BIRD NOTES ~ September 12, 2008

Bird Notes

 

 

West River Marina

I was just below the Marina last Wednesday(9/3), where that kind of backwater is where the green and blue herons can sometimes be seen, when I saw, in direct sunlight, a CORMORANT with a freshly caught fish in his beak.  The beak was a bright, bright yellow and the fish was all a gleam.  It took the cormorant quite a few minutes to finally get the fish down.

---Lynn Martin, Brattleboro 

9/8 ~ The CORMORANT was still at that backwater just below the Marina. Also, from the Top of the Hill Grill, looking down on what looks like an algae choked pond was a WOOD DUCK with its harem.  

---Lynn

 

 

South Pond Birds

The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT first seen (by me, at least) on 8/31/08 at South Pond in Marlboro was still at the pond as of Saturday, 9/6/08.  A BELTED KINGFISHER was also active there during the week.  On Friday, 9/5/08, a COMMON LOON arrived at the pond, calling its distinctive call on three different occasions during the morning.  I lost sight of it after that.

---Anne Wheelock

 

 

Grout Pond Loon

Had a wonderful surprise Wednesday when I saw -and heard- a COMMON LOON at mid afternoon at Grout Pond.  He was fishing, diving for long periods, and didn't seem bothered by the kayakers or canoeists, who were being very quiet.

---Burt Tepfer, Putney, VT

 

 

Connecticut River Bitterns

I went on a Brattleboro Outing Club canoe trip on the Connecticut between Windsor Dam and Ascutney and up a side stream saw two AMERICAN BITTERNS fishing for their dinner. A first visual sighting for me though I've heard them at the setbacks a few times.

---Lani Wright, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Cape Cod Sea Birds

We were in North Truro on Cape Cod August 22 - 25.  We stayed on the bay side and walked the beach every morning.  All 3 mornings we saw a few COMMON EIDERS, and WHITE-WINGED and SURF SCOTERS feeding and preening very close to the shore.  The Eiders liked to stand on the edge of the water and preen.   They would stroll a short distance back into the water when walkers came along.  I've only seen these arctic birds in the fall in large numbers at a distance, and it was great fun to see them so close.  Wellfleet Audubon said some young Eiders stay around Provincetown until they are old enough to breed when they head north in spring.

I wonder if other arctic ducks do the same.

---Susan James, Guilford, VT

 

 

P R O G R A M

 

7:00 pm Tuesday, September 16

 

"What the Glacier Left Behind in the West River Valley"

 

Bob Glennon of Dummerston, VT will share his research on how the most recent glacier to cover Vermont shaped the current landscape of the West River Valley, including glacial gravel formations, and the remains of glacial Lake Hitchcock.

 

This presentation is in the meeting room of Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. 

Sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society and is FREE and open to the public.

 

 

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.

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

 

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net