[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/