{BIRD NOTES} ~ May 5, 2013

     

             

Bird Notes

 

 

West Brattleboro Spring Migrants (5/5)

A Louisiana Waterthrush was singing his heart out along the Whetstone Brook just north of my house this morning.  I wonder if it was the same one that I heard behind Discount Beverage a few days ago.  An Ovenbird was calling from the woods across the street, and a Yellow Warbler was singing by the bridge.  Amazingly, after not having any all winter, I now have a feeder full of very noisy Pine Siskins.  Similarly, Blue Jays were absent this winter, but have recently returned in good numbers.  I have seen what I think is a Broad-winged Hawk circling overhead and flying to and from the woods between Meadowbrook Rd and Orchard St several times over the past few weeks.  Nesting, maybe?  For the first time ever, I have Bluebirds - they are in the nest box ordinarily occupied by Tree Swallows, who moved into the box usually occupied by House Wrens.  Haven't heard the Wrens yet!

---Nori Howe, W. Brattleboro, VT

  

 

Migrants at Herricks Cove

A few nice migrants at Herricks Cove, Rockingham this morning including Nashville, B-t Green, Thrasher, Redstart, Marsh Wren & Orchard Oriole (male).
---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

 

 

They are Coming!

The migrating birds are doing just that. Many reports have come in from the Catskills of New York State, not in big numbers yet, but the advanced guard of the species that we would expect in the first waves; Palm, Pine, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chipping, Song, Savannah, Field, Swamp, Fox and White-throated Sparrows. In New York’s Ulster County at the Shawangunk Grasslands area last week good eyes reported a Smiths Longspur! Way out of its Arctic range. I am told that it hung around for about a week. Be vigilant and for those with good ears, LISTEN !

 

We expect to be absent from the Brattleboro area for a time. But, please keep sending in your sightings and we will play catch-up when we return.

 

 

SVAS FIELD TRIP

 

Warbler Walk

 

Saturday, May 11 @ 7 a.m.

Join local birding expert Richard Foye as he searches for Spring

songbirds along the trails of the Brattleboro Retreat and other

“migrant traps” along the Connecticut River. Meet at the “pull over”

opposite the intersection of Cedar Street with Route 30 at 7 a.m.

Sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

 

 

WARNING!

Bears are out and about. Time to bring in the bird feeders!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

What have you seen while on a trip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

FW: {BIRD NOTES} ~ May 03, 2013

              Indigo Buntings

Bird Notes

Juvenile Red-throated Loon ~ Hinsdale Setback

Last Saturday I drove out to the Hinsdale setbacks to see the juvenile Red-throated Loon that's been hanging around there for the past couple weeks according to Hector Galbraith. It was very early and the water was smooth and mirror like. The bird was quietly floating about 75 ft off shore on the upstream side of the causeway to the power tower, perfectly exposed in the morning sun.

 

RED-THROATED LOON (juvenile) © Hilke Breder

 

Other birds:

2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers

1 Palm Warbler

1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

1 Great Blue Heron

1 small flock of Yellow-rumped warblers

1 Black-and-White Warbler

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Ski-birding at Stratton Mt.

Thought of you Sunday on Stratton Mountain.  I skinned up the ski trails with my tele skis to the sounds of Winter Wrens, along with Juncos and White-throated Sparrows.  Their songs remind me of being on Monadnock.  I hear juncos and the white throats singing all the time over there.  Also saw a moose at the top of the ski area.   Second one I've seen in a week. 

---Jeff Nugent, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

BLACK VULTURES © Konchog Norbu

 

BLACK VULTURES at Morningside (4/27)

This morning I was walking/birding in Morningside Cemetery when I chanced upon this pair of Black Vultures. They were perched on the east side, in the trees along Frontage Road by the river. Specifically, they were just north of the obelisk where one of the former governors is buried ( Douglas ?), opposite a big memorial with the name Averill on it, and one that has several parallel Greek columns. I understand this is a bit of a rarity in Vermont , and maybe there's never been any evidence of a breeding pair? I saw them at about 9AM, then when I saw how rare they were, rushed back out to get pix about 9:30. Anyway, hope another pair of eyes gets on these birds.

---Konchog Norbu, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Greentree Road (Marina)

The Killdeer are back in the plowed field below the Marina.  It was peeping not far from me, but sounded like it was coming from every direction. 

