This has been an early spring of ducks, flying eagles, and variable weather — some very warm days, but as I am typing this it is snowing. Broad-winged Hawks have returned as well as our smallest raptor, the American Kestrel in Lebanon shown above.
Ducks and Geese
American Black Duck
I often seem to have trouble telling an American Black Duck from a female Mallard, but here are some black ducks in Grant Brook in Lyme.
Buffleheads
Buffleheads often visit Mascoma Lake and the nearby pond between Main Steet and the Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield in spring. Here are some on the lake.
And two photos from the pond on a dull day.
However, male Buffleheads can be quite colorful when lit by direct sun as seen in these photos from the pond April 18.
Canada Goose
On the Ompompanoosuc River in Norwich I photographed a Canada Goose possibly trying to mate or perhaps just chasing another goose.
Common Merganser
In early April I found this Common Merganser pair on the Ompompanoosuc River just off Route 132.
Hooded Merganser
This Hooded Merganser pair was in a small pond in Etna.
Muscovy Duck
The strangest birds I saw this spring were likely not wild. There were five Muscovy Ducks in Occom Pond in Hanover for at least two days. Perhaps escapees from a local farm?
One of the oldest domesticated fowl species in the world, the Muscovy Duck was already being kept by native people in Peru and Paraguay when the early Spanish explorers arrived.
Here is a wild Muscovy Duck from Brazil.
And from Costa Rica.
Ring-necked Duck
The Ring-necked Duck should be named the ring-billed duck, since the ring on the neck is hard to see while the bill has a distinctive ring. Here are a pair in the Connecticut River from East Wilder on a dull morning.
And some from Grant Brook in Lyme where there have been many dozens some mornings the last few weeks.
Wood Duck
Wood Ducks were plentiful in Vermont and New Hampshire, but few were close to my camera.
These are from the Pompy in Norwich on April 18.
These are from Grant Brook April 4.
This pair is from Grant Brook April 10.
There were many Wood Ducks in Grant Brook on April 12.
Raptors
American Kestrel
The cutest raptor this spring was the tiny American Kestrel that I managed to slowly approach in Suellen’s field recently. I showed one photo at the top of this post. Here is another.
Broad-winged Hawk
A Broad-winged Hawk landed in a large oak in our yard on April 15 and stayed for a long time.
Bald Eagle
On two days in May I was able to photograph Bald Eagles flying.
Other Species
Black-capped Chickadee
I found a number of Black-capped Chickadees apparently gathering nest material at Campbell Flat. However, it looked like they were just tearing up the cattails rather than carrying material away.
Common Grackle
I saw Common Grackles at Kilowatt South Park in Wilder, VT and along Old Bridge Road in Norwich, VT.
Common Raven
In Lyme I photographed a Common Raven. I often confuse ravens and crows.
European Starling
The European Starling is an introduced species, but a beautiful bird in the right light. This one from Kilowatt South in Wilder, VT,
Northern Mockingbird
Kilowatt South was starting to come alive this past week. Here are two Northern Mockingbirds from KW South.
Northern Flicker
I photographed Northern Flickers at Wilson’s Landing in Hanover and KW South in Wilder.
Pileated Woodpecker
Hiking around Occom Pond in Hanover with Jann, we saw a Pileated Woodpecker. I retrieved a longer lens from my car while it pounded away at a hole in a birch for a very long time. It seemed unconcerned by my presence. I have not seen it since.
Sparrows
A beautiful Savannah Sparrow at KW South posed for me briefly.
I photographed this Song Sparrow at Campbell Flat.
Tree Swallow
In Suellen’s fields while searching for kestrels, I found some Tree Swallows.
