Vermont Birder

Black-billed Cuckoo — check!

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Richard

As you know if you follow my Vermont Airstreamers blog, I’m in the midst of a major renovation project and thus, am spending little time for birding. This morning, I was tempted to spend an hour or two early at North Branch Nature Center, seeing if I could run into the Black-billed Cuckoo they have been hearing nearly daily. I have been down there on several occasions recently with no luck — and today I decided to press on and get some errands done downtown. I came home with my supplies for the Airstream project and after coffee, headed out to strip some clear coat off two stubborn panels.

I had tested a couple of stripping compounds and had just started to check them when I heard a cuckoo sound just across the driveway and up in the woods. I ran to the garage to get my binoculars and Mary, whose window was open, said, “Was that a cuckoo?” I said it was and went up to look for a few minutes but it had ceased calling. I returned to my project since I needed to rinse off the stripper before it dried on. About then, the Black-billed Cuckoo called again from a different spot.

A Black-billed Cuckoo on Wood Road in North Middlesex, VT.

So, I had my cuckoo — a life bird and a County bird — but I was not satisfied because up to this point, have always seen the bird I log as a life bird. I know that hearing it is a positive ID and I worked for about another fifteen minutes, hearing the bird periodically. Finally, I decided to drop things, get the dog, and go for a little walk looking for it. And so we did, down the driveway and across the road where I last heard it. After ten minutes, I caught movement of a cuckoo-sized bird but had trouble finding it in the foliage. I finally got part of it in the binoculars just as it started a very soft co0-coo-coo. I fiddled with the camera, struggled to get it in the frame, and snapped off a couple of shots for a record. I grabbed the binoculars as a second cuckoo joined the first but they moved off before I could get the camera up again. They moved off, calling now and then, and the dog and I returned up to the trailer to get back to work.

Black-billed Cuckoos have been a nemesis bird for me now for several years – I can’t tell you how many trips I’ve made to look for them. And two just show up in our dooryard! Such is birding. I’m glad I got a good look and the photo – it feels more like a real life bird — number 357 and the second one this month.

Posted in County Big Year, life bird, Life list, Local Birding, Vermont Birding, Yard birds | 3 Comments

Mid-July Birds

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Richard

After a nice cold front passage, the dawn chorus this morning, starting before five, was lovely. Several very persostent and loud American Robins sang non-stop, nearly drowning out the other singers. Song Sparrows tuned up as did Common Yellowthroats and Purple Finches. A ways off, a White-throated Sparrow sang the “peabody, peabody” tune. Then, about 5:30, it got very still except for the quiet cooing of a Mourning Dove. What a lovely way to start a summer Sunday in Vermont.

I put out the bird feeder and suet about six and a Hairy Woodpecker shows up right away with a “it’s about time” attitude. Four finches hit the feeder as does a chickadee. I hear our first Chestnut-sided Warbler and Blue Jay.

On our early morning walk, the dog and I took our time, she checking new smells, I listening for bird calls and enjoying the cool morning air. A sweatshirt felt good — a little unreal after the 90+ temperatures of last week. I heard a Brown Creeper and then an Ovenbird. The bird activity picked up again as the sun rose.

I heard a Black and White Warbler and then a Yellow-rumped Warbler began singing right overhead. I chased it around with the binoculars and then the camera but it moved pretty erratically. I grabbed a couple of lousy shots including this one:

Down in the meadow, things were hopping in the dew-soaked goldenrod. Several Common Yellowthroats and about a half dozen Song Sparrows cavorted. The foliage and weak morning light made photos tough. Here are a couple:

Yellowthroats love to hide in the underbrush — and are a challenge to photograph.

There were several juvenile Song Sparrows like this chasing each other around.

I happened to look up just as a hawk, likely a Broad-winged, flew over with a rodent in its talons. It was being harassed by a group of smaller birds. It returned, empty-handed, a bit later and I suspected it might have youngsters to feed. Several Red-eyed Vireos started up in the tall sugar maples, singing their seemingly never-ending song. I could spot them but they were way up there and moving a lot.

As I headed back, I thought about how precious these days are, filled as they are with bird song and many youngsters learning the ropes. They’ll be heading out soon — I haven’t seen our Rose-breased Grosbeak pair in about a week and suspect they are easing southward. I was encouraged, as I poured another coffee, to see one of our juvenile hummers tanking up. They have a long trip ahead of them.

Drink up buddy, you’ve got a long trip ahead of you.

