{BIRD NOTES} ~ November 27, 2013

Bird Notes

 

 

 

 

Northern Shrike in West B. (11/26)

A first winter N. Shrike was perched at the top of the Maple trees on the corner of Bonnyvale and Mather Rds in W. Brattleboro this morning at 8:00.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

Snowy Owl at Perkins Pier

Down at the Pier with Josh Stewart, Ted Murin and monster-scope now. (11/23)  From the Perkins Pier parking lot, the Snowy is located on the breakwater to the right of Juniper Island right by the driftwood and sapling.
--Leah Tansey

 

Colchester Causeway Snowy Owls

Shirley Zundell and I made the trip to Chambly, as did 50+other birders.  The Ross’s Gull was not spotted by about 11:00 when we headed south.  There was a large flock of Snow Geese a mile north of the bridge at Saint Jean and a smattering of ducks on the river between Chambly and Saint Jean.
The Colchester Causeway SNOWY OWLS were seen yesterday and their number was confirmed at 2.  I rode a bike out this afternoon and did not see any. (11/23)
---Bob Dill, Burlington, VT

 

Snowy Owls Are Moving Southward

There are reports of 2 Snowy Owls in Burlington area, 3 reports in southern New York State and 2 in coastal New Jersey. This may be a good year for this Arctic species to make a showing locally. Windham County birders be vigilant!  

 

 

 

 

Snow Goose flock in flight over Dead Creek WMA Refuge area.

Photo enlarged for counting. 3355 birds counted. View is to the northeast.

 

 

Aerial Photo by Ian Worley

Note the "bow" marginal row of birds extending across the top of the flock and

around the right edge. The bow is formed by the leading edge of the birds. In

this case the flock had been moving from the bottom left to the top right as

indicated by the extensive line of birds across the top of photo, but is in

transition to moving to the right as evidenced by the new bow forming

on the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ A REMINDER ~

 

The annual Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 21^st .  If you wish to participate, please send me an e-mail indicating whether you wish to be out in the field with a group of one of the 7 areas or in the comfort of your home to do a feeder count.  That evening everyone is invited to the “Compilation Pot Luck Supper”  that will be held at Hollie Bowen’s home at 19 Whipple Street in Brattleboro, starting at 6 p.m.

 

 

 

Photo by Larry Masters

Photo of the Ross’s Gull that caused quite a stir in Quebec, Canada last week.

 

 

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

 

 

 

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Please share your birding news with us.

Owls?

Finches?

Waterfowl?

What have you seen while on a trip?

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

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

 

                                                             

{BIRD NOTES} ~ Nov. 16, 2013

Bird Notes

 

 

 

Connecticut River at Turner’s Falls

Recent sightings were Northern Shoveller, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, and a Lapland Longspur.  A BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen with an ICELAND GULL at Turners Falls, MA.

---Western Mass. RBA

 

Pine Grosbeaks (11/15)

Arrived today, hanging out at the feeder area.  Six of them, all had yellowish
head and nape. 
---Martha Pfeiffer, Dorset, VT

 

 

ROSS’S GULL

Vic and I saw the Ross's Gull, a life bird for me, in Chambly, Quebec yesterday afternoon.  It was initially found on Nov 9 with a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls on the water (Richlieu River) near Fort Chambly, and continued to be seen there either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.  Now it has been found during the day hanging out at the sewage lagoons in Chambly, not far from the fort.  It is a beautiful little gull in winter plumage, with a lovely soft pink underside, dark gray under wings, small rounded head and black eyes, with only the slightest hint of the collar.  The long wedge-shaped tail can easily be seen when it flies over the pond.  At one point it appeared to be walking on the water!  It is an easy day's trip from Brattleboro.  The best directions in English are on the NARBA website, and don't forget your passport!

--Nori Howe, West Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Directions to Ross’s Gull

The best I can do is provide addresses for you folks:
Marina: 1777 Avenue Bourgogne, Chambly, QC J3L 1Y8, Canada Fort Chambly: 1937 Avenue Bourgogne, Chambly, QC J3L, Canada (just a short bit down the road from the Marina)   Water purification Works: Follow the left path in the park located near 1756 Avenue de Gentilly, Chambly, QC J3L 6V9, Canada. The water pans are just behind that.
Good luck.
---Dave, Montreal

 

A Quebec Jewel

A message late yesterday from Rob Stone set in motion some quick planning and my son Curt and I headed off early this morning for Chambly, Quebec in hopes of seeing the #1 bird on my "Want-to-see List"  -  an adult  ROSS'S GULL.  On a cold, dreary day, having spent many hours with others scanning through big numbers of  Bonaparte's Gulls, we feel bless to have seen the bird riding on the waters of the local lake.  The bird was 50-70 yards away in very fading light but what joy it was.   I encourage you to head north for this highly sought after gull and "bon chance", as the Quebecois kept repeating.

---Ken McDermott, Newburgh, NY

 

 

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

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

Hawks?

Warblers?

Finches?

Waterfowl?

What have you seen while on a trip?

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

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org