Birdnotes: August 2007

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

[BIRD NOTES] August 28, 2007

Bird Notes

Fall migration has started in earnest, as we found out in our backyard after the “thunder boomers” passed through the area on Saturday evening. Sunday morning activity at the feeders and surrounding flora really picked up. Of those, were several species of warblers. Keep alert skyward too. Reports are circulating of good numbers of migrating Nighthawks.

Wilmington Thrashers

I received a report from Laurel Fox of at least 6 Brown Thrashers in Wilmington this morning (8/22) off RT 100 south - probably migrating – A field had just been mowed and they were going in and out of it. Some Blue Jays were giving them a hard time.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

Herricks Cove Survey (8/24)

Today I conducted the monthly survey of the Herricks Cove IBA. It was very slow birding with only 35 species in two hours of covering the entire IBA. The highlight however came early in the survey when a Snowy Egret flew past the marsh. When i first spotted it, it was flying quite high above the marsh so I don't think it took off from Herricks Cove. As it flew by heading south it started flying lower but did not land. I checked for it along the CT river and at Allen Brothers Marsh but did not relocate it.

However, at Allen Brothers I did count 47 Wood Ducks, 8 Green Herons, and a Solitary Sandpiper that flew over. Good birding.

---Taj Schottland, Putney, VT

SVAS Field Trip (8/25)

Saturday, on a muggy, overcast morning, leaders Meg Kluge and Ned Pokras met us at the Hannaford parking area to car pool for the field trip to the John and Phyllis Benay Wildlife Sanctuary off of Black Mountain Road. This is a private preserve with many acres of fields and marsh dotted with countless dead pine and hemlock trees that sit with there feet in the water. Most are riddled with woodpecker holes that provide housing for Tree Swallows, Northern Flickers, Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. The Tree Swallows had already left the area for the gathering flocks that are preparing for migration, but the others were here. Cedar Waxwings were everywhere, high in the dead trees and low in the shrubs near the duckweed covered water, shagging insects like experienced flycatchers. Wood Peewees called from their high perches and a few empidonax flycatchers made an appearance but were very silent. Since they look so much alike, it is an almost impossible task to name them when they don’t talk. Common Yellowthroats hidden in the swamp grasses and tangle gave themselves away by calling their “witchedy, witchedy” song.

While walking a woods trail the lead birders flushed an American Woodcock after nearly stepping on it. It startled all of us as it exploded into the air and flew up and away through the leafy canopy. I can see how the element of surprise saves these birds from the hunter’s guns.

On the high trail that skirts the marsh on the east side, we encountered Purple Finch, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler, American Redstart, Savannah Sparrow, and an immature ORCHARD ORIOLE.

By now the sun was boring through the overcast and the humidity was rapidly rising. Our hostess, Phyllis Benay, invited us to the deck at her home for a snack and liquid refreshments, where we talked over the species and numbers seen. Nine of us counted 31 species:

American Woodcock

Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

N. Flicker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

E. Wood Peewee

Empidonax Flycatcher-Species?

E. Phoebe

Blue Jay

Crow

Common Raven

Chickadee

Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Catbird

Red-eyed Vireo

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

American Redstart

Common Yellowthroat

Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Chipping Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Grackle

ORCHARD ORIOLE

Purple Finch

Goldfinch

***We apologize for the late notification of this field trip. There were more that would have liked to attend this outing but didn’t know about it until too late. We will be working to be sure that in the future, all will be notified far enough in advance.

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

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/

Saturday, August 11, 2007

[BIRD NOTES] August 10, 2007

Bird Notes

Wild Turkey Brood Survey begins

The Wild Turkey Brood Survey is asking for volunteers to record all sightings of wild turkeys during the month of August. Fish & Wildlife is asking volunteers to record wild turkey sightings for the month, using its Web-base survey. "Your participation increases our sample size and gives you the chance to be involved in active turkey management," according to the site.

. . .

The most important information that volunteers can provide is the total number of turkeys seen and in what town.

“It would be helpful if you are able to determine sex and age of the birds and whether your sighting is a brood,” according to the site. “A brood consists of one or more hens with young. At this time of year, young of the year turkeys are normally about two-thirds the size of an adult hen. It is also important to record any sightings of adult hens seen without young.” Biologists estimate the Vermont wild turkey population at about 50,000 birds.

. . .

To make a report, go to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Web site at www.vermontfishandwildlife.com and click on Wild Turkey Brood Survey. There, you can report your sightings.

---Dennis Jensen, Staff Writer, Rutland Herald

West “B” Turkeys

I saw about 26 turkeys in the big field on Abbott Road one night this week. Think there were 5 adults & 21 young but it was difficult to count as they kept disappearing in the tall grass. Don't think I came up with the same total twice!!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

Marbeled Godwit at PI

Lance Tanino and I had a Marbled Godwit at Sandy Point(Plum Island, MA) today(8/9). It was 11:30 when Lance spotted the bird at the very (western?) tip of Sandy Point. It only stayed for about 10 minutes before taking off. We also had a Common Moorhen at Hellcat earlier in the day. We will post a detailed list of what we had on the island at a later time.

Good birding.

---Taj Schottland, Putney, VT

Planes Drop Rabies Vaccine

(WBZ) CONCORD, N.H. Thousands of doses of rabies vaccine are being dropped over northern New Hampshire and Vermont this week to try to immunize raccoons. “These packets are coated with a fish meal polymer to attract the raccoons and once they eat the whole packet, the vaccine hits the tonsils and the raccoon is vaccinated.”

West Brattleboro sightings last week

Mourning Dove

Wild Turkey

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Blue Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-and-White Warbler

American Redstart

Common Yellowthroat

Scarlet Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Allen Brothers Marsh 8/11/07

Black Ducks 5

Great Blue Heron 2

Green Heron 2

Least Sandpiper 2

Tree Swallow (numerous)

Barn Swallow (numerous)

Wood Ducks 2F,13juv.,1M

Canada Geese 1pr w/ 7 juv.

Turkey Vulture flyby