Bird Notes
The Eagles are Back in the Hudson
In the late 19th century a West Point surgeon by the name of Edgar Alexander Mearns was documenting the birds of the Hudson Highlands. In his writings he mentioned seeing Bald Eagles during the winter months riding the ice floes down the Hudson River between Newburgh and Cornwall, New York. While living on the bluffs overlooking Cornwall Bay for many years, we often wondered if that would ever be the case again in our lifetime. Thanks to conservation leaders like Pete Seeger and Scenic Hudson, that dream has become a reality in the past few years with the cleanup of the Hudson. Now the Bald Eagles are seen regularly and are nesting locally along the Hudson. The following is the latest posting from a friend in the Mearns Bird club:
I stopped by the Torches Restaurant parking lot at the riverfront in Newburgh this morning (1/6) to check out the river. Three adult Bald Eagles, and one that was not quite an adult (white head and tail streaked with brown) and seven immature eagles were sitting on the ice for a total of 11 birds. If you are in the area, come on down and check it out. Also, the eagle pair at Tomahawk lake are busy working on their nest. Looks like they will be back. ---Amy Greher, Monroe, NY
Lots of Finches
My Cardinals still arrive at the feeder religiously at first light and last light and occasionally during the day. But what I'm seeing mostly these days are Finches. A flock of 50-75 are here every day, some Purple but mostly Goldfinches. The Chickadees, Nuthatches (Red and White-breasted) Blue Jays and Titmice come and go all day.
---Mary Ann McLeod, Wilmington, VT
Eagles Along the Connecticut
Hello! I called Nori Howe late this afternoon & found out she & Vic were watching 2 Bald Eagles sitting in a tree across the Connecticut River from their nest tree. Since we were just leaving my daughter's home in Vernon, we came home via Stebbins Road. When we drove down the power line & went down that wooden staircase to the river, they were clearly visible to the naked eye (no binos in the truck!). Another use for cell phones!
---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT
Goldeneye at Play
We made a stop at the Stebbins Road lookout yesterday (1/6) but didn’t see the eagles. The existing nest on the bluffs looked the same as it did last Fall. So, if the eagle pair are planning to raise a family there they haven’t moved in yet. In the water at the bend in the river just east of there we could see diving ducks. But it wasn’t until we set up a scope that we could identify them as Common Goldeneyes, about 20 of them. It was if they were playing a game. On the surface the current was strong enough to carry them backwards twenty yards or so before they would dive under in unison. Then about 15 yards upstream they bobbed to the surface only to be carried backward again where the game was repeated. I say game because it didn’t look like they were catching minnows or anything else. We think they were just having fun.
Redpolls at Chipmunk Crossing
With only the regulars coming into the feeders for weeks, it was a great surprise and a treat to see 4 Common Redpolls feeding on the ground beneath our feeders yesterday (1/6). It didn’t last long however, they only stayed for a couple of minutes before something spooked them and they never returned.
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Al Merritt
W. Brattleboro, VT
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