[BIRD NOTES] July 1, 2007

Bird Notes

 

Here are a couple of nice bird stories.

Last week a Red-tailed Hawk flew low over the yard and was immediately harassed by 2 crows which furiously dive bombed it.  The hawk and crows started circling higher and higher.  Right below them flew a crow being aggressively harassed by two small birds - probably our resident Baltimore Orioles.  Calmly circling on the thermals above all of this drama was a Turkey Vulture minding his own business.  Yesterday I watched a Barred Owl for a long time roosting in a tree near a road I was walking down.  Today I was walking on a Guilford trail and flushed another barred owl who flew to a nearby tree, settled down and went back to sleep.

---Susan James, Guilford

 

 

Yesterday (6/14) when atlassing for breeding birds in a "clean-up" block, I enjoyed a long serenade by a Tennessee Warbler. This morning atop Mt. Snow, Bicknell's Thrush was again in full voice, along with Blackpoll, Yellow-rump, Magnolia Warblers, Purple Finch, et al. Highlight was White-winged Crossbills atop the spruces. Red-breasted Nuthatches, juncos, robins, chippers were among the birds carrying food, and many others were singing in full voice.

---Chris Petrak, S. Newfane, VT

 

 

 

We're having great views of a Gray Fox in the backyard in Marlboro!

---Hollie Bowen Love

 

 

I watched a very busy Black & White Warbler trying to satisfy the appetite of an immature Cowbird. She was one busy lady!

---Anabelle Bohlmann

 

 

While participating in the Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas, we were standing along Hinesburg Road looking out over a meadow when a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over quite low. It was being harassed by a Redwing Blackbird that was dive bombing it and nearly landing on its back. A minute or two later a mature male Goshawk came by at an even lower altitude being pursued by 2 more Red-winged Blackbirds. A third Redwing was on its way up from its hedgerow vantage point to aid in the pursuit. They all disappeared from view behind a row of tall sugar maples.

  When birds feel that their territory has been violated and their nesting area threatened, they suddenly throw caution to the wind and instinctively become the aggressors regardless of the size of the invader.

 

 

Some of the more common butterflies are out and about. Watch for White Admirals, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Silver-spotted Skippers, and Eight-spotted Foresters. Then too, check over the Parsley in your garden for the caterpillars of the Tiger Swallowtails. We have two that are growing in size daily. Oh, and by the way check after dark for the Fireflies. Our hemlock trees are twinkling like they are decorated for the holidays.

 

 

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/