{ BIRD NOTES } ~ July 9, 2012

Baltimore Oriole © Dan Mosheim       and       Prairie Warbler © Hilke Breder

Bird Notes

 

Bird Notes

Perhaps you have noticed that the frequency of Bird Notes issues has slowed considerably. Correspondence from everyone came to a virtual halt immediately after the migration stopped. Take note that now most adults of the species are busy feeding young, and teaching them songs and call notes. The fledglings are receiving flight lessons and feeding instructions and if you are putting out rations of feed to attract some of these birds, as we are, you must be noticing that they are coming around in pairs and at times with their young in tow. At Chipmunk Crossing we have developed quite a list and I am sure that you all have lists too. Please share them with us so that we in turn can include them in Bird Notes for all to enjoy.

 

Chipmunk Crossing so far this week:

 

1. Rose-breasted Grosbeak= 3 males, 1 female, 1 imm.
2. Indigo Bunting= M&F, 1 imm.
3. Chipping Sparrow= M&F, 1 imm.
4. Cardinal= M&F
5. Catbirds= 2
6. Tufted Titmouse= M&F and imm.
7. Veery= 2 (heard)
8. Ovenbird
9. White-breasted Nuthatch= 4
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. Hairy Woodpecker= 2
12. Robin= 2
13. Phoebe
14. Cowbird= M&F
15. Crow= 3
16. Goldfinch= 2 M, 2 F
17. Purple Finch= 1 M, 1 imm
18. Chickadee
19. Red-eyed Vireo
20. Ruby-throated Hummingbird= M,F, and Imm.

 

Abbott Road:

Bobolinks

Barn Swallows

Kingbird

Song Sparrow

Red-tailed Hawk

 

 

Somerset Loon & Thrush

We stopped by Somerset Reservoir one day last week and saw a Common Loon paddling around the dam area. Along the road we heard the Swainson’s Thrush singing. We had not heard one in a couple of years. It sounds very much like a Veery song in reverse.

 

 

Baltimore Orioles in Dorset

Kit says the orioles are eating us out of house and home. . . she’s going through about a jar of jelly a week.  Even some of the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are eating it.  I took some pictures of the orioles this evening (See attachment)  . . . I love the tail feathers . . . enjoy!

--Dan Mosheim, Dorset, VT

 

                                 

Prairie Warblers in Montague, MA

(See attachment) I missed Bob Engel's talk on the Montague Sandplains IBA and the excursion to hear Whip-poor-wills since I was in Cape May, NJ at that time. So I ventured there on my own.  It is a fascinating habitat to visit and go birding, although I missed out on hearing Whip-poor-wills despite staying until after dark.

http://www.birdingisfun.com/2012/07/birding-glacial-montague-sandplains-iba.html

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro, VT

 

NOTE:

In the last issue of Bird Notes I reported having a Zebra Swallowtail butterfly on Hogback Mountain in Marlboro. Since I was the only one to see it and had no photograph to confirm my sighting, it will only be taken as a “possible” since it would be a first sighting in Vermont. On another note, Connie Woodberry reported seeing a Summer Tanager on her property in Dummerston on June 19. She had observed the species at Cape May and knew they shouldn’t be here so immediately notified us. We drove up to her home and spent close to an hour searching in the area that it was seen, but no luck. So, here we are again reporting it as a “possible”. But, at least it makes the list and alerts us to the fact that it could be hanging around the area.

 

Please let us know what you are seeing/hearing so we can share it with everyone.

 

 

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

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

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