I’ve been writing this blog since 2012 but last early last month, I suddenly lost access to it. The other day, it just reappeared and my technical guy is helping me shore up things. In the meantime, I started writing on Substack and some of you have subscribed to that. I think I’ll use both systems but not post the same articles. So here are a few of the photos I took during the hiatus.
As the winter drags on here in Vermont, I’ve been thinking about our past travels south for warmth and birds. Sally and I took our first trip in the Airstream Van in January 2017 with our dog Penny.
We traveled four days to arrive at Fontainebleau State Park just north of New Orleans. While it was chilly, we saw a lot of southern birds like this wind-blown Loggerhead Shrike.
Our next stop is one of my favorites – Goose Island State Park where we stayed for over a week. It has wooded sites, great bird walks, and is near many other great birding sites. This Black-capped Titmouse is typical of the 100 species we saw here .
A short drive away is Aransas Pass with its amazing wildlife refuge and a must-visit site, the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. The center, with long boardwalks over wetlands from the local wastewater facility, is amazing. This Green Heron, used to visitors, was not shy.
Last fall, I left my camera in Spain and have had problems getting it back. I replaced it with a mirrorless camera with a decent telephoto. Within a week or two, I knew it was too bulky and heavy for me. I replaced it last week with a Nikon COOLPIX P950 and so far, so good.
The weather has been cold, windy, and snowy – not the best environment for learning to use a new rig. So, I decided to shoot birds at the feeder through the glass storm door. Here are some of the usual suspects that are going through a lot of bird seed and suet.
A Hairy Woodpecker stocks up after the big stormOf course, Black-capped Chickadees are daily visitorsFemale Northern CardinalNorthern Cardinal & Downy WoodpeckerSeveral Mourning Doves are frequent ground feeders
And one of our favorite winter birds are the tiny Red-breasted Nuthatches.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Here is our feeder setup after Sunday’s big storm. Stay safe.
Here is our backyard feeder setup after Sunday’s big storm. Stay safe.
We are fortunate to have a home with the Winooski River North Branch flowing past our backyard. Frozen off and on all winter, it gives us some great birding nine months of the year. Here are a few shots that I took last year.
On this frigid day, I can’t help but wonder where these visitors are spending January. Stay warm.
The year 2025 was pretty dreary in many ways. However, looking through my photos was uplifting. It was one of the reasons I bird. Here are some examples starting with this Red-bellied Woodpecker who spent many days in our backyard, and is back again in 2026.
Other photos are: Hairy Woodpecker, Black-crowned Night Heron (downtown Montpelier), Swamp Sparrow, Common Loons, Great Blue Heron, Gray Catbird, Broad-winged Hawk, and Wood Ducks (on the river out back.)
Here’s hoping for a year full of birding delights. Good birding!
It was zero when I took Ginger out yesterday – a pretty chilly end to the year. She had a grooming appointment and so I had an hour or two to study Spanish in the car. I did have my new camera with me just in case.
I was driving to a spot to finish a coffee. On a side street, I spotted a hawk perched. It was being harassed by crows. The camera case was tangled up in the back seat. Not daring to open the door and flush the bird, I somehow retrieved the camera.
I got a little closer and with freezing fingers, took a few shots. I think it was a Cooper’s Hawk but could be convinced otherwise. In any case, it was a neat finish to the birding year and got me psyched for 2026.
Ginger would rather lay on the couch rather than tromp through these super cold winter treks.
After several gray windy days, it was nice to head out this calm morning with some sunshine on our backs. And right away, I saw our Great Blue Heron, still here in spite of some nasty storms. We left him to his spot on the sunny riverbank.
It could be our last look at him before he heads out. In any case, it is a welcome start to a cold sunny morning outing with Ginger.
As I mentioned in my last post, I left my trusty camera, dings and all, in Spain. There are problems with tariff and customs. It is going to be a hassle to get it returned by mail.
We have a possible workout, but it will probably be next Spring. So, I decided to go back to a camera with changeable lenses.
I took it out for a dreary stroll today and came upon a half-dozen Northern Cardinals. The dog tugged on the leash. I tried to sort out this new rig. I got a few shots under gray skies.
So, off we go on a new adventure. Now to read the 966 page manual.
After a nice trip to Spain, probably our last, we are back in Vermont and well into “Stick Season. Most of the birds are gone. Unfortunately, my camera also is missing. I left it along with the Swarovski binoculars at our apartment. They should be back here soon. So, that’s why I haven’t posted in a while.
I have been taking photos of birder license plates for over a decade. Recently, I saw a couple of Vermont plates so here they are.
We are now entertained by many “we’re sticking around” birds at our feeders. We also see migrants like Redpolls and Pine Siskins. And there’s always the possible arrival of a Snowy Owl.
