Vermont Birder

O’ Canada

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Richard

I’ve taken a break from birding for the last three weeks, aside from walks with the dog in our woods, as I work on some Airstream projects. Today, my friends at Grow Compost, a wonderful local business, had a day-long event which included a brief afternoon bird walk. A friend of mine was leading it and the owners hoped I might drop by, and so I did with very low expectations. After all, it is mid-afternoon in July.

A few of us gathered including the leader, Patti, and another Mad Birder friend, Pat Folsom. The six of us, after a repast of lemonade and cookies, trudged out by the fermenting piles of compost, aiming toward a Turkey Vulture perch at the end of the property. We saw and heard the usual suspects — Song Sparrows, Ovenbird, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and once at the edge of the woods, found a few flycatchers that we finally decided were Eastern Phoebes.

It was fun being out and with some good birders and we ticked off about a dozen species, and then watched a warbler working away, actively feeding. It was pretty plain and of course, silent, so we sort of chalked it up to “unknown female/juvenile warbler.” Pat said, “Sometimes you just have to let them go.” Up ahead, we heard some chipping in a thicket, and stealthily approached, thinking that it might be a Common Yellowthroat. It was pretty aggressive calling and Pat got a glimpse of yellow but that was it. And it stopped.

We waited a while and since the time was over for the walk, had just decided to head back when a bird popped out on a hemlock branch. I spotted it and said, “I see it, it’s yellow, get over on it, Canada Warbler, got it …” I was sure it would disappear but the group got on it right away and sure enough, a male Canada Warbler was scolding us. He hopped around, giving us great looks, and I grabbed this shot of him. (Warblers are tough, they are always moving.)

This guy is life bird 346 for me — a long time coming.

It was a year-bird for all of us and I was pretty sure that it was a life bird for me. (It was) We realized that it likely had a nest nearby, and that we had likely seen the female earlier. We quietly withdrew, with him still chipping away at us, and finished the outing on a real up note. It got us thinking that we should bird this area more extensively since there are miles of trails up high that have great potential.

The takeaway item for me was: you just never know with birding — sometimes it just pays to show up.

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Posted in life bird, Life list, Local Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Hummingbirds

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Richard

Hummingbirds are a thrill to watch! Their brain is about the size of a BB. The nest is constructed of plant down, spider webs, lichen & tree sap. Hummers eat about every 10 minutes. Their long tongues aid in nectaring. Hummingbirds’hearts are larger proportionally to their body than any other bird or mammal. There are over 325 species of hummingbirds, making them the second largest family of birds in the world, second only to flycatchers.

Here’s a primer on hummingbird vocabulary. You’ll appreciate these gems more & share their beauty knowing these terms…

Bill – The bony, keratin-covered projection of a bird’s mouth – A hummingbird’s long, thin bill is specially designed for sipping nectar & is one of the most distinctive features of these birds. The length, thickness, color & curve of the bill varies by species.

Dimorphic – The distinct physical differences between genders – Most hummingbird males are brightly colored & iridescent while females are plain, affording them to stay camouflaged while nesting. Young male hummingbirds often resemble females but will attain more color as they mature.

Gorget – The brightly colored throat patch – Many male hummingbirds have distinctly colored gorgets that serve as key field marks for proper
identification based on the gorget’s color & shape. The gorget is often flared to show off its brilliance while breeding or defending territory.

Hyperphagia – A hormonally-induced state of extreme appetite & overeating prior to migration – Hummingbirds may increase their mass by 50 percent or more before migrating so they have enough energy for the journey. Bird feeders are especially important to help hummingbirds gain this weight.

Insectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of insects – While hummingbirds are known for drinking nectar, they also eat a great number of insects as a source of protein, often picking them from spider webs or out of the air. Insects are especially important for young birds so they will develop properly.

Iridescent – Shimmering feathers with metallic-like colors that may change color when seen from different angles – Many hummingbirds have iridescent throats & upperparts, & the exact colors, when seen in good light, are a key to proper hummingbird identification.

Nectar – The sugary water produced by many flowers that is a main food source for hummingbirds – The exact sugar concentration of nectar from different flower types can vary. Use the simple recipe of sugar & water to fill hummingbird feeders ~ no red dye please!

Nectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of nectar – All hummingbirds are nectivorous & may feed dozens of times a day, visiting different flowers & feeders. Hummingbird feeding is important for the pollination of many flowers, & hummingbirds will frequently visit nectar feeders as well.

