Northern Wings: Birding New England & Beyond

The Birdwatcher and the Cormorant

2011-07-02T23:44:00.004-04:00

The heading of this post may suggest an Aesop fable communicating a moral message of some sort, and that is not too far from the truth, based on a recent encounter I had with a Double-crested Cormorant.

At least once a year I make a birding trip to The Nature Conservancy's LaPlatte River Natural Area in Shelburne, Vermont. The area is located just upstream of Shelburne Bay on Lake Champlain and is a reliable place to see Black-crowned Night-Herons, and on the bay, Caspian Terns. During the morning of this posting date I made such a trip and while walking the trail through the reserve and approaching the river shoreline, I heard quite a commotion ahead in the water. Something was frantically splashing. Initially I passed it off as a large fish, perhaps a carp spawning in the shallows, but it soon became apparent that it was a cormorant tangled in low lying tree limbs. Upon closer inspection it was evident the agitated bird was tangled in fishing line and snagged on a branch. Certainly without relief the bird would experience an agonizing death, so this "good samaritan" without much forethought decided to liberate the unfortunate critter. Well, at the time this didn't seem to be all that big a deal and certainly without much risk to the rescuer. Oh, how wrong I was.

Walking percariously out to the bird via a flimsey limb the bird naturally was freaked out by my presence and was in no mood to be cooperative. Being aware that the cormorant would make every effort to defend itself and would bite given the chance, I scoped out the situation and decided I needed to constrain it and somehow keep the bill closed while attempting to release it. I fully underestimated the situation. The speed, accuracy and power a cormorant is capable of its bill to use would become obvious.  My first attempt resulted in the bill being forcefully clamped down hard on the right hand with the pointed, hooked nail of the upper mandible piercing the flesh...how tightly it held without being forced to release. It was very reminiscent of an experience I had with a large snapping turtle in my youth.  And as if this first encounter with the cormorant wasn't enough I managed to get bitten at least a half dozen times on one hand and half as many again on the other. Needless to say my hands were in pain, swollen and bloodied and I was not any closer to freeing the bird. I will admit that it did pass my mind a couple times to shorten the unpleasant ordeal and somehow dispatch the bird humanely to permanently put it out of its misery and allow me to go my way.

Then two kayackers came into view.  I called out to them asking if either had a knife or other sharp implement. They did not but paddled over to give assistance. Both attempted to distract the bird from me with their paddles while I worked on cutting the lines with my car keys...not the proper tool for the task. All the while the cormorant was within a neck reach of me and managed to sneak in a couple lunges at my head. Luckily, these were dodged. Eventually enough lines were cut to enable the bird to slip free of its bonds. It immediately dove and swam under water resurfacing about 10 yards away, and not so much as one guttural croak was given to express thanks to its liberators.

So as a fable is supposed to communicate a message to live by, I see there are at least two, one from the perspective of the cormorant: don't bite the hand that feeds (frees) you; and the other from the rescuer: no good deed goes unpunished or something like that.  And what did I learn from this experience: (1) don't attempt to handle a cormorant without heavy leather gloves; (2) have a towel or something to cover the birds head when trying to capture and constrain it; and (3) always carry a pocket knife, something I should have remembered from Boy Scouts.

Water Canyon, Socorro Co., New Mexico

2010-12-10T17:17:00.001-05:00

Rising over 4,000 feet above the semi-desert grasslands of west-central New Mexico the Magdalena Mountains offer visitors easy access to a variety of biotic communities associated with the Southwest. Upwards of 200 bird species have been recorded from these mountains including several typical of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico and here are at the northern limit of their U.S. breeding range. The gateway to the Magdalena Mountains is Water Canyon located on the northeast side of the range and within a short drive on NM Route 60 west of the city of Socorro and the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

Leaving NM 60 and driving south on Forest Road (FR) 235 one passes through high desert grasslands of La Jencia Basin (elevation ~6,000 feet). This is active cattle range and bird life in this habitat is usually sparse but keep an eye out for Prairie falcon, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike and Horned Lark. Antelope-like Pronghorn may also be seen grazing within view of the road.

The grassland gives way to pinyon-juniper woodland beginning at the entrance to Water Canyon. This community type is one of the more extensive vegetation types found in the Southwest and may occur as nearly pure stands of pine, juniper or a mix of the two. Three juniper species are found in the canyon: One-seed, Rocky Mountain and Alligator. The first two are associates of the northern Great Basin conifer woodland and the latter with the southern Madrean evergreen woodland. Birds likely to be encountered in this habitat are Gray Flycatcher, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Bridle and Juniper titmice, Bushtit, Black throated Gray Warbler and Hepatic Tanager. Looking to the right across the canyon are the steepred stone cliffs of the Magdalena Fault which is a backdrop for seeing White-throated Swifts. Occasionally a Great Horned Owl may be spotted at the entrance to one of the many cavities that pock the cliff face.

At about 4.5 miles (elev. 6,800 feet) from NM 60 one arrives at a fork in the road: the right (FR 406) leads to a campling area and access North Fork and Dark canyons, both worth checking out. The left fork goes to a popular picnicking area and nature trail situated in riparian woodland. The stream here flows during wet seasons otherwise it is mostly dry except for isolated pockets of water. Narrow-leaf cottonwood trees are imposing and dwarf other riparian trees (Arizona walnut, boxwood, Arizona alder) defining this habitat type. This habitat is a magnet for resident and migrant birds, such as Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Screech-Owl, a colony of Acorn Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, Townsend's and Wilson's warblers (in migration), Black-headed Grosbeak among others. Several species of irregular or rare occurence have been found here including Elf Owl (nesting) and Magnificent Hummingbird. Just this past October while birding upstream of the picnic area I unexpectedly spotted a mature male Varied Thrush and male Black-throated Blue Warbler. The transitional oak habitat between juniper woodland and Ponderosa Pine forest is where Virginia's Warbler is apt to be seen or heard.

The road through the picnic area and fording the stream is Langmuir Road. It winds its way 9 miles ascending 4,000 feet to the summit of the Magdalena Mountains and passing through three other progressively higher elevation communities: Ponderosa Pine-oak forest, then mixed conifer forest, and then spruce-fir forest. The road terminates at Langmuir Research Site. The highest elevation is South Baldy peak at 10,783 feet. In Poderosa Pine and higher elevation forest communities keep an eye out for the striking Abert's Squirrel.

Birds associated with the Ponderosa Pine forest are Flammulated owl, Common Poorwill, Steller's Jay and Grace's Warbler. In the higher elevation forests Williamson's (in aspen patches) and Red-naped sapsuckers and Clark's Nutcracker may be encountered. Near the summit the forest opens into several meadows or parks, those located on drier sites are dominated by grasses and moister meadows are primarily vegetated by herbaceous forbs. The open meadows on the ridgeline offer spectacular views of the Magdalena Mountain range, the distant La Jencia Basin, and beyond.

A network of hiking trails branch off Langmuir Road and FR 406 provide opportunities to expore more remote areas and habitats otherwise not immediately observable from the roads, such as canyon slope chaparral. The much sought after Red-faced Warbler is fairly relaible to find in suitable habitat: cool, moist canyons and ravines having Gambel Oak and other deciduous trees within Ponderosa Pine and mixed conifer forests. The warbler is best located from mid April-late June within the elevation range of 7,500-9,000 feet.

Water canyon is a must-see for birders planning to be in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, such as when visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. In the span of a little more than an hour drive one can leave the Valley's desert scrub, gallery woodland and wetland habitats and then be in mountainous terraine exploring an entirely different suite of Southwest birds. Directions to Water Canyon from Socorro are simple: take NM 60 west 12.5 miles, turn left before highway pull-off and historic marker also on left) onto FR 235.

Lastly, a few words of caution are in order. Even though improvements were made to Langmuir Road several years ago it still remains unpaved, narrow and windy. Four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended if you intend to go beyond the warning sign. If you choose not to go further plenty of good birding can be had in the area and at lower elevations. Also, severe thunderstorms can be frequent particularly during the monsoon season, that is New Mexico's rainy season (late June through August). Be aware of the weather forecast and be vigilant of changing conditions when at high elevations. Keep in mind Langmuir Research Site near the summit is where it is because the laboratory conducts atmospheric studies of processes that produce thunderstorms, lightning and hail.

Lower Rio Grande Valley, July 12-14.

2010-07-27T18:35:00.055-04:00

A week ago Eva and I made our first trip to Texas primarily to attend a family reunion in New Braunfels but managed to work in three days birding the Lower Rio Grande Valley. July may not be the preferred time of year to bird the state, not to mention the southern borderlands, with daytime temperatures climbing into the mid and high 90s followed by little evening relief, and humidity levels that are best described as steamy...very steamy. Nonetheless we made the best of it and were well rewarded for all the sweating we did.

In preparation for the trip, reunion aside, I staked out many of the primo birding spots in the area, including Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Anzalduas County Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge among others. What we had not planned on was Hurricane Alex that passed through the week before and the extensive flooding of the lowlands that it left behind. Much to our disappointment all these areas were still under water and thus closed. Kicking into "damage control" mode we dragged out our birder's guides and other reference materials and developed an 11th hour fallback itinerary that probably was as good if not better than the original. Prior to heading to Texas I put together a list of 27 Valley specialty birds with reasonably good prospects of seeing given the season of year. Of that number we managed 21 plus two that were not on the target list well surpassing my 500 mid-life goal (see side bar)...a very successful birding trip indeed and not a bad introduction to Texas.

Having to redirect our efforts to more "inland" birding sites, Tuesday morning our first stop was Chihuahua Woods Preserve outside Mission. The 349 acre reserve owned by The Nature Conservancy of Texas is a fine example of threatened Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat. The vegetation is thick and would be impenetrable if not for several trails providing safe passage. The understory is dominated by immense prickly pear cacti towering to the heights of small trees. These were covered with tasty succulent fruit called tunas by the Spanish speaking people in the Valley. Nearly as interesting as the bird life is the diversity of cacti. To our untrained eyes we easily distinguished at least a half dozen species. Along one of the paths Eva spotted the threatened Texas or Berlandier's Tortoise Gopherus berlandieri plodding along its way perhaps looking for a morning meal of ripe tuna that had dropped to the ground.

Next we headed northeast to Edinburg to check out Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and one of a number of World Birding Centers established throughout the Valley. The wetlands are located within a municipal park and more specifically consists of two impoundments that are part of the city's storm and waste water treatment infrastructure. But do not let this be a turn-off should you ever be in the area. The grounds have been superbly landscaped with native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and other vegetation transforming what was previously agricultural land into a 40 acre "natural" oasis and magnet for birds, butterflies and dragonflies in an otherwise urban setting. My 500th life bird was seen here: Buff-bellied Hummingbirds feeding at red Turk's Cap blossoms.

We ended the first full day at Quinta Mazatlan located south of Edinburg in McAllen. This former estate with mansion (one of the oldest haciendas remaining in Texas) is surrounded by woodlands and gardens on a mere 15+ acres. The most noteworthy sighting there was Green Parakeets which we were told can be hit-or-miss at this time of year.

