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Updated on Friday, May 9 at 08:56 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Northern Hawk-Owl,©Dan Lane

9 May May 9 sightings [Bruce and Mary Lou ]
9 May Re: Mystery song (oops) [Jane Schlossberg ]
9 May R-T Hummingbird in Jericho [June Schulte ]
9 May Yellow-thraoted vireo.... [Stephen Antell ]
9 May Shorebirds at Dead Creek [Allan Strong ]
9 May Herrick's Cove 5/9 [Julie Waters ]
9 May Re: Mystery song [Jane Schlossberg ]
9 May Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet? [Jane Stein ]
9 May Lefferts Pond - May 9 [Susan Elliott ]
9 May Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet? [Gregory Askew ]
9 May Re: 2008 Whip-poor-will survey [Richard Harlow ]
9 May Sherman Rd , Waitsfield 5/9/08 [Patricia Folsom ]
9 May Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet? [Jane Stein ]
9 May Re: Mystery song [Jane Stein ]
9 May 2008 Whip-poor-will survey [Rosalind Renfrew ]
9 May Mystery song [Gregory Askew ]
9 May White crowned sparrows in Brownington [carolyn boardman ]
9 May directions to Chukar [Evergreen Erb ]
9 May Pine siskins [Ernie Buford ]
9 May Carolina wren Pittsford , 5/8/08 []
9 May warbler []
9 May Chimney Swifts have returned to Waterbury [Graham Bates ]
9 May Bristol Waterworks [Gregory Askew ]
8 May Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet? [June Schulte ]
8 May Looking for plants [Deborah Lyter ]
8 May Yardbirds today + Sora calling at Allen Bros. Marsh [Julie Waters ]
8 May 5/8 at Herricks [Don Clark ]
8 May Pine Hill Park, Rutland VT. [TRACEY BUSONY ]
8 May Interspecies behavior [Jane Stein ]
8 May Re: chukar [Bruce ]
8 May Warblers in NEK [Bill & Jeanne Prue ]
8 May Chimney Swifts in Proctor [Roy Pilcher ]
8 May Northern Harrier in Pownal [Mundi Smithers ]
8 May chukar [Evergreen Erb ]
8 May wren []
8 May FOY eastern towhee, brown thrasher, rose-breasted grosbeak and house wren [Hilke Breder ]
8 May West Rutland Marsh [Carol Johnson ]
8 May Scarlet Tanager in Pownal [Mundi Smithers ]
8 May Northern Parula [Jim Mead ]
8 May White crowned Sparrow [Bruce and Mary Lou ]
8 May Re: Bobolink, etc. ["Flewelling, Joel" ]
8 May thrasher []
8 May Re: loon call [Betty Jillson ]
7 May Henwood Hill Rd. marsh & Herrick's Cove IBA [Lance Tanino ]
7 May The Birds of Shelburne Farms [Bruce MacPherson ]
7 May FOY in Brownsville [Marcia Baker ]
7 May Adventures in the NE Kingdom: BLVU, SPGR, Migrants [Michael Benjamin Lester ]
7 May Hummingbird presentation in Vergennes [Winslows ]
7 May hummer in Waitsfield [Patricia Folsom ]
7 May hummers in the NEK [carolyn boardman ]
7 May Suspected Mockingbird and Towhee in Monkton ["Lawrence, Miriam" ]
7 May Eastern Towhee under feeder in Westminster [Julie Waters ]

Subject: May 9 sightings
From: Bruce and Mary Lou <webson2 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:59:55 -0400
Today, first one male Rose-breasted Grosbeck showed up at my north feeder as a 
FOY bird, followed by another male and female RB Grosbeck later in the day. 
Male E. Kingbirds were sparring off in the trees across the road and a 
Baltimore Oriole was feeding there in the crabapples for two more first 
sightings. The north feeder also had a second White-crowned Sparrow join the 
other WCS who has been feeding here all week. Ovenbird has been singing out in 
our woods for days now, but no Wood Thrush has taken up their usual residence 
yet. 