Posted in Backyard birds, Bird Behavior, bird calls, bird song, Vermont Birding, Washington County, Yard birds | Tagged dawn chorus, local birding | Comments Off

Slow Going

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Richard

Between the weather, which has continued hot and humid with afternoon showers, and the persistent flecks and patches of clearcoat (which have to be removed with dabs of Strypeeze), the polishing is quite a project. As you can see, the top areas I have completed look pretty good. They will next get a pass with a finer polish which should remove most of the swirls and cloudy areas. Of course, I realized the other day that the two replaced panels in back did not have clearcoat, and seem to be a slightly different aluminum. They will polish up but not as shiny but who really cares?

You can see the contrast between the polished and unpolished areas here on the panel just above the buffer.

One thing this project has stimulated is my planning for this winter’s trip. I’m reviewing the dozens of campground where we have stayed and lidting the good ones, with sites we like, and also have a “never again list by states.

We’ve had a cold front come through so polishing should be a bit more bearable. It’s fun to chalk off one more section, but there’s always more ahead. Fortunately, we are in no big hurry.

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, polishing, renovation | Comments Off

Let The Polishing Fun Begin

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Richard

After over 30 hours of prep (But who’s counting? I am.) I’m starting in on the polishing. I’m starting with F7 Nuvite, a rather coarse polish from Vintage Trailer Supply here in Montpelier. I’ll run a finer polish later if and when I finish this set of sessions, which will likely be 20-25 hours. The weather, hot and muggy, is not conducive to long periods of work. So I sit down inside with iced coffee and write about it.

Here’s how the front looked at the start – lots of oxidation from the peeled clearcoat.

Polishing involves smearing very small strips of polish on an area and using a slow-speed polisher to allow the particles in the F7 to strip off a minute layer of aluminum. You let the electric polisher do the work but it still takes a lot of energy to control it.

Building arm strength controlling polisher. It looks cooler out than it was – 80 degrees with high humidity.

It is a messy process – lots of small black bits of polish and I always wear a mask – even though it is tough in the heat. I decided to keep the initial session on the top front panel and will perhaps tackle another section this evening. If you are inclined to polish an Airstrteam or an airplane, Steve from VTS has a nice primer you can download here.

The polished area looks very bright, with swirl marks from the coarse polish. So far, so good.

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in polishing, renovation | Comments Off

O’ Canada

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Richard

I’ve taken a break from birding for the last three weeks, aside from walks with the dog in our woods, as I work on some Airstream projects. Today, my friends at Grow Compost, a wonderful local business, had a day-long event which included a brief afternoon bird walk. A friend of mine was leading it and the owners hoped I might drop by, and so I did with very low expectations. After all, it is mid-afternoon in July.

A few of us gathered including the leader, Patti, and another Mad Birder friend, Pat Folsom. The six of us, after a repast of lemonade and cookies, trudged out by the fermenting piles of compost, aiming toward a Turkey Vulture perch at the end of the property. We saw and heard the usual suspects — Song Sparrows, Ovenbird, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and once at the edge of the woods, found a few flycatchers that we finally decided were Eastern Phoebes.

It was fun being out and with some good birders and we ticked off about a dozen species, and then watched a warbler working away, actively feeding. It was pretty plain and of course, silent, so we sort of chalked it up to “unknown female/juvenile warbler.” Pat said, “Sometimes you just have to let them go.” Up ahead, we heard some chipping in a thicket, and stealthily approached, thinking that it might be a Common Yellowthroat. It was pretty aggressive calling and Pat got a glimpse of yellow but that was it. And it stopped.

We waited a while and since the time was over for the walk, had just decided to head back when a bird popped out on a hemlock branch. I spotted it and said, “I see it, it’s yellow, get over on it, Canada Warbler, got it …” I was sure it would disappear but the group got on it right away and sure enough, a male Canada Warbler was scolding us. He hopped around, giving us great looks, and I grabbed this shot of him. (Warblers are tough, they are always moving.)

This guy is life bird 346 for me — a long time coming.

It was a year-bird for all of us and I was pretty sure that it was a life bird for me. (It was) We realized that it likely had a nest nearby, and that we had likely seen the female earlier. We quietly withdrew, with him still chipping away at us, and finished the outing on a real up note. It got us thinking that we should bird this area more extensively since there are miles of trails up high that have great potential.

The takeaway item for me was: you just never know with birding — sometimes it just pays to show up.

Sign up by RSS feed or via email to have future articles sent to you.

Posted in life bird, Life list, Local Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

Hummingbirds

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Richard

Hummingbirds are a thrill to watch! Their brain is about the size of a BB. The nest is constructed of plant down, spider webs, lichen & tree sap. Hummers eat about every 10 minutes. Their long tongues aid in nectaring. Hummingbirds’hearts are larger proportionally to their body than any other bird or mammal. There are over 325 species of hummingbirds, making them the second largest family of birds in the world, second only to flycatchers.

