Birdnotes: BIRD NOTES December 7, 2007 ~~ Pearl Harbor Day

Bird Notes

A flock of 20+ PINE GROSBEAKS were gorging themselves on the fruit of a lone crabapple tree behind the West Brattleboro Post Office on (12/5/07.

---Hollie Bowen

The female Red belly was at the feeder- she prefers the millet/mixed treats rather than the black oil sunflowers. While she was there I saw, on the big bush in the yard behind the feeder, a small flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS- maybe twenty or twenty five, enjoying some of the berries there.

---Burt Tepfer, Putney, VT

PINE GROSBEAKS were also in West Dover on the Handle Road at noon, Tuesday Dec.4^th --six flew up from the road. Very pretty!!

I also have a nice little flock of GOLDFINCHES and a small flock of a dozen or so REDPOLLS at my feeders. There is still a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW feeding here as well. The rest of the gang are the usual winter hangouts, Chickadee, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. Last week a SHARPIE hung around, a BARRED OWL was on the ground under the feeders in the daytime and on Sat the owl was seen on the wires at the end of our road on Route 9. They do nest in our woods.

We are pleased to have had a beaver move into our lower field along Rt.9 and start a dam creating a little pool in our wetland area. Hope

they stay, though they did take the pretty white birch!

----Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

I too had Pine Grosbeaks near our feeders off Black Mountain Road in Brattleboro.

---Phyllis Benay, Brattleboro, VT

On Monday, 12/3, I saw perhaps one hundred HORNED LARKS by the intersection of Pond Rd. and 142, but they wouldn't stay put for me to see if there was an interloper (Lapland Longspur). I also spotted a BARRED OWL on a line over the road nearby. Today, 12/5, I re-traced my route and spotted numerous juncos, BLUEBIRDS, several hundred flighty larks, and another Barred, this one on Stebbins Rd., perching and hunting. Got great looks. The BALD EAGLE was perched by its nest. A few Hoodies, Black Ducks and Common Mergansers were in the River.

---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro, VT

At Chipmunk Crossing our regulars have been joined by a Cardinal pair, an additional pair of titmice and for the last few days a CAROLINA WREN has been showing up in the feeder and on the suet. This morning (12/6) we heard a PILEATED WOODPECKER whacking a tree near Ames Brook off Greenleaf Street.

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.