Mary Lou Webster
Brandon
Subject: Re: Mystery song (oops)
From: Jane Schlossberg <avesong AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:40:21 -0400
OOps, Here's the URL for the white-crowned sparrow audio story I mentioned 
before: 





http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=189



Hope you can get it.




Jane

Saint Geogre


-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Stein 
To: avesong AT AOL.COM
Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 8:27 pm
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Mystery song


[off-list] 
 
Hi, Jane-- 
 
I don't believe the URL you mean to post actually got into your message. Could 
you try it again? I'd be very interested in having a listen. I love the way 
these guys sing, and I know just enough to know that there are quite a few 
dialects and I'd be very interested to hear some of them, if that's what's on 
the site you mentioned.  

 
Thanks! 
 
The Other Jane 
 
Jane Schlossberg wrote: 
 
> Greg, I agree with Jane, and if it is the white-crowned sparrow, you've done 
a great job "translating" its song. Here is a good website with an audio 
journal devoted to this species' song. Let us know if that sounds right!  

> > > > Jane 
> > Saint George 
> > > -----Original Message----- 
> From: Jane Stein  
> To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU 




-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Schlossberg 
To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 6:41 pm
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Mystery song








Greg, I agree with Jane, and if it is the white-crowned sparrow, you've done a 
great job "translating" its song. Here is a good website with an audio journal 
devoted to this species' song. Let us know if that sounds right!



Jane

Saint George


-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Stein 
To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:17 am
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Mystery song







I always have a very hard time "hearing" song in human text 
transliterations, but there's a White-Crowned Sparrow singing 
away right outside my window as I sit at the computer, and the 
general form of its song would seem to fit, particularly that 
insitial firm "sure" note followed by a quicker, slightly more 
vague pattern.  Have you tried listening to examples of that? 
They actually do vary quite a bit, so examples you find on the 
Web may not match note for note what you've heard, so listen more 
for the tonal quality and the general shape of the song. 
 

Jane 

Shoreham 
 

Gregory Askew wrote: 

> Here at Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes there are two birds singing a 
song  


> I can't quite place. We have a pretty open campus with scattered trees. The 

> birds in question must be a passerine and one was singing fairly high in a 

> maple. 

> The song went like this... 

> Sure te-o te-o too too sure 

> The first note was the longest, the second and third were quicker and 

> identical, and the last three had a buzzy quality. 

> Any thoughts? 

> 
> Greg 

> Vergennes 

> 
> 


 



 
Subject: R-T Hummingbird in Jericho
From: June Schulte <jschulte AT TOGETHER.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:08:40 -0400
The first female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird was seen at our porch 
feeder yesterday.  :-)

Today four crows were cawing and doing air aerobics over the back yard.
Could that be mating ritual or reaction to fox kits in the area?

~ June in Jericho
Subject: Yellow-thraoted vireo....
From: Stephen Antell <leafan AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:35:21 -0400
singing at noon at Woodside Park in Essex Jct today by the bench overlooking
the water.

 

Steve Antell
Subject: Shorebirds at Dead Creek
From: Allan Strong <allan.strong AT UVM.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:48:14 -0400
Today (Friday 9 May) there was a sizable concentration of shorebirds at the 
goose viewing area at Dead Creek WMA.  The birds were in the (rapidly 
drying) puddle at the west end of the road.  Ted Murin and I counted:
~100 Least Sandpipers
47 Lesser Yellowlegs
8 Semipalmated Plovers
1 Pectoral Sandpiper

Unfortunately there isn't much water remaining in the pool, so this habitat 
probably won't last much longer.

