Expedition to See Snow Geese!

Seven of us spent a morning in Addison, first looking for Snow Geese and then enjoying demonstrations at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center.

We lucked into a spectacular day! The famous Addison County wind made it feel a lot cooler than the actual temperatures (in the 50s for most of the day), but sun, blue sky, puffy clouds, brilliant fall foliage, and camaraderie made up for the chill. And when we arrived at the Goose Viewing Area on Route 17, we were welcomed by a big, beautiful rainbow, every one of the seven colors bright and distinct.




About 800 Snow Geese were feeding in a nearby field and then gave us all a thrill as the whole flock rose into the air, flew in front of us, and settled in a new location.









Sharp-eyed members of the group (an OLLI-UVM class) spotted a Great Blue Heron and two Bald Eagles, one an all-dark immature bird and one an adult with the iconic white head and white tail.








There were also Canada Geese, Turkey Vultures, many Green-winged Teal, American Black Ducks, a few late-to-migrate Red-winged Blackbirds, and many starlings, chickadees, robins, woodpeckers and sparrows. 




We also saw all three common members of the corvid family: Blue Jays, crows and a raven.














Northern Harriers are frequently seen "dancing" over the open agricultural land of the area, their buoyant flight mirroring the contours of the ground below them. The cinnamon belly color identified this bird as immature. 




The activities at the Visitor Center were an unexpected bonus. All morning long, there were several mist nets set up, with demonstrations of bird-banding. This little Black-capped Chickadee got a silver-colored "anklet".















Wildlife Biologist Amy Alfieri demonstrated a "rocket net", which is used to capture a large number of ducks for banding. The crowd was warned to turn off cell phones (to avoid accidental detonation of the rockets!) and to stand back. With a loud noise and puffs of smoke, the rockets were set off and the net was thrown out and over the imagined ducks.



A young Red-tailed Hawk (hatched this past summer) had also been caught, weighed, examined and banded. 




We got to see the magnificent raptor up close. 





























The hawk hadn't yet developed the red tail of an adult although the rich colors showed hints of red.



When the hawk was  gently laid on the ground, it stayed there, unmoving. A Fish and Wildlife official told us that this posture, with talons raised, is defensive and is sometimes used by hawks when they're not sure whether they're under attack. 



After several seconds, the bander gently nudged the bird and it righted itself and immediately lifted into the air, soaring over the parked cars to a smattering of applause.

After the field trip ended, Bernie and Maeve had a great lunch at the wonderful Foote's Diner in Port Henry NY.







Right outside the diner, there's a great view of the Champlain Bridge. 




Before heading home, we stopped in at the Farrell Access of Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, one of the "back doors to the refuge". There we were excited to see some shorebirds and - amazingly! - a Sandhill Crane! Their range has been extending eastward over the past decade or so, but they're still a rare sight in Vermont. (The beautiful bird, with its deep red crown, was too far away for good photos.)

The following five photos were taken by Henry Swayze of Tunbridge VT. Thanks, Henry!












In this photo, the hawk's brand-new leg band is visible.




















From beginning to end, this was a wonderful Vermont day, with many nice people and great natural beauty! 

The Big Sit! Mills Riverside Park, Jericho VT. Oct 14 - All Day, All Welcome

BIG SIT UPDATE!!! - The 2018 Big Sit has come and gone. 



Yesterday we sat and stood at Mills Riverside Park in Jericho from a little before 7AM until 5PM, looking and listening for birds. 

We were joined all day by Karl, most of the day by Nathan, and parts of the day by Sabina, Shirley, Warren, Anna, Daniel, Gaye, Cara and Sharon.














Curious passersby also stopped by, many eager to share stories of birds they'd seen and enjoyed at the park.

The morning was cold (37 degrees) and overcast with dark clouds. By mid-morning, we saw breaks of sun and blue sky, and by the afternoon the temperature was in the 50s with sun, wind, and glowing fall foliage.

The day started with lots of bird noises, mostly crows, chickadees, juncos, and White-throated Sparrows. 

Bernie had brought a stuffed robin just in case we didn't see any real ones. 

























He shouldn't have worried! We were entertained by a flock of thirty or so robins feasting on wild grapes and then dropping to the mowed lawn to hunt for grubs. They were joined there by four Northern Flickers and some starlings.





























