Birdnotes: April 2007

[BIRD NOTES] April 29, 2007

Bird Notes

This morning(4/26) at Bennett Meadows, MA there were:

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1

Myrtle Warblers 25

Eastern Palm Warblers 5

Ruby-crowned Kinglets 4

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

This afternoon(4/27) there were 3 Long-tailed Ducks and 5 Red-necked Grebes in Barton Cove. Saw them from Unity Park in Turners Falls. ---Bill Lafley, New Salem, MA

I was awakened this morning(4/27) by a Louisiana Waterthrush singing along the stream that runs thru my yard. This is the 5th year that this bird has been here.

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

A very quiet morning although I did have Eastern Kingbird, Towhee, 4 Swamp Sp., Gt Yellowlegs, RC Kinglet & a few Yellow-rumps.

On River Rd., Westminster to Putney, were B&W warblers, RC Kinglets, L. Waterthrush, Yellow-rumps.

---Don Clark,Grafton, VT

There were six Bonaparte's Gulls on the eastern end of Retreat Meadows (4/27). One gull was almost in full breeding plumage.

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

At the Retreat Meadows this morning(4/28) we watched an Osprey perched in a tree feeding on a fish that it was holding down on a branch of a tree. A second Osprey circled overhead. It made three dives headlong into the water before becoming successful in catching a fish in its talons. It flew off toward the south end with the fish facing forward and made intermittent shakes of its body to rid its feathers of the water. It found a suitable dining roost in a large tree there and proceeded to tear into the fish.

In the water below were two Double-crested Cormorants and a lone Rudy Duck. Good numbers of Tree Swallows were seen skimming the water, scooping up those pesky gnats.

---Barb Merritt, W. Brattleboro, VT

This morning(4/28) at Herrick's Cove it felt like the middle of winter! Not a single warbler. However, 25 miles south at Hinsdale the bushes are jumping with them. This morning there were a couple of hundred myrtles, 15 palms (including one western), 6 pines, and several B&W. These birds have been there for 4 or 5 days. So why are they not getting further upriver?

---Hector Galbraith

Early Morning Bird Walk-4/29/07

Despite the early hour and the threat of rain, 16 eager birders made an appearance on Sunday morning to participate in the first birding walk of the year. Thanks to all for making it a fun morning.

Highlights included Wood Duck, 5 Osprey, Kestrel, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers. Here is the complete list of 42 species that were observed:

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Red–tailed Hawk

Kestrel

Great Black-backed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Blue Jay

Common Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Robin

Mockingbird

Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Cardinal

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Grackle

Cowbird

House Finch

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

BIRD NOTE archives:

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society website:

http://www.sevtaudubon.org/

FW: [BIRD NOTES] April 26, 2007

Bird Notes

Vermont Spring Birds to Watch For--Week #4

Great Egret, Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, White-winged Scoter, Common Moorhen, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper,

Upland Sandpiper, Chimney Swift, Eastern Kingbird,

Cliff Swallow, House Wren, Marsh Wren,

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher,

Black-throated Green Warbler,

Black-and-White Warbler,

Chipping Sparrow

~

We have an Eastern Meadowlark in our hay field right now(4/21). Our neighbor Dave Johnston spotted it. Also, we have Tree Swallows on the property for the first time this year. In the woods this afternoon (4/24), I saw a Winter Wren taking nesting material into a hole in a tree stump, then my first warbler of the season (a male Yellow-rumped). Also saw a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets near the old beaver ponds and a male Wood Duck in the pond. Lastly, Dave and Kit Johnston alerted us to the presence of a Shrike. After much discussion, consensus was that it was a Northern based partly on streaking on the breast (along with range and other features), although the markings on the head were a bit ambiguous.

---Ned Pokras, W. Brattleboro, VT

On Saturday 4.21.07 at the Hinsdale setback near the railroad bridge, we had a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Palm Warbler.

---Robyn Flatley & Paul Miksis, Brattleboro

On April 21, 2007, on a walk on the Metacomet-Monadnock trail to Mount Holyoke in South Hadley, Massachusetts, I counted 10 Mourning Cloak Butterflies, the first of the season for me. Four Turkey Vultures circled overhead, and Spring Peepers provided background music.