Allan



*******************************************************************
Allan M. Strong
University of Vermont
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
347 Aiken Center
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-2910
*******************************************************************
Subject: Herrick's Cove 5/9
From: Julie Waters <julie AT RIVERARTSPROJECT.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 18:47:13 -0400
Common Yellowthroats were out in force today and the Blue-Gray 
Gnatcatcher pair was quite visible at one point.  The highlight of 
the day for me was a Great Crested Flycatcher, which is a life bird 
for me.  Also got a really nice photo of a feeding oriole this 
morning.

Photos at:

http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/_2008-05-09.php

--julie
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
julie AT riverartsproject.com                    http://juliewaters.com/

	We've heard that a million monkeys at a million
	keyboards could produce the Complete Works of
	Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know
	this is not true.

			--Robert Wilensky
Subject: Re: Mystery song
From: Jane Schlossberg <avesong AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 18:41:07 -0400
Greg, I agree with Jane, and if it is the white-crowned sparrow, you've done a 
great job "translating" its song. Here is a good website with an audio journal 
devoted to this species' song. Let us know if that sounds right! 




Jane

Saint George


-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Stein 
To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:17 am
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Mystery song







I always have a very hard time "hearing" song in human text 
transliterations, but there's a White-Crowned Sparrow singing 
away right outside my window as I sit at the computer, and the 
general form of its song would seem to fit, particularly that 
insitial firm "sure" note followed by a quicker, slightly more 
vague pattern.  Have you tried listening to examples of that? 
They actually do vary quite a bit, so examples you find on the 
Web may not match note for note what you've heard, so listen more 
for the tonal quality and the general shape of the song. 
 

Jane 

Shoreham 
 

Gregory Askew wrote: 

> Here at Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes there are two birds singing a 
song  


> I can't quite place. We have a pretty open campus with scattered trees. The 

> birds in question must be a passerine and one was singing fairly high in a 

> maple. 

> The song went like this... 

> Sure te-o te-o too too sure 

> The first note was the longest, the second and third were quicker and 

> identical, and the last three had a buzzy quality. 

> Any thoughts? 

> 
> Greg 

> Vergennes 

> 
> 


 
Subject: Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:11:22 -0400
Very interesting thought.  It's a little confusing, though, to 
figure out in this circumstance who's doing the dominating and 
who's doing the submission.

Since food begging is only done by juveniles and females, 
wouldn't that be more likely to be the submissive behavior? 
Making yourself look smaller and weaker-- in this case by 
hunching down and letting your wings droop-- is the way 
submissive critters demonstrate to potential aggressors of the 
same species that they are no threat.

Your implication is surely right that it's the Bluejay's behavior 
that is, um, inventive, where the WP is pretty much responding 
automatically.

Jane


Gregory Askew wrote:

> What if King Jay was simply exacting tribute from his minion, woodpecker,
> with the promise not to eat her eggs this season?
> On a serious note, I wonder if there's evidence of interspecific
> relationships of domination and submission, especially given the
> intelligence and well-documented sociality of the corvids.
> Greg
> Vergennes
> 
> 
> On 5/9/08, Jane Stein  wrote:
> 
>>I've not seen any newly fledged birds yet, including Bluejays, and they're
>>pretty hard to miss, especially the food begging noise!
>>
>>In the case of my two confused birds, misplaced courtship seems to me more
>>likely what was going on with the Bluejay, and one can't blame the Bluejay
>>for not recognizing that the woodpecker it was displaying to was a female,
>>nor the woodpecker for mistaking courtship begging for fledgling begging, I
>>guess.
>>
>>Still, very peculiar.
>>
>>Jane
>>Shoreham
>>
>>
>>
>>June Schulte wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
>>>
>>>I sent Jane's question about the Bluejay being fed suet by a Downy
>>>Woodpecker to
>>>my son who is a wildlife biologist, and below is his take on it.   ~ June
>>>in Jericho
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>My guess is that this is a recently fledged blue jay and the downy
>>>woodpecker has young back in the nest. The blue jay is begging to anything
>>>it sees that has food and the downy woodpecker's feeding response is
>>>triggered by the behavior since it is geared up to feed babies at the
>>>moment. Birds are usually triggered to feed their young by the begging sound
>>>and the sight of the bright yellow/orange/red lining of the mouth of young
>>>birds. I guess this is just one overstimulated woodpecker. Pretty funny.
>>> The only other option is that female blue jays will display like that to
>>>males as part of the courtship display, but I doubt one would do that to a
>>>woodpecker!
>>>
>>>
>>>
> 
> 
> 
Subject: Lefferts Pond - May 9
From: Susan Elliott <ovenbird14 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:48:33 -0700
We observed a good number of species and plenty
of bird song around Lefferts Pond this morning.
Also, a common loon was calling on Chittenden
Reservoir.