Wednesday morning was at Estero Llano Grande State Park south of the city of Weslaco. The park is 176 acres including ponds, wetlands, canals, woodlands and fields. Besides a nice diversity of birds and butterflies we were fortunate to spot a large American Alligator gliding on the surface of one pond and also the odd Spiny Softshell turtle Trionyx spinerferus basking on a log. It was here that we got one of the two unexpected birds of the trip: a Clay-colored Robin heard in song but concealed from view in the crown of a large live oak and managed to escape being seen by flying into thick vegetation located on private property abutting the park. Earlier in the day the park naturalist brought to our attention the presence of a robin pair that had successfully nested in the vicinity of our bird. Later we confirmed identification by cross referencing its song with Clay-colored Robin recordings. To my ear the song is similar to that of the American Robin but a bit slower in tempo, lower in pitch and more melodious. Notes are of similar quality to those that might be delivered a Rose-breasted Grosbeak but more slowly.

Next, we dropped in at Frontera Audubon Thicket near the center of Weslaco. This is another former grand residence under restoration and surrounded by 15 acres of birdy woodlands and wetlands. Also located on the grounds is one of the few Sabal Palm Sabal mexicana groves remaining in the Valley.

Towering palm trees are prominent and common fixtures throughout the Valley; however, only the Sabal Palm is native to Texas. Historically, palm forests occupied the lower 80 miles of the Rio Grande Valley and totalled 40,000 acres in 1925. Since then agricultural development has reduced these forests to several patches altogether amounting to less than a couple hundred acres. The largest concentration in the U.S. is south of Brownsville abutting our border with Mexico and located on federal and private conserved lands, but protected they are not. Concerns over illegal immigration into the U.S. and kneejerk political reaction to the problem resulted in constructing the border fence right through the palm groves and ceding as much as 90% of this critical habitat to a "no man's" land on the Mexican side of the fence. This has been a loss to birders who once had access to the Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary but more significantly leaves the ecological wellbeing of the groves and its native inhabitants to an uncertain future.

Our time in the Valley ran out Wednesday afternoon when we had to make our way northward to kickoff family reunion festivities. We returned via U.S. 77 taking us through Texas coastal plain habitats where White-tailed hawks were spotted perched on powerline support structures. A brief stop outside Raymondsville produced a pair of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, the other bird not on the list, feeding in a grassy marsh.

Below is the list of birds identified during our brief visit to the Valley as well along U.S. 281 South and U.S. 77 North. Those preceded by # indicate life birds. Among the six birds on the list of 27 we failed to get are Least Grebe, Ringed and Green kingfishers. During conversations with park naturalists one speculated that the recent extensive flooding may have created much more foraging habitat for these birds to roam about making them much more difficult to locate.

#Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

#Fulvous Whistling-Duck

#Mottled Duck

Neotropic Cormorant

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Little Blue Heron

Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

#Harris's hawk

#White-tailed Hawk

#Crested Caracara

#Plain Chachalaca

Northern Bobwhite

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

Laughing Gull

Rock Pigeon

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove
#Inca Dove

Common Ground-Dove

#White-tipped Dove

#Green Parakeet

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Greater Roadrunner

#Groove-billed Ani

Eastern Screech-Owl

Lesser Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

#Common Pauraque

#Buff-bellied Hummingbird

#Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Brown-crested Flycatcher

#Great Kiskadee

#Couch's Kingbird

Western Kingbird

#Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Loggerhead Shrike

White-eyed Vireo

#Green Jay

Cliff Swallow

#Cave Swallow

Barn Swallow

#Black-crested Titmouse

Verdin

Carolina Wren

Bewick's Wren

#Clay-colored Robin

Northern Mockingbird

#Long-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrasher

European Starling

#Olive Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Pyrrhuloxia

Blue Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Great-tailed Grackle

Bronzed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Hooded Oriole

Lesser Goldfinch

House Sparrow

In these times I suppose no trip to the southern borderlands would be complete without at least one encounter with the border patrol. We had three without incident, and we found the officers to be quite helpful in dispensing advice to avoid potential problems involving illegal immigrants and especially drug runners. Fortunately, we experienced them to be as rare as the grebe and kingfishers we had hoped to see.

Lastly, I must mention the Chicharras Grande (Giant Cicadas Quesada gigas), the source of the most prominent woodland sound in the Valley. Their song, the loudest of any North American cicada, is heard incessantly from dusk to dawn, and where there is one there are many emitting such a racket as to drown out the vocalizations of the noisiest birds. Chic-chic-chic-chic-chic, zwEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...

If you followed the recent Soccer World Cup playoffs on televsion and heard the nonstop buzzing drone of the vuvuzela horns, then you have a pretty good idea of what a chorus of these insects is like.

Now that we have returned to Vermont with memories, and some photos, of all the wonderful birds we were exposed to in Texas as well as our time reconnecting with family members, the sight of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird dancing over the blooms of scarlet bee-balm in our garden is still enough to catch my attention and admire for at least a few minutes before continuing with home chores.

Photos top to bottom: Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Chihuahua Woods Preserve, Buff-bllied Hummingbird, Estero Llano Grande State Park, American Alligator, Great Kiskadee, Sabal Palm Grove, White-tailed Hawks, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Crested Caracara, Inca Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Groove-billed Ani, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Bronzed Cowbirds, and Texas Tortoise.

Clay-colored Sparrows

2010-06-06T12:14:00.006-04:00

Friday, June 4, 2010. Following information provided by Jim Mead in his May 30 post on VTBIRD announcing the third-year-in-a-row return of Clay-colored Sparrows to South Burlington, Vermont I decided to check out the site and hopefully add a new species to my life list. Jim's directions and advice were right on. Closing in on the location, that he precisely described, the sparrow's insect-like two-part buzz was very evident and within 5 minutes the singing male was spotted at close range perched near the top of a lone 10-15 foot tall white pine beside the trail. During my hour long stay I was able digiscope the male numerous times as well as get several glimpses of the more secretive female skulking about the thick brush near the trail.The habitat is a dense and diverse matrix of shrubs, small deciduous and coniferous (white pine, red cedar) trees, brambles and forbs. In the photo below the tall pine to the right side of the path is the one that the male most frequently sang from during my time at the site. The view is looking west.

Other birds present included Ring-billed Gull (fly-overs), Mourning Dove, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, and American Goldfinch.

As a closing note, I fully agree with Jim's words of caution to birders to stick to the trail (Champlain Water District right-of-way) and not be tempted to step into the brush in pursuit of the sparrows or other species. I'll also refrain from pfishing. Excellent viewing and photographing can be had from the trail. It is highly likely the sparrows are nesting and any such activity could potentially result in nest abandonment and failure, as well deny other birders the rare opportunity to observe and hear this rare Vermont "breeder" in its natural habitat.

2010-05-19T17:17:00.010-04:00

April 24-May 1. The week in New Mexico provided several birding opportunities. Most notable was a day (April 27) spent at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge located in the Middle Rio Grande Valley about 20 miles south of Socorro. Any birding trip to New Mexico without stopping into the refuge is a significant oversight. The refuge is reknown for its thousands of wintering Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. Even though the cranes and geese departed for their northern breeding grounds weeks ago, there was much to be seen as other winter migrants lingered on and new spring arrivals were trickling in.

New Mexico at this time of year is a season of transition as well as contrasts: the thread of riparian woodlands intersecting the northern Chihuahuan desert were the leafing out and daytime temperatures in the Valley were in the low 80s falling into the 40s and 50s during the night. On the other hand, add another 3,000 ft elevation and the temperatures are a comfortable 70s with nights possibly falling to freezing or even below. We were surprised upon rising morning to 27 degrees and snow blanketing the ground. The sugar solution in the hummer feeders was frozen none several Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were actively flying about and checking out the feeders. That was a sight we are definitely not accustomed to seeing in northern New England.

The Bosque, which means woodlands, measures 57,191 acres in size and is comprised of riparian cottonwood bosques, desert scrub and canyons, freshwater impoundments and marshes, and agricultural lands managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a diveristy of wildlife and plant communities. The refuge includes elevations ranging from 4,500 to 6,272 ft above sea level.

The single full day I spent birding the refuge core area (including 15 miles of roads encircling the seasonal and permanent ponds and wetlands) produced 73 species listed below. Many passerine species that I have seen at this time of year on previous visits were missed altogether. But given the size of the refuge, much of it open to birders, and my own time limitations, it is not at all surprising that species went unseen. Digiscoped images of some of my sightings are at the end of this post.

Snow Goose, white morph

Ross's Goose

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Blue-winged Teal

Cinnamon Teal

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Wild Turkey

Gambel's Quail

Pied-billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

Western Grebe

Neotropic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

Black-crowned Night-Heron

White-faced Ibis

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Northern Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Virginia Rail

American Coot

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

American Avocet
Lesser Yellowlegs

Long-billed Dowitcher

Wilson's Phalarope

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Greater Roadrunner

Lesser Nighthawk

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Black Phoebe

Say's Phoebe

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Chihuahuan Raven

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Bank Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Bushtit

Bewick's Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

American Robin

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's and Myrtle subspecies

Summer Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco, Gray-headed and Pink-sided subspecies

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer's Blackbird

Bullock's Oriole

House Finch

Fortunately, two white geese, a Snow and a Ross's, had not left for the north and offered close-up side-by-side comparisons. The size difference between the two birds was clearly evident. While the head structure of the Snow Goose had sharply angular features that of the Ross's Goose seemed more akin to a Beatrix Potter illustration: soft, gentle and diminutive. To this observer the so-called "grin patch" of the Snow Goose bill is more sneer-like.

Above photos (top to bottom):

Male Gambel's Quail sporting characteristic 1950s pompadour.
Snow Goose.
Ross's Goose.
Cinnamon Teal, male and female.
Redhead, male.
Eared Grebe.
Neotropic Comorant in breeding plumage.
White-faced Ibis.
American Avocets.
Black Phoebe.
Western Kingbird.
"Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler, male.
Rising full moon over the Bosque. Note the three dark specks on its face...swallows.

Do Red-shouldered Hawks Feed on Beavers?

2010-04-16T17:30:00.004-04:00

This is a late post but recently work colleague, Shawn Good, shared with me images of a Red-shouldered Hawk he took with a digital trail camera on his property in Pittsford, Vermont. He used a beaver carcass for bait expecting to document the usual wildlife that might be expected in the local area: bear (bottom photo), coyote, bobcat, fisher and the like. But he certainly did not anticipate a hawk. The middle photo has been cropped to provide a little closer view of the bird.

I did not think Red-shouldered Hawks typically fed on carrion, so I looked into several information sources on the web including the Peregrine Fund www.peregrinefund.org/explore_raptors/hawks/redshldr.html and saw that small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, birds and insects are the staple of the hawk's diet with no mention of carrion. Considering the date the photos were taken, March 26, I will speculate that the beaver carcass was a welcome meal after a migration flight and that the usual food items might be in short supply or at least more challenging to capture in early spring. So I guess the answer to the question is yes under certain circumstances.

Common Teal at Herrick's Cove

2010-04-11T21:06:00.001-04:00

Sunday, April 11, 2010. While scanning a flock of 44 Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis this morning at Herrick's Cove (mouth of Williams River in Rockingham, VT) to my surprise I sighted a mature male Common Teal Anas c. crecca. This is the second year in a row that I have had the Eurasian or nominate race at this location, and this is the third sighting for Herrick's Cove within the past four years. The 2007 bird was a first state record of the subspecies in VT. All sightings have occurred in April. The drakes were putting on a nice show of courtship behavior. Below are a few digiscoped images of this year's bird.