From 10:30 or so until 1:00 was a definite lull, enlivened by snacks, hot tea and coffee, and friendly human visitors.



In all, we counted more bird species than we'd expected in such a busy park, with almost constant human and dog traffic. High school senior photos were being taken in several locations throughout the day, with people bringing in cameras, lenses, reflectors, props and changes of clothing. One enterprising photographer even carried a large stuffed wing chair on his back!

Each new bird species was recorded on The Official Big Sit Orange Board. 

In the evening, we got an e-mailed photo and a lovely PS from Reed Sims. He and his wife had come by as we were packing up.

Here is the "remainders of the day" photo, those dedicated hold-outs who didn't abandon their companions, but instead continued to add to the Big Sit List with aplomb and extraordinary, nay, astounding diligence, hoping for the occasional eider or macaw.

Thank you all for adding to the national database.

Pre-Sit Post below

Free - All Day Bird Watching Event. First timers to experts - all welcome. 

The Big Sit! is a one day event whereby beginners and experts and anyone at all interested come together during the day and count how many bird species they can spot or hear while sitting or standing in a 17-foot circle. 

This annual international non-competitive event hosted by Bird Watcher's Digest and Swarovski Optik and founded by the New Haven (Conn.) Bird Club, is held around the world to promote birds, bird watching, and the birding community. 


You can stop by for a few minutes or a few hours or the whole day. Bring, if you have them, chair, binoculars, bird guides, scope, camera. We will have some extras available as well. And then join in as we sit and watch for every bird species we collectively can spot or hear. 




We promise it will not be this cold!

Where: Mills Riverside Park, Jericho, VT.
When:  All Day - Sunday Oct 14
Leader: Maeve Kim, co leader: Bernie Paquette 
Team name: Jericho Juncos



RSVP Bernie.paquette@yahoo.com 

Here is a good description of the Big Sit.
https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit.php 

Hope to see you (and the birds) at Mills Riverside Park on Sunday Oct 14. Stop by for a few minutes, or few hours, or all day. 

Introduction to bird watching
Oct 14 Mills Riverside Park
Jericho, Vermont

Why get into bird watching? It is the most relaxing of hobbies. Only requirements are eyes and or ears, some free time, and an outdoor area. You can choose how deep you get into it – casual bird observation to identification and record keeping; from backyard bird watching to spotting birds on walks in parks, fields, and woodlands; from recreational activity to citizen science.  

Now is a great time to go bird watching as many birds are migrating through the area, and the temperature is moderate.

Bird watching gives you a reason to explore the natural world and is a form of mindfulness.

Bird watching works for all ages – for everyone. Bird watchers like to help others to find and identify birds. No minimum skill level required – just an interest in spotting, hearing, and learning about birds. Bird watching can be especially fun for children, once introduced they may become bird watchers for life.

About 50 million Americans plan an outing to observe wild birds this year.

Bird watching sharpens your sight, your observation skills, encourages you to explore the world, and helps you to treasure the moment. One moves from the pretty in nature through successive stages of beautiful.

Getting to know birds is like getting to know people and their names. The more we know about them the more we see, recognize and hear them.

FREE EVENT: Try bird watching with us at Jericho Mills Riverside Park any time during the day on Sunday Oct 14. We will be there with spare binoculars, scope, guides, and the birds of Jericho will be there too.

Monhegan Island for Fall Migration!

Monhegan Island is off the southern coast of Maine, about 10 miles out into the Atlantic. It's only a mile and a half long and a half mile wide but it's a very big place for bird-watchers, especially during fall migration. 

Nashville Warbler

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Yellow-rumped Warbler

White-throated Sparrow

Warblers, thrushes, vireos, sparrows, nuthatches, orioles, wrens and other songbirds refuel before heading out over open ocean, relying on the island's abundant berries, grapes, apples and flowers (including over 400 kinds of wildflowers!) and on all the yummy bugs attracted to the plants. 

Hawks and falcons rely on the influx of smaller birds for their own refueling! In four days, Maeve saw Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, Northern Harriers, Peregrine Falcons and Merlins. 

Migrating flickers and resident crows and ravens add to the constantly changing bird-scape. 

Seventy percent of the island is a nature preserve 

protected by a trust. 

