Vermont Birder - Sharing birds and travel.

A Summer Surprise

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Richard

For various reasons: vacation and a major flood being the primary ones, I haven’t posted for a month. This morning, I was standing in our neighbors’ backyard as the dogs played and suddenly noticed this big white bird at the river. Of course, my camera and binoculars were elsewhere but I retrieved them and photographed this cooperative Great Egret.

Very unusual bird for this part of Vermont – first one I’ve seen.

No sooner had I taken a few shots when in swoops the local Great Blue Heron and both birds flew. Here’s a pre-flood shot I took – it was nice to see him back.

Later, I saw both birds together downstream and chasing one another. Some birder friends and I watched the egret fishing contentedly a little later in the morning.

It was a nice Friday morning surprise and we hope our white friend will stick around for a bit.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Backyard birds, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, rare birds, Vermont Birding, Washington County | 2 Comments

Views From The Bridge

Posted on June 11, 2023 by Richard

Just up the street from our house, there’s a little bridge that I cross nearly every day on walks with Ginger. Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of wildlife on the river from it – here are a few from the last few days.

This morning, I spotted these mergansers just as they saw me, and after a warning command, they turned and cruised easily back upstream.

There is ongoing feud with city crews over ornamental shrubs planted along the bridge approaches. Beavers are winning.

Several days ago, I encountered this Snapping Turtle laying eggs beside the bridge.

The next morning I saw this family cruising downstream to the bridge, watching me warily.

Returning about ten minutes later, I saw momma turtle just down from where the geese had entered.

It’s all part of nature but I am hoping the goslings made it ok.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Birding with Ginger, Canada Geese, local birding, Snapping Turtles, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Some Vermont Spring Birds

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Richard

As the hills green up, often you can hear a bird but not spot it — at least open enough for a photo. Here are a few successful encounters I’ve had in the last few weeks.

Typically, warblers are bouncing around and in foliage, like this Yellow Warbler.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler taking a quick break.

Eastern Kingbirds often perch for nice photos.

One of the noisier and ubiquitous birds we hear is the Ovenbird with its distinctive “Tea-cher, Tea-cher, TEA-cher. They are small and hard to see. This one had a companion flitting nearby and had its mind on something other than the guy and dog standing on the path nearby.

Have a bird-filled, bug free June.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Backyard birds, Birding with Ginger, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Ovenbird, Veery, Vermont Birding, Warblers, Yellow Warbler | Comments Off

North Carolina Recap

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Richard

We’ve been home for a few weeks and just getting to the rest of the NC photos. It was a great trip — and this is our second visit to a nice cottage in Manteo that we really like.

The birding in the yard is wonderful — here’s a Carolina Wren singing to me early one morning.

There’s a nice mix of woodlands and ocean — here are some shots from our outings.

There were many Great-crested Flycatchers about.

This Pileated Woodpecker on a dirt road seemed healthy and just looking for breakfast.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse attracts hundreds of visitors each day, but we passed on climbing the stairway to the top — though I’m a pilot, I fear heights. I hope your spring birding goes well.

Posted in 2023 SE Trip, North Carolina Birding, U.S. Birding | Tagged Carolina Wren, Coastal Plain Cooter turtle, Great-flycatcher, North Carolina Birding, Pileated Woodpecker, Tree Swallows | 2 Comments

A Wednesday Beach Walk

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Richard

We are on an outing to North Carolina for some warmer weather and beach walking. It’s been quite windy but things have improved, as has the birding. We stay in Manteo and usually visit the national seashore daily.

Here’s a young Herring Gull and then an older model.

A Black-bellied Plover joined the party.

And a Whimbrel watched from a distance.

Posted in Vacation birding | Tagged Birding with Ginger, Gulls, North Carolina Birding, Plovers, Shorebirds | 4 Comments

Platonic Turkey Love

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Richard

Yesterday I came upon a dozen or more Wild Turkeys and just like last year’s post in mid-April — the guys were displaying — the hens were in a “get lost, Buster” mood.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Birding with Ginger, local birding, Vermont Birding, Washington County, wild turkey | Comments Off

Early Spring Birds

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Richard

The snow is melting, back roads are muddy, and every week new birds show up. Downy Woodpeckers, here in our backyard all year, are some of our favorites – and we get to see their fledglings in a few months.

American Crows are very active, hassling hawks like this Red-tailed, and often gathering in groups, known as “murders.”

Likewise, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, recent arrivals, forage together.

Turkey Vultures arrived about two weeks ago. Note the wing dihedral and wingtip feathers.

Another year-round bird which is fun to watch and hear is the Tufted Titmouse. This one was in a tree out back.

And sometimes, nothing is out and about — but this guy popped up in the only hole in the pond. It looks like he saw his shadow.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Backyard birds, Birding with Ginger, Common Grackle, Downy Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Tufted Titmouse, Turkey Vulture, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Some Friday Birds

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Richard

Ginger and I went out for an outing on the nearby trails mid-day today. The walking was tricky in mushy snow but the birdsong was up-lifting. My first singing Song Sparrows, lots of Brown Creepers and nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, and crows. One who was quietly perched beside the trail was this Pine Grosbeak.

The river is open again and we are seeing a lot of activity, including this handsome Common Merganser, looking for love in all the right places.

Cold weather coming so much of the river will freeze again but that’s life in March in Vermont.

Posted in Local Birding, Vermont Birding | Tagged Backyard birds, Birding with Ginger, Common Merganser, Pine Grosbeak, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Snowbird

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Richard

During a letup in yesterday’s snowstorm, I took Ginger down our path for a little outing and looking across the river, saw this Bald Eagle focused on preening its wings and body. Of course, my camera was in the house so I slowly retreated, dog in tow, and returned to take some photos.

I’m pretty sick of snow but never tire of seeing birds like this.

Posted in Vermont Birding, Winter Birds | Tagged Backyard birds, Bald Eagle, Birding with Ginger, Washington County | 6 Comments

Some Winter Photos

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Richard

I want to share some shots of winter birds and other items we’ve seen on our daily outings. I’ll start with a quiet and beautiful spot we found the other day.

In the neighborhood, there’s a nice variety of birds – yesterday there was a Northern Cardinal, a Carolina Wren, and a Tufted Titmouse singing away on a section of one street.