dickmansfield

[dickmansfield]

Two cameras - one Monarch

Today, walking with Ginger, I was using my iPhone to capture some images for a Spanish lesson. This garden of coneflowers (Echinacea) just down the street, caught my eye. You might notice the butterfly – I did as it moved from plant to plant. I got my regular camera ready and as it settled, got a nice shot of it. In spite of floods, warming, smoke from Canada, and all, moments like this give me…

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[dickmansfield]

Morning walk along river

After yesterday’s encounter with the Great Egret, I vowed to carry my camera every jaunt. Here are a few shots from this morning, when mosquitos seem to outnumber birds. The Great Blue Heron was on patrol again. This Alder Flycatcher was singing instead of bug-catching. I probably saw these geese as youngsters earlier in the summer. These young mergansers have been cruising since the…

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#Birding with Ginger #Canada Geese #Hooded Mergansers #iPad Blogging #local birding #Vermont Birding #Washington County #Winooski River North Branch

[dickmansfield]

Some Vermont Spring Birds

As the hills green up, often you can hear a bird but not spot it — at least open enough for a photo. Here are a few successful encounters I’ve had in the last few weeks. Typically, warblers are bouncing around and in foliage, like this Yellow Warbler. But, once in a while … A cooperative Common Yellowthroat A Chestnut-sided Warbler taking a quick break. A more laid-back Veery. Eastern…

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #Chestnut-sided Warblers #Common Yellowthroat #Eastern Kingbird #Ovenbird #Veery #Vermont Birding #Warblers #Yellow Warbler

[dickmansfield]

North Carolina Recap

We’ve been home for a few weeks and just getting to the rest of the NC photos. It was a great trip — and this is our second visit to a nice cottage in Manteo that we really like. The birding in the yard is wonderful — here’s a Carolina Wren singing to me early one morning. There’s a nice mix of woodlands and ocean — here are some shots from our outings. A House Finch serenading. There were…

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#Carolina Wren #Coastal Plain Cooter turtle #Great-flycatcher #North Carolina Birding #Pileated Woodpecker #Tree Swallows

[dickmansfield]

A Wednesday Beach Walk

We are on an outing to North Carolina for some warmer weather and beach walking. It’s been quite windy but things have improved, as has the birding. We stay in Manteo and usually visit the national seashore daily. Our backyard Brown Pelicans surround a fishing boat Here’s a young Herring Gull and then an older model. Sanderlings are fun to watch. A Black-bellied Plover joined the party. And…

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#Birding with Ginger #Gulls #North Carolina Birding #Plovers #Shorebirds

[dickmansfield]

Platonic Turkey Love

Yesterday I came upon a dozen or more Wild Turkeys and just like last year’s post in mid-April — the guys were displaying — the hens were in a “get lost, Buster” mood.

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#Birding with Ginger #local birding #Vermont Birding #Washington County #wild turkey

[dickmansfield]

Early Spring Birds

The snow is melting, back roads are muddy, and every week new birds show up. Downy Woodpeckers, here in our backyard all year, are some of our favorites – and we get to see their fledglings in a few months. American Crows are very active, hassling hawks like this Red-tailed, and often gathering in groups, known as “murders.” Likewise, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, recent arrivals,…

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #Common Grackle #Downy Woodpecker #Red-tailed Hawk #Tufted Titmouse #Turkey Vulture #Vermont Birding #Washington County

[dickmansfield]

Winter Thaw

A week and a half ago, we were walking on the river while dozens of skaters came and went as we watched. A few days later, things thawed and now the ducks are back, enjoying some early spring-like weather. Sunday, I came upon this couple tucked into the back just upstream from the house. A week earlier, this couple was foraging downtown in the main Winooski River. Mergansers are here – not sure…

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#Backyard birds #Common Merganser #Mallard #Vermont Birding #Washington County #Winooski River North Branch

[dickmansfield]

Curiosities

Now that birding has slowed, with many of the winter denizens still delighting us, it’s a chance to think about past adventures. Most of us, when we bird, love to observe other things — for some it’s plants or butterflies, for me it’s unusual stuff along the trail. Here are some items from this Fall. Needs a little TLC Fancy trim – a long way from a road. Beavers worked hard night after night…

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#Curiosities

[dickmansfield]

See You Next Spring

See You Next Spring

In spite of wintry weather in December, our visiting Great Blue Heron hung in there until mid-month. Here are the last photos I got before it departed just before Christmas. Midst a snowstorm Two days later See you later

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #Great Blue Heron #local birding #Washington County

[dickmansfield]

I Brake For Birds

This popular birder bumper sticker seems especially appropriate at this time of year when I’m looking for winter birds that can be elusive – Grosbeaks, Buntings, Horned Larks, Bohemian Waxwings, Snowy Owls. I had some extra time this morning and took the long way on back roads to my appointment. Coming around the corner of a narrow road, I came upon a flock of about a dozen Evening Grosbeaks…

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#Bird Photography #Birding with Ginger #county bird #Evening Grosbeak #Vermont Birding #Washington County

[dickmansfield]

Pre-storm Birds

We’ve had a Nor’easter forecast for a week and it’s hitting today. Yesterday Ginger and I took several outings and found a number of interesting birds along the river. In an early walk, I surprised a few Mallards, only to notice that one was a diving duck. It was a first sighting for this spot, a Ring-necked Duck who was actively feeding for about an hour. The Mallards were busy in the icy…

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #Great Blue Heron #Great_Backyard_Bird_Count #Mallard #Vermont Birding #Washington County #Winter Birds

[dickmansfield]

November Hangers-On

We’ve had a warm fall, as witnessed by the number of ticks on Ginger and the number of birds hanging around. Most migrating birds have left but I still hear a Carolina Wren every morning. Several days ago, I was on an early walk with the dog and saw a bird upstream, and returning a bit later with my camera, found this pretty male Hooded Merganser, hiding amongst the branches of a fallen tree. I…

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #local birding #local birds #Washington County #Winooski River North Branch

[dickmansfield]

Hangars-On--Part B

Hangars-On–Part B

As we transition to Fall with hints of color in the foliage, there are fewer birds and most are silent. There are migrants moving through and some locals who have yet to leave. Here’s a few shots from the last couple of days. A few Mallards hang around, but most will leave soon. I got to finish molting before I’m going out in public. Hawks have been on the move for a while but I came upon a…

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#Backyard birds #Birding with Ginger #fall migration #Gray Catbird #Mallard #Northern Flicker #Vermont Birding #Washington County #Wrightsville Reservoir

[dickmansfield]

Hangers-On -- Part A

Hangers-On — Part A

As most of the warblers, hummers, and flycatchers have left for warmer climes, I’ve been looking for birds that are packed but not quite ready to go. Here are some from last week. Note the leg band on this Veery. Aside from a few chirps, they are pretty silent now. Ducks, except for a few hardy Mallards, will likely be migrating next month, just in time for hunting season. There are a lot of…

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#fall migration #Flycatchers #local birding #mergansers #Vermont Birding #Washington County #Wood Ducks

[dickmansfield]

Signs - Part 2

Signs – Part 2

Here are some warning signs I’ve photographed in our travels. You are not in Vermont anymore …. I’m just looking, sir. I thought they’d all be hibernating. (taken with iPhone in 2012 – LA) Here are a couple of Vermont signs for contrast.

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#alligators #birding travel #Snakes #Warning signs

[dickmansfield]

Signs - Part 1

Signs – Part 1

As a late summer project, I have decided tackle cleaning up the thousands of images I have in Photo libraries on my MacBook. My goal is 1o discard 100 images a day — in doing so, I am getting to relive many of my birding adventures. Along with images of birder license plates, I’ve captured shots of a lot of things seen along the way, such as interesting informational signs. Here are a few from…

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#Black Vulture #Laughing Gulls #license plates #Warning signs