Tag Archives: local birding

More Local Birds

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These days on outings, I’m carrying just my camera, not my binos. It’s easier and I can use the telephoto on the Canon for bird spotting.

Here’s a Chipping Sparrow at the ball field.

The other day, I heard a constant cheeping sound and came upon this fledgling on our back deck.

After ten minutes or so, I approached to see if it was tangled and off it flew to the nearby bushes. I trust it will grow up to be a catbird, sparrow, or whatever.

The other morning, a flock of young Cedar Waxwings were foraging.

And then, on our path to the river, a couple of Common Yellowthroats were chipping away at us.

Have a good September of walks and birds.

Testing the iPad

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We are traveling to Europe soon and since I won’t be bringing my laptop, I have been practicing with my phone and tablet. Hummingbirds are also heading out soon and have been hitting the feeder and flowers pretty hard. Here are some photos I took this morning where I used the camera and iPad.

I saw my first hummer here on May 12th this year so it’ll be eight months to wait. Viajes seguros mis amigos.

A Couple of Walks

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Our local walks are getting a lot less “birdy” with migration well underway. Hummers are still here and on every outing we see and hear Gray Catbirds like this one.

Later, on the same walk, Ginger encountered a young Groundhog, and after a short showdown, it ran and hid. Since then, she sniffs the encounter spot but that’s it.

I don’t chase birds these days. However, we have had one or two juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons reported downtown on the river. Ginger and I took a long walk Wednesday and sure enough, this “continuing” bird was fishing patiently.

Just downstream, below a gas station, a Great Blue waited.

And then, as I was heading out, seven small diving ducks flew in. They were juvenile Hooded Mergansers. They settled for a rest stop and likely headed out shortly later.

We had a three mile outing around the city on a beautiful August day. High above capitol, a kettle of 36 Turkey Vultures circled, on their way south. This is a good place to live, and to bird.

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.

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.

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.

F/8 and be there birds

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“f/8 and be there” is an old expression. It means you should just shoot. Don’t be too concerned about getting everything right. That’s why I carry my digital camera nearly every time I’m out.

I’ve seen a lot of birds on my walks and drives with Ginger lately. With the heavy foliage, warblers are a challenge but here are a couple from the last few days. American Redstarts are everywhere, calling, foraging, and always moving.

The same goes for Common Yellowthroats .

This has been the summer for Gray Catbirds, their litany of calls and songs wake us early most mornings.

It’s easier to photograph birds that sit still for a while. This Savannah Sparrow at the airport the other day is a good example.

Or this American Robin bringing breakfast home.

Birds that swoop and soar are impossible for me to capture with my point-and-shoot camera. These Tree Swallows stopped for a break.

Ticks and mosquitoes are bothersome in the summer, and there often are too many leaves to get clear shots. For me, summer mornings are a wonderful time to get out for exercise and birding. I need to remember that four months ago, here’s what our backyard looked like. Seize the day!

Local Talent

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During weeks of gray days with drizzle and chilly, we walk most every day waiting for warmth and migrants. Here are some birds that hang out locally and brighten the dismal mornings. This Song Sparrow was singing non-stop and still at it an hour later.

Common Mergansers cruise on the icy river.

We see a few Mallards – this guy was a “puddle duck” on a nearby recreation field.

American Robins are showing up more often, often in traveling groups.

Snow is again the forecast tomorrow but the days are longer, more birds are on the way here. Ginger and I are ready to get out there and see them. Good April birding to you all.

Some Backyard Birds -2025

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In the last week or so, we’ve had some interesting visitors to our backyard patch. We get woodpeckers every day and here’s a Hairy.

More often these days, we are delighted to see and here Red-bellied Woodpeckers like this morning’s.

Two days ago we saw Wild Turkeys out back for the first time ever. They hung around for a half hour and then moseyed off.

Yesterday, there was this Red-tailed Hawk perched across the river at the end of our path, patiently waiting for breakfast.

Living on a busy street just a mile from downtown, we have a wonderful backyard from which to see nature. We’ve recorded 140 bird species here over the years.