[BIRD NOTES] November 27, 2007

Bird Notes

 

 

This morning(11/25) in the field by the Marina Restaurant, Brattleboro, there were 8 SNOW BUNTINGS. As I was watching them ~ 15 COMMON REDPOLLS flew in, stayed for a minute, and flew off.

---David Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

At the Retreat Meadows(11/25): 1 GADWALL and 3 SCAUP, at least one of which was definitely a lesser. There was also a KESTREL flying over the recycling facility in N. Brattleboro.

---Taj Schottland

 

West River off of Marina Rd.(11/24):

NORTHERN SHRIKE

Common Merganser (3 F)

                                  

Fort Dummer setback:

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose (100+)

Ring-neck Duck (5)

Black Duck (4)

Mallard (6)

Hooded Merganser (9)

Common Merganser (19)

Great Black-backed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

 

 

We were surprised to see a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at our feeder on the 14^th of November.

---Burt Tepfer, Putney

 

W. Northfield birds

I just wanted to let you know that at about 11:00 this morning on Caldwell Rd. in W. Northfield there were at least 120 HORNED LARKS eating in the fields. The 50 or so birds I was able to observe well were all HORNED LARKS, but the others??

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

Turners Falls, MA

There are numerous good birds being seen at the Turners Falls power canal in western Massachusetts. Turners Falls is only about 15 minutes south of the VT/MA border. This is easily within striking distance for southern VT birders. Hector Galbraith found 9 CACKLING GEESE there today. I went down and refound 8 of them. Also present: 1 female BARROWS GOLDENEYE, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, 2 iceland gull and Hector also had a NELSON’S GULL (a Glaucous hybrid). I Thought VT birders might be interested. It's certainly worth the drive.

---Taj Schottland, Putney, VT

 

Directions to Power Canal: Rt. I91 south to exit 26. Take Rt. 2 east. At second traffic signal turn right across bridge. Continue straight thru town. Turn right at 11^th Street and cross bridge. Turn left on “G” Street and follow canal south. ---Al Merritt

 

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/

 

 

[BIRD NOTES]--Nov. 25, 2007

 

Bird Notes

 

Rockingham Birds

There is still a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE among the 950 Canadas at the reservoir in Bellows Falls. Also 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES at Herricks Upper Meadows. Three REDPOLL flyovers, of maybe 30 birds in total.

---Hector Galbraith PhD, Dummerston, VT

 

W. Brattleboro Birds

On Wed.,11/21,  at home in W. Bratt.-a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was eating bittersweet berries in a white pine tree, and also pecking about on a willow tree. Also, late in the afternoon a N. SHRIKE was chasing a bird from tree to tree around our house. Today, 11/24, I observed the immature N. SHRIKE again perching in various trees lining the field next to our house. Hiking around Grout Pond today I spotted a male PINE GROSBEAK and a very busy PILEATED WOODPECKER.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

Chipmunk Crossing

Two COMMON REDPOLLS were feeding on the dead heads of the Fall Asters in our garden this morning. The Fox Sparrows that had been here for over 2 weeks have finally moved on.

---Barbara Merritt

 

Marina Road

Yesterday afternoon near the WTSA radio tower on Marina Rd., we watched an immature N. Shrike for several minutes as he hunted near the edge of the cattail marsh. It made several strange calls as it sat on the guy wire of a telephone pole. The West River was starting to get a skim of ice and in the open water near the island were 3 female COMMON MERGANSERS cavorting in the frigid water.

 

 

Turners Falls, MA--Power Canal--11/23/2007 (late afternoon)

BARROWS GOLDENEYE (F)

CACKLING GOOSE

Hooded Merganser (F)

Common Goldeneye (7 M)(14 F)

Common Merganser (8 F)

Plus the usual Canada Geese & Mallards

---Al & Barb Merritt, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

IOC Recommends English Bird Name Changes

There is a committee of the International Ornithological 

Congress that is trying to standardize the English names of all 

birds. They have reached the point where they now have chosen their names 

and they are trying to get the major ornithological bodies to comply. It seems to me that not only will it be impossible to get all of those bodies to agree, but imagine the enormous cost of such a venture. ALL field guides and checklists would have to be changed. Reference guides and encyclopedias too. It would be an insurmountable task to say the least. But, here is their proposed list, let’s hope it never comes to fruition:

