And lastly, a Northern Cardinal in our back yard.

If you’d like to check out and subscribe to the free Substack blog, here’s a link. Good birding.

https://dickmansfield.substack.com/p/some-april-birds

We traveled four days to arrive at Fontainebleau State Park just north of New Orleans. While it was chilly, we saw a lot of southern birds like this wind-blown Loggerhead Shrike.

At Galveston State Park, there were some nice birds including this Roseate Spoonbill.

Our next stop is one of my favorites – Goose Island State Park where we stayed for over a week. It has wooded sites, great bird walks, and is near many other great birding sites. This Black-capped Titmouse is typical of the 100 species we saw here .

A short drive away is Aransas Pass with its amazing wildlife refuge and a must-visit site, the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. The center, with long boardwalks over wetlands from the local wastewater facility, is amazing. This Green Heron, used to visitors, was not shy.

On other trips from Goose Island, we saw this Whooping Crane and a mixed pair – a young Crested Carcara and an adult Turkey Vulture.

At month’s end we drove to Falcon State Park where on the first day, we saw a Vermilion Flycatcher.

On a gray day, it’s fun to see the color and uniqueness of these birds. Next post will show more examples. Good birding to you wherever you are.

The weather has been cold, windy, and snowy – not the best environment for learning to use a new rig. So, I decided to shoot birds at the feeder through the glass storm door. Here are some of the usual suspects that are going through a lot of bird seed and suet.

And one of our favorite winter birds are the tiny Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Here is our feeder setup after Sunday’s big storm. Stay safe.

Here is our backyard feeder setup after Sunday’s big storm. Stay safe.

On this frigid day, I can’t help but wonder where these visitors are spending January. Stay warm.

Other photos are: Hairy Woodpecker, Black-crowned Night Heron (downtown Montpelier), Swamp Sparrow, Common Loons,  Great Blue Heron, Gray Catbird, Broad-winged Hawk, and Wood Ducks (on the river out back.)

Here’s hoping for a year full of birding delights. Good birding!

I was driving to a spot to finish a coffee. On a side street, I spotted a hawk perched. It was being harassed by crows. The camera case was tangled up in the back seat. Not daring to open the door and flush the bird, I somehow retrieved the camera.

I got a little closer and with freezing fingers, took a few shots. I think it was a Cooper’s Hawk but could be convinced otherwise. In any case, it was a neat finish to the birding year and got me psyched for 2026.

Ginger would rather lay on the couch rather than tromp through these super cold winter treks.

I get it. Happy New Year

It could be our last look at him before he heads out. In any case, it is a welcome start to a cold sunny morning outing with Ginger.

We have a possible workout, but it will probably be next Spring. So, I decided to go back to a camera with changeable lenses.

I took it out for a dreary stroll today and came upon a half-dozen Northern Cardinals. The dog tugged on the leash. I tried to sort out this new rig. I got a few shots under gray skies.

So, off we go on a new adventure. Now to read the 966 page manual.

I have been taking photos of birder license plates for over a decade. Recently, I saw a couple of Vermont plates so here they are.

We are now entertained by many “we’re sticking around” birds at our feeders. We also see migrants like Redpolls and Pine Siskins. And there’s always the possible arrival of a Snowy Owl.

Have a good November.