Here’s a primer on hummingbird vocabulary. You’ll appreciate these gems more & share their beauty knowing these terms…

Bill – The bony, keratin-covered projection of a bird’s mouth – A hummingbird’s long, thin bill is specially designed for sipping nectar & is one of the most distinctive features of these birds. The length, thickness, color & curve of the bill varies by species.

Dimorphic – The distinct physical differences between genders – Most hummingbird males are brightly colored & iridescent while females are plain, affording them to stay camouflaged while nesting. Young male hummingbirds often resemble females but will attain more color as they mature.

Gorget – The brightly colored throat patch – Many male hummingbirds have distinctly colored gorgets that serve as key field marks for proper
identification based on the gorget’s color & shape. The gorget is often flared to show off its brilliance while breeding or defending territory.

Hyperphagia – A hormonally-induced state of extreme appetite & overeating prior to migration – Hummingbirds may increase their mass by 50 percent or more before migrating so they have enough energy for the journey. Bird feeders are especially important to help hummingbirds gain this weight.

Insectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of insects – While hummingbirds are known for drinking nectar, they also eat a great number of insects as a source of protein, often picking them from spider webs or out of the air. Insects are especially important for young birds so they will develop properly.

Iridescent – Shimmering feathers with metallic-like colors that may change color when seen from different angles – Many hummingbirds have iridescent throats & upperparts, & the exact colors, when seen in good light, are a key to proper hummingbird identification.

Nectar – The sugary water produced by many flowers that is a main food source for hummingbirds – The exact sugar concentration of nectar from different flower types can vary. Use the simple recipe of sugar & water to fill hummingbird feeders ~ no red dye please!

Nectivorous – A diet that consists primarily of nectar – All hummingbirds are nectivorous & may feed dozens of times a day, visiting different flowers & feeders. Hummingbird feeding is important for the pollination of many flowers, & hummingbirds will frequently visit nectar feeders as well.

Guest post by:

Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
newburyportbirders@comcast.net
www.newburyportbirders.com

Posted in Bird Behavior, Birds, guest_post, Vermont Birding | 1 Comment

Bonus Birding Wednesday

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Richard

Yesterday morning, in spite of the damp misty tropic-like air, I decided to do a little birding at the North Branch Nature Center with the Vizsla. I was hoping to hear/see the Black-billed Cuckoo that they heard the day before — but yet another try and failure for this nemesis bird for me. However, I did get a wonderful birding bonus, one of those non-avian observations that make one glad he’s outside with binos and a camera.

I doused myself with Deep Woods Off before heading out but the mosquitoes were unrelenting — there were dozens swirling around my head and laughing at the repellant. I’m not sure that might also have be lapping at it as well. But the birds were active and Blackburnian Warblers and American Redstarts flashed through the foliage, singing away. The fields are like jungle but the center keeps a series of paths mowed so, aside from the swampy areas, it’s easy going. I had about 20 species logged when I came through a little opening and saw two ears elevated. I could hardly see the deer (in spite of being 6-3) but I held the camera over my head and using the screen, shot this picture.

You can’t see me — I’m hidden in the ferns!

I moved slowly so as to not disturb the doe who had not smelled us. The dog, being way below the foliage on the path, on a leash, had no clue she was there. The path circled her and she watched me the whole time as I moved away, but was never disturbed. It was a beautiful moment — she just looked so peaceful there in her big patch of tall ferns.

We went on the get ten or so more species including a Green Heron flying overhead. It felt like birding in Alabama and I was drenched when we got back to the car, just in time to see the day campers getting ready to head out and search the beaver pond for vertebrates. They likely came back a lot muddier and wetter than I — and the cuckoo better wait around for me — I’ll be back.

Posted in Birding Bonus, Birding With Penny, Local Birding, Vermont Birding | 1 Comment

Lots of Youngsters Out There

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Richard

In spite of the long spell of hot, humid weather, it’s been fun to see and hear all the fledglings and juveniles — this seems to be the best year we’ve had for nesting in our woods. After a spring of two or three Purple Finches, suddenly we have eight to a dozen hitting the feeders, trying to figure out how to handle sunflower seeds.

At times, purple finches swarm the feeders.

This afternoon, the dog and I had an explosion of about a dozen juvenile Ruffed Grouse blast out of the tall grass just up behind the house as we started a walk. Of course, she’s a bird dog and supposed to point but she just takes off after them. One perched on low pine branch, saw the red flash coming, and thought better of it. They were big enough to fly well and the dog gave up right away. (Earlier in the season, I worry about the chicks and their peeping, but usually the mom, with her wounded bird act, draws off the Vizsla.)

Some of the goldfinches in their new plumage are just striking – and they seem to know it.

