I joined a large group of enthusiastic birders yesterday on a field trip sponsored by the Mascoma Audubon. It was a beautiful morning. As is my custom, I arrived early and immediately started down the trail. It is easier to photograph birds when I am alone, but it is much harder to find them. Compromises, compromises.
On the walk in I found a Veery on the road…
…and a Redstart on a branch.
There were a pair of Hooded Mergansers on the pond.
And I got a quick view of a female Common Yellowthroat.
But what attracted my attention was a Tree Swallow building a nest in a duck box. While I was photographing it, a Baltimore Oriole landed nearby and stayed for a few seconds.
Here are some photos of the swallows. The group arrived while I was taking these and stood fairly close to where the swallow was gathering material for its nest. The swallow did not seem to care but mostly stayed just out of sight behind grasses or below a small rise.
We walked north along the river and found a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. I took a few photos from a distance near where everyone stood, but needed to move in closer to get decent photos. My lens looks big and powerful but its size is mainly to let in a lot of light, not to provide huge magnification. It is roughly the power of small binoculars.
After the group had seen enough and decided to move on, I moved in much closer to the grosbeaks. Here are three photos of the pair.
But the best birds were near the parking lot after the group left. I stayed around hoping a get a decent shot of a Northern Parula that had been seen in the area. While waiting I spotted a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker pair at a nest hole in a distant tree. Here are some photos of them.
Finally the Northern Parula showed up. It was worth the wait.
On the way home I stopped at the Zebedee Wetlands, a UVLT conserved area. This is one of 6 really nice spots around the Upper Valley that will be featured in the Summer issue of Kid Stuff magazine. It is available free wherever kids hang out — libraries, dentist offices, etc. The article describes great short hikes for kids and their parents or grandparents. It also has some good birding spot you have likely never visited like Harris Brook.
I went to Zebedee Wetlands hoping to get an American Bittern. As is usual, the entrance was a fun challenge to keep shoes dry.
I hiked the perimeter and got some Marsh Marigolds.
No luck on the bittern, but I did get a nice Common Yellowthroat as I was leaving.
It was a great morning.