Cedar Waxwings
The first Cedar Waxwings were spotted in the Chaffee Wildlife Sanctuary near Post Pond in Lyme. You can see from these photos that the immature ones look quite different than the adults, though both have a partial black mask.
Four days later I found a family at Kilowatt South Park in Wilder.
The striped immature waxwings are certainly old enough to feed themselves. But, like many kids, they seem to prefer to be fed by their parent. Here is a pair begging and receiving some red Winterberries (Ilex verticillata).
Back in Norwich, I photograped an adult Cedar Waxwing feasting on American Pokeweed, a poisonous, herbaceous perennial plant. But appartly it is poisonous to humans, not birds.
Here is a series of photos of immature birds feeding on the pokeweed.
Raptors
Jumping (or flying) to raptors, Jann and I found a Broad-winged Hawk in Newport. It should be migrating soon, if it hasn’t already.
In Lyme, I photographed a Bald Eagle near the same spot where I had seen a pair early spring.
Soaring over Campbell Flat in Norwich was a Turkey Vulture.
Kilowatt Park
I paid two visits to Kilowatt Park in Wilder. At KW South, adult and immature Northern Mockingbirds seemed to be everywhere. Here are some of the photos I took.
I also found an adult and immature Gray Catbird. I love the rufous butt (undertail coverts) on the adult.
Blue Jays were also present. These common birds seem unusually hard to photograph. Interestingly, the pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is not blue at all but brown. The blue color is caused by scattering of light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.
I photographed a Downey Woodpecker.
And a White-throated Sparrow.
At KW North, I found an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Notice its great camouflage when climbing a birch.
Paradise Park
I photographed a few nice birds during a brief stop at Paradise Park in Windsor. Here is an Eastern Phoebe with an insect.
And also present was an Indigo Bunting. I have trouble recognizing this species in late summer or fall.
And two sparrows in Paradise Park. A Lincoln’s Sparrow
and a White-throated Sparrow.
Norwich
In Norwich, I found a beautful Lincoln’s Sparrow,
a Song Sparrow on the same pokeweed as the waxwings,
and a Swamp Sparrow.
Also in Norwich along Old Bridge Road was an unexpected Carolina Wren. I saw movement, took a few quick photos and when it flew, I thought, “that was a wren”.
Old Bridge Road turned out to be a great spot for several days in late summer. There I photographed the Magnolia Warblers seen above, the Cedar Waxwings on the pokeweed, and, seen below, a Gray Catbird feeding at a web,
a European Starling,
and a Great Blue Heron in the Ompompanoosuc River.
Finally, at Campbell Flat in Norwich I photographed Common Yellowthroats on two separate days.
Lyme
Across the Connecticut River in Lyme near Post Pond were two yellow birds. An American Goldfinch,
and a Common Yellowthroat.
Sunapee
In Sunapee I photographed a Black-and-White Warbler,
a Red-breasted Nuthatch,
and a Red-eyed Vireo.
Enfield
Finishing the birds, a common and introduced species, but still a beautiful soft brown bird, a female House Sparrow along the Rail Trail in Enfield near Lakeside Park.
Mammals
Only a few mammals these weeks: A gray squirrel feasting on huckleberries in Sunapee, this photo taken from a kayak.
In Newport, a white-tailed deer fawn, still retaining its spots.
And two young deer in our Etna yard.
Paradise Park
Paradise Park in Windsor was very different in late summer than it was in spring. The weeds/wildflowers had overgrown the meadow, and what was once open water was now filled with waterlilies. It appeared that the swallow boxes had been removed, perhaps to prepare for a late-season mowing of the meadow.
Here are a few of the non-bird photos I took during a short visit mid-September. The mountain in the distance across Lake Runnemede is Ascutney. The red flower up close is a Broad-leaved Sweet Pea. The yellowish flower on a stalk is White Turtlehead. The bright yellow flower close-up is Nodding Beggarticks. The last image shows Mount Ascutney beyond a pumpkin patch.
Norwich
I stopped at three favorite spots in Norwich looking for birds to photograph. Campbell Flat is very well known. Less known is “Pompy Farm Oxbow”, an unofficial name bestowed by Chris Rimmer, co-founder and Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies who will retire the end of September. I often shorten the name to simply Pompy Oxbow. From this spot early one morning, looking across the Connecticut River into NH, I photographed some irrediscent clouds.
Here are two more photos from this spot across from Farrell Farm Road.
A third spot in Norwich, Old Bridge Road, can sometimes be good for birds. These weeks I photographed some great birds there. Here are two photos from this spot. I love Virginia Creeper in late summer.
Lakeside Park and the Northern Rail Trail
Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield is a wonderful addition to the area. I love to go there in late summer and fall for sunrise. The sailboats make great subjects. And the neighboring rail trail is a great place to walk or bike in either direction.
Below are photos from the last three weeks of summer of the Mascoma Lakeside Park, the adjacent Northern Rail Trail, and one from the boat launch looking toward the Lakeside Park across the Shaker Bridge.
Southeast of Hanover
I spent some time in Sutton, Sunapee, Newport, Springfield, and Grantham.
One of my favorite spots in Sutton is the view of Mount Kearszarge across the Lane River. Here is this year’s version of the scene that has been published several times.
In Sunapee I took a photo from near Burkehaven Harbor looking toward the lighthouse and a few of the islands in the lake.
I found some glacial erratics loaded with rock tripe. Rock tripe is edible when properly prepared; soaking extensively and boiling with changes of water removes the bitterness and purgative properties. It has been used as an emergency food source. I think it makes a great photo subject. I have not eaten it.
One of the most iconic full moons of the calendar year is the Harvest Moon best seen at moonrise on the evening of September 10, 2022. I did not do that but instead photographed it early that morning just before it set. It was an amazing color.
The preceeding evening, also from Sunapee, the sun was very red as it set.
Walking in Sunapee with Jann, I took this photo of hydrangea. I love the colors and textures.
Jann and I also hiked the Sugar River Rail Trail in Newport. We found some spider webs in the early light.
These beautiful sunflowers were also in Newport.
At McDaniel’s Marsh in Springfield, I took these two photos during a very brief stop.
I photographed the wetlands near Stocker Pond and Skinner Brook at Brookside Park in Grantham. Here is a slide show of some of the photos I took. Note foliage was turning in the wet areas, still with two days of summer left.
Hanover, Lyme, and Orford
Not far from our home in Etna, Dorothy Byrne has put two chairs at the top of steep King Hill. It is a great place to rest. They also make interesting photo subjects. I took a pair of photos to illustrate something I teach in my photo classes about perspective.
I define perspective as the size relationship of objects in a photo. Can you change perspective by standing in one place and zooming your lens??? The answer is, no. In order to change perspective you must move your feet while changing your focal length. And you have to move a lot; normally many, many yards. Here are a pair of photos. The first was taken far away with a long (300 mm eq.) lens. The second up close with a wide angle lens (27 mm eq.). Notice the position and size of the rock pile. Also the extent of the background.
Here is the cairn up close.
Early one morning I found this scene along Dogford Road in Etna.
A nice spot at Berrill Farms.
Looking up the Connecticut River from Wilson’s Landing was this view before 7 AM.
When Jann and I walked in Etna, I used my iPhone to take this photo.
Grant Brook in Lyme is a favorite spot in spring and fall. Here are two photos from there and nearby East Thetford Road early mid-September.
I visited Reeds Marsh and the boat launch in Orford but saw few birds. Here are three photos I took while there.
Early Foliage
One of the best spots for early fall foliage is along Bog Road in Enfield. Now you all know where to go. But that is fine. Happy to help. Here are some photos from September 21.
If you missed any of the Summer 2022 blogs, here they are:
Part 1 featuring a Great Blue Heron feeding frenzy and lots of colorful birds.
Part 2 with hmmingbirds and hummingbird moths plus more GBHs.
Part 3 featuring even more hummingbirds, butterflies, and flowers.