---Lynn Martin, Brattleboro, VT

 

SVAS Field Trip ~ 4/27/2013

Many thanks to all of you for joining us Saturday morning on this annual early spring bird walk. The weather was near perfect, though it was a little chilly (34 degrees) at the start, but it turned into a beautiful sunny morning in the 60s.  It was the kind of day that gave us all a chance to shake off the winter blahs and enjoy spring at its finest with a great group of birders, on the back roads of Brattleboro. If you stuck with us until the noon hour and you saw or heard all of the species counted, you would have realized 30 on your list. They are as follows:

 

1. Canada Goose
2. Double-crested Cormorant
3. Turkey Vulture
4. Sharp-shinned Hawk
5. Killdeer
6. Greater Yellowlegs
7. Rock Pigeon
8. Mourning Dove
9. Belted Kingfisher
10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. American Crow
13. Tree Swallow
14. Black-capped Chickadee
15. Tufted Titmouse
16. White-breasted Nuthatch
17. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
18. American Robin
19. Brown Thrasher
20. European Starling
21. Yellow-rumped Warbler
22. Chipping Sparrow
23. Field Sparrow
24. Song Sparrow
25. Swamp Sparrow
26. White-throated Sparrow
27. Northern Cardinal
28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Common Grackle
30. House Finch

Participants:

Phyllis Benay, Jan Drechsler, Bob Engel, Henry Glejzer, Richard Glejzer, Susan James, Patty Meyer, Greg Moschetti, Anne Moore Odell, Chris Petrak,

Emily Talley, Susan Whittemore, Malcom & Marj Wright, and trip leaders Barbara & Al Merritt.

 

 

Man-made Platform Attracts Osprey

The Ospreys have chosen the platform atop the power line tower leading from Vermont Yankee. Yesterday the birds were both at the new nest of sticks practicing landing techniques, or maybe it was a courtship ritual. When we checked them a second time they were seen copulating. Guess they plan on staying.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

What have you seen while on a trip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

SVAS Field Trip

Bird Watching Along the Connecticut

Saturday April 27, 2013

 

Many thanks to all of you for joining us Saturday morning on this annual early spring bird walk. The weather was near perfect, though it was a little chilly (34 degrees) at the start, but it turned into a beautiful sunny morning in the 60s.  It was the kind of day that gave us all a chance to shake off the winter blahs and enjoy spring at its finest with a great group of birders, on the back roads of Brattleboro. If you stuck with us until the noon hour and you saw or heard all of the species counted, you would have realized 30 on your list. They are as follows:

 

1. Canada Goose
2. Double-crested Cormorant
3. Turkey Vulture
4. Sharp-shinned Hawk
5. Killdeer
6. Greater Yellowlegs
7. Rock Pigeon
8. Mourning Dove
9. Belted Kingfisher
10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. American Crow
13. Tree Swallow
14. Black-capped Chickadee
15. Tufted Titmouse
16. White-breasted Nuthatch
17. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
18. American Robin
19. Brown Thrasher
20. European Starling
21. Yellow-rumped Warbler
22. Chipping Sparrow
23. Field Sparrow
24. Song Sparrow
25. Swamp Sparrow
26. White-throated Sparrow
27. Northern Cardinal
28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Common Grackle
30. House Finch

 

Participants:

Phyllis Benay, Jan Drechsler, Bob Engel, Henry Glejzer, Richard Glejzer, Susan James, Patty Meyer, Greg Moschetti, Anne Moore Odell, Chris Petrak,

Emily Talley, Susan Whittemore, Malcom & Marj Wright, and trip leaders Barbara & Al Merritt.

 

The next outing will be “Putney Wildflowers and Birds” ~ Sunday May 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Meet our knowledgeable leader Pat Shields at the Putney School Forest kiosk by the Putney Pool (the driveway right before Putney Central School).

 

Happy Birding,

Al

{BIRD NOTES} ~ April 29, 2013

 

    

             YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER

 

      Bird Notes

 

 

Habitat for Phoebes

For years we've had a pair of Eastern Phoebes nesting under the roof of a three sided sheep shed, attached to our barn. Last fall the shed had to be torn down. Not wanting any homeless phoebes this spring, I recycled some scrap lumber and built and put up two phoebe friendly nesting boxes. One on the side of the barn, where the old shed was and the other on the opposite side of the barn. A definite upgrade in housing, since their old nesting spot, barely fit on top of the light socket, in the shed. Fortunately they agreed and two days after putting up the new boxes they began nest building, in the box on the opposite side of the barn. Their new location gives us an even better view of their comings and goings.

