Birdnotes

Sightings listed for the Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Saturday, April 23, 2016

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 23, 2016}

 

Bird Notes

 

 

I’m pretty sure we’ve got two Purple Finches at our feeder in West B.

---Kevin O’Keefe, West Brattleboro, VT

 

Endangered Species

 

Blanding’s Turtle © Dale Martin

 

This afternoon while driving to a photo location, I noticed a turtle

crossing the road. So I stopped to get it across the road and

noticed is was a Blanding’s Turtle! This North American turtle is

considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its

range, including here in Massachusetts. After moving it to a safe

location I spent the next hour photographing this very rare turtle. 

Please feel free to share.

---Dale Martin, MA  (Submitted by Paul & Mary Miller, Vernon, VT)


 

Bird list for FIRST HINSDALE SETBACK walk. 

55-60 degrees F., NW breeze,  Mostly clear.

 

Mallard                   1

Canada Goose         4

Bald Eagle               1

Osprey                    1

Peregrine falcon       1

“Sandpipers” (Sp?)   3

Belted kingfisher      2

Common flicker       1

Pileated woodpecker 1

Red-bellied woodpecker  1

Hairy woodpecker    3

Downy woodpecker  2

Tree swallow           >25

Blue jay                  6

Black-capped chickadee  8 (two excavating nest cavity in W. birch snag)

Brown thrasher        1 (nice singing)

Robin                      2

Blue-gray gnatcatcher 5

Warbling vireo         1

Yellow-rumped warbler 7

Red-winged blackbird >25

Common grackle      4

Brown-headed cowbird 1

Cardinal                   2

Song sparrow          8

Swamp sparrow       4

American goldfinch >25

 

27 species (vs. 38 last year on 4/26)

 

The big difference this year was fewer residents (P. finch, Titmouse, C. wren, M. dove, Crow, etc.) and a few early arrivals (E. phoebe, other swallows, R-crowned kinglet) that we did not see. There were 2 red-tails near the old Wal-Mart parking lot and 1 singing chipping sparrow there, too. Might have heard E. towhee on setbacks, but lots of traffic noise.  Y-rumped and Palm warbler numbers down from last year.  Are they mostly through or were we between surges?  Many more yellow-rumps seen on recent days.

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

 

 

Hildene Meadows & Marsh, Bennington, Vermont, (April 17, 2016)

  1. Canada Goose  15    
  2. Turkey Vulture  6    
  3. Broad-winged Hawk  1    
  4. Virginia Rail  3    
  5. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1    
  6. American Kestrel  2    
  7. Eastern Phoebe  2    
  8. Blue Jay  1
  9. American Crow  4
  10. Common Raven  1    
  11. Black-capped Chickadee  2
  12. Tufted Titmouse  1
  13. White-breasted Nuthatch  1
  14. American Robin  10
  15. Chipping Sparrow  2
  16. Dark-eyed Junco  6
  17. Song Sparrow  12
  18. Swamp Sparrow  2    
  19. Northern Cardinal  2    
  20. Red-winged Blackbird  26    

---Ruth Stewart, E. Dorset, VT

 

 

Hinsdale Setback (4/22)

  1. Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
  2. Palm Warbler 8
  3. Red-wing Blackbird
  4. Goldfinch 6
  5. Northern Flicker 2
  6. Cardinal
  7. B-C Chickadee (several)
  8. Downy Woodpecker
  9. Canada Geese 2

 

 

Chipmunk Crossing, West B.

  1. B-C Chickadee (several)
  2. Tufted Titmouse 2
  3. Phoebe 2
  4. Goldfinch 5
  5. Slate-colored Junco 2
  6. Mourning Dove 2
  7. Blue Jay 4
  8. White-breasted Nuthatch
  9. Cardinal (m&f)
  10. Chipping Sparrow

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker

We watched a Pileated attack a tree on Gibson Rd. . . And observed many elongated feeding holes in dead trees around the Brattleboro area. Quite frequently there is a flyover at the Price Chopper parking lot.

 

 

North Pond, Marlboro

There were many Yellow-rumped Warblers acting like flycatchers in the over-hanging brush at the dam.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Thursday, April 21, 2016

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 21, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

 

Don’t forget the Spring Bird Walks start this Saturday!

SPRING BIRD WALKS

5 SATURDAYS

APRIL 23,& 30 and MAY 7, 14, & 21

Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the former Walmart parking area off Rt. 119 and proceed to the parking area near the Hinsdale causeway.

We will walk along the Fort Hill Rail Trail, which is flat and accessible for walkers of all capabilities.

Join this Citizen Science adventure as we follow the arrival and passage of birds on their Spring migration

 

Yellow Bird (4/17)

This morning I was in the house with the side door open and heard this loud beautiful song coming through the door. I love to identify the songs so went over to look out to see but it must have been on the side and couldn't see, but it kept singing then flew down back but still singing on its way. I thought it was a warbler sound and when I checked it out I believe it was a yellow warbler has anyone else seen one? I can't remember if this is too early but there is always those who break the rules. I'll keep an ear out for him.  Happy birding.      

---Judy Farley, Vernon

**Hi Judy, It is not only possible it is probable and I think you are right about it breaking the rules.

 

 

White-throated Sparrow here a couple of days early (for LEW…Land of Eternal Winter).  No big deal.  But his yellow lores occupied almost half of his head.  He was a beaut!  I love being stuck in the “right” part of an omega block.  Happy sun!

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

 

 

A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was reported from Hinsdale on the 18th.

---New Hampshire RBA

 

 

Firsts for me this evening, (4/13) were a Snipe in the southeast corner of the Marina fields in Brattleboro, a Savannah Sparrow on the edge of the same field a little further north and an Osprey gliding east along Rt. 9, probably headed for the CT River

---Pieter van Loon, Marlboro, VT

 

 

FOY singing Louisiana Waterthrush on Henwood Hill Rd (just up the hill from Allen's Marsh) in Westminster this morning. (4/17)

---JoAnne Russo, Saxtons River, 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

 

Friday, April 15, 2016

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 15, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

 

“Gray Ghost”

A male northern harrier sailed thru, right in front of the house.  Yesterday, 4/12.

White-throated Sparrow here a couple of days early (for LEW . . . Land of Eternal Winter).  No big deal.  But, his yellow lores occupied almost half of his head.  He was a beaut!  I love being stuck in the “right” part of an omega block.  Happy sun!

---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

 

Northern Goshawk

A Goshawk exploded through the pussy willow branches of our willow in pursuit of a Morning Dove. We watched in amazement from our dining room windows. The dove was much to fast for his pursuer and managed to out-maneuver the largest of our accipiters. The Gos clung to one of the larger branches while the dove escaped through the nearby white pine. Then he too made his exit. What an enormous bird he was, seeing it that close.

          Today (4/15) we heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drumming its recognizable ratta-tat-tat on one of our many maple trees. They know when the sap is running. It attracts insects to the dripping sap.

---Al & Barb @ Chipmunk Crossing, W. Brat.

 

Monthly Bird Survey by Hildene Group

Sat. Apri 23, will be the second of 2 surveys this month at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester.  .  

NOTE:  The group will meet at 7 a.m.  Come join us!

           I spied a few Tree Swallows today during a drive by Tomhannock Reservoir - Rte. 7 to Troy, NY.  They're coming!
---Ruth Stewart,E. Dorset, VT

 

 

 

P  R  O  G  R  A  M

RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANTS

IN DUMMERSTON

 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

 

John Anderson has continued his ramblings around Dummerston to compile a comprehensiveinventory of the wildflowersin the town. In doing so he has identified a surprising number of rare and endangered species. His pictorial presentation will highlight these finds.

 

7 p.m. in the community room of Brooks Library

The presentation is FREE and open to the public

 

 

+++++++++++++++

 

 

SPRING BIRD WALKS

5 SATURDAYS

APRIL 23,& 30 and MAY 7, 14, & 21

Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the former Walmart parking area off Rt. 142 and proceed to the parking area near the Hinsdale causeway.

We will walk along the Fort Hill Rail Trail, which is flat and accessible for walkers of all capabilities.

