{BIRD NOTES ~ May 02, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

© Chris Rimmer                                              

 

Sandhill Cranes in Windsor, Vermont

Several birders were lucky enough to see 3 Sandhill Cranes (2 adults and a
yearling) that stopped over on the Windsor Correctional Facility property
this morning. I chanced upon them in an open hillside field along Marton
Road, where they were foraging ~75 yards away. Over the next 35-40 minutes,
a few other birders assembled, as the birds moved steadily away from the
road. They bugled several times - an impressive and unlikely sound in VT -
then lifted off in unison, headed northward in a straight line, bugling as
they went, and disappeared. Canada beckoned.  I managed to digiscope

a few photos.

---Chris Rimmer (VTBIRD)

 

 

Herricks Cove, Bellows Falls

This a.m. April 24. Two Great Egrets, Eastern Kingbird and Green Heron.

---Joanne Russo

 

 

More on Bears

Thanks for the note Al - We have someone in our neighborhood who still doesn't

get the message.  It dragged their whole feed barrel into the woods last weekend. 

The bear checks out our compost bin after it knocks over their feeder.  Our bin

is very resistant to bear intrusion with a locking lid.  All the bear can do is roll it

around til it gets bored with it.  Got to talk with our neighbor again. 

---Tom Prunier

 

 

Busy spring along the Rock River, helped by having our feeders

out during the day (in at night.)

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker, pair

Hairy Woodpecker, pair

Downy Woodpecker, 2 pair

Northern Cardinal, pair, with occasional intrusion by second male

American Goldfinch, 20-30

Purple Finch, pair

Black-capped Chickadee, 2 pair

Tufted Titmouse, pair

EVENING GROSBEAK, 3-4 pair

European Starling, 2 pair

American Crow, probably pair plus helper

Song Sparrow, 2 pair

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

 

Indefinite numbers of:

Mourning Dove

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Blue Jay

House Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Robin

Tree Swallow

Rock Pigeon

 

Along the river:

Common Merganser

Belted Kingfisher

 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, arrived Friday

---Chris Petrak, S. Newfane VT

 

 

Retreat Meadows (5/2)

This morning there were 5 COMMON TERNS sitting on the sandbar off Spring

Tree Road. They were later seen flying back and forth over the main body of water. 

A mature Bald Eagle sat high in a tree on the island near the osprey platform. 

At the Marina docks a mother Canada Goose watched over her 8 goslings taking a swim.. In the

brush off Springtree road we spotted our first of the year Catbird.

---Al & Barb, West B. VT

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/27 & 4/28 at Phyllis’ Marsh

A couple of very exciting days at the marsh and surrounding area:  flushed an

American Bittern both days, but on the second followed him to a second smaller

pond where he stood among the reeds.  I was watching two male Wood Ducks vying

for the attention of one female--never would have seen the Bittern if it wasn't for

them. Also had an Eastern Towhee beneath the bird feeders and in and around the

marsh the following:  at least 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Pileated, 2 Northern

Flickers, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, pair of geese, the female clearly visible on

her nest with male protecting her, FirstOfYear Hermit Thrush on the wooded side

of the marsh, 2 bluebirds on the edge of the field, 1 Marsh Wren clearly

identified from our recent instruction on the Hinsdale bird walk, and 3 tree

swallows.  All that in addition to the usual suspects around the feeders made for a

good few days.  ---Phyllis Benay

 

 

 

 

 

  Bring in Your Feeders at Night © P.Benay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                             

 

 

 

 Rufous-sided Towhee © P.Benay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Bittern © P.Benay

 

 

 

 

Second Setback Walk (4/30). 

Clouds became sun.  55 degrees.  No wind.

 

Canada Goose                   3

Mallard                            2

Red-tailed hawk               1

Osprey                             1

Great blue heron              2

Belted kingfisher             1

Red-bellied woodpecker   1

Hairy woodpecker            1

Downey woodpecker         1

Tree swallows                  >25

Blue Jay                           >25

Black-capped chickadee   4

Tufted titmouse               1

Marsh wren                      1

Robin                               5

Blue-gray gnatcatcher      2

Warbling vireo                 2

Black and White warbler  3

Yellow warbler                 2

Palm warbler                    1

Yellow-rumped warbler    >25

Yellowthroat                    1

Red-winged blackbird      >25

Common Grackle               10

House sparrow                 1

Cardinal                            2

American goldfinch          10+

Eastern towhee                1

White-throated sparrow  10+

Song sparrow                   11

Swamp sparrow                1

Dark-eyed junco               1

 

Total:32 species

 

What is becoming clear with some species like Yellow-rumped and Palm warbler

(some populations of both winter in the U.S.) is that within the two to three-week

migratory surge of the species as a whole, mini-surges also occur.  Some days

are quiet; some days are full of that species. Next week should add several new neotropicals.

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT         =

 

 

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