Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} ~January 5, 2013

Bird Notes

Common Pochard on Lake Champlain

A species very, very rare in the United States is drawing a crowd on the north end of the new Champlain Bridge. Also seen by observers were Harlequin Duck and Tufted Duck. They were still being seen there today (1/2/13). As near as I can find, this is only the second confirmed Common Pochard sighting in the U.S.

Common Pochard © Larry Masters

Plum Island/Cape Ann

Had a wonderful weekend at Cape Ann with a dozen other Mearns Club members under the expert leadership of Al and Barb Merritt. Among the prizes we collected were Red crossbills, Pine grosbeak, Redpolls, Rough-legged hawk, Black guillemot, Harlequin Ducks, scoters, eiders, and on and on (67 species). I have posted a written report with photos on my blog at natdigital.blogspot.com and encourage you to take a look. Thanks again to the Merritts who confided to us that they have now led over 30 of these outings to Cape Anne for the Mearns Club. If you could not make it this year, I encourage to make the effort to get up there next year. It is a trip not to be missed!

---Dave Baker, Orange County, NY

Pipit in Vernon

JoAnne Russo and I had an American Pipit on Blodgett road in Vernon.

I have posted a digiscoped image on the VT eBird flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88981103@N07/8310875709/in/pool-vtebird

---Taj Schottland, Avian Biologist

Common Redpolls at Chipmunk Crossing

There was a flurry of activity at our feeders this morning (1/4). The usuals were fighting for position on the three feeders when a number of Common Redpolls dropped from the sky and nudged out the others from their breakfast table. Not having the regulars to contend with they squabbled among themselves for position. We counted 14 before they had got their fill and finally flew off.

---Barbara Merritt, West Brattleboro, VT