Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} August 22, 2014

Bird Notes

Each year at this time the Nighthawks are in full migration mode with big numbers being seen flying south over the Connecticut River. See Don Clark’s report below from their vantage point at Westminster Station.

Westminster Station Nighthawk Count

8/17--Slow this evening with only 2 Nighthawks passing by late. Lots of Chimney Swifts though.

8/18--Only eight birds this evening. Flybys included Gt Blue Heron, Gt Egret, 2 Merlins, 2 Redtails, 2 Herring Gulls

8/19--A warm evening and a big flying ant hatch set off the first big flight of the season with 389 birds in 2¾ hours. The largest group had 100 birds.

8/20--Another great night after a slow start. Total for the evening was 504 with two large groups of 138 (6:35) & 168 (7:50). The latter boiling up over the trees and passing overhead for the grand finale. Good numbers of swallows (barn & tree) but very few swifts tonight. The resident Merlin made an appearance & a juv. Bald Eagle made a few passes.
---Don Clark, Grafton, VT

Hildene Walk, Manchester, VT (40 Species)

Yesterday's walk at Hildene, in many ways matched Ian's earlier report in that anywhere there was a shrub wall that had been warmed up, the birding activity increased exponentially, with many mixed flocks hunting bugs as they began to move. Very entertaining day, with some great views of a just-beginning-to-molt male Scarlet Tanager, with his female close by, a newly minted, fall confusing, absolutely gorgeous Chestnut-sided Warbler, and quite the raptor activity, including 2 Broad-winged hawks, kettling together in what looked like a fairly decent practice go at fall migration. Also Eastern Kingbirds in good numbers around the house. Also had a very nice fly-by by a Great Spangled Fritillary.

Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

Broad-winged Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 3
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 8
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Barn Swallow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 9
Eastern Bluebird 6
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 21
Common Yellowthroat 8
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 9