Birdnotes: [BIRD NOTES] February 21, 2007

Bird Notes

I have a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Carolina Wren, which are enjoyable to see at the feeders. The group that came here for the Christmas Bird Count, did get to see the red-bellied woodpecker.

---Steve Medved, Putney, VT

Last Thursday I had a total of 3 Rough-legged Hawks along I91 between White River Junction and Putney. I had another 2 yesterday in pretty much the same area. ---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston

Right this minute, Sunday morning at 10:00, there's a Cooper's Hawk just outside the kitchen window, tearing apart some hapless bird! I took a digital picture of it, but don't have a zoom lens, so it's rather small. There are feathers everywhere, but I can't distinguish the type yet--I'll walk out later. . . . . .

Forty-five minutes later, I'm inclined to think it's a Sharp-shinned. I checked with Sibley's, and the head is smaller and the breast streaks more buff-colored. Anyway, it's still there--must have a tummy-full by now!

---Jean Pett, W. Brattleboro, VT

More W. Brattleboro Birds

Since the snowstorm, the numbers of birds and species have increased at everyone’s feeders. Here at Chipmunk Crossing we have the following to report:

Tree Sparrow 1

Dark-eyed Junco 30

Blue Jay 2

Tufted Titmouse 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Black-capped Chickadee 9

Cardinal 2

CAROLINA WREN 1

Mourning Dove 12

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Downy Woodpecker 2

Wild Turkey 1

Crow 5

Goldfinch 1

House Sparrow 1

Red-tailed Hawk 1

COOPERS HAWK 1

Robin 4

Cedar Waxwing 8

Keep a close eye on your feeders and you may pick out something different that has been forced to seek other than normal food sources. This morning I watched a Carolina Wren going in and out of the wood pile probably in search of insects and spiders.

Birds of W. Northfield, MA

The farm fields along Caldwell Road are in the process of being manured and the Horned Larks and Snow Buntings are there. We estimated about 60 Horned Larks and 6 Snow Buntings on our drive through on Tuesday, 2/20. We also came across a group of 5 Song Sparrows feeding roadside.

Vernon Birds

Along the roadside on Scott Road we stumbled onto a lone Snow Bunting. Peck Road gave us good looks at a flock of 20 Cedar Waxwings (no Bohemians), also a group of about 20 Robins that were taking turns getting a drink from the open water running from the pond and a Mockingbird that was beside itself trying to defend its cache of rose hips from these marauders. At the Vernon P.O. we watched a flyover by another group of Robins heading in the direction of the river.