Category Archives: Yard birds

An Afternoon Surprise

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting out back near the river reading in the shade, with Ginger on my lap. I was missing seeing the inquisitive Common Yellowthroats and aerobatic Eastern Kingbirds, and many others — it was bittersweet to realize that most of our summer birds are suddenly gone.

Movement caught my eye and two large birds languidly flew upstream, right in front of me. A Great Blue Heron and what — a Great Egret, passed by side by side, circled to fly back down stream leaving me surprised to say the least. While I see Great Egrets elsewhere, I’ve never seen one here — and especially accompanied by a heron who decided to peel of and perch in a big White Pine. The egret landed just upstream.

I had no camera with me but I gathered the dog, jogged up to the house, grabbed my Canon and returned — and took a few photos. I suspect both birds are on their way south today but that last look was very special.

Hoodies in the Snow

Midst a major snowstorm, hopefully the last of the season, we’ve had a lot of activity in the backyard including the resident Carolina Wren, dozens of goldfinches, and even a mink and a beaver. Today, a pair of Hooded Mergansers showed up on the open river, so I donned boots and went out to see them. Unfazed by the snow, they foraged away, and cruised like it was July.

Perhaps we’ll see them with chicks in a few months. They’re a nice sight on a snowy afternoon.

Note: I am having trouble having photos show on the email posts. If you click on the url, they show. Working on it ……

Florida Yard Birds – Part 2

One of the birds we enjoyed watching was this Spotted Sandpiper, who liked to admire his image in the antenna cover next door.

Another we watched for some time was this Tri-colored Heron – hunting a short distance from our deck.

Just a block away, a flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks came through one morning.

And out back in the yard, these folks were chowing down. I’m not sure what they are but loved their design and will try to look them up.

Florida Yard Birds – Part 1

The place where we stay in Florida has wonderful birding right out back – a tidal estuary which at times, can tax the ability of a northern birder who hasn’t seen a shorebird in six months. We decide just to enjoy them and not worry about getting everything sorted out – in fact that’s our general approach to birding.

It’s Florida and cool but no snow in sight — perhaps a Snowy Egret.
On the far bank at low tide, hundreds of egrets, herons, ibises, and an occasional Brown Pelican congregate.
On this morning, a few Roseate Spoonbills, one of our favorite birds, joined the party.
But then, you look out again and there’s a gaggle of dowitchers, dunlins, willets …
Some birds, like this Willet, get in closer and next post I’ll share some up close and personal yard birds.

Backyard Surprise

Mid-day, Sally noted an unusual bird out back hassling with the Common Grackles, called me, and we decided that we had our first Brown Thrasher on our list of yard birds. After a brief visit, it came back later when I had the camera available.

It was wary but came back several times during the afternoon.
Pretty bird on the just-cut straw.
It even tried the suet, having seen the grackles and woodpeckers eating it.

It was a treat, and now we are waiting for our first hummer of the year — any day now.

Cedar Waxwings

This Spring we have many birds nesting right here in our backyard. House Wrens are on their second batch while we know there are other nesters like Song Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats, woodpeckers, and Grey Catbirds. Yesterday, we added Cedar Waxing to the list.

I’ve yet to find nests but hear a lot of feeding activity — the thick brambles and foliage are perfect for them. I’d just as soon just leave them alone and wait for the youngsters.

Neighborhood Geese

For several weeks, we have enjoyed seeing a pair of Canada Geese rear a young family on the river right out back. We seen them teaching the goslings to bathe themselves and get started on learning to fly. Some days they are right out back, other times they are up to a half-mile upriver. The youngster count has stayed at six for several weeks. Here they are on an outing yesterday:

They’re Back

In spite of several feet of snow on the ground and chilly temperatures, we have had a lot of new avian arrivals in the last few days.

While crows have been around all winter, the recent surge in numbers is a nice sign of Spring.

The ice in the North Branch of the Winooski out back just is disappearing and we saw Hooded Mergansers for the first time yesterday.

The first two Canada Geese splashed in this morning.

This Ring-necked Duck is .the first we’ve ever seen on the North Branch
A Mallard cruses downstream as a female hoodie goes by.

This afternoon, while watching the river, I watched an Eastern Phoebe alight on the deck railing, pump its tail and probably wonder where Spring is — I certainly am..

Bittern Out Back

Earlier in the week, Sally came upon an American Bittern right at the end of our path to the river. All I had was my iPhone and the photos, in poor light, were not good. Yesterday, we saw it again, without phone or camera. Today, at the end of a long bird walk, I snuck down the path and Voila!

Our friend will be on his way southward soon but what a great backyard treat.

Sunday Birding

I awoke to the song of a Carolina Wren, sort of unusual here — and going out to look for it, saw this trio in the back yard.

I suspect that the second fawn is hiding. Note the Joe Pye Weed in the background.

I did some reading on the back deck, watching the birds coming toward the feeder. We are getting a lot of youngsters and quite a mix. Here are a few:

Goldfinches have been numerous all spring/summer and some, like this guy, are simply stunning after molt.

Common Grackles show up in bunches — this appears to be a young one — no yellow eye and a little drab.

What’s not to like about a Northern Cardinal?

Finch – House or Purple? Their singing can be ethereal in the early morning.

This young Blue Jay is one of many who have boundless appetites and are constantly begging, doing their “wing” shake to get their parents to feed them.

We have a new “squirrel-proof” feeder which the greys have sort of given up on but the reds are still trying.

The other challenge is the Rock Doves aka pigeon who show up each day in droves. They generally go for the dropped seed but also try to get on the feeder, in a flail of flapping wings and clumsiness. I must say, they are pretty handsome birds — one or two at a time.

I looked up from my book to see this guy moving down through the reeds. We had a Great Blue here the last few years and he returned this Spring. After a surprise late snowfall, he vanished. This bird showed up months later and whether it’s our regular, or a newcomer, it it warms our heart to have that wonderful fisherman/woman in our back yard.

Slow birding is a nice way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon.