Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Vermont Birds > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, February 3 at 10:42 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Shoebill,©Tony Disley

3 Feb snow buntings [Sally and Terry ] 3 Feb Bohemian Waxwings and White-winged Crossbills ... Ripton ["Ian A. Worley" ] 3 Feb Lake Champlain. Ice margin to Button Bay ["Ian A. Worley" ] 3 Feb West Haven and Benson, towns in Rutland County [Roy Pilcher ] 3 Feb Bohemian Waxwings in Duxbury [Eric Hynes ] 3 Feb NEK Report: Moose Bog, W.W. Crossbills, Boreal chickadee [Thomas Berriman ] 3 Feb Better Birding Continues Monday (and Snow Buntings in Plainfield) [Bryan Pfeiffer ] 3 Feb VT eBird recognized [Kent McFarland ] 3 Feb South Burlington wren and bluebird [UVM ] 2 Feb Bald Eagles [eve ticknor ] 2 Feb American Coot & Hooded Mergansers [Jo Ann ] 2 Feb Strange and wonderful sightings [Robert Dudley ] 2 Feb Catbird [Elizabeth Alton ] 2 Feb E. Screech-Owl in South Burlington [Eric Hynes ] 2 Feb Re: shrike at North Branch Nature Center [Scott Sainsbury ] 2 Feb shrike at North Branch Nature Center [Chip Darmstadt ] 2 Feb Eagle bird bath [cynthia crawford ] 2 Feb Uganda birds & gorillas [Ruth Stewart ] 2 Feb RW Blackbird and many Goldfinches [Barbara Brosnan ] 2 Feb albino RT Hummingbird [Walter Medwid ] 2 Feb Short-eared Owls [MARIE HEMEON ] 2 Feb Possible Snowy Owl north of Middlbury ["Ian A. Worley" ] 1 Feb seal, not bird [Ruth Stewart ] 1 Feb Fwd: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings [Charles Gangas ] 1 Feb Re: Robbins and Waxwings [Charles Gangas ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [Jane Stein ] 1 Feb Great Horned Owl [Ruth Stewart ] 1 Feb Re: Robbins and Waxwings [Richard Enser ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [david merker ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [Jane Stein ] 1 Feb Robbins and Waxwings [Kent McFarland ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [Scott Sainsbury ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [Karan Cutler ] 1 Feb Re: Snowy owls .... [david merker ] 1 Feb Snowy owls .... ["Ian A. Worley" ] 31 Jan Robins at Sugarbush Ski Area [Rob Spring ] 31 Jan Northwood Park, Rutland Town - Jan 31 [Susan Elliott ] 31 Jan NEK Waxwings [Thomas Berriman ] 31 Jan Re: Robins and Snow [John Snell ] 31 Jan Re: Large Flocks American Robins [Richard Harlow ] 31 Jan Robins and Snow [b flewelling ] 31 Jan Re: Robbins and Waxwings ["Nancy A. Brown" ] 31 Jan Re: Robbins and Waxwings [Noel Dodge ] 31 Jan Re: Robbins and Waxwings [Bridget Butler ] 31 Jan Robbins and Waxwings [Charles Gangas ] 31 Jan Large Flocks American Robins [Bridget Butler ] 30 Jan Long Point, Canvasback, Redhead and American Coot [Roy Pilcher ] 30 Jan Shelburne Bay Eagles [Nancy Goodrich ] 30 Jan Re: pileated in Montpelier [Kay Johnson ] 30 Jan Kingfisher in Warren [Graham Bates ] 30 Jan Volunteer birders needed for monitoring project [Steve Faccio ] 30 Jan European Starlings and Robins [Linda Lunna ] 30 Jan Shrike, Snow Buntings in Berlin [Larry Clarfeld ] 30 Jan fun [Scott Sainsbury ] 29 Jan Re: In Concord, a goose from Greenland may be a sign of global warming [Jane Stein ] 29 Jan Mad River Glen Robins [Patti Haynes ] 29 Jan In Concord, a goose from Greenland may be a sign of global warming [Bruce MacPherson ] 29 Jan Fw: eBird Report - LAKE PARAN-Bennington (40 acres), Jan 29, 2012 [MARIE HEMEON ] 29 Jan Fort Cassin Rd - Eagles, Gadwall [Keri Charles ] 29 Jan Varied Thrush update [Patti Haynes ] 29 Jan Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) [Jane Stein ] 29 Jan Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) [Richard Guthrie ] 29 Jan Rough leggeds [MARIE HEMEON ] 29 Jan Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) [Priscilla Douglas ] 29 Jan Bald Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk, Pittsford - Jan 29 [Susan Elliott ] 29 Jan Re: ... and banded birds [David Hoag ] 29 Jan Yesterday's highlights and banded birds [Eric Hynes ] 29 Jan RW Blackbird at feeder [Barbara Brosnan ] 29 Jan Bennington Co [MARIE HEMEON ] 29 Jan Re: Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. [Jane Stein ] 29 Jan Ft. Cassin [Larry and Mona Rogers ] 28 Jan Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. [David Hoag ] 28 Jan Mercury in birds [Jane Stein ] 28 Jan pileated in Montpelier [Tom Slayton ] 28 Jan Snow Buntings Shaftsbury [Anne Hunter and Andrew Knafel ] 28 Jan Arlington Kingfisher [MARIE HEMEON ] Subject: snow buntings From: Sally and Terry <towanda2 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:32:48 -0500 In Richmond , in the corn fields close to the Winooski ,on the right as you head out of town towards Hinesburg, there was a flurry of at least 1000 snow buntings, murmurizing and falling down like flakes of snow into the field,and then blown back up into the air to be sucked back down to the ground again. When do they have time to eat in order to maintain such a hectic schedule? The Farr farm folks were just as agog as I was ,watching this mezmerizing scene and had been watching them all day. Sally Fellows Williston Subject: Bohemian Waxwings and White-winged Crossbills ... Ripton From: "Ian A. Worley" <iworley AT UVM.EDU> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:48:40 -0500 This morning Ron Payne and I were on a quest in Ripton to find Bohemian Waxwings and White-winged Crossbills. Thanks to Ron's eagle eye in noticing some bird activity in a tall pine at the edge of a clearing, the first birds of the day we saw were the two species together flitting about. Ian ============ North Branch Road, Ripton, Addison, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 10:28 AM - 10:48 AM Protocol: Traveling 5.0 mile(s) Comments: Ron Payne, Ian Worley 6 species Blue Jay 2 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Bohemian Waxwing 54 White-winged Crossbill 2 Pine Siskin 1 American Goldfinch 2 Subject: Lake Champlain. Ice margin to Button Bay From: "Ian A. Worley" <iworley AT UVM.EDU> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:40:20 -0500 Ron Payne and I tallied birds on Lake Champlain from the edge of ice (just south of Tri-Town Water facility) to Button Bay today. Many Scaup and Goldeneyes were at the southern end of open water; many Mallards and Canada Geese at Button Bay. Highlights were an adult male American Wigeon at Arnold Bay, and a pair of Long-tailed Ducks plus 16 Ring-necked Ducks at Tri-Town. Four Common Loons and one Horned Grebe were also seen. While traveling in that part of western Addison County we saw 7 Red-tailed Hawks to add to the 3 that were my house in Cornwall earlier in the day. We saw only one Rough-legged Hawk. Complete lists are below. Ian ------------------------ Tri-Town Water District Plant, Addison, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 12:26 PM - 1:39 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Ron Payne, Ian Worley 16 species American Black Duck 11 Mallard 6 Ring-necked Duck 16 Greater Scaup 423 Total Scaup careful count by clicker was 846. Lesser/Greater ratio estimated at 50/50. Lesser Scaup 423 Total Scaup careful count by clicker was 846. Lesser/Greater ratio estimated at 50/50. Long-tailed Duck 2 Common Goldeneye 629 Careful county by clicker Common Merganser 13 Horned Grebe 1 Ring-billed Gull 3 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Mourning Dove 12 Downy Woodpecker 1 American Crow 4 Northern Cardinal 1 American Goldfinch 2 ================================= Staton Drive, Addison, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 1:44 PM - 2:10 PM Protocol: Traveling 0.3 mile(s) Comments: Ron Payne, Ian Worley 16 species Mallard 16 Hooded Merganser 3 Common Merganser 81 Common Loon 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Great Black-backed Gull 2 Mourning Dove 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 3 American Robin 9 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 4 American Goldfinch 4 ============================ Arnold Bay, Addison, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 2:19 PM - 2:41 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Ron Payne, Ian Worley 6 species American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 19 Mallard 62 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 12 American Crow 2 =============================== Button Bay State Park, Addison, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 2:56 PM - 3:28 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Ron Payne, Ian Worley 10 species Canada Goose 450 Difficult to estimate numbers. Lots of skeins moving about; some birds hidden by islands. American Black Duck 58 careful count by clicker Mallard 404 careful count by clicker Common Goldeneye 46 Common Merganser 35 Common Loon 2 Bald Eagle 2 Ring-billed Gull 9 Herring Gull 14 Great Black-backed Gull Subject: West Haven and Benson, towns in Rutland County From: Roy Pilcher <ShamwariVT AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 20:20:33 -0500 I birded the above two Rutland County towns this morning. Temperature hovered around 18 degrees F with no snow on the ground. Birds of interest included a male Northern Harrier, 2 American Kestrel, a Northern Flicker, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, 11 Eastern Bluebird in three groups, 2 American Tree Sparrow, 2 male Red-winged Blackbird and a small flock of 5 Pine Siskin. Cheers, Roy Pilcher The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland, Vermont Speaking the same language. Subject: Bohemian Waxwings in Duxbury From: Eric Hynes <erichynes28 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:23:52 -0500 Hello Vermont Birders: I was driving through Duxbury (from Waterbury toward Waitsfield) along Route 100 this afternoon and lucked into a mixed flock of frugivores attacking some crab apple trees at #2928. It is NOT a safe place to pull over but I noticed most of the ~75 birds were Bohemian Waxwings. There were a few Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, and European Starlings mixed in. Cheers, Eric Hynes South Burlington Subject: NEK Report: Moose Bog, W.W. Crossbills, Boreal chickadee From: Thomas Berriman <blackpoll AT MYFAIRPOINT.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:15:46 -0500 I didn't have to go any further than the parking lot at South America Pond Rd, Moose Bog this morning as all of the following birds were seen or heard standing by my vehicle. I walked out to rte. 105 for better views of Crossbills, Gray Jays and Sisikins but never even walked down the Moose Bog Trail. Thses birds are anxious for some visitors. Get on up there while the snow level is a foot or less. Moose Bog, Wenlock WMA, Ferdinand, Essex, US-VT Feb 3, 2012 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) 13 species Hairy Woodpecker 1 Black-backed Woodpecker 1 Gray Jay 3 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Boreal Chickadee 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 White-winged Crossbill 7 Pine Siskin 35 Subject: Better Birding Continues Monday (and Snow Buntings in Plainfield) From: Bryan Pfeiffer <Bryan AT VERMONTBIRDTOURS.