BIRD NOTES ~ May 5, 2009

Bird Notes

 

 

Hinsdale Rail Trail (5/2)

Today - Blue-winged Warbler just beyond the gate at the north end of the rail trail along the river in Hinsdale, very busy foraging and singing! 

---Nori Howe, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Raptor or Thrush?

We had a female N. Harrier here yesterday.  She sat in a tree for a while, and then decided to forage on.....earthworms.  She was hopping around on the grass like a big robin.  The robins, themselves, were snickering.  I heard derogatory comments like, "Some raptor."

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

 

 

The Migrants of West B.

At least 3 male Bobolinks have returned to the Land Trust field on Abbot Rd in W. Brattleboro as of 5/2. Over the past week birds around the house have included a pair of E. Towhees, E. Kingbird, a pair of Broad-winged Hawks, Black-throated Green W., Myrtle W., B&W Warblers, E. Palm W., Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, R-c Kinglets, Least Flycatchers, Blue headed Vireos, Hermit Thrush, Veery, and the Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been nesting in their cavity for about a week now. I just looked out the window and a White-crowned Sparrow is hopping around in the yard.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Bar-headed goose remains with Canadas at Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro. M& F Rose-breasted grosbeaks are back. M and F Red-bellied woodpeckers, and Black & white warblers are in Hinsdale, NH. Also there were 3 Mockingbirds chasing one another around a yard and feeding at suet feeder in Hinsdale. Two Black vultures were soaring over Western Avenue in Brattleboro.

---Charlie La Rosa, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Guilford Bird Bonanza

The past week has been a bird bonanza.  In the last two days we have had the following birds arrive in our yard in Guilford:

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, pair of Evening Grosbeaks, Red-Eyed Vireo, Rufous-sided Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, White-Crowned Sparrow, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Bobolink, Blue-Winged Warbler, and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker dropped by to see what all the activity was about. And, the Brown Thrasher is singing his heart out looking for a mate and setting up territory - wish him good luck
---Susan James, Guilford, VT

 

 

R-T Hummingbird in West B.

I had my first male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my feeder this afternoon. Several Chipping Sparrows too!

---Laurie Miner, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Common Merganser, Common Loon and Osprey

While doing a little trout fishing at South Pond in Marlboro on Sunday I enjoyed the good company of the three aforementioned species. Both the loon and the merganser were having good luck fishing. The loon caught one so big that it spent a considerable time dispatching the fish and getting it all down its gullet. I saw and heard the osprey several times as it flew from tree to tree around the lake. The last time I saw it I was close enough to observe that it was trailing about 6 or 8 feet of what appeared to be fishing line. The line had something attached at the end...perhaps a weight, a swivel, a twig,? or a weed. I'm afraid the osprey may be doomed if that line does not free itself. If it snags in a tree when the osprey takes flight that may be the end of it. I hope it gets lucky.

---Charlie La Rosa, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

A Colorful Trio

What a treat this morning to see, on the branches of our blooming crabapple tree, a male cardinal, an oriole, and some goldfinches all at once!  Last week we had four or five purple finches on the same tree, traveling through for a day's visit.

---Judy Myrick, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

F  I  E  L  D    T  R  I  P :

 

"Warbler Walk"

-        Saturday May 9 - 7:00am –

-         

 Join local bird expert Richard Foye as he searches for Spring songbirds on Wantastiquet Mountain and other "migrant traps" along the Connecticut River. Meet in the WalMart parking lot in Hinsdale. 

 

 

P  R  O  G  R  A  M :

 

“Mr. Bluebird on My Shoulder”

7 p.m. Tuesday May 19

Brooks Memorial Library Community Room

 

RON SVEC will bring us a program from the North American Bluebird Association and in the process tell us everything we need to know about how, where, and why of bluebird houses and how we can continue to help with the recovery of this beautiful bird. Bluebird houses and/or kits will also be available.

 

Sponsored by

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

FREE and open to the public

 

 

 

 

Bird Notes will be taking a vacation until the end of May. Until then, HAPPY BIRDING!

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

 and touches your heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIRD NOTES ~ May 2, 2009

 

Bird Notes

 

 

 

 

Hinsdale Rail Trail (5/1)

Went to the Hinsdale rail trail to bird today from the causeway to about half way to the bluffs turn-off and the place was alive with birds.  I saw at least 20 yellow rump warblers, a few yellows and a pair of pine warblers, a brown thrasher, two catbirds, a couple warbling vireos, a Baltimore oriole, a pair of blue-gray gnatcatchers, and an osprey to name the new 09 birds for me.

---Lani Wright, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Guilford Creeper

I wanted to report that I've seen a Brown Creeper outside my home for a couple of weeks now.  I can't tell if it's the same bird I see all the time, or if it's multiple creepers.  I usually spot it in the morning hopping up the trees outside my bathroom window. 

---Jennifer Chapin, Guilford, VT

 

 

Red-shouldered Hawk, Plus

We went to check out the Red-shouldered Hawk that Nori Howe reported hearing last Sunday on Pleasant Valley Road in W. Brattleboro. We heard it then found it sitting in a tree, in the early morning sun, preening its feathers. We watched it on and off through a 30X scope for about 10 minutes. Best look we have ever had of this raptor. While we were enjoying the view, 2 Barred Owls started hooting back and forth on the hill behind us.  Other notables were Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Raven, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, a pair of Bluebirds sitting on a nest box, Pine Siskin, and FOY Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting and Ovenbird.

---Barb Merritt, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Birding from A Hammock

On Sunday I heard my FOY black and White warbler and saw and heard two broad-winged hawks as I lay in my hammock.

---Mitch Harrison, Wardsboro, VT

 

 

W. Brattleboro FOY Birds

2 Brown Thrashers at Gateway Farm on Abbott Road, a pair of Eastern Phoebes are busy nest building under the eaves and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (M) visiting our black oil sunflower feeder. Boy, can they shuck seeds rapidly.

 

 

Bar-headed Goose

If you haven’t seen this striking central Asian member of the goose family, stop by the fields surrounding the water pumping station in the Retreat Meadows on Rt. 30. It is still there hanging out with a flock of Canada Geese.

 

 

Brattleboro Birds 5/2/09

At Broad Brook boat launch we found 2 Killdeer, 2 Wood Duck, 2 Rough-winged Swallows, a male Baltimore Oriole decked out in his bright orange and black finery, a Yellow Warbler, and a Warbling Vireo. At the Hogle Wildlife Sanctuary we saw an Osprey bracing against a strong breeze, perching in the top of a dead snag overlooking the Retreat Meadows. The “mew” of a first of the year Catbird got our attention as it peered out of the brambles along the trail.

 

 

V P T   P R O G R A M   N O T E

NATURE Sunday evening at 8:00 pm   "Eagles of Mull"
	Travel to a hauntingly beautiful island in Scotland to see an amazing diversity of wildlife, including golden eagles and rare white tailed eagle gulls.

 

 

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.