{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.

 

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Al Merritt  chpmnkx@sover.net

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Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society:   www.sevtaudubon.org