2019 Winter Trip Planning

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Richard

Fed up with the depressing Border Wall plans and the ongoing paramilitary presence along the border, we decided to cancel our trip to Texas and instead, give northern Florida a try. Most southern Florida campgrounds were already full so as you’ll see, the gameplan is to hit Louisiana, the Florida panhandle, Georgia, and perhaps South Carolina.

I’m posting this only to see if any of our birding friends might be in the area when we are. Of course, everything is subject to change — birds have wings, we have wheels.

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Bittern Out Back

Posted on September 1, 2018 by Richard

Earlier in the week, Sally came upon an American Bittern right at the end of our path to the river. All I had was my iPhone and the photos, in poor light, were not good. Yesterday, we saw it again, without phone or camera. Today, at the end of a long bird walk, I snuck down the path and Voila!

Our friend will be on his way southward soon but what a great backyard treat.

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A Day at Chincoteague

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Richard

During a quick trip to Virginia, we drove up to Chincoteague Island for a little birding. A friend of Sally’s, Chip, met up with us for a visit to National Wildlife Refuge and was a wonderful host/guide. Not only does he know his birds and is a skilled photographer, he has a sand permit allowing him to get out closer to some of the good birding areas with his SUV. It was hot and muggy but a great chance to get reacquainted with shorebirds.

Chip not only brought his 4WD vehicle, he brought his spotting scope and shorebird knowledge.

There were a number of Tri-colored Herons doing their stealthy stalk

Looks like a Greater Yellowlegs

We watched dozens of terns, mostly Forster’s, learning to get their food, diving from he bridge to the water.

Semi-palmated Sandpipers foraging

There were many Clapper Rails about, chasing one another, acting like chickens on drugs. (Sandpiper in background.)

After supper, we went back looking for night herons without luck but did see this nice Green Heron.

Leaving the refuge, Sally spotted about a dozen Chincoteague ponies in the hazy distance, part of the wild herd that just show up here and there on the island. They were a nice end to the outing.

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Muggy Mid-day Paddle

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Richard

Like most of the East, and it seems, most of the world, we have been enduring a long stretch of hot and humid conditions with sparse precipitation. While the river is low, paddling seemed like a nice option to get a little workout and perhaps see some birds.

As I was getting kayak ready, I noticed this Monarch working one of our flower bushes.

It has been a good year for Monarchs

Several young song sparrows chipped away at me as I got the gear together.

Our local Great Blue Heron was downstream fishing.

While upstream, this moma Mallard shepherded her three youngsters,

We have watched this brood go from about a dozen fluffballs to the three nearly-grown youngsters.

I saw a larger bird fly into some undergrowth and after some maneuvering and stealth, I spotted this neat Green Heron. It gave me an interesting challenge of balancing the boat, the paddle, and the camera as it played hard to get.

But the master of “catch me if you can” seems to be the Belted Kingfisher who is noisy, flashy, and usually just out of camera range. I followed this one for a quarter mile, shooting and missing, but finally …

Birding by boat is not just about trying for photos. I got really close to several Grey Catbirds, deep in the honeysuckle, and watched an Eastern Phoebe singing away high on a dead branch. It iwas a peaceful way to enjoy a humid Vermont mid-day.

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Sunday Birding

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Richard

I awoke to the song of a Carolina Wren, sort of unusual here — and going out to look for it, saw this trio in the back yard.

I suspect that the second fawn is hiding. Note the Joe Pye Weed in the background.

I did some reading on the back deck, watching the birds coming toward the feeder. We are getting a lot of youngsters and quite a mix. Here are a few:

Goldfinches have been numerous all spring/summer and some, like this guy, are simply stunning after molt.

Common Grackles show up in bunches — this appears to be a young one — no yellow eye and a little drab.

What’s not to like about a Northern Cardinal?

Finch – House or Purple? Their singing can be ethereal in the early morning.

This young Blue Jay is one of many who have boundless appetites and are constantly begging, doing their “wing” shake to get their parents to feed them.

We have a new “squirrel-proof” feeder which the greys have sort of given up on but the reds are still trying.

The other challenge is the Rock Doves aka pigeon who show up each day in droves. They generally go for the dropped seed but also try to get on the feeder, in a flail of flapping wings and clumsiness. I must say, they are pretty handsome birds — one or two at a time.

I looked up from my book to see this guy moving down through the reeds. We had a Great Blue here the last few years and he returned this Spring. After a surprise late snowfall, he vanished. This bird showed up months later and whether it’s our regular, or a newcomer, it it warms our heart to have that wonderful fisherman/woman in our back yard.

Slow birding is a nice way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon.

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Some Local Birds

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Richard

With a marriage, house sale, move, van repair, and family reunion, it has been a busy late Spring/Summer. The birding has been quite good locally and we continue to see all sorts of avian visitors to our back yard. Here are a few shots I’ve taken of some local birds.

This Chipping Sparrow was singing away like he was in love.

Common Yellowthroats abound and have raised a strong new crop this summer.

Young Indigo Bunting

Tree Swallows with what looks like a Cliff Swallow.