I know it’s not recommended in many circles, but we keep up feeders all summer, taking them in each night. The birds don’t necessarily need the food but it’s wonderful to see the new crops of birds coming in each day. We’ve had young Rose-breasted Grosbeaks for the first time ever, and more Red-breasted Nuthatches than I can ever recall. Of course, the new crop of Blue Jays are eating us out of house and home as they hit the suet hard when the woodpeckers are not on it. At one point, I figured it was costing us a dollar a day to feed those beautiful blue birds — until we started shooing them off or pulling the suet feeder in part of the day.

Several young nuthatches are getting comfortable at the feeder.

Even the Mourning Doves are in the act. Instead of two or four, we now often have six or eight — several of them definitely juveniles. Hairy Woodpeckers feed suet to noisy youngsters who look old enough to fend for themselves.

It’s fun to hear all the bird calls in the early morning walks. We seem to have doubled the number of Ovenbirds and the new ones seem less wary and more inquisitive as we walk by. White-throated Sparrows practice their call — it reminds me of when they first get back on territory and get part of their call out, try again, and finally get it right. I hear warblers every morning — Nashville, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Black and White, and Pine — and others that are drowned out by the constant Ovenbird calling.

The new crop of hummers are tanking up every day.

These summer days have some poignancy as well since I know that the new plumage and the building up of energy stores is part of the preparation for migration. Summer is usually a quiet time for birders but why not stop and seize the moment and enjoy the birds in our “patch.”

Posted in Local Birding, migration, Yard birds | 1 Comment

Stripping Between Showers

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Richard

We are, like most of the East, in a humid spell where days finish with showers and thunderstorms — and the air is heavy and Maryland-like. It’s not great painting weather but OK for stripping clearcoat — as long as I get five or six hours between application and rain.

I am using a new safer stripper that I bought from Vintage Trailer Supply. Here’s part of whart they say about it:

For many years, vintage Airstream owners have relied on RemovAll 220 peroxid-activated paint stripper to remove the plasticoat from their trailers before polishing. RemovAll is no longer available in North America. Fortunately, PPG Aerospace makes a paint stripper based on the same principles as RemovAll. It is called Eldorado PR-5044.

PR-5044 is a peroxide-activated paint and primer remover. It works well because it is designed for removal of polyurethane and epoxy paint systems in the aerospace industry. PR-5044 is environmentally preferred and worker-friendly. It does contain petroleum distillates, so it does produce fumes. You will need to read all safety information before using. However, it is not a hazardous material and is much easier to use and safer than traditional aircraft strippers.

So, it looks like vanilla pudding and paints on rather easily. Here is the first panel I tried it on:

That worked out pretty well so the next day, I applied it on the upper section.

After a thundershower rinsed it, I spent some time with water and rags removing the coating which tended to come off like Saran wrap. At times, whole sections several square feet in size just peeled off — other areas were more stubborn. Some will require more stripper.

The removed coating looks like cellophane and will be easy to clean up later on.

So, the upper right side is 95% done and after a break for the 4th, I’ll start on the lower. It’s slow going but I just realized, after talking with my brother, that the two new panels we had replaced are coating free. I figure I have about 14 hours in and another 20 to go – before beginning to polish.

The upper right side is about done – now to start on the decals and lower section.

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, renovation | Comments Off

Meeting Mr. Filiform

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Richard

I have decided to tackle the peeling clearcoat on the Airstream on a casual basis – a panel or two at a time. So today I continued to use up the Stypeeze on some lower panels. I found that the top half came off fast – I could hear the covering crinkling up as I applied stripper below. The lower half was much tougher- I wonder if they put two layers down nearer the road.

The clearcoat comes off pretty well after 15-20 minutes using water and a rag (and protective gloves.)

As I have cleared off areas, I am noting areas of so-called filiform. Filiform corrosion on Airstream happens at the cut edges, rivet holes, scratches, and fittings from moisture and ocean or winter road salt begins at the unprotected aluminum at those areas and spreads under the clear coat finish, where it flourishes because it cannot dry out easily. Various owners handle it differently – some ignore it, some try to recover it with clear lacquer, others wax the heck out of it.

Here is some filiform along a seam.

filiform forms around rivets as well.

In doing some online research, I found that a combination of wet sandpaper and then polishing is the way to go. I only had 400 grit sandpaper (I need 800, 1000 as well) so I tried a couple of test spots. Here’s how it looks — not sure it is better but it is nearly gone.

I purchased a gallon of stripper from Steve at Vintage Trailer Supply and will start using that next week. It promises to be easier on the user.

I read somewhere that it takes 200 hours to polish an Airstream the first time. I may do half this year and the rest next. So it might look a little strange – hey, get over it!

Posted with Blogsy

Posted in clearcoat, dents scratches, polishing, restoration | Comments Off

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: