BIRD NOTES ~ Nov. 14, 2008

 

Bird Notes

 

We may have had Hollie Bowen's Cardinal at one of our Marlboro feeders on November 3.  We left for N.J. the next day, so I'm not sure if it stayed beyond that brief visit.  I frequently have one or even a pair of Cardinals come by in the fall but, so far, none have ever stayed through the winter. 

---Molly Martin, Marlboro, VT 

 

 

Life on and around my little marsh was very, very busy this week:  on a morning walk, I saw a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers immediately adjacent to a downy, six bluebirds, too-many-to-count purple and yellow finches, a red-tailed hawk followed by screeching crows, the usual suspects of nuthatches, blue jays, chickadees, and a lingering pair of mallards and a lone black duck.  Great start to the day!   

---Phyllis Benay

 

 

I had a Ruffed Grouse last week and a

Fox Sparrow in the yard yesterday afternoon & probably 40 Dark-eyed Juncos making the grass look as if it was moving!  Have you seen the HUGE flock of (Canada) geese in the big meadow on Abbott Road?  I had no binoculars with me but think there were a couple hundred or so.  I haven't seen the cardinal since that one time.

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

 

 

Bear Beware

At least one Marlboro bear is still out and about.  The feeder pole closest to my house is down and the seed feeder is lying next to it.  It's too early and too dark to see if the other feeders were taken down as well.  I was planning to do my first "Feeder Watch" count this weekend, but that will have to wait.  The gathering flocks of goldfinches and purple finches are going to be very disappointed to find breakfast missing this morning. 

---Molly Martin

 

 

Area Waterfowl

If you wish to see some of the migrating waterfowl, you must visit the Fort Dummer setback at the base of Cotton Mill Hill and the Retreat Meadows at the boat launch on Rt. 30. You will find Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Canada Geese, Mallards and Black Ducks. One Canada Goose at the Meadow is sporting a yellow leg band and a yellow collar marked with a G23. Someone suggested that the “G” stood for a banding station in Greenland.

 

 

At Chipmunk Crossing

A Winter Wren made a brief appearance at the base of the willow bush yesterday. A minute later it was in our window flower box peering in the window. The 2 Fox Sparrows have finally departed after spending a week with us. The Pileated Woodpecker that seems to return each Fall is often heard but not seen. 11 Mourning Doves have now been arriving for brunch each morning before taking up their roosting spots in the cottonwood trees.

 

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

 

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

and touches your heart.