{BIRD NOTES} ~ April 30, 2015

Bird Notes         Spring Bird Walks:   May 2 , May 9, May 16, May 23 Experience the spring migration with Southern Vermont Audubon Society on five consecutive Saturdays. We’ll meet at 7:30 am in the former Walmart Parking lot off Rt. 119 and proceed from there to the Parking lot near the Hinsdale Causeway. We will walk along the Fort Hill Rail Trail, which is flat and accessible for walkers of all capabilities.  We should see spring migrating birds and nesting Eagles, Ospreys, and possibly Peregrine Falcons.       A Black Vulture soared above the fields at The Putney School today. The feeding station in back of Reynolds is swarmed with Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Goldfinches, and today a pair of Evening Grosbeaks. ---David Moon, Putney, VT   An estimated 800 SWALLOWS consisting mainly of TREE SWALLOWS was seen at the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on April 21st.      The SVAS Hinsdale Setback Field Trip #1 Well, we had about two hours of fun out there.  April, 25, Light breeze, clear and sunny, easy walking (just saying’).  About 45 degrees.  Here’s about what we saw.  38 spp. (See below) ---Bob Engle, Marlboro, VT   1 Common Loon                      10+/-- Canada Geese              25 Common Merganser     1 Mallard                                1 “Accipiter” species                  1 Red-tailed Hawk           1 Red-shouldered Hawk   1 Peregrine Falcon          2 Osprey                                 2 Bald Eagle                   1 Great Blue Heron         2 Mourning Dove            2 Belted Kingfisher          1 Common Flicker           2 Downy Woodpecker    3 Eastern Phoebe            2 Rough-winged Swallows 1 Barn Swallow                       25 Tree Swallows                        4 Blue Jay                               1 Crow             1 Tufted Titmouse           1 Carolina Wren                      4 Robin                          1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1 Black and White Warbler       25 Yellow-rumped Warbler        25 Palm Warbler                       25 Red-winged Blackbird          4 Common Grackle                  2 Cardinal                               1 Purple Finch                         2 American Goldfinch               1 White-throated Sparrow        1 Chipping Sparrow                 1 Swamp Sparrow                   5 Song Sparrows                            Total Species: 38   alt="Live the Green Up Way - Every Day!" class=flex title="http://mysurl.us/j3e7yj">       PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us so we can all enjoy reading about your birds and birding experiences.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 22, 2015}

Bird Notes

                             

 

I drove to the Miller Farm this afternoon (4/21) to check out the river from the overlook. There was nothing but a few Canada Geese in the river. But, the Osprey was sitting in the nest atop the electric tower and the Peregrine Falcon was seen circling the smoke stack at Vermont Yankee.

 

 

OSPREY

                                                

Good morning!  (4/22) Just had an evening grosbeak come to the feeder that's suctioned to the window of Paul's second floor office.  First I've seen here in several years! Looking out I can also see Red & White-breasted Nuthatches, Purple Finches, Chickadees, Juncos, and Pine Siskins.  What a treat to be home during the day & have the opportunity to observe this activity!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

             

A CASPIAN TERN was reported at Turners Falls on (4/21)

 

Hi, there.  We just got back from a walk in Hinsdale (4/19) and spotted numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers and a pair of Palm Warblers, along with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  The birding only got better when the Bald Eagle flew over and then plummeted into the water to catch a fish, which he enjoyed while sitting on a log across the way!  

---Mary Anne Deer

 

Had a nice late afternoon walk around the fields by the Marina in Brattleboro (4/14).  Many Palm Warblers, and tons of sparrows including Savannah, Song, Swamp, Chipping, and Field. Also a second year Bald Eagle and a young Peregrine that had me confused for a bit because it was so brown.
---Pieter van Loon, Marlboro, VT

 

Seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on April 14th

2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS

5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS

1 GREATER SCAUP

13 LESSER SCAUP

2 COMMON LOONS

5 BONAPARTES GULLS

2 RED-NECKED GREBES

.---NH bird report

 

EARTH DAY

April 22, 2015

 

PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us so we can all enjoy reading about your birds and birding experiences.

 

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

Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net

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

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 16, 2015}

Bird Notes

 

 

 

 

Retreat Meadows

We stopped by the Retreat Meadow parking area atop the hill overlooking the partially iced water and scoped an immature Bald Eagle standing on the ice feasting on a large dead fish mostly eaten at that time. A second eagle showed up. This one a mature bird that circled high above the feeding bird. Then with an adjustment of the wings swooped down and buzzed the bird on the ice. The immature eagle ducked low but continued feeding and eventually finished off the carcass while the mature bird landed on the ice nearby and watched. Six Turkey Vultures arrived shortly and soared back and forth in hopes of getting some leftover entrails, but they left disappointed.

 

 

Sightings in Wilmington

In the new beaver meadow a REDHEAD DUCK was swimming around Monday. There are a few Mallard Ducks and a Belted Kingfisher The overwinter Cardinal still here but the female is gone and as of 4/7 we still have  Redpolls and Goldfinches,   A Song Sparrow is singing, four or five Mourning Doves are regulars and there is a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos . Always seem to have the usual contingent of both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers and Red and White Breasted Nuthatches and plenty of Blue Jays and Chickadees.  A Barred-Owl sat for some time near the house, four grackles. the first Fox Sparrow and White- Throated Sparrows appeared today 4/14.

