Several years ago was when I first really appreciated the Milton Frye Nature Area in Norwich, VT. George Clark was leading one of his many very educational bird walks in Norwich. But this day was cold and rainy so attendance was very sparse. We walked into the orchard and found quite a bit of activity but soon headed into the woods to search there and perhaps to partly escape the rain. When we returned to our cars the rain had let up somewhat. I decided to head back to the orchard, this time with my camera and tripod. George came with me to “spot”.
The apple trees were in bloom and there seem to be multiple birds in each of them. We were having a “fall-out”, birds were grounded by the weather and “trapped” by the cold and rainy conditions. And there they stayed for three cold rainy days until the weather broke. Then suddenly they were gone. I saw species I had not previously seen, Bay-breasted Warbler, as in the image below, among them. It has not been as good since, but I try to return each spring when the apple trees are in bloom and birds are feeding on the insects among the blossoms.
In conjunction with a small exhibit of bird photos I have hanging currently at the Norwich Post Office, I put 30 of my favorite photos from the Milton Frye Nature Area HERE.
