ruby-crowned Kinglet who was too fast for me and my camera. White eye ring.

White-throated Sparrows have shown up in droves recently. It will be nice to see them all winter.

Many birds are moving out and others are gathering to do so. But we have the finches, juncos, and siskins coming. They and the faithful crows, nuthatches, chickadees, blue jays, woodpeckers, and titmice will slug through the winter with us, as we continue to hunker down and get out to enjoy Vermont. Be safe.

Posted in Covid19, Labradoodle, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Comments Off

Fall Woods Walk 1

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Richard

Ginger and I have been exploring a local forest and its network of trails. Yesterday, we walked and birded for nearly three hours and never saw anyone.

It was quiet: there were no road noises, chainsaws, people, or dogs – all was I could hear was the jingle of her harness, the chirps and trills of the ever-present chickadees, and calling of crows and the drumming of woodpeckers. It was lovely as the temperature climbed from 45 into the sixties – a perfect Fall morning and a welcome break from the onslaught of disturbing news in the nation and the world.

I took my time and saw a lot of birds but thought I’d first give you a flavor of the trek. I’ll sort the birds out next post.

These old farmlands have a variety of stone walls, old foundations, interesting debris, and lots of natural features that catch your eye. This massive boulder right near the start has a big crack and missing piece that piques the imagination.

Just across the trail is an old hubcap which probably has a story behind it.

The leaves are starting to turn and it’s goldenrod and aster time in Vermont.

A Common Yellowthroat enjoying fall color

Some of the forest is being used for sugaring.

The sap transmission lines are left up year-round.

This tree had an interesting family using it.

Here are a few more shots from the walk:

My Birding Buddy – ready for the next adventure

It is heartening to know that these trails and quiet forest have been preserved and protected for future generations.

Posted in Bird conservation, Covid19, Ginger, Local Birding, nature, Plants & Flowers, Vermont Birding | Comments Off

Some Maine Birds

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Richard

During our stay in Maine, we heard a nice variety of birds but many were buried in foliage and constantly moving. This Black-throated Green popped out for a quick photo op.

This Alder/Willow Flycatcher and Cedar Waxwing pair picked a dead tree for their perch.

Flycatchers aren”t singing so identifying them is pretty tough.

Even the young Downy Woodpeckers provided a challenge.

On the water, there were lots of cormorants, gulls, and ducks beyond scope range. I saw a passing White-rumped Sandpiper, a bird I haven’t seen in 8 years.

Greater Black-backed Gull – big and noisy.

Just after seeing this Herring Gull, we returned to the trail and Ginger suddenly darted into the underbrush. I went after her, saw trouble, and yelled at her to come. She turned, moved toward me, and I grabbed her leash. Then I took a picture of this guy, who had just ambled up the tree a few feet. It could have been a disaster, dozens of miles from a vet. She got big-time praise and treats.

Posted in Birding With Ginger, Maine Birding, Vacation, Vacation birding | Comments Off

Maine Vacation

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Richard

We spent last week in Maine, doing some sight-seeing, a little birding, and enjoying the quiet and beauty around us.

Beach roses, while invasive, were lovely along the trails we walked.

We drove over to Eastport and saw this massive cruise ship and the mermaid sculpture, and walked and shopped a bit.

The Oceania Riviera will depart soon for Europe. The 785-foot ship arrived in Eastport on June 14 with no passengers and has been waiting for the green light for cruise ships to resume operations.

The water was too cold for swimming but Ginger got in up t0 her belly, but wouldn’t swim to the stick (right side) that I threw.

Posing in front of the owner’s lobster boat.

We had a great time and hope to return next year. Next post will have a few of the birds we saw.

Posted in Maine Birding, Vacation | Comments Off

More Youngsters

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Richard

Lots of young birds active – White-throated Sparrows practicing their song, Blue Jays begging for food, and many inquisitive youngsters.

These Song Sparrows on the back lawn were noisily teaching/learning to forage for food.

This mature Common Yellowthroat was not happy with an offspring who got way too nosy with me and the dog.

Not satisfied to be hidden, this youngster followed us down the path, chipping away.

This Tree Swallow youngster is about ready to fledge.

Posted in Fledglings, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

House Wrens Fledged Yesterday

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Richard

We have enjoyed the energy and singing of our House Wrens and wondered about their offspring, which they been feeding pretty continually the last week or two. It was only yesterday when I saw faces at the bird house entrance and I spent some time quietly watching them yesterday afternoon.

The youngsters were waiting, noisily, for lunch.

I saw one of the parents gathering a snack for them.

It was pretty noisy when food arrived. There were three fledglings.

They leaned out more each time food arrived and I saw some tentative moves toward leaving.

I left them alone and I think they left in shortly afterward. Last evening, I could hear the adults and some begging sounds but the fledglings were buried in the thick foliage. This morning, I saw this proud parent on the woodpile.

Posted in Backyard birds, Fledglings, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Comments Off

Ovenbirds

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Richard

Ovenbirds are loud in the woods, their “teacher, teacher, teacher” call resonating loudly but they themselves tough to spot. Yesterday I saw a number of them, chipping at me as the dog and I walked along the trail. I’m not sure if they were youngsters upset with the intrusion or adults distracting us from nearby ground nests. In any case, they were the first I’ve seen this year.