FW: {BIRD NOTES} ~ April 21, 2012

Black Vulture © Floyd Austin

 

Bird Notes

 

Four Black Vultures were resting and preening in a tree overlooking the Retreat Meadows at the Rt 30 pullover from 5:30-6:10 this evening. They flew off to the northwest up the West River with the sun lighting up their silver tipped wings.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

______________

*Note attached photo by Floyd Austin, showing the dark head and white wing tips that distinguishes it from the Turkey Vulture that is more common to our area.

 

 

Lake Champlain and Environs

(4/16) Wickham Marsh State Game Management Area, north of Port Kent:
In the marsh: 15 Ring-necked Ducks, one pair of nesting Ospreys on top of a telephone pole, Downy w.p., Hairy w.p., Pileated w.p., Yellow-shafted Flicker, many Tree Swallows, 1 Eastern Bluebird, Bluejay, a few Song Sparrows, many Savannah Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos.

(4/17) Ausable Marsh State Game Management Area, north of Wickham Marsh:
In the marsh:  Black Duck, 100s of mallards, Green-winged Teal, Common Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese (many nesting), Double-crested Cormorants, Ring-billed Gulls, two pairs of nesting Ospreys on top of telephone poles within 50 feet of each other, (lots of noise from the four ospreys when they were in the vicinity of their nests), 1 immature Bald Eagle, 1 Northern Harrier,  1  Sharp-shinned Hawk, two Great Blue Herons, one Belted Kingfisher, many Tree Swallows, Eastern Wood Pewees, Eastern Phoebes, Raven, a few song sparrows.
 
In Lake Champlain at Ausable Point: Several Buffleheads and several Common Goldeneyes.
Fun trip!

---Amy and Ed Klein, Orange County, NY

This morning (4/17) at Herrick's Cove, a very vocal Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Brown Thrasher.
---JoAnne Russo, Saxtons River, VT

 

We have a very active pair of Pileated Woodpeckers in our neighborhood on Kelly Road along with their smaller cousins.  Also, Bluebirds and (Tree) Swallows vying for nesting rights in the bluebird houses.  Go Blues! 

---Greg Moschetti, Brattleboro, VT

 

There was a pair of Towhees at Indian Pond (just off Gulf Rd. in Chesterfield, NH) this morning! (4/17).

---Lani Wright, Brattleboro, VT

 

On the CT at Wells River, VT we twice watched an adult Bald Eagle dive on small ducks about 4 times before the ducks flew off.  In the potholes where the Ammonusic River enters the CT we also saw 3 Otters which jumped into the water and then popped up to check us out one more time.(4/17) .  

---Tom Prunier, Westminster West, VT

 

The Hummers Are Coming, The Hummers Are Coming!

After a marathon migration from Central America and the southern U.S., hummingbirds will soon be back—and boy are they going to be hungry!

 

 

***************

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

***************