Ginger and I took an early 3 mile walk along the river and ended up seeing/hearing nearly forty bird species. I was trying to get some exercise so we didn’t stop too often for photos.
There’s a lot of courting and chasing going on – and this couple needed to “get a room.”
My next objective is to tackle the warblers. It’s fun to hear and see them this time of year but they are always moving, often hidden by branches, and they test my patience. Stay tuned.
A lot of birds arrived during our trip to North Carolina. On the first morning back, I had a wonderful outing.
Many birds were singing including warblers (Yellow, Black & White, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, and Common Yellowthroat) and at the end of the walk, this American Robin was singing its heart out. So it made it into the photos.
While most of my outings involve birding – usually 1-3 miles on trails, roads, and city sidewalks, I also get out for the exercise, fresh air and nature, away from others.
The trails we walk have many trees with all sorts of growths and shapes, like these ones.
Last week, I spotted this different lump in a tree.
One of my favorite downed trees reminds me of a Green Heron hunting for food.
A backcountry beaver pond from which two shy Wood Ducks flushed.
And my birding buddy, muddy legs and all, is always ready for the next outing.
As we wait for the warblers to arrive, there’s always neat stuff to enjoy on our walks.
Early yesterday morning, while out with Ginger on our back path, I noticed this young eagle perched in a tree across the river. I’m sure it’s the same one I saw a week ago at the reservoir.
This morning, at the reservoir, I saw this eagle again, waiting right next to the parking area. I never get tired of seeing these birds.
On a morning with new wet snow on the ground and a snow/rain mix falling, Ginger and I added a little in-the-car birding to our routine before we did some errands. It was a nice venture.
I’ve only seen Long-tailed Ducks a few times — they are relatively uncommon here – but we found this pair resting in the rain, probably after a long night flight.
It was a nice treat and I’m sure they’re already on their way.
At dog play group this week, while Ginger ran with her playmates, I watched Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows compete for nesting sites. This rivalry is very common.
In one corner, we have a bluebird just getting ready to settle down.
Also wearing blue is a pair of tree swallows looking for a domicile.
There seemed to be a lot of trash-talking going on.
So, for about half an hour, I watched some aerial antics as the competitors went at it. My little camera caught some of the action.
We’ll see, later this month, who ends up where — it seems like the swallows often win out but this bluebird was feisty.
The other day, I came upon a dozen turkeys having a little get-together. Normally super cautious, they sort of ignored me as they romped in the tall grass. Spring was in the air….
This is a nice time to bird in Vermont as migration continues and almost every day, you can see new arrivals. Here are a few from this week.
The following day, I went up to the local airport looking for American Kestrels spotted this bird flying along the road. The photo is difficult because I had to stop on a busy road, watching for traffic as I shot.
Warblers should be here soon and with temperatures warming, we are looking forward to the return of many more migrants.
January was a good birding month for me in Washington County. I missed by monthly goal of 35 by one but also picked up several birds I didn’t expect: a Bald Eagle and a Barred Owl, and saw my nemesis bird, the Northern Shrike, for the first time. I now see one at least weekly but we knew that would happen. I got two new life birds, the aforementioned shrike and a Barrow’s Goldeneye (over in Chittenden County.) In spite of my whining about missing Texas birds, it was a good winter birding month.
The best January bird was this handsome Bald Eagle along the Dog River just south of Montpelier. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Settings: 1/160 ƒ/6.5 ISO 640 215 mm
Looking over the birds I missed in January, I’m only concerned about one — Pine Grosbeak — because if I don’t get them now they may not be here in November or December this year. I have reviewed historic eBird sightings in Washington County for February and frankly, there aren’t a lot to add to my missing list. Things will heat up a bit in March as early migrants return.
Here’s the list of birds I am targeting for February:
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Black-backed Gull (a little iffy but seen at Grow Compost)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (I know they are here but hard to spot, or hear)
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow (I’ve been walking around parking garages and strip malls with no luck)
Red-winged Blackbird (Perhaps an early returnee)
Common Grackle (Perhaps an early returnee)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Perhaps an early returnee)
While I know I won’t get all of these, I may pick up something I hadn’t counted on so my modest February goal is 14 more for a total of 48. Stay tuned.
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Today was the first day above freezing we’ve had in several weeks and with all the melting, I figured that there might be some critters stirring, and perhaps I could see a Red-tailed or Cooper’s hawk. So, after a morning meeting, I took the truck for a little drive, looking for raptors. I also checked the Winooski to see if perhaps some areas had opened back up. I pulled into Lover’s Lane, a dirt road in Moretown where Mary and I had seen a couple of Hooded Mergansers a couple of weeks ago. Nothing doing, the river was ice-covered.
I turned the truck around in a series of backs and forwards, and pulling out, saw a Walmart bag on a branch across the meadow. No, that’s a hawk. I stopped the truck, cross-wise to the little road, and got the binoculars on it. A Barred Owl was staring right back at me. I rolled down the window and took a few photos as it sat perched there, watching the ground for lunch and every so often casting a glance my way. I was quite a distance out but got some decent shots of a neat bird. Pretty uncommon to see one in broad daylight but it’s the first good lunch day we’ve had in a while.
A Barred Owl in Moretown, VT. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. Settings: 1/125ƒ/6.5ISO 800215 mm
Back in December, I set some goals for a County Big Year. My species goal for January was an optimistic thirty-five. Well, the Barred Owl brings me to 34 with day to go. No big deal one way or the other, but it’s a nice start to the year’s count.
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