The rising of temperatures and of the grass levels can only mean one thing: that the long winter has finally melted away to reveal a radiant Vermont spring. After a few short days of high temperatures, the valley has burst into bloom and is ready to welcome our winged friends who have returned from more temperate climes.
Looking from my window, I was pleased to see not only the "old faithfuls"--from feisty chickadees and raucous blue-jays, to flocks of goldfinches, who have shed their dull winter feathers for a buttery yellow counterpart--but also some of my summer favorites. The rose-breasted grosbeaks have returned, as have the wrens who are busy building a nest in my wren house in the field. I was delighted to see my first hummingbird of the season last week, when he zipped over to investigate my red wheelbarrow as I was doing some gardening. In addition, the canada geese have started to parade their goslings over by the Dorset Pond, where I also had the luck to see a majestic great blue heron fishing.
One reader reported having spotted an indigo bunting, the sapphire-blue little birds that I love so and see rarely even during the summer months. I had another reader report from Marianne, who told me she spotted approximately ten great blue herons atop their nests in the marshes on the new Route 7 by the Arlington exit. Sure enough, on a trip to Bennington, i spotted the parents and their newly-hatched chicks standing as if on stilts atop the spindly trees.
My biggest surprise of the week, however, came very early one morning as I groggily looked out the window to see a grey fox munching on birdseeds below my feeder. Needless to say, all of the birds and chipmunks remained far away as the fox, about the size of a large cat, nonchalantly gorged himself. The fox returned in the evening that night to get another snack. I've seen foxes in the area before, but only in the winter and certainly not eating birdseed, so I was greatly surprised. I was even more surprised and confused when the fox brought a friend, another fox, to feast on seeds the next evening. The pair stayed for about 20 minutes, and I was able to observe these beautiful animals and get some excellent photos. Throughout this week, I have seen the foxes--both individually and in a pair--every day, usually in the morning and the early evening. Talk about an interesting surprise!
As always, spring brings an array of surprises to the Northshire area. Have you had any interesting sightings lately? Is there a question you're dying to ask? Feel free to email me your questions, sightings, and comments at watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Fox and Friends!
Mr. and Mrs. Fox pay a visit to my birdfeeder to munch on seeds. Perhaps they're on a vegan diet? The chipmunks aren't holding their breath.
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