{BIRD NOTES} ~ September 15, 2011

Bird Notes

Retreat Meadows (9/14)
If you have not been by the Meadows lately you must make a point of driving by. The water level has dropped and acres of mud flats have been exposed. I understand that it is because repairs are being made to Vernon Dam. At any rate I have never seen it this low and we have been in the area for 32 years. But, it is a good time to keep regular checks for migrating shorebirds, egrets and herons.

 

Late this afternoon we stopped by to take a look from Springtree Road (AKA Marina Rd.) and observed the following:

 10 Great Blue Herons,

 3 Great Egrets,

 2 Spotted Sandpipers,

 1 Belted Kingfisher,

 9 Wood Ducks,

 4 Mallards,

20+ Turkey Vultures

 1 Mockingbird

 

 

Putney Mountain Hawk Watch

It is the time of year to watch for migrating hawks. Any day now the big push of Broadwing Hawks will occur. Some observation points will get to see perhaps thousands of this species as they kettle (circle in a large group) overhead. Believe me, it is a sight to behold!   Putney Mountain will be manned 7 days a week, weather permitting.

 

DIRECTIONS:Take Putney exit 4 on I-91. Drive north on Route 5 through town, turn left on Westminster West Road (at the Putney General Store now under construction). After a mile or so turn left on East Hill Road, then after a couple of miles or so, turn right on Putney Mountain Road to top of mountain (Approximately 6 miles from the general store.). Turn right into parking area at kiosk. Park and walk trail to top of mountain. (About a 20 minute easy hike). The view of the valley is spectacular. There will be expert hawkers here to help in identification. When you see your first majestic Bald Eagle fly over, you will be hooked.

 

Here are the latest figures for the month of September:

 

PUTNEY MOUNTAIN, Putney, VT, USA

 

Date	Obs Hrs	BV	TV	OS	BE	NH	SS	CH	NG	RS	BW	RT	RL	GE	AK	ML	PG	UA	UB	UF	UE	UR	TOTAL
2011-09-01	5						3				3												6
2011-09-02	6.5			2	1																		3
2011-09-03	6.5			2		1	1	1			3				2	1							11
2011-09-04	5																						0
2011-09-05	2						1																1
2011-09-06	4.75			3	1		4				2				1								11
2011-09-08	5																						0
2011-09-09	10.5			4	3	3	49	5			54				10								128
2011-09-10	10.75			10	1	1	17	2		1	192				18		1						243
2011-09-11	8.25			6	2	2	15			1	382				2	2							412
2011-09-12	8.75			8	6		12				238				11								275
2011-09-13	9				1	1	16	2			311					1							332
2011-09-14	9.75			16	1	1	40				149				7	2	1						217
Total: Sep 2011	91.75 hours	0	0	51	16	9	158	10	0	2	1334	0	0	0	51	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	1639
Total: Fall 2011	109.25 hours	0	0	51	21	10	158	10	0	2	1350	0	0	0	51	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	1661

 

 

BV=Black Vulture

TV=Turkey Vulture

OS=Osprey

BE=Bald Eagle

NH=Northern Harrier

SS=Sharp-shinned Hawk

CH=Coopers Hawk

NG=Northern Goshawk

RS=Red-shouldered Hawk

BW=Broadwing Hawk

RT=Red-tailed Hawk

RL=Rough-legged Hawk

GE=Golden Eagle

AK=American Kestrel

ML=Merlin

PG=Peregrine Falcon

 

 

 

 

Center for Biological Diversity Is a Lifesaver

Here's great news to start your weekend: A federal judge has just approved the Center for Biological Diversity's landmark agreement to move 757 of the country's most imperiled, least protected species toward protection. The judge's signature today makes the historic agreement the Center reached with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official and legally binding. And it's the latest step in a decade-long effort at the Center to get vital federal protection for hundreds of America's most vulnerable plants and animals. All of them now have a fresh shot of survival.

 

 

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

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.