Birdnotes: FW: {BIRD NOTES} ~ July 17, 2013

Bird Notes

Brattleboro Whip-poor-will

A Whip-poor-will has been heard for several evenings along Wantastiquet Drive and seen on one occasion sitting on a fence while calling. We drove there last evening and listened for more than twenty minutes, but no luck. If you happen by there in the early darkness (its been reportedly calling at about 9:30) please let us know if you hear it. They are becoming almost as scarce as hens teeth.

WHIP-POOR-WILL © Google Images

Monthly Hildene Bird Walk

Here's our list from today's monthly birdwalk at Hildene here in Manchester. Notable were the numbers of Cedar Waxwings in virtually every part of the property. I'm sure this is an undercount, but they were flying all over the place. The wetland and meadow areas were nicely active including the American Bittern flyover and the outstanding perspective the brand new boardwalk in the marsh gave us! A beautiful addition to a beautiful place! Our next walk is August 17th
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LOCATION: Hildene - Lincoln Family Home, Bennington, VT, US
DATE: Jul 13, 2013 7:13 AM - 10:13 AM
No. SPECIES: 44

American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Virginia Rail 1
Mourning Dove 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Eastern Kingbird 7
Red-eyed Vireo 9
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
House Wren 6
Veery 3
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 16
Ovenbird 5
Common Yellowthroat 11
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Indigo Bunting 4
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Cmmon Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 4

---Barbara Powers, Manchester, VT

Cuckoos In Marlboro

Cuckoos passing through in Marlboro: a Black-billed was very noisy for two days, and a Yellow-billed was here last evening. All immigrants are welcome here.

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

Sora Rail in Vernon

My son found this Sora Rail nest in the marsh below our barn yesterday. Thought it might be of interest. He got a fairly good view of it as well as heard its call. It was annoyed because a cow was eating close to the nest. We have fenced around it so they shouldn't bother it again. I have seen rails there a couple of times in the past, but never a nest.

---Paul Miller, Vernon, VT

Sora Rail nest at Miller Farm in Vernon © Paul Miller

SEABIRD & SHOREBIRD

FIELD TRIP

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013

This Field Trip will have two components. The first is a 5 hour birding cruise with Newburyport Whale Watch - departing at 10:00am.
After returning to port, Chris Petrak will lead a caravan to Plum Island for shorebirding in the Parker River NWR. (Chris may stay overnight in Newburyport and return to Plum Island the next morning. Check with him a few days in advance.)

Here’s information from the Newburyport Whale Watch website: “Our Birding Trips run out to the Isle of Shoals and surrounding areas where the bird life is active. Each trip has a naturalist aboard from the Audubon Society at Joppa Flats. “We see many of the shore and seabirds of the Atlantic Coast during these special 5 hour trips. Our naturalist will point out many different variations of the various species and is more than willing to explain any sighting you might not be able to identify. “For any age, these trips will invite you into a world you won’t see from shore!”

Cost: Adults - $48.00 *

Senior Citizens 65+ - $43.00
Kids 4-12 years - $33.00

Newburyport Whale Watch – On the Boardwalk

54 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA 01950 ~~ 1-800-848-1111 ~~ Outside New England call 1-978-499-0832
Website: www.newburyportwhalewatch.com

Make reservations with the Whale Watch a few days in advance. Contact Chris if you are planning to come and in case of any change in plans or weather issues, 802-348-6301 or chrsptrk@svcable.net. Allow at least 3 hours for the drive from Brattleboro, parking, and to pick up tickets. Meet Chris Petrak on board. We will figure out Plum Island during the seabird cruise.

Swallows

I hate to think about it, but it is that time of year again. The Swallows are starting to gather on the electric wires. Most are juveniles that have just received their “wings” and are following their parents lead by flying low over the ponds, lakes and grassy fields scooping up the summer crop of insects. The numbers on the wires will increase day by day until hundreds are counted waiting for that day when their leader says “let’s go” and they will be off to southern climes for the winter.

Nesting Phoebes

Our Phoebe pair have fledged young, which we believe is a second brood. Earlier this Spring they had built a very secure and sheltered nest on a small ledge of our log home just under the eaves on the south side. For the past two weeks they have been busy fluttering and diving through the air and snagging a myriad of flying insects to stuff in the mouths of the two hungry youngsters. They are out on their own now and we cannot tell the difference between the young and the old.