Early this morning on a dog walk/birding outing, I came across this merganser family out for a cruise. For once, the dog was not moving, the sun was behind me, and there was no foliage in the way. I count ten or eleven youngsters – including the two getting a ride.
New migrants are arriving daily and the trees are just budding — it’s a great time to get out an check things out. Here are a few recent sightings.
Eastern Kingbirds showed up last week, as did Common Loons.
And I’m still sorting out sandpipers — this one, which I saw just up from the house, I’m calling a Solitary Sandpiper, not a Spotted.
Warblers are here but their movement and the dog’s leash make them difficult to photograph. But all the Yellow Warblers and American Goldfinches add lollipops of color to enjoy.
As we walked a couple of miles alongside the reservoir, there was a quite a mix of birds. Here are more — some of the images are poor because of the grey skies. The first was this American Kestrel which we flushed walking in but was perched again of the same branch an hour later.
This Red-breasted Merganser was moving away from us.
My “helper” who like me, enjoys our birding outings.
When I visit my daughter in Massachusetts, I often try to go birding with Ginger at Cherry Hill Reservoir. We spent a few good hours on a chilly morning last Thursday. Here are a few of the waterfowl we saw.
There were also a number of Scaup – I’m calling them Lesser due to the rounded head.
Ruddy Ducks are often here, in large rafts, resting. They are delightful to watch as they dive and re-appear, usually farther away.
We had a great hike and saw 33 species. I’ll include more in the next post. Happy migration birding.
I seldom watch birds without our dog, Ginger, along on a leash. It adds a challenge of stabilizing dog and camera when photographing but we often log 15-20 miles a week together. With mud season in full bloom here, most of our walks are on the great network of sidewalks throughout Montpelier. Here are some recent shots, a couple from today.
Yesterday, I came across this Pileated Woodpecker in a close-by neighborhood. I’ve heard them this year but this is the first I’ve seen.
Then, this morning, just as we were heading out, this Wood Duck pair, recently arrived, were riding the river current downstream. They are very shy, unlike our Mallards, but just wonderful to see.
Female (this is the year I master manual focusing.)
We’ve had a long stretch of gray days and with icy trails and muddy back roads, one can long for warmer climes. Then, out on a chilly walk, you get a look at a neat bird, it could be a Chickadee or Blue Jay, and your attitude is adjusted. Such it was this morning when this Hooded Merganser, just tooling down our river, brightened my day.
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:
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.
On our first trip to Spain in 2018, we discovered this gem of a wetland refuge not far from our lodging in Salobreña. Nestled into an area of apartment and industrial buildings, it is a great network of ponds, shady paths, and streams that is open evenings and more on weekends. The ten or so “hides” attract birders and many serious photographers. It’s a “must visit” spot for us.
So, Charca de Suárez is on the coast, a little over an hour drive from the Malaga airport and less than that from Granada. This little spot (40 acres), which has plans for expansion, is a perfect place to spend a few hours. Check the opening times, they change during the year. We hope to visit before we leave, hoping to see Margarito, the White Stork.
In order to beat the heat of Southern Spain, we get out for walks and birding early. Twice now, we’ve made the half hour walk to the Village of La Caleta, seeing agriculture workers harvesting mangos, planting beans, herding goats.
The other morning, after having coffee and toast at a sidewalk cafe, we walked a scenic path along the ocean, passing by some local fishing boats and an angler.
The tide was receding leaving many small sardines trapped in pools. I rescued several as my good act for the day.
Later, after buying some local produce at the small fruteria, we walked up around the neighborhoods, coming across a large group of schoolchildren at recess. Activities included jumping rope, tag, tug-of-war, wrestling , and just being noisy kids. No devices in sight.
It’s a good climb back up to our casa but like in Vermont, you don’t walk very far here without some hills. We saw Sardinian Warblers and other little brown birds and the ever-present soaring Eurasion Kestrels.