Bird Notes ~ Feb. 28, 2008

Bird Notes

 

 

 

2/27

I had a single TURKEY VULTURE over North Westminster yesterday morning. A friend saw one over Fall Mt. across the river from Bellows falls on the 20th.

---Don Clark, Grafton, VT 05146

 

 

 

2/26

There was a flock of about 250 CEDAR WAXWINGS, at least 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and ~ 30 ROBINS occupying 3 trees next to the house on the other side of Upper Dummerston Rd directly across from the Brattleboro CC clubhouse Tuesday afternoon.

     Today 2/27) there was a NORTHERN SHRIKE perched in a tree at the corner of Mather Rd. & Bonnyvale Rd. in W. Brattleboro.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

 

2/26

We had WOODCOCKS displaying last evening (25 Feb) near our house in Kent County, Maryland, and large flocks of RED-WINGS & GRACKLES are headed your way - spring is coming...

---Nancy Martin & Walter Ellison, Chestertown, Maryland

 

 

 

Vernon 2/23

Late post from Saturday, March 23rd, 4:45 - 8:30 P.M.:

Monadnock Chapter of NH Audubon field trip.

     A flock of at least 20 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were perched atop trees near Vermont Yankee in Vernon.  They were viewed through the scope from the Hinsdale-side of the river.  Also observed on the VT-side of Lake

Wantastiquet:

 

Mute Swan - 5

American Black Duck - 72

Mallard - 294

Northern Pintail - 5 (four females - there are obviously more pintails in      the area as I have seen three males on occasion - most of the dabblers      fly in late when it is too dark to id and this was the case today).

Greater Scaup - 1 female

Common Goldeneye - 191

Hooded Merganser - 52

Common Merganser - 45

Great Black-backed Gull - 1 1st year

Eastern Screech Owl - 2 heard from Vernon-side of CT River below the dam

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

 

 

Birding DelMarVa and Montauk, LI

Birding highlights for us on the Delmarva Peninsula the weekend before last included ten species of shorebirds – MARBLED GODWITS, WILLETS and OYSTERCATCHERS among them -- a flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Blackwater Refuge, a life bird for both of us, close up views of CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS on the Choptank River, TUNDRA SWANS at both Chincoteague and Blackwater and MEADOWLARKS at the latter refuge. Perhaps the best part of the trip for us was the ferry ride across Delaware Bay, where we got close-up views of hundreds of GANNETS as they plunged into the schools of fish that were apparently brought to the surface by the boat's wake, both coming and going. At its peak, the flock extended half a mile beyond the boat.

 

Last weekend we birded Montauk, LI and were astounded by the immense rafts of scoters that were visible from the viewing terrace where Block Island Sound meets the Atlantic. For literally as far as the eye -- or scope -- could see, all three scoter species floated on the waves and flew past in serried lines. There were thousands of them. COMMON EIDERS were relatively few in comparison. Between Delmarva and the East End of Long Island, we managed to see 28 species of waterfowl over the two weekends (including loons and grebes). Incidentally, on the ferry from Orient Point to New London, not a single gannet appeared. 

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

 

 

 

2/27

Here at Chipmunk Crossing we have been hosting a breakfast and dinner hour each day for WILD TURKEYS. The numbers vary anywhere from 1 to 17.

 

 

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/

 

 

 

Bird Notes ~ February 23, 2008

Bird Notes

 

 

Ready, Set, Go!

The northern migration of birds has already begun. Several reports of REDWING BLACKBIRDS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS have been reported at feeders north of us. The first TURKEY VULTURE of the season was spotted flying north over Rt. 7 in New Haven, VT on 2/19.

. . . And not to forget the hibernators. In our yard here in W. Brattleboro the first Chipmunk and Raccoon have made an appearance. The Hamiltons on Rt. 9 have reported a Bear coming for bird seed. So be aware. The bears are waking up!

CEDAR WAXWINGS and PINE GROSBEAKS are still eating crabapples at the tree on Greenleaf Street across from the Jewish Synagogue. A BARRED OWL sat in the pine tree near our feeder on Sunday afternoon and was still there at dusk. That same morning a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK landed on our feeder for an instant, looked around and flapped off into the woods.

So, be on the lookout. Between now and the first week in March watch for these migrants: American Kestrel, Killdeer, Robin and Common Grackle.

 

* * *

 

Barred Owl Sightings and Casualties are Up

(as reported by the York, Maine Center for Wildlife)

Every winter the Center for Wildlife admits several injured owls - usually about six or eight. So far this year, we have admitted 36 owls -33 of them barred owls! Every indoor cage is full, every outdoor enclosure occupied - some with two or three owls! The staff and volunteers stay busy for long days keeping everyone clean and fed, and CFW vet Dr. John Means of North Hampton Animal Hospital gives up a lunch break or two every week to examine owl eyes and fractures. And more owls are coming in almost every day!

