Early Nesting Activity

In the last week and a half I have seen lots of breeding evidence, with a few opportunities to photograph this activity.

When Vermont did the breeding bird atlas (2003-2007), June 1 was the safe date for many species, particularily for neo-tropical migrants. "Possible" and "Probable" designation were not acceptable. Breeding had to be confirmed. Of course, there were earlier safe dates, depending on the species.Those "safe dates" were pushed earlier for nearly all species during the course of the atlas survey.

Ten years later, I don't remember how that applied to different species, but my sense it that breeding is generally becoming earlier as Spring becomes earlier.

On May 15, I posted a photo of a Baltimore Oriole nest whose construction was nearly complete. The female was working on the nest (but not when I had my camera aimed, alas).

Here are a few more "Confirmed" breeding photos ...

American Redstart, female, May 21, Hinsdale setbacks, checking size, shape, and fit of the nest she was building ...

American Redstart

Eastern Phoebe, May 21, Hinsdale setbacks, carrying food to nest ...

Eastern Phoebe

Brown Thrasher, May 21, Hinsdale setbacks, carrying food to nest ...

Brown Thrasher

Black-throated Blue Warbler, female, May 23, West Dover, gathering nesting material (birch bark) while her mate kept an eye on me ...

Black-throated Blue Warbler, female

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler, female, May 21, West Dover, gathering nesting material ...

Yellow-rumped Warbler, female

And finally ... no birds. Just one of the many beaver ponds scattered throughout the Green Mountains and creating open space, edge, wetlands, and assorted nesting places for many species, and a tranquil scene for an early morning wanderer ...

Good birding!!

Spring in Philadelphia - Heinz NWR

Plenty of signs of Spring at Heinz refuge in Philadelphia in the form of early migrants and early nesting activity.

A particular treat today was the presence of a pair of Blue-winged Teal, which I have found to be uncommon on the mid-Atlantic coast and rare in Vermont.

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal - pair

 The eagles appear to be on the nest, but too distant for any photos. In the early migrant category, Eastern Phoebes are "fee - bee - ing", and a flock of Pine Warblers proclaimed their buzzy presence ...

Eastern Phoebe

Pine Warbler

In the early breeding/nesting activity category, there was vigorous singing by cardinals, Song Sparrows, blackbirds, and robins. A mallard hen was on the nest while her mate kept wary watch nearby.

Mallard - hen on nest

American Tree Swallows were staking claim to nest boxes and actively seeking to pair bond.

American Tree Swallows

American Tree Swallow

Carolina Wren males were singing with enthusiasm. I observed several individuals who were giving a buzzy call, were not singing, and who appeared to be in early stages of finding/building nests in hidden places.They were also less richly colored. I suspect these were females.

Carolina Wren (female?)

Carolina Wren (female?)

A good opening chapter to the season of really Good Birding!!

Cape May Autumn Weekend

Cape May Bird Observatory had a stunning weekend for their annual event. I went to Cape May on Sunday, not for CMBO events, but just to enjoy the great weather, location, and birds. There were lots of birders, birding groups, and bird hikes, but also plenty of room to roam away from people and enjoy the opportunities the birds presented to the camera.

New for my photographic archives was a Eurasian Widgeon among a flock of American Widgeons in the state park ...

Eurasian Widgeon with its American cousins

In a year when photography has been frustrated by other demands and an inability to get out where the birds are, the day was refreshing and rejuvenating. A few examples of the wonderful colors and light in which the birds posed ...

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Song Sparrow

Eastern Phoebe

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Dark-eyed Junco ("Slate-colored" with some "Oregon" hints)

Swamp Sparrow

More soon. 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!

First Day of Spring

Spring arrived a few minutes after 7:00 am, and to say that Spring is welcome is an understatement. The winter has been dreary with few bright days, but this first day of Spring was sunny and bright.

We welcomed Spring with a day trip to Cape May. As we arrived at the state park, a small group of birders was watching 28 Great Blue Herons crossing the Delaware Bay, joining up with those who stayed through the inhospitable winter months.

Great Blue Heron

 In the FOY category (first of year), it was a delight to have the Eastern Phoebe and Pine Warbler ...

Pine Warbler and Eastern Phoebe

Also in the FOY category were Killdeer in several locations, and a very shy Gray Catbird - skulking in tangles and unresponsive to pishing, suggesting that his hormones still haven't kicked into high gear ...

Killdeer

Gray Catbird

Other signs of Spring were seen in a pair of courting Fish Crows. If this gentleman appears miffed, it is probably because my stroll through the conservancy interrupted his wooing ...

Fish Crow

Along the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, Wood Ducks have returned, most apparently having paired during the winter; drake and hen were consistently seen near each other ...

Wood Duck - drake and hen

Good Birding!

Wood Ducks, Kinglets

A Friday afternoon walk along Philadelphia's Wissahickon River provided great opportunities for Wood Duck photography.

The Wood Ducks were also a case study in birdwatching irony - at home in my Vermont neighborhoods where wild beaver ponds and wetlands provide nesting habitat, it would require exceptional effort and good luck to get photographs like these. On the other hand, an urban park within the city limits of Philadelphia provides daily opportunities to stand in awe of these beautiful birds.

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Sunday at Heinz NWR (in the shadow of Philadelphia airport), waterfowl still populated the lake, including several Greater Scaup (no photos), while Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes, and many sparrows worked the trees, understory, and weedy edges ...

Northern Shoveler

Eastern Phoebe

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Good Birding!

Spring and the Recovering River Valley

Last August Hurricane Irene scoured the river valley around our home in devastating ways. Most of our backyard disappeared in a few minutes on a Sunday morning when a huge log jam gave way. The river was returned to its course and we got our backyard rebuilt (see posts in September/October).

Now comes the recovery. In the next few days, we will have topsoil brought in and begin the process of lawn and yard recovery.

Some is happening of its own accord. I am especially happy to report that Belted Kingfishers are working the river behind our home - a sign that life is returning to what last Fall was a scoured riverbed.

Belted Kingfisher - female

Other Spring signs are beginning to show their teeming presence. Eastern Phoebes are singing in several locations, and I watched one pair which was well into their nest building.

Eastern Phoebe

Evening Grosbeaks have nested somewhere nearby in past years. They have returned. They are singing - they don't have much of a song, but it is a song. A couple days ago, it looked as though they were trying to break sticks from a bush, a probable sign that they are preparing to nest - hopefully somewhere nearby. And the gentlemen are splendidly attired ...

Evening Grosbeak

Song Sparrows continue their enthusiastic singing, along with robins (4:30am) - joined by chickadees, titmice, Chipping Sparrows, and others.

Song Sparrow

Goldfinches are singing their cheerful song, joined by a good number of Pine Siskins - probably more Spring siskins than we have had in recent years.

Pine Siskin with American Goldfinch

And finally ... the Red-winged Blackbirds are no longer tuning up. The girls have returned and the boys are fully into their display.

Red-winged Blackbird

Spring!