Location:     Lefferts Pond
Observation date:     5/9/08
Number of species:     47
 
Canada Goose 14
Wood Duck  4
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  9
Ring-necked Duck  2
Hooded Merganser  2
Common Merganser  2
Ruffed Grouse  6  all drumming
Osprey  1  sitting on nest on platform
Wilson's Snipe   2
Chimney Swift  4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  3
Least Flycatcher     1
Blue-headed Vireo  5  one gathering nesting
material
Blue Jay 6
American Crow  2
Common Raven  1
Tree Swallow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  10
Red-breasted Nuthatch  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Brown Creeper  3
Winter Wren  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  4
American Robin  7
Nashville Warbler     1
Northern Parula  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler  11
Black-throated Green Warbler  8
Blackburnian Warbler  4
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Ovenbird  7
Northern Waterthrush 7
Common Yellowthroat  3
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  6
Dark-eyed Junco  4 one gathering nesting
material
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle  5
Purple Finch  3
American Goldfinch  4

Sue and Marv Elliott



 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 

Subject: Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
From: Gregory Askew <gregory.askew AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:01:51 -0400
What if King Jay was simply exacting tribute from his minion, woodpecker,
with the promise not to eat her eggs this season?
On a serious note, I wonder if there's evidence of interspecific
relationships of domination and submission, especially given the
intelligence and well-documented sociality of the corvids.
Greg
Vergennes


On 5/9/08, Jane Stein  wrote:
>
> I've not seen any newly fledged birds yet, including Bluejays, and they're
> pretty hard to miss, especially the food begging noise!
>
> In the case of my two confused birds, misplaced courtship seems to me more
> likely what was going on with the Bluejay, and one can't blame the Bluejay
> for not recognizing that the woodpecker it was displaying to was a female,
> nor the woodpecker for mistaking courtship begging for fledgling begging, I
> guess.
>
> Still, very peculiar.
>
> Jane
> Shoreham
>
>
>
> June Schulte wrote:
>
>> Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
>>
>> I sent Jane's question about the Bluejay being fed suet by a Downy
>> Woodpecker to
>> my son who is a wildlife biologist, and below is his take on it.   ~ June
>> in Jericho
>>
>>
>>
>> My guess is that this is a recently fledged blue jay and the downy
>> woodpecker has young back in the nest. The blue jay is begging to anything
>> it sees that has food and the downy woodpecker's feeding response is
>> triggered by the behavior since it is geared up to feed babies at the
>> moment. Birds are usually triggered to feed their young by the begging sound
>> and the sight of the bright yellow/orange/red lining of the mouth of young
>> birds. I guess this is just one overstimulated woodpecker. Pretty funny.
>>  The only other option is that female blue jays will display like that to
>> males as part of the courtship display, but I doubt one would do that to a
>> woodpecker!
>>
>>
>>
Subject: Re: 2008 Whip-poor-will survey
From: Richard Harlow <raharlow AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:00:18 -0400
Rosalind,

I will be delighted to help with Hinesburg.

