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
Tag Archives: Great Blue Heron
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.
See You Next Spring
In spite of wintry weather in December, our visiting Great Blue Heron hung in there until mid-month. Here are the last photos I got before it departed just before Christmas.
Pre-storm Birds
We’ve had a Nor’easter forecast for a week and it’s hitting today. Yesterday Ginger and I took several outings and found a number of interesting birds along the river.
In an early walk, I surprised a few Mallards, only to notice that one was a diving duck. It was a first sighting for this spot, a Ring-necked Duck who was actively feeding for about an hour.
The Mallards were busy in the icy water as well. The second photo is some of them just ten days ago.
We’ve been seeing a Great Blue Heron nearly every day in December but yesterday, he was situated on our path blocked by brush. So you’ll have to believe me but you can see part of his beak and coloration, and his back.
This pair of Hooded Mergansers has delighted us — they don’t breed for a few months but they look ready to rock and roll. Enjoy
A Morning Surprise
Ginger and I usually take a short walk every morning – same route, same routine. Yesterday, we came across these two Great Blue Herons, birds we haven’t seen for a month or so on the river. After a short photo session, we left them undisturbed to continue their morning feeding.