A Method for Safe Keeping Your Digiscoping Camera in the Field

2010-03-28T11:46:00.000-04:00

Digiscoping, the technique of photographing wildlife at a distance with a digital point-and-shoot camera held to the eyepiece of a field spotting scope, has gained popularity since it was first discovered somewhat accidentally by Laurence Poh, a Malaysian birdwatcher, back in 1999. The method enables nature observers to easily record photographs of wildlife subjects without investing in more costly telephotography equipment. Assuming you have already purchased a quality scope, all that is lacking to digiscope is a comparatively less expensive digital camera and a heavy dose of patience. I started digiscoping over two years ago, have taken a large number of satisfying photos but not having had much previous technical photographic experience, my techniques continue to develop. There is a lot of information available via internet sources suggesting basic equipment needs and techniques (e.g. Mike's Digiscoping http//birddigiscoper.blogspot.com and Eagle Optics www.eagleoptics.com/articles/digiscoping). Readers are encouraged to check these sites out if they have not done so previously.

Birding as with any other field endeavor has its basic equipment requirements (binoculars, scope, field guide, notepad and pencil) in addition to all the ancillary things we individually "need" and stuff into our field jacket pockets and/or day pack. I have long suffered from equipment overload and digiscoping (the camera and spare batteries) has added to it. The number of times I have had a subject targeted in my scope and have fumbled to retrieve the camera and prep it to shoot an image only to have the bird drift out of sight or worse yet disappear altogether, well, are too many to want to remind myself of. With regard to storing the camera safely in the field and at the same time have it handy when needed most is something I have been looking at for a better solution.

I think I have finally found it. The camera when not in use is stored in a sturdy case attached by straps to one of the scope tripod legs (Figure 1 below). The case is a Model 1010 Micro manufactured by Pelican Products. It is strong, durable and water resistant. The interior is padded with a rubber insert that accepts a camera having maximum dimensions of 4" x 2.5" x 1.25." The case snaps firmly shut and is moulded with two belt loops. Two 24" long, 3/4" wide nylon straps each fitted with a ladder-type slide buckle at one end are used to amount the case to the tripod. Total cost of these items is less than $20 (case $15; straps $2.50).

Assembly of the components and attachment to the tripod is simple. Connect the two straps by the buckles end to end to make one continuous loop. Insert an end of the doubled over strap through one of the belt loops and repeat for the other belt loop (Figure 2). The strap should extend between the two belt loops across the back of the case. Stretching out the strap creates a figure 8 (Figure 3). The strap loops are then slid over a tripod leg and cinched up real tight to prevent the case from sliding off or moving sideways. I found that attaching this to one of the legs with a foam hand grip provides the greatest stability.

Advantges of this setup are: (1) you know exactly where your camera is and is handy to get to when you need it, and (2) when stored in the case it is protected from bumps, scratches and moisture.

Lake Champlain Ivory Gull

2010-02-22T18:58:00.000-05:00

Monday, February 22, 2010. As we near the end of winter I believe the general opinion of most Vermont birders is the season has so far been anything but remarkable save the two Northern Hawk-Owls in Ferdinand and Derby. However, last Friday's discovery of an adult Ivory Gull on northern Lake Champlain appears to have caused a long awaited stir on both sides of the Vermont-New York border. The gull was first sighted by Pat Jones near the east end of the Route 2 Bridge between Alburgh, VT and Rouses Point, New York.

According to the VTBIRD listerserve Saturday postings reported the bird to be frequenting Kelly Bay in VT just south of the bridge where it was scavenging on fish caught and discarded by ice fishermen. I was unable to get up there until Sunday morning and by that time it had moved to the NY side of the lake north of the breakwater at the terminus of Stony Brook Road and south of Rouses Point. Upon my arrival several birders, including Bryan Pfeiffer, were there enjoying views of the gull. It was then standing at at the edge of the ice sheet several 100 yards from the viewing spot where it remained for nearly an hour. As word was getting out via listserves, twitters, etc. a steady stream of anxious birders was developing for a glimpse and/or photograph of this rarity from above the Arctic Circle.

Like Kelly Bay the Rouses Point location is popular with ice fishermen and where there are fishermen a gull might expect to find its next meal and so it did. Spotting a large Chain Pickerel on the ice the gull flew over and settled among the ice fishing activity and approaching birders. A nearby Yellow Perch enventually redirected its attention and was promptly gulped down (photos below).

This is the second Ivory Gull, both adult birds, I have seen. The first was just last winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts. I am struck by the intense whiteness of the adult birds and when on a snowy background how easily it would disappear if not for its jet black eyes and legs. In flight adult Ivory Gulls are almost ghostly.

According to my copy of Birdwatching in Vermont (Murin and Pfeiffer 2002) this is the fifth record of Ivory Gull in VT, all from the Lake Champlain area. The two earliest records, April 1982 and March 1983, are considered "hypothetical" sightings by the Vermont Bird records Committee given the lack of confirming identification evidence. The other two records are from January and November 2000 and were first winter and first summer birds, respectively.

Even though the appearance of such a rarity wherever one may show up south of Canada is cause for much excitement within the birding community, the recent occurrences of Ivory Gulls well outside their normal winter range raises suspicions that all may not be as it should be. Far flung vagrants this winter include an Ivory Gull at Cape May, New Jersey (November-December 2009) and an astounding sighting at West Point, Georgia in January of this year. Ivory Gulls not unlike Polar Bears to which it is often associated is an animal of the Arctic ice pack. It is dependent on the interface of sea ice and open water for the fish it feeds on and to some extent the remains of seal carcasses left after Polar Bear kills.

Current IUCN conservation status of Ivory Gull is near threatened, while the Canadian population has been designated endangered. There the number of breeding birds has been reported to have declined 80% since the early 1980s. This has fostered speculation that the species may be nearing the brink of extinction. Scientists who study Ivory Gulls are more guarded in their prognostications since so little is known of populations throughout the species range and factors that may influence them. That said, Ivory Gulls have been found to have some of the highest levels of contaminants in their body tissues and are experiencing habitat loss as a result of the shrinking ice shield assigned to global climate change. Other threats include disturbance of nesting birds from human activities and predation.

So as I admired the gull through through the scope and snapped off photos I could not help wonder what the future of this particular gull was or more importantly its species. Will it become another species to go extinct during my lifetime as a result of human kind's impacts on the natural environment or will it manage to adapt somehow? I suppose time will tell but this is little consolation as we continue to rapidly change Earth's environment and all its life faces an uncertain future.

1. Gull finds a 5-6 inch Yellow Perch discarded on ice.

2. With a little toss in the air, the gull positions the fish head first into its mouth.

3. And now, the fish is about to be swallowed whole spiny fins and all.

Information sources:

COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). 2006. Assessment and update status report on the ivory gull Pagophila eburnea in Canada. www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_ivory_gull_e.pdf.

Gilchrist, H. G., and M. L. Mallory. 2005. Declines in abundance and distribution of the ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) in Arctic Canada. Biological Conservation 121(2):303-309.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea). www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/144228/0.

Northern Hawk-Owl

2010-02-11T17:12:00.000-05:00

Sunday, February 7. After seeing reports over the past several weeks of the two Northern Hawk-Owls wintering in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, I decided to check out the bird in Ferdinand. Arriving at about noon and parking my vehicle at the pull-off on Route 105 I only had to walk 30 yards or so on the snowmobile trail before spotting the owl perched low in a small tree next to the railroad tracks. Not having my camera with me I walked back to the vehicle to get it and in the meantime several snowmobiles sped past the bird causing it take flight and land at the very top of a tall spruce located a bit further down the trail and within a short distance of the Nulhegan River. Range, sight angle and lighting were not the best for digiscoping, but then the owl made a bee line for the shoulder of the tracks setting on the snow only briefly before flying to a nearby dead snag tree. There, I was able to snap off a few shots, two of which I have posted here. I suspected the owl possibly saw a potential meal and made an attempt to get it, but with binocs to my eyes as it flew to and sat in the snag I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Not until I got back home, downloaded the photos and was going through the images did I notice the owl indeed had a successful hunt. In the photo below you will see the rear half of a vole visibly in its talons. That was certainly an unexpected find making the three hour drive to northern Vermont all the more rewarding.

The owl is east of Island Pond and 2.5 miles further east of the John Boyland State Airport on Route 105. A snowmobile crosses the highway at a large pull-off on the north side of the road.

January 16 N. H. Coastal Birding

2010-01-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

Following a very cold start to the New Year that gripped the eastern half of the U. S. in a deep freeze extending well into the Deep South, a January thaw finally has brought some relief and with it has dashed any excuses not to spend more time outdoors during this all too brief respite from winter. Taking advantage of the opportunity Eva and I headed out to the New Hampshire coast for some winter birding.

Our first stop was in Barrington, N. H. where a Sooty Fox Sparrow, a coastal Alaska and British Columbia race, has been hanging out for several weeks at feeders on Al Wood Drive and was seen as recently as the preceeding day. We did not arrive there until late morning and there was little bird activity to be seen apart from a few Black-capped Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos. The sparrow's visits have been reported to be brief and sporadic.

So rather than spend too much of the day waiting for it to show we continued toward the coast and stopped next at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, where a gray morph Eastern Screech Owl (above) has been present and viewed by many over the past several weeks. Not to be disappointed upon our arrival the bird was sitting at the entrance of its posted tree cavity next to Route 1A just north of the park entrance apparently basking in the warm sunlight and seemingly oblivious to the band of birders aiming all sorts of bincoculars, spotting scopes and telescopic cameras at it. However, what did catch the owl's attention causing it to take refuge into the cavity was a Red-tailed Hawk that flew into an adjacent tree on the opposite side of the highway.

In addition to the owl and hawk a variety of wintering waterfowl were observed off Odiorne Point including American Black Ducks, Common Eiders, Surf and White-winged scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common and Red-throated loons, Horned and Red-necked grebes (photos below). Many of these as well as others (Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed gulls) were spotted as we continued south via Route 1A. We were unable to locate the Barrow's Goldeneye at Great Boars Head.

Along the way we encountered at one of our many stops local birder Len Medlock, who informed us of the Glaucous Gull at the Yankee Fishermen's Cooperative in Seabrook. Generally the Coop and Hampton Harbor are swamped with gulls making picking a particular one out of the many more abundant species a challenge; however, the Glaucous Gull (below) was spotted with no effort as it stood at the water edge along with a few Herring and Great Black-backed gulls, all within close view of the visitor center parking lot. What a spendid looking subadult bird (partial PA3 molt?).

As the light of day was about to vanish below the western horizon we wrapped up the day watching a group of 22 Harbor Seals hauled out on exposed rocks just offshore. The high temperature for the day at Rye was 47 degrees, about 15 degrees warmer than the previous daytime high reported for the month so far this year. Yes, there will be more winter yet, but we find solice in the lengthening daylight hours and the eventual return of spring and along with it bird migrations.

P. S. I see posted on the NH listserve that the Sooty Fox Sparrow was seen and photgraphed by others (around 1:30 pm) after we departed. Oh well, you win some and lose some.

Taylor

2009-12-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

A little over a week ago while making a house call on an acquaintence in south central Vermont I was greeted by a turkey after getting out of my vehicle. The bird approached much as any barnyard bird might and at first I discounted it as a domestic bronze variety. It was very inquisitive and literally came to my side making "putt putt" vocalizations, cocking its head to the side and giving me a upward glance. It then became obviously apparent that this bird bore all the plumage characteristics of a young wild bird. Now, I have observed a wild turkey now and again that displayed somewhat fearless behavior but nothing so extreme as this individual. Willing to push my luck I reached down and was surprised at being permitted to place my hand on its hard-as-armor feathered back, although at a cost of a very sturdy peck at my hand and a resulting blood blister. This was indeed a first of a kind encounter. Fetching my camera out of the car, I clicked off several close-ups as this opportunity was no doubt very much out of the ordinary.

