Life sort of got in the way of blogging but I’ve been back lugging my camera with me the last few days. But first, here’s an iPhone shot – an American Tree Sparrow – through the kitchen window.
Several days ago, I came across this Cooper’s Hawk – at the limit of my SX70 Canon’s range.
Backyard birds like these Mourning Doves continue to delight us.
These Mallards are taking advantage of the still-open river out back.
This morning, I came across these Hoodies who were heading upstream. The morning light resulted in some interesting images.
Season’s Greetings and hopes for a more sane, more peaceful world in 2024.
After a wonderful trip to Spain with a stopover in Lisbon, we are back in Vermont at the start of stick season. The leaves are gone and many of the birds but many of our favorites are around. Here are some:
Many Mallards will stay around all winter.We see these Common Mergansers every day.A pair of Hooded Mergansers.Hermit Thrushes will be heading out soon.White-throated Sparrows will be a delight to see all winter.
The cooler temperatures remind me of what’s ahead but also makes me think of Snowy Owls and the redpolls, crossbills, and waxwings that may show up. Good birding.
A week and a half ago, we were walking on the river while dozens of skaters came and went as we watched. A few days later, things thawed and now the ducks are back, enjoying some early spring-like weather. Sunday, I came upon this couple tucked into the back just upstream from the house.
A week earlier, this couple was foraging downtown in the main Winooski River.
Mergansers are here – not sure where they retreat to during earlier “below zero” weather. This pair of Hoodies are hanging out – I see them nearly every day.
And we don’t forget the faithful few who hang in here all winter, singing every chance they get. I hear cardinals, titmice, nuthatches, crows, and now and then, a raven on most of our walks.
We’ve had a Nor’easter forecast for a week and it’s hitting today. Yesterday Ginger and I took several outings and found a number of interesting birds along the river.
In an early walk, I surprised a few Mallards, only to notice that one was a diving duck. It was a first sighting for this spot, a Ring-necked Duck who was actively feeding for about an hour.
The Mallards were busy in the icy water as well. The second photo is some of them just ten days ago.
December 15December 5
We’ve been seeing a Great Blue Heron nearly every day in December but yesterday, he was situated on our path blocked by brush. So you’ll have to believe me but you can see part of his beak and coloration, and his back.
This pair of Hooded Mergansers has delighted us — they don’t breed for a few months but they look ready to rock and roll. Enjoy
As we transition to Fall with hints of color in the foliage, there are fewer birds and most are silent. There are migrants moving through and some locals who have yet to leave. Here’s a few shots from the last couple of days.
I got to finish molting before I’m going out in public.
Hawks have been on the move for a while but I came upon a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks yesterday. They had a major hassle going on with six or seven Northern Flickers, which I watched for about ten minutes. The lighting was poor but the action was cool.
Same tree, waiting for a rematch
The flycatchers are gone but some Eastern Phoebes are still here, wearing their yellowish fall plumage.
These young European Starlings will head out soon.
One of the fun parts of this season is to watch the youngsters grow up, learning their calls and songs, how to forage, and in general, how to be noisy teenagers. Gray Catbirds have been prime examples the last few days and this one just dared me to take his photo.
A lot of birds arrived during our trip to North Carolina. On the first morning back, I had a wonderful outing.
My first Vermont Gray Catbird of the yearThis Mallard was spectacular in the morning sunA Solitary SandpiperA Red Trillium along the trail
Many birds were singing including warblers (Yellow, Black & White, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, and Common Yellowthroat) and at the end of the walk, this American Robin was singing its heart out. So it made it into the photos.
“Ah, just a couple of Mallards.” How many times have we said that when scanning through a group of waterfowl, looking for the rock stars: the Teals, the Hoodies, the Redheads … anything but plain vanilla Mallards. Like Black-capped Chickadees or American Robins, or even Blue Jays, it’s easy to take a “just another” attitude toward the feathered friends we see quite often.
But, there’s a lot to be said for bird watching, rather than birding from time to time: taking the time to observe, to admire, to just be present with … some call it slow birding. Here is one online description of the differences:
One person can be both a birdwatcher and a birder. Many bird lovers change their style of birding from day to day, some days more casually enjoying their familiar backyard birds, while other days focusing on chasing that new lifer or identifying a unique visitor. What both types have in common, however, is a love of birds that withstands any name rivalry.
The other day, I watched two pairs of Mallards feeding in the morning sun, oblivious to me scoping them from across the inlet. They just dabbled and preened and had a great time — it reminded me of hanging out in a great coffee shop, nibbling and sipping, just having a leisurely breakfast.
I watched a couple of Mallards leisurely feeding and dabbling, partly hidden by the foliage, enjoying the morning sun.
I’m usually not the most patient of birders — I have to consciously slow down and observe rather than just ticking the bird off on my iPhone and moving on. There’s a time and a place for that, but it’s also fun to make time to not only study the details of plumage but to learn more about what the birds that we see and hear are doing. It’s a work in progress for me. So Mallards, if I have maligned you in the past, remember deep down I think you’re cool-looking and acting ducks. Dabble on!
