Birdnotes

Sightings listed for the Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Thursday, October 31, 2013

{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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before you turn in on Saturday eve.

Monday, October 28, 2013

{BIRD NOTES} ~ October 28, 2013

   

                   

Bird Notes

 

 

December 21 is the Brattleboro Christmas Bird Count

Mark Your Calendar and if you care to participate send an e-mail opting for feeder count or field observer to Al Merritt at chpmnkx@sover.net

 

Snow Geese at the Viewing Area in Addison, VT

It would be reasonable to say that the flock last Saturday (10/26) was over 5000 Snow Geese, one Ross's Goose (seen by others), and two Mallards.  There may have been upwards of 5600 Snow Geese.
---Ian Worley

 

Turkey Season Opened 10/26

If you are planning to be out in the fields and woods birding, take into consideration that the hunting season is open for Wild Turkeys. If you hear turkeys calling it may not be a turkey giving out with the gobbles. Be cautious, it could be a lurking hunter.

 

Waxwings in the Thicket

There were a dozen or so Cedar Waxwings in the hedges at Thicket Hill Hinsdale, NH on 10/24. Right now the berries are plentiful !
---Dan Brown

 

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Overheard in a doctors office:  A six year old girl was explaining that for Halloween she was going to be a bluebird and her two year old brother was going to be a bird watcher.

---Jan Drechsler, Brattleboro, VT

 

 

Winter Finch Forecast (Excerpts from Ron Pittaway’s Canadian Report)

This is not an irruption (flight) year for winter finches, but there will be some southward movement of most species into their normal winter ranges.. Cone crops are good to excellent in Ontario, and into southern Quebec, with heavy crops extending east through the Adirondack Mountains of New York and northern New England States. Winter bird species that you can expect to see, along with their food choice, in northern New England include Pine Grosbeak (mountain-ash, crabapple & buckthorn); Purple finch (berry seeds and feeders with sunflower seeds), White-winged Crossbill (white, red, black spruce and hemlock); Bohemian Waxwing (mountain-ash berries, small ornamental crabapples and buckthorn); Pine Siskins (spruce and hemlock) should be attracted to heavy cone crops in New York’s Adirondacks and northern New England, and to feeders filled with nyger seed; Evening Grosbeak--expanding spruce budworm outbreaks in northern forests will keep them in the north, but many will be attracted to sunflower filled feeders in northern New England.

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

TRICK or TREAT !

Thursday, October 24, 2013

{BIRD NOTES} ~ October 23, 2013

Bird Notes

 

 

 

“Butter-Butts” in Vernon
Lots of Yellow-rumps here on the corner in Vernon. They have been coming through for almost a week now. Saw them really close and even better, heard their sweet song whispering.  

---Judy Farley, Vernon, VT

 

 

Voices of Blackbirds

I just stepped out of my door to hear this unbelievable cacophony of blackbird noise.  Every tree was loaded with blackbirds and there was a steady movement from the trees to the N.  I guesstimated 700-1000 birds counting by 10s - no clicker moment here!  9:20 a.m.  Lasted less than 5 minute.  Birds mostly grackles, but I'm sure there were other species in the fold.
What a moment in the avian world!!!
---Ruth Stewart, E. Dorset, VT

 

Waterfowl at Turners Falls, MA

A Cackling Goose and a Greater Scaup were reported at Turners Falls on 10/22

---Trudy Tynan, Mass.

 

Connecticut Warbler in Winhall, VT

I stopped at the cul-de-sac on Snow Valley Rd. in Winhall today for my lunch around 2:15. Afterwards I scanned the scrubby opening west of the pond and besides the few song and white-throated sparrows, saw a Connecticut Warbler feeding in willows and dogwood on the edge. Seen very clearly through my binocs, blue-black head and throat, yellow chest, belly and under tail, and bold white eye ring.

--Pieter van Loon, Marlboro, VT

 

Prepare Your Yard for Wintering Birds

The cooler weather is setting in, and now is the perfect time to create a suitable wintering habitat for birds. From scrubbing out feeders, to cleaning out nest boxes, to building a brush pile in a corner of your property to offer songbirds shelter in extreme weather.

 

 

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

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

Hawks?

Warblers?

Waterfowl?

What have you seen while on a trip?