Guest post by:

Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
newburyportbirders@comcast.net
www.newburyportbirders.com

Posted in Bird Behavior, Birds, guest_post, Vermont Birding | 1 Comment

Bonus Birding Wednesday

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Richard

Yesterday morning, in spite of the damp misty tropic-like air, I decided to do a little birding at the North Branch Nature Center with the Vizsla. I was hoping to hear/see the Black-billed Cuckoo that they heard the day before — but yet another try and failure for this nemesis bird for me. However, I did get a wonderful birding bonus, one of those non-avian observations that make one glad he’s outside with binos and a camera.

I doused myself with Deep Woods Off before heading out but the mosquitoes were unrelenting — there were dozens swirling around my head and laughing at the repellant. I’m not sure that might also have be lapping at it as well. But the birds were active and Blackburnian Warblers and American Redstarts flashed through the foliage, singing away. The fields are like jungle but the center keeps a series of paths mowed so, aside from the swampy areas, it’s easy going. I had about 20 species logged when I came through a little opening and saw two ears elevated. I could hardly see the deer (in spite of being 6-3) but I held the camera over my head and using the screen, shot this picture.

You can’t see me — I’m hidden in the ferns!

I moved slowly so as to not disturb the doe who had not smelled us. The dog, being way below the foliage on the path, on a leash, had no clue she was there. The path circled her and she watched me the whole time as I moved away, but was never disturbed. It was a beautiful moment — she just looked so peaceful there in her big patch of tall ferns.

We went on the get ten or so more species including a Green Heron flying overhead. It felt like birding in Alabama and I was drenched when we got back to the car, just in time to see the day campers getting ready to head out and search the beaver pond for vertebrates. They likely came back a lot muddier and wetter than I — and the cuckoo better wait around for me — I’ll be back.

Posted in Birding Bonus, Birding With Penny, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | 1 Comment

Lots of Youngsters Out There

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Richard

In spite of the long spell of hot, humid weather, it’s been fun to see and hear all the fledglings and juveniles — this seems to be the best year we’ve had for nesting in our woods. After a spring of two or three Purple Finches, suddenly we have eight to a dozen hitting the feeders, trying to figure out how to handle sunflower seeds.

At times, purple finches swarm the feeders.

This afternoon, the dog and I had an explosion of about a dozen juvenile Ruffed Grouse blast out of the tall grass just up behind the house as we started a walk. Of course, she’s a bird dog and supposed to point but she just takes off after them. One perched on low pine branch, saw the red flash coming, and thought better of it. They were big enough to fly well and the dog gave up right away. (Earlier in the season, I worry about the chicks and their peeping, but usually the mom, with her wounded bird act, draws off the Vizsla.)

Some of the goldfinches in their new plumage are just striking – and they seem to know it.

I know it’s not recommended in many circles, but we keep up feeders all summer, taking them in each night. The birds don’t necessarily need the food but it’s wonderful to see the new crops of birds coming in each day. We’ve had young Rose-breasted Grosbeaks for the first time ever, and more Red-breasted Nuthatches than I can ever recall. Of course, the new crop of Blue Jays are eating us out of house and home as they hit the suet hard when the woodpeckers are not on it. At one point, I figured it was costing us a dollar a day to feed those beautiful blue birds — until we started shooing them off or pulling the suet feeder in part of the day.

Several young nuthatches are getting comfortable at the feeder.

Even the Mourning Doves are in the act. Instead of two or four, we now often have six or eight — several of them definitely juveniles. Hairy Woodpeckers feed suet to noisy youngsters who look old enough to fend for themselves.

It’s fun to hear all the bird calls in the early morning walks. We seem to have doubled the number of Ovenbirds and the new ones seem less wary and more inquisitive as we walk by. White-throated Sparrows practice their call — it reminds me of when they first get back on territory and get part of their call out, try again, and finally get it right. I hear warblers every morning — Nashville, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Black and White, and Pine — and others that are drowned out by the constant Ovenbird calling.

The new crop of hummers are tanking up every day.

These summer days have some poignancy as well since I know that the new plumage and the building up of energy stores is part of the preparation for migration. Summer is usually a quiet time for birders but why not stop and seize the moment and enjoy the birds in our “patch.”

Posted in Local Birding, migration, Yard birds | 1 Comment

Stripping Between Showers

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Richard

We are, like most of the East, in a humid spell where days finish with showers and thunderstorms — and the air is heavy and Maryland-like. It’s not great painting weather but OK for stripping clearcoat — as long as I get five or six hours between application and rain.

