During a letup in yesterday’s snowstorm, I took Ginger down our path for a little outing and looking across the river, saw this Bald Eagle focused on preening its wings and body. Of course, my camera was in the house so I slowly retreated, dog in tow, and returned to take some photos.
I’m pretty sick of snow but never tire of seeing birds like this.
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 have had a pretty rugged winter, with lots of subzero temperatures and several significant snowstorms. Most ponds and our river out back froze quite solid. Only in the last few days, have we had temperatures in the forties to allow some thawing.
Today, on a walk with Ginger, I found a group of about 40 Mallards hanging out in one of few areas of open water, in downtown Montpelier.
The weather up ahead is forecast in the teens and below – hunker down folks.
Saturday morning, I fiddled with the camera to try to handle snow scenes better and then went out with the dog to try it out. While getting ready, I got this Red-breasted Nuthatch through the back door windowpane.
On a backroad drive, where a cold wind made walking a challenge, there was a flock of Wild Turkeys off in the distance. Pushing the limits of the little Canon, I got this shot.
The sun came out for a while when we returned and we had a flurry of backyard activity to give me some practice.
It’s nice to focus on birds instead of news.
On these cold wet Vermont days, it’s nice to have a coterie of birds coming to our backyard. Northern Cardinals, even wet ones, add a splash of color and the Chickadees and Goldfinches add their energy to otherwise drab days. I went back and looked at some shots I took in the last month — and was delighted to remember this red and white combo.
And living on the river, we still are getting Mallards, a Belted Kingfisher, and several mergansers. Here is one from last week.
One of my goals this winter is to get some decent photos of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers. What are yours?
Some birds, like these Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Great-blue Heron, stand still and suddenly strike their prey.
Great Egrets and Snowy Egret.
Great Blue Heron
The Reddish Egret is known for its “dancing” to scare up fish. This guy was resting when we saw him.
This Tri-color Heron was stirring up fish with its feet and using the wing shadows to spot fish.
Sally spotted a Green Heron while we were birding at South Padre Island Birding Center and we watched him get lunch.
When he leaned way over, he nearly toppled and I missed the shot because I laughed, but he recovered with a tasty treat that he promptly swallowed.
One of our favorite birds has become the Phainopepla. We just love how this guy struts his stuff, posing like a male model, feeding like a flycatcher, whistling and calling like a Northern Cardinal.
The other day at Organ Pipe National Monument, I saw a female Phaina fly out of a bush near the trail with her partner nearby. Peering in to where she departed, I spotted this nest.
Waiting quietly with the dog, I watched her watch me and after a bit, ease toward the nest. She settled in and I took a few shots and left her alone, showing her to Sally a little later. We loved the punk hairdo.
As Vermonters, we tend to forget that February is nesting season along the border, but the next day, a similar thing happened. I saw a Cactus Wren emerge from a Cholla Cactus and watched her scout around for grass and twigs. I went over and found a nest, which was under construction.
Retreating, I watched her return with nest lining matter and then pause before her next venture.
Now really interested about nests, we started to find several others. I peeked into one, jumped back with a shout of surprised, and then carefully looked at a nesting Curve-billed Thrasher. Can you see her?
She’s at the bottom of the dark area, her beak is headed toward the ten o’clock position and her red eye is barely visible behind a tiny branch.
Looking for nests is a good way to sharpen our birding skills and observe bird behavior unobtrusively. It is a nice new challenge.
While I record each species we see and use eBird to track birds as we travel, my birding partner is more interested in "slow birding" – taking time to "smell the flowers" – to mix metaphors. It’s got me seeing more and enjoying birding even more.
We came upon these gulls just after a lesson from a local bird walk leader. So we paused and sorted them out into Laughing Gulls, Ringed-billed Gulls, and Herring Gulls. Right now,those are the three species here so it is fun to sharpen ID skills by just going over groups – and when they line up on a pier it’s even more interesting.
Just up the road we saw these Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Can you see what they were looking at?
Yes, it was an Anhinga, a relatively rare bird here. We watched it as it fished with snake-like movements and then strolled back up to the larger group of ducks, spreading its wings to dry out, and hanging out with the kids with bubble-gum legs.
In the next field we saw an odd couple – a young Crested Caracara and an adult Turkey Vultures. I know that they are both carrion eaters and sometime soar (kettle) together, this seemed almost like a foster mom situation.
A second juvenile joined the group as we watched entranced by what appeared to be flying lessons.
There were three juveniles, one of whom could barely fly, several Turkey Vultures, and everyone seemed at ease with the scene. No adult Caracara seemed present. We loved what we had seen but were a bit bewildered about what was going on. Anyone have any suggestions? Leave a comment if you do.
Yes, even though it’s a cool spring, the real estate market is hot!! Location, location, location… This neighborhood has mature trees, a small pond, is close the commuter rail and is frequented by birds and birders often during spring migration.
At Oak Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, I left my car at the compost area to just wander about. I was alone; the dog walkers hadn’t arrived yet. I heard Wood Ducks; then a pair of Wood Ducks flew over the Larch trees and continued southeast over near the water tower. They landed briefly, then flew tree to tree. Again, they landed.
The hen peered into a cavity ~ a home that Northern Flickers held the deed to just a breeding season ago. The drake Wood Duck perched above horizontally; he was attentively watching the hen. She flew to another tree; he followed. He again landed above on a branch of girth; he watched and waited as the hen fulfilled her role. She’s the inspector of the grand opening; that entry is her concern for herself and the sharp-clawed young.
Frank Bellrose’s Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America states that when Wood Ducks are seeking nest sites, “They leave their water area shortly after daybreak, fly to wooded areas adjacent to or, rarely, more than a mile away.” I stayed with them as they did their fly-bys in search of a suitable home. I likened it to the drive-bys we’ve done prior to that “Open House” scheduled for a spring, Sunday afternoon.
The pair flew down to the water in that secluded cove and landed. I watched with binoculars and then with my scope. They started to toss their heads back, pointing their bills skyward. Then they were showing off their throats and chins, those white patches that we use as key field marks from afar.
The Stokes’ A Guide to Bird Behavior -Vol.III calls this the “Bill-Jerk“, a visual display. The drake took a drink; the hen swam, and the drake followed her. The drake approached her, then held on to her with his bill while his genetic material was passed on. Afterwards the drake swam in front of her, and she freshened herself with a wiggle and a splash.
Wood Ducks photo by David Mitchell.
She left the water and flew up past those Larches. I heard her drawn out “wee-e-eek” as she perched. The drake joined her, putting down above her in an oak.
They continued with a few more home inspections and then worked their way back to the water.
I’m not one who’s known for watching television; I enjoy watching people and bird behavior. This early morning show was a thrill for me, and there was no remote…
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
Website: www.newburyportbirders.com
Blog: http://nbptbirders.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @ nbpt_birders