Birding with OLLI at UVM Research Forest

Woodland Recipe
Sometimes, one finds a spot
to set a spell
a tree to lean on
dry leaves to set on.
A quiet settled woodland
in
which one discovers
with others
of the same frame of mind
unwavering attention
of natural selection.



Be still, listen to your breath, still your mind, rest your feet. This is a recipe to be one with the woodlands. As one, you will become with birds, butterflies, spring flowers, and trees - a welcome guest.

~Bernie

UVM Research Forest - birding with Olli (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) class instructor Maeve Kim.

Today's bird list:

Turkey Vulture
Down Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Warbler - probable
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Today's human list:
Barbara, Bernie, Eileen, Janet, Jim, Judy, Kiva, Liz, Maeve, Margo, Skip

photo of Bernie, by Barbara MInes

Even though it was cold (and we heard some people had snow overnight!), there were signs of spring. Dog-tooth violets and fiddlehead ferns were up, along with a few trillium.

Trillium - photo by Barbara Mines

Stump "nursing" a conifer sapling - by Barbara Mines

Jericho bird of the week - Redpolls

Redpolls

with their red caps

look like they came from France

with their Le Chapeaus

only they really came from up north

Canada

during irruption years (roughly every few years)

when food is scare for them up north.

We were glad they stopped by

and tip their hat to us

as we tipped our hat to them.   by Bernie

                      Purple Finch

                            Purple Finch

































Comments: 
I loved your redpoll closeups. I learn something new every time. I did not know males sometimes sport ragged looking vests that range from rose to red. S.L.

Bernie, I have had hordes of redcaps. I love the way they hang in with each other, only an occasional spat. Refil the nyjer seed feeder every day. I don't care if a bear comes, certainly lots of squirrels are still hanging out. J.A.

HI Bernie, Great shots! Thanks for sharing them. I felt like I was there. W V B


Thanks for sharing the bird photos... Yesterday, I uncovered these Scarlet Cap fungus, https://photos.app.goo.gl/a1PgXiGACMMjGqdF6
T.B. Underhill