Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} ~ October 31, 2013

Bird Notes

Spofford Lake, NH (10/30)

A sunny afternoon turned up 5 Common Mergansers flying along the western shoreline and a Common Loon fishing nearby in the placid waters.

Keene, NH (10/30)

Along a drainage ditch in the cornfield across from the UPS depot in Keene we counted 3 Rusty Blackbirds foraging in the streamside grasses.

Egret at Marina Pond (10/29)

Today (10/29) at about noon there was a Great Egret foraging in the pond with the radio tower(?) below Top of the Hill. Also, 8 Hooded Mergansers in the same pond. A single Killdeer flew into the cornfield by the West River Trail.

---Nori Howe, W. Brattleboro, VT

Waterfowl at the Retreat (10/27)

About 7:30 this morning 9 Ruddy Ducks flew into the south end of the Meadows. They were still swimming and diving when I left at 8:00 AM. Also present: 6 Hooded Mergs, 2 Black Ducks, 4 Mallards, ~300 Canada Geese, 3 Killdeer, 1 adult Bald Eagle, and a family of Otters(4) fishing in front of the island. No sign of the pair of Ring-necked Ducks present yesterday.

---Dave Johnson, W. Brattleboro, VT

Lake Champlain Pacific Loons & More (10/27)

Ron Payne and I made several stops along Lake Champlain from Thompson's Point south to the Champlain Bridge. Birds were pretty scarce at some stops. South of the tip of Thompson's point we saw five Common Loons, one Red-throated Loon, and two PACIFIC LOONS ... close enough to each other for good size and plumage comparisons. The Pacific Loons preened, lounged, and occasionally did their leap-out-of-the-water-and-dive-like-a-porpoise routines -- definitely fun to watch! At McCuen Slang, east of the Champlain Bridge we were treated to a trio of Ruddy Ducks, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes ..... and nine cavorting Snow Buntings.
---Ian Worley

Yellow Rumps on the Move at the Retreat (10/26)

A flock of 40-50 Myrtle Warblers at Brattleboro retreat meadows this morning shows that they are still moving through in good numbers.
---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT