Birdnotes: {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.