 

Fulvous Whistling-Duck à Fulvous Whistling Duck

Brant à Brant Goose

Ring-necked Pheasant à Common Pheasant

Greater Prairie-Chicken à Greater Prairie Chicken

Common Loon à Great Northern Loon

Eared Grebe à Black-necked Grebe

Greater Shearwater à Great Shearwater

Wilson's Storm-Petrel à Wilson's Storm Petrel

White-faced Storm-Petrel à White-faced Storm Petrel

Leach's Storm-Petrel à Leach's Storm Petrel

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel à Band-rumped Storm Petrel

Western Reef-Heron à Western Reef Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron à Black-crowned Night Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron à Yellow-crowned Night Heron

White Ibis à American White Ibis

Rough-legged Hawk à Roughleg

Eurasian Kestrel à Common Kestrel

Black-bellied Plover à Grey Plover

American Golden-Plover à American Golden Plover

Pacific Golden-Plover à Pacific Golden Plover

Black-headed Gull à Common Black-headed Gull

Pomarine Jaeger à Pomarine Skua

Dovekie à Little Auk

Rock Pigeon àCommon Pigeon

European Turtle-Dove à European Turtle Dove

Common Ground-Dove à Common Ground Dove

Eastern Screech-Owl à Eastern Screech Owl

Northern Hawk Owl à Northern Hawk-Owl

Great Gray Owl à Great Grey Owl

Western Wood-Pewee à Western Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood-Pewee à Eastern Wood Pewee

Gray Flycatcher à American Grey Flycatcher

Gray Kingbird à Grey Kingbird

Northern Shrike à Great Grey Shrike

Gray Jay à Grey Jay

Eurasian Jackdaw à Western Jackdaw

Common Raven à Northern Raven

Bank Swallow à Sand Martin

Cliff Swallow à American Cliff Swallow

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher à Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Gray-cheeked Thrush à Grey-cheeked Thrush

Gray Catbird à Grey Catbird

European Starling à Common Starling

American Pipit à Buff-bellied Pipit

Yellow Warbler à American Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler à Black-throated Grey Warbler

Painted Redstart à Painted Whitestart

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow à Nelson's Sparrow

Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow à Saltmarsh Sparrow

White-winged Crossbill à Two-barred Crossbill

Hoary Redpoll à Arctic Redpoll

(Listing from Tom Wetmore, Newburyport, MA)

 

 

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/

 

 

 

 

[Bird Notes]--November 20, 2007

 

Bird Notes

 

 

We were pleasantly surprised to look out at our feeder earlier this morning, and see a pair of COMMON REDPOLLS partaking of our humble offerings. Could've lived without the male COWBIRD that came by later, though. There's a TREE SPARROW out there now.

---Ned Pokras, W. Brattleboro

 

 

Today (11/19) at 11:45 AM on Juniper Ridge Road in West Brattleboro, a lone adult female PINE GROSBEAK was observed perched and heard vocalizing.

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

 

 

There were at least 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS within a flock of ~60 CEDAR WAXWINGS this morning at the entrance of our driveway on Bonnyvale Rd. in W. Bratt. Sunday around our home a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continued to visit our willow trees; a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER made its daily visit to the suet; a flock of ~40 CEDAR WAXWINGS were feeding on bittersweet most of the day (alas, no bohemians); a lone PINE GROSBEAK was singing at the top of a tree, then flew off with ~ 10 c. waxwings.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

Had my first REDPOLL this AM (11/16) in the midst of flurries in Marlboro!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro

 

 

There have been up to seven PINE GROSBEAKS eating crabapple fruits at our house in Marlboro (for 5 days, now).  The subtle pinks, bright 

reds, yellow-greens and grays on the heads and bodies are just superb.

---Bob Engel, Marlboro

 

 

Two FOX SPARROWS are still hanging in under our bird feeders and scratching for seeds in the new fallen snow.

  At the Retreat Meadows yesterday 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS took advantage of the warm sun as they stood on the lee side of the cattails and preened their feathers. There were also 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, several COMMON MERGANSERS and the usual mass of CANADA GEESE.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

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/