Category Archives: Vermont Birding

Farewell To The Lake

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We had a great experience at the camp on Woodbury Lake. I saw nearly 100 bird species and we found many back roads and trails to explore. The foliage made photos tough to get, like this shot of a Hairy Woodpecker.

And we found all sorts of interesting items like this cache of vehicles and boats far from any road.

On one of our last mornings, I took my camera along in the kayak. I joined these Mallards having a breakfast outing.

And had a last encounter with the loon family.

Vermont is a great place to live and summers are special. It was a great July for us.

Mixed Flock

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We bird nearly every day and with a camera and a dog, there are mixed results. For example, yesterday a lovely four-point buck with antlers in velvet strolled across the road. Then, it watched me from just within the woods. Until Ginger saw it and she went wild, as did he. 

Here are some shots from recent outings, starting with an Indigo Bunting.


Early one evening, this Belted Kingfisher entertained us at a small nearby lake.



A Cedar Waxwing was also foraging and also not willing to perch close by.


A Cedar Waxwing was also foraging and also not willing to perch close by.



A Veery is a plain-looking bird with a lovely song.

And you never know what you”’ see driving the back roads of Vermont.

More Loon Shots

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Recently, our pair of loons apparently lost one of their chicks. We have been hearing a lot of mournful calls for hours at a time at night. Frankly, I have no idea of this is related to a loss or just normal summer Common Loon activity.  

Here is the solo chick about a week ago.


With a parent


Getting a snack right next to our raft.


A week later, it’s easy to  see how fast chicks grow. 

A Mini-Fallout

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After a strong cold front passage the other night, we awoke to find these two Herring Gulls on our raft. They’re a little unusual here and this pair seemed pretty tired. 


They rested all day despite the passing paddlers and party boats. Sometime that evening, they departed to their next destination. Glad we were able to provide a safe place to stop. 

Some Dog Pond Road Birds

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As I wrote in my last post, Dog Pond Road is one of our favorite spots. Here a some photos from the last few days.

One of many Song Sparrows
A silent Veery

This guy, a little brown job until it sang. Swamp Sparrows are persistent.

I had trouble finding Common Yellowthroats close by so this guy is at the end of the camera range.

We took a different route home. We came upon this 1903 barn extension. It is a place where you drive underneath the pathway that cows and hay wagons once took. It’s great to see it maintained in good shape.

Driving Dirt Roads With Ginger

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Driving along dirt roads on early summer mornings, I often come upon interesting sights. One of my favorites here is called Dog Pond Road, named after a local small pond (aka Valley Lake.)

Early one morning I came upon these two Great Blue Herons, hunting near one another.

The second bird, fishing nearby this one, appeared disheveled.

Thinking of the heat and humidity this week, I remembered our 2023 local heron. It waited until January to migrate. 

I trust that the Dog Pond Road fishers will be older and wiser. 

Loon Watching

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Common Loons have made great gains in Vermont in the last decade. As I watch the pair here at Woodbury Lake, I wonder how they survive and thrive with fireworks, concerts, boat traffic, and many loon watchers. To keep my contact minimal, I use a kayak carefully to avoid getting too close. My telephoto point & shoot also helps me to keep my distance.

The other day I took a short paddle to see the family. They seem to have left the nesting area and are cruising the lower pond.

I found the parents and chicks easily and floating along with them, took some family photos. Note that the male is carrying a small fish.

One Loon moved off to fish and the mom guided the kids, with both of them diving on their own.

It was a very calm look at some beautiful birds, and a bit of upper strength paddle work.

Our Local Eastern Kingbird

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Eastern Kingbirds are fun to see and hear. They love to perch. Their song and calls are unique and watching them grab insects out of the air is a delight. Yesterday morning here at camp, this one sat patiently waiting for the hatch to start on the lake.

These birds, who arrived in May, will leave for South America in September. So, we’ve got a couple of months to enjoy them.

Here is our morning view from the deck.

Happy Fourth

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We are staying at a lakeside camp not far from home for this month. The birding is good although most species are buried in the dense tall fir trees that surround us. In the early mornings, there’s no boat activity and lots of bird calls and songs. Good luck with bird shots.

We have a summer resident Common Loon, seemingly unfazed by the party boats. This morning, I watched it doing its bathing, not far from our deck.

The Canada Geese gaggle takes shelter from boaters later on but twenty-four paraded by one the placid pond about six-thirty.

It’s a great time of year in Vermont to get out and enjoy the natural beauty and critters. Diving on a back road yesterday, I came upon a mama bear and two raccoon-sized cubs, smallest I’d ever seen. Between grabbing the camera and controlling a crazy dog, she was long-gone pronto. But, it’s an image I’ll remember – a Happy Fourth of July surprise.

Early Morning Backyard Birds

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Nearly every morning this summer, I walk Ginger early. We often start by going down our path the the river and then on to nearby trails. It’s not unusual to see and hear many birds right in our backyard.

Two days ago, this Common Merganser was just cruising down the river.

Yesterday, about six-thirty, we came upon this little Wood Duck family. They gently eased away from us and I wondered if the youngsters were to young to fly.

In a summer of chaos, it’s calming to start the day with a taste of the natural life right around us. Get out and enjoy July.