Hoodies Are Here

Each spring, dozens of Hooded Mergansers drop in at Berlin Pond, the water supply for Montpelier.  Usually paired off, they grace the early days of icy open water.  Some stick around all season on local water -- nesting in trees like wood ducks.  The males are hard to miss with their big white patch on the crest.

The last few days, I’ve been watching them come and go at the pond.  I digiscoped a pair this afternoon as they paddled away between ice floes.  They’re my favorite duck.

Beginning Digiscoping

I took my scope up to Berlin Pond today - a local hot spot for waterfowl as the ice melts and later, for migratory warblers and a host of other birds.  I've been fiddling with using my old SLR with a DCA adapter but am trying a new Canon SD4000IS point and shoot to see how that works.  Right now, I'm pretty low on the learning curve.

Lots of stuff is starting to show up:  Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and lots of Hooded Mergansers.  I spent a lot of time trying to identify two ducks, which turned out to be Green-winged Teal, but who persisted in sitting on the ice all tucked in, probably resting for the next flight further north.  Several pairs of Mallards showed up and I got a decent shot of them, plus one of a goose parading on the ice.

It's nice to work without freezing fingers so I think, as I practice, things will improve.  Stay tuned.

Mourning Cloak

Yesterday, while out birding with my Vizsla in Massachusetts, I saw a number of species but the highlight of the morning was an early butterfly, the Mourning Cloak.  We were in some oaks when I saw two butterflies flitting through the woods and climbing higher and out of sight.  Then one returned and cooperatively sat on some leaves not far from me.  I took some photos and then the dog returned from her explorations and spooked the pretty thing.

Not knowing my butterflies, I searched through my book to id what I had seen but it was hard.  Finally I found it and of course, once I read the description, it was clear that I should have been aware that it's always one of the first butterflies to emerge in the Northeast since it overwinters.

My friends tell me that the other overwintering butterfly is the Milbert's Tortoiseshell.  I'll be looking for them in the days ahead.

Hummers Are Coming!

Check the sightings here