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:04:15 -0500 Greetings, VTBIRDers: My Better Birding Lecture Series continues on Monday in Montpelier with a session on Tools and Toys for Naturalists. Bring yours for show and tell. We'll cover binoculars, scopes, field guides, apps and other gadgets for enjoying life outside. I'll also offer suggestions on purchasing a digital camera. With so many choices out there, I've been putting a lot of thought into how to find the right camera for your own photographic aspirations. As usual, we'll meet at 6:30pm on Monday at the First Baptist Church of Montpelier (one block down School Street from the Kellogg-Hubbard Library). Bring your binos and other toys! The fee for the session is $10. The Better Birding lectures are co-sponsored by North Branch Nature Center and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Details on Monday's workshop are at: http://www.dailywing.net/2012/02/02/tools-and-toys/ In other matters avian, I overheard Snow Buntings calling at the summit of Spruce Mountain in Plainfield at dawn this morning, not the first time I've encountered them up there. Best, Bryan Pfeiffer -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bryan Pfeiffer Birding: http://www.VermontBirdTours.com Blogging: http://www.DailyWing.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: VT eBird recognized From: Kent McFarland <kmcfarland AT VTECOSTUDIES.ORG> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:25:46 -0500 Way to go Vermont eBirders! The guys at eBird central sure noticed all our great work and whipped up a nice paragraph and posted our results on the main eBird site. http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/county-quest-vermont. Enjoy those birds! Kent ____________________________ Kent McFarland Vermont Center for Ecostudies PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055 [image: VCE Logo] Visit Our Pages: [image: Facebook] [image: YouTube] [image: Blogger] Subject: South Burlington wren and bluebird From: UVM <smorrica AT UVM.EDU> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 08:35:02 -0500 One Carolina Wren singing along Baycrest Drive this morning One Eastern Bluebird perched in tree along Nowlamd Farm Road this morning Scott Sent from my iPhone On Feb 2, 2012, at 4:36 PM, Jo Ann wrote: > This a.m. an American Coot was just off the dock in Lake CHamplain in N. > Ferrisburgh (got picture), and yesterday 2/1/12 five Hooded Mergansers on > the other side of the road in the bay, 2 male, 3 female. Saturday 1/28/12 a > Great Blue Heron at Button Bay. Sunday 1/29/12 two large flock of Robins > eating Mountain Ash red berries at Mad River Glen ski area, not at the bottom > but near the top off the single chair and just below the top of the double. A > first that i have ever seen! Subject: Bald Eagles From: eve ticknor <edticknor AT SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 21:02:22 -0500 Ft Casin Rd around noon, 21 adult and sub-adult Bald Eagles in various trees. Charlotte Ferry Dock around 3pm, 3 Hooded Mergansers, 7 Common Mergansers. Eve Ticknor Box 2206 Prescott, On K0E 1T0 res: 613-925-5528 cell: 613-859-9545 Box 122, 35 Elm St Essex, NY 12936 "All nature is but art, unknown to thee" Subject: American Coot & Hooded Mergansers From: Jo Ann <kittiwake_3 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 16:36:12 -0500 This a.m. an American Coot was just off the dock in Lake CHamplain in N. Ferrisburgh (got picture), and yesterday 2/1/12 five Hooded Mergansers on the other side of the road in the bay, 2 male, 3 female. Saturday 1/28/12 a Great Blue Heron at Button Bay. Sunday 1/29/12 two large flock of Robins eating Mountain Ash red berries at Mad River Glen ski area, not at the bottom but near the top off the single chair and just below the top of the double. A first that i have ever seen! Subject: Strange and wonderful sightings From: Robert Dudley <greyowlvermont AT LIVE.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:54:01 -0500 Good Afternoon All, I have not had anytime to do any serious birding, but I thought that I would pass on a few interesting sighting. Two days ago I spotted two large redtail hawks sitting in a tree that is behind my property. There were 5 crows also in the tree nervously keeping an eye on the hawks. They eventually flew away one by one and finally the hawks left. The same day a Carolina Wren visited my suet feeder. Yesterday I heard a robin sing and then two! Did not spot them. Then today I spied a female mallard in north Bennington. Life is Good. Cheers, Bob in West Arlington. Subject: Catbird From: Elizabeth Alton <redbnuthatch AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:54:32 -0500 Hi All, Just found a catbird calling and eating berries in the side yard of the Green Mt Animal Hospital, Williston Rd in South Burlington. When I heard it, I had to do a double take, as it just did not fit this time of year. Seemed happy with the berries he found. Liz Alton -- Liz Alton: "Keep a green tree in your heart; perhaps a singing bird will come." [image: mail.gif] Subject: E. Screech-Owl in South Burlington From: Eric Hynes <erichynes28 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:03:50 -0500 Hello Vermont Birders: I was pleasantly surprised to find myself practically face-to-face with a gray morph Eastern Screech-Owl in my backyard last night. I had stepped out with the dog one last time for the night and I unknowingly walked right up to the owl which was perched about 10' up a tree. The owl seemed indifferent to my presence but was very intently watching the two flying squirrels which were gliding down to my platform feeder for peanuts. I didn't stay out to see how that drama unfolded. Good birding, Eric Hynes South Burlington Subject: Re: shrike at North Branch Nature Center From: Scott Sainsbury <scott AT BEACONASSOCIATES.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:48:56 -0500 Yay! Up with Shrikes! On Feb 2, 2012, at 10:34 AM, Chip Darmstadt wrote: > Hello Birders, > > A beautiful adult Northern Shrike struck a pose on the top of a cedar tree > here at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier this morning. Also a > flock a 50 Snow Buntings and a flock of 85 Cedar Waxwings (no Bohemians). > > > > I also saw a shrike up near the Berlin Airport yesterday, as well as a flock > of 12 Red-winged Blackbirds and 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds. I was excited to > witness one of the cowbirds (a male) soliciting preening by a female > Red-winged > > Blackbird. The cowbird kept its beak down, while presenting its crown to the > blackbird, which probed and gaped the feathers of the cowbirds head! Doing a > little research, I learned that cowbirds are known for this interspecific > behavior, for which there are a number of possible explanations - mostly > having to do with maintaining/determining social hierarchy within the flock. > > > > Cheers, Chip > > > > > > Chip Darmstadt > > Executive Director > > North Branch Nature Center > > 713 Elm Street > > Montpelier, VT 05602 > > 802-229-6206 > > chip AT NorthBranchNatureCenter.org > > www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org > > > Subject: shrike at North Branch Nature Center From: Chip Darmstadt <Chip AT NORTHBRANCHNATURECENTER.ORG> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:34:31 -0500 Hello Birders, A beautiful adult Northern Shrike struck a pose on the top of a cedar tree here at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier this morning. Also a flock a 50 Snow Buntings and a flock of 85 Cedar Waxwings (no Bohemians). I also saw a shrike up near the Berlin Airport yesterday, as well as a flock of 12 Red-winged Blackbirds and 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds. I was excited to witness one of the cowbirds (a male) soliciting preening by a female Red-winged Blackbird. The cowbird kept its beak down, while presenting its crown to the blackbird, which probed and gaped the feathers of the cowbirds head! Doing a little research, I learned that cowbirds are known for this interspecific behavior, for which there are a number of possible explanations - mostly having to do with maintaining/determining social hierarchy within the flock. Cheers, Chip Chip Darmstadt Executive Director North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street Montpelier, VT 05602 802-229-6206 chip AT NorthBranchNatureCenter.org www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org Subject: Eagle bird bath From: cynthia crawford <cynthia.crawford AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:24:57 -0500 I stopped by Wilder dam outflow (Hartford) yesterday-saw 6 Common Mergansers fairly far out (3m,3f). Then I spotted something on the gravel outcropping close to the middle of the river, even further in the distance. It seemed to be moving-splashing. Turned out to be 2 adult Bald Eagles taking a bath -first one would splash and preen, then the other. What a sight! I got a movie of it but need to process it for the web before I can share it. Hopefully I'll get it on to Flickr some time soon. Meanwhile, at home, 4 Evening Grosbeaks made a brief visit, and have regular mixed flocks of Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Purple Finches. Titmice and Chickadees are singing. Cynthia Crawford -- Cindy Creature Kinships and Natural Affinities Animal and Nature Paintings, Portraits and Prints www.creaturekinships.com Photos: http://pbase.com/creaturekinships BLOG: http://creature-kinships.blogspot.com/ Subject: Uganda birds & gorillas From: Ruth Stewart <birder_rws AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:38:04 -0500 I am planning a 22 day birding trip to Uganda in Nov. This trip is just being promoted by the company, Africa Adventure Safaris, so I am passing along info to 'my' birding world. Feel free to contact me off line for what I have found out so far. http://www.birdinginuganda.com/birdwatching/birding-uganda-rwanda.html Ruth Stewart E. Dorset, VT Subject: RW Blackbird and many Goldfinches From: Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan AT GMAVT.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:55:03 -0500 Hi Folks, Yesterday and today a Red-winged Blackbird was calling from the banks of Otter Creek just across from our house. Must be February. I scrambled to get a close to accurate count of our Am Goldfinches and arrived at 58 individuals, all the while knowing that there were more in the surrounding trees. It is difficult to count in all four directions simultaneously. Alas, nary a Siskin among them. Barbara Brosnan Weybridge (Snake Mt. north area) -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org [mailto:do-not-reply AT ebird.org] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 8:47 AM To: bbrosnan AT gmavt.net Subject: eBird Report - Lutra Farm, Feb 2, 2012 Lutra Farm, Addison, US-VT Feb 2, 2012 8:30 AM Protocol: Incidental Comments: Red-wing Blackbird was calling from across the street near Otter Creek. My count of 58 Am Goldfinches is conservative. 