---Steve Medved, Putney, VT

 

 

TVs Over Waltham

This was my first ever sighting of Turkey Vultures in Waltham, they flew in tight circles just at treetop level over the Lyman Estates. An apparently female Cardinal has come to my feeder who has no head feathers, only fuzzy gray down. The bird acts normal otherwise, we call her "frazzle" I wonder if she has bird mange or is old?   (Anyone have any ideas about this condition?)

---Doreen Pugh, Waltham, MA

 

 

Sightings in and Around Brattleboro

 

Morningside Cemetery (4/27)

2 BLACK VULTURES

 

Water Treatment Plant Rt. 30

 1   Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Mockingbird

M & F Cardinal

2   Robins

19  Canada Geese

1  Brown Thrasher

 

East Orchard Street

3  Turkey Vultures

Field Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sharp-shinned Hawk

 

Broad Brook Boat Launch

M. Wood Duck

8 Tree Swallows

4 Redwing Blackbirds

12 Canada Geese

4 Grackles

2 Eastern Phoebes

Belted Kingfisher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Yellow-rumped Warblers

 

Miller Farm Overlook

2 DC Cormorant

4  Robins

4 Song Sparrows

12 Savannah Sparrows

    Red-tailed Hawk

    Bluebird (Male)

Slate-colored Juncos 

 

Chipmunk Crossing

M. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

2 Goldfinch

2 Tufted Titmice

M & F Cowbird

M & F Cardinal

   Slate-colored Juncos

2 W-B Nuthatch

   B-C Chickadees

2 White-throated Sparrows

3 Blue Jays

3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

2 Phoebes (nesting)

   Chipping Sparrow

4 Mourning Doves

   Wild Turkey (hen)

2 Crows

2 Canada Geese (flyovers)

Broad-winged Hawk(perched in tree)

Downy W.

Hairy W.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

What have you seen while on a trip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

{BIRD NOTES} ~ APRIL 23, 2013

      Bird Notes

 

F  I  E  L  D    T  R  I  P

Bird Watching Along the Connecticut

Saturday April 27, at 8 a.m.

 

Meet Al & Barb Merritt at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro for a morning of birding in the Connecticut River Valley.

A possibility of seeing Bald Eagles, Osprey and a variety of waterfowl. Early passerine migrants will be starting to arrive.

Plan to meet at the parking area of Memorial Park so that we can start out as close to 8am as we are able.

Spring Is Here!

 

 

Spring Has Been Cool in Wilmington

On Saturday April 20^th a female Eastern Towhee landed beside a Fox Sparrow in a little tree behind the house and  stayed for a good look. Have not seen a Towhee for a couple of years.   Will have to listen for the male. A gorgeous bright yellow male American Goldfinch sat on the feeder, we have six Mourning Doves as regulars  and there are a few White-Throated Sparrows scratching about with the Juncos and Song Sparrows. The Redwing Blackbird is around as are some European Starlings (~).  

 

The large Common Redpoll flock seems to be gone but a few remain.  Noticing sick and dead ones around so feeders get another round of bleach and most will be put away. Tree Swallows are inspecting the bird boxes – not seen any Eastern Bluebirds yet.  The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  is back pounding out his territory on the metal roof and a nice dead tree up the road. Lots of woodpecker and nuthatch activity in our many old trees.   No activity in the owl box down the road and have not heard the American Woodcocks in the meadow. It certainly has been a cold spring.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

Cool Bird Bath

To our surprise, even though it is only 45 deg. outside, a Robin enjoyed having a full bath in our bird bath at midday today.

---Judy Myrick, West Brattleboro

 

HERMIT THRUSH  ~  Vermont’s State Bird

 

There was a mini fall-out of Hermit Thrushes here in Dummerston last night. Had 8 in my yard this morning.
---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

 

 

Lake Wantastiquet (4/19)

A tight raft of 12 Long-tailed Ducks in breeding plumage, 8 drakes, were resting in close to shore just above Vernon Dam as of 1:30 this afternoon. Also a Horned Grebe was hanging tight with a pair of Lesser Scaup and a somewhat aloof Red-necked Grebe was close by in the same location. Seven Bufflehead and 8 Ring-necked Ducks were busy feeding across the river.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Birding Program on VPT, April 24

When you come inside after your spring birding, here is a program you will like on Vermont Public Television:

HARPY EAGLE

  April 24: Wednesday at 8 p.m. on the main VPT channel, "Nature" presents "Jungle Eagle." The most powerful raptor in the world, the Harpy Eagle, hides away deep in the South American jungle, rarely seen.  In this extraordinary film, a team of cameramen steps into the world of monkey-eating eagles and even risks injury to obtain pictures of them bringing back large monkeys to the nest.  The tables soon turn, however, as one of these massive birds starts following the team.