Richard

Richard Harlow
WANAKA Field Station
Arrowhead Lake
Milton, VT



Rosalind Renfrew wrote:
> For those of you who are in withdrawals and looking for something fun 
> to do this summer:
> Night birding!
>
> It's time for the Whip-poor-will survey, and there are survey routes 
> that need volunteers. Anyone can participate; the call of the 
> Whip-poor-will is easily recognized!
>
> Vermont takes part in this standardized survey effort each year to 
> count Nightjars from Maine to Florida. Now in its third year, the 
> Nightjar survey project is mapping and monitoring the distribution of 
> Whip-poor-wills (in Vermont) and other Nightjars. These species are 
> declining throughout some or all of their range. The surveys collect 
> baseline information about the distribution and abundance of these 
> species - the first important step towards establishing a conservation 
> strategy.
>
> The survey consists of stops along a road route, and it will require 
> two of your evenings, about 2 hours per evening. The first survey 
> window is coming up, 15-28 May. The second survey window is 11-26 
> June. The routes that need coverage are in:
>
> Vernon
> Guilford
> Salisbury
> Peacham
> Bennington
> Hinesburg
> Rutland
>
> If you're interested in helping out, please let me know what route you 
> can help with, and I'll send details right away.
>
> Cheers,
> Rosalind
>
Subject: Sherman Rd , Waitsfield 5/9/08
From: Patricia Folsom <pfols AT GMAVT.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:29:52 -0400
> Hi Birders,
> Great Sherman Rd walk this morning with friends.  Blackburnians were 
> singing and low, outstanding looks and none of us with a camera! 
> Bobolinks back in the area, more Hermit Thrushes than I've ever seen in 
> one day (more abundant than Robins!).  Good looks at Broadwing and 
> Cooper's, circling overhead.  We kept hunting until we located an 
> Ovenbird - very exciting morning.
>
> Happy birding,
> Pat
>
>
> - > Observation date:     5/9/08
>> Number of species:     39
>>
>> Canada Goose     2
>> Common Merganser     1
>> Cooper's Hawk     1
>> Broad-winged Hawk     1
>> Mourning Dove     2
>> Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1
>> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     2
>> Downy Woodpecker     1
>> Hairy Woodpecker     2
>> Northern Flicker     1
>> Pileated Woodpecker     1
>> Eastern Phoebe     2
>> Blue-headed Vireo     2
>> Blue Jay     20
>> American Crow     3
>> Tree Swallow     X
>> Barn Swallow     4
>> Black-capped Chickadee     6
>> White-breasted Nuthatch     1
>> Hermit Thrush     X
>> American Robin     4
>> European Starling     1
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler     2
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler     2
>> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     4
>> Black-throated Green Warbler     2
>> Blackburnian Warbler     X
>> Ovenbird     4
>> Chipping Sparrow     X
>> Savannah Sparrow     1
>> Song Sparrow     X
>> White-throated Sparrow     5
>> White-crowned Sparrow     4
>> Dark-eyed Junco     6
>> Bobolink     1
>> Red-winged Blackbird     X
>> Common Grackle     2
>> Purple Finch     2
>> American Goldfinch     2
>>
>> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/vt)
>>
> 
Subject: Re: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:25:39 -0400
I've not seen any newly fledged birds yet, including Bluejays, 
and they're pretty hard to miss, especially the food begging noise!

In the case of my two confused birds, misplaced courtship seems 
to me more likely what was going on with the Bluejay, and one 
can't blame the Bluejay for not recognizing that the woodpecker 
it was displaying to was a female, nor the woodpecker for 
mistaking courtship begging for fledgling begging, I guess.

Still, very peculiar.

