SE Vermont Birding

I spent several mornings this past week wandering many of my favorite back roads in southeastern Vermont - narrow, remote, quiet - occasionally requiring use of the four-wheel drive - often with no other people or vehicles encountered. Relaxing and delightful - with many good sightings.

That said, the best sighting came when I stopped at my mechanics shop to find out why a check engine light had come on (no serious problem except for the cost :( . On the door jamb was this Luna Moth ...

Luna Moth

Luna Moth

In the Town of Somerset, high in the Green Mountain National Forest, a wildlife management area is a fairly dependable place for breeding Lincoln's Sparrow, an uncommon and sought after species for local birders. In the small area I surveyed, there were at least three singing males ...

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows are common to abundant on the wintering grounds that I visit (e.g., Heinz NWR in Philly). They are also commonly present at winter feeders in Vermont. As Spring comes, they disappear from those winter areas. High in the Green Mountains, their plaintive song is heard throughout the edges of the boreal, or near-boreal forests. A welcome sound ...

White-throated Sparrow

In the last 60 years, much of the farmland in Vermont has been abandoned and grassy fields have reverted to forest, with habitat loss for grassland species. Some extensive fields do survive in southeastern Vermont, and there the Bobolinks are still to be found. The bubbly song is happy and cheerful to the human listener. To the male, it is territorial warning to other males and an invitation females, and is accompanied by frenetic flight. These photos sort-of capture the energy expensive life style of the males ...

Bobolink

Bobolink

Bobolink

And finally (for this post) on a remote back road I encountered this Ruffed Grouse gentleman leisurely chomping away on dandelion leaves and quite unconcerned by the long lens I pointed at him. I assume the bird was a cock, since the hens should be incubating, or leading young about.

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

Good Birding ! !