BIRD NOTES ~ February 7, 2009

Common Redpoll © Hilke Breder

Bird Notes

 

 

Brattleboro Redpolls

Following the many reports of Common Redpoll sightings I had kept a look-out for them for the past several weeks without success. Finally two lone males with bright red crowns showed up in a tree in my yard today(2/5). (See photo attachment)

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Cardinals Galore

I've had a bonanza of Cardinals this morning(2/6), 5 Males and 5 females!

---Mick Durante, Guilford, VT

 

 

Wardsboro Siskins

I had a flock of about 20 Pine Siskins under the feeders this week.

---Mitch Harrison, Wardsboro, VT

 

 

Junction Eagles

Two adult Bald Eagles were observed lazily flying above I-91 just a quarter mile south of I-91/I-89 junction in White River Junction at about 1:30 p.m. today(2/5).

---Charlie La Rosa, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Northern Hawk Owl Still In Eden

I had a nice viewing with two people from Johnson of the Northern Hawk Owl in Eden in the 2:00 PM hour.

 

The owl apparently had been foraging west toward the intersection with Knowles Flat Road and RT 118. Then it worked its way back to the usual location on RT 118 across the road from the white house at mailbox # 1111 (that's 1.111 miles west of the intersection of RT 118 and RT 100). The bird perched first in a tall deciduous tree on the far side of the field and then flew in the direction of its favorite spruce tree (the tallest one in a row behind the mailbox), but stopped short and perched at the top of another deciduous tree. The combination of blue sky, white clouds and bright light made for nice viewing and picture taking.

---Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

 

 

West B. Birds

On Wednesday Hollie Bowen reported seeing the flock of Cedar Waxwings that is frequenting the crabapple trees across from the BAJC on Greenleaf Street. Today when I passed there were well over 100 Cedar Waxwings and 40+ Robins in the tree and on the ground beneath, all were voraciously consuming the frozen fruit.

 

That same morning we heard the crows making a racket at the edge of the wooded area on the north side of our little acre. On further investigation I found that they were harassing a Barred Owl that was snoozing in the warm morning sun in a tall birch tree. It was not too disturbed by their antics however, and only occasionally looked about at them through the slits of its eyes. The crows’ short attention span soon left the owl to its nap.

 

Three Turkeys, (a Hen, a Jake and a Tom) are daily visitors beneath our feeders gleaning the dropped mixed seed that has been scattered about by the smaller avian visitors. They have a friendly war going with the local Red and Gray Squirrels, as they take turns bluffing each other. The squirrels dash in to grab a seed or two and the turkeys show their displeasure by jumping in the air and flapping their wings.

 

This is a good time of year to keep your ears peeled for the hoots of owls in the evening or early morning. As cold and snowy as it is, it’s still nesting time for them.

 

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

 

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