{BIRD NOTES} ~ August 08, 2013

 

Bird Notes

 

 

Peep at Retreat Meadows

Shorebird migration may be beginning to crank up with 3 adult Least Sandpipers and 1 adult Semi peep this morning (7/31)

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

 

Waterthrush Along Whetstone Brook

A Louisiana Waterthrush was reported near the Green Mountain Chapel and again in the yard of Eleanor Temple, whose backyard borders the brook. The bird conveniently landed atop her suet feeder to give her an unobstructed view.

 

Ovenbird at the Crossing

An Ovenbird, probably the same bird we have been observing for the past two weeks, was seen on the ground beneath the white pine tree in our backyard. Same location each time..

 

Giant Swallowtail  by Chris Petrak

 

Its Got Wings

Last summer there was considerable excitement when an uncommon Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (uncommon for southeastern Vermont) was cited around Windham County.

          With the interest the sighting generated, I am delighted to report that the Giant Swallowtail is gracing some gardens again this summer. The species has been frequenting the phlox in my yard for the last two days.   A few photos are posted at Tails of Birding - http://tailsofbirding.blogspot.com/

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT
Tails of Birding - www.tailsofbirding.net

 

Newburyport Pelagic Trip

On Monday July 29, a few members of the Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society met Chris Petrak in Newburyport Massachusetts to try their luck at birding aboard a whale watching boat. The pelagic birds that they hoped for did not show though there were good numbers of gulls, terns, and cormorants.  Wilson’s Storm Petrels were flying about and Chris was able to get photos of them and a female Humpback Whale named “Fulcrum” that had a calf in tow that was getting a lesson in corralling fish and feeding on its catch. (See Chris’s photos below.)

 

 

 Wilson’s Storm Petrel © Chris Petrak                                                                                         

 

 

     Humpback Whale female with calf ©  Chris Petrak

 

 

 

 

West Brattleboro Birds

American Redstart (F.)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (a family of five)

Phoebe (a family of four)

Red-eyed Vireo

Indigo Bunting (M)

Cedar Waxwing

Ovenbird (searching for food under pine)

Black-capped Chickadee (a family of four)

Tufted Titmouse (a family of three)

American Goldfinch (M & F)

Song Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch (a family of 4)

Cardinal (M & F)

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay (a family of six)

Robin (a family of three)

Canada Goose (NA)

Barn Swallows (40+ on the wires at the Gateway Farm)

Black and White Warbler

Yellowthroat

 

The resident Chipmunk has moved into the Wren house

at my sister’s home.

 

 

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

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants or nesters?

What have you seen while on a trip?

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

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org