{BIRD NOTES} ~ April 10, 2012

Northern Harrier, male © Google

 

 

Bird Notes

                                                             

The Vernon Gray Ghost

At about 5 pm this afternoon (4/9) we were crossing the riverside cornfield at the Miller Farm when we spotted a large, very light colored raptor showing white rump, dark wing tips, rise up from the grassy pasture. A quick grab for our binoculars and we focused in on a handsome male Northern Harrier flying low, tipping and pumping its way across the field in the direction of the farm house, then dropped from sight. We are in the habit of seeing them in their brown immature and/or female plumage, but this guy was gorgeous in his silver gray finery.

 

Moving along to the overlook at the field’s edge we saw 7 Common Mergansers, 2 Black Ducks, and a fly-by Double-crested Cormorant in the river below.  At the Stebbins Road overlook we watched a mature Bald Eagle fly past us and go up and over the earthen dam. At the Miller farm pond there was the usual Mallard pair and 2 Tree Swallows. Meanwhile, back at the dam, we counted 7 Turkey Vultures circling above.

---Al & Barb Merritt, W. Brattleboro

 

Retreat Meadows (4/7)

At the water treatment plant on Rt. 30, we counted 5 Northern Mockingbirds hanging out on the bittersweet covered fences. The lone Snow Goose is still with the 20 or so flock of Canada Geese. Sometimes grazing, sometimes snoozing in the sun with head tucked back. It is acting like it will stay awhile, so if you haven’t seen it, stop by. Not a rare bird, but let’s say unusual for our area.

 

Peacock in West Brattleboro

We have witnesses. We have pictures. There really was a Peacock around the yurt on our property, late yesterday afternoon. It wandered around for some time, and displayed several times. Yurt is clearly visible from Bonnyvale Rd., just beyond the corner with Miller Rd. The presumption is that it wandered from further out Bonnyvale, where there are some folks who keep exotic birds. Last seen this morning (4/8) at 10:15.     Cheers,

---Ned Pokras and Meg Kluge

 

There was a lone Snow Goose with about 100 Canada's by the Brattleboro water treatment plant on Rte. 30 yesterday afternoon (4/5).
---Pieter van Loon, Marlboro, VT

 

White-throated Sparrow singing in Retreat Meadow woods...(4/4)

---Judith Kinley, Brattleboro, VT

 

This morning (4/6) at Ray’s Pond on Abbott Road in West Brattleboro, were a pair each of Common Mergansers and Wood Ducks. Nearby in the fields at the Gateway Farm was a very large flock of migrating Robins.

 

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Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

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