Birdnotes: 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

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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

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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

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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/