I was soon joined by Forrest, the resident, who told me how this bird came to take up residence there. Taylor, the name given to it by Forrest's grandson, was orphaned after its mother was hit by a car. Leaving two young poults behind, Forrest collected them and brought home for care. One of the poults died shortly after, but Taylor perservered and thrived on a steady diet of worms and insects. Eventually it was capable of fending for itself, and Forrest fully expected that it would wander off to join one of the marauding flocks of wild turkeys that periodically passes through the surrounding woodlands. While Taylor communicates with its wilder kindred, it has so far shown no interest in the hard life.

Lacking fear of humans, Taylor has staked out its own territory around the Forrest homestead following family members about and persistently demanding their attention by tugging on clothing and pecking exposed fingers. Forrest admits Taylor has become somewhat of a nuisance but has yet crossed the threshold of wearing out its welcome. It has also become attached to a very old horse and frequently roosts on its rump using the vantage point to scope out its turf. Frequently the bird will "groom" the horses coat but can be a bit overzealous resulting in a gentle buck from the gelding.

Forrest has no idea how long Taylor will remain, but suspects that once spring approaches and its hormones kick in for mating it will find its proper ecological niche. In the mean time it has managed to allude predators and is providing the Forrest family with a rare but intimate opportunity to observe and appreciate a wild turkey up close and personal despite Taylor's less than typical wild turkey behavior.

The resurgence of wild turkeys in Vermont is a wildlife restoration success story. The state's last turkeys were extirpated by 1854 as a consequence of habitat distruction and uncontrolled hunting. In late 1960s the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department undertook an effort of reintroducing turkeys to the state from wild stock obtained from New York. The original releases occurred in 1969 and 1970 of 17 birds introduced in Pawlet and 14 birds in Hubbardton, respectively. From these few birds the state's population grew rapidly to an estimated 600 birds by 1973. In-state relocations further encouraged the population to grow and broaden its distribution. The population is currently estimated at 35,000 birds distributed statewide and supports well regulated hunting. Turkeys are so abundant now that they are a common sight around many suburban backyard bird feeders and if they become too frequent visitors can bust the feed budget. This unlikely affinity for humans perhaps offers some insight in the domestication of the species by the Mesoamerican Aztecs prior to arrival of Spanish conquistadors.

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Vermont's First

2009-11-29T14:16:00.000-05:00

Since its introduction to the Bahamas in 1975 and appearance in Florida during the late 70s, the range of Eurasian Collared-Dove (ECDO) has steadily expanded westward through the Gulf Coast states and subesquently into the Southwest, Plains and Rocky Mountain states, and locations northwestward. By 2006 the species' distribution included about two-thirds of the land area occupied by the lower 48 and southern Saskatchewan (Alderfer 2006). For whatever reason the westward progression initially bypassed the Mid-Atlantic, New England and Great Lakes states. Massachusetts' first occurrence was in 2005. I have not been able to find out whether there are any accepted records for New Hampshire and Maine. If any readers of this blog know, please feel free to add a comment. Now being ECDO sightings come from across southern Canada it was only a matter of time before the species would make an appearance in Vermont.

Well, this apparently happened around mid November at a Norwich bird feeder with ECDO confirmation made the morning of November 25 by several local birders. The sighting was posted that day by Chris Rimmer and the news was out to the Vermont birding community.

Yesterday's high winds convinced me to postpone my visit until this morning arriving at the residence of John and Dianne Dunn at 8:20 a.m. No other birders were present, but within a couple minutes I was joined by Jim Mead and Dwight Carsgill from northern Vermont. Just as they walked up to where I was standing, I spotted the ECDO perched in a white birch at the opposite end of the Dunn's house. The bird was backlit by the morning sun and far enough away that we retrieved spotting scopes from our vehicles for better views. The bird obliged our viewing for only a few minutes before flying to the ground in a low lying area out of view. Soon after Hugh and Bunni Putnam of Springfield and another birder from Enfield, NH (failed to get his name) joined us. Several minutes later the ECDO reappeared and put on a good show and comparisons with accomapnying Mourning Doves (MODO).

The ECDO appeared to be somewhat unsettled with the human activity and tended to keep distance from us despite the nearby presence of feeders. Even though it kept "company" with several MODOs, it seemed to maintain some separation and even showed what I interpret to be mild aggressive behavior toward them.

Below are a couple digiscoped images of the Norwich ECDO. The bottom photo shows the underside of the tail: broad buff-gray terminal band, undertail coverts, and hint of the black tail base.

Citation:

Alderfer, J., editor. 2006. Complete Birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, D. C.

Pink-footed Geese, Yarmouth, Maine

2009-11-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

Recently hearing of the continued presence of three Pink-footed Geese in the Yarmouth, ME area, since first discovered a month and a half ago, motivated me to get on the road early Saturday morning and make the three hour drive. The last time I had an opportunity to see the species was February 11, 2006, when two geese were reported on the Connecticut River at Enfield, CT. I struck out. So the Maine sightings gave me some hope that this time may be productive.

The weather forecast for the day was not good...a nor'easter with heavy rains. Leaving home in a light rain, it was a wet drive until I got to the NH-ME stateline. From there north it was dry, cloudy but the rain was not far behind. Arriving at Idleknot Farm around 9 a.m. I found no other birders checking out the fields where the geese have been regularly seen. A couple hundred Canada Geese were visible feeding in the farfield, but no Pink-foots. Given the rolling terrain I suspected there were more geese than could be seen from my vantage point on Woodville Road. Soon I was joined by birders Don Mairs of Belgrade, ME and Letitia Lucier of UT. Don saw a new list serve post for the day that the Pink-foots were seen around 8 a.m., so the prospects were still good.

Jennifer Cummings, who lives in the house near our spotting location, came out and told us about seeing the geese earlier in the morning and that they very well could be hidden behind the far fields as we suspected. She kindly offered us permission to access the fields and suggested how we might go about getting the best view without agitating the geese. Approaching a slight rise, many more Canadas were revealed and Letitia was the first to spot the subjects of our efforts. K'ching! Pink-footed Geese are striking: short bicolored bill, pink legs and feet, grayish brown mantle and flanks with prominent white bars; gray tertials and paler gray secondaries with white edges, and dark brown head and neck. Size-wise I'd guess they are about 2/3 the size of the Canadas.

I began digiscoping the geese at the time the rain arrived. Go figure. So between the rain and less than optimal lighting conditions, the photos are of marginal quality.

Thanking Jennifer for her hospitality, we headed out our separate ways. For me a long but satisfying drive back home in pouring rain. A life bird for me and reportedly a new bird species for the Pine Tree State.

Check out Derek Lovitch's October 1 post at http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=15574 for his account of the first Maine sighting, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-footed_Goose for general information on the species.

New Mexico, September 29-October 6

2009-10-11T09:33:00.000-04:00

This is a time of seasonal transitions whether in New England or the Southwest. We recently returned from a week in New Mexico preparing our home there for winter and fitting in some fall birding in the western mountains region. Certainly not as stunning as Vermont's foliage change, nonetheless New Mexico offers its own version which can be just as breathtaking when contrasted against the dominance of varied earthtones characterizing the landscape much of the year. Late summer rains have added a pastel green tint to the grasslands and mountain slopes not unlike the all too brief period of misty green Vermont's terrain displays during early spring. On top of this green tapestry are accents of southwestern flora in full bloom, including the bright yellows of chamisa (rabbitbrush), plains zinnia and daisies, the silvery-white plumes of winterfat, blues and purples of asters, and orange-reds of globemallows.

Within a day or two of our arrival the bird feeders were replenished and in no time were rediscovered by a variety of birds affiliated with the surrounding pinyon-pine woodlands. Ten species were observed visiting the feeders over the week: Eurasian Collared-Dove, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed (Gray-headed, Pink-sided, Oregon) Junco, Cassin's Finch, and House Finch. Others seen in the "yard" but not at the feeders included Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Green-tailed Towhee, and Spotted Towhee. A couple straggler hummingbirds (Selosphorus spp.) were spotted all too briefly to nail down identification, but I suspect they were Rufous Hummingbirds. As back here in New England virtually all the resident nesting neotropical species have already departed for Mexico and beyond.

On Sunday, October 4 we made a day trip to Glenwood 105 miles south of our home in Datil and hiked into Whitewater Canyon in the Gila National Forest. The canyon is known for the Catwalk, a metal walkway bolted to the canyon walls and formerly a 3-mile long pipeline constructed in 1893 to deliver water to generate electricity for the short-lived mining town of Graham. The present day Catwalk trail follows a perennial stream that flows through riparian woodlands dominated by cottonwoods, Arizona sycamore and walnut. The easy hike can offer productive birding including specialties like American Dipper and Painted Redstart. Time of the year and windy conditions made for challenging bird watching this visit with only 11 species sighted: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, a vireo ("Solitary" group, possible Cassin's Vireo), Common Raven, Bridled Titmouse, Canyon Wren, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, Townsends Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow.

The most noteworthy sighting was not that of a bird but rather a rare, nonvenomous snake, the Narrow-headed Gartersnake Thamnophis rufipunctatus (photo below), a state threatened species in New Mexico and a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service species of special concern. As far as gartersnakes go, this species is very atypical in that it lacks the long stripes along the body, instead being spotted, and having an unsual head shape. The individual we sighted measured about 18-20 inches in length and was crossing the trail within several yards of Whitewater Creek. The Narrow-headed Gartersnake is a highly aquatic species associated with clear-water, rocky streams having abundant streamside vegetation (NMDGF 2007). It is primarily a fish-eater, although amphibians are also consumed. When alarmed it typically dives to the stream bottom and takes refuge under stones.

At the end of our hike we were treated to a group of five Javelinas (Collared Peccaries) foraging in the dry river bed. Among the group was an adult female with two young. They casually munched on vegetation and from time to time where heard overturning stones presumedly looking for prey. As the sun sank behind the horizon we continued our trip back home along the way spotting another larger group of javelinas, Mule Deer and and Elk. An enjoyable and rewarding day.

Now back in Vermont, we're enjoying the fall foliage season at its peak and getting caught up on fall chores (moving fire wood inside, putting the vegetable garden and flower beds to rest, and soon raking an almost endless crop of leaves). Following photos: Western Scrub-Jay, Mountain Chickadee, "Pink-sided" and "Gray-headed" Juncos, Javelina with barely noticable young, and Greater Roadrunner.

Citation:

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. 2007. Narrow-headed Gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) recovery plan. NMDGF, Conservation Services Division, Sante Fe, NM. 22 p.

September 8 Pelagic Grand Slam

2009-09-11T17:08:00.000-04:00

This past Tuesday I participated in a nine hour pelagic birding trip off the New Hampshire coast organized by the Massabesic Audubon Center. It was likely the last pelagic outing I will take in this year, and if that proves to be the case, for myself I cannot possibly imagine this trip being outdone anytime soon. Simply stated last Tuesday was fantastic! The weather and sea conditions were near perfect, and the seabirds and other marine life presented an exciting spectacle.

About 40 or so birders boarded Granite State Whale Watch out of Rye Harbor and headed out past the Isles of Shoals towards Jeffrey's Ledge mostly birding New Hampshire water, more specifically Old Scantum and Jeffrey's Basin, with a couple brief forays into Maine. Spending most of the day chasing down birds and whales, the boat headed back to the Isles of Shoals in late afternoon checking out activity there before returning to port.

