Birdnotes: [BIRD NOTES] September 2, 2007

Bird Notes

Check out David Hoag's map of Dead Creek from Ted Murin & Bryan Pfeiffer's indispensable book "Birdwatching in Vermont." It is a map of Dead Creek and the Brilyea area near Addison, Vermont, where numerous reports of shorebirds and herons are dominating the Rare Bird Alerts. If you are considering a trip there it is approximately a 3 hour drive from Brattleboro.

The Latest Bird Rarities Nationwide

A recently-photographed JABIRU in Mississippi: http://birdaz.com/blog/ category/mega-great-birds/ (fyi: neotropical native Jabiru is Earth's largest stork species.)

A GREEN VIOLET-EAR in Oklahoma, photos at: http:// www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix.html (Scroll down to the hummingbird photo. For dial-up, takes longer.)

Potential first N. American or western hemisphere record for BROWN Hawk-Owl at St. Paul island, Alaska Aug. 27: http:// www.birdingonthe.net/hotmail/WEST.240033845.html

Closer to NY there are reports of a Swainson's Warbler from Ontario/Canada, & a number of unexpected southern species from Pennsylvania (Anhinga, White Ibis, etc.):

http:// www.birdingonthe.net/hotmail/EAST.241201435.html

Nice birds all!

---Tom Fiore,N.Y. City

Backyard Birds

The backyard feeders have been busy. But first, what have not been here - no blackbirds since early August. Red-wings, grackles, cowbirds, and starlings have moved from their breeding dispersal, gathering in flocks elsewhere.

In the backyard as of Saturday, September 1 - Evening Grosbeaks were feeding young - so were Song Sparrows. Pine Siskins have come down from their mountain breeding areas and have been regulars. A single White-throated Sparrow was also present, and Chipping Sparrows are still around, although I think I am now getting migrants rather than the resident breeders. Some neighbors have the Red-breasted Nuthatch as a regular year-round feeder bird. At my feeders, they show up during August and September, then periodically through the winter. Three were around all day yesterday. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are less common, but a young male is beginning to show his true colors. There have been so many young hummingbirds on the bee-balm, that the resident male has given up trying to defend his territory. I counted six at one time yesterday. Spotty without his breeding spots is still working the river. Plus there have been all of the usual suspects: hairy, downy, chickadee, titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, cardinal, purple finches, sizeable groups of jays, doves, a couple of pigeons, and the occasional Sharp-shinned Hawk (at least two, but as often as the jays carry on, probably more that I haven’t seen).

I’ve posted some pictures at www.tailsofbirding.net

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT

Birding at Somerset Reservoir

Last Thursday, while checking out a tiny island in the middle of Somerset Reservoir, hundreds of Tree Swallows (maybe 500?)appeared suddenly. Many trying to perch on the half dozen trees there, many others just flying around. Every 10 or 15 minutes almost all would up and fly away, then return again. This went on for well over an hour. Lots of little bits of feathers were floating in

the air. The island is maybe 50 feet by 75 feet tops and over a quarter mile from shore.

The next day in the Reformer I read Chris's article telling of such swallow swarms along the coast.

I ran into Whitney (Nichols) this morning on Main St, and he thought it was a rare treat to see this so far from the coast and encouraged me to share it with you all.

Not sure how many Common Loons there were, at least two calling. We also saw loons in a few different places around the reservoir but they could have been the same one or two moving about, or could have been 3 or 4 different ones. One was flying around a bay near the dam, calling (yodel) while flying.

As for the (Bald)Eagle, pretty sure it was the immature eagle. We saw one there about a month ago, along with a mature one and two loons with two young.

---Jeff Nugent, Brattleboro, VT

Birds of Chipmunk Crossing (8/26-31)

Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Crow

Chickadee

Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Robin

Catbird

Red-eyed Vireo

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black-throated Green W.

Black-throated Blue W.

Blackburnian W.

Black-and-White W.

Common Yellowthroat

Canada W.

Nashville W.

Yellow-rumped W.

Redstart

Scarlet Tanager

Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

House Wren

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Goldfinch

P R O G R A M

Tuesday, September 18—“What’s that Hawk Up There?”

Members of the Putney Mountain Hawk Watch will be attending to answer questions and explain how they can identify a hawk when it is a mere spec in the sky. They will be giving tips to all of us on how we can do it too. Join us in the Community Room of the Brooks Library at 7:00 p.m. It is FREE and open to the public.

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