Monday, September 11, 2006

Sod Farm Birds

We arrived at the Four Star Farm in Northfield at approx. 6:00 p.m. to
find
a juvenile Peregrine Falcon on the ground, feeding on some unfortunate
shorebird. It had a very distinct cream colored cheek patch and pale
crown.
A great sight to see. By the size of the bird I would surmise it was a
female. Huge!! While the falcon was feeding, several Killdeer
actually
strafed the bird, which I guess was really not all that risky. After
the
falcon departed, 3 BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPERS began feeding in the green
patch
on the North side of the up-turned soil.
Least Sandpipers and Semi-palmated Plovers along with the typical
numbers of Killdeer were the only other species present for me
today(9/9).
Late afternoon light on this field is perfect on a sunny day.
---Mark Taylor, Northfield, MA

Finch Forecast

It should be an interesting winter. Food is widespread--a once in a 20
year
cone crop. So, birds will be spread out across a large area.

Expect Pine Siskins, and some White-winged Crossbills and Red
Crossbills
nesting in the state, probably more as we get into Jan-April. I do not
expect there to be large numbers of breeders like in 2001 (where
siskins and
WW Crossbills were everywhere in NY and NE), but I still expect pretty
good
numbers of birds. Purple Finches will probably be common this winter
as
well, with a few Evening Grosbeaks scattered around, but in what
numbers is
the question, because excellent crops are so widespread this year.
---Ron Pittaway,
Ontario Field Ornithologist,
Toronto, Canada


Colchester Wheatear

The Northern Wheatear on the Colchester Causeway was present today
(9/7) and
observed by three birders (and a passel of bikers, possibly) between
about
11am and Noon. It was a few yards beyond "the rock" where it has posed
for
photos previously - the rock is marked by small cairns on either side
of the
bike trail.

The Wheatear was feeding on the trail, barely moving aside when bikers
came
past, then posed very nicely for us on a rock.

N. WHEATEAR C Chris Petrak

Perhaps a word of "don't wait" is in order - Murin & Pfeiffer write of
its
presence in Vermont: "Typically gone soon after arriving, this
misplaced
migrant has occasionally lingered for several days."
---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT


Life Bird for Us

Upon checking with the internet and VTBIRD on Friday evening, we found
reports that the Northern Wheatear was still present in Colchester, VT.
It
would be a lifer for us and the trip would be relatively short as
opposed to
flying to Greenland to check it off.

The bird was hanging out on an old railroad causeway that at one time
connected Colchester to South Hero across the north end of Lake
Champlain.
In all of the reports, the bird was being very cooperative and a number
of
photos had been posted of it standing atop any one of the marble slabs
that
are part of the causeway. After the rails had been removed from the
railroad
bed it was made into a hiking/bike path. And, I might add, a very
popular
one. Since it would be a 3 hour drive, we were off and running at 4:30
a.m.
hoping to arrive before its popularity overwhelmed our target bird.

As it turned out we were the second car to park in the small parking
area at
the beginning of the path. The first was for a couple of fishermen. We
took
the two mile hike at a leisurely pace and before we arrived at "the"
designated spot, 3 other birdwatchers overtook us and spotted the
Wheatear
up ahead of us. When we caught up, there it was, sitting on a slab of
white
marble. Just like all of the photos. There was a slight breeze across
the
lake from the south that parted the feathers on its rump to reveal the
"white arse." We drank in all of its beautiful cinnamon color for the
next
15 minutes as it did a little preening that showed off its tail
markings
again. I can still close my eyes and see it standing there, unmoved by
our
presence, with feathers blowing in the breeze. What a way to observe a
life
bird!
__________
*Note: Saturday morning was the last time the bird was seen on the
causeway.


Hawkwatch on Putney Mountain

The hawks are flying! Join the raptor counters on Putney Mountain. The
experts will be there to help with any ident problems. Today was the
best
day so far with over 400 counted, mostly Broadwings.

The Mt. Philo watch counted over 1100 Broad-winged Hawks on Sunday.

Al Merritt
Chipmunk Crossing
W. Brattleboro
chpmnkx@sover.net