Diario de bkelley

On Saturday April 16, 2016, I went to the Derway Island nature reserve in Burlington. I was unfamiliar with this park so this trip was an exploration of a new nature park as well as a birding visit. This was mostly old growth forest that filled in the mouth of the Winooski River that curved into Lake Champlain. It was on the slightly warmer side, around 54 degrees Fahrenheit, and sunny.

At first the park seemed quiet (not including the numerous Ring-Billed Gulls, whom I suppose were really there because of the water treatment plant on the edge of the park) but then I noticed that there was quite a bit of movement in the trees. I watched a Pileated Woodpecker and a Hairy Woodpecker for a long while. Several White-Breasted Nuthatches flicked into my view every now and then and became quite loud over the course of my outing. I headed over to the waters edge, following what I thought was a large bird that had just landed there. I caught a good glimpse of it (and a picture to match) when a motor boat went by and a Double-Creasted Cormorant took off. Another common bird that caught up to me every now and again were American Robins. I also came across a few animals that were not birds (butterflies, moths, toads, frogs, snakes).

On my way out, Black-capped chickadees seemed to just about line the entrance of the park, but I had not taken as much notice of them while in the forest. I was very excited to spot a Brown Creeper, at some distance. My first thought was that this was a nuthatch but it was headed up the tree vertically rather than around it or upside down, which I have come to know as something that the nuthatches do. On my way out I also spotted several other species of birds, like Turkey Vultures that were circling above the water treatment facility. On the drive home, I was also excited to see an Osprey. Once again, a very eventful trip.

On Thursday April 7, 2016, I went back to Geprags Park in Hinesburg to see if, with the warmer weather, new (and hopefully more compared to the last time I had visited the park) species of birds had arrived. Geprags Park is a mix of old and new growth forest that borders and separates three large meadow areas. I arrived at the park at 1:00pm. Much like the time before, it was very overcast, but, unlike the time before, it was a balmy 54 degrees Fahrenheit with very mild wind. From the moment I stepped out of my car the difference in this visit was distinct. Many different bird calls could be heard coming from all around. Some I recognized, such as the Blue Jay, and some I did not recognize to species, such as the Red-winged Blackbird.

Sitting on the telephone wires above the parking area were two Eastern Bluebirds. I was very excited to see these, and two more across the road, because I had never seen them before (at least as far as positively identifying them). Also clinging to a tree in the parking lot area, was a Hairy Woodpecker. As I entered through the trail to the park, I spotted a Red-winged Blackbird in a tree above me. In the park on the wooded side I spotted a Mourning Dove and a White-breasted Nuthatch. I heard several (I assume at least four) Blue Jays calling from different sides of the park and (finally) was able to take a picture while one called out.

As I came to the back of the park, a huge flock of American Robins flew overhead, some landing in the trees for a minutes or so before taking off again. This was one of the biggest flocks of them I have ever seen. My attention was then caught by a very loud call that I did not recognize. It sounded much like a higher register car alarm. On the thicker forest side of the park I spotted a Carolina Wren perched on a shrub branch who was making this noise. Soon another Carolina Wren came to this same spot, I assume answering the call, and the two chased each other until one flew away (I lost track to see if it was the original that stayed).

With the rain beginning to come down I headed back to my car. Along the drive out (unable to take out my camera), I drove past a small flock of 3 Turkey Vultures who were trying to eat the remains of a carcass that was in the road. One of the three birds landed directly in front of my car on the road and hopped forward, out of my way, while the other two looked on from the other side of the road. I also passed an American Kestrel swooping across the road and perching on a tree branch on the side of the road, and, later, a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree. The Turkey Vultures are probably part of the same larger group (perhaps 7 or so) that I have seen soaring over different parts of Spear Street for the past several weeks to a month. Similarly, this Red-tailed Hawk, I believe, is the same one that I have seen now and then perched on the same tree in the same spot for several months. All in all, this was a very busy bird watching excursion.

On Wednesday March 16, 2016, I headed down to Lake Champlain to see if I could catch any waterfowl. Lake Champlain is the largest fresh water body in/along Vermont. It was a grey day but warmer, in the mid 40s. I arrived at the sailing yard (in front of the sailing club building) at 3:15pm and walked out along the pier. Gulls (probably all Ring-billed) called from out along the rock support wall, that keeps the waves down for boats. I came across two Ring-billed Gulls who had perched themselves on the top of two beams. One stood almost on guard while the other (the further one from me) threw its head back, somewhat violently, and called out. I am not sure why it was doing this odd head motion, but it was not something that was necessary to call out. Perhaps this was a display? Perhaps a warning to me to leave them alone?

