{BIRD NOTES} December 13, 2010

 

Bird Notes

 

 

Cotton Mill Hill

After reading a report of a possible Red-headed Woodpecker in the wooded area at the south end of the mill, I scoured the area shortly after 8:00 am today (12/7) and found no birds.  I returned around noon, and the birds had moved in, but I did not find the Red-headed Woodpecker.  I did see the following:  Pileated Woodpecker (1), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2), Downy Woodpecker (1), Eastern Bluebird (~8), American Goldfinch (~20), Black-capped Chickadee (~6), Tufted Titmouse (~4), White-breasted Nuthatch (~4), Junco (1).  It was very birdy for about 20 minutes, and then the birds all moved off!

     In addition to the usuals at the feeders behind our house, I am seeing a Carolina Wren and a Brown Creeper quite regularly.

---Nori Howe, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

A Good Day for Brattleboro Birding

Today was a birdy day (12/11) around Brattleboro. At home in West Brattleboro the day started with a good show at the feeders: 2 Downies, 2 Hairies, male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches along with the other regulars, 17 Evening Grosbeaks, and a Raven fly over. Orchard Street, Brattleboro: 4 House Finches, and a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. Meadowbrook Road, Brattleboro: A total of 10 Bluebirds, a flock of ~ 60 Cedar Waxwings, ~ 20 Pine Siskins, and 1 hungry Northern Shrike. Upper Dummerston Road Brattleboro: a flock of ~75 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, a flock of 18 House Finches chasing the Red-tailed around. Good numbers of Goldfinches and Robins throughout the morning at all of the locations listed above.
---Dave Johnston. W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Lapwing NO, Barnacle Goose & White-fronted Goose YES

We tried for the Northern Lapwing in Storrs, CT but it had left the area the day before and didn’t return. We had heard of these other two geese in the area and proceeded with the chase. We found them nearly side by side in a nearby horse pasture with a sizeable number of Canada Geese. They were striking in the late afternoon sun. Also in the field were more than a dozen Killdeer and a lone Wilson’s Snipe wading and poking in a shallow puddle.

 

 

Waxwings

While checking out Abbott Road on Saturday for whatever birds might be present I ran across a sizeable flock of Cedar Waxwings that were flying into some sumac trees while others were alighting in the large clumps of bittersweet hanging from the roadside trees and still more were in the drainage ditch trying to get a drink from the frozen water. If you see any Waxwings, be sure to look them over carefully. They could be Bohemian Waxwings, a rarer northern species that shows up in our area for various reasons. Mostly from lack of food in the north country. There have been numerous reports of large numbers showing up in northern and central Vermont. So, check out the fruit bearing ornamentals in and around Brattleboro. They are attracted to them like bees to honey.

 

 

New York Eagles

Word from our friends in New York told of their birding trip to Plank Road in Forestburg, Sullivan County and seeing 26 Bald Eagles perched in the trees along the Neversink River. Many years ago we remember going to look for wintering eagles in that area, but we never came close to seeing that number. It must have been an incredible sight.

 

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Please share your birding news with us.

What have you got coming to your feeders?

Are there any birds nesting in your yard?

What have you seen while on a trip?

Drop us an e-mail chpmnkx@sover.net

 

 Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

 

Check out our website:

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

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