Weekend Highlights

A highlight of the weekend birding was this Hooded Merganser hen leading 10 chicks in the Wilson Wetlands, Putney, Vt.

Hooded Merganser, hen with 3 of the 10 chicks she was leading

In the same vicinity, I captured a Brown Thrasher taking his/her morning bath ...

Brown Thrasher

One of the odder moments was watching this female Red-winged Blackbird as she "danced" along the branch, much the way some tropical mannakin males dance. The female red-wings were busy with nest building. Could this one have completed her nest and was she now sending a signal to the male (males) that she was ready to mate? Perhaps ... but if so, the boys were not paying attention ...

Red-winged Blackbird, female

Additional highlights, photographically, are this Chestnut-sided Warbler ...

Chestnut-sided Warbler

... a Red-eyed Vireo on Black Mountain which sang from the same branch for as long as we were within range, and certainly before and after we were in range, since he was not trying to impress us - although he did ...

Red-eyed Vireo

... and this Black-throated Blue Warbler ...

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Good Birding!!