Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a time for food and fun with friends and family, and, also, a time to make those special dishes that you make only once a year. There's gingerbread and plum cake, Christmas logs and peppermint cookies, and then, there are the things you make only once a year because your nervous system might collapse if you tried any more than that. I discovered one such recipe this Christmas, just in time for the Holidays and for the Winter Wonderland outside my window, not to mention this column and blog.

My roommate sent me a recipe for Penguin truffles, which she found at "2 Stews," a cooking blog by a former flight attendant. They were too cute--not to mention, too delicious--to resist: a chocolate truffle sculpted to look like a penguin, dipped in white chocolate, and finished with a coat of dark chocolate.


I made two batches of these little critters this week (and that's enough for one year). They were ridiculously time consuming and labor-intensive, but, hey, it's Christmas and they sure were worth the effort for the "oohs and ahs" and the delicious result.

Being a child at heart and having an excuse to play with food, I posed my penguins in various situations: attacking the Christmas tree, staring at the Christmas turkey, huddling around a chocolate egg, and marching in the snow.


Check out the recipe from 2Stews (http://www.2stews.com/2009/12/penguin-truffles.html) and make your own on a snowy day!

Merry Christmas!

Black, White, and Tan--09/23/10

This week has proved to be fairly quiet on the birding scene. While hordes of hungry goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, and rose- and white-breasted nuthatches continue to vacuum up any and every seed they can find with stunning speed, the garden has quieted down.

Mealtime is always busy, but there's a late-summer stillness in the air, accompanied by cooler nights, ripening pumpkins, and shyly turning leaves. I did have some fairly interesting sightings this week, which inspired the name for this column: white, black, and tan.

No, I have not discovered an improvement of the Black and Tan cocktail while lazily looking out my window. I was, instead, pleased to see interesting activity.

Driving on Route 30 between Manchester and Bennington, I saw several white figures perched in the swampy waters near the Arlington exit, best known for their 10 or so Blue Heron nests precariously perched atop tree skeletons.

This time, however, I saw four or five snow white Great Egrets. The largest white egret in its range, the Great Egret is easily distinguished from its Great Blue counterpart by stunning pure white plumage, making it easy to spot as it fishes and feeds in the water.

The birds, which were once common, became scarce due to plume-hunting at the end of the 19th century; however, due to conservation efforts, numbers have increased and the birds' range has continued to extend northward.

I also spotted a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker in my backyard, poking around at one of our conifers. I know they're nothing too special, but I have always has a soft spot for these black-and-white birds with streaky yellow underparts and a red cap and throat for the males. They're larger than either the Downy or the Hairy Woodpecker and are easily recognized by their distinctive plumage and their horizontal rows of tiny holes, made when they search for sap. Finally, I have seen more and more Cedar Waxwings as the weeks have passed.

At first I spotted a few of the pretty little tan birds zipping around my garden, searching for berries to fill their insatiable hunger for fruit.

On a walk by the Dorset Pond, I spotted hundreds of them dramatically swooping over the water as they decimated the local mosquito population. In spite of their efforts, I got some nice bites on my legs.

Guess they're not working hard enough.

Has migration season thrown some strange birds into your backyard?

Feel free to send all questions and comments to my (new!) e-mail at watch.the.birds.vt@gmail .com and check us out online at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com for additional sightings and birding stories.

Late Summer Surprises--09/03/10

Late summer can either be thrilling or terrifically dull for birding. The only thing you can be sure of is that you never know which of those two it will be. Just when you think that Summer is winding down, Nature always throws you a curve ball.

My first surprise this week came in the form of the honks of hundreds of migrating Canada Geese very early one morning last week. This, in itself, is not terribly interesting, but rather early, I think. Maybe? It seems to me that these geese have gotten a few weeks' head start from when they would usually begin their journey South.

More interestingly, as I was pulling up in my driveway and getting out of the car, I spotted a thoroughly unfamiliar bird blinking at me from a nearby bush. I immediately recognized that it was a warbler of some sort—bright yellow underbelly, with a blueish or slate-coloured top, and some black spotting on the breast. What was it, though? There are several hundred types of warblers, many which you can see right here in Vermont, especially during this, the beginning of the warbler migration South. Unfortunately, the startled bird vanished before I could make any more specific notes on its appearance. an

Turning to my field guide, I pored over the pages until I found a likely suspect: the Canada Warbler, which looks very much like my little mystery friend. Canada Warblers favour dense forest undergrowth, and are some of the earliest warbler migrants. Sure enough, the Canada Warbler's summer range extends into Southern New England, and they are said to be fairly common. I, however, had never seen or heard of a Canada Warbler and wanted to be as certain as possible that I had, indeed, spotted one. So, what did I do? I turned to the Internet, of course.