--- Ann Curran, VPT

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

What have you seen while on a trip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES} ~ April 19, 2013

                

                                                             OSPREY © Edith Thompson

              Bird Notes  

 

Attracting Birds Dilemma

As the new resident on the block, I've been complaining for months about my inability to attract birds to my feeders.  I've changed feeder styles multiple times, switching from platform feeders to cylinder styles -- both for thistle and black-oil sunflower seed.  I've introduced "Chickadee Mix" and Woodpecker Mix" and offered whole wheat bread with chunky peanut butter.  I have a bird bath that's available in sub-zero temperatures.  (Granted, I'm spoiled from my dozen plus years in Marlboro when Evening Grosbeaks used to be regulars on my deck railing and Redpolls lined my driveway.)

 

Whatever progress I've made here in town in the last few months just went up in smoke.  At about 4:30 p.m., today a Cooper's Hawk swooped in and grabbed a Mourning Dove and flew off with it, leaving a trail of feathers behind.  I'm sure the news will travel through the neighborhood bird population and my feeders will be off limits for weeks. 

 

Is this important juxtaposed against what's going on in Boston?  No.  But I needed to acknowledge the loss of one of my few regular bird visitors and to say it will be missed. 

---Molly Martin, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

West River Trail / Vernon Dam (4/14)

There were lots of sparrows this morning at the Brattleboro Marina/ West River Trail. Song and Savannah were most numerous with 1 Vesper, 1 Field, 2 Swamp, 2 Tree, and 2 Fox in the mix. Also the Red-throated Loon first seen Friday evening was just above Vernon Dam this morning ~ 10:45.

 

 

Brattleboro and Environs

I heard the first White-throated Sparrow this morning around my house in town (4/15), and yesterday (Sunday) went along the Connecticut  River from the Wastewater Treatment Plant on down to Vernon Dam. Saw two pairs of Wood Ducks and a group of 3 males, plus Common Mergansers, one Hooded Merganser and two Double-crested Cormorants who had to keep diving to escape an aggressive Canada Goose. There were two Ospreys, one with an animal in its claws (couldn't tell what that was), and another hovering over the water. There were the usual suspects, Red-wing Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Juncos, Robins, 3 Turkeys, Crows, Mourning Doves, etc. And on Saturday after the snow had stopped, dozens and dozens of Robins were tearing through the leaf litter around the yard, under bushes, and chowing down presumably on worms and other tasty tid-bits. It was a feeding frenzy for sure. The big oak tree across the street has been a roost for anywhere from 12 to 20 Turkey Vultures at various times this past week. Lots going on here in Brattleboro near the hospital.

---Mary Lea, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

A Walk In Manchester

Today on a walk around the Manchester Recreation Area I observed many sparrows and the return of 10 Tree Swallows; probably the same ones that have nested there year after year.

---.Barbara Powers, Manchester Center, VT    

 

 

GRAY FOX © A. Blake

 

At Chipmunk Crossing (4/15)

We had 3 Common Redpolls visit our feeder today. That is the first since sometime in the Fall of last year. They were in good rosy plumage. “Rusty” the Fox Sparrow is also gracing us with its presence on occasion and has been scratching up a storm at the base of the willow bush..  “Spencer” the Song Sparrow has returned again this year from wherever it winters and will soon find a mate and nesting site in the brush somewhere in the surrounding area. The Phoebe pair has also returned and are fluttering around the ledge above our upstairs window where they have nested for years.  This morning I heard the staccato drumming of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The lone Gray Fox continues its visit at about dusk each evening to lick up all of the leftover black oil sunflower seed that the male and female Cardinal have missed.  (See photo above)

 

 

Vermont Bird Checklist Update

The Vermont Bird Records Committee (VBRC) is pleased to announce the latest
update to the Vermont Bird Checklist (annual update) and the Field Card
(first update since 2009). Both can be found at
http://www.vtecostudies.org/vbrc/checklists.html.
We'd like to thank Ted Murin for his time and energy as part of the
checklist committee.
---Kent McFarland

 

 

 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share your birding news with us.

 

What have you got coming to your feeders?

 

What have you seen while on a trip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org