More This & That - 2

A few more "un-themed" birds from Wakodahatchee and Green Cay - all friends who have returned, or will return soon, to my Vermont neighborhood.

Red-winged Blackbird

(Western/Brown) Palm Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue-headed Vireo

Pine Warbler

Northern Harrier - female

Good Birding ! !

Winter Wren and others

One of the most difficult forest song birds to get a good sighting of is the Winter Wren, at least until last week when this gentleman, in the throes of his surging testosterone, proclaimed his immense qualities as a mate ...

Winter Wren

 I was mightily impressed with his ability to spill forth an almost endless stream of notes. It left me breathless, but was merely what is expected by the discriminatingh ladies of his species.

Winter Wren

A late, but always welcome, arrival in the alder swamps is the Alder Flycatcher. I've never quite understood some of the guidebooks as they offer confusing mnemonics of his call/song. Quite clearly I hear him saying - "Free beer!" - an offer which brings the girls rushing, and maybe a few old frat boys ...

Alder Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

The Blue-headed Vireo has given me any number of photo opportunities over the years, but few have yielded satisfying result ... until this gentleman hurried over to investigate by "phish" and posed as nicely as any photographer could wish.

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

And finally, the Eastern Phoebe is incessant with his "phoe-be" in my neighborhood, but it was also gratifying to see him check me out in an edge thicket somewhere in Dover ...

Eastern Phoebe

Good Birding!

from the Boreal Forest

Back home from travels to Quebec City and the Gaspe Peninsula, with return through New Brunswick and a final couple of nights at a favorite inn, Craignair, Clark Island, Maine. Many pictures to sort and process.

This was not primarily a birding trip, but there were a few opportunities to observe and photograph.

The spruce and boreal forests were "full" of kinglets - both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglet. The Golden-crowned Kinglet is our smallest songbird, and perhaps the hardiest, making a year-round living in a climate which most of the year is tough and unforgiving. They deal with their estimated 40% mortality through the winter by raising several large broods during the short summer. They were so busy feeding young that they had little time for my intrusion. In the Gaspesie National Park, Golden-crowned Kinglets gave me a quick once over on several occasions, and a couple of brief opportunities for photographs

Also from the Gaspesie Park is this Blue-headed Vireo ...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Winter Wren. The only illustrations I had were Audubon's paintings. On Clark Island, Maine, the Winter Wren was singing in the damp spruce forest. A couple of soft pishes brought immediate investigation from the gnome of the dark forest. He paused just long enough for a few quick photos (one of which was reasonably good), then disappeared.  Winter Wren ...

Some weeks ago when I pursued the Northern Parula in the Green Mountains, I managed some reasonable photos, but I did not feel that any captured the wonderful colors of this warbler's neck and breast. On Clark Island, this male Northern Parula was much more accommodating ...

And finally, also from Clark Island, the black-masked rogue investigating a disturbance. Is it food? or danger? or just an annoying bird peeper? The Common Yellowthroat is always a favorite ...

Good birding!

Blue-headed Vireo

It was a gorgeous day on Putney Mountain - clear, crisp air - brisk wind - changing fall colors - but very few hawks. I finally dragged my tripod up so I could have my camera fixed on the plastic owl which sometimes attracts the attention and animosity of a passing sharpie. Alas, the few sharpies were high over head, and not interested. But with good company, and great scenery, I can still think of few better ways to spend a morning.

There were a few Yellow-rumped Warblers doing their flycatching act, and the ever-present chickadees (tits for any one from across the pond) ... and just before I left, I succeeded in phishing down this Blue-headed Vireo, curious about the strange creature making strange sounds.

Good birding ... regardless of the number of birds!

Progress of the Breeding Season

My intended hike up Stratton Mountain this morning was canceled due to the unsettled weather. I've rescheduled to Wednesday AM. Most of those planning to join me have can do the change, but if a couple more would like to join, let me know. We meet at 6:15am at the trailhead - early start so that (hopefully) Bicknell's Thrush will still be singing when we reach the top. Also likely - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blackpoll Warbler, plus other edge, woodland, and montane species. So instead of hiking 3.5 miles this morning, I am revisiting the birding of the last week (inbetween the rain).