Clarke Comollo, a reader and local businessman, recommended eBird to me a few years back, as a great source of birding information from the field. The site, which you can find at www.ebird.com, has vast and intricate records of local bird sightings from all over the country. Members post times and exact locations of sightings, in addition to species and bird counts, that are specific to your area. Some quick research informed me that, yes!, Canada Warblers had frequented Bennington County, and the Dorset area. More specifically, all reported sightings were from mid-August, some the very day I has my sighting! Oh, the Internet. How we loathe and love thee.

So, with some traditional field guide snooping and a little help from Cyberspace, I think it's safe to say that I did see a little Canada Warbler.

Has Nature thrown you any curve balls lately? Has migration season thrown some strange birds into your backyard? Feel free to send all questions and comments to my (new!) e-mail at watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com and please check us out online at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com for additional sightings and birding stories. Happy birding!

A Hint of Autumn?--08/20/2010

I hate to say it, but I’m afraid that summer will soon start to wind down to a close, though that’s hard to believe on account of all of the hot and lazy summer days we have had of late. The other day, however, to my disbelief, I spotted a few trees whose leaves have already begun to turn from their dark green to a barely-noticeable orange.

Even the birds seem to sense a change; I have seen a significant spike in hummingbird activity since my last column. Instead of the customary single hummer, multiple hummers have visited my feeders and my flowers, often at the same time, which usually leads to a hummingbird showdown. They also seem to be putting on weight—strange to say about a creature the weight of a paper clip—that will eventually aid in their long journey down to Mexico.

In addition, I have also seen some other special visitors that generally only appear near the end of the summer: the Cedar Waxwings, some of my favourite birds, have made their customary yearly appearance in my yard, heralded by their customary high-pitched “zees”. Though I have only spotted a few, I’m sure that, in the weeks ahead, more and more will flock to my backyard.

In other news, I have some important updates on the Watch the Birds blog and e-mail. As of this week, I am happy to inaugurate the completely-refurbished and brand-spanking-new Watch the Birds website. Make sure to check us out on the web at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com for additional birding tips, tricks, and photos! Perhaps more importantly, my e-mail and contact information has changed. My former e-mail address will no longer function; please send all questions and comments to watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com, and I will be sure to send a prompt reply! Happy Birding, and enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

Some lovely Nature photography

One thing I always wish I could do is to capture the beauty of Nature on film: to preserve the moment a hummingbird alights from a branch, a goldfinch harvesting seeds from a flower, or, in this case, a cheeky chipmunk bringing home the bacon.

Naturally, with the right equipment, a great deal of patience, and some creativity and skill, you can get some fantastic shots like this one.

My good friend and a talented photographer, Alex Golec, took this great picture of one of my chipmunks feasting away on sunflower seeds on my porch steps.

Make sure to take a look at some of Alex's other photographs at Think Twice Photography:

http://thinktwicephotography.tumblr.com/archive

A Canada Warbler?

Yesterday, as was getting out of the car, I saw an interesting bird sitting in the bush next to my door. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a really good look at it; however, after some thumbing through my various guidebooks and doing some hunting on the Internet, with the help of eBird and other local Vermont birding logs, I was able to narrow my guess down to the Canada Warbler. It seems there have been some nearby lately, so it's not out of the question.

Check out other Canada Warbler sightings in Bennington County on the eBird link below:

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=canwar&getLocations=counties&counties=US-VT-003&bYear=2009&eYear=2009&bMonth=1&eMonth=12&reportType=species&parentState=US-VT

The Owl Box Project

Yesterday, I learned that a pretty interesting project is currently underway to learn more about Barn Owls and their nesting habits. The Owl Box Project placed a live webcam in the nest of a Barn Owl, named "Mollie," and her mate, "McGee."

The celebrity owls appeared on national network television last night. Mollie is currently working on hatching her second egg.

To take a peek at Mollie, McGee, and their babies, take a look at http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox . For more information on Barn Owls or the Owl Box Project check out this link: http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Barn_Owls.html

The Arrival of the Cedar Waxwings!

Is it that time already?! I always know that summer is drawing to a close when I hear the calls of the Cedar Waxwings. Sure enough, as the second week of August appeared, so did these special little birds. I've only spotted a few, but I imagine that the garden will soon resonate with the sound of their customary high-pitched "zees."

As happy as I am to see them (they're some of my favourites), I'm not so happy to see August zipping by. Oh well. Have to take it as it comes.

Debut of new format!

It seems like there are a lot of changes going on in both my backyard and here at watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.

