Bird Notes ~ 1.13.08

 

Bird Notes

 

 

I finally got a photo of the BARRED OWL that's been hanging around the feeders looking for squirrels. (See attachment)

---Ian Martin, Lost Mile Rd., Newfane

 

 

Today I came out of Staples and saw a mad MOCKINGBIRD at the top of an oak tree at the edge of the parking lot.  Sitting about 8 feet away in the same tree was a NORTHERN SHRIKE seemingly unbothered by the Mockingbird. I watched for about 10 minutes and the Shrike flew off. Earlier in the week a huge flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS began coming to an apple tree in the yard which still has lots of apples. One day there were 4 species of birds eating apples at the same time: CEDAR WAXWINGS, ROBINS, STARLINGS, and 2 gorgeous PINE GROSBEAKS. This has been a super bird week.

---Susan James, Guilford

 

 

I saw the PINE GROSBEAKS at my house on Look Road, Wilmington last week and also at the old Whitney Farm on Higley Hill Road, Marlboro about 3 weeks ago. Every day there are approximately 50 COMMON REDPOLLS at my feeders.
---Gail Look, Wilmington

 

 

A NORTHERN SHRIKE perched in various treetops around our house today most of the morning until mid-afternoon. It made a couple dives into our forsythia bushes for tree sparrows but came up empty. PINE GROSBEAKS have been very noticeable this week throughout Brattleboro and W. Brattleboro. I've seen several flocks of between 8-26 birds. Today, in W. Bratt., there was a flock of 18 pine grosbeaks feeding in the same cluster of trees as a flock of 100+ CEDAR WAXWINGS, 5 BLUEBIRDS, and 2 ROBINS. We also had a lone EVENING GROSBEAK vocalizing at the top of a larch pine on 1/1. As of 1/1, we've had daily visits from COMMON REDPOLLS. Earlier in the week the flocks were in the 40-60 range; the last three days the flock size increased to ~ 100 around our house. A male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to visit our trees and suet.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

A large flock of 75-80 CEDAR WAXWINGS were very flighty between the heliport at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and The Thompson House as they fed on the fruit of the crabapple trees. With them were 27 PINE GROSBEAKS equally as nervous but determined to get their share.

 

Hollie Bowen reports seeing a BARRED OWL sitting on a “Wrong Way” sign on the Exit 9 ramp on Interstate 91.

 

 

VERNON Birds

Peck’s Road:

  Horned Lark (24)

 

Scott Road:

  SNOW BUNTING (5)

 

Pond Road:

  KESTREL (M)

  Mockingbird

 

Blogett Road

  Cedar Waxwing (70)

  Robin

 

Vernon Dam

  Hooded Merganser (3M, 3F)

  Common Merganser (M)

 

 

West Northfield, MA

Caldwell Road

  Horned Lark (23)

  BLUEBIRD (4) 

 

 

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/