{BIRD NOTES} ~ June 17, 2015

Bird Notes

 

On May 28 my friend had this Great Egret visit her pond in Manchester Village.

She said it stayed for the picture but then flew off towards Dorset, Vermont.

---Barbara Powers, Manchester Center 

 

 

Great Egret © Kimet Hand

 

  Immature Pied-billed Grebe

 

Another baby that's fun to see is Pied Billed Grebes. They look like they

have prison garb on. I have seen them a few years ago at Dead Creek.
---Barbara Powers

 

 Black Vultures

 

A BLACK VULTURE was seen along the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on June

9th. There was another sighting of possibly the same bird in Walpole on the

10th. (These are file photos)

 

A male INDIGO BUNTING shows up in our willow bush frequently. 

It is believed to be nesting somewhere across the street near Ames Brook.

A pair of Catbirds are also nesting nearby. They love to bathe in our little

improvised bird bath, made from a tractor hubcap. We watched them taking

turns splashing and fluttering their wings and then come back for seconds.

We have never known Catbirds that loved to bathe as much as these two.

 

FIELD TRIP:

Discovering Lake Hitchcock ~ Monday June 22 @ 6p.m.

This geology field trip with Roger Haydock will examine the history of

the last 12,000 years in the West River Valley. We will look at evidence

of glacial Lake Hitchcock in abandoned river channels, terraces,and beach.

Meet at the Dummerston Covered Bridge on Rt. 30. (Rain date ~ June 23)

 

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} ~ June 2, 2015

Bird Notes

 

Connecticut River at Hinsdale

A CASPIAN TERN, a COMMON TERN, a BRANT, and 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on 5/20.

 

 

THE SVAS HINSDALE SETBACK FIELD TRIP # 5, MAY 23, 2015

This was the last trip of the Hinsdale setback series.   39 species were observed.
Migration was clearly over. No obvious transients were seen. Birds were in breeding mode with territorial singing, territorial disputes,courtship behavior, nest building and related activities. Oriole males were in full-throated splendor when not chasing off an intruding male or chasing after a female.

 

Highlight for me was the Bank Swallow. About 12 birds were involved in aerial courtship display and/or mate disputes. Close views were possible when the birds alit. (See photos)

---Chris Petrak, South Newfane, VT 

 

Here is the list in taxonomic order:    

25 Canada Goose

1 Mute Swan

1 Great Blue Heron

2 Osprey

1 Bald Eagle

1 Red-tailed Hawk

1 Mourning Dove

16 Chimney Swift

4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

2 Belted Kingfisher

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Peregrine Falcon (seen early by photographer)

2 Willow Flycatcher

1 Great Crested Flycatcher

8 Eastern Kingbird

10 Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo (Numerous)

12 Tree Swallow

2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow

12 Bank Swallow

4 Barn Swallow

3 Tufted Titmouse

4 Marsh Wren

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Common)

2 Wood Thrush

American Robin (Numerous)

Grey Catbird (Numerous)

1 Brown Thrasher

1 Black and White Warbler

Common Yellowthroat (Common)

10 American Redstart

Yellow Warbler (Common)

1 Chipping Sparrow

10 Song Sparrow

2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird (Numerous)

8 Common Grackle

12 Baltimore Oriole

5 American Goldfinch

 

Bank Swallow in flight (above) perched ( below) © Chris Petrak

 

 

I am just back from Brazil where there are so many great birds but

I don't have a bird book or a good enough camera. Can someoneID

the dark blue bird? The other might be a Green headed Tanager?

---Marj Wright                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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