Living on the North Branch of the Winooski River makes us neighbors with both common and hooded mergansers.

We are going to being doing some birding in Virginia in early August and then in southern Spain in September. We are also planning a Southwest trip for early 2019.  Adios, amigos.

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Local Rambles

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Richard

I’ve set up a round-trip bird walk, about 3.2 miles long, that goes up the trail along the North Branch of the Winooski, hooking up with the paths around the North Branch Nature Center. It’s a good way to get a little exercise and see a variety of birds and critters.Two days ago, I saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the year.

Two days ago, I saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the year.

Then, at NBNC, American Tree Swallows with checking out this bluebird nesting box.

Yesterday, I took a little detour up into the woods and saw these guys:

This Hermit Thrush was singing away – such a wonderful spring sound.

Several Brown Creepers were singing and feeding.

Returning home, I met an acquaintance who asked about my birding and told me that a Yellowlegs had been foraging all morning out behind the house. Sure enough – a new yard bird.

I’m calling this a Greater Yellowlegs but could be convinced otherwise. It left just at dusk.

 

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Looking For Love

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Richard

Vermont, while well into Spring calendar-wise, is still gloves and boots season for birding. On a recent four-mile walk in light drizzle, not only were there some new arrivals (Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-bellied, Sapsucker, Broad-winged Hawk) but many seemed to be pairing up.

This female Cardinal was listening to the nearby male sing.

I saw six pairs of Northern Cardinals.

Mallards and Eastern Phoebes were pair up as were these two Canada Geese.

Further up into the woods of Hubbard Park, I heard, and then saw, this Winter Wren. His unmistakeable song rang through the conifers and hopefully, brought a little love into his life.

We have a few more cold drizzly days but the forecast looks good. I’m ready and it looks like the birds are ready. Bring it on.

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Returning Home

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Richard

The trip downriver to Sani Lodge was boring. Most of us slept part of the way.

The trip back was much different: the river was raging with waves and floating logs coming at us continually. At one point, we heard a loud report as the boat hit a log hard, and the pilot stopped. Crew were scrambling back and forth between the bow and stern, talking mainly in Kichwa. No one but us seemed concerned as we floated back downriver and the crew pumped hydraulic fluid into the steering system and fiddled with the engines. We got moving again but it was several hours of stopping to fix things, maneuvering to miss logs (which I think were debris dumped by the oil companies clearing land), and worrying about the flight to Quito we needed to catch. A three hour trip turned into four hours plus, with no rest stops, but we got to Coca, were shuttled to the airport, and soon were on a jet heading to Quito. Once there, we were reunited with our driver, Roger, who had driven our bus the first 8 days, and were dropped at a wonderful hotel not far from the airport. Hotel San José Aeropuerto has wonderful grounds and so, being birders with a last chance to bird, we wandered the grounds with great results.

Several llamas were grazing in the large courtyard

This Golden Grosbeak was a new bird for the trip.

As was this Vermillion Flycatcher

We were close to the airport for tomorrow’s flights home.

This Crimson-mantled Woodpecker was a life bird for all of us. Photo courtesy of Peg Ackerman

The last evening, we gathered for a wonderful dinner and and said our goodbyes since most had very early departures the next day. 

The trip, in retrospect was great. Most of us got 300 to 400 life birds, saw some amazing sights, made new friends, and had fun along the way. North Branch Nature Center and particularly Chip did a marvelous job designing, organizing, and carrying out the trip. Gracias Amigos

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A Visit to the Sani Isla Community

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Richard

Sani Isla is a community of about 600 Kichwa  indigenous people nestled along the Napo river deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Sani Lodge is their main source of income but in looking to diversify, the women in the community expressed their desire to revitalize traditional handicrafts. The handicrafts could provide a new income stream from sustainably sourced forest materials and help promote the traditional artisan practices of the Kichwa, strengthening their self identity and celebrating their way of life while protecting their forest home. We visited them for lunch, and to experience some of their culinary and celebration practices. It was great to do a little to support their efforts.

Offloading at the community landing.

We were welcomed by some of the women of the community and fed some traditional food.

One of our welcomers

These palm grubs are an Amazonian delicacy, raw or cooked. Our guide asked for volunteers.

Chip, our leader was one of the brave who after biting the grub’s head off, proclaimed the treat tasty. Most of us were unconvinced.

Fish from the Napo River was cooked wrapped in palm leaves.

Eaten with your hands sitting in a circle

This guy opted for something else

After lunch, our guide gave a brief talk about hunting with a blowgun and asked for a volunteer to fire one. I stepped up and after instructions, completely “blew it” with the dart only going about 50 feet. Provided some post-lunch humor at least.

“Houston, we have a problem here.”

Then we had some face painting such as was done for celebrations and festivals.

Sally chose River Otter as her animal marking.

It was a nice outing. We bought chocolate and hand-made baskets and other items. Fifteen school kids joined us on the ride back to Sani Lodge, saving the school boat a run. Little did we know that the next day’s trip on the Rio Napo back to Coca would be much more hair-raising.

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