Jane
Shoreham



June Schulte wrote:
> Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
> 
> I sent Jane's question about the Bluejay being fed suet by a Downy 
> Woodpecker to
> my son who is a wildlife biologist, and below is his take on it.   ~ 
> June in Jericho
> 
> 
> 
> My guess is that this is a recently fledged blue jay and the downy 
> woodpecker has young back in the nest. The blue jay is begging to 
> anything it sees that has food and the downy woodpecker's feeding 
> response is triggered by the behavior since it is geared up to feed 
> babies at the moment. Birds are usually triggered to feed their young by 
> the begging sound and the sight of the bright yellow/orange/red lining 
> of the mouth of young birds. I guess this is just one overstimulated 
> woodpecker. Pretty funny.  The only other option is that female blue 
> jays will display like that to males as part of the courtship display, 
> but I doubt one would do that to a woodpecker!
> 
> 
Subject: Re: Mystery song
From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:17:48 -0400
I always have a very hard time "hearing" song in human text 
transliterations, but there's a White-Crowned Sparrow singing 
away right outside my window as I sit at the computer, and the 
general form of its song would seem to fit, particularly that 
insitial firm "sure" note followed by a quicker, slightly more 
vague pattern.  Have you tried listening to examples of that? 
They actually do vary quite a bit, so examples you find on the 
Web may not match note for note what you've heard, so listen more 
for the tonal quality and the general shape of the song.

Jane
Shoreham

Gregory Askew wrote:
> Here at Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes there are two birds singing a song
> I can't quite place. We have a pretty open campus with scattered trees. The
> birds in question must be a passerine and one was singing fairly high in a
> maple.
> The song went like this...
> Sure te-o te-o too too sure
> The first note was the longest, the second and third were quicker and
> identical, and the last three had a buzzy quality.
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Greg
> Vergennes
> 
> 
Subject: 2008 Whip-poor-will survey
From: Rosalind Renfrew <rrenfrew AT VTECOSTUDIES.ORG>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:09:20 -0400
For those of you who are in withdrawals and looking for something fun to 
do this summer:
Night birding!

It's time for the Whip-poor-will survey, and there are survey routes 
that need volunteers. Anyone can participate; the call of the 
Whip-poor-will is easily recognized!

Vermont takes part in this standardized survey effort each year to count 
Nightjars from Maine to Florida. Now in its third year, the Nightjar 
survey project is mapping and monitoring the distribution of 
Whip-poor-wills (in Vermont) and other Nightjars. These species are 
declining throughout some or all of their range. The surveys collect 
baseline information about the distribution and abundance of these 
species - the first important step towards establishing a conservation 
strategy.

The survey consists of stops along a road route, and it will require two 
of your evenings, about 2 hours per evening. The first survey window is 
coming up, 15-28 May. The second survey window is 11-26 June. The routes 
that need coverage are in:

Vernon
Guilford
Salisbury
Peacham
Bennington
Hinesburg
Rutland

If you're interested in helping out, please let me know what route you 
can help with, and I'll send details right away.

Cheers,
Rosalind

-- 
Rosalind Renfrew, PhD
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 X 5
rrenfrew AT vtecostudies.org
www.vtecostudies.org
Subject: Mystery song
From: Gregory Askew <gregory.askew AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:17:44 -0400
Here at Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes there are two birds singing a song
I can't quite place. We have a pretty open campus with scattered trees. The
birds in question must be a passerine and one was singing fairly high in a
maple.
The song went like this...
Sure te-o te-o too too sure
The first note was the longest, the second and third were quicker and
identical, and the last three had a buzzy quality.
Any thoughts?

Greg
Vergennes
Subject: White crowned sparrows in Brownington
From: carolyn boardman <carolyn.boardman AT HUGHES.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:28:21 -0400
5 White crowned sparrows were feeding madly on the ground under the feeder 
this morning
Brownington


carolyn boardman
Subject: directions to Chukar
From: Evergreen Erb <evergreenerb AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:52:21 -0400
Hi All,

Wendy Kent, whose house the Chukar is located at, said that it is  
still there this morning, and that she doesn't mind anyone coming to  
see it.  I would ask people to respect the neighbors there and to stay  
in the street.  It was very visible in the lawns of the houses when I  
saw him there yesterday.

