Hinsdale Setbacks

I made two morning trips to the Hinsdale setbacks south of Brattleboro along the Connecticut River. Highlight was the Red-necked Grebe seen this morning.

Red-necked Grebe

Rec-necked Grebe

 Migrants are still moving through, such as the White-crowned Sparrow seen Thursday, but not on Saturday ...

White-crowned Sparrow

Residents are well into their nesting season with territorial singing and defense, courtship displays, nest building, and even feeding young ...

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart

House Wren

Warbling Vireo

Baltimore Oriole

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

 As we walked along the old railroad bed, we saw a pair of thrasher in the road and shrubbery. When we reached that point, we lingered to watch an oriole constructing her nest, then realized that the thrasher was waiting for us to move on so it could carry food to its young in the nest. We moved on ...

Brown Thrasher

Baltimore Oriole nest

 By late morning, the sun had warmed the world, and one of the first butterflies I've seen for the season made an appearance, the tiny Eastern Tailed-Blue.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Good Birding!!

Nesting in Center City

In the last week I have done a lot of walking in the Museum District and Center City, Philadelphia. While birding was not my intent, I picked up a lot of incidental evidence of nesting birds, even among the high rise buildings and concrete/asphalt streets.

In addition to the three expected exotics - Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, and European Starling - there was Northern Mockingbird, Canada Goose, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, Barn, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay. (This does not include the long list in our Roxborough neighborhood and Wissahickon Valley.)

Returning from dinner on Main Street in Manayunk, young Peregrine Falcons were making a racket overhead. Parents nest in a church steeple next to Pretzel Park, one of several pairs in the city.

Again, I was not birding, but could not resist the opportunity to photograph when it came. Here are a few ...

European Starling

American Robin

American Robin

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Veerys on the the Wissahickon

A bike ride along Wissahickon Creek was not only delightful, but surprising - surprising but the number of Veerys out in the open and unafraid. Clearly, they were not quite into breeding mode, but probably needed to refuel before beginning that arduous task. Other years I have heard them singing, but most sightings were limited to brief fly-bys.

Veery

Veery

Veery

The Wissahickon Creek is far and away the best place I know of to see and photograph Wood Ducks. Here is looks like she is inviting him ! ...

Wood Ducks

Swallows were feeding along the river - Tree, Bank, and a few very cooperative Northern Rough-winged Swallows ...

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Good Birding!!

And by the way, Check out my other photo blog, Exploring Philadelphia. It should be more active now that I am back in the city for a while.

Did you know that Philadelphia is the only major city in the United States that has a covered bridge within its city limits?

Thomas Mill Bridge

 Good Birding !!

White-eyed Vireo, et alia

From what I can gather from the Vermont bird list maintained by the records committee, the White-eyed Vireo has been recorded in Vermont often enough so that it does not need a rare bird report to be filed. Even so, most Vermont birders have not seen the bird within the state's borders. One is currently hanging out in the alders of an old beaver pond near by home, first found by a neighbor. The vireo's distinctive song finally led to some decent photos this morning. I can only hope that he successfully attracts a mate, but since he is well north of the usual range for this species, his chances of breeding may not be very good. As healthy and enthusiastic as he appears, I can only wish him good luck.

White-eyed Vireo

White-eyed Vireo

In Vermont, winter is a constant present. The last patch of snow disappeared from behind the barn on April 26. Nine days later, I began preparing for next winter by stacking the first delivery of fire wood. But at least the task was attended by bird song, and all the habitats are welcoming the return of the migrants. Just a few images of the past couple of days.
.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Northern Flicker

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Hermit Thrush