Birdnotes

Sightings listed for the Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

BIRD NOTES ~ March 31, 2008

Pine Siskin in Breeding Plumage by Hilke Breder and Bald Eagle at Vernon Dam by Paul Miksis

 

Bird Notes

 

Hinsdale Setback

Along with the expected C. Goldeneyes, C. Mergansers, numerous gulls many great black-backed), the two bonded-but not apparently nesting Bald Eagles(See attachment showing the eagle standing in an old redtail nest.), several Ring-necked Ducks, and a couple of Canada Geese, Robyn and I had our FOY TREE SWALLOWS at the Hinsdale setbacks today, Thursday, March 26.

---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

West River & Retreat Meadows

Last evening(3/25)birds observed in the West River and environs behind the Marina Restaurant in Brattleboro: 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 3 Wood Ducks, 8 Hoodies, 8 C. Mergansers, 14 Mallards, ~ 130 Canada Geese, 4 Killdeer, 2 Ring-billed Gulls, 9 Turkey Vultures, numerous Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds.

 

About 4:00 today(3/29) there were 3 REDHEADS, 2 drakes and 1 fem., in the Retreat Meadows out from the boat launch on Rt 30 along with a pair of A. Wigeons, 2 Green-winged Teal(drakes), 1 drake Wood Duck, a pair of Black Ducks, and 2 pairs of Mallards. Beautiful colors to brighten a gray, rainy day!! The lone drake Ring-necked Duck continues in the pond below the Top of the Hill Grill on Putney Rd. 112 Canada Geese were foraging and swimming around the sandbar area in the West River from the Marina side.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Siskins Still Here (3/29)

Today on my feeder a brilliant male pine siskin (See attachment) in breeding plumage; I wonder whether a few of these boreal visitors will remain behind and build nests here. They are still present here in large numbers along with chickadees, white and red-breasted nuthatches, and tufted titmice - no goldfinches though.

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Allen Brothers Marsh (3/28)

The ice has gone and the water is high at the marsh on Henwood Hill Road in Westminster West. Today there were 2 Bluebirds(M&F), a female Kingfisher with shiner hanging from bill, a Raven, a pair of Wood Ducks, several Mallards, a number of Canada Geese and a mixed flock of Redwing Blackbirds and Grackles.

 

 

Roundies Cove (3/28)

The next cove north of Herricks Cove, produced 23 Common Goldeneye.

 

 

Upper Dummerston Road (3/28)

There were 15 Wild Turkeys in the cornfield across from the Brattleboro Country Club. Some were  feeding in a manure pile while a few of the toms strutted about with tails fanned and wing tips dragging on the ground.

 

 

Hinsdale Setbacks (3/28)

    2 American Wigeon

    2 Green-winged Teal

   16 Ring-necked Duck

    1 Great Blue Heron

    2 Bald Eagle

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

 

 

Herrick’s Cove (3/28)

    6 Snow Goose

    1 Barrow’s Goldeneye

    1 Bald Eagle

    3 Red-tailed Hawk

    1 Greater Yellowlegs

   19 Ring-billed Gulls

    1 Belted Kingfisher

    4 Song Sparrow

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, March 23, 2009

BIRD NOTES ~ March 23, 2009

Tom Turkeys photos by Al Merritt

 

Bird Notes

 

 

 

About the Robins & Eagles

I also wondered what the Robins ate between seasons, when I saw them in a sumac bush in Boston, then I was happy to know they ate other things besides worms. They were turning over leaves on my lawn so they were hoping for better things. Has anyone seen the eagles at Vernon dam where they might be building a nest? I keep my eyes out as I go that way during the week. I will check out back of the nursing home today. No sign near the old nest sight. I just hope they build where we can see them though the chances are getting slimmer.  

---Judy Farley, Vernon, VT

 *A pair of eagles is being seen regularly from the Hinsdale bluffs but no real signs of nest building in the area.

 

 

 

TVs Over Brattleboro

35 Turkey Vultures were grounded for about an hour this morning by poor soaring weather. They gathered in the large oak and maple trees that surround  our house. Several birds at a time would wander out to test the air and then return. When conditions (at least those as perceived from a vulture's perspective) improved they all gradually took to the air, formed a large kettle,  and slowly disappeared from view.

---Charlie La Rosa, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

 

Peregrine Pair at West River

A pair of Peregrine Falcons were swooping down close to the water's surface in the West River about 5:30 this evening(3/19) behind the Marina Restaurant. Duck dinner perhaps? After a couple minutes they climbed and flew off to the southwest. There were also ~ 130 Canada Geese, a pair of Wood Ducks, 6 Hoodies, and ~16 mallards.

