Author Archives: animalartist2

Solitary Sandpipers-Sharpie Attack!

I was watching two Solitary Sandpipers chase each other around a beaver pond nearby. Maybe they were the same two I saw fighting there last year!  (Not likely). Anyway, one landed, and swoosh!  A sharp-shinned Hawk tried to get the sandpiper. (Pretty sure the hawk wasn’t a Cooper’s Hawk-smallish, small head, long tail….). So… no luck. The hawk landed in a tree and sulked  for a few moments before moving on. Funny thing. No sandpipers in sight.

solitary.sandpipers.chase.bpond_3651.jpgsolitary.sandpiper_3646.jpgsolitarry.sandpiper_3636.jpgsolitary.sandpiper_3680.jpgsharp-shinned.hawk_3685.jpg

Posted in Bird Photographs, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Solitary Sandpiper Tagged , |

Horned Grebe in Vermont-Spring Migration

horned.grebe.c.crawford_2791.jpghorned.grebe_2874.jpghorned.grebe.away.c.crawford_2879.jpghorned.grebe.c.crawford_2818.jpghorned.grebe.c.crawford_2823.jpghorned.grebe.c.crawford_2826.jpghorned.grebe.c.crawford_2904.jpghorned.grebe.food.c.crawford_2897.jpg

This lone Horned Grebe came fairly close for some pleasing shots at the Wilder Dam Boat Launch in Wilder, Vermont on May 1 2014.

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged |

Red Crossbill in Vermont

red.crossbill.female_2691.jpg

Posted in Bird Photographs, Red Crossbill

Amazing!! Home “Vernal Pool”??

frogs.toad.salamander_2063.jpgsalamanders.frogs.toads_1230058.jpgspotted.salamander_2076.jpgspotted.salamander.frogs_1230035.jpgspotted.salamander_1230068.jpgfrogs.toad_1230065.jpgtoad_1230077.jpg

Posted in Amphibians, Vernal Pool in Vermont

Great Egret fishing with Common Mergansers in Vermont

great.egret.c.crawford.jpggreat.egret.mergansers.c.crawford.jpggreat.egret.mergansers2.jpggreat.egret.mergansers3.c.crawford.jpg

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged |

More Spring Migrants in Vermont

Red-breasted Merganser-maleRed-breasted Merganser-maleRed-breasted Merganser-malered-breasted.merganser_1696.jpgRed-throated Loon

Posted in Bird Photographs, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon

Spring Migrants in Vermont-Mid-April 2014

Spring has finally come, although there is still snow on the ground here in Vermont. Here are a few of the birds seen in the last week or so.  The Ring-necked Ducks were close by, and it was one of the few times I’ve ever seen the rings around their necks.  The Gadwalls were far off, but I loved their flight patterns. Rusty Blackbirds are quite rare here- So glad to have seen these. A northern Harrier in Norwich, Vermont is not very common -they are seen mostly further north. The Northern Mockingbirds are  winter residents, but I only recently saw them.

I’ve also included a watercolor painting I just finished of a Northern Harrier about to take off that I saw at Dead Creek in Addison, Vermont

Click on the image to enlarge, click on the right of image to go to the next one.

Posted in Bird Photographs

Wild Turkeys Feeding the Deer

1. Turkeys in the tree02.turkeys.tree_7764.jpg03.turkeys.tree_7796.jpg04.turkeys.deer_7881.jpg05.turkeys.deer_7865.jpg06.turkeys.deer_7855.jpg07.deer.turkey_7923.jpg

 

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged , |

Northern Harriers at Dead Creek in Vermont

norhtern.harrier_8341.jpgnorthern.harrier_8306.jpgnorthern.harrier_8321.jpgnorthern.harrier_8322.jpgnorthern.harrier_8323.jpgnorthern.harrier_8329.jpgnorthern.harrier_8334.jpgnorthern.harrier_8335.jpgnorthern.harrier_8338.jpgnorthern.harrier.f_8423.jpgnorthern.harriers.m.f_8431.jpg

 

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged |

Northern Hawk Owl

northern.hawk.owl.1.5.2014.c.crawford.jpgno.hawk.owl.lookup.c.crawford.jpg
Posted in Bird Photographs, Northern Hawk Owl Tagged |

Snowy Owl

snowy.owl_1725.jpgsnowy.owl.rear_1710.jpgsnowy,beak.c.crawford.jpgsnowy.owl.prey.c.crawford.jpgsnowy.owl2.c.crawford.jpg

In addition, there are 2 more pictures of a Snowy in Vermont at the intersection of Rt.10 and 106. This bird was seen on April 18 2014

Posted in Bird Photographs, Snowy Owl Tagged , |

Fall Bird Sightings, Windsor County Vermont

Eastern Bluebird, Lake Runnemede Windsor Vt. Nov. 32013Eastern Bluebirds, Lake Runnemede, Windsor Vt. Nov. 32013Merlin.Lake Runnemede, Windsor Vt. Nov. 32013Palm-Warbler, Norwich, Vermont October 2013palm-warbler, Norwich, Vermont October 2013palm-warbler, Norwich, Vermont October 2013palm-warbler, Norwich, Vermont October 2013Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Norwich Vt. 10/2013Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Norwich Vt. 10/2013Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Norwich Vt. 10/2013Savannah Sparrow, Windsor Vt. 11/2013White-crowned Sparrow, Norwich, Vt. 10/2013Rusty Blacbird, Lake Runnemede, Windsor County 11/2013Northern Shrike, Windsor County, Lake Runnemede 11/2013White-eyed Vireo, 10/2013, Norwich, Vt. Very rare for Windsor CountyWhite-eyed Vireo, 10/2013, Norwich, Vt. Very rare for Windsor CountyDickscissel, Woodstock, Vt. 10/2013 Very rare, Windsor CountyDickscissel, Woodstock, Vt. 10/2013 Very rare, Windsor CountyBald Eagle, immature, White River, Hartford, Vt. 10/2013Wilson's Snipe, Norwich, Vt. 10/2013Wilson's Snipe, Norwich, Vt. 10/2013Wilson's Snipe, Norwich, Vt. 10/2013
Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged , |

Introducing “Barley”, our new Glen of Imaal Terrier Puppy

Glen of Imaal Terrier Puppy 12 weeksGlen of Imaal Terrier Puppy 12 weeksGlen of Imaal Terrier Puppy 12 weeksbarley.running.jpg

Barley is almost 12 weeks old-we’ve only had him a week, but just love the little tyke, needle teeth and all.

 

Posted in Glen of Imaal Terrier Tagged |

Kinglets!

In Vermont there are 2 kinds of Kinglets- Golden-Crowned and Ruby-crowned. They are both tiny birds (4-4.5 inches). . The Golden-crowned is with us year-round, while the Ruby-crowned is a summer migrant. I have recently enjoyed viewing and hearing both birds.

Here is the Golden-crowned:

 

 

Here is the Ruby-crowned:

Ruby-crowned.kinglet.song

This song was of particular interest to me because the Whistled part sounds like a Connecticut Warbler. Listen for a 2-part song- a descending chirrchirrchirrchirr, and and a whistle. The recording starts with a Chickadee song.  There are many Red-wing Blackbirds in the background. Clicking on this will open a new page. Use your back button to return to the site.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Vermont 5/2013

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged , , |

Chickadee Excavates a Nest Hole

This is a composite of 4 pictures. This Chickadee was soooo busy clearing out a nest hole. It’s mate was nearby, supervising.

(Click on the image for a larger version)

Chickadee Nest Excavation

Chickadee Nest Excavation

Posted in Bird Photographs Tagged |