As I'm sure you've all noticed, I decided to revamp the design a little bit--ok, well, a lot. I think it's pretty. Hope you all do, as well!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE! Change of E-Mail!

Greetings, all!

There comes a time when we all need a change. No, I'm not moving to Nebraska or converting to Buddhism. It's just a change in my e-mail.

I will no longer be able to receive messages in my former account (i.e. chickadee@att.net). Please send all questions and queries to watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com and I will be sure to send a prompt reply!

Many thanks, and keep birding!

Madeleine

Lazy Summer--08/06/2010

It seems like the summer just started, and already, the flowers are starting to fade. All this hot weather has surely left its mark on the Green Mountains, which have been scorching in the sun for the past few weeks. Even the birds seem to be taking a vacation from the heat; they appear for their morning feeding, and then retreat to the cool branches of bushes and trees until twilight falls on the Valley.

The backyard, however, is still abuzz with a steady hum of activity: Ruby-throated hummingbirds feast on the blossoms of bee-balm and hostas as they come to the end of their season, house finches and sunshine yellow goldfinches bob around the tube feeders and noisy swallows swoop through the sky. This is without a doubt one of my favourite times of the year in Vermont. No matter where you look, you can always be sure that a surprise will await you!

One thing to be sure to remember in a heat spell like this is to make sure that your hummingbird feeders are in tip-top condition. The heat makes sugar water go bad faster, and promotes the growth of mildew and fungus that can harm hummingbirds. Wash your feeders thoroughly with a mild dish soap and let them air dry before setting them out. In addition, take a cotton swab and clean the portals on your feeders, to wipe away any sugar residue and bacteria. Change the nectar in your feeders every three to four days for optimal freshness.

Have you had any exciting sightings lately? Is there a question that you want to ask? If so, please feel free to contact me at watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com and I will be sure to send a prompt reply. Also, check us out on the web at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com!

A little visitor ^_^

As I was snapping those photos of my garden, I was surprised by a visit from one of my little hummingbird friends. She hovered around me before proceeding to test the flowers, finally settling on the clothes line as if posing for a picture.

I was kneeling about 10 feet away when these were taken. I'm glad (and incredibly surprised) that my little Kodak could capture these.

Late Summer Colors

Shades of Green--05/29/10

After a long and snowy Winter and a cool, rainy start of Spring, Green has finally returned to the Mountains. We've been blessed with some truly beautiful days—warm, breezy, and filled with sunshine—but the most stunning time of day in Vermont, in my opinion, is twilight, for that is when the Green Mountains are their most vibrant. Everything looks better in a sunset, from the warm lighting of the flowers and trees, to the last sun of the day playing on the water, and the shadows dancing across the mountains. Twilight allows us to see all the many shades of green here in Vermont.

And of course, Spring's advent parallels the return of Vermont's favorite summer residents, the birds. Now that my feeders will hopefully be safe from the clutches of hungry post-hibernation bears, I've laid out the customary banquet: sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, and sugar water. (The morning after this column was written, I woke up to find that my feeders had been ravaged by a bear. I guess I spoke too soon...) With each progressive day, I see more and more birds flocking to my feeders and flying around my yard like so many colorful kites. We have the Goldfinches, who have happily shed their drab Winter feathers for their buttery Summer counterpart; stunning Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, who pop against the green backdrop; and Cardinals and Chickadees, who never left but whom we are glad to see nevertheless. To my delight, I saw my first hummingbird of the season investigating my newly-blooming coral bells and staring at me defiantly from my seat on the porch. Thankfully, these flying jewels faced no difficulty darting across the US border from their seasonal home in Mexico.

Yes, I know that the Mountains will get greener, and more birds will arrive, and that it is only a short time until my entire garden bursts with blooms, but this time of year is always so lovely. It lacks the newness of the first days of Spring, when little shoots fight to break through the still cold ground, and the tiredness of Summer, when everything fades and grows ragged in the scorching summer sun. It is, in a way, the perfect time of year, and also one of the most fleeting. Before we know it, Summer will be here in all her hot humid glory. But for now, we must enjoy the calm before the storm: the transition from Spring to Summer.

Some photos from my garden...

Good morning, Mister Bear

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I got out of bed with a spring in my step. I walked over to the window, and something wasn't quite right.

Oh. Oops.

So, apparently within 12 hours of writing my first column of the summer about how it was safe to put feeders out full time because the bears shouldn't be hungry anymore, I got zapped.



Fortunately, it wasn't too hard to bend it back into shape, and I've cautiously placed my feeders back up--for the daytime.

I spoke too soon, bears. Sorry about that.

Snow scene

Well, we certainly did have a White Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season to all!

May these days fill your hearts with joy and may your birdfeeder always be busy!