If you are coming from Burlington on rt. fifteen, come into Jericho  
past Joe's Snack Bar and the curve (staying on 15) go up the hill and  
you will pass the post office, J. Elementary School, and a big horse  
farm.  About 1/2 mile more or less past that is a street called  
Raceway on the left.  It is right before the Merchants Bank.  Turn  
left there and follow the road for about a mile, or less, and then  
turn left up into a development with a big brown colonial on the  
corner.  The road goes up a fairly steep hill.  At the top, curve to  
the right, and then a few hundred feet later, curve to the left, still  
going up hill.  The Kent's house is about six or seven houses up on  
the right.  It is a yellow colonial with a flag pole, and is directly  
across from a street going to the left.  She said the bird is still  
hanging out in her yard and in the yard of the people in the house to  
the right of hers.  Again, please stay off people's property unless  
invited on. The name of the neighborhood is called "The Foothills" in  
case you have to ask anyone.

I realize, and realized then, that this is probably an escapee from  
somewhere, but it really is so pretty and fun to see.  I guess they  
can survive in our area during the winter.  Who knows how this bird  
found a suburban neighborhood to hang out in for awhile?  Happy  
Birding! Evergreen on Old Pump Rd. in Jericho
Subject: Pine siskins
From: Ernie Buford <ebuford AT UVM.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:11:54 -0400
Nine siskins hanging around my yard this morning in Richmond....

Ernie
Subject: Carolina wren Pittsford , 5/8/08
From: 2birdvt AT COMCAST.NET
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:31:16 +0000
Yesterday at the recreation field the following was observed.

Sue Wetmore
-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org
To: 2birdvt AT comcast.net
Subject: eBird Report - Pittsford , 5/8/08
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:23:40 +0000
> 
> 
> Location:     Pittsford
> Observation date:     5/8/08
> Notes:     Carolina Wren was feeding nestlings.
> Number of species:     20
> 
> Downy Woodpecker     1
> Northern Flicker     1
> Eastern Phoebe     2
> Blue-headed Vireo     1
> Blue Jay     3
> American Crow     1
> Northern Rough-winged Swallow     2
> Black-capped Chickadee     1
> Tufted Titmouse     1
> White-breasted Nuthatch     1
> Carolina Wren     1
> Wood Thrush     1
> American Robin     2
> Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
> Ovenbird     2
> Scarlet Tanager     1
> Chipping Sparrow     1
> Song Sparrow     2
> Brown-headed Cowbird     X
> American Goldfinch     1
> 
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/vt)

Subject: warbler
From: 2birdvt AT COMCAST.NET
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:17:25 +0000
A YELLOW WARBLER singing this morning along with a WARBLING VIREO. Two MEADOWLARKS at the old training school property north of Brandon.

Sue Wetmore

Subject: Chimney Swifts have returned to Waterbury
From: Graham Bates <batesg AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 07:08:10 -0400
Yesterday afternoon the chimney swifts were a-twittering away over
Waterbury...first time I have seen (or heard) them this year.  A great
sound...

Graham Bates
Waterbury
-- 
http://teamrunswithscissors.blogspot.com/
Subject: Bristol Waterworks
From: Gregory Askew <gregory.askew AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 06:02:38 -0400
Yesterday:
Least Flycatchers
Great-crested Flycatchers
No. Oriole
...among others.

Warbler species:
Ovenbird
Yellow
Yellow-rumped
Pine
Blackburnian
Subject: Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?
From: June Schulte <jschulte AT TOGETHER.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 22:31:07 -0400
Has anyone seen newly fledged birds yet?

I sent Jane's question about the Bluejay being fed suet by a Downy 
Woodpecker to
my son who is a wildlife biologist, and below is his take on it.   ~ 
June in Jericho



My guess is that this is a recently fledged blue jay and the downy 
woodpecker has young back in the nest. The blue jay is begging to 
anything it sees that has food and the downy woodpecker's feeding 
response is triggered by the behavior since it is geared up to feed 
babies at the moment. Birds are usually triