Bohemian Waxwings
I had little success finding them in Hartford or New London this winter, but late in the season they twice appeared briefly a mile from our home and once, for the first time ever, in our yard. I published some photos of them in my winter blog.
On April 3 a flock gathered on King Road in Etna but soon departed. I got a few photos.
Ducks
Early Spring is the time for ducks and duck-like birds. Often a scope is needed but there are some spots where one can get photos with a reasonable telephoto lens including Mill Pond in Etna and Main Street Pond in Enfield — I photographed Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers both places — and Campbell Flat in Norwich where I found Wood Ducks and photographed Mallards mating.
Wood Ducks
The male Wood Duck is one of the more beautiful ducks. I found them in Lyme, Hanover, and Canaan, NH and Norwich, VT.
Wood ducks will perch in trees, often sleeping there. Here is one from Little Goose Pond in Canaan, spotted by Joe who happened to be birding there also.
Here are four photos of Wood Ducks at Campbell Flat taken four different days in April and May.
The three photos below were taken at Wilson’s Landing in Hanover.
In late March I photographed some Wood Ducks in flight over Post Pond in Lyme.
Mallard
Mallards are common but also very beautiful ducks. Here are two enjoying an early morning on Lake Mascoma.
At Campbell Flat in Norwich I photographed a pair mating. They were shy and far away, so the photos are not good. This is the only avian mating in 2024 that I have photographed. In 2023 I photographed four avian copulations.
I was standing on the shore of Zebedee Wetland in Thetford listening to, but not seeing, an American Bittern when a Mallard flew in, landed, then departed a few minutes toward where it came from. Here are three of the photos of it flying over the pond.
Hooded Merganser
I photographed Hooded Merganser in Hanover, Enfield, Lyme, and Thetford. At Wilson’s Landing I watched a male chasing a female back and forth for many minutes. I was hoping to see a mating, but no luck. Here is a brief slide show of the chase.
Below are photos from both NH and VT.
Common Merganser
Far across the Pompy in Norwich, I watched another merganser chase. But this one was about the other key driver in life — food. The female caught a large fish she wanted to keep.
Green-winged Teal
I travelled southeast out of the UV just once and found some Green-winged Teal. For some reason there was a lot of splashing right in front of an American Coot.
Ring-necked Ducks
I was searching in vain for early arrivals along the Rail Trail at Ice House Road when I spotted a pair of Ring-necked Ducks surprisingly close to shore on Lake Mascoma. I managed a few photos through the vegetation.
Buffleheads
In poor light the male Bufflehead is a black and white duck. But in good light its colors can really shine. The light was mostly middling and marginal when I saw them, but some of the color comes through. The photos in the slide show below were taken at Main Street Pond in Enfield and at Mill Pond in Etna on three different days.
Canada Geese
I photographed a Canada Goose stretching on Mill Pond in Etna and a skein, a team, a wedge or a plump — so many names for when they fly in a group — over the Connecticut River in Hanover. A skein actually refers to a V-formation, which these are not in.
Sandhill Cranes
In early morning heavy fog in Bradford, VT, I heard calls somewhat like Canada Geese but clearly different. Then I saw them, barely visible in the fog. They flew past me and headed north calling continually.
Herons
Great Blue Heron
At 6:10 am in dim light in April, I watched a Great Blue Heron preen for 7 minutes at Wilson’s Landing, then fly to a nearby perch. The golden dawn light was reflected in the water when I moved to the correct position.
Twice in Lyme 90 minutes apart, a GBH flew over while I was trying to photograph vireos and warblers.
Green Heron
Looking unsuccessfully for a Least Bittern at the West Lebanon Wetland, I found a Green Heron in what some people call Cranberry Pond.
American Bittern
I heard them but did not see them at Zebedee and Little Goose Pond. In late April I thought I saw one in the flooded field at Campbell Flat but it was hard to tell. These two photos are much enlarged.
Then in early May I heard one calling from the northeast side of Campbell Flats Road. I scanned with my camera and long lens not finding it until it flew. I followed it with my camera as it flew past me across the road and into the field to the southwest.
Here are photos from after it crossed the road. In the first two it is calling “pump-er-lunk” by first inflating its esophagus and then releasing the air.
Solitary Sandpiper
At Campbell Flat in Norwich.
Belted Kingfisher
I was surprised when a female Belted Kingfisher flew past in the distance early one morning at Wilson’s Landing in Hanover. I got a marginal photo.
This is a rare avian species where the female is more colorful than the male. Here is a male from Campbell Flat in Norwich.
Raptors
Red-tailed Hawk
From late March:
Broad-winged Hawk
While waiting for many hours for red fox kits to appear, a fly-over:
Osprey
Along River Road in Lyme near the Wilder WMA I saw an Osprey perch in the distance on a tree and then fly.
Over a field farther north in Lyme, I photographed an Osprey flying.
Merlin
At Campbell Flat an Osprey perched in a far tree then flew past me. You might notice how much bluer the sky is 90 degrees to the sun.
Two days later there was a Merlin in our Etna yard — a first.
American Kestrel
I have been frustrated in my attempts to get close-up photos of Kestrels this spring. But I did get some distant photos of one flying over a field in Lebanon.
Bald Eagle
I photographed a Juvenile Bald Eagle in Lyme.
And Bald Eagles in flight on both sides of the Connecticut River. The pair at the Union Village Dam rec area in Thetford was being harassed by a Raven.
Turkey Vulture
Flying over the West Lebanon Wetlands, a common sight there.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
For some strange reason, I called this bird a ruby-breasted kinglet several times this Spring. Never seen one of them.
I photographed Ruby-crowned Kinglets in Enfield (mostly) and Lyme, NH and Newbury, VT. Some of the birds had the characteristic crown visible. Others were either hiding it or were females.
American Crow
I found an American Crow with a frog at Campbell Flat.
Here is a much enlarged version of the photo above.
Common Raven
At the Union Village Dam rec area, actually from the dam itself, I photographed a Common Raven that was harassing a pair of eagles.
A bit down the road from the dam, I took this photo.
Tree Swallows
I photographed Tree Swallows at Bedell Bridge SP in Haverhill, NH and in Norwich, Thetford, and Newbury, VT.
At Campbell Flat a pair seemed to have a bit of a squabble.
Along the Cross Vermont Trail in Boltonville, one was preening out in the marsh.
Here are three more photos from both sides of the river.
Red-winged Blackbird
I photographed Red-winged Blackbirds in Norwich, VT and in NH at Main Street Pond in Enfield, the Post Pond boat launch in Lyme, and the Wetlands in West Lebanon. Females look like large sparrows, but what are these two?
I believe they are first-year males. Here are a few more Red-winged Blackbird photos.
Common Grackle
Another black bird is the Common Grackle. But it shows brilliant colors in the sun. I found one at a nest hole in Bedell Bridge State Park.
Here are four more from Enfield, Lebanon, Norwich, and Haverhill.
European Starling
An introduced species from Europe, these birds can be quite striking. This one is from Lebanon on the eave of a 1790s barn.
Catbird
In Lyme I photographed this Gray Catbird singing, if you can call their chatter a song.
Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbirds have a bad reputation, deservedly so. They lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, often tossing out the eggs already in the nest. Their young are then raised by the unsuspecting adoptive parent.
Years ago when birding with George Clark in Hartford, VT, we watched a tiny Common Yellowthroat warbler feeding a much larger young cowbird. You can see the photos HERE.
I took this photo at Main Street Pond in Enfield near Mascoma Lakeside Park.
Flycatchers
Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe is our most common and easily recognizable flycatcher. Just look for the bobbing tail. Here are five photos from Hanover and Enfield, NH and Bradford, VT.
Eastern Kingbird
I had great fun late one morning at Campbell Flat in Norwich photographing Eastern Kingbirds in flight. To do this you need lightening-fast reflexes or a camera that records images before you press the shutter button. At my age, I rely on technology. Here are a dozen photos.
Great Crested Flycatcher
A rarer flycatcher is the Great Crested Flycatcher. Its call can resemble a yell. I found one or more several different days at Little Goose Pond in Canaan.
Pine Siskin
For a brown bird, Pine Siskin are quite beautiful.
Northern Mockingbird
Sticking with brownish birds…
Sparrows
Many sparrows (in the Family Emberizidae) are small, drab brown, and skulk around the ground and low shrubs. But not all. I got a nice mix of sparrows these first two months of spring.
Eastern Towhee
I found an Eastern Towhee at the UVD rec area in Thetford. It was quite beautiful and fairly tame. At one point it was in a low shrub and I walked quite close to it.
Dark-eyed Junco
My one Dark-eyed Junco photo was taken in College Park at Dartmouth when I was trying to photograph the rare Varied Thrush that visited for two dark and rainy days.
Field Sparrow
The Field Sparrow is a plain but beautiful sparrow. Its song is a bit like a bouncing ping-pong ball. I found it along Buzzell Bridge road in the Union Village Dam area of Thetford, VT.
Chipping Sparrow
I photographed a Chipping Sparrow at the UVD rec area in Thetford. This is on the south side of the Union Village Dam.
I photographed a Chipping Sparrow gathering nest material in Hanover.
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrows were found at Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield and in Ryegate and Thetford, VT.
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrows were photographed at Zebedee in Thetford and Little Goose Pond in Canaan. Here is one from Zebedee Wetland.
And from Canaan:
Veery
Sticking with brownish birds I found a pair of Veery in Hanover. One had caught some food.
Wrens
Also brown are two species of wrens I found.
House Wren
I photographed House Wrens in Vermont: at both ends of the UVD area in Thetford and in Bradford.
Carolina Wren
On multiple days I found a pair of Carolina Wrens that appeared to be nesting along the Rail Trail near Main Steet Pond in Enfield.
Blue Jay
We move on to more colorful birds starting with blue: a Blue Jay from Kilowatt Park in Wilder.
Eastern Bluebird
I found Eastern Bluebirds in Norwich and Ryegate, VT.
Baltimore Orioles
Moving on to orange, we have Baltimore Orioles at Bedell Bridge SP and Little Goose Pond.
Woodpeckers
Sneaking up on red, we have four species of Woodpecker.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker in the Pompy area of Norwich:
And in our Etna yard.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Along the Rail Trail in Lebanon:
Pileated Woodpecker
Near Little Goose Pond:
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Going strongly into the reds, we have a pair of Northern Cardinals at Mascoma Lakeside Park. The male is red; the female is actually prettier in yellow.
Scarlet Tanager
When one thinks of a red bird, Scarlet Tanager comes to mind, at least in spring and early summer when the male is in breeding plumage. But by August, even the males turn yellow like the females are all year. I’ve heard some call it a black-winged redbird.
We found three on a walk with the Mascoma Audubon along Buzzell Bridge Road in Thetford. These three photos may be the same bird or not; I was just shooting at anything red high in the trees.
Vireos
Blue-headed Vireo
I heard many Red-eyed Vireos, but did not photograph any. I did get photos of a less common beautiful Blue-headed Vireo in Lyme. This one caught an insect.
Warbling Vireo
There are many along the Rail Trail in Lebanon and Enfield.
Warblers
We finally get to warblers. Some have moved up north but many will stay to breed in the Upper Valley.
American Redstart
I think the female American Redstart is a beautiful bird. Here is one from Bedell Bridge SP with a large insect.
As we walked the Mystery Trail at UVD with Mascoma Audubon, a male posed nicely for us. This is one of the easiest photos I have gotten of this species.
In Hanover an American Redstart was mostly hidden by pink and white flowers.
The three photos below are from the Rail Trail in Lebanon and Enfield between Ice House Road and Johnston Park.
Black-and-White Warbler
I photographed Black-and-White Warblers in Enfield and Thetford. Here are five photos.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
These two photos were taken at the UVD rec area in Thetford.
Common Yellowthroat
I heard Common Yellowthroats many places but took these photos in Thetford, VT and Canaan, NH.
Magnolia Warbler
I got a quick view of a Magnolia Warbler near Little Goose Pond in Canaan.
Northern Parula
I hit the jackpot with Northern Parula this spring. This bird is not in sharp focus, but it about to grab an insect.
Here are ten more photos of this beautiful warbler.
Palm Warbler
The Yellow (Eastern) Palm Warblers are quite stunning. They rarely hang around this area in summer. The first photo in the slide show below was taken near Main Street Pond in Enfield. The rest were from the Kendall Station area of Norwich.
Pine Warbler
Lyme and Enfield were the locations for hearing and photographing Pine Warblers this spring.
Yellow Warbler
The male Yellow Warbler is a stunning bird, in my opinion. Here is one from the area near Johnston Park in Enfield.
The Yellow Warbler photos below were taken in Bradford, VT (mostly) and in Enfield, NH.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed to be very prevalent this spring. I took way too many photos. But you are at the end of this post, so you can just let the slide show run.
