I photographed along the Northern Rail Trail near the shore of Lake Mascoma yesterday. I hit spots in Lebanon and Enfield.
At Ice House Road in Lebanon I was immediately serenaded by a Warbling Vireo.
This is one of my favorite spots in spring for Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, and Baltimore Orioles. One time I even found a pair of snapping turtles mating in the pond across the rail trail from the lake.
I noticed a small brown bird working the bushes down by the edge of the lake. I followed it along the rail trail grabbing photos the few times it held still and I was able to get a clean shot. I was hoping it was a winter wren. I don’t worry about identifying the birds I photograph in the field — there is time enough for identification later. I concentrate on getting the photo. The wren turned out to be a House Wren. Cute bird none the less.
After several unsuccessful attempts to get a decent shot of a Yellow-rumped Warbler I turned my attention to a Gray Catbird. The rufous undertail coverts were particularly striking on this bird.
The Catbird fed for a while on the sumac.
I headed over to an area just south of “Main Street Pond” in Enfield. There another birder and I listened to a Brown Thrasher singing loudly, but we could not find it. I walked down close to the shore where he said he saw a Yellow Warbler. Sure enough, it was there waiting for me.
I noticed many Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through the brush along the water’s edge. One moved a bit inland, landed in a white birch, and posed briefly for a photo.
A Black-and-White Warbler was working the tangled underbrush down low. I took a number of photos but only got one clean shot before it was gone.
I searched again for the Brown Thrasher in vain even though it continued to sing loudly. Back up on the rail trail I met the birder who was returning south. He told me he saw a Hooded Merganser on the pond. So I headed north on the rail trail and found … the Brown Thrasher. It had moved from the lake side to the opposite side of the path.
Soon after I took this photo the Thrasher flew to the top of a pine across Main Street. I was tempted to follow, but it didn’t stay long and flew farther south. I decided to photograph the Hooded Merganser instead.
I circled the pond and got a shot of a Common Grackle that landed in a tree overhanging the pond.
It was a good morning. I hope to go back soon, but there are other spots to check out. It sure is an exciting time of year.
Here are a few more photos from along the Northern Rail Trail in Lebanon and Enfield.
