Dog Walk Birds

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.

Blue Jays are here through the winter.
Likewise, Canada Geese stick around – we see this pair every day.

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.)

Brightening A Gray Day

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.

December Birds

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.

Some October Birds

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.

Returning to Charca de Suarez

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.

Two Greater Flamingos were among the highlights of our visit.
A Purple Swamphen with a Common Moorhen in the background.
A Little Egret
Common Waxbills are pretty but often an introduced pest.
Red-knobbed Coots, being rather rare, are studied and protected here.

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.

A Walk to La Caleta

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.

La Caleta in the morning.

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.

First Days in Spain

After a long trip, we’ve setted into our apartment and with nice views and weather, are seeing a nice mix of birds from our terrace.

We have an artist friend here from past visits and this montage of his captures much of the flavor of Salobreña.

One of my favorites is the eurasian kestrel which we see daily. I’ve yet to get a good photo but did capture this one yesterday at long distance.

A European Turtle Dove overlooking things.

Last night, one of the large field below us was irrigated and this morning a few Mallards arrived. Then a group of Cattle Egret showed up for desayuno.

As I watched them, this large group of dark birds appeared.

Glossy Ibises, probably on their way to Africa, were foraging all day.

Our landlord left instructions to close windows when we left the apartmento because when the folks are away, guess who comes in and plays?

Who, me?

Testing the IPad

We’re leaving for Spain in a few days and I’m planning to blog with my new iPad, but testing things while I still have computer backup. Here area few images from the last couple of days.

This Spotted Sandpiper was just upstream the other morning.

A month ago, I would have been in waist-deep flood water shooting this group. They are enjoying feeding at normal river level. It makes me wonder, where did the ride the storm out?

We’ve had several Great Egrets in the area since the storm, and seeing this heron and egret, couldn’t help but wonder if they were comparing migration plans.

A Few Monday Birds

We took a three mile walk around town this morning — here are a few shots from our jaunt.

Goldfinches are everywhere – many in new plumage.
This Downy looks like a youngster.
This Cardinal either had a rough weekend or is molting.
Our resident Great Blue Heron was patiently waiting for brunch.

These are days when Vermont is great — nice air, sun, and a breeze — and some last looks at birds who’ll be heading out in the weeks ahead.

Local Birds — late August

I have combined dog walks and birding for years and here are a few shots from recent outings. Here’s my companion, resting halfway through a three mile hike.

A few minutes earlier we had encountered several Northern Flickers.

Most of the woodlands birds aren’t singing now so you have to spot them. This Veery was very accommodating.

Walking along the river, I’m seeing the Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Belted Kingfishers nearly every day. Here are a Wood Duck, a Green Heron, and a Common Merganser.

It’s been a good birding summer and we look forward to fall walks — with fewer birds but also, fewer bugs.