{Bird Notes} November 28, 2010

Northern Lapwing © Steve Marytko

 

Bird Notes

 

Northern Lapwing in Storrs, CT

Phil Rusch discovered a NORTHERN LAPWING that Roy Harvey and he are looking at right now (8:30 a.m. 11/28) at W Lot in Storrs.  >From Brattleboro, VT: South on I-91 to Hartford. Take I-84 East to Exit 68. Travel south (right off ramp) for about 6.5 miles. Lot W will be on your right, before you see any UCONN campus signs, behind the barns and "visitor center." Also try Horsebarn Hill Road nearby.

 

Louisiana Birding

We went with Field Guides to find Yellow Rails in the LaFayette/Lake Charles area of Louisiana. There was actually a Yellow Rails Birding Festival going on while we were there and they signed us up as participants.  Very interesting.  We were taken to the rice fields where the farmer drove the combine to harvest the rice and force the rails into view for the participants.  They are impossible to see otherwise.  We also had Virginia, King and Sora Rails.  It was quite an experience and one we would recommend. Fitz also got his life Bachman's Sparrow and we saw a pair of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers; had 144 species for the trip.

---Janet Fitzpatrick, Campbell Hall, NY

 

 

Multiple Cardinals

Here at my feeders in Wilmington, VT, 4 male and 2 female Cardinals feeding on the ground and flitting back and forth from nearby trees and bushes--all at the same time!  We always have Cardinal couples nesting nearby and at our feeder, but never such a crowd all at once!  Some were smaller than others--must be youngsters.  Could this be a big family group?  Anyone else ever see this?

---Maryann McLeod, Wilmington, VT

 

 

Winter Wildlife Help

Providing for wildlife in the winter is easier than you think. Here are a few tips from the National Wildlife Federation to get you started:

1. Provide winter fuel for wildlife with native plants that offer nuts, berries and seeds or offer a feeder.
2. Anchor your old holiday tree in a secluded part of your yard for wildlife to use as shelter from harsh weather.
3. Start a compost pile of needles, pinecones and wreaths made from natural material from your holiday decorations to provide additional cover for wildlife.
4. Clean and fill your birdbath on a regular basis. If you live in an area where temperatures freeze water, use a birdbath heater as a simple way to keep water accessible.
5. Create a cozy winter home for birds. Clean out your spring nest boxes or provide a warm winter roosting box. Also, evidence shows roosting birds prefer winter homes placed up high — about 10 feet or more.

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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/

~~~~~~~~~~

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

and touches your heart.

 

 

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES} November 10, 2010

 

Bird Notes

 

 

Upside to Feeding Birds in the Backyard:

Red-breasted Nuthatch – first of the season (vanguard of an irruption?)

Fox Sparrows – 3

Evening Grosbeak – when my count of the feeding flock reached 20, something spooked them and they flew. A moment later, an equal number hidden in the bushes also flew – so an estimated 40+. Plus all of the usual suspects, including Pine Siskins, though these are erratic in appearance.

Downside to feeding birds: filling the small feeders 2 or 3 times a day and going through an estimated 15 pounds of seed each day.

 

 

Downtown Brattleboro

New yard birds here on Elliot Street: Red-breasted Nuthatch and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Already looking forward to the Christmas Count.

---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Bluebirds at Westgate

November 7th.  A pair of Bluebirds on the wires above a tree full of red berries.  First bluebirds I’ve seen in Westgate.  Yesterday, at the same tree, a flock of robins.

---Lynn Martin, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

A Note From Waltham

Here in Waltham Ma, on Bentley pond, 14 Wood Ducks, one Great Blue Heron.

At my window feeder, 3 to 5 chickadees, 2 titmice, one goldfinch. Also in the area, were over 150 Canada Geese. In general, over the summer, birds were very scarce.

---Doreen Pugh, Waltham, MA

 

 

Townshend Warbler in Walpole, NH

On Monday, Suki Russo and Don Clark et al, reported seeing a TOWNSHENDS WARBLER along River Road in Walpole, NH.

 

 

Retreat Meadows

Today (11/8) we counted 20 Hooded Mergansers and 1 Common Merganser. Sitting atop the tangle of bittersweet at the water treatment plant was a vigilant Mockingbird. The numbers of Canada Geese fluctuate between two and three hundred birds.

 

 

Vernon Sightings

Nine Turkeys were seen on the hillside at the Miller Farm from Peck Road and two Bluebirds were hunting from their perch on the electric wires along Pond Road. A group of more than two dozen Turkeys were feeding in a cornfield off of Rt. 142.

 

 

Chipmunk Crossing

Here at home we have been entertained by the large group of Chickadees, 3 White-breasted Nuthatches, a two day showing of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Tufted Titmice, a lone White-throated Sparrow, 3 FOX SPARROWS, many Dark-eyed Juncos, several Goldfinch, 2 Downy and 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, a pair of Morning Doves, 5 Blue Jays, and a short visit from 6 Robins that stopped by for some vitamin C in the rose hips of the large wild rose tangle on the hillside.

 

 

 

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

 

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

chpmnkx@sover.net

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

and touches your heart.

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES} November 6, 2010

Bird Notes

 

 

Retreat Meadows, Brattleboro, VT

There were 15 BLACK SCOTERS, including 2 adult males, at the Retreat
Meadows this morning (Nov. 6) along with 3 Bufflehead, ~40 Hooded Mergansers, and
14 Common Mergansers.
---Dave Johnston, Brattleboro

 

 

 

Wilmington Birds

Feeder report 10/29 :  10 Mourning Doves, about 25 birds in a mixed flock of Pine Siskins , Goldfinches  and a few Purple Finches at the feeder and on the ground below;  a Cardinal, Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, tons of Bluejays, a  Common Grackle ,  Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers - going through tons of seeds it seems.  Will add cracked corn – Jays just sit and stuff themselves!! A Red-backed Vole scurries back and forth from the stone wall gathering seeds as well. Had a Fox Sparrow feeding with the flock of about 30 Pine Siskins.  There were 4 Common Grackles and one male Cowbird 11/3 at the feeders and a Sharp-shinned Hawk almost got a Blue Jay.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

 

Local Birds

Some of the sightings this morning at the Marina field in Brattleboro include:
~30 A. Pipits, 2 Rusty Blackbirds, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 R-C Kinglet, 2 W-C Sparrows, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 8 Tree Sparrows, 2 Swamp Sparrows, and numerous Song, Savannah, and White-throated Sparrows.

 

Two Fox Sparrows were in the brush around the cornfield off Stebbins RD in Vernon along with many of the same species of sparrows found at the Marina.

Allen Bros Marsh, Westminster-1 Fox Sparrow, 1 A. Coot, 5 Wood Ducks, and 4 Mallards.

Minards Pond, Bellows Falls - 15 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 Mallards, ~35 Black Ducks, 1 C. Merganser, 5 Green-winged Teal, and ~50 C. Geese.

Retreat Meadows, Brattleboro - 1 A. Coot, 3 Bufflehead, 6 Hooded Mergs., 4 Mallards, 6 Black ducks, 1 Double-crested Cormorant and ~ 350 C. Geese.
---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

 

South Newfane Birds

In my South Newfane backyard, American Tree Sparrow appeared yesterday – a sign of winter’s approach.

Also – a third Fox Sparrow is scratching among the flower canes and beneath the feeders. Most sparrows have moved on.

 

Juncos (40+) are about half the numbers of 2 weeks ago. Only a few (2-8 per species) remain of Song, White-throated, White-crowned, and Chipping Sparrows.

 

Year-round birds, and/or migrants who have replaced the summer residents, include (with minimum numbers):

 

Mourning Dove -30

Rock Pigeon - 12

Blue Jays  -12

EVENING GROSBEAKS - 12

Northern Cardinal - 5

Black-capped Chickadee - 8

Tufted Titmouse – 4

Hairy Woodpecker – 2

Downy Woodpecker – 4

White-breasted Nuthatch – 4

American Goldfinch – 15

American Crow – 4

Common Grackle – 1

European Starling – 2

 

Pine Siskins and Purple Finch seem to have moved on, or at least have not been present when I have been watching.

---Chris Petrak, S. Newfane, VT

 

 

 

 

Lest we forget . . .

 

Veterans Day

 

Thursday, November 11, 2010

 

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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

chpmnkx@sover.net

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

and touches your heart.