---Anne Wheelock, W. Brattleboro, VT

Thought you would like to hear of our adventures last Saturday (4/21). We were on the old Vernon Rd. at Devils Kingdom. There are a lot of beaver dams and ponds. We saw the nesting Great Blue Herons. The mother was on nest and mate was close by. We saw activities on the other side and saw to our delight one male and two female Hooded Mergansers. A Belted Kingfisher flew by. We stopped by the Bald Eagles nest in Vernon and saw her still on the nest. I have a male House Finch, Song Sparrows, White throats and Tree Sparrows stopping by our feeder.

---Judy and Larry Farley, Vernon, VT

Thought I’d check in with a few high-lites from Bonnyvale Rd.

4/22- Eastern Meadow lark, Y-B. Sapsucker, male and female Red-bellied Woodpeckers seen/heard on a daily basis for about three months, 8 White throats under feeder.

4/25- Northern Shrike perched right outside our window, Barred Owl perched on a branch in the woods behind our house, 3 Blue-headed vireos, Hermit Thrush.

4/26- Yellow-rump Warbler in the woods, B-H vireos still around, a Brown Thrasher in our front yard.

I wonder what today will bring. Good birding!

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

Here's where the cormorants rest down our way in Vero Beach (ducks and anhingas, too).

---Mark Mikolas

* * * * *

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Bird Walk for Early Migrants

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Meet at the

West Brattleboro Firehouse Parking Lot at 7 a.m.

Leaders: Al & Barbara Merritt

* * * * *

The Birds of Dummerston

Hector Galbraith will be speaking on the birds of Dummerston and how they have changed over the last 25 years due to habitat alterations and other influences.

7 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2007

West Dummerston Community Center

For more information and directions contact the Dummerston Conservation Commission, Maryellen Copeland, Phone: 257-5843

* * * * *

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

BIRD NOTE archives:

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society website:

http://www.sevtaudubon.org/

[BIRD NOTES] April 21, 2007( late post)

Bird Notes

This morning (4/21) there was a breeding plumage Great Cormorant resting on the Vernon shore of the Connecticut River, about 100 meters upriver of the dam. Also about 15 Double-cresteds flying north upriver.

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

Miller Farm Bunting

Our son, Art, saw an INDIGO BUNTING on Wednesday(14^th) north of the barn.

---Mary Miller, Vernon, VT

Early Chipper

The first Chipping Sparrow of the year for me was eating in my window feeder this morning(17^th), accompanied by the usual Juncos and Goldfinches, Cardinals, Woodpeckers (a downy hit the window and I held her for a moment until she regained her senses), Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Mourning Doves and a couple of Crows completed the picture. Oh, and Robins in the field behind the house.

---Jean Pett, Orchard St., W. Brattleboro, VT

Retreat Meadow, Brattleboro (4/18 - 4/20)

BALD EAGLE (2 mature)

Turkey Vulture

Mallard (8)

Black Duck (6)

Green-wing Teal (21)

American Widgeon (M&F)

Ring-necked Duck (16)

Common Merganser (24)

Canada Geese (several pairs nesting)

Wood Duck (M&F)

Double-crested Cormorant (breeding plumage)

Great Blue Heron (2)

RUSTY BLACKBIRD

Mockingbird

Eastern Phoebe

Cedar Waxwing

TREE SWALLOW (2)

COMMON RAVEN (being chased by a pair of Crows)

Riverside Drive, Vernon (4/19)

MERLIN

Blodgett Road, Vernon (4/19)

NORTHERN HARRIER

KESTREL

Tree Sparrow

Canada Goose

Black Duck

Also: Spring Peepers and

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Misc. Reports

Hector Galbraith reports seeing two Black Vultures circling over the river near Hinsdale. Barbara Cole has had breeding plumaged Purple Finch and Goldfinch at her feeder. Here at Chipmunk Crossing we watched a Golden-crowned Kinglet hovering around the hemlock bows in our side yard.

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

BIRD NOTE archives:

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society website:

http://www.sevtaudubon.org/