2 species Red-winged Blackbird 1 American Goldfinch 58 AM Goldfinches at all four sunflower and finch seed feeders and in surrounding trees. They have been here all winter with the numbers steadily climbing. We have had large numbers here for all 27 years that we have lived here. This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: albino RT Hummingbird From: Walter Medwid <wmedwid AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:04:14 -0500 An interesting series of photos taken in VA. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/rare-albino-hummingbird_n_1244307.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009 Subject: Short-eared Owls From: MARIE HEMEON <mariekevinhemeon AT MSN.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 07:37:58 -0500 Not in Vt. but, close for those interested. Word has come to me that Short-eared Owls are once again in Argyle (specifically Durkeetown), NY. This area is great for hawks and these owls especially but, has had numerous other great finds over the years. In case there is interest. Kevin (who is interested) not Marie (Who would rather be anywhere else) Subject: Possible Snowy Owl north of Middlbury From: "Ian A. Worley" <iworley AT UVM.EDU> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 07:22:56 -0500 Yesterday (Wednesday) morning a friend saw a possible Snowy Owl being hassled by a hawk in a field beside/behind a barn on the east side of Route 7 about 2 miles north of the center of town. This is a little north of Hendy Brothers tractor sales and service. Ian Subject: seal, not bird From: Ruth Stewart <birder_rws AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:38:00 -0500 This is too extraordinary not to pass it along. A Ribbon Seal has shown up in the waters near Everett, WA where our son and family used to live. Have you ever heard of a Ribbon Seal? Native to AK. Read on... http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120131/NEWS01/701319734#Seal-gets-a-checkup Ruth Stewart E. Dorset, VT Subject: Fwd: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings From: Charles Gangas <dashlast AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:06:39 -0500 Sorry folks-didn't mean for this to go out to the entire list-a thousand gomens... Begin forwarded message: > From: Charles Gangas > Date: February 1, 2012 3:41:13 PM EST > To: Vermont Birds > Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings > > Kent-thanks for the information, and perhaps the next time you're in town you could give a shout-I'm on the Notch Brook Rd. just up the hill from the Matterhorn-if you're familiar. > > > Best, > Chuck Gangas > > > On Feb 1, 2012, at 12:03 PM, Kent McFarland wrote: > >> Charles, >> We do a lot of bird research on Mt. Mansfield. We see this in most years >> that there is a heavy Mountain Ash crop. It isn't unusual when the berries >> are present. The crop appears to fluctuate on a mostly biennial manner from >> high production to low in most areas. >> Kent >> ____________________________ >> >> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:43:05 -0500 >> From: Charles Gangas >> Subject: Robbins and Waxwings >> >> I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several = >> small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner = >> Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming = >> down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the = >> Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a = >> bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees = >> F the berries were certainly frozen. >> In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on = >> Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it = >> something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain = >> before?= > Subject: Re: Robbins and Waxwings From: Charles Gangas <dashlast AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:41:13 -0500 Kent-thanks for the information, and perhaps the next time you're in town you could give a shout-I'm on the Notch Brook Rd. just up the hill from the Matterhorn-if you're familiar. Best, Chuck Gangas On Feb 1, 2012, at 12:03 PM, Kent McFarland wrote: > Charles, > We do a lot of bird research on Mt. Mansfield. We see this in most years > that there is a heavy Mountain Ash crop. It isn't unusual when the berries > are present. The crop appears to fluctuate on a mostly biennial manner from > high production to low in most areas. > Kent > ____________________________ > > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:43:05 -0500 > From: Charles Gangas > Subject: Robbins and Waxwings > > I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several = > small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner = > Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming = > down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the = > Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a = > bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees = > F the berries were certainly frozen. > In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on = > Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it = > something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain = > before?= Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:21:08 -0500 I don't think Snowy mortality post-fledging is that high, actually. Even the "Birds of North America" monograph Eubanks quoted from says something like 14 percent mortality for those southward irruptions, which sounds about right to me from what I've heard from banders like Norm Smith at Logan Airport in Boston, who generally find these guys to be in pretty good shape when they catch them. Snowies are more powerful and more versatile hunters than most other raptors, so I would expect their mortality once fledged and established on their own to be fairly low, wouldn't you think? I believe Snowy mortality for Snowies is mostly in the egg/nestling stage, since these guys are ground nesters. I welcome correct on that if that's wrong, but that's what I've always understood. Voles, like lemmings, also go through population boom and bust cycles, though perhaps not as dramatic, and clearly we're in a "bust" cycle in the Champlain Valley this year, more's the pity given the Snowy irruption. There are hardly any Rough-Legs around and not even very many Red-Tails, and given the lack of snow cover, they should be having superb hunting if there was anything to hunt. On the opposite end of the scale, I remember vividly a winter some years ago when a prime birding place south of Boston with fairly extensive farm fields hosted an astounding 29-plus Harriers and I think it was 28 Short-Eared Owls, plus assorted Red-Tails, Cooper's Hawks and a handful of Rough-Legs all winter. And that wonderful winter here (maybe 15 yrs or so ago?) of the two Northern Hawk Owls in Cornwall and Bridport also hosted an astounding number of Rough-Legs in Dead Creek and vicinity, almost "dripping off the trees." They were everywhere for a few weeks. Jane (Shoreham) On 2/1/2012 1:11 PM, david merker wrote: > Jane, I think I'm more in your court, maybe "some" won't make it, but > the birds don't seem to hang around where there isn't food, thats why > they are so far south, right? Thats also why they aren't around the > Ct river valley, nothing to eat. We might see some and traditionally > have seen a one or two in the Champlain valley, but not 29. There is > more prey in the CV as compared almost none in the Ct RV, but still > not enough to support large numbers of snowy owls. Certainly studies > have indicated that maybe 75%+ raptors of the year (first year birds) > may perish in that first year, so perhaps he was going with that > statistic, which I think is a well proven one. I think snowy owls > with lots of black flecking are the young birds, so if he is seeing > 90% young owls, than he might be right. I like to take the high road > in giving them a shot at survival, but the science might put his > statement on good ground. > > Dave Merker Etna, New Hampshire > >> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:23:50 -0500 From: jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET >> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Snowy owls .... To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU >> >> I would be very curious about others' reaction to this piece and >> his assertion that "most will not make it past the winter." Is >> there any evidence of this? >> >> Some certainly won't make it past the winter, but seems to me the >> very absence of raptors in his patch of Nebraska is evidence that >> birds, Snowies included, aren't hanging around to starve in fields >> barren of prey. Parts of the country had a terrible drought this >> year, and therefore presumably support a lot fewer rodents now, but >> that's certainly not the case in the rest of the country. >> >> It may well be the case that the Snowies that come far inland fare >> less well in general and this year in particular than those that >> head for the coastal areas, but I'm still not aware of any data >> that supports his assertion that "most will not make it past the >> winter." >> >> I'm scratching my head to make sense of Eubanks's doom and gloom. >> Maybe he's just having a bad day. >> >> Jane >> >> (Shoreham) >> >> >> >> On 2/1/2012 11:17 AM, Scott Sainsbury wrote: >>> Also, a more sobering perspective on Snowys from Ted Eubanks >>> http://www.birdspert.com/?p=1883 >>> >>> Scott Sainsbury Moretown >>> >>> On Feb 1, 2012, at 8:22 AM, Ian A. Worley wrote: >>> >>>> Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, >>>> Saskatchewan: >>>> >>>> >>>> "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy >>>> Owls. We have reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. >>>> Daily I see 4 birds in less than 1 kilometer on the way home >>>> each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig (Regina)" >>>> >>>> >>>> Ian >>>> >>> > Subject: Great Horned Owl From: Ruth Stewart <birder_rws AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:17:15 -0500 I had a unexpected interchange with a Great Horned Owl last night.. amazingly close to the house. I think I peeked 'his' interest with my vocalizing so that he continued long after me, well into the wee hrs of the morning for at least 1 1/2hrs! Unfortunately, I was awake much longer than I wanted to be! This GHOW is significant since we have had very few sightings in southern VT for several years. I'm thinking we may not even have recorded any in the blocks I coordinated in Benn Co. during the Breeding Bird Atlas. Can someone please tell me how to check sightings for a single specie for a given period in ebird? Ruth Stewart E. Dorset, VT Subject: Re: Robbins and Waxwings From: Richard Enser <rickenser AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:15:33 -0800 Here in the lower elevations along the east/west border of Braintree and Randolph (roughly 900 feet) there has been a sizeable flock of mixed waxwings and robins for about the last month.  