Rutland State Park-May 19th

Today was my last day on vacation and my last day of birding as sadly I have to go back to work. We got out to Hubbarston at about 9am and while we were surveying the landscape this Broad-winged Hawk flew silently to a branch to perch and look around. Alan was doing some pishing to get some warblers at a lower branch for closer view and we think the hawk heard it and decided to check it out himself! I am counting this as a lifer even though I have seen it before while in flight. I am very picky about when I get a lifer because I am so new and if I can't get a picture of it, it doesn't count. I do this because I don't want to become too dependent on other birders so I can learn for myself. I take the photos put them on my computer and then look at the field marks compared to my guide. If they match, they count! So that means one more check on the list this week

We continued to walk down the road when suddenly we saw an Ovenbird that was actually quiet and sitting still!!!! Out came my camera for a photo. While it come out clear, the Ovenbird was in the shade and I in the sun so it came out washed out. Such a cute bird though and no longer my nemesis.

The picture above is of a Chestnut-sided Warbler flying away from a branch.

We found an area full of shrubs and brush that was filled with warblers. Everywhere we looked we saw warblers flying in and out of the bushes and the air was filled with a diverse melody of various calls. The Chestnut-sided Warblers were everywhere.

As well as the Common Yellowthroat. I just love the mask on this warbler.

Of course no birding trip would be complete without the extremely photogenic Prairie Warbler shown above.

After spending some time there we heard a Veery and wanted to see if we could flush it out. This super smart bird knew our game and didn't want to play so we never saw it. We did get a pretty good luck at a Blackburnian Warbler that Alan was able to locate high up on a tree. I little pishing and a quick play of the Ipod brought it down for us to gawk at.

Here he is calling back to us!

While continuing to walk along the road we spotted a Blue-headed Vireo doing something strange in a tree. Upon further inspection we noticed it was inhaling a moth-the breakfast of champions!!

Finally we made out way around a small river where we could hear the Louisiana Waterthrush which was one of my target birds for the year that I have been unable to get a good look at. LIFER! Not today though. The picture above is of this sweet little bird who is part of the warbler family.

Once it started getting close to noon, the once music filled woods died down and everything grew silent. It was off to find some easier birds including this pair of Common Ravens over near the Barre Falls Dam. The sun was hitting them in such a way that they almost looked purple at times.

I was able to see my first Indigo Bunting of the year toward the end of the day as well. Here he is perched upon the highest branch of a tree.

Whew, I survived my first marathon of birding with 5 straight days of it. You would think I would be sick of it by now but that could never be the case. I have a day off from it tomorrow but will be right back at it on Thursday night to look for Whip-poor-wills. My goal for the end of may is around 130 and I have about 125 year birds so far this year. That means more birding and less housework. Now I am off to wash my floors and bake cinamon rolls. Take care all!