{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