I've only seen them a few times during the month as they are continually moving to new food sources.  There is little Mountain Ash here, but these birds seem to be doing well on apples and other fruits (not going to feeders as far as I can tell) and yesterday I found the entire group of about 90 waxwings (about 20% cedar/80% Bohemian) feeding in a large patch of multiflora rose, along with a dozen robins and some starlings.  When I returned to the spot an hour later these birds had completely disappeared, but for the past couple of hours today there have been scattered groups of waxwings in the treetops surrounding my yard (about 1/2 mile from yesterday's feeding spot).  These birds are continually on the move, sitting in the trees a few moments, then flying off in different directions.  I assume they are searching for more food supplies?, although they don't seem to have any interest in the half dozen well laden apple trees that line our property.   Rick Enser, Braintree ________________________________ From: Kent McFarland To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 12:03 PM Subject: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings Charles, We do a lot of bird research on Mt. Mansfield. We see this in most years that there is a heavy Mountain Ash crop. It isn't unusual when the berries are present. The crop appears to fluctuate on a mostly biennial manner from high production to low in most areas. Kent ____________________________ Date:    Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:43:05 -0500 From:    Charles Gangas Subject: Robbins and Waxwings I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several = small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner = Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds.  Then as we were coming = down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the = Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a = bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees = F  the berries were certainly frozen. In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on = Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it = something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain = before?= Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: david merker <buteojamaica AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:11:20 -0500 Jane, I think I'm more in your court, maybe "some" won't make it, but the birds don't seem to hang around where there isn't food, thats why they are so far south, right? Thats also why they aren't around the Ct river valley, nothing to eat. We might see some and traditionally have seen a one or two in the Champlain valley, but not 29. There is more prey in the CV as compared almost none in the Ct RV, but still not enough to support large numbers of snowy owls. Certainly studies have indicated that maybe 75%+ raptors of the year (first year birds) may perish in that first year, so perhaps he was going with that statistic, which I think is a well proven one. I think snowy owls with lots of black flecking are the young birds, so if he is seeing 90% young owls, than he might be right. I like to take the high road in giving them a shot at survival, but the science might put his statement on good ground. Dave Merker Etna, New Hampshire > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:23:50 -0500 > From: jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET > Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Snowy owls .... > To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU > > I would be very curious about others' reaction to this piece and his > assertion that "most will not make it past the winter." Is there any > evidence of this? > > Some certainly won't make it past the winter, but seems to me the very > absence of raptors in his patch of Nebraska is evidence that birds, > Snowies included, aren't hanging around to starve in fields barren of > prey. Parts of the country had a terrible drought this year, and > therefore presumably support a lot fewer rodents now, but that's > certainly not the case in the rest of the country. > > It may well be the case that the Snowies that come far inland fare less > well in general and this year in particular than those that head for the > coastal areas, but I'm still not aware of any data that supports his > assertion that "most will not make it past the winter." > > I'm scratching my head to make sense of Eubanks's doom and gloom. Maybe > he's just having a bad day. > > Jane > > (Shoreham) > > > > On 2/1/2012 11:17 AM, Scott Sainsbury wrote: > > Also, a more sobering perspective on Snowys from Ted Eubanks > > http://www.birdspert.com/?p=1883 > > > > Scott Sainsbury > > Moretown > > > > On Feb 1, 2012, at 8:22 AM, Ian A. Worley wrote: > > > >> Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: > >> > >> > >> "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in less than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig (Regina)" > >> > >> > >> Ian > >> > > Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:23:50 -0500 I would be very curious about others' reaction to this piece and his assertion that "most will not make it past the winter." Is there any evidence of this? Some certainly won't make it past the winter, but seems to me the very absence of raptors in his patch of Nebraska is evidence that birds, Snowies included, aren't hanging around to starve in fields barren of prey. Parts of the country had a terrible drought this year, and therefore presumably support a lot fewer rodents now, but that's certainly not the case in the rest of the country. It may well be the case that the Snowies that come far inland fare less well in general and this year in particular than those that head for the coastal areas, but I'm still not aware of any data that supports his assertion that "most will not make it past the winter." I'm scratching my head to make sense of Eubanks's doom and gloom. Maybe he's just having a bad day. Jane (Shoreham) On 2/1/2012 11:17 AM, Scott Sainsbury wrote: > Also, a more sobering perspective on Snowys from Ted Eubanks > http://www.birdspert.com/?p=1883 > > Scott Sainsbury > Moretown > > On Feb 1, 2012, at 8:22 AM, Ian A. Worley wrote: > >> Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: >> >> >> "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in less than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig (Regina)" >> >> >> Ian >> > Subject: Robbins and Waxwings From: Kent McFarland <kmcfarland AT VTECOSTUDIES.ORG> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:03:31 -0500 Charles, We do a lot of bird research on Mt. Mansfield. We see this in most years that there is a heavy Mountain Ash crop. It isn't unusual when the berries are present. The crop appears to fluctuate on a mostly biennial manner from high production to low in most areas. Kent ____________________________ Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:43:05 -0500 From: Charles Gangas Subject: Robbins and Waxwings I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several = small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner = Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming = down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the = Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a = bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees = F the berries were certainly frozen. In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on = Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it = something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain = before?= Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: Scott Sainsbury <scott AT BEACONASSOCIATES.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:17:08 -0500 Also, a more sobering perspective on Snowys from Ted Eubanks http://www.birdspert.com/?p=1883 Scott Sainsbury Moretown On Feb 1, 2012, at 8:22 AM, Ian A. Worley wrote: > Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: > > > "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in less than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig (Regina)" > > > Ian > Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: Karan Cutler <kdcutler42 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 09:06:00 -0500 Wow! I have a hawk almost every morning perched on the osprey platform--he/she's there about 7, gone by 8...if you're in the neighborhood, tell me which it is. Hard to tell in the dim light, and hawks are hard for me. And thanks for the discussion of bird numbers. Very interesting. k On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 8:22 AM, Ian A. Worley wrote: > Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: > > > "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have > reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in less > than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig > (Regina)" > > > Ian > Subject: Re: Snowy owls .... From: david merker <buteojamaica AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:42:44 -0500 Hope we get a few more around. That would be fun. Dave Merker Etna, New Hampshire > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:22:42 -0500 > From: iworley AT UVM.EDU > Subject: [VTBIRD] Snowy owls .... > To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU > > Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: > > > "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have > reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in > less than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg > Kratzig (Regina)" > > > Ian Subject: Snowy owls .... From: "Ian A. Worley" <iworley AT UVM.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:22:42 -0500 Interesting comment this morning from a birder in Regina, Saskatchewan: "Even for us we are marveling in the huge numbers of Snowy Owls. We have reports of 29 birds along 3 kilometer stretch. Daily I see 4 birds in less than 1 kilometer on the way home each afternoon. .......... Greg Kratzig (Regina)" Ian Subject: Robins at Sugarbush Ski Area From: Rob Spring <robwspring24 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:42:18 -0500 While skiing yesterday I counted about 20 robins at about the 3000 foot level on Mount Ellen. Today I again saw 5 at about the same elevation. Rob Spring Subject: Northwood Park, Rutland Town - Jan 31 From: Susan Elliott <ovenbird14 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:30:50 -0800 Adding to all the robin reports, we observed 84 at Northwood Park in Rutland Town this morning, mostly in two large flocks flying overhead. 2.25 mile(s) 15 species Downy Woodpecker  2 Pileated Woodpecker  2 Blue Jay  1 American Crow  2 Common Raven  1 Black-capped Chickadee  21 Tufted Titmouse  2 Red-breasted Nuthatch  8 White-breasted Nuthatch  1 Brown Creeper  1 Eastern Bluebird  3 American Robin  84 Purple Finch  1 Pine Siskin  18 American Goldfinch  8 Sue and Marv Elliott Subject: NEK Waxwings From: Thomas Berriman <blackpoll AT MYFAIRPOINT.