Penny, our Vizsla, is my canine companion who hangs with me - or not, depending on what other possibilities might attract her attention, on outings both in the truck and in the woods.  We've had adventures with moose, coy dogs, porcupines -- you name it.  She's not the greatest help in my birding efforts.

I've cranked up my interest in birding in preparation for our Southwest Trip, purchasing some new guidebooks,  Birdseye (a neat birding iPhone app,) and some new binoculars (so that Mary and I can each have a pair.) Today, while downtown, I stopped near our ball field to let the dog get some exercise.  I noted two waterfowl swimming on the North Branch of the Winooski and grabbed my binoculars.  Penny was off exploring smells and tracks and I got a chance to study the pretty birds as they dove and fished in the frigid waters.  Then the Vizsla was there and very interested.  Even though she's supposedly a pointer, with birds she's a chaser and down the snowbank to the stream she went, barking like crazy.  The birds just paddled, seemingly knowing that she was not coming in the water.  I watched them some more, made mental notes of their markings, and soon they got sick of the dog and just drifted downstream.  Penny decided it was too dicey to follow and deigned to come back up toward the truck and soon we were on our way home.

I wrote up my notes, checked my bird books, and found that they were a couple of female hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus.)  Fairly common but new to me and another addition to my life list.  

When we have to keep Penny on a short leash, the challenges of bird observation are going to be very interesting.  Binoculars in one hand, leash in the other -- picture it.  Stay tuned.

photo by  mikebaird

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