BIRD NOTES ~ April 27, 2009

SVAS Bird Walk Group & Bar-headed Goose photos by Al Merritt

 

 

Bird Notes

 

West B. Warblers etc.(4/26)

Pleasant Valley Road was very birdy yesterday - particularly the grove of pines just past the trail that slants down to the reservoir.  The pines were full of singing Yellow-rumped, Pine, and Northern Parula warblers, along with the usual Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice and Chipping Sparrows.  Also in that same area were three (2 m, 1 f) Evening Grosbeaks in breeding splendor.  They were calling, which was a first for me!   Also heard a Red-shouldered Hawk further out the road - I wonder if there is a nest in the area?

---Nori Howe, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Wardsboro

I saw 4 Evening Grosbeaks feeding on a staghorn sumac in my yard yesterday.

---Mitch Harrison, Wardsboro, VT

 

 

Westminster & Putney

First BG Gnatcatcher at Allens Marsh today. Palm Warbler & WT Sparrow on River Rd., Putney.

---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

 

 

West Brattleboro & More (4/25)

Great morning at home in W. Brattleboro: 1 male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 5 R-c Kinglets, 30+ White-throated Sparrows, 4 Yellow-shafted Flickers, 3 Chipping Sparrows, 26 Pine Siskins, 2 pairs of Purple Finches, ~20 Goldfinches, 2 Y-b Sapsuckers, 2 R-b Woodpeckers, 4 Phoebes, 4 Tree Swallows, 2 Barn Swallows, and 1 Hermit Thrush.

 

Along the rr tracks in Guilford at the confluence of Broadbrook and the Conn. River there were 10 Myrtle Warblers and 2 E. Palm Warblers.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Chipmunk Crossing (4/26)

Activity is increasing at our feeders and around the yard. Today the Pileated Woodpecker is still in the area. We saw it twice today and heard it drumming all afternoon. Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, 2 female Purple Finch, a pair of Pine Siskins, a pair of Evening Grosbeaks, several White-throated Sparrows, 2 Slate-colored Juncos, a pair of Cardinals, and a pair of American Goldfinch.

---Barbara Merritt, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

SVAS Bird Walk (4/25)

We met at Living Memorial Park at 7 a.m. on Saturday and drove to our first destination, East Orchard Street in West Brattleboro. The weather was cool but soon warmed up and light jackets gave way to shirt sleeves.

     The birding was slow at first and we really had to scratch for our first of the year Field Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. But, as the sun broke through and touched the tree tops the bird activity picked up. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, several White-throated Sparrows and Northern Flickers, were some of the notables.     Next stop was the water pumping station at the Retreat Meadows. Here we added Northern Mockingbird, Green Heron, Common Merganser, Great Black-backed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, and the star of the show for the past week, the central Asian BAR-HEADED GOOSE.   The third stop was at Marina Road and the adjoining cornfield along the West River. Notables here were Great Blue Heron, Yellow Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. 

     Before noon, fourteen of us counted 47 species. It was truly a good morning with a great group of enthusiastic birders.

________________

Group Photo Left to Right :   Chris Petrak, Bob Engel, Nissa Petrak, Susan James, Paul Miksis, Robyn Flatley, Lee Nye, Marcia Nye, Ned Pokras, Barbara Cole, Gale Stachelek, Barbara Merritt, and Bob Stachelek..   (See attached Photos by Al Merritt )

 

 

 

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.

Visit the SVAS website at www.sevtaudubon.org/

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

 and touches your heart.