There was a fisherman trying to catch some fish (I believe he caught at least one), which lead me to believe there was fish for waterfowl here, but I did not see any. After spending some time at the pier, I decided to travel along down the shore. As I headed to the parking lot I spotted some American Crows flying overhead and a decently sized group of European Starlings along the railroad tracks.

After observing several more (I presume) Ring-billed Gulls, I decided to head to the Winooski River because I am very familiar with the park there, and thought the thinner parts of the river might have some different birds. Walking along the trail between the river and the park, there were two very large American Crows that flew into the trees above me. In the distance a small group of geese flew over head and landed upstream of where I was. I walked down to the edge of the river and waited as the gaggle drifted closer. I watched this flock of Canada Geese drift along, dunking in their wings and head every now and then. The two at the back of the pack started to go after one another. I think this may have been agonistic behavior, perhaps caused by a ranking conflict. The group drifted all the way down to the rocky outcropping in the center of the river. They climbed up onto the rocks, perhaps enjoying the sun that had started to come out.

On Wednesday February 17, 2016, I went to Geprags Park in Hinesburg to look for birds. Geprags Park is a mostly open meadow area surrounded by some new growth. It was a mostly quiet, cold day: 32 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy. I arrived there at 3:45pm. Getting out of the car I noticed an American Crow fly up into one of the trees by the road and parking lot. I didn't think to take a picture of it then because I figured I would see more once I got over the hill and into the heart of the meadow. Once I got into the meadow it was very quiet except for some jets and (what I thought was) a tow plane in the sky above. I walked along one edge of the meadow to the back of the park and started to hear some calls. I heard an American Crow and a Black-capped Chickadee in the distance but still did not see anything. I came to a spot with a few apple trees, one with many apples still on its branches, but no signs of any birds having a late lunch/early dinner.

Out of this silence, from behind me, came a single, short, high pitched chirp. I turned around, fumbling to get the lens-cap off my camera in such a way that didn't scare it, and got its picture (out of great focus but enough to tell some markings). I believe this was an American Tree Sparrow. I took a few steps closer to get a better look but it flew away. In that same instant a Tufted Titmouse, from across the field, began to call very loudly. It was too far into the trees and moved too fast for a great picture, but one can just make out the shape from the image.

As I was leaving, it seemed a small group of Black-capped Chickadees followed me out, from a distance. I could hear them and saw one from a ways away. An American Crow flew overhead as I headed back across the meadow. I was hoping to see more crows or some hawk or other large bird, but that was not the case. It wasn't windy when I was there, but, unsheltered from the cold, a meadow is certainly not the warmest of places to hang out. Perhaps this is why it was so quiet.

On Saturday January 31, 2016, I went up to the Hinesburg Town Forest, a mixed old growth and new growth forest, to look for birds. On my way I passed a group of Sumac shrubs, on North Roads just before the turn to Haden Hill, and hanging onto one of the shrubs was a Pileated Woodpecker. I turned around to get it's picture but it was gone. I arrived at 8:16am and headed for the International trail. It was 33 degrees Fahrenheit, partly cloudy, and the sun was still behind this side of the hill. Black-capped Chickadees were very loud around the parking lot and several flew down around us. It seemed that the further I got into the woods the quieter it became; at times completely silent. Chickadees seemed to stay around the parking lot more and not so much into the forest. I heard a Blue Jay at the head of the International trail and one about a fourth of the way through, but did not see either of them. I wondered if many of the birds did hang around homes more than in the center of the forest, because of the bird feeders, especially in these wintery months.

At about 9:20am, there was a distinct difference in the amount of calls and songs I heard. I also noticed that the sun was starting to hit the tops of the trees on this side of the hill. It wasn't long before the sun reached some of the forest floor. Chickadees again were seen and many were heard, which makes me think that maybe they were just waking up with the new sun in the forest? There were also at least two calls I did not recognize however one may have been a Blue Jay. At this point I headed back. As I got closer to the parking lot again the Black-capped Chickadees made so much noise that it was never silent. Leaving the parking lot there was a Blue Jay that I watched for a while (it eluded my camera). On Hayden Hill just down from the forest parking lot there was a flock of Mourning Doves (about 7 but they scattered very quickly when I pulled over). I managed to get a distant picture of two.