Close to the harbor is a lovely little village with winding, curving, up-and-down dirt roads that are used more for walking than for the island's few motorized vehicles.

the Monhegan School

Small vegetable gardens are tucked in all over the village. A local group runs a farm stand and makes cider from the island's many apple trees.






































Birds (and birders) don't always choose locations for their intrinsically scenic beauty. The grapes growing on this fence are bird magnets, so this was a reliable spot for seeing Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds, Northern Cardinals, and Black-throated Blue Warblers. 




Monhegan Island is steeped in history. 
Native Americans fished the waters as many as 5000 years ago. Basque and Portuguese fishermen visited before 1600. Samuel de Champlain explored the area in 1604 and Captain John Smith ten years later. Visitors can learn about the island at the Monhegan Historical and Cultural Museum. 

Across the harbor is Manana Island, usually described as "unpopulated" although one man lived there for many years and now another person has sheep, goats and chickens there. There's an abandoned Coast Guard outpost on the other side of the small island.






Fire is a real danger on the island, especially during an unusually dry year like this one.  There are fewer than 75 year-round residents, making for a very small fire department. 



In the event of fire, any nearby person grabs hoses from plastic boxes scattered all over the island, to help the firemen.

A bit of the underground water pipe is visible to the right of the yellow stick.

Many people come to Monhegan for the walking and hiking trails. There's a perimeter trail along some of the highest cliffs in Maine as well as several cross-island trails through thick woods.

Along with birds, Monarch Butterflies use Monhegan as a stop-over on their annual migrations.

There are three main industries on Monhegan: tourism, art, and lobstering.  

It's odd to walk along a lovely forest path, see a patch of bright color ahead, and find out that it's a pile of lobster buoys!
























Most of the hundreds of lobster traps on the island seem ready to be used at any moment - but a few piles have obviously been in one place for a long time, long enough so that plants grow six or eight feet tall right through the pots!





Fishing is such an integral part of the island that fishing net is used to deliver firewood!






Monhegan has been an artists' colony since the mid-nineteenth century. There are many studios, art shows, and sculptures.




Even the weather vanes are pieces of art!








Everywhere, all around, at the end of every trail, on every horizon, is the Atlantic: the sound of crashing waves, the smell of salt air, the strong winds and fog, and the staggeringly beautiful ocean vistas.  




This is the fabled rock-bound coast of Maine, where cliffs and tumbled rocks are sandwiched between the waves and the forests of spruce and pine.



































These are dangerous waters, with a long history of ship wrecks. 



Visitors are warned not to swim in the cold waters off Monhegan (except from one small beach). 




Lots of ocean means lots of birds: Northern Gannets, Common Eider, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, and diminutive Black Guillemots. Bald Eagles can also be seen on the ferry ride from Port Clyde to Monhegan.

Common Eider

Notice all the guano on this island full of cormorants and gulls!

distant Black Guillemot

Monhegan is worth a visit any time, for its beauty, its history, its culture, and the hardy perseverance of its fewer than a hundred full-time residents. Many dwellings don't have electricity or have power for only part of the day. Many buildings, including the two large inns, don't have heat upstairs. Food that isn't raised on the island has to come in by boat, along with the mail. But the local people continue to celebrate life with art, poetry and music!

Here are some more photos:


























PS - I have to add one astonishing adventure: I was sitting on a dirt road near where someone often spills bird seed, where I'd seen several different sparrows the day before. I chose a shaded spot by an old apple tree, thinking that perhaps the shade would help keep birds from noticing me. Sparrows came, and jays and Mourning Doves, and even a rat. Suddenly, I heard small noises from right next to me. I turned my head cautiously - and I was just over a yard away from a magnificent male Cape May Warbler, intently eating either the fallen rotting apples or the little bugs on the apples. The warbler seemed completely oblivious to me. Soon it was joined by a second Cape May, this one a female. Then by three or four other warblers - and then I was joined by three or four other birders. Two got great photos of the Cape Mays, I think. I had been too awed by the birds' closeness, and too afraid that a lot of movement might frighten them away, that I never even got out my camera. This was the closest I've ever been to these beautiful birds, and probably the only time I'll ever see them on the ground!

In all, I got good, long and repeated looks at thirteen species of warblers, even with incredible wind one day and rain for parts of two other days. 

I treated myself and stayed at the Island Inn: great room and truly excellent food! - Maeve