Bird Notes ~ 12.24.07

Bird Notes

 

We went on the hunt yesterday (12/21) and had great luck.  We saw about 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS on Barrows Road off Ames Hill Road in Marlboro.  Then we drove to Bonnyvale Road and went as far as the Environmental Center (BEEC) and found a flock of 9 or 10 PINE GROSBEAKS eating seeds from the trees behind the main building. While enjoying them, we caught a glimpse of bright yellow and our luck continued as we counted half a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS in the same area eating sumac seeds. Back home in Marlboro we have a huge flock of thirty plus REDPOLLS at the feeders along with the regular Chickadees, a single White-Breasted Nuthatch, a couple of Downy Woodpeckers and an American Tree Sparrow.   Has anyone seen Pine Siskins or Crossbills in the area? 

---Molly Martin & Michael King, Marlboro, VT

 

 

20 SNOW BUNTINGS have been perched on the top of our wooden swing set frame for the past hour or so, on and off.  They are currently all flocked together at the top of a very large Maple farther back in the yard. They did land briefly about 30 feet from my back door when I scattered some sunflower seed out on the snow, but just as I got my camera, they were spooked and returned to the tree. Yard first for me! We have also had 4-5 REDPOLLS, many AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a HAIRY WOODPECKER, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visiting regularly.

---Laurie Miner, West Brattleboro

 

 

Robyn and I birded the river off Stebbins Road today, Friday, December 21, for an hour or so. Our sightings:

Bald Eagle (probable 2nd year), WB Nuthatch (heard), Common Goldeneye 30, Hooded Merganser 5, Common Merganser 4, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Chickadees 5. 

---Paul Miksis & Robyn Flatley, Brattleboro

 

 

There was a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS working the edge of the woods behind our house this morning while a RED-TAILED HAWK perched watching the fields. A flock of ~20 COMMON REDPOLLS also paid us a brief visit.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

Yesterday I went to Turners Falls just over the border in MA and took photos of an ICELAND GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL, which I put on my website (http://www.onejackdaw.com/new_birds.html). I also saw a flock of COMMON GOLDENEYES, a solitary COMMON LOON, large flock of MALLARDS and many MUTE SWANS, both adults and juveniles. It was worth the 20 mile trip from Brattleboro.

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro

 

 

The longest running active Christmas Bird Count in Vermont is Bennington which was started in 1911 by Lucretius H. Ross MD who compiled the count into the 1950s. 

---Don Clark, Grafton

 

 

 

 

Our Christmas Wish

Peace on Earth

 

 

 

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/