Birdnotes: [BIRD NOTES] July 19, 2007

Bird Notes

Vernon Eagles are Flying High

Chris Martin sent in the following account:

The female Bald Eagle at the site below the dam in Vernon, is a hatch year 1993 eagle raised at the Oxbow territory on the Connecticut River in Northampton, MA. Now a 14-year old, she has been present on territory near the Vernon Dam since at least 1999, when we first confirmed her ID, and has been re-identified on several occasions since. Earlier this season, I also re-confirmed the ID of her mate, a 14-year old male raised at Barkhamsted Reservoir in Connecticut. The pair has now been together at this location for at least 9 years.

The single eagle chick produced at this site in 2007 is now flying well and was seen pursuing food carried by the adult eagles on 7/16/2007.

---Chris Martin, Senior Biologist,

Conservation Dept. NH Audubon

Seen at Bentley College pond, one lone great blue heron, has been there for months, also a green heron, and way too many Canada geese. Our sidewalks are covered with green poop and the pond stinks.

---Doreen Pugh, Waltham, MA

Three different sightings engaged me last weekend in Marlboro. On Sunday morning (7/8) I found an Ovenbird "hawked" and dropped beside the porch steps of the house at South Pond. That afternoon we had a very close view of a male Scarlet Tanager hopping around the outer branches of a maple in the same spot. Later, walking along Cowpath 40, we saw a Broad-winged Hawk with prey in its beak fly low across the road.

---Anne Wheelock, Brattleboro, VT

On a walk for last minute confirmations for the Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas, Susan James reported seeing 3 Barred Owls with one recently fledged but not totally independent youngster - great looks at him/her. “One of the other 2 owls may have also been immature, but I couldn't get a good look.”

Also, a Pileated Woodpecker flew right in front of my car. It looked like a juvenile. It matched the National Geographic guide description of a juvenile: "resembles adult but duller and browner overall."

---Susan James, Guilford, VT

Glossy Ibis Heads List

Martha Adams found a juvenile Glossy Ibis at Allen Bros. marsh last night(7/17). It was there again today along with Green & Great Blue Herons, 2 Black-billed Cuckoos, Canada Geese & Wood Ducks with young.

A mini fallout on the Herrick's mudflats with 300+ Least Sandpipers, 22 Short-billed Dowitchers, 30+ G Yellowlegs, a Snipe, 8 Killdeer, a Common Tern, 10 Great Blue Heron,a Green Heron, an ad. Bald Eagle, 3 Ring-Billed Gulls, a Herring Gull & lots of Bank & Tree Swallows.

---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

***While at Allen Brothers Marsh viewing the Glossy Ibis, Marsha Adams returned to report that she lost her small copy of Sibley’s Guide that she mistakenly placed on the back bumper of her car. Anyone with information regarding the finding of the book please send her an e-mail at martha_adams@earthlink.net

Thank You.—Al Merritt

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.