{BIRD NOTES} ~ April 21, 2011

Burrowing Owls © Barbara Powers

 

Bird Notes

Burrowing Owls

Here are the owls I saw in Cape Coral, Florida. They were very cute. (See attachment)
---Barbara Powers, Manchester Center, VT

 

 

Hinsdale Rail Trail (4/21)

This morning a mixed flock of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) and Palm Warblers (Yellow) in about equal numbers moving along Hinsdale Setback rail trail, dam portion, feeding in gravel pot holes and along waysides, estimate about 15 each. Also Ruby-crowned Kinglets in twos and threes in brush along rail trail, north and south of dam, total about 12.
---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Peregrines in Vernon (4/19)

Our son just called to tell me that there were two Peregrine Falcons trying to catch pigeons at the farm this morning. They were unsuccessful in their attempts. The pigeons flew into the barns and the Falcons didn't follow them.

---Paul Miller, Vernon, VT

 

 

Birds in Wilmington (4/17)

Osprey, 3 Fox Sparrows, White-throated Sparrow, male Brown-headed Cowbird, Tree Swallow, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

Retreat Meadows (4/18)

A pair each of American Wigeon, Mallards and Black Ducks, a large flock of Canada Geese, several Robins, a Song Sparrow, and a Turkey Vulture.

 

 

Hinsdale Set-back (4/20)

We witnessed a “fallout” of Yellow-rumped Warblers on the rail trail at the set-back. They were dressed in their bright spring finery and just dripping from the bushes. With them were several yellow race Palm Warblers wagging tails and hugging the lower branches. Over on the river side were many Tree Swallows flying low and skimming the water. Lined up on a huge floating tree trunk were 15 Double-crested Cormorants.

 

 

Spofford Lake, NH (4/20)

The warmer temperatures finally won out and the ice on the lake has disappeared. Today we stopped to look at a couple of waterfowl that turned out to be Black Ducks. In scanning the lake with our binocs we discovered that there were utterly thousands of swallows flying low over the water. As near as we could determine the bulk of them were Tree Swallows. But, we were in agreement that there must be some rough-wings intermingled.

 

 

Please Note that we are taking a break and will be back to continue BIRD NOTES the first week of June.

Meanwhile, check out Southeastern Vermont Audubon’s website.

http://www.sevtaudubon.org/

HAPPY EASTER!

---Al  & Barbara Merritt

 

 

 

U P C O M I N G    P R O G R A M S

In the community room of Brooks Memorial Library, Main Street, Brattleboro, VT

 

Tuesday, May 17^th @ 7 p.m.   “Cycling the Pacific Coast”

Last May Joe Cook rode his bicycle from Vancouver to Mexico. His program will feature Victoria, British Columbia, the Oregon Coast, lighthouses, redwoods, and sea lions, Sonoma County, the Tour of California, San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Joe is a local attorney and president of the Putney Bicycle Club.

 

 

 

 

U P C O M I N G   F I E L D  T R I P S

 

“Birding Along the Connecticut River”

April 23, meet at 7 a.m.

Meet Al and Barbara Merritt at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro for a morning of early Spring birding. Waterfowl, early migrants and maybe an Eagle on the nest.

 

 

“Putney Wildflowers and Birds”

Sunday May 1 @ 1:30 p.m.

Pat Shields will lead a walk through the Putney School Forest and wetlands along Sand Hill Road in Putney where wildflowers extravagantly celebrate Spring, and where migrating songbirds come to rest and some to nest. Meet at the kiosk by the Putney Pool (the driveway right before Putney Central School).

 

 

“Warbler Walk”

Saturday May 14 @ 7 a.m.

Join local birder Richard Foye as he searches for Spring songbirds along the trails of the Brattleboro Retreat and other “migrant traps” along the Connecticut River. Meet at the “pull over” opposite the intersection of Cedar Street with Route 30.