Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} ~ August 22, 2013

Bird Notes

Shovelers on the Connecticut River 8/21

There was a nice flock of 6 Northern Shovelers on the river at Hinsdale/Vernon.

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

Photo by Blake

Black-crowned Night Heron in Putney 8/20

There was a Black-crowned Night Heron at Wilsons Wetlands on Sandhill Rd in Putney at 6:30pm last night. First time I have seen one there. It was perched about 20ft up in a dead tree across the pond enjoying the sunset!

---Marilyn Tillinghast

Retreat Meadows 8/21

There were quite a few small sandpipers moving about the water’s edge in the sparse grass of the farthest sandbar. Least?? High in a vine-covered treetop sat a mature Bald Eagle facing away to the west appearing to be watching the traffic pass by on Rt. 30.

Nighthawk Migration

8/19 Westminster Station: 21

8/20 Keene: 150

8/21 Westminster Station: 10

Abbott Rd., W. Brattleboro

At the Gateway Farm many, many Barn Swallows could be seen sitting on the overhead power lines while a myriad of Crows walked over the newly mown field searching out delicacies that suit their taste. Further down the road a Belted Kingfisher was clinging to a downed fir tree that leans into Ray’s Pond. At the Abbott Rd./Ames Hill Rd. intersection, a Great Blue Heron took to the air from the shoreline of the fire pond.

BIG Bear at the “Crossing” in West B.

He’s baaaaack!

An adult bear sauntered out of the hemlock bushes and into our backyard, then stopped and sat down to scratch an itch. Having had enough of that, I clapped my hands several times and it took off in a gallop up the hill and into the thickly wooded area beyond. This took place at 4:15 pm. So, if you live on or near Greenleaf Street in West Brattleboro be aware that there is a BIG one around and about.

eBird in the New York Times

An avid bird-watcher, is part of eBird, the global ornithological network.

Click here: Crowdsourcing, for the Birds - NYTimes.com

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Please share your sightings with us.

Any new migrants or nesters?

What have you seen while on a trip?

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Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net