A Very Rainy Week in Vermont

The cliche "Vermont Farm" shot.

Moo Cow Queen of the Universe.
I was struck by this cow because she was standing alone, way up high on a hill, overlooking all her fellow cows as if she ruled the cow universe.

This Traveler apologizes again for not posting in so many months. I have been extremely busy with my graphic design and illustration business and was then felled by two months worth of bronchitis. On October 4th I headed north to Greensboro, Vt. I rent a house there when I can. It comes with its own hiking trails and an amazing amount of birds and wildlife. Unfortunately it rained most of the time I was there thereby thwarting most of my photographic efforts and hiking plans.

White-throated Sparrow

Hairy Woodpecker

Day 1: Greensboro, Vermont
Hiked the trails on the property where I was staying.
Birds sited: Black-throated Blue Warbler, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Raven (knocking calls and doing areal acrobatics), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Blue Jay, Junco, Blue Heron, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Wild Turkey.
Mammals and Reptiles: Red Squirrel, White-tailed Deer, Northern Flying Squirrel (love this animal!), Garter Snake.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Female Junco

Day 2: Rain, rain, and more damned rain.
Birds sited: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Chickadee, Barred Owl, Broad-winged Hawk, Wild Turkey.

Day 3. Greensboro, VT to Addison Vermont and the Dead Creek WildLife Management Area.

Dead Creak WMA

Birds sighted: Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Belted Kingfisher, Carolina Wren, Turkey Vulture, Starling, Harrier, Kestrel, Mallard Ducks, Blue Heron, Black-capped Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, domestic ducks and geese
Amphibians: Painted turtles

Snow Geese

Drove west to Addison, Vermont in hopes of seeing the Snow Geese migration. This is the first time I'm ever seen snow geese. They were far off in the distance. They congregate in farmers' fields near one particular area in Addison. You can't trespass on the property but there is a viewing area. And there is also the rest of the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area to investigate. The snow geese were beautiful as they wheeled in the air almost as one being.

Mating pair of Green-striped Darners

I stopped in Stowe on the way back to Greensboro and ate the best apple cider donut on the planet. I've had a lot of apple cider donuts. This is a big New England tradition. But to be found are at Cold Hollow Cider Mill. I still can taste the sugar, cinnamony goodness.

As I approached Greensboro I saw a bunch of ducks floating around in a puddle at the end of the farm's driveway. I pulled over to snap some shots from my car. Well, there were three geese there with the ducks. The geese, being the great watchdogs that they are, did their job and charged my car and chased it down the street as I took off in fear of my camera lens. I laughed all the way home.

The ducks in the puddle

The geese charging my car.

The goose about to try to kill my car.

Day 4: Greensboro, Vermont
More rain and more rain and rain some more.
Birds sited: Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Red-breasted nuthatch, Junco, Chickadee, Raven

Hairy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Dramatic skies

Day 5: Greensboro, Vermont
Ruffed Grouse (a.k.a. "partridge in these parts), Piliated Woodpecker, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Junco, Song Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Raven, Canada Geese, Brown Creeper
Mammals: Red Squirrel, Northern Flying Squirrels

I have to note here the I love flying squirrels. I can sit out in the dark on a bright moonlit night and watch these guys leap from tree to tree all night long.

Day 6: Greensboro, Vermont
Rain again.
Birds sighted: Black-capped Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Junco, Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Sparrow.
Mammals: Red Squirrel, Chipmunk

Chipmunk

Day 7: Greensboro, Vermont back to Home

Once again I leave Vermont without having seen a Boreal Chickadee or a Gray Jay. They swear they have them here....some day I will see them. I also didn't see most of the warblers that come through here in September (when I usually go). The Fall migration of warblers through this area is spectacular.

Birds sighted: Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Hermit Thrush, Turkey Vulture, Mallard, and a Blue-headed Vireo.

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Cabbage White on New England Aster