We took a three mile walk around town this morning — here are a few shots from our jaunt.
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.
A Few Monday Birds
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.
A Few August Backyard Birds
We are fortunate to have a nice birdwatching venue behind our house, located less than a mile from the center of the city. Here are a few visitors in the last week or two:
Our path to the river is still pretty muddy since the flood but this Gray Catbird is enjoying the lawn chair which survived the disaster.
The dead trees across the river are favorite perches for crows, kingbirds, and the occasional hawk or eagle. This Osprey, while not unusual to the area, is one of the first I’ve seen out back.
Checking eBird just now, I find that I’ve submitted 950 checklists and observed 136 species at this backyard patch. Nice spot for a birder to live.
Two cameras – one Monarch
Today, walking with Ginger, I was using my iPhone to capture some images for a Spanish lesson. This garden of coneflowers (Echinacea) just down the street, caught my eye.
You might notice the butterfly – I did as it moved from plant to plant. I got my regular camera ready and as it settled, got a nice shot of it.
In spite of floods, warming, smoke from Canada, and all, moments like this give me hope. Getting outside is a good way to stay healthy, physically and mentally.
Morning walk along river
After yesterday’s encounter with the Great Egret, I vowed to carry my camera every jaunt. Here are a few shots from this morning, when mosquitos seem to outnumber birds.
One of today’s objectives was to relearn how to blog and handle photos on my iPad in preparation for traveling without the laptop. The last time was from Spain in 2021. We’re planning to head back in six weeks.
A Summer Surprise
For various reasons: vacation and a major flood being the primary ones, I haven’t posted for a month. This morning, I was standing in our neighbors’ backyard as the dogs played and suddenly noticed this big white bird at the river. Of course, my camera and binoculars were elsewhere but I retrieved them and photographed this cooperative Great Egret.
No sooner had I taken a few shots when in swoops the local Great Blue Heron and both birds flew. Here’s a pre-flood shot I took – it was nice to see him back.
Later, I saw both birds together downstream and chasing one another. Some birder friends and I watched the egret fishing contentedly a little later in the morning.
It was a nice Friday morning surprise and we hope our white friend will stick around for a bit.
Views From The Bridge
Just up the street from our house, there’s a little bridge that I cross nearly every day on walks with Ginger. Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of wildlife on the river from it – here are a few from the last few days.
This morning, I spotted these mergansers just as they saw me, and after a warning command, they turned and cruised easily back upstream.
Several days ago, I encountered this Snapping Turtle laying eggs beside the bridge.
The next morning I saw this family cruising downstream to the bridge, watching me warily.
Returning about ten minutes later, I saw momma turtle just down from where the geese had entered.
It’s all part of nature but I am hoping the goslings made it ok.
Some Vermont Spring Birds
As the hills green up, often you can hear a bird but not spot it — at least open enough for a photo. Here are a few successful encounters I’ve had in the last few weeks.
Typically, warblers are bouncing around and in foliage, like this Yellow Warbler.
One of the noisier and ubiquitous birds we hear is the Ovenbird with its distinctive “Tea-cher, Tea-cher, TEA-cher. They are small and hard to see. This one had a companion flitting nearby and had its mind on something other than the guy and dog standing on the path nearby.
Have a bird-filled, bug free June.
North Carolina Recap
We’ve been home for a few weeks and just getting to the rest of the NC photos. It was a great trip — and this is our second visit to a nice cottage in Manteo that we really like.
The birding in the yard is wonderful — here’s a Carolina Wren singing to me early one morning.
There’s a nice mix of woodlands and ocean — here are some shots from our outings.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse attracts hundreds of visitors each day, but we passed on climbing the stairway to the top — though I’m a pilot, I fear heights. I hope your spring birding goes well.
A Wednesday Beach Walk
We are on an outing to North Carolina for some warmer weather and beach walking. It’s been quite windy but things have improved, as has the birding. We stay in Manteo and usually visit the national seashore daily.
Here’s a young Herring Gull and then an older model.
And a Whimbrel watched from a distance.