The undisputed highlight of the day was sightings of all three jaeger species: Pomerine, Parasitic and Long-tail, constituting for me a life bird hat-trick. This was followed by a sweep of the four shearwaters likely to be encoutered in the Gulf of Maine. In total 21 species of birds was observed. Most notable sightings with estimated counts of each were Cory's Shearwater, 31; Greater Shearwater, 940; Sooty Shearwater, 210; Manx Shearwater, 58; Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 260; Northern Gannet, 17; Great Cormorant, 1; Red-necked Phalarope, 28; Pomerine Jaeger, 1; Parasitic Jaeger, 5; Long-tail Jaeger, 1 juvenile; unidentified jaegers, 5 (likely Parasitic); and Black Guillemot, 1.

Marine mammal diversity (7 species) and numbers were also impressive: Gray Seal, 6 or more; Harbor Seal, several; Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, 150 including calves; Harbor Porpoise, 1; Finback Whale, 20 or more; Minke Whale, 4; and Humpback Whale, 5. And among all these, we also got close-up views of a large Basking Shark; two large, bizarre looking Ocean Sunfish; and several Bluefin Tuna.

Photos of some of our sightings, including jaegers and shearwaters, were taken by Len Medlock and can be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/nhpelagic09.

In closing, I want to thank to Jon Woolf of MAC for coordinating the trip; Steve Mirick for being the trip 'MC' and collating and posting the species counts; Len Medlock for his photographs; Lance Tanino (driver) for getting Cliff Seifer, Phil Brown and me to and back from the coast; and the crew of Granite State Whale Watch.

Fall Dragonfly Migrations

2009-08-24T20:45:00.000-04:00

My last three posts have dwelled on recent outings along and off the New Hampshire coast taking in migrant shorebird and pelagic seabird activity. Indeed it is the time of year when birds are on the move and this is only the beginning of more to come over the next month or so. This past weekend reminded me, however, that fall migrations are not limited to birds but also include some insects. Of course there is the well-followed mass exodus of Monarch butterflies, but last Saturday while visiting with friends in Maine, I was reminded of dragonfly migrations that more or less coincide with the southbound passage of raptors later in September. While perhaps less known and understood than that undertaken by Monarchs, dragonfly migrations are no less amazing natural phenomena.

During the early evening of our visit we observed a horde of dragonflies hawking over our hosts' lawn presumedly preying on mosquitoes that otherwise would have turned the table by dining on us. The numbers of dragonflies darting here and there within 5 to 6 feet of the ground defied an accurate estimate. Most conservatively there were no fewer than 50 and perhaps may have approached or even exceeded 100. When twittering Chimney Swifts diverted my attention skyward, another layer of dragonflies at a higher elevation was revealed. I believe it was too early in the season to be witnessing dragonfly migration but rather it may have been the prelude to the upcoming flight: fattening up for the long journey on an abundance of insects namely mosquitoes given the wetter than usual summer. If this was the case then the darners were effectively reducing mosquito numbers as well as the itchy welts we otherwise might have received. Like birds preparing to migrate, dragonflies have a need to build up energy reserves to fuel their autumn southbound migration.

Unfortunately my dragonfly species identification skills are not particularly good even with one in hand not to speak of those zipping about erratically in flight. That said, I'll speculate they may have been Anax junius, the Common Green Darner, a common species in the Northeast, one of about nine or so North American species reported to be migratory, and typically one of the most abundant species observed indulging in such flights.

Studies done in recent years reveal some similarities between dragonfly and bird migrations (Russell et al. 1998; Wikelski et al. 2006), i.e. (1) both undertake spring and fall migrations; (2) the bulk of migrants tend to follow topographic features, such as lake shores, ocean coasts, and ridgelines; (3) spring northward flights are assisted by southerly warm fronts, and autumn flights generally occur after the passage of a cold front out of the north; and (4) a flight day during the fall migration season occurs the day following an evening that was colder than the preceding one. Wikelski et al. (2006) projected that Green Darners monitored for their study may be capable of migrating over 400 miles during their two month migration period. However, the possible record distance traveled by dragonflies may be undertaken by those originating in India migrating across the Indian Ocean to Africa and back, a distance estimated to be between 8,680 to 11,160 miles, more than doubling the roundtrip migration of Monarchs (BBC Earth News, 14 July 2009). If such intercontinental dragonfly migrations are more substantiated this would truly rival those undertaken by birds and no less by an insect weighing not much more than a gram.

Citations:

Russell, R. W., M. L. May, K. L. Soltesz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1998. Massive swarm migrations of dragonflies (Odonata) in eastern North America. The American Midland Naturalist 140(2):325-342.

Wikelski, M., D. Moskowitz, J. S. Adelman, J. Cochran, D. S. Wilcove, and M. L. May. 2006. Simple rules guide dragonfly migration. Biology Letters 2:325-329.

August 8, More Pelagics & Whales

2009-08-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

While waiting for shorebird and other early fall migrant activity to pick up here in the Green Mountain State (but not necessarily looking to rush into winter), I've been passing the mid summer birding doldrums by concentrating on the New Hampshire coast. Frankly, I have been having some great experiences there this season. Yesterday was my most recent trip to the coast birding primarily Hampton Harbor in the morning and taking in a five hour afternoon whale/pelagic seabird boat trip aboard the M/V Granite State, based at Rye Harbor, NH, out to Jeffrey's Ledge. Accompanying me to the coast was Lance Tanono, who I rendezvoused with in Keene, NH,; we arrived on the coast at about 8 a.m. We soon linked up with birders Steve and Jane Mirick, Len Medlock, Lauren Kras, Ben Griffith, and Jason Lambert.

Shorebird abundance continues to pick up steadily with good numbers of Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Short-billed Dowitchers staging on the mudflats. Less numerous were Greater Yellowlegs, and on the seaward rocky coastline Ruddy Turnstones and a single Spotted Sandpiper. The usual assortment of gulls, terns and egrets continue in the harbor and surrounding marshes. The highlight sighting of the morning was two Hudsonian Godwits viewed from Hampton Harbor State Marina. One of the pair caused some temporary excitement and discussion, as it was a more washed out more grayish bird with a somewhat longer, straighter bill suggesting a possible Black-tailed Godwit than the other bird (an adult male, below photo in foreground). This tentative identification, however, was quickly dashed when both birds took flight revealing black underwing coverts and the mystery bird was concluded to be a juvenile female Hudsonian.

Later in the day Steve, Jane, Len, Lance and I took in the whale watch trip hoping for some good pelagic bird activity and for me getting first-time views of Red-necked Phalarope and Manx Shearwater, both reported seen offshore by others earlier this week. The leg between Rye Harbor and the Isles of Shoals was fairly void of pelagics, but once past the Isles actitivy steadily increased. Winds were from the SSE, skies clear and sunny. The following more notable counts of our observations were tallied by Steve: Cory's Shearwater, 9; Greater Shearwater, 628; Sooty Shearwater, 309; Manx Shearwater, 4; Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 330; Northern Gannet, 6; Red-necked Phalarope, 7; phalarope sp., 12; Common Tern, 45; and jaeger sp., 1. For most of the passengers, anticipation was focused on whales, and they (as we) were not disappointed. A total of 8 Humpback Whales were seen at close range bubble feeding and tail breaching. Surface feeding behavior was a cue to shearwaters in the area that leftover food was present. This was a great asset to me in identifying my first Manx Shearwater after missing the three previous birds sighted that afternoon. The fourth Manx of the day passed just ahead of the boat bow gliding to the shearwater feeding frenzy. Photos below: Top - Greater Shearwater; Bottom - Greater and Sooty Shearwaters cleaning up the spoils following a Humpback Whale feed.

So in the end, the day was a fantastic outing: both targeted life birds were seen and my day spent with the other birders was enjoyable and entertaining. Special thanks to Steve and Len for their efforts and patience in helping me with Red-necked Phalarope and Manx Shearwater. For readers of this post, especially my fellow Vermont birders, I encourage you to make the trip to the coast and utilize Granite State Whale Watch. It has been a fantastic season for offshore pelagics and whales, and the cost for the five hour trip, morning or afternoon, is only $31 person and ask about the birders' discount offer.

New Hampshire Coast, July 25

2009-07-26T11:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the New Hampshire coast provided some fantastic birding despite being my second unsuccessful attempt this season to see the Sabine's Gull which has been seen off-and-on at Hampton Harbor over the past several weeks. Nonetheless, a small group of birders got excellent views of two other unusual gull species that have been frequenting the N.H. coast as of late: a Little Gull and a Black-headed Gull.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the day was a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. The immature bird was spotted and identified by Len Medlock as he stood at a vantage point in the vicinity of Hampton Harbor State Marina looking northwest toward The Willows (near the mouth of the Hampton River). The bird's upright posture; long neck and legs; and stout bill set it off from any of the resident Black-crowned Night-Herons. Len cell phoned the group, who were scanning the harbor for gulls from the public use area next to the Yankee Fishermans Cooperative in Seabrook, setting us all dashing to link up with him. Everyone got distant views of the bird, but it was decided a more satisfying look could be had if we drove to The Willows and were able to approach it on foot within safe range without causing the bird alarm. By the time our small group arrived we were joined by two other local birders hearing about it via the cell phone network. Everyone got great views of the heron and it was photographed by some before it took flight and headed north over the saltmarsh.

From that point on our attention refocused on locating the three gulls. Several locations on the seaward side known for gull congregations were checked out but produced only Herring, Ring-billed, Bonaparte's and Great Black-backed gulls. But then Laura Kras phoned one of the group informing us that she had located a Little Gull at the Rye Ledges. Setting us all in motion again we arrived just minutes before the gull had "disappeared." Not to give up so quickly everyone scanned the many gulls resting on either the water or tide exposed the rocks. The gull (below) was quickly relocated and observed by all at close range until it again flew out of sight. One last time the bird was spotted by Steve Mirick and all got to view it in flight as it passed out of sight. Based on the partial carpal bar, whitish inner primary wing tips and black outer primaries suggests to me that this individual is in second pre-basic molt. Other opinions are welcome.

The day wrapped up with everyone returning to Seabrook to checkout Hampton Harbor again with hopes of the Sabine's and/or Black-headed gulls. While observing the usuual gulls, terns, some early migrant shorebirds, as well as a couple Least Terns, high tide was rapidly closing in vanquishing exposed mudflats and sand bars. The Black-headed Gull was spotted about mid harbor drifting on the incoming currents. Unlike any previous encounters I have had with adult Black-headed Gulls, this individual had a decidely mocha brown colored hood rather than dark brown to nearly "blackish." Perhaps this was due to the light conditions at the time (bright sunlight) or this bird simply has a lighter brown hood. As poor an image as the one below is, the brown hood is nonetheless evident. Eventually the gull flew to and landed on a spit of sand. In a repeat performance of the birders' scramble to get a closer view and photos of it, we got a new observation point literally seconds before it seemed to vanish into thin area and nowhere to be seen in the harbor.

Other notable sightings of the day included Northern Gannets, Wilson's Storm-Petrels, an immature Black Guillemot, Roseate Terns, and a couple Fish Crows.

Special thanks to Steve Mirick and Len Medlock for making the day a success and freely escorting three "in-landers" (Lance Tanino, Cliff Seifer and yours truly) in our pursuit of gulls. Kudos to Len for finding the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and to Lauren Kras for the Little Gull, and to the others who added to the excitement of the day.

Chicken Soup for the Summer Blues

2009-07-13T18:14:00.000-04:00

I have an admission to make: the wet weather northern New England has experienced so far this summer has really gotten me down. Since returning from New Mexico over two weeks ago, nearly every day has been punctuated by downpours more often than not occurring after work dashing any hopes of squeezing in home chores or even some birding during the remaining hours of daylight. As a life long New Englander I'm certainly accustomed to our fickle climate but we're stuck in a rut and my overall attitude is showing it. So when last Friday was forecast to be a splendid day weatherwise, it did not take a second of thought to decide to escape to the New Hampshire coast with Lance Tanino to take in a morning whale watch cruise out of Rye Harbor with the hopes of observing pelagic birds. Conditions were fantastic: sunny, warm, nearly cloudless skies, and a light southeast wind. The birds did not disappoint us nor did the whales.

Arriving at the coast an hour or so before the boat's scheduled departure we checked out Hampton State Park, Bicentennial Park and Seabrook Harbor, all locations from which a first-cycle Sabine's Gull has been reported. No luck!

The Granite State Whale Watch cruise began at 8:30 a.m. with the boat returning to port at 1:30 p.m. During the five hours we headed out past the Isles of Shoals to Jeffrey's Ledge and then south to off Rockport, Massachusetts. Lance was the "official" note keeper with species observations and counts as follow: Greater Shearwater, 26; Cory's Shearwater, 12; possible Sooty Shearwater, 2; Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 250 (conservative count); Northern Gannet, 17; Double-crested Cormorant, no count; Parasitic Jaeger, 1 adult; other possible jaeger sp., 3; Herring Gull, no count; Great Black-backed Gull, no count; and Common Tern, no count. In addition to the birds we got close-up views of 3 Humpbacked Whales, 7 Minke Whales, and a Fin Whale. Passengers were treated to several of these behemoths blowing bubble rings and breaching the water surface to feed (photo).

After getting back we had the afternoon and early evening to bird the New Hampshire coast beginning at Odiorne Point and ending at Hampton Harbor. Species of particular note included Common Eiders; Mute Swans, 2; Wilson's Storm-Petrels; Double-crested Cormorants; Great Blue Herons; Great Egrets; Snowy Egrets; Black-crowned Night-Herons, 2; Ospreys, 2 adults and 2 immatures; Willets, 12; Whimbrels, 2; Short-billed Dowitchers, 126; Laughing Gulls; Bonaparte's Gulls; Ring-billed Gulls; Herring Gulls; Great Black-backed Gulls; a Caspian Tern; and Common Terns. And again no Sabine's Gull or the Little Gull also recently sighted in the area.

So, did the day lift my spirits? You bet! Besides a great weather day, Cory's Shearwater was a lifer for me, and as a side Lance returned to the coast on Sunday and added Little Gull to his life list.

Henslow's Sparrow, LB #477

2009-07-08T21:03:00.000-04:00

Last Friday (July 3), Lance Tanino and I drove south on I-91 to Montague, MA with hopes of seeing the Henslow's Sparrow that was firsted reported the previous Saturday and continued to be seen and heard singing every day since then in an unmowed hay field just north of the intersection of Meadows and Upper Taylor Hill roads. Observing the bird was not nearly as challenging as finding our way to it on roads unfamiliar to us. Fortunately there was already a birder on the road shoulder peering into a field fitting the description of our destination, so little time was wasted and we got onto the bird almost immediately. The sparrow's song (tsi-LICK) was distinctive and seemed to project some distince giving the impression that the bird was alot closer than it really was. Actually the bird was hanging out 50-70 yards from the road near the center of the field. When not taking refuge down in the grasses, it perched on one of several green oat stems that protruded above the surrounding vegetation. Soon we were joined by a half dozen or so other birders, including two from Delaware. Henslow's Sparrow is now a rare sighting in New England, so Lance and I were both very satisfied to add it to our life lists here.

New Mexico Trip Report, June 10-24

2009-06-25T20:32:00.000-04:00

This is my first report from the Southwest since establishing this blog last winter. Eva and I have been going to New Mexico at least once annually since 1996 and last year established a "home" base near the town of Datil located in the state's western mountains. The natural and cultural worlds of the Southwest contrast so dramatically with those of the Northeast, and every visit offers new adventures and learning experiences regarding the fauna, flora, ecology and geology, as well as the Hispanic and Native American peoples who have contributed richly to the past and continue to do so.

I would have liked to report two weeks worth of birding, unfortunately the downside of establishing a second home is another list of household chores in need of doing. So, this trip was a bit scant on the birding side of things, but nonetheless this report provides a snapshot of the birdlife of northern Catron County and other observations of particular note.

The weather over the two weeks was superb: daytime high temperatures were in the low to mid 80s; sunny, blue skies accented with scattered culmulus clouds; and a light breeze. Nights offered comfortable sleeping with temperatures typically in the 50s. This was in stark contrast to what we left behind in New England over the same period of time and eventually returned to. Rain is almost always a welcome event in the Southwest, but the monsoons (the Southwest's summer rainy season) held off until the evening before my departure. Since then weather reports have forecast the possibility of daily showers and thunderstorms. I cannot possibly put into words a description of the aromas given off by the arid vegetation (pinyon, juniper, creosote bush, etc.) following a summer shower...absolutely stimulating!

Over the two weeks foremost among my bird sightings was pair of nesting Ferruginous Hawks. The nest and two nestlings were in a juniper tree adjacent to NM Route 12 which traverses the southern extent of the Plains of San Augustin in Catron County. The plains are the southern most limit of the hawk's breeding range in the state. Over the course of the two weeks I periodically checked on the young and observed first hand changes in their development.

The nest and young were first spotted on June 12. As you can see in the photo below, the young on that date were predominantly covered in white down with some feathering beginning to emerge along the scapular region and in the wings. Despite the proximity of the nest to a relatively busy highway, the adults were exceedingly wary of human activity presented outside a vehicle and would promptly fly to other locations several hundred yards back into the surrounding rangeland taking positions on the ground or at the top of other junipers from which they emitted scolding high pitched whistles...kreee. Needless to say the separation distance between me and the adults presented less than satisfactory photo opportunities. On another day I tried a different strategy. Arriving before sunrise I took cover in a patch of saltbrush with scope and camera poised on the nest, but somehow the attending adult sensed my presence at daybreak and immediately retreated to its familiar distant vantage point. From that point forward my observations were made from a greater distance to minimize stress on the adult birds with the chance of causing nest abandonment.

On June 22 from 6 a.m. to noon I stole time from other commitments to dedicate to birding the 55 mile stretch of Route 12 between Datil and Apache Creek. The drive passes through several habitats: high desert grasslands, juniper savanna, pinyon-juniper woodlands(photo below top), ponderosa pine forest, riparian meadows and woodland (photo below bottom), and wetlands.

Essentially all birding was done from the road or involved very short ventures into specialized habitat (e.g., riparian woodland) resulting in a total tally of 47 species. Bird sightings included: Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, a Common Nighthawk (dead on road), Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Lewis's Woodpecker, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Warbling Vireo, Pinyon Jay, American Crow, Chihuahuan Raven, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, and a Pine Siskin (dead on road).

By June 22 feathers had largely replaced the down and the young Ferruginous Hawks were taking on the appearance more akin to their parents (photo below top). And for whatever reason one of the adults remained on the nest long enough to allow me to snap off several images of it at relatively close range (photo below bottom). Perhaps it came to accept me not as a threat or the young having attained more advanced development (or independence?) may have been a factor.

With the preceding exception any other birding that took place over my two week stay occurred closer to "home" and was more or less incidental in nature. Habitat at our residence is primarily pinyon-juniper woodlands including some low elevation ponderosa pine and rangeland. Local sightings included: Turkey Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Chihuahuan Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, Mountain Blubird, American Robin, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch. Other wildlife observed were Botta's Pocket Gopher, Least Chipmunks, Rock Squirrels, Desert Cottontails, Black-tailed Jack Rabbits, Mule Deer, Elk, and this doe Pronghorn nursing one of a set of twins shortly after giving birth.

Based on the infrequency of bird sightings reported for Catron County via the New Mexico list serve and RBA, I am lead to conclude this largest of the state's counties in terms of land area (6,989 square miles) is vastly undercovered by birders with the exception of a few well publicized sites, namely the Catwalk and Mogollon near Glenwood and in the vicinity of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The county's human population is estimated to be 3,543, the third lowest in the state. Sixty-three percent of the county land area is under federal ownership of which most is adminsitered by the U. S. Forest Service under the Gila, Apache and Cibola National Forests. The largest standing body of water in the county is 131 acre Quemado Lake. No doubt Catron County is a bit off the beaten track for most birders, but I suspect it has a lot more to offer those willing to "tough it out" and explore its expansive back country.

Below is a very small sample of the 100 plus bird photos taken during this trip. Subjects include top-to-bottom: Clark's Grebe on Quemado Lake, male Black-headed Grosbeak, Plumbeous Vireo on nest, male Spotted Towhee, Ferruginous Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Loggerhead Shrike, male Western Bluebird, Prairie Falcon, and Curve-billed Thrasher with one of three nestlings visible.

Philadelphia Vireo, LB #476

2009-05-31T10:27:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 30: Connecting with Lance Tanino in Ascutney, VT at 7 a.m. we headed north to the White Mountains in New Hampshire for a full day of birding at several locations off Crawford and Jefferson Notches. Our primary mission to get Philadelphia Vireo, a life bird for both of us and for me one that I have tried repeatedly over the years to see but every time came up empty. I don't believe either one of us held more than a long shot hope of seeing one, but even so we looked forward to observing northern warblers and perhaps one or two boreal specialties.

Our first stop was Zealand Trail and an easy 1.5 mile hike to a spot on the Zealand River, where Alan Delorey in his 1996 A Birder's Guide to New Hampshire mentions as a potential location for the vireo as well as boreal species. At the "meadows" (photo above) described by Delorey, we were not disappointed. Hearing a Red-eyed/Philadelphia-like song from a distance but moving nearer to where we stood, patience paid off with the sighting of a pair of Philadelphia's interacting with one another, and on one occasion a bird was observed by Lance carrying nesting material. Both birds were scrutinized at close range. I was able to snap off a photo (below) of one of the pair, albeit a poor image. The day could not have gotten off to a better start.

From 9:25 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. I tallied 26 species: Turkey Vulture, 1; Broad-winged Hawk, 1; Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1; Alder Flycatcher, 3; Least Flycatcher, 3; Blue-headed Vireo, 6; Philadelphia Vireo, 2; Red-eyed Vireo, 2; Blue Jay, 3; Tree Swallow, 4; Winter Wren, 2; Swainson's Thrush, 3; American Robin, 1; Nashville Warbler, 1; Magnolia Warbler, 5; Black-throated Blue Warbler, 8; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 3; Black-throated Green Warbler, 10; Blackburnian Warbler, 2; Blackpoll Warbler, 8; Black-and-white Warbler, 1; American Redstart, 5; Ovenbird, 3; Common Yellowthroat, 3; Canada Warbler, 4; White-throated Sparrow, 5; and Dark-eyed Junco, 1.

We got back to the trailhead not a minute too late before the sky opened up with a downpour and cherry pit-size hail. After grabbing a snack and cold drink at a nearby store, we continued to the Caps Ridge Trail in Jefferson Notch. The trailhead is at an elevation of 3,009 feet, the highest point in the White Mountains that is accessible by way of a no-fee public road.

On the trail at 2:10 p.m., the hike is more rigorous than that of Zealand Trail, but well worth the effort traversing thick impenetrable spruce-fir forest to get near tree-line dominated by krummholz. Along the way we were challenged by an abundance of thrushes: mostly Swainson's but a couple birds that bore physical resemblance to Bicknell's/Gray-cheeked. Eventually we identified Bicknell's on the basis of calls heard in the vicinity of our destination, the prominent rock outcrop about a mile up from the trailhead. There, we were visited by a couple inquisitive Gray Jays that were fooled (but only twice!) to take gravel from Lance's hand (photo). Next time we must not forget to bring a more palatable handout for them.

Birds recorded on the Caps Ridge Trail included: Black-backed Woodpecker, 1; Yellow-beliied Flycatcher, 1; Red-eyed vireo, 1; Gray Jay, 2; Boreal Chickadee, 1; Winter Wren, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1; Bicknell's Thrush, 1; Swainson's Thrush, 8; Nashville Warbler, 1; Magnolia Warbler, 2; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1; Black-throated green Warbler, 1; Blackpoll Warbler, 3; White-throated Sparrow, 4; and Dark-eyed Junco, 1.

Leaving the Caps Ridge trailhead at 6:15 p.m. we wrapped up our birding day at the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail parking lot near the Mount Washington Cog Railway base station. Ten species, all observed previously during the day were recorded. Shortly after 7 p.m. we headed homeward both feeling very satisfied and rewarded with an excellent day in the North Country.

By the way, Lance is a resident of Keene, NH and an active member of the Monadnock Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon.

Lastly, a note about the photos. All were taken hand-held with my Canon Power Shot A 2000 IS digital camera. The poor quality images of the Philadelphia Vireo and Black-backed Woodpecker taken at some distance, under overcast skies were shot without benefit of the spotting scope. These particular photos have been enlarged and cropped to enhance details.

Nesting Season

2009-05-24T12:14:00.000-04:00

With the spring migration in its waning days, birds are shifting into procreation mode and some of our early nesters already have broods under their care. About two weeks ago I began monitoring a pair of Common Ravens that constructed a nest on the I-91 ledge cut immediately south of Exit 6 in Rockingham, VT. During the early evening of May 11 three downy young were digiscoped from the top of the ledge on the west side of the highway (photo right). Although the adults were heard croaking from time to time, none visited the nestlings dispite their begging. As the sun dropped behind the trees and the nest site was deprived of warm sunlight, the young disappeared into the depth of the nest. Eleven days later I revisted the site to catch up on the ravens' progress. All three young remained and had put on considerable growth. The slate gray down has largely been replaced with feathers, and one nestling (taller individual in photo below) has developed to the point that it can support itself on the nest rim. I speculate this is the dominant nestling. Neither adult was observed visiting the nest during my hour stay, but I'll return a couple more times hoping for the chance to catch an adult delivering food. Stay tuned.

Other noteworthy nesting observations from the area include the apparent success of the Peregrine Falcon pair on Skitchewaug Mountain in Springfield. According to Margaret Fowle of Audubon Vermont, eggs are suspected to have hatched on May 3 and the banded male may be the same individual that nested there in previous years. The female is not banded.

In my April 7 post I wrote about our optimism that this may be the year that the North Springfield Reservoir pair may pull off a successful nesting. Last Wednesday, wildlife biologist Forrest Hammond and I checked on the eagles during our lunch break. During the short visit we saw promising activity. Upon our arrival one adult sat on the nest. Shortly after it fly to a snag tree several hundred yards down the lake, where it deficated and promptly returned to the nest. At the nest, the bird showed much attention to whatever was in the nest (young?) and then resumed brooding position but with alot of bill gaping and head movement. Eagle pairs in the Upper Connecticut River Valley are reported also to have hatched young.

On the down side, the eagle pair that has established a nest site near the Upper Meadows (Herrick's Cove IBA) the past several years appears not to have been successful. A couple visits on my part including those of others have failed to find any eagle activity at the nest. Despite the species' recovery nationwide and federal delisting from endangered status, the Bald Eagle in Vermont still remains tenuous.

Partial Albino Siskin

2009-05-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

Late today this Pine Siskin showed up at our niger feeder with definite characteristics of partial albinism. Note the predominance of white feathering on the body and head, mostly flesh-tone bill and pink legs, while retaining normal plumage coloring in the wings and tail. Four degrees of albinism are recognized: total, incomplete, imperfect and partial based on the complete absence of coloring from one or more of plumage, iris and skin. Partial albinism occurs when pigmentation is reduced or absent from one or more of these body parts and is the most frequently encountered variant. Two normal plumage siskins continue to visit the feeder and may be nesting in the vicinity.

Herrick's Cove IBA: May 9

2009-05-12T11:59:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday morning while walking the perimeter of the Herrick's Cove parking lot scanning the brush and tree tops for the latest spring migrants, I heard from behind and above my right shoulder a soft gutteral "skyow." There in a boxelder tree about 15 feet off the ground perched a male Green Heron (top photo). Inspecting him through my binocs, he grew weary of the attention and nimbly like a high wire circus performer walked slowly down the thin limb placing one foot ahead of the other. And from there with as much dexterity stepped onto a branch of an adjacent tree repeating the moves until he assumed a more central position within the wooded thicket. Now I have been aware of the presence of a pair of Green Herons here for the past couple weeks and even briefly observed the male carrying twigs to a suspected but undisclosed nest site. However, on this occasion I forced myself to take time to scope the area more closely with the hope of locating the nest. After several minutes scanning the trees through the exploding new foliage, a basket ball size clump of twigs was spotted about 20 feet up an American Beech tree not too far from where the male was perched. Scanning the nest through the scope revealed a dagger-like bill protruding above the edge of the nest and barely visible at its base an eye with its gold iris. Aha...the female. Hunkered down on the nest she offered few opportunities to view much more of her. But once or twice she repositioned herself giving me the chance to click off a series of camera shots through the scope with the hope of getting at least one fair image of her (bottom photo).

I must admit taking such an amount of time to observe the behavior of a rather common bird has been a recent development over my 30+ years of birding and stems from my participation in the most recent Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas. Inventorying bird species within my assigned survey blocks was definitely not a new experience. On the other hand closely observing bird behavior to confirm nesting required an entirely different skill set including patience. So I suppose applying those experiences beyond the atlas years for me just adds a new dimension and deeper appreciation for the lives of birds.

As for the other birds observed at Herrick's Cove that morning, a total of 50 species and 286 individuals were tallied including: Canada Goose, 4; Wood Duck, 5; Mallard, 3; Wild Turkey, 1; American Bittern, 1; Great Blue Heron, 1; Green Heron, 2; Turkey Vulture, 2; Osprey, 1; Bald Eagle, 1; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Northern Flicker, 2; Eastern Phoebe, 1; Great Crested Flycatcher, 2; Eastern Kingbird, 6; Warbling Vireo, 3; Blue Jay, 4; American Crow, 8; Tree Swallow, 100+; Barn Swallow, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 13; Tufted Titmouse, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Marsh Wren, 1; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2; Cedar Waxwing, 2; Yellow warbler, 5; Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 17; Pine Warbler, 1; Black-and-white Warbler, 1; American Redstart, 1; Common Yellowthroat, 2; Scarlet Tanager, 2; Chipping Sparrow, 1; Field Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 11; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Northern Cardinal, 1; Rose-breasted grosbeak, 1; Red-winged Blackbird, 21; Common Grackle, 9; Brown-headed Cowbird, 3; Baltimore Oriole, 6; American Goldfinch, 11. Overall a great morning.

Butter-Butts, Bandits & a Bog-Pumper

2009-05-03T10:09:00.000-04:00

Spring migrants are making a definite push into the area. Visits to Herrick's Cove on May 1 and 2 yielded 34 species between the two days of which 12 were firsts for me this season. The two most notable sightings included two Red-necked Grebes in striking breeding plumage on the Connecticut River and a Bonaparte's Gull just west of the island at the cove entrance. In addition to an abundance of Yellow-rumped Warblers, five other warbler species were observed: Yellow Warblers, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, a Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats. Saturday morning produced three Baltimore Orioles including a male that was the most intense colored individual I recall ever seeing (photo below). If it were any more red, it easily could have been mistaken at first glance for a Scarlet Tanager. On both days a lone American Bittern was heard "pumping" from the cattail/phragmite stand in the cove.

At home, we enjoyed a "yard" first: a Red-bellied Woodpecker (female). Sure they've been increasing in number down in the Valley to the point that now they are almost taken for granted. But here at 1,500 ft. elevation, its appearance is a treat. Pine Siskins remain and with the recent report of a fledgling in nearby Woodstock, we are looking out for evidence that they may be nesting in our area too.

Digiscoped images of a few of the birds seen on May 2: Baltimore Oriole and Savannah Sparrow at Herrick's Cove, and White-crowned Sparrow and Red-bellied Woodpecker in South Reading.

April 25 & 26: They're back!

2009-04-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

Since my last visit to Herrick's Cove (see April 20 post) failed to find any of the early warblers, it was only a matter of time, shorter than longer, before they would make their debut. Well, what a difference a few days of summer-like weather (high temperatures in the 70s and even 80s) in April no less can make to encourage migrants to keep pushing north. Saturday morning the trees near the boat launch parking lot were alive with Yellow-rumped Warblers along with a few Palms and one Pine Warbler. Birds tallied that morning included: Canada Goose, 13; Wood Duck, 2; Mallard, 4; Green-winged Teal, 26; Common Merganser, 15; Great Blue Heron, 1; Osprey, 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Greater Yellowlegs, 3; Lesser Yellowlegs, 1; Dunlin, 1; Mourning Dove, 2; Belted Kingfisher, 3; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Northern Flicker, 3; Eastern Phoebe, 2; Blue-headed Vireo, 1; Blue Jay, 5; American Crow, 6; Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 1; Black-capped Chickadee, 6; Tufted Titmouse, 1; American Robin, 4; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 12+; Pine Warbler, 1; Palm Warbler, 6; Eastern Towhee, 1; Song Sparrow, 19; Swamp Sparrow, 2; White-throated Sparrow, 3; Dark-eyed Junco, 4; Northern Cardinal, 2; Red-winged Blackbird, many; Common Grackle, 3; Brown-headed Cowbird, 1; American Goldfinch, 3. Species observed by other birders I encountered that morning, but not by me, included a Green Heron and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Eurasian Green-winged Teal was not seen, even though fair numbers of the American subspecies remained. In all 37 species (161+ individuals) were observed and/or heard over the span of 3 hours.

A return visit Sunday morning pointed out how quickly the scene can change over night. Two hours of birding produced only 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Palm Warbler and 1 Pine Warbler, and the shorebirds were nowhere to be seen. Also, most of the teal appeared to have moved out and were replaced by approximately a dozen Wood Ducks, and 2 Double-crested Cormorants were spotted out on the Connecticut River. For me the highlight of Herrick's Cove on Sunday was a Brown Thrasher which was digiscoped (photo above). The total species count was down by 10 from the previous day, and the total individual bird count was also substantially down.

After leaving Herrick's Cove Eva and I headed north on Route 5 to check out the nesting Bald Eagles off Upper Meadows Road thinking that the eggs if any had been layed may be about ready to hatch. We saw no eagle activity at all, so a follow-up visit may be necessary. However, while there the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Black-and-white Warbler of the year for me were heard. And to complete the morning, a Louisiana Waterthrush was heard singing from the North Branch of the Black River in Reading a mile or two from our home. I could have continued all day checking out my favorite birding haunts, but a long list of unfinished spring home chores is another reality of the season.

Golden-crowned Sparrow, LB #475

2009-04-22T19:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday after seeing on the Vermont Center for Ecostudies website the presence of a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Orwell, Vermont I emailed the bird's "hosts" Marlene and Norton Latourelle to inquire if it was still hanging out at their residence and, if so, would it be o.k. to drop in. Marlene got back to me and said that it was and provided directions to their home and art gallery. This afternoon I made the 1.5 hour drive and was not at all disappointed. The Latourelle's have graciously welcomed birders into their backyard to observe this first for the state record since the bird arrived about 10 days ago. Upon arriving I was in the company of Norton, Marlene, Ernest Franzgrote, and two other birders who had come over from Keene, NH. Shortly after we were joined by another birder from Burlington. We had excellent views and photo opportunities of this West Coast specialty, and after everyone had left I was further rewarded by hearing its song two or three times. My visit culminated with Marlene showing me the gallery and Norton's wood sculptures of birds, fish, dogs and other critters. His latest subject of course is a nicely sculpted and painted Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Herrick's Cove IBA: April 18 & 19

2009-04-20T15:18:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday morning (7:55 to 9:30 a.m. on the 18th) was my first visit to Herrick's Cover (photo right) of the year. A leisurely walk around the picnic area afforded an opportunity to check for early arriving songbirds and late migrant waterfowl. The morning started off sunny but gradually gave way to clouds.

In total 33 species and 123 individuals were tallied: Canada Goose, 7; Wood Duck, 3; Mallard, 7; Green-winged Teal, 2; Common Merganser, 2; Great Blue Heron, 1; Killdeer, 1; Greater Yellowlegs, 1; Solitary Sandpiper, 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Northern Flicker, 3; Eastern Phoebe, 1; Blue Jay, 11; American Crow, 7; Tree Swallow, 6; Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 1; Barn Swallow, 1; Black-capped Chickadee, 6; Tufted Titmouse, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; American Robin, 5; Savannah Sparrow, 2; Song Sparrow, 12; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Dark-eyed Junco, 1; Northern Cardinal, 1; Red-winged Blackbird, 19+; Common Grackle, 7; Purple Finch, 1; and American Goldfinch, 2. Apparently early migrant warblers (Palm and Yellow-rumped) have yet to arrive.

Sunday brought beautiful spring weather (sunny, blue sky with few clouds, and temperatures in the 50s), so I returned in the morning with the focus to digiscope birds passed up the day before. An adult Bald eagle was sighted perched in a tree on the small island at the interface of the Cove and Connecticut River and almost immediately took flight and soared downriver. An Osprey was later seen fishing the Cove and succeeded at capturing a large yellow perch. And, painted turtles were hauling themselves onto logs to soak in the sun after the long winter.

Unlike Saturday, 55-60 Green-winged Teal had moved in within the past 24 hours and were feeding in the shallow water east of the island. While taking a head count, one individual stood out from the rest: a male Eurasian Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca (photo below), readily distinguished from the typical carolinensis subspecies by its prominent white scapular stripe and lacking the latter subspecies' vertical white bar on the sides of the breast. A third identification field mark, the buffy head stripes extending from the base of the bill and along the upper margin of the green ear patch was not obvious on this individual; however, the same feature setting off the lower border of the ear patch was. This bird was a subspecies "lifer" for me. The sighting with documentation was submitted to the Vermont Bird Records Committee. Two years ago to the month another male Eurasian Green-winged Teal was observed by local birders Hector Galbraith, Don Clark and Taj Schottland at the Cove establishing perhaps the first occurrence record of the subspecies in the state.

Lastly, a little about Herrick's Cover IBA. This is perhaps one of the premier birding spots in the Middle Connecticut River Valley. Consisting of two parcels totalling 395 acres, the Cove consists of a day-use only recreation area with picnic grounds and a boat launch at the confluence of the Williams and Connecticut rivers. Several miles to the north is the Upper Meadows parcel. Both properties are privately owned by TransCanada Hydro Northeast. The Cove parcel offers a variety of habitats including riverine floodplain forest, cattail and phragmites marsh, alder swamp, mudflats, and the river itself. The juxtapostion of these habitats no doubt draws in migrants for resting and refueling. Over 200 species of birds have been reported from Herrick's Cove IBA including the occassional regional rarity. One never knows what will show up next...a case in point Sunday's Eurasian Green-winged Teal.

Duck Stamps: Good for Bird Conservation & Birders

2009-04-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

As birders we all know the importance of wetlands to the vast diversity of birds and other wildlife we enjoy observing. The U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports 59,000 acres of wetlands are lost annually throughout the U. S. as a result of draining and land conversion. Over the past 200 years in excess of 50% of the wetlands that once existed here are now gone. Unfortunately, the trend continues. Perhaps one bright spot is the National Refuge System that has grown from the very first refuge (5.5 acres on Pelican Island, FL) established in 1903 to a current total of 550 refuges encompassing nearly 150 million acres.

Much of this protected habitat consists of tidal and freshwater marshes and forested wetlands reported to support in excess of 1,350 vertebrate species: over 700 birds, 200 mammals, 250 reptiles and amphibians, and 200 fishes. More than 200 refuges were setup specifically to provide migrating birds with breeding, resting, and winter habitats. Fifty-nine refuges have been established with the primary purpose of conserving endangered and threatened species. In 1995, it was estimated that 27.1 million people visited national refuges to birdwatch, hunt, fish, photgraph wildlife, and/or participate in a variety of educational activities. The majority of these visitors are non-consumptive users (i.e. do not participate in hunting or fishing). No doubt public use of these areas has increased since then and will continue to do so into the future.

Wetlands within the refuge system were largely acquired through dollars collected by the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (a.k.a. fedral duck stamps). Since 1934, when duck stamps first went on sale, over $700 million has been collected and has purchesed or leased 5.2 million acres of wetland habitat. While all waterfowl hunters are required to purchase an annual duck stamp at a bargain price of $15, others using refuges, including birders do not need to do so. Sure, many national refuges charge access fees ranging from $3 to $5 per vehicle-visit, but purchasing a duck stamp is an all around better deal. So if you bird refuges as much as I do the initial cost of the stamp is quickly paid off and recouped many times over the course of the year. And more importantly 98 cents of every stamp dollar is used to conserve more wetlands thereby benefiting birds, wildlife, and birders. I encourage all birders to purchase a stamp annually if you are not now doing so. It is an inexpensive investment in protecting these critical areas and the many bird species dependent on them. Stamps may be purchased from your local post office and give you "free" access to national wildlife refuges from July 1 through June 30 annually. That's a deal no frugal "Yankee" in his/her right mind can pass up.

Prospects Looking Good for Vermont Bald Eagles

2009-04-07T20:47:00.000-04:00

This year may very well be record setting for nesting Bald Eagles in Vermont. As of today six active nests and a possible seventh have been reported in the state. Four of these are in the Connecticut River Valley with pairs seen at Moore Reservoir, Barnet, North Springfield and Rockingham. Until recently Vermont has been the only state among the "lower 48" not to have at least one nesting Bald Eagle pair within its borders. This changed in 2006 with the successful nesting that produced one young in Rockingham which unfortunately died before being fledged.

Of particular interest are the eagles at North Springfield Reservoir observed and photographed today. Eagles first constructed a nest there in 2002 in a tall white pine. The following year a pair of Great Horned Owls highjacked the nest before the eagles returned. Not until 2005 did the eagles construct another nest near the first but failed to lay eggs. And then again in 2006 and 2007 owls beat the birds to the site. Last year eagles were seen from time to time at the lake but did not nest. Well, that all seems to have changed this year. Eggs have been layed and incubation is in progress. We can only hope they succeed in hatching and raising one or possibly two young to fledgling age.

The above photo of one of the North Springfield birds is a bit fuzzy due to being digiscoped from a distance of a quarter mile with the camera hand held. Shot at 120x (20x scope; 6x optical zoom).

March/April

2009-04-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

Spring migration in the Middle Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire is well underway with migrant waterfowl and raptor activity on the increase. Flocks of Canada Geese began moving through around mid March stopping to feed in large floodplain fields that grew last year's corn crop. Where sheet water pools have formed from snow melt, ducks (mainly American Black Duck, Mallard, Wood Duck) are in evidence, although Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal are also present but in lesser numbers. Particularly good spots to scope out are the corn fields, pastures and river setbacks (Great Meadows) along Route 12 south of Charlestown, NH. On the VT side check Albee's, Herrick's and Roundee's Coves north of Bellows Falls and Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro.

Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons are now nesting. Eagles at the nest site on River Road in Plainfield, NH are incubating, and a pair in Rockingham, VT appears to be doing the same. Peregrine Falcons have returned to the cliffs at the southern end of Skitchewaug Mountain in Springfield, VT and may be incubating eggs.

Other local spring arrivals to date include Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Other signs of spring's arrival: sap buckets and sugar house steam, male American Goldfinches in the midst of shedding their drab garb for their namesake breeding plummage, quacking wood frogs, and willow blooms.

My last sighting of Common Redpolls was on March 15. Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings were noteworthy in late March with particular note of ~100 birds in Perkinsville, VT on the 21st; 54 in South Reading, VT on the 23rd; and 200+ in Windsor, VT on the 26th. While most Pine Siskins have moved on a few remain visiting the feeders here at our home.

Above: Male Common Redpoll in vibrant
breeding plumage. March 15, South Reading,
VT. Below: Bohemian Waxwing. March 21,
Perkinsville (Weathersfield), VT.

January/February Retrospective

2009-03-03T08:42:00.000-05:00

The highlight of January was the Ivory Gull at Plymouth, MA on the 25th (life bird #474). Eva and I had a choice of pursuing either the Ivory Gull that had been in Gloucester, MA or the one in Plymouth. We decided on the latter, which proved to be wise as reports from the birding community seemed to indicate the Gloucester gull had moved on elsewhere.

On February 14 we drove over to Center Harbor, NH to see and photograph the Northern Hawk owl. I succeeded at both. While there I was delighted with the chance reconnection to a birder I had not seen in over 30 years. Sue Fogelman introduced me to hawk watching and in-flight hawk identification on Little Roundtop Mountain in Bristol, NH. It was a pleasure seeing and speaking to her after such a long time. Birding is rewarding in so many ways.

In South Reading, VT our feeders have been regularly visited by Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, Common Redpolls, Dark-eyed Juncos and Purple Finches. What is unusual about this winter is good showing of siskins, redpolls and goldfinches. Typically a winter is dominated by one but rarely two or even more so three during the same season. And to top that off we've had the first overwintering Northern Cardinal and Tufted Titmice (2) as regular visitors. Winters in the higher elevations of Reading are snowy, cold and long. Flocks of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings have been making the rounds within the region stripping apple trees of their remaining fruit.

A day trip to Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area in the Northeast Kingdom of VT on February 16 produced no crossbills or boreal chickadees. Sighted species included Gray Jay, 2; Common Redpoll, a flock of ~20; an American Tree Sparrow; Blue Jays; Black-capped Chickadees; Common Raven, 4; and Hairy Woodpecker, 2. Cone crop appears to be nonexistent this year.

Hooded Merganser at Meredith, NH, on February 14, 2009.