FW: [BIRD NOTES] May 8, 2007

 

 

Bird Notes

 

BIRD WALK

Saturday, May 12^th, 7 a.m.

Bird expert, Whitney Nichols, will lead an early morning birding field trip to locate our colorful and musical spring birds, which are at their most spectacular in May and June.  Meet at West Brattleboro Fire station parking lot on Western Avenue.  Car pooling is recommended.  This field trip is sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society and is FREE and open to the public.

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S  I  G  H  T  I  N  G  S

 

Yesterday (Thursday, 5/3) brought our first Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a male, to our feeders. I’ve also heard a couple Black-throated Green Warblers in the woods, Wednesday and Thursday.  On Saturday, 5/5, we had a brief visit by a female Evening Grosbeak. We've also had a White-crowned Sparrow around for the last couple days.

---Ned Pokras, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Most of my yard-viewing is pretty tame, but a Pileated Woodpecker (male) did find a half-dead tree at the end of my driveway very interesting.  He flew away and returned three times, while I sat glued to my binoculars.  He was gorgeous! 

---Jean Pett, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Robyn and I added Baltimore Orioles and Warbling Vireos to our Hinsdale sightings. ---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Our first hummingbird spotted today (5/4), Yellow -bellied Sapsuckers girdled the maple in the yard and were back to inspect and partake!  Lots of drumming on the metal roof and the hollow tree same as last year. Earlier the Fox Sparrow went through along with the Tree Sparrow.   The Song Sparrows beginning to gather nesting material and the Chippys are buzzing around.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

I was atlasing this morning in the town of Springfield when I came cross a somewhat unusual Common Merganser nest site. The Black River at Springfield is lined with old factories, some of them with tall chimneys. When I first saw the female COME she was flying in circles around the top of one of these chimneys, which was about 50 feet in height, and obviously trying to land on the parapet. Eventually she managed to do just that, then she jumped down into the interior of the chimney. I am sure that there must be a nest in there. Common merganser as an industrial species....go figure!

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

 

 

Friday, 5/5 at Retreat Meadows, West River:

This was a first ever for us. There were 14 Turkey Vultures roosting in a willow on the island in the West River. One by one they dropped down to rivers edge and walked into the water and proceeded to take a bath. An awesome sight!

 

 

Sunday, 5/6 at Marina Road, Retreat Meadows:

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs (2)

Hooded Merganser

 

Sunday, 5/6 at Northfield sod farm:

Carolina Wren

Eastern Bluebird (m&f)

Savannah Sparrow

 

Sunday, 5/6 at Bennett Meadow, Northfield, MA:

Greater Yellowlegs (2)

Eastern Phoebe

Swamp Sparrow

Yellow Warbler

 

Sunday, 5/6 at Hinsdale setback:

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2)

Palm Warbler (3 eastern, 1 western)

 

Monday, 5/7 we ventured to Herricks Cove and observed:

Wood Duck     2

Common Merganser     8

Bald Eagle     2

Eastern Kingbird     1

Warbling Vireo     2 (first of the season)

Gray Catbird     2 (first of the season)

Palm Warbler     (5 Eastern & 1 Western)

Black-and-white Warbler (first of the season)    1

Savannah Sparrow     1

Swamp Sparrow     2

 

Tuesday 5/8 at North Pond, Marlboro:

Great Blue Heron (nesting)

Hooded Merganser (F)

Rusty Blackbird

Winter Wren

Broadwinged Hawk (2)

Belted Kingfisher

 

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/