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:51:05 -0500 As of yesterday afternoon there were still 200 Bohemian and 50 Cedar waxwings in Lyndonville. They've almost finished all the cherrys at White's Supermarket and will be moving on shortly. They strip each tree completely. Tom Berriman Subject: Re: Robins and Snow From: John Snell <jsnell AT THESNELLGROUP.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:54:48 -0500 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/Birdscope/Summer2000/snow_2000143.html This should work better. The other had a few too many spaces in it. Thanks Bruce! >For an interesting article that explains why we may be seeing more >robins than normal, follow this link to Cornell. > > > >http :// www .birds. cornell . edu /Publications/ Birdscope >/Summer2000/snow_2000143. html > > >Bruce Flewelling -- Still learning to see, John John AT eyeimagein.com http://www.eyeimagein.com http://www.stilllearningtosee.com Subject: Re: Large Flocks American Robins From: Richard Harlow <raharlow AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:52:49 -0500 I guess I must chime in. We have had a smattering of Robins for the past three weeks. No more than 10-15 until today. Not as many as Bridget, but for this small yard in Milton it was quite a few. I counted 36+ Robins, since I could only be sure of the number I was counting before they flew. But, we had more in the trees flying back and forth from our Crab Apples and Hawthorne. Normally, in past years the Crab Apples aren't affected until the end of February or March, and then it is primarily Waxwings and a few (4-8) Robins that strip the berries. This year not a single waxing has been noticed, just Robins. Unfortunately, by Backyard Bird Count the Robins will be gone, since they have almost stripped the Crab Apple trees of berries! Richard Harlow Arrowhead Lake Milton On 1/31/12 8:17 AM, Bridget Butler wrote: > Greetings All! > > Just got back from my morning walk with my dog and *counted over 200 > American Robins streaming out of the St. Albans Cemetery*. Just like > Teague's interested in roosting crows, my interest has been piqued this > winter by large flocks of robins. A week and a half ago I was overwhelmed > trying to count a large flock of robins at the end of the day in a set of > fields in Georgia by Lake Champlain - I got to 550 and couldn't keep up as > they were continuously streaming in from the east. > > So, my request....let's be diligent about reporting robin sightings this > winter and get them on eBird or if you're participating the in upcoming > Great Backyard Bird Count put your robin-goggles on for the weekend. It > would be fabulous to look at this winter's data on this common backyard > bird to see what it was up to this winter. > > Bird-on! > > Bridget Butler > St. Albans > www.birddiva.com > AT BirdDiva > Subject: Robins and Snow From: b flewelling <bflewelling3263 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:42:22 +0000 For an interesting article that explains why we may be seeing more robins than normal, follow this link to Cornell.   http :// www .birds. cornell . edu /Publications/ Birdscope /Summer2000/snow_2000143. html Bruce Flewelling Subject: Re: Robbins and Waxwings From: "Nancy A. Brown" <whites AT VERMONTEL.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:08:04 -0500 Rain probably had something to do with it but I am crediting my bumper crop of berries and fruit to the fact that there was no late frost this spring. The last one in the Danby Four Corners area, elev. 1580, was April 22nd. Nothing, no killer freeze in May when everything was in bloom and setting fruit. -------------------------------------------------- From: "Noel Dodge" Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:06 AM To: Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings > I believe this year's bumper crop of American mountain-ash (Sorbus > Americana) berries are the likely cause of the high elevation Robin > concentrations. > I did some work above 2000' in NH a few weeks ago with a UNH graduate > student and saw large numbers of Robins and other birds foraging on > mountain-ash. He also reported that 90% of the marten scat he had seen was > comprised of mountain-ash berries. The snow beneath these trees looked > downright gory with all the red staining. I wonder if the excessive rains > this past year are the root of the abundant berry crop. > -Noel Dodge > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vermont Birds [mailto:VTBIRD AT list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Charles > Gangas > Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:43 AM > To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU > Subject: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings > > I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several > small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner > Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming down > the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the Mount > Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a bountiful > crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees F the > berries > were certainly frozen. > In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on Mt. > Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it > something > that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain before?= > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4777 - Release Date: 01/30/12 > Subject: Re: Robbins and Waxwings From: Noel Dodge <noel.dodge AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:06:26 -0500 I believe this year's bumper crop of American mountain-ash (Sorbus Americana) berries are the likely cause of the high elevation Robin concentrations. I did some work above 2000' in NH a few weeks ago with a UNH graduate student and saw large numbers of Robins and other birds foraging on mountain-ash. He also reported that 90% of the marten scat he had seen was comprised of mountain-ash berries. The snow beneath these trees looked downright gory with all the red staining. I wonder if the excessive rains this past year are the root of the abundant berry crop. -Noel Dodge -----Original Message----- From: Vermont Birds [mailto:VTBIRD AT list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Charles Gangas Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:43 AM To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [VTBIRD] Robbins and Waxwings I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees F the berries were certainly frozen. In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain before?= ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4777 - Release Date: 01/30/12 Subject: Re: Robbins and Waxwings From: Bridget Butler <birddiva AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:55:01 -0500 Hi Charles, I've had a number of people email.me with sightings from Mad River Glen and Smuggler's Notch along with some friends who live at high elevations. The thing that all of these sights have in common is Mountains Ash, a fruiting tree that will grow in that zone. It was a really good year for fruits on these trees, so they've become a great food source for robins whose diet switches to fruits in the fall. And with the mild winter robins seem to have stuck around in larger numbers this year. Robins are nomadic in winter and it's likely that as they depleted food sources in lower elevations that they'll venture out (and up!) to find other food sources like the Mountain Ash. Great sighting! Please consider posting it to eBird.org! Cheers, Bridget Butler www.birddiva.com AT BirdDiva On Jan 31, 2012 8:43 AM, "Charles Gangas" wrote: > I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several > small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner > Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming down > the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the Mount > Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a bountiful > crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees F the > berries were certainly frozen. > In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on Mt. > Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it > something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain > before? Subject: Robbins and Waxwings From: Charles Gangas <dashlast AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:43:05 -0500 I was skiing Mt. Mansfield yesterday when my wife and I noticed several small flocks of robins about halfway up the mountain off the FourRunner Quad. Each group consisted of about 6-8 birds. Then as we were coming down the Ridge View Trail as it intersects Upper Lookout just under the Mount Triple Chair, there were scores of Cedar Waxwings feeding of a bountiful crop of berries. At temps at the Octagon of around 18 degrees F the berries were certainly frozen. In over twenty years the first I've noticed this kind of activity on Mt. Mansfield when skiing. Can anyone explain this sighting, and is it something that occurs periodically that I've not noticed on the mountain before? Subject: Large Flocks American Robins From: Bridget Butler <birddiva AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:17:10 -0500 Greetings All! Just got back from my morning walk with my dog and *counted over 200 American Robins streaming out of the St. Albans Cemetery*. Just like Teague's interested in roosting crows, my interest has been piqued this winter by large flocks of robins. A week and a half ago I was overwhelmed trying to count a large flock of robins at the end of the day in a set of fields in Georgia by Lake Champlain - I got to 550 and couldn't keep up as they were continuously streaming in from the east. So, my request....let's be diligent about reporting robin sightings this winter and get them on eBird or if you're participating the in upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count put your robin-goggles on for the weekend. It would be fabulous to look at this winter's data on this common backyard bird to see what it was up to this winter. Bird-on! Bridget Butler St. Albans www.birddiva.com AT BirdDiva Subject: Long Point, Canvasback, Redhead and American Coot From: Roy Pilcher <ShamwariVT AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:08:00 -0500 Long Point - Ferrisburgh, Addison, US-VT Jan 30, 2012 9:25 AM - 10:30 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Temperature 25 degrees F. Bay mostly open, some ice along shoreline. 