Join this Citizen Science adventure as we follow the arrival and passage of birds on their Spring migration

 

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

 

Monday, April 11, 2016

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 11, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

Al, This Yellow-headed Blackbird showed up at a house in Grafton on 3/25 and was gone the next day. ---Don Clark

 

A Black Vulture, consorting with a more typical TV, just south of Putney above Rt. 5.  Yesterday, 3/31. 
---Bob Engel, Marlboro, VT

 

There was a Great Blue Heron flying along Neringa's pond as I came home for lunch today! (4/1)

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

 

Hi Al!  The Phoebe has returned to our yard in Putney.  Took a day for it's call to get the full "phoebe" enunciation. (4/1) 

---Tom Prunier

 

Hinsdale Set-back 4/8

2 Phoebes

PALM WARBLER

11 Canada Geese

Robin

PEREGRINE FALCON

NORTHERN FLICKER

 

A Note from Maggie

I am living near my son, Michael, here on the shore of the SF East Bay.

It is full of black scoters, different kinds of seagulls, and a variety of

Ducks.  I just bought the Audubon book of western US birds, 

---Maggie Newton, formerly of W. Bratt.

 

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

 

Friday, April 01, 2016

{BIRD NOTES ~ April 01, 2016}

Bird Notes

 

We have had some stopover pond visits from a couple of wood duck and hooded

mergansers. Also some bluebirds and, this week, a small flock of cedar waxwings

working on the high bush cranberry berries. We don't know why they are still on

the bushes as they usually are gone along with the winterberries much earlier in

the year. Must be these weird winters we are having now!

---Barbara Evans, Dummerston, VT

 

A gorgeous Painted Bunting has been seen by many observers in Pittsfield, VT.

 

Photo by Don Clark

 

CT River Waterfowl

On the 26th 3 BLACK SCOTERS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale.

---New Hampshire RBA

 

West Brattleboro

A lone Fox Sparrow, in gorgeous reddish-brown garb, stopped by at our ground

feeding station for a short visit again today. It only stays long enough for a

brief repast and then hurries on the way to the breeding grounds.

 

Birds Sightings in Marlboro

I saw 2 Pileated Woodpeckers working a tree while having Easter brunch with

our Marlboro neighbors.  When I went into their livingroom to get a different

view of them, the closest tree had both a Red-breaasted Nuthatch & a Brown

Creeper on it!  Even better than seeing the Easter bunny!!  Happy Spring!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

 

Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz 2016

Welcome to Year 3 of the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz!

Although scientists have made huge strides in understanding Rusty Blackbirds

on their breeding and wintering grounds – partly thanks to the original

Rusty Blackbird Winter Blitz  – we know surprisingly little about the migratory

requirements and habits of this species. Are there hot spots where many

individuals congregate during migration?  Are similar migratory stopover areas

used by Rusties each year?  Are stopover areas protected, or might availability

of these areas be limiting Rusty Blackbird survival?

 

To address these questions, the International Rusty Blackbird Working

Group, in partnership with eBird, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and

the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, launched a Spring Migration Blitz in

March 2014.  This Blitz challenges birders to seek out the elusive Rusty

Blackbird throughout its migratory range, from the southern United States,

through the Midwest and along the East Coast, and up into Canada. During

our 2014 inaugural season, 4570 birders submitted 13,400 checklists

reporting Rusty Blackbirds to eBird. The 2015 Blitz built on this impressive

beginning, with 4885 birders submitting 13,919 checklists.  Our third and

final Spring Migration Blitz will kick off on March 1, and we once again

challenge birders to search high and low for Rusty Blackbirds. In addition

to reporting Rusties throughout each state or province, this year we urge

birders to revisit 2016 Areas of Interest, locations that supported large

flocks of Rusties in 2014 and 2015. By exploring areas that supported

large numbers of Rusties last spring, we will be able to evaluate the

consistency of habitat use and migratory timing throughout the Rusties’

migratory habitat.

 

We encourage all experienced birders to participate in the Blitz; submit

your Rusty sightings to eBird!

 

First Roadside Spring Flowers

Have you noticed that the Colt’s Foot is blooming along the roadsides of

the dirt roads around the county. A tough little species that looks like a

dandelion and will grow in the worst soil conditions imaginable.

 

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