Tag Archives: Vermont Birding

A Few More Birder Plates

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After a nice trip to Spain, probably our last, we are back in Vermont and well into “Stick Season. Most of the birds are gone. Unfortunately, my camera also is missing. I left it along with the Swarovski binoculars at our apartment. They should be back here soon. So, that’s why I haven’t posted in a while.

I have been taking photos of birder license plates for over a decade. Recently, I saw a couple of Vermont plates so here they are.

We are now entertained by many “we’re sticking around” birds at our feeders. We also see migrants like Redpolls and Pine Siskins. And there’s always the possible arrival of a Snowy Owl.

Have a good November.

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.

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. 

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.