Birding and Bird Photography

Another two birds one picture? Two common grackles with a yellow-headed blackbird.

 

This Cooper’s hawk flew by about 15 feet from me, perched and then was kind enough to hang out long enough for me to get the camera.

 

Spotted a Ferruginous Hawk while out today.

 

I finally saw my 1st male Spruce Grouse which has been on the VT Fish & Game endangered list since 1988. They have estimated only 100-300 birds exist here in Vermont and are only in a certain specific region. The wildlife management people have been trying to relocate birds to increase them. I've been looking for years and live in the most remote boreal forest region of Vt. So stoked!

 

That’s awesome, always cool seeing a species you know is super rare where you’re at.

If you ever have the chance to eat one, don’t. They are dark red meat, almost like beef, and super gamey. Only good way to cook them I found was to use the meat in a stew.

 

Well it's a $1,000 fine to shoot one where I live. Not enough to hunt here except ruffed grouse. I appreciate the tip though and love venison and the game supper the local shooting club puts on especially the stews! Yum!

 

First ducks of the fall stopped by the pond this weekend.

 

cheeky grey jays!

 

This morning’s haul:

 

Coopers Hawk COHA with a Dove dinner.

This guy swooped down in front of my truck and straight into a hedgerow of bushes without any hesitation.
A dozen birds must have flown out of there all at once in every direction just ahead of this hawk who emerged on the other side with it's prize. Back up to the branch he was perched on, he promptly began to prepare his dinner. After lightening the load he flew off to parts unknown with his prize, just minutes after his catch.

 

The Chukar.... An App I subscribe to pinged me about a rare bird sighting on the NH coast.
Found him right where they said I would. What a delightful little fellow, likely an escapee.

 

Tricolored Heron.
Builds messy nests of sticks and twigs but beautiful to look at !

 

The Northern Gannet

 

I used to do spotted owl surveys a long while back - knowing where their nest sites are makes it easy to get close enough to take uncropped photos even with a 200mm as they are not very shy of humans. Too bad they don’t do well with habitat loss, they are disappearing in So Cal.

 

I would like to get involved in these surveys. I am on the East Coast.

 

I did it for work, but there are volunteer positions if you are not a biologist with Forest Service and NPS to do seasonal volunteer projects in some amazing places that would open the natural world to any photographer. It would be an excellent way to get in on wildlife and landscape photography opportunities. Check out volunteer.gov or maybe with your state Fish & Game department.

 

Thanks for the lead !

 

Haven’t had time to do much lately. Took this while walking along the Pacific Ocean beach in Washington this morning. You don’t see many Meadowlarks here.