 

This morning(3/21) in a field at the end of Blodgett Rd in Vernon: ~350 C. Geese, 11 Snow Geese-1 was a dark morph, 6 Green-winged Teal,~20 killdeer, ~60 Horned Larks, and 2 Bluebirds.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

 

Connecticut River Valley

I birded along the Connecticut and other spots nearby, including Allen Bros. Marsh in Westminster.  Birds seen were:

 

Great Blue Heron

Wood Ducks

Mallards

Red-winged Blackbirds

Hooded Mergansers

Common Mergansers

Killdeer

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Canada Geese

Cedar Waxwing

Robin

---Mitch Harrison, Wardsboro, VT

 

 

 

Harrier Returns

Yesterday, Paul saw that the Northern Harrier had returned.

---Mary Miller, Vernon, VT

 

 

 

Wild Turkeys at Chipmunk Crossing

The eight Turkeys, (4 toms, 1 jake and 3 hens), that had been regular visitor’s to the cracked corn this past week to 10 days, have finally moved on. But, not before I managed a picture or two through the back window.(See attachments) The hen on the right seems unimpressed with their competitive strutting.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, March 16, 2009

BIRD NOTES ~ March 16, 2009

Red-winged Blackbird

 

Bird Notes

 

 

Deer Feeders

Here at Edward Heights we have occasional deer sucking out the seed from our bird feeder, which we have now hung higher in our tree beyond reach.  The same is true with our neighbor's feeder.  They must be finding good food hard to find, for sure!

---Judy Myrick, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Apple Eaters

The prolific miniature crabapple tree in my yard provides deer with food when snow is deep, and I often see deer tracks in a circle around the tree. The deer have cleaned out all apples they can reach. Early this morning I heard a noisy group of birds, 50+ robins and what may have been nuthatches happily going for the upper crabapples. And I thought robins ate only worms! It was a happy sound and sight.

---Maggie Newton, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Feeder Regulars

I have had lots of Pine Siskins – at least 100 every day and the Red-bellied is a regular.

---Barb Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

Spring Mix in Vernon

Yesterday morning(3/11) a Bluebird was singing on top of a bird house in our yard.  The grandchildren and I scared it when we began sliding.  Later in the day, Paul startled a Killdeer by our fence when he came back from cross country skiing.  Today(3/13) the Tree Swallows and Redwing Blackbirds arrived in our yard. Such is the mix of spring!

---Mary Miller, Vernon, VT

 

 

Waterfowl at Bellows Falls Dam

 20 Canada Goose

  3 American Wigeon

178 American Black Duck/Mallard

  1 Teal species

 24 Common Glodeneye

 23 Hooded Mergansers

 55 Common Mergansers

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

 

 

Colorado Birds

We've had oodles of birds visiting us the last couple of weeks.  They seem to think this is a diner as they munch through the sunflower and thistle seed and gulp the homemade suet.  Pine Grosbeaks galore, Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees, Hairy Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins (ever notice they say "eeeeat" and they do), White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, a couple of Black-billed Magpies and Ann's rather tame, begging, Steller Jays.   A week or so ago on my way to the library I noticed the Redwing Blackbirds have returned.  They sit in the huge willow bush near the post office.  Today on my way to town I saw my first Mountain Bluebird of the year.

---Sandy Merritt, Red Feather Lakes, CO 

 

 

Vernon Dam Waterfowl(3/12)

 4 Common Mergansers (3m,1f)

 1 Bald Eagle(mature)

 1 Bufflehead (Female)

 

Vernon (3/13)

   1 Northern Shrike (Rt.142)

   1 Eastern Bluebird (Blogget Rd.)

100+ Canada Geese (Riverside cornfields)

 

 

W. Northfield, MA (3/13)

 4 Horned Larks (Caldwell Rd.)

 

 

Barton Cove, MA (3/13)

 4 Mute Swans

 1 Bald Eagle(mature)

 6 Hooded Mergansers

 1 CANVASBACK

 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

 Many Canada Geese and hundreds of misc. gulls roosting on the ice.

 

 

Turners Falls Power Canal

  4 Common Goldeneye

  4 Mute Swans

 47 Canada Geese

 14 Mallards

 

 

 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

 

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

 

 

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

 and touches your heart.

 

Happy

St. Paddy’s Day