The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird makes regular visits to the feeders while patrolling his domain. He makes only one contribution to the next generation, albeit an important one. Occassionally a female sneaks past his guard and feeds on the columbine or the nectar provided by my bounty.

Cedar Waxwings flocks seem everywhere. Most are still a few weeks from nesting.

Red-eyed Vireos are lactive into their breeding season. Males sing in between their nesting responsibilities and occasionally one even has allowed me a brief glimpse.

Some American Robin pairs are close to fledging their first brood. I have no idea if this one was building a first or second nest for the season, but was certainly busy in construction. The bird made regular trips to the muddy edge of Herrick's Cove, returning with big loads of building materials. Nest was somewhere in a dense tangle of brush roses.

After a couple of days of rain, I returned to where I had seen the Blue-headed Vireos in the early stages of nest building. There was no sign of the pair, but the nest appears ready for occupancy, and perhaps deep in the nest, incubation is proceeding. The bottom of the nest is comprised of wood chips and wood shavings. A couple hundred yards away I saw an old tree which had been heavily worked by Pileated Woodpecker, perhaps excavating a nest hole. A Blue-headed Vireo was carrying wood chips. They were singing in many places along the old road, so I can't claim it was "my" pair. Clearly the nest building activity of one species was assisting the nest building activity of another species.

American Crows are nesting down river from my home. Evidence suggests a pair and a helper, since 3 are often around the feeders. This one is "carrying" food - note the bulge in its crop. I have seen the crop much larger. They are very wary birds able to sense when someone is inside watching them. It is difficult to get close to the window for a photo without having them fly off.

The Eastern Phoebes at Herrick's Cove fledged their first brood at least a week ago. The youngster is here waiting for another meal, but occasionally tried some things on his own.

I have been astounded at how much suet is being consumed by the birds. At least two pair of Downy Woodpeckers, one pair of Hairy, and two pair of starlings seem to be relying on the suet for feeding their nestlings. Plus a wide assortment of other birds are also using the suet. The suet gets taken in at night. In the morning the woodpeckers are lined up on the tree waiting for us to bring it out.

The European Starling brought the fledglings to the suet this week. We typically say, "aww, cute," when other birds bring the young to the feeders, but respond with "oh ugh" when the starlings do the same. I would suggest that is not evidence of birdy cuteness, but human prejudice.

Fledgling Downy Woodpeckers were at the suet this morning. At one time, there were five Downies, from two families - all female. The youngster is clinging to the post; its understanding of life is that someone will feed. Well, for a while someone will.

Good Birding!

Local Birding

I've been fortunate to get out for some local birding the last few days, including birding with my favorite companion, whatever the occasion might be. Up in the Green Mountains we bushwacked into a beaver pond, then just sat still and enjoyed the setting (made possible, in part, by heavy applications of toxic substances).

Highlight at this pond was the Northern Waterthrush, which is why we bushwacked in the first place; we heard it singing. Finally it showed itself feeding in the muddy edge. The rest of the time the pair were busy moving about, seldom staying still.

The highlight this morning was finding a pair of Blue-headed Vireos building their nest. What appears to be a white glob beneath the bird in the very delicate beginning of their hanging nest.

I can't tell the male from the female, but we can assume that they know the difference. To the left of the visible vireo is the mate working on the nest. It is a joint project.

Nothing more needs to be said about this Scarlet Tanager.

Nor does much need to be said about this Blackburnian Warbler.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails seem to be everywhere.

And finally, while waiting for the Swamp Sparrow and Alder Flycatcher to come close in yet another marshy beaver pond (they never did), I was joined by this moose cow, and that's no bull!

Moose are fairly common, but shy and secretive. I often see signs of moose, but do not often see them. Always a treat!

Sometimes a morning of good birding includes things that don't have feathers.