I am using a new safer stripper that I bought from Vintage Trailer Supply. Here’s part of whart they say about it:

For many years, vintage Airstream owners have relied on RemovAll 220 peroxid-activated paint stripper to remove the plasticoat from their trailers before polishing. RemovAll is no longer available in North America. Fortunately, PPG Aerospace makes a paint stripper based on the same principles as RemovAll. It is called Eldorado PR-5044.

PR-5044 is a peroxide-activated paint and primer remover. It works well because it is designed for removal of polyurethane and epoxy paint systems in the aerospace industry. PR-5044 is environmentally preferred and worker-friendly. It does contain petroleum distillates, so it does produce fumes. You will need to read all safety information before using. However, it is not a hazardous material and is much easier to use and safer than traditional aircraft strippers.

So, it looks like vanilla pudding and paints on rather easily. Here is the first panel I tried it on:

That worked out pretty well so the next day, I applied it on the upper section.

After a thundershower rinsed it, I spent some time with water and rags removing the coating which tended to come off like Saran wrap. At times, whole sections several square feet in size just peeled off — other areas were more stubborn. Some will require more stripper.

The removed coating looks like cellophane and will be easy to clean up later on.

So, the upper right side is 95% done and after a break for the 4th, I’ll start on the lower. It’s slow going but I just realized, after talking with my brother, that the two new panels we had replaced are coating free. I figure I have about 14 hours in and another 20 to go – before beginning to polish.

The upper right side is about done – now to start on the decals and lower section.

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, renovation | Comments Off

Meeting Mr. Filiform

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Richard

I have decided to tackle the peeling clearcoat on the Airstream on a casual basis – a panel or two at a time. So today I continued to use up the Stypeeze on some lower panels. I found that the top half came off fast – I could hear the covering crinkling up as I applied stripper below. The lower half was much tougher- I wonder if they put two layers down nearer the road.

The clearcoat comes off pretty well after 15-20 minutes using water and a rag (and protective gloves.)

As I have cleared off areas, I am noting areas of so-called filiform. Filiform corrosion on Airstream happens at the cut edges, rivet holes, scratches, and fittings from moisture and ocean or winter road salt begins at the unprotected aluminum at those areas and spreads under the clear coat finish, where it flourishes because it cannot dry out easily. Various owners handle it differently – some ignore it, some try to recover it with clear lacquer, others wax the heck out of it.

Here is some filiform along a seam.

filiform forms around rivets as well.

In doing some online research, I found that a combination of wet sandpaper and then polishing is the way to go. I only had 400 grit sandpaper (I need 800, 1000 as well) so I tried a couple of test spots. Here’s how it looks — not sure it is better but it is nearly gone.

I purchased a gallon of stripper from Steve at Vintage Trailer Supply and will start using that next week. It promises to be easier on the user.

I read somewhere that it takes 200 hours to polish an Airstream the first time. I may do half this year and the rest next. So it might look a little strange – hey, get over it!

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, dents scratches, polishing, restoration | Comments Off

Airstream Dermatology

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Richard

It’s well known that the clear coat used on Airstream exteriors weakens and starts peeling after UV exposure. Some say it starts in five or six years, others seem to do a little better. We had a little peeling when we bought the Safari five years ago but it has gotten steadily worse. It is just cosmetic but as we consider options, I know that potential buyers won’t be too impressed. Here’s what it looked like from the front.

The clear coat and Airstream name was looking pretty ratty.

I decided to strip the clearcoat and polish the aluminum on the top front where the situation was the worst. Steve at Vintage Trailer Supply recommends an environmentally-safe stripper and I’ll use that down the road, but I had an expensive gallon of brain-frying Strypeeze so I used that. At least it was outdoors and with purple nitrile gloves, I painted it on the panel. It looked like this.

The Strypeeze wrinkled up the clearcoat, which then could be wiped off.

After several applications of stripper, I hit it with some lacquer thinner and got most of the remnants off. The peeled areas are oxidized and so the whole panel needs to be polished. That’s next week’s task once the heavy rains scheduled here soon subside.

The non-oxidized areas look pretty good giving me hope for good polishing results.

I have the feeling that this is going to turn into a major project, but at least it doesn’t all have to be done this summer. The softer aluminum used in later Airstreams doesn’t shine up like the older ones, but it should look fine. We will see.

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, renovation, rig maintenance | Comments Off

A Brief Flirtation

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Richard

After our recent trip to Massachusetts, I was a little tired of the “geeing and hawing” of maneuvering the Airstream out of our winding driveway, through crowded downtowns and tight construction zones, and in and out of parking sites. To say nothing of the hitching up, with the help of mosquitoes, and the setting up after arrival. I think the incessant heat and humidity were getting to me.
I got thinking, ” Wouldn’t it be nice just to have everything in one unit?” (I think every rv owner thinks about what other rigs might work better – and there are pros and cons to each option.) I have been intrigued with the Class B Airstream, in spite of its hefty $100k plus price tag new. We have no Airstream dealers close by so the other day, I paid a visit to a local rv dealer, Vermont Country Campers, to check out a few of their Class B and Class C campers.
It was a hot morning and I was reluctant to drag a sales guy out of his air-conditioned office and made it clear that I was just “tire-kicking.” The first unit I went into was this expensive Winnebago diesel which is similar to the Airstream Interstate.

I was impressed with the design and the fuel economy but saw no need for the two extra captain’s chairs taking up valuable space. The $125k price tag was … well, not in our price range. The salesman, in talking about the lack of storage, said “You wouldn’t be taking bikes and lawn chairs in this.” (Which made me think of all the gear we haul in the truck.)
I’ve seen many RoadTrek vans in our travels and their owners seem to love them – except during long stretches of rainy days where they can develop cabin fever. As soon as I entered the unit shown below, and could not even stand upright, I knew these Class B’s were not for us. Even used and affordable ones.

I looked at a couple of Class C’s, ones with the little bunk area over the truck cab, but by now was realizing that this little Saturday morning fling was over. I thanked the guy, who had been very accomodating, and drove away in the truck thinking, “that old Airstream may be our best bet.”
Who knows, we may upgrade to a newer model Airstream, buy an older one with more character, or continue to improve our present rig. Stay tuned. (photos courtesy of Vermont Country Campers)

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Posted in Vermont Birding | Comments Off

Bath Time

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Richard

We have had sweltering days with high humidity and afternoon storms for nearly a week. The birds are looking pretty bedraggled but they are active because there are lots of bugs. It’s not unusual to see a grosbeak or robin fluff up their feathers as they sit between showers.

Yesterday, I visited the local airport to do a little work on my Luscombe. As I approached the locked gate, I noticed a Chipping Sparrow fly up to a puddle in the tarmac. The dog and I waited as he went through a long routine of cleansing and cooling off. I grabbed a few photos.

Hey, this feels pretty good

I’m going for it.

That was awesome — let’s try that routine again. Those guys can wait.

Posted in Bird Behavior, Local Birding | Comments Off

Shakedown Trip 2

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Richard

Last Friday, we launched on a trip down to Merrimac, MA to see daughter Jen and her family — and to test out systems on the Airstream. We often take the unit down there so that the dog and I can sleep out in the woods — saving some hassle at the house.

The rig hooked up and ready to roll down our newly surfaced driveway.

I expected a difficult trip since it was a Friday afternoon – the first weekend with school out — but it was fairly tame. We navigated the construction work in downtown Montpelier and huffed up the big hills heading out of Vermont.

There was a neat Canadian couple parked just ahead of us in the rest area and I quizzed them on their big Class C rig, which they’ve taken all over North America.

During the last half of the trip, I was sweating out the arrival procedure since I have to stop on a sometimes-busy road, back kitty-corner into a winding narrow driveway, and then back diagonally into the woods. It’s not hard if cars and trucks don’t show up — and we must have missed rush hour because only one car had to stop and watch Mary and I work at getting the Airstream off the road. We are getting better, or luckier.

There’s no electricity out in Jen’s woods and the solar panel never worked in previous trips. You can see why.

Our visit was wonderful, including a celebration of our 51st anniversary with a couple of cousins of mine whom I seldom see, but the mosquitos were tough as was the temperature and humidity. We decided to return to Vermont a day early since the trailer was getting very warm (the generator is great but not sized to run the A/C unit.

We got home Monday, mid-day, and had a chance to unpack and park the Airstream before a series of thunderstorms. The trip was a success: seeing the gang was wonderful, the hot water and refrigerator which had just been serviced worked like a charm, and Penny was in general, a good visitor.

The Airstream is now parked off the driveway in the only flat spot available, ready for the next adventure.

Posted in Jennifer's | Comments Off

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