 Three big flocks of Canada Geese flew over and a group of Wild Turkeys sauntered through the yard

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

 

Hinsdale bluffs by Vernon Dam, Cheshire, US-NH
Apr 3, 2015 1:30 PM - 4:50 PM
I did have a wonderful afternoon along the Hinsdale rail trail and bluffs.  There were birds everywhere - way too many to accurately count.  Any open water was full of birds, including thousands of Canadas!  I am forwarding my ebird list to you, but I would add that many of the species were undoubtedly undercounted.  Also, I heard a Chipping Sparrow, but did not include it on my list because I could not see it. Happy spring!
---Nori Howe, West Brattleboro, VT

Comments:

Followed rail trail south from lower fishing access to bluffs by dam. Ducks and geese present in large numbers in any open water above dam. Numbers probably undercounted.
35 species:

 

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 1
Wood Duck 42
American Black Duck 18
Mallard 26
Northern Shoveler 2
Northern Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal 14
Ring-necked Duck X
Bufflehead 3
Common Goldeneye 5
Hooded Merganser 9
Common Merganser 13
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 3
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
American Kestrel 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
American Robin 30
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 24
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1

 

 

Accipiter Dinner Guest

We had a bit of excitement right outside our living room, this afternoon (April 15). A friend who’s staying with us saw a smallish Accipiter swoop down and absolutely nail a male Cowbird. The raptor then took its kill and stood on the ground on the edge of our field of view, starting to pluck the Cowbird. We got quite a look, and the unanimous opinion was that it was a Cooper’s Hawk rather than a Sharpie. In any event, we approved of its taste in feeder birds.   Cheers,
---Ned Pokras and Meg Kluge, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

 

West B. Foxy

We’ve had a Fox Sparrow around today, singing from a lilac bush this morning (4/8) and foraging on the ground this afternoon.
---Ned Pokras, West Brattleboro, VT.

 

 

Foreign Visitor at Hinsdale Setback

We got a phone call from Dave Johnson informing us of a Eurasian Wigeon being seen near the setback in Hinsdale. Barb was heading out for a doctor’s appointment so I dropped her off and drove to the spot. Ring-necked ducks were prevalent. Just too many to count. But picked out a small group of American Wigeon and carefully checked each one. No Eurasian. I spent many minutes scoping before finally spotting it standing and preening on the ice off the far shore. It had an unmistakable rufous head in comparison to the gray heads of the American nearby. I returned with Barb that late afternoon but no luck.

 

Glossy Ibis

The Ice has Melted and Migrants are Arriving

Late yesterday afternoon we swung by the Retreat Meadows to the driveway of the water treatment plant. Upon scoping the water past the field to the right we counted 5 pairs of Mallards and a pair of Wood Ducks along with good numbers of Canada Geese. But,there were other very dark birds feeding in the grass nearby. Out came the scope. They were GLOSSY IBIS, nine of them.  Gorgeous birds in the late afternoon sun that reflected different colors of the spectrum.  The high water inside the fence at the plant gave us good looks at several pair of Wood Ducks. The males were sooo handsome and one pair of Green-wing Teal walked the shoreline. When we looked up there was a mature Bald Eagle flying over and a Red-tailed Hawk flapping by over route 30.

               Here at home we have a few new additions to our feeder bird list:

Fox Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Tufted Titmouse

Phoebe

 

 

PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us so we can all enjoy reading about your birds and birding experiences.

 

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

Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net

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

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org

 

 

 

 

{BIRD NOTES ~ April, 07, 2015}

Bird Notes

 

A stop at the Marina cornfield this afternoon was very productive. While checking for sparrows along the eastern edge I came up with 8 Song Sparrows in one bush. BUT! The bird of the day, maybe of the spring, was a handsome male NORTHERN HARRIER tipping back and forth over the south end of the cornfield before flying low over the rail trail and out of sight to the west.

---Al

 

 

As of Monday I have Red-winged Black Birds at my Feeder (9) and singing in the trees.  Also two Common Grackles feeding with them.

Somebody must think spring is coming!

---Marshall Wheelock, Brattleboro

 

Heard and saw my first of year Broad-winged Hawk today (3/22).  They are back!! Heard and saw my first of year broad winged hawk today.  They are back!!

---Diana Lee, Westminster, VT

 

Bev Burkett and I watched and counted 11 mallards, 2 American Black Ducks, and 8 Common Mergansers on the Connecticut River under the pedestrian walkway over the Connecticut River at just east of the round about at Exit 3 off 91. 

---Connie Woodberry

 

I've been throwing birdseed off the back porch steps all winter and have had a horde of gray squirrels, deer, and birds--a pair of cardinals, a couple of hen turkeys, and blue jays. I also hang suet on the pulley clothesline, and the woodpeckers have been after it all winter--I can never remember the difference between the Downy and Hairy woodpeckers.    But, Spring MUST be coming, because I hear crows which don't overwinter here, and today I saw chipmunks eating the birdseed, and I never see them during the winter either. Can't count on the weather reports, but seeing certain animals at this time of the year seems to be more accurate to my way of thinking.

---Susan Herbert, Dummerston, VT

 

Great blue heron yesterday (3/31) on the Green River Road beaver dam and Mr and Mrs Merganser were on the river today.

---Carol Schnabel, Guilford, VT

 

We saw our first of the season Killdeer yesterday (4/5) along the Connecticut River near the Brat. water treatment plant off of Rt.142. Peck Road produced 2 Phoebes, a Bluebird, and a Red-tailed Hawk. A male Cardinal and a small group of Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were feeding streamside along Blodgett Road. Otherwise it was just a beautiful sun shiny day without much action.

---Barb Merritt, Brattleboro, VT

Be aware that the Woodcock are “peenting” and flying!

 

 

PLEASE share your birding news and photos with us so we can all enjoy reading about your birds and birding experiences.

Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net

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

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org