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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yesterday I came upon a dozen or more Wild Turkeys and just like last year’s post in mid-April — the guys were displaying — the hens were in a “get lost, Buster” mood.
The snow is melting, back roads are muddy, and every week new birds show up. Downy Woodpeckers, here in our backyard all year, are some of our favorites – and we get to see their fledglings in a few months.
American Crows are very active, hassling hawks like this Red-tailed, and often gathering in groups, known as “murders.”
Likewise, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, recent arrivals, forage together.
Turkey Vultures arrived about two weeks ago. Note the wing dihedral and wingtip feathers.
Another year-round bird which is fun to watch and hear is the Tufted Titmouse. This one was in a tree out back.
And sometimes, nothing is out and about — but this guy popped up in the only hole in the pond. It looks like he saw his shadow.
