Spring Birding

White-throated sparrow

With few other activities allowed, I have spent a lot of  time outside with my binoculars, walking fields and woods looking for birds, especially those returning from their spring migration. May is a great month to look for the warblers, many that you can only see this time of year. This blog highlights a few, but also other birds that I have observed so far this spring.

The most common warbler this year is the Yellow-rumped or Myrtle warbler. The other day there were more than I could count in the trees and brush around Horseshoe Pond in Concord, New Hampshire. They were not shy and would freely come out into the open as if saying "look at me, I am so pretty!".

Male Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) warbler

Female Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) warbler

Distinctive Yellow rump

Every so often, I get lucky with my camera and capture a clear in-motion picture

Yellow-rumped warbler in flight.

A bit more elusive, I was excited to get a photo of a Black-throated green warbler.

Black-throated green warbler

Although warblers have been my focus lately, for some, the larger birds are more interesting.For example,  two Brown thrashers startled us as they romped around in the brush  at Riverland Conservation area in Canterbury. We heard them tossing tossing leaves into the air before we saw them, so it's not hard to discern how they got their name.

Brown thrasher 

The Rose-breasted Grosebeak is very colorful and a beautiful bird to listen to as well. Like Robins, they love to sing (click on the picture below.)

Rose-breasted Grosebeak

One of the most impressive sites is seeing a flock of Cedar waxwings. You will seldom see just one. On Mother's Day I counted sixteen in one tree. Like all of us these days, they are always wearing a mask.

A flock of cedar waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

As the weather warms, insects become more prevalent. Although a nuisance for us, they provide needed sustenance for birds directly, but they also support fish and other aquatic life, which in turn are eaten by larger birds such as this Kingfisher.

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron's are not uncommon, but are always impressive. In spite of their large size they can sometimes be overlooked because they keep very still when stalking fish. When a fish comes close enough, they quickly lower their neck and grab it with their large beak.

A Great blue heron standing still as a statue

Many raptors hunt fish. In April, Ospreys can be seen near waterbodies as they return from Central and South America. This bird below flew directly over our heads and then perched on a dead tree overlooking a pond. They are great fishers, diving from as high as 100 feet to catch their prey (NationalGeographic.com)

Osprey

One raptor, that has made a successful comeback, after becoming practically extinct in New Hampshire, is the Bald Eagle. They were once federally endangered due to the widespread use of the chemical DDT. Their return to the landscape, is an example of the success of the Endangered Species Act. They were removed as a federally listed species in 2007, but they remain legally protected in New Hampshire. It is no longer uncommon to spot them year round, especially near the Merrimack River.

A bald eagle takes flight at Knights Meadow Marsh in Webster, N.H.

New Hampshire has some great birding areas, but I cannot forgot that I often don't need to leave our yard to observe some fantastic birds, sometimes when I least expect it. The other day, while I was refilling a thistle feeder, both a Common Yellowthroat and a Prairie warbler landed in a juniper bush right next to me. Of course I didn't have my camera with me, but the next morning the Prairie warbler was back and I took the photo below from inside the house.

Prairie Warbler in a Juniper bush.

I put a hummingbird feeder out on May 1st, which was probably a little early, especially since we got snow on May 9th. However, two weeks later, the first male Ruby-throated humming bird showed up. The females will follow shortly.

The first Ruby-throated hummingbird of the season

 After seeing a friend post a picture of a Baltimore Oriole on Facebook, I decided to set out some orange slices to try and attract them. It took about four days, but it worked!

Baltimore oriole

Typically there are lots of expert led bird-walks in May, but this year, with the Coronovirus pandemic, the casual birder has been left on their own. I still need a lot more practice to be able to quickly identify many birds in the field.  But, if I am lucky enough to snap a picture, I can try and identify it later.To help me with my identifications, I use the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds; the Cornell lab's All About Birds website and their accompanying Merlin Bird App. With Merlin you can either describe the basic categories of the bird, or you can upload a photo, and it will give you a list of  possible choices. The app is great to put on your phone to make quick identifications. It can also be helpful to check eBird and see what birds have recently been sighted in your area. I will be glad when I can once again wander the trails with fellow birders, but for now, I am just grateful to be able to get outside and enjoy our feathered friends.