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

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

 

Monday, October 14, 2013

{BIRD NOTES} ~ October 11, 2013

Bird Notes

 

Birding in Brattleboro & Vernon, VT (9/30)

Spent much of the day birding in Brattleboro and Vernon, VT birding at the Brattleboro treatment plant, the east side of Brattleboro retreat, the fields by the nuke plant substation, the stump dump on Stebbins Road, and Fort Dummer State Park.  Best bird was a DICKCISSEL at the water treatment plant.  Also had 5 warbler species - 1 Nashville and 1 Tennessee along with numerous Palms, Yellow-rumps and Yellowthroats; and 1 Blue-headed Vireo.  Eight species of sparrows including good numbers of Lincoln's Sparrows was nice.  I just put all the sightings in e-bird - surprisingly e-bird thinks the 4 Indigo Buntings I had are rare.
---Mike Resch, Pepperell, MA

 

 

A Late Hummer

On September 30th a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird stopped by our feeder for a few sips before moving on. Several White-throated Sparrows arrived (Oct. 1) and were busy scratching in the leaves beneath the willow bush. Since then we have had a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Oct. 10) flashing its red feathered crown, and the first of the season Slate-colored Junco.

--Chipmunk Crossing

 

 

Mockingbirds Also Sing in the Fall

We were enjoying the singing Mockingbird the other day.  We have a long-time pair that reside in and around our front yard.  The next day I received in the mail from my sister a clipping from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  It was about mockingbirds in autumn.  It discussed the 'unique habit' among mockingbirds, male and female, to define and defend their territories in fall and winter.  It went on to say that in September, mockingbirds, either separately or in pairs, begin defending their 'second' territories, mostly around fall food sources such as pokeberry bushes laden with berries.  (These spots may also become nesting territories in spring.)  One of the mockingbird's fascinating fall and winter defense strategies is to perch conspicuously and sing as exuberantly as in the mating season.  This answered my question as to why I was hearing so many melodies radiating among the orange-tinted cherry tree leaves in our front yard.  On another note:  It seems the robins have returned to our yard and are busy taking October baths.  So it is good to keep fresh water outside, it's been so dry, but that will change soon. 

Bird time is magical.  Enjoy the new season. 

---Claudia Perretti, Newburgh, NY

 

Flying Geese

Has anyone noticed the long wavering strings of Canada Geese flying high and heading down the Connecticut R.  Are the Arctic blasts headed this way or are they following their inbred instincts?  If you spot any with numbered yellow collars, please make an effort to write down the numbers and let us know. We can report them and find out the origin of their banders. This can sometime be very interesting.

~ P U B L I C     P R O G R A M ~

 

October 15 at 7 p.m.

in the Community Room of Brooks Library

 

Birding with a Wildlife Veternarian:

Some Observations of the Normal and Abnormal

In addition to his clinical work on the medicine and surgery of wild birds, Dr. Mark Pokras has worked on a wide variety of environmental issues including pollution, climate change, and emerging infectious diseases. The program will emphaze things not found in your field guides. What does a veterinarian see when looking at birds? We’ll discuss interesting anatomic and behavioral features, some current and emerging threats to wild birds, and how birders can play important roles as environmental detectives, whether in the backyard feeder or on birding adventures.

 

 

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

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

Waterfowl?

Hawks?

Warblers?

 

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

_______________

PLEASE NOTE:

The Brattleboro Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013

7 teams will scour the area and count birds of each species heard/sighted

To join a team or do a feeder count please contact:

Al Merritt (802) 254-4820)

E-mail: chpmnkx@sover.net

 

Whether you participate or not, please join us at 6:00 p.m. for

the Compilation Pot Luck Supper to be held at Hollie Bowen’s home at 19 Whipple Street, Brattleboro, VT

For tips on what to bring call Hollie at: (802) 254-9087

 

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES} ~ October 14, 2013

Bird Notes

 

 

Common Tern at Herrick’s Cove (10/6)

A late Common Tern was flying around Herrick’s Cove, in Rockingham, this morning calling as it passed over the duck hunters.
---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

 

The Common tern was still flying around the cove this morning. (10/8) Also there was a  late Black-throated Green Warbler. 
---JoAnne Russo, Saxtons River, VT

 