10 species American Black Duck 10 Mallard 39 Canvasback 2 An apparent pair. Swimming and diving together apart from the other waterfowl. Redhead 1 Common Goldeneye 55 Common Merganser 12 Bald Eagle 3 American Coot 1 Ring-billed Gull 5 American Crow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt) Cheers, Roy Pilcher The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland, Vermont Speaking the same language. Subject: Shelburne Bay Eagles From: Nancy Goodrich <nancyg3219 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:03:51 -0500 At the Shelburne Bay fishing access today at 3:30pm an adult Bald Eagle perched on a tree near the bridge over the LaPlatte close to Bay Rd. Then from the parking lot, as one looks across to the east shore, there were *TWO * more white heads visible at the top of a tree on the yard of the fourth large house to the north on the far shore. Without a scope I couldn't decide from the distance if it was really two adults so I drove back to the intersection of Bay Rd. and Mariners Way, (a private Rd). and drove in a short distance and sure enough there were two adult eagles, side by side *on the same limb.* What a rare treat! back at the fishing access another birder said one of his friends who lives in the adjoining housing development had seen two juvenile eagles over the weekend as well. Nancy Goodrich, Shelburne Subject: Re: pileated in Montpelier From: Kay Johnson <kj813 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:34:04 -0500 We saw a pileated woodpecker on our property in Hinesburg over the weekend and last week along the roadside of Bay Road in Shelburne, beyond the Shelburn Farms but not so far as the Bruce Hill Marina area. The Shelburn bird seemed smaller than what we usually see on our property or those I've seen at Mt. Philo. Kay Kay Johnson kj813 AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Tom Slayton To: VTBIRD Sent: Sat, Jan 28, 2012 4:28 pm Subject: [VTBIRD] pileated in Montpelier Walking by the Winooski late today,a pileated woodpecker. Right behind the ept. of Liquor Control building, on the exercise path. Subject: Kingfisher in Warren From: Graham Bates <batesg AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:05:13 -0500 All- On Saturday afternoon I spotted a belted kingfisher surveying the headwaters of the Mad River on the Warren side of the Granville Gulf (along Rte 100). I guess as long as the water stays open they'll stick around... Graham Rochester Subject: Volunteer birders needed for monitoring project From: Steve Faccio <sfaccio AT VTECOSTUDIES.ORG> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:02:03 -0500 Hello Birders; The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is in need of skilled birders to participate in our long-term Vermont Forest Bird Monitoring Project (FBMP). Briefly, the FBMP was initiated in 1989 with the primary goal of tracking long-term population trends of interior forest birds. Currently, the program consists of 28 study sites in forested habitats throughout the state. Each study site has 5 permanently marked survey stations (point counts) at which birds are sampled for 10 minutes on two different mornings during June. Each survey takes between 1.5 - 2 hours to complete, and participants should be capable of hiking on variable terrain without trails and navigating with map & compass and/or GPS. Currently, I am looking for 2 volunteers to survey the following study sites: * Underhill State Park, in Underhill, VT * Black Mountain, in Dummerston, VT This is a great opportunity for birders that are skilled at identifying birds by sight and sound to "bird with a purpose" and contribute to a long-term dataset. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in becoming an FBMP volunteer, or if you simply want more information. You can also visit the FBMP webpage at http://www.vtecostudies.org/FBMP/. Thanks, Steve ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Steve Faccio Conservation Biologist Vermont Center for Ecostudies 20 Palmer CT White River Junction, VT 05001 Mailing address PO Box 420 Norwich, VT 05055 802-649-1431 xt.3 sfaccio AT vtecostudies.org www.vtecostudies.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: European Starlings and Robins From: Linda Lunna <lindalunna AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:53:03 -0500 We also had about 100 robins in the hayfield on one warm day last week in Stockbridge. A smaller group was eating apples left on the trees. But my loyal standby birds this winter are the starlings. Link to my January birdwords blog:http://vermontbirdwatching.blogspot.com/2012/01/darling-starling.html Subject: Shrike, Snow Buntings in Berlin From: Larry Clarfeld <lclarfeld AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:14:22 -0500 Hi VTBirders, On a quick cruise around the airport in Berlin this morning I found a Northern Shrike hunting in the fields east of the airport off of Airport Drive. It was quite distant but still visible with binoculars from the parking lot of The Eye Center. Also, a flyover from 5 Snow Buntings while I was there. The observation is on eBird, for anyone wanting a map with the exact location. Good birding, - Larry -- Larry Clarfeld Environmental Educator Youth Birding Coordinator North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St. Montpelier, VT 05602 www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org (802) 229-6206 larry AT NorthBranchNatureCenter.org Subject: fun From: Scott Sainsbury <scott AT BEACONASSOCIATES.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:15:39 -0500 Hi all, I think we've have some fun discussions around bird group names before. But, I stumbled across this site the other day, and thought some of you might enjoy it as it expands the repartee to mammals, reptiles and fish. Scott http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm Subject: Re: In Concord, a goose from Greenland may be a sign of global warming From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:15:59 -0500 Yes, that's always been what I'd heard, that when the use of live decoys was banned in Mass., people just let their birds go, which over the years have multiplied into the impossible hordes they have there now. So Vermont has never permitted keeping live decoy birds? (Good for Vt, if so.) Jane On 1/29/2012 9:07 PM, Bruce MacPherson wrote: > There was an interesting comment in this article from the Boston > Globe from a few days ago suggesting that Boston's resident geese > were derived from "live decoys" that were released after the practice > was banned in 1935. I don't believe that live decoys were used for > goose hunting in Vermont. > > > Bruce MacPherson South Burlington > > > http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-20/yourtown/30648164_1_greenland-canada-geese-goose#.TyMnlNR5RPc.email > > > > > > > > > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4774 - Release Date: > 01/29/12 > Subject: Mad River Glen Robins From: Patti Haynes <patti.haynes AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:48:30 -0500 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ave Haviland Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:43:45 -0500 Subject: [Mad Birders - Discuss] Robins To: madbirders My sons were skiing at Mad River today. One of them reported to me about 3:30 that there were many Robins around the midstation on the Single. Later I heard from my other son that there must have been at least 50 on the trail where they come out of the Paradise just below the top of the Double Chair. They think they were feeding on the berries that are on the Mountain Ash trees. I've heard of Robins being around in the valley in the winter, but never in large numbers like this. Ave Haviland, Stark Mtn. View Rd., Fayston _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list discuss AT madbirders.org http://madbirders.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss Subject: In Concord, a goose from Greenland may be a sign of global warming From: Bruce MacPherson <bmacphe AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:07:02 -0500 There was an interesting comment in this article from the Boston Globe from a few days ago suggesting that Boston's resident geese were derived from "live decoys" that were released after the practice was banned in 1935. I don't believe that live decoys were used for goose hunting in Vermont. Bruce MacPherson South Burlington http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-20/yourtown/30648164_1_greenland-canada-geese-goose#.TyMnlNR5RPc.email Subject: Fw: eBird Report - LAKE PARAN-Bennington (40 acres), Jan 29, 2012 From: MARIE HEMEON <mariekevinhemeon AT MSN.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:33:21 -0500 LAKE PARAN-Bennington (40 acres), Bennington, US-VT Jan 29, 2012 10:53 AM - 12:13 PM Protocol: Area 40.0 ac 13 species Mallard 1 Common Merganser 9 Bald Eagle 1 Ring-billed Gull 3 Mourning Dove 3 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Dark-eyed Junco 5 Red-winged Blackbird 1 American Goldfinch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt) Subject: Fort Cassin Rd - Eagles, Gadwall From: Keri Charles <kericharles AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:23:03 -0500 I spent about an hour wandering Fort Cassin Road. Highlights were the eagles, as always, and I managed to spot the Gadwall that Mr. Eric Hynes mentioned in his message earlier today. Complete list with links to photos below. Happy birding! Keri Charles West Hartford ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 8:16 PM Subject: eBird Report - Otter Creek mouth and Porter Bay area, Jan 29, 2012 To: kericharles AT gmail.com Otter Creek mouth and Porter Bay area, Addison, US-VT Jan 29, 2012 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Comments: Walked along Fort Cassin Rd. Porter Bay almost entirely without ice. 9 species Gadwall 1 Mallard 8 Common Goldeneye 7 Common Merganser 10 Bald Eagle 4 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Ring-billed Gull 11 American Crow 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: Varied Thrush update From: Patti Haynes <patti.haynes AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:31:51 -0500 Hi Birding Friends, Recent information came from Gib Geiger this morning, so I thought I'd share it. I hope you all go to see this bird while she stays! Patti Moretown Hi Patti, Just a quick update on the Thrush. She has been coming to feed less frequently lately, and stays on the ground while feeding, not up on the wall. She still eats the cracked corn, and the suet recipe you gave me, I crumble that up into fine pcs., so the Bluejays don't steal it all. We also had a flock of 60, to 70, Bohemian waxwings in the orchard yesterday, feeding on the apples left in the trees. Saw them in the late a.m., yesterday, but haven't seen them since. That's it from the farm. Take care, Gib and Sue Subject: Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:19:30 -0500 Do we have a population of non-migratory Canadas in VT? They're a terrible increasing plague down around Boston, and I'd think there might well be some around Burlington. My first guess would be a flock heading north at this time of year is likely resident non-migratory birds just heading a short distance to some better feeding or roosting area, or for some other incomprehensible goosey reason. Jane On 1/29/2012 7:12 PM, Richard Guthrie wrote: > Dear, All; > > Not to worry about those geese... I think that the whole population has > become so confused by all the climate changes, habitat gains and losses, and > genetic inter-mixing that they don't appear to have a regular pattern > anymore. At least there will still be a bunch of "traditionalists" that will > behave as they should. Those birds are somewhere down by the Delaware and > Chesapeake Bays. You'll recognize them as they fly northward in a month or > so. > > As for the mealy almonds, I bet the wren appreciated them a lot more the way > they were then as you would have preferred them to be (lots of hidden > surprises in them). > > Rich Guthrie > New Baltimore > The Greene County > New York > gaeltic AT capital.net > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vermont Birds [mailto:VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Priscilla > Douglas > Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:43 PM > To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU > Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) > > Burlington birds > > Hi - I was disconcerted on Sat. a.m. to hear and see a big flock of Canada > geese flying low overhead heading NORTH. I do know there are flocks that > may hang around year round but this sure sounded like spring, TOO EARLY I > fear. > > Also put out some sliced almonds that had gotten worms in them (ugh) and > right away a Carolina wren was out there eating them before the squirrels > found them. > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4774 - Release Date: 01/29/12 Subject: Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) From: Richard Guthrie <gaeltic AT CAPITAL.