{BIRD NOTES} ~ February 28, 2011

 

Bird Notes

 

I  Just stopped by Whipple St. to check my mail & found a flock of at least 60 Waxwings in the yard...binoculars in Marlboro though so no more details as to which ones.

---Hollie Bowen, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Finally! After reading with envy all the reports of Common Redpolls from around the region, three interrupted a challenging lecture on genetics this morning. Good rule for biology classrooms: lectures can be interrupted by the birdfeeder. To a degree....
          The Bohemian Waxwings continue to visit campus intermittently, sometimes in a flock of well over 100. One died on a window. If anybody needs BOWA's, I could send an alert when they show up. Today there was a pair of White-winged Crossbills in our feeder at the Science Building.
---David Moon, Putney School, Putney, VT

 

I saw at least a dozen Robins in a tree near the (Brattleboro) golf course yesterday.  Is that unusual for Feb?

Cheers,

---Bob Glennon

**Not a common sight, but not that unusual.

 

 

I went up Greenleaf St. looking for the cedar waxwings on Monday and instead was surprised by a flock of about 15 Robins! Spring is here ????????? !!!!!!!!   

---Lerna, W. Brattleboro, VT   

 

 

Jayne and I went to NYC Tuesday to attend a behind the scenes look at the ornithology department at the Museum of Natural History that was presented before the Linnean Society meeting there. We took a cursory look for the Varied Thrush in Central Park; no luck. But we did flush (our first of the season) American Woodcock near the restrooms west of the Castle. It landed on the path momentarily, then took off, pursued by a Peregrine that came out of nowhere; I'm glad we didn't see the outcome . . . .

---William Fiero

 

 

A day of birding from BF to Vernon  with JoAnne Russo & Martha Adams produced some good birds but not much new. Highlights were TV's in BF & Vernon, 5 ad. eagles, the Vernon longspur, and a red-wing above the Vernon dam at the end of the day.
---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

 

 

 

Brattleboro- This morning there were 15 C. redpolls with 10 A. Goldfinches feeding in our birch tree at home on Bonnyvale Rd. At 3:45 PM a lone Turkey Vulture was circling above
exit 2 of  I 91.
Vernon- Not much in the way of waterfowl at Vernon dam around 10:30AM, but a Brown Creeper and a Golden- crowned Kinglet were good company. The male Lapland Longspur was with about 20 Horned Larks in the manure piles on the east side of RT142 across from Pond Rd between 11:30- 12. At least 200 snow buntings continue on the east side of Rt 142 across from the Vern-mont Farm.
---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

Went to Vernon to look for ducks today. In the early morning mist they were hard to ID but, patience helped. I didn't see large numbers but, there was variety. Couldn't pick out the Barrows if it was still there. Also, I couldn't figure how to get to the above dam section. Everything looked to me to be inaccessible to the public. Could someone provide instructions. A male Cardinal was singing and a RB Woodpecker was calling from the island. A Brown Creeper was working some trees along 142 with a couple of hawking Bluebirds. All under the gaze of a Red-tailed Hawk. Left to look for other things and when I stopped back quick at about 8:15, there were only the Black Ducks and 3 Golden-eyes. Location:     Vernon Dam lower pool Observation date:     2/24/11 Number of species:     13 American Black Duck - Anas rubripes     8 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris     2 Greater Scaup - Aythya marila     2 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula     10 Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus     8 Common Merganser - Mergus merganser     3 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps     1 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     1 Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     1 Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     1

---Marie Hemeon

 

 

 

The number of Wild Turkeys visiting our yard each day has increased. Started with 7 and now there are  12.  Believe me, they have voracious appetites and can become quite messy. But, they are starting to show signs of spring. Their faces are beginning to turn into the breeding blue color and the sun reflecting off their feathers is striking. The Toms will soon be starting their strutting display. Let’s hope it is not that far away.

 

 

 

 

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

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} ~ February 22, 2011

 

Bird Notes

 

 

The Waterfowl Roost

We found a nice collection of waterbirds late this afternoon at Vernon Dam, including 1 adult male Barrow's Goldeneye (previously reported). Most birds were above the dam, with a trail nicely packed by snowshoes to the water's edge. A bit further downstream, on the river side of Rt. 142 opposite "Vern-mont Farm", we had beautiful low-angle light on a flock of ~200 Snow Buntings and then ~300 European Starlings. Also of note, but south of the border in Sunderland Mass., an adult Peregrine Falcon was actively chasing and diving on an immature Bald Eagle.

Above and below Vernon dam:
   20 American Black Duck
     4 Mallard
 170 Common Goldeneye
     1 Barrow's Goldeneye
   23 Hooded Merganser
   10 Common Merganser
     1 Song Sparrow
---Spencer & Doug Hardy, Norwich, VT

 

 

Early Turkey Vulture

Allison Deen had a Turkey Vulture on Back Westminster Rd. in Westminster today.
---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

 

 

Northern Shrike

The adult Meadowbrook RD N. Shrike seems to have expanded its territory to the area around 396 E. Orchard Street, less than 2 miles  across the fields from Meadowbrook. It was perched in a large maple tree just past the house at 3PM and 5PM. 
---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Guilford Grouse

We had a Ruffed Grouse spend the night in our garage Monday.  We saw it in the late evening and again early (still dark) morning, then it flew the coop when the sun came up. 

