{BIRD NOTES} May 24, 2012

 

Bird Notes

 

Cerulean at Wantastiquet (5/21)

This morning I spend several hours on the Wantastiquet Mountain trail (in NH across the Connecticut from Brattleboro). After about 2 hours, enough sunlight finally warmed the west facing slope and birds became active and singing. A Cerulean Warbler finally appeared and gave a few opportunities for photographs, though one could hardly say that he was cooperative.

  

For VT/NH birders - after the first switchback, there is a long stretch heading north, then it reverses directions and head south - still upslope. This is the area to listen for him. I found him on the trail heading south just before it made another switchback.

 

Photos posted at Tails of Birding: www.tailsofbirding.blogspot.com

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT

 

 

Strange Behavior of Warblers

This was sent to me by my son Anil who is a birder in LA (Orange Co. CA):

Sailing from Catalina to Newport on Sunday on a 41' sailboat we were besieged by warblers. They are not uncommon out there this time of year, but the numbers and their behavior were remarkable. For over two hours we never had fewer than six birds aboard. I was sure of Wilson's, one or two Townsends, and some yellows. There may have been others, but my ID skills failed me. We dribbled water on the deck, and several of them drank. They were all over us – one pecked at a person's hand until it drew blood, one climbed onto my friend’s recumbent husband's face and pecked at his teeth. In the cabin, one hopped through the mayo I'd spread on buns to make sandwiches. We tried to keep them out of the cabin, but they were fearless in dodging us. About three miles out they abandoned ship and presumably headed for shore. I realize this isn't the usual post on this site, but I thought it worth sharing.

Has anyone heard of such behaviour by warblers? Sounds like Hitchcock!
---Ajit Antony, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

 

 

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

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

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

 

{BIRD NOTES} May 21, 2012

 

Bird Notes

 

Montague Plain Field Trip (5/18)

More than a dozen members met our fearless leader Bob Engel, to make the field trip to the Montague Plain Wildlife Management Area located just east of Turners Falls, MA. Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, Prairie Warblers and a chorus of vociferous Whip-poor-wills were the highlights of this unusual habitat that Bob had lectured us on last Tuesday at the regular monthly meeting of the Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society. The MPWMA is owned and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) in cooperation with Northeast Utilities (NU). The primary purpose of the site is to protect and preserve an outstanding example of a xeric (dry) outwash pitch pine-scrub oak barren natural community, its associated biota (all organisms in a given area) and its ecological processes.

 

Plum Island

Robyn and I took a quick trip to Plum Island today. Warblers were everywhere. Hellcat (Swamp) was busy; Pines were hopping. Many of the usuals (14 total species of warblers), plus great views of a male Bay-Breasted and Hooded (lifer).

---Paul Miksis, Brattleboro

 

Hinsdale

There was a Spotted Sandpiper at the Hinsdale boat launch yesterday morning. FOY for us.

 

Butterflies

We have had no less than 5 Red Admiral Butterflies that have been enjoying the many dandelions that have sprung up in our yard.

 

 

 

Field Trip to Phyllis’ Marsh, Saturday, May 26

 

Join SVAS birders for a walk through a private reserve with mixed

edge, forest and wetland habitats and a potential for a wide variety of

bird species on the cusp of their breeding season.

 

Meet at the Hannaford parking lot on Putney Road at 8 a.m.

 

 

 

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

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

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

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com