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:12:05 -0500 Dear, All; Not to worry about those geese... I think that the whole population has become so confused by all the climate changes, habitat gains and losses, and genetic inter-mixing that they don't appear to have a regular pattern anymore. At least there will still be a bunch of "traditionalists" that will behave as they should. Those birds are somewhere down by the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. You'll recognize them as they fly northward in a month or so. As for the mealy almonds, I bet the wren appreciated them a lot more the way they were then as you would have preferred them to be (lots of hidden surprises in them). Rich Guthrie New Baltimore The Greene County New York gaeltic AT capital.net -----Original Message----- From: Vermont Birds [mailto:VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Priscilla Douglas Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:43 PM To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) Burlington birds Hi - I was disconcerted on Sat. a.m. to hear and see a big flock of Canada geese flying low overhead heading NORTH. I do know there are flocks that may hang around year round but this sure sounded like spring, TOO EARLY I fear. Also put out some sliced almonds that had gotten worms in them (ugh) and right away a Carolina wren was out there eating them before the squirrels found them. Subject: Rough leggeds From: MARIE HEMEON <mariekevinhemeon AT MSN.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:03:57 -0500 A pair of Rough-leggeds today. Both dark phase and soaring together. I first spotted them while in NY and headed towards VT over Vt airspace. I rushed like an idiot on a back road got into Vt and to where I could still see them, by this time in NY airspace but, according to the rules, now countable. LOL A piece of irony actually. Lake Paran had 2 mature male Redwing blackbirds. I managed to photograph 1. Also a soaring Bald Eagle. Subject: Re: VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) From: Priscilla Douglas <pxdougla AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:42:56 -0500 Burlington birds Hi - I was disconcerted on Sat. a.m. to hear and see a big flock of Canada geese flying low overhead heading NORTH. I do know there are flocks that may hang around year round but this sure sounded like spring, TOO EARLY I fear. Also put out some sliced almonds that had gotten worms in them (ugh) and right away a Carolina wren was out there eating them before the squirrels found them. On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 12:02 AM, VTBIRD automatic digest system < LISTSERV AT list.uvm.edu> wrote: > There are 8 messages totalling 230 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Great Blue Heron - Clarendon > 2. Lake Paran out of seasons > 3. Bohemian waxwings > 4. Arlington Kingfisher > 5. Snow Buntings Shaftsbury > 6. pileated in Montpelier > 7. Mercury in birds > 8. Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:18:03 -0800 > From: Susan Elliott > Subject: Great Blue Heron - Clarendon > > A Great Blue Heron was flying low over the open ditches along Creek Road > in= > Clarendon this morning. > > 9 species > =20 > Canada Goose=A0 150 > Mallard=A0 6 > Great Blue Heron=A0 1 > Red-tailed Hawk=A0 2 > Rock Pigeon=A0 2 > Mourning Dove=A0 2 > American Crow=A0 33 > Common Raven=A0 1 > House Finch=A0 1 > > Sue and Marv Elliott > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:28:06 -0500 > From: MARIE HEMEON > Subject: Lake Paran out of seasons > > 3 out of season finds at Lake Paran this a.m. I managed to get pictures = > (poor as they are) that are identifiable for 2. The Towhee flew across = > my path too fast and stayed low and out of sight. The rufous sides, = > black back and white sides of the tail were all very visible as it flew = > by and the repeated Tow-Hee calls from across the stream were very = > clear. Kevin ( looking at some paper work) not Marie (ready for a night = > out) > > > LAKE PARAN-Bennington (40 acres), Bennington, US-VT > Jan 28, 2012 7:45 AM - 8:50 AM > Protocol: Area > 40.0 ac > 14 species > > Canada Goose 80 > Wood Duck 1 href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777334043/ flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777334043/>" title=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2276_edited-1 by khemeon, on Flickr"> src=3D"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6777334043_89bf419c16.jpg //farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6777334043_89bf419c16.jpg>" alt=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2276_edited-1"> > Hooded Merganser 2 href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777337501/ flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777337501/>" title=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2304_edited-1 by khemeon, on Flickr"> src=3D"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6777337501_ac5dde7b5e.jpg //farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6777337501_ac5dde7b5e.jpg>" alt=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2304_edited-1"> > Common Merganser 1 > Pied-billed Grebe 1 href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777336197/ flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777336197/>" title=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2287_edited-1 by khemeon, on Flickr"> src=3D"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6777336197_81ab02c7e6.jpg //farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6777336197_81ab02c7e6.jpg>" alt=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2287_edited-1"> > Mourning Dove 3 > Downy Woodpecker 1 > Blue Jay 4 > American Crow 5 > Black-capped Chickadee 15 > White-breasted Nuthatch 1 > Eastern Bluebird 4 > Eastern Towhee 1 Flew over tracks to brush across stream. Blue Jay = > size, Rufous sides and black back visible as well as white sides of = > tail. Stayed low and not visible in brush but gave the Tow-Hee call. > Dark-eyed Junco 20 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 = > (http://ebird.org/vt) > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:39:56 -0500 > From: Eric Wood > Subject: Bohemian waxwings > > A flock (30+?) of Bohemian waxwings was seen here briefly, perched in a p= > ine=20 > tree. > The resident rabbit was also seen, eating out of a ground-level bird feed= > er. > > Eric Wood > Jericho > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:01:46 -0500 > From: MARIE HEMEON > Subject: Arlington Kingfisher > > Out of season Kingfisher in Arlington. Picture secured. LOL > > > River Rd on the Battenkill, Bennington, US-VT > Jan 28, 2012 10:02 AM - 10:45 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 5.4 mile(s) > 12 species > > Rock Pigeon 7 > Belted Kingfisher 1 href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777339081/ flickr.com/photos/58845534 AT N05/6777339081/>" title=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2315_edited-1 by khemeon, on Flickr"> src=3D"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6777339081_b53abd25c4.jpg //farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6777339081_b53abd25c4.jpg>" alt=3D"2012 01 = > 28_2315_edited-1"> > Blue Jay 9 > American Crow 19 > Black-capped Chickadee 8 > Tufted Titmouse 2 > Eastern Bluebird 2 > American Robin 2 > European Starling 25 > Dark-eyed Junco 3 > Northern Cardinal 1 > House Finch 6 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 = > (http://ebird.org/vt) > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:30:06 -0500 > From: Anne Hunter and Andrew Knafel > Subject: Snow Buntings Shaftsbury > > A flock of about 50+ Snow Buntings can be viewed by looking over = > our vegetable fields from the North Shafstbury Community House on Old = > Depot Road. Scan the field where the green winter-rye grass meets the = > brown winter killed oats. > > Andrew Knafel > > Shaftsbury=20= > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:27:56 -0500 > From: Tom Slayton > Subject: pileated in Montpelier > > Walking by the Winooski late today,a pileated woodpecker. Right behind the > Dept. of Liquor Control building, on the exercise path. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:27:01 -0500 > From: Jane Stein > Subject: Mercury in birds > > Fascinating and depressing article in the NYTimes about the fairly > recent discovery of mercury poisoning in NE songbirds, most notably > Rusty Blackbirds, Saltmarsh Sparrows and Wood Thrushes. It also affects > the poor bats, as if they needed more trouble, because they're so > long-lived that they can accumulate more of it. > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/science/study-finds-mercury-in-more-northeastern-bird-species.html?ref=science > > Two of those three mentioned bird species are in serious decline, and > you have to wonder whether mercury is at least partially responsible. > As far as I remember, the reason for the decline of those two species > has been a bit of a mystery, hasn't it? I haven't heard that wood > thrushes are, but maybe somebody here knows more? > > Reading this article about the effects of mercury poisoning is SO > reminiscent of the things DDT did to birds neurologically. > > Jane > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:19:33 -0500 > From: David Hoag > Subject: Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. > > January 28, Grand Isle > > I found three YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS > in Red Cedar / Honeysuckle / Barberry habitat > during a failed search for Bohemian Waxwings. > > At a different site, a BALD EAGLE had blocked my route. > Ordinarily, I wouldn't stare at a close eagle or hawk, > or aim a lens at one, for more than a second, > but because the goal was to get by ... one of many photos ... > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/25681757 AT N00/6779283407/in/pool-vtebird > > The eagle held its perch, even though I had to walk > directly under it a couple times on the dead-end path. > > Dave Hoag, Grand Isle > > ------------------------------ > > End of VTBIRD Digest - 27 Jan 2012 to 28 Jan 2012 (#2012-29) > ************************************************************ > Subject: Bald Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk, Pittsford - Jan 29 From: Susan Elliott <ovenbird14 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:23:48 -0800 There was a nice mixture of birds along the Cadwell Loop of the Pittsford Trails this morning. The highlight was an adult Bald Eagle as well as Eastern Bluebird (7), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2) and Red-winged Blackbird (6). Further north at the Pomainville WMA, also in Pittsford, a Rough-legged Hawk (light morph) was hovering over the fields. As we watched it an adult Bald Eagle flew by (possibly the same one as seen at the Cadwell Loop?). Along Union Street in Brandon another Rough-legged Hawk (dark morph) was flying over the fields. Pittsford Trails - Cadwell Loop Protocol: Traveling 2.3 mile(s) Comments:     one mink 21 species Bald Eagle  1 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Mourning Dove  15 Red-bellied Woodpecker  2 Downy Woodpecker  1 Hairy Woodpecker  1 Blue Jay  3 American Crow  7 Black-capped Chickadee  15 White-breasted Nuthatch  2 Brown Creeper  1 Carolina Wren  1 Eastern Bluebird  7 American Robin  15 European Starling  3 American Tree Sparrow  3 White-throated Sparrow  6 Northern Cardinal  2 Red-winged Blackbird  6 House Finch  2 American Goldfinch  8 Sue and Marv Elliott, Tracey and Millie Busony Subject: Re: ... and banded birds From: David Hoag <SR71BLBRD AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:40:30 -0500 Re: << "too young to fly" on July 13, 2004 in Varennes, Quebec >> A neck-collared Canada Goose seen in South Hero, December 27 was banded too young to fly on July 1, 2008 in Boucherville (near Varennes). D J Hoag, Grand Isle, VT Subject: Yesterday's highlights and banded birds From: Eric Hynes <erichynes28 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:19:49 -0500 Hello Vermont Birders: Last month I reported seeing a *Canada Goose with a neck collar* in a field along Route 7 near the Shelburne/Charlotte town line. Here is an image of the bird: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emhimages/6643733335/in/set-72157627782175313 A number of you on the Vermont listserv asked that I share if I got any information about it. Well, on Friday night, I received my certificate of appreciation from the bird banding lab that stated this goose was banded "too young to fly" on July 13, 2004 in Varennes, Quebec which is a suburb of Montreal. I think that is pretty neat and wonder where it has roamed the first seven years of its life. On Monday I stopped by Blodgett Beach in Burlington and failed for the fourth time to see the Iceland Gull that others have found there but I did see this *banded Ring-billed Gull* (F2K): http://www.flickr.com/photos/emhimages/6783290541/in/set-72157627782175313/ I will report back when/if I get word from the lab on this one. At the time I was getting the photo of the RBGU, I thought I saw a first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull in the background in the water. After getting this image, I focused on trying to relocate the LBBG but no luck. I didn't get to scrutinize it so I am not claiming there is one around but thought I better get birders thinking about it. Yesterday (Saturday) morning I hit a number of spots in Ferrisburg and Charlotte. My highlights were: 1. A *Great Blue Heron*, a *Belted Kingfisher*, and *five Bald Eagles* at Fort Cassin Road. I have yet to catch up to the Gadwalls that others keep reporting from this location. I realize waterfowl move around on the lake quite a bit but if anyone has any clues about where to look for them I would be most appreciative. 2. The continuing drake *Redhead* in Hawkins Bay, as viewed from Long Point, was close to shore. I was able to get a digiscope of him finally: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emhimages/6783291317/in/set-72157627782175313/ No sign of the Canvasback pair or the Northern Pintails that Ian had but there were *seven Bald Eagles* scattered about. 3. A *Merlin* was soaring over the intersection of Sand Road and Cross Road in Ferrisburg. 4. At Charlotte Town Beach, "the"* drake Green-winged Teal* that has been bouncing between locations in Shelburne and Charlotte was mixed in with all the other waterfowl along the shore. All 553 Canada Geese and 436 Common Goldeneyes scattered when an immature Bald Eagle cruised by - quite a show. Good birding, Eric Hynes South Burlington Subject: RW Blackbird at feeder From: Barbara Brosnan <bbrosnan AT GMAVT.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:14:25 -0500 One juvenile Red-winged Blackbird at our feeder this morning (8:30 am). We are wondering if this might be the same bird we saw a month ago. Barbara B. Weybridge Subject: Bennington Co From: MARIE HEMEON <mariekevinhemeon AT MSN.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:10:53 -0500 Nice start to this year's listing. We are ahead in number of lists for the month with a couple of days left. 165 last year to 177 so far. Down a bit on species count, 67 last year to 59 so far (some out of season sightings will bring this number higher if accepted). This number is low because of the lack, so far, of many winter species. Hopefully Feb. sees them winging into the Banana Belt for a while. We are almost to 10000 individuals and this number is up from 6372. Mostly due to large Robin and Canada Goose flocks. Of course so far, we are missing the large waxwing flocks of last year but, Bohemians are starting to show up in other places. If the Robins have spared some fruit, we still could get some large numbers of these. Nice improvements so far in our goal to outdo last year's stellar results. Have fun and keep birding. Kevin (not Marie) Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:08:26 -0500 Magnificent photo of that eagle, David! Jane On 1/28/2012 10:19 PM, David Hoag wrote: > January 28, Grand Isle > > I found three YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS > in Red Cedar / Honeysuckle / Barberry habitat > during a failed search for Bohemian Waxwings. > > At a different site, a BALD EAGLE had blocked my route. > Ordinarily, I wouldn't stare at a close eagle or hawk, > or aim a lens at one, for more than a second, > but because the goal was to get by ... one of many photos ... > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/25681757 AT N00/6779283407/in/pool-vtebird > > The eagle held its perch, even though I had to walk > directly under it a couple times on the dead-end path. > > Dave Hoag, Grand Isle > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4772 - Release Date: 01/28/12 Subject: Ft. Cassin From: Larry and Mona Rogers <4181rogers AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:05:30 -0500 > Fort Cassin, Addison, US-VT > Jan 28, 2012 2:15 PM - 2:35 PM > Protocol: Stationary > Comments: Went to Ft. Cassin which is always reliable for eagles at > this time of year. > 5 species > > Hooded Merganser 8 > Common Merganser 20 > Great Blue Heron 1 > Bald Eagle 6 2 adults, 1 sub-adult & 3 juvies > Great Black-backed Gull 2 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Subject: Yellow-rumped Warblers & white-tailed eagle, Grand Isle. From: David Hoag <SR71BLBRD AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:19:33 -0500 January 28, Grand Isle I found three YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in Red Cedar / Honeysuckle / Barberry habitat during a failed search for Bohemian Waxwings. At a different site, a BALD EAGLE had blocked my route. Ordinarily, I wouldn't stare at a close eagle or hawk, or aim a lens at one, for more than a second, but because the goal was to get by ... one of many photos ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/25681757 AT N00/6779283407/in/pool-vtebird The eagle held its perch, even though I had to walk directly under it a couple times on the dead-end path. Dave Hoag, Grand Isle Subject: Mercury in birds From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:27:01 -0500 Fascinating and depressing article in the NYTimes about the fairly recent discovery of mercury poisoning in NE songbirds, most notably Rusty Blackbirds, Saltmarsh Sparrows and Wood Thrushes. It also affects the poor bats, as if they needed more trouble, because they're so long-lived that they can accumulate more of it. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/science/study-finds-mercury-in-more-northeastern-bird-species.html?ref=science Two of those three mentioned bird species are in serious decline, and you have to wonder whether mercury is at least partially responsible. As far as I remember, the reason for the decline of those two species has been a bit of a mystery, hasn't it? I haven't heard that wood thrushes are, but maybe somebody here knows more? Reading this article about the effects of mercury poisoning is SO reminiscent of the things DDT did to birds neurologically. Jane Subject: pileated in Montpelier From: Tom Slayton <slayton.tom AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:27:56 -0500 Walking by the Winooski late today,a pileated woodpecker. Right behind the Dept. of Liquor Control building, on the exercise path. Subject: Snow Buntings Shaftsbury From: Anne Hunter and Andrew Knafel <anneandandrew AT CLEARBROOKFARM.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:30:06 -0500 A flock of about 50+ Snow Buntings can be viewed by looking over our vegetable fields from the North Shafstbury Community House on Old Depot Road. Scan the field where the green winter-rye grass meets the brown winter killed oats. Andrew Knafel Shaftsbury Subject: Arlington Kingfisher From: MARIE HEMEON <mariekevinhemeon AT MSN.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:01:46 -0500 Out of season Kingfisher in Arlington. Picture secured. LOL River Rd on the Battenkill, Bennington, US-VT Jan 28, 2012 10:02 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 5.4 mile(s) 12 species Rock Pigeon 7 Belted Kingfisher 1 Blue Jay 9 American Crow 19 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 American Robin 2 European Starling 25 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Northern Cardinal 1 House Finch 6 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt)