Birdnotes: BIRD NOTES ~ February 1, 2010

Northern Hawk Owl-(Google File)

Bird Notes

Northern Hawk Owl

The location is 2.5 miles east of the John Boyland State Airport at a snowmobile crossing off Route 105. The Northern Hawk Owl was approximately 500 feet south of Route 105 in an open area along the Nulhegan River. The GPS coordinates for our viewing location were N 44.78001 W 71.78243. This location is about 6 miles east of Island Pond, VT.(See photo attachment)

---Mark Barriger, Cheshire, CT

Vernon Dam Waterfowl

Above the Vernon Dam is the premier viewing spot for the waterfowl roost in Lake Wantastiquet during the afternoon thru dusk. Here are three reports submitted this past week:

Viewed from the NH side of the Vernon Dam from 2:35 to 4:15 PM on 1/23:

128 American Black Duck

79 Mallard

7 Hooded Merganser

4 Common Merganser

2 Bald Eagle

1 Cooper’s Hawk

5 Ring-billed Gull

2 Herring Gull

28 Rock Pigeon

1 Belted Kingfisher

1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker

1 Blue Jay

5 American Crow

20 American Robin

210 European Starling

7 Snow Bunting

1 American Goldfinch

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

Saturday (1/23), 4:35-5:05 PM viewed from Vernon above the dam:

1 drake Barrow's Goldeneye

135 Common Goldeneyes

30 Hoodies

25 Common Mergansers

25 Black Ducks

6 Mallards

2 Wood Ducks

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

Saturday(1/30), 4:30-5:00 PM, viewed from Vernon above the dam:
1 drake Barrow's Goldeneye
180 Common Goldeneye
40 Black Ducks
30 Common Mergansers
25 Hooded Mergansers
12 Mallards
All estimates are on the low end.
Ducks were still flying in as I left.
---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

Connecticut River from Hinsdale, NH

Seen 1/23 at 2:10 PM from a vantage point below the dam at the Hinsdale Shooting Range:

5 American Black Duck

5 Mallard

1 Common Goldeneye

1 Herring Gull

5 American Crow

1 White-breasted Nuthatch

51 American Robin

1 House Finch

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

Wardsboro Snow Bunting

I saw a lone Snow Bunting along South Wardsboro Road near Shine Road in Wardsboro.

---Mitch Harrison. Wardsboro, VT

Bellows Falls Birds

While doing errands I took a short diversion to bird Mill Street in Bellows Falls. This is the road that dead ends at the municipal wastewater treatment facility and provides good views of the ice free Connecticut River down stream of the hydro power station. Not much was seen in the way of waterfowl and no Bald Eagles were spotted.

12 Mallards
3 Hooded Merganser
1 Pileated Woodpecker
1 American Crow
3 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Eastern Bluebird (feeding on American bittersweet and rose hips)
2 Northern Cardinal (male & female)
8 House Finch
2 American Goldfinch