Diario de bkelley

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 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.