Every now and then, a bird walk is just
blah. The birds skulk in the undergrowth. They hide behind foliage. They choose
to perch directly between us and the bright sun. They taunt us by refusing to
leave the tops of the highest trees around.
Birds wanted to be seen. They wanted to be admired. They perched in the open. They tilted back their heads and sang. They turned this way and that, giving us views of back, front, and both profiles.
Cardinals ignored us humans
completely, intent on finding yummy insects in the pine needles and leaf litter
right next to the parking lot.
Elegant Cedar Waxwings
whirled in and out and among branches right over our heads.
A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
selected a bare branch in a little clearing and shared his beautiful song with
us.
An Eastern Wood-Pewee (often
a shy and elusive little creature) posed for photos, first on one branch and
then another.
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| This photo was taken by Barbara Mines. |
A pair of Scarlet Tanagers stayed in the same tree in the sun for at least a half an hour, the male holding a large bug in his beak.
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| Female Scarlet Tanager |
A nest full of young tanagers must have been close by. The cautious papa wasn’t about to show us where it was by flying in with the food!
A Savannah Sparrow was also
busy feeding babies, pausing at the top of a little bush with a tasty morsel in
its beak.
And, almost most exciting
(although it’s difficult to choose!), at least ten Bobolinks fluttered over an
open field singing their tinkling flight song.
Other critters were also basking in the warm sunshine.
The outing was an OLLI-UVM (Osher Lifelong Living Institute) field trip with 15 participants.
For more information about this beautiful location, click here: Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge
Maeve and Bernie endorse the Vermont outdoors and your participation in "Stop, Look, and Listen" allowing nature to come to you!
Vermont Birds and Words
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