Birds at the Miller Farm, Vernon, VT (10/11)
Late this morning there was a Vesper Sparrow with a handful Savannah Sparrows at Miller Farm fields, Vernon. It was perched on the north side of the 'Yankee' fence but feeding in the Miller farm fields with American Pipits just west of the Connecticut River. (See more complete list below)

---James P. Smith, Gill, MA

 

Vesper Sparrow photo by James Smith


 
More Miller Farm Sightings
Canada Goose  135
Turkey Vulture  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Killdeer  7

Rock Pigeon  16
Mourning Dove  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  3
Eastern Bluebird  3
Gray Catbird  1
European Starling  25
American Pipit  45
Palm Warbler  3     

Vesper Sparrow  1     
Savannah Sparrow  13
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  2
White-crowned Sparrow  7 
(All first-winter birds)

Red-winged Blackbird  15
House Finch  5
American Goldfinch  7

 

 

Pipits and a possible Taverner’s Cackling Goose (10/12)

At Vernon this morning Dave Johnson and I found a large flock of pipits - we managed to count approximately 120 when they were airborne after being flushed by a kestrel. In the same ploughed field that James Smith had a vesper sparrow in yesterday there was a flock of about 400 Canada geese. Among them was one smaller bird, about 20-25% smaller than the cagos. It was generally darker than the cagos, but the most interesting feature was the head and bill. It did not have the blocky forehead and snub bill of the usual cackling that we get down here (richardsons), but it's small triangular bill and forehead formed a sloping profile, rather reminiscent of a female eider duck. Roman nosed was the descriptor that came to mind. I have looked at some photos that James Smith took of other potential taverners at Turners Falls in October 2011 and the match is identical. Unfortunately we did not get any good photos and so this record should remain a possibility only. If anyone is going, check thru the Canada flocks in the area and keep a watch out for this bird.

---Hector Galbraith, Dummerston, VT

 

Hildene ~ Lincoln Family Home, Manchester, VT, ~ 10/12/13 - ---Barbara Powers, VT

Just a picture perfect October morning for birding and while it was a slow start, the day warmed up and so did the birding. Sparrow numbers were likely greatly undercounted due to the large wave of birds passing through in the absolutely spectacular grassland habitat that's been created on the north side of the meadows in the old pine forest.

 

Canada Goose  11
Turkey Vulture  4
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  14
American Crow  48
Common Raven  2 (Enjoying the breezes through the valley)
Black-capped Chickadee  9
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  69
European Starling  6
Cedar Waxwing  4
Magnolia Warbler  2
Palm Warbler  2
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  28
White-throated Sparrow  30
White-crowned Sparrow  6
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  9
Red-winged Blackbird  16
American Goldfinch  9

 

A NEW Warbler Field Guide

There is a new book published by Princeton University Press called The Warbler Guide by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle. It could well have been called the Ultimate/Complete Warbler Guide!

 

I picked it up at Barnes & Noble after seeing an ad for it in some birding magazine.  It is very different from a Sibley or Peterson. It is large for a field guide, but could be carried in the field, 500+ pages, 1000+ photographs, 1000+ sonograms!

 

The first quarter of the book is general information with a large sonogram tutorial from basics on up [voice files in page-by-page order are an additional online download for $6.00 from Princeton University Press. There are Quick Finders of pages of birds faces only, side views only, 45 degree views from below only, and ventral (as if the bird were directly above) views only, as well as Quick Finders pages of Spring and Fall birds for the East and West and under tail diagnostics.


The rest of the book describes individual species which have up to 12 pages each with photographs showing diagnostic points and numerous images shown exactly the way we struggle to see them in the field - partly hidden, underside only, back only, etc. with 4 Distinctive Views each, ID points, photographs of similar species with good text descriptions and new ID points as well as sonograms compared to similar sounding species.


There is a quiz at the end, with a section on IDing warblers in flight.
A great buy for less than $30.00 for those like me working on improving Warbler ID.  I am glad they emphasize ventral views, under tail color and tail spots, which I have been slowly teaching myself from Jon Dunn's Warbler book.
---Ajit Antony, Cornwall, NY

 

Vermont stream in October

 

 

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

Please share your birding news with us.

Any new migrants?

Waterfowl?

Hawks?

Warblers?

 

Al Merritt

chpmnkx@sover.net

SVAS   www.sevtaudubon.org