BIRD NOTES ~ April 4, 2009

 

Vulture Identification © HAMANA

 

Bird Notes

 

Black Vultures(4/1)

Chris Petrak reported seeing 2 Black Vultures circling over the West River this morning - seen from Putney Road. Later in the afternoon we watched a lone Black Vulture winging above the Rt. 30 boat launch at the Retreat Meadows. This southern species is gradually expanding its territory northward and may soon be as common as the Turkey Vultures that have been hanging out at various roosts around Brattleboro. They can be told from the TVs by their shorter tails, black heads, bills, and wings with silver wing tips. (See attachment)

 

 

BV Over BUHS

Last night, March 31, coming out of the Brattleboro Union High School at 7:15 p.m., I saw a Black Vulture glide fairly low overhead, headed due north. The stubby square wings with white ends were clearly visible. My first Black Vulture ever in the tri-state region. And it seems pretty early in the season.

---Ralph Palmer, Montague City, MA

 

 

Connecticut River, Vernon(4/2)

There were numerous ducks, Ring-necked, C.Mergansers, a few Wood Ducks, a Pied-billed Grebe plus our first of the year Phoebes.

---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Vernon, VT(4/2)

A first of the year male Kestrel in breeding plumage, was sitting atop a telephone pole along Rt. 142.

 

 

Retreat Meadows/West River(4/2)

This evening there was a nice variety of waterfowl present in the Retreat Meadows/ West River in Brattleboro: 3 Northern Shovelers (2 drakes/1 fem.), 5 Ring-necked Ducks, at least 12 Green- winged Teal, 10 Mallards, 3 Black Ducks, 8 C.Mergansers, 3 Wood Ducks, ~200 C. Geese, and 2 Snow Geese (1 adult, 1 immature) flew into the mix about 7:15 to round out the show.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

More Retreat Meadows(4/4)

  2 Mockingbird

  X Canada Geese

 17 Ring-billed Gulls

  6 Song Sparrows

  1 TREE SPARROW

  4 Mallard Ducks

  2 Common Mergansers

  X Red-winged Blackbirds

  X Robins

 10 Ring-necked Ducks

  3 Cardinals 2M 1F

  3 House Finch 2M 1F

  2 EASTERN PHOEBE

  1 Great Blue Heron

  2 Wood Duck M&F

 

 

Pileated at Chipmunk Crossing

The female Pileated Woodpecker continues its brief forays to our suet feeder. We still have not seen a male. A single parent Mom?

 

 

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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