 

Why so many owls this year? Well, every winter we see owls hit by cars, many of them first-years. In fact, an estimated 85% of owls do not survive their first difficult winter. Even for these phenomenal hunters, winter is a desperate time of year. Many rodents (an owl's major food source) hibernate or den up for days on end, and the ones who are active can hide under snow. So the food gets scarce just when owls burn extra energy keeping warm and therefore have increased appetites. Plowed roads seem like an attractive hunting spot to an owl whose hunger overcomes her fear of busy traffic, and many are hit by cars. This year is especially difficult for owls because a late spring freeze in Canada killed many plants last summer, resulting in a major population crash for seed-eating rodents like the red-backed vole. Canadian owls rely on these voles for winter meals, and the scarcity of prey drove them to migrate south - some to Maine - when winter came. Now, Maine's owl population is way up, so the winter food shortage and heavy snows are matched with increased competition. As desperation drives these owls to hunt in the roads, many are hit by cars. Those who survive sustain fractures to wings and legs, eye injuries and head trauma. Thankfully, concerned rescuers continue to amaze us in their willingness to answer the call of duty, donning gloves and scooping the owls into boxes for transport to the CFW. . .

 

2008 Great Backyard Bird Count for West Brattleboro, VT

Species [taxonomic]	Number of Birds	Number of Checklists Reporting the Species
Wild Turkey	28	1
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	1
Barred Owl	1	1
Downy Woodpecker	2	1
Hairy Woodpecker	1	1
Blue Jay	1	1
American Crow	3	1
Black-capped Chickadee	12	1
Tufted Titmouse	3	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	2	1
American Robin	1	1
Northern Mockingbird	1	1
Cedar Waxwing	37	1
American Tree Sparrow	1	1
Dark-eyed Junco	8	1
Northern Cardinal	2	1
Pine Grosbeak	2	1
American Goldfinch	1	1
House Sparrow	4	1
Total	111

A total of 19 species were reported.

State-wide 561 checklists were submitted for a total of 76 species and 28,300 individuals.

 

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/

 

 

Bird Notes ~ February 13, 2008

Bird Notes

 

Any of you who saw the PBS program last Sunday CRASH : Decline of Horseshoe Crabs/ Red Knots, must surely be as depressed as we were. We heard from a friend that it was reported on the radio yesterday that NJ is going to lift the horseshoe crab harvest moratorium. Obviously, if this is true, a very disappointing, insensible decision. But, everyone can fight on, collectively. Click on the link below.
http://www.njaudubon.org/Conservation/HSCrabAlert.html

 

 

Brattleboro Birding Highlights 2/9/08

Birding highlights from Brattleboro and Vernon Saturday morning: 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR with 30 HORNED LARKS in the field and along the road by Vernon School; 6 species of woodpeckers: 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER eating bittersweet berries along our driveway, 1 N. FLICKER in a tree behind Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center with 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER on  a couple trees to the north; 1 PILEATED WOODPECKER on E. Orchard Steet; several HAIRIES & DOWNIES noted at several locations throughout the morning; a flock of 30 EVENING GROSBEAKS, 8 PINE GROSBEAKS, and 15 GOLDFINCHES at feeders near BEEC on Bonnyvale Rd.; 10 HOUSE FINCHES,~ 12 ROBINS, 13 PINE GROSBEAKS, and 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS eating apples off of trees on Orchard St. just above New England Drive. A RED-TAILED HAWK was also circling at this location and 1 more RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was in a tree; a flock of ~80 CEDAR WAXWINGS, a perched RED-TAILED HAWK, and a MOCKINGBIRD were spotted around the water treatment plant on RT. 30 in Brattleboro; 1 BELTED KINGFISHER was perched on a snag over the Connecticut River south of Vernon Dam; also in Vernon -2 BALD EAGLES were perched next to their nest, the third RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER of the day, two more perched RED-TAILED HAWKS, and 1 Eastern Bluebird. (Many thanks to Dave for this great report--Al.)

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

I saw 5 PINE GROSBEAKS at the entrance to Vernon Green Nursing Home feeding in a cherry tree. My REDPOLL is back today and eating a lot of seeds. We also had a BARRED OWL in our backyard cherry tree. Our neighbor Paul Miller was able to get a couple of photos of it.

---Judy Farley, Vernon

 

 

New Species for the U.S.

I travel to Texas quite often, so I follow the RBAs there regularly. Yesterday, an ELAENIA was discovered on South Padre Island (I have birded there many times, and know the spot).  The bird has tentatively been identified as a WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA!

  This would be a first North American record of a highly migratory species from South America.  They already have an abundance of great photos of the bird!   Just thought there may be people interested in the fantastic find.  

---John Haas, Yankee Lake, NY

*NOTE: The White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Paraguay, Peru, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay.    See attached photo by Francisca Urria.

 

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/

 

BIRD NOTES ~ 1.21.08

Bird Notes

 

 

Open Water in the CT River

A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, 98 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 4 LESSER SCAUP, 30 HOODED MERGANSERS, 53 COMMON MERGANSERS, a WOOD DUCK, 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and 67 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on January 13th.

---N.H. Audubon

 

 

W. Northfield, MA

I was snowshoeing at Bennet Meadow last week at about 5:00 pm.  I stopped for a moment and looked up at the tree next to me, only to find I was being watched by a BARRED OWL, not more than 15 feet away.  We watched each other for about ten minutes, when I decided it was time to leave.  The owl did not seem at all concerned with my presence.

  Last night when I was snowshoeing around our field in West Brattleboro, a small, dark rodent scurried across the snow in front of me.  No owls in sight!

---Nori Howe

 

 

Cape Ann Rarities

I was finally able to get free for a day of winter coastal birding on Cape Ann this past Thursday. The SLATY-BACKED GULL reported at Niles Pond was on the ocean side during the morning - views were distant. By afternoon it moved to the pond and posed very nicely. After I left, first winter THAYER’S GULLS appeared for a show. Did not find the King Eider reported opposite the Elks Club, but had a good day (but then a day of birding is by definition a good day).

  Photos of the Slaty-back are on my blog: www.tailsofbiridng.net

Additional photos of the Slaty-back & other birds of the day are at: http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n142/chrsptrk/ 

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT

 

 

A Better Mouse Trap?

So much for my squirrel deterrent. The BARRED OWL is now a regular in the feeder area, spending entire days and nights perched in the old spruce on the wood edge or even in the branches of the cherry in which I hang my feeders. And after their initial absence, the squirrels are back, both red and gray, running with impunity across the snow right under our owl. My initial assumption, that the owl was here for squirrels, was based on the obvious presence of a ready supply of squirrels scampering under the feeders. Wrong assumption. There is another, less obvious prey that the owl seeks inhabiting the seed filled subnivean space under the feeders. It is apparently mice and voles that the owl is after and not the squirrels and, I think, the squirrels have figured that out.
  COMMON REDPOLLS are still making occasional visits, every other day or so, in flocks of from 2 to 50 individuals. My last sighting was on 1/17.
  Then the regulars: hairy and downy woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees, titmice, white-breasted nuthatch, and blue jays.
---Ian Martin, 54 Lost Mile Rd. Newfane

 

 

Cedar Waxwings on Putney Road

My wife and I vacationed over the long w/e in Putney, VT, and I was on the prowl for Cedar Waxwings.  A VT birder by the name of Al Merritt gave me some possible locations in the Putney/Brattleboro area to check out, and I hit the jackpot on Rt 5 out the north end of Brattleboro.  Both Saturday and Sunday (and we saw them again today as we drove back to CT) there were probably 50 to 75 Cedar Waxwings in the trees out in front of C&S Wholesale Grocery Warehouse, just a short distance before the spot where Rt 5 crosses over I-91.  Look for the Hampton Inn  and the Red Roof Inn on the left side of the road (the motels are side-by-side) driving north on Rt  5 from Brattleboro and pull into the parking lot for the Red Roof Inn, which is the second one.  If you look across the road at the C&S warehouse, you will see about 5 or 6 crab apple trees between the road and the chain link fence in front of the warehouse.  The CWW's were perched in several large maple trees, along with some Pine Grosbeaks and unfortunately, many starlings, and then would dive down into the crab apple trees and the gorge themselves until a loud truck or other noisy vehicle frightened them back up into the maples for while.  This cycle was repeated over and over all day, both days.

  There seems to be a fair amount of fruit remaining on the crab apple trees so these guys should be there for a while.  Obviously, be courteous in the Red Roof Inn parking lot since technically, you could be considered trespassers.  I spent several hours up on the high snowbank in front of the Red Roof Inn, out as close to the road as I could safely get, along with my camera and 600mm lens mounted on a tripod and no one from the motel ever came out to check me out, but several cars honked their horns when they saw the size of the lens I was using (still not enough for good images of single birds from that distance - Rt 5 is really quite wide there and the trees are at least 15 ft or more back from the edge of the road on the other side - but for spotting scopes, this is nothing.

  Enjoy the Waxwings while they are still in that area.  No, did not see any Bohemians.......sigh!

---Gary Prestash, Hamden, CT

 

New Hampshire Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey 

This was the 28th consecutive year that we have conducted the survey (since Winter 1980-81), and during that time the wintering BALD EAGLE population in NH has clearly recovered from the lowest of lows.  For example, on survey day back in 1982, NH Audubon staff and volunteers located a grand total of only 2 bald eagles (1 adult, 1 immature) statewide.  This year, we located a record-high total of 59 bald eagles (30 adults, 29 immatures) in New Hampshire on survey day, over 30% more than our prior NH mid-winter survey day high count of 44 birds in 2006.

---Christian Martin,

Senior Biologist, Conservation Department

New Hampshire Audubon

 

 

At Chipmunk Crossing

12 COMMON REDPOLlS paid a couple of visits to our feeders over the weekend, but have not returned.

 

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

 

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/