---Carol Schnabel, Guilford, VT  

 

 

Brattleboro Redpolls

Yesterday morning I was surprised by a flock of Common Redpolls at my feeder although I had seen reports of Redpolls on other bird listservs in New England. It was true: an irruption had been forecast in the fall. It stayed for about 30 minutes and so far has not returned. I did not see any Hoaries.

http://onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com/2011/02/invasion-of-redpolls.html

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Larks, Buntings, Bluebirds & both Waxwings

As I left my home this morning and drove through the intersection of Dover Rd & Augur Hole Rd in South Newfane, I had to pause for a flock of 75+ Cedar & Bohemian Waxwings, plus about ten Eastern Bluebirds. Ahhhh...

          Also, mixed flock of Larks and Snow Buntings continue in the field and around the buildings of the Miller Farm in Vernon.

Waxwing & Lark photo posted at  http://tailsofbirding.blogspot.com

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT
“Tails of Birding” - www.tailsofbirding.net

 

 

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

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} ~ February 14, 2011

 

Bird Notes

 

West River Bluebirds

The bluebird flock is back along the West River trail...

first sighted 1/31

---Judith Kinley, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

I saw a Pileated Woodpecker flying over Sweet Pond Road in Guilford (near the pond) on Friday.   I had a Robin in my crabapple tree on Saturday afternoon for quite a while.  It has been a great year for Common Redpolls at my feeders.  

---Carol Schnabel, Guilford, VT

 

 

Selected Sightings Around Brattleboro

The Merlin that had been perching at the corner of Bonnyvale RD and E. Bonnyvale Lane all week was perched in a tall pine at the corner of Western Ave and Glen St this morning at 7:45. At 2:30 it was back on Bonnyvale RD along with 4 Bluebirds and ~40 Cedar waxwings.  The N. Shrike I first observed Dec. 11 is still present and appearing healthy at the top of Meadowbrook RD. There was also a Coopers Hawk on the east side of Meadowbrook RD about half way up. A flock of ~ 150 Cedar Waxwings and 30 Robins were feeding on crabapples on Greenleaf St, no Bohemians today. There were 6 Snow Buntings in the field across from Brattleboro Country Club on Upper Dummerston Rd. this afternoon. About 30 Goldfinches, 1 House Finch, 1 C. Redpoll, and 1 Pine Siskin were visiting the feeders by the trailer at the end of Ferry Rd.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Waxwings in West Brattleboro

In the favorite crabapple tree on Greenleaf Street across from the Jewish Temple, is a flock of 80 to 100 Cedar Waxwings gorging themselves on the fruit that covers the branches and the ground. If you are lucky you may find the Bohemian Waxwing  that was spotted there earlier in the week. There are also about 2 dozen Robins in on the feast. At the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Meadowbrook Road was another 60 + flock of Cedar Waxwings sitting in the top of a tree. Another small flock was reported eating bittersweet berries along Abbott Road at the Gateway Farm.

 

 

Pine Warbler and Bohemians on Campus

On Saturday the Pine Warbler and the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings were still present at the Putney School campus in Putney, VT

---Ajit Antony, Cornwall, NY

 

*   *   *

The 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count ~  February 18 through February 21  ~

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page:  http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html

You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1st.

 

 

 

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

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} ~ February 8, 2011

 

 

Bird Notes

 

A PINE WARBLER has been frequenting the feeders outside my classroom at The Putney School since Saturday. I took this picture of it today:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5428578949_66dd080e6a_z.jpg

There is also a flock of 55 Bohemian Waxwings feeding on Crabapples on the center of our campus
---David Moon, Putney School, Putney VT

 

 

 

RUSTY BLACKBIRD was a surprise visitor at my feeding station on Sweet Pond Rd.

---Mick Durante, Guilford, VT

 

 

I saw a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL at a friends feeder in Putney this morning (2/1 on Watt Pond Rd).  A life bird for me. So very wonderful!  And 14 Horned Larks on Stebbins Road yesterday (1/31). 

---Lani Wright, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

 

What about Owls and Ravens?

What a storm!  I feel rather badly for the larger birds – ravens, owls etc.  How do they manage with this very deep snow cover?  I have cleared away under my feeders for the owl – we do have voles scurrying about gathering dropped seed and my barred did appear on the feeder about a month ago but have not seen it since.  How do the ravens manage unless they find carcasses?

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

 

Keep Your Feeding Stations Stocked

The birds need you more than ever now that the latest Super Storm has buried everything in over 2 feet of snow in our area.

 

 

 

Buntings, Horned Larks and Longspur

This morning there were at least 250 Snow Buntings, ~120 Horned Larks, and 1 cooperative LAPLAND LONGSPUR in the field across Rt142 in front of the Walnut Grove Farm in Vernon. The Barrow's Goldeneye and friends were once again busy feeding right below the Vernon Dam.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Merlin in West Brattleboro

For the third day in a row a Merlin has been on the same perch at the corner of Bonnyvale Rd and E. Bonnyvale Lane in W. Brattleboro.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and Lone Longspur Still in Vernon

Last Sunday I ran into Dave Johnston in Vernon and he showed me where he had seen the Lapland Longspur in a flock of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. It was still present but did not stay still for very long. I got a brief look through his scope but was unable to get a photo. I did however get some nice photos of Snow Buntings in quite a different setting than the one on the Agway back lot in Walpole.

http://onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com/2011/02/birds-at-home-in-ice-and-snow.html

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Turkeys at Chipmunk Crosssing

Seven Wild Turkeys showed up in our yard looking for a handout yesterday (2/7). Food must be hard to come by since this was their first appearance this year. They were back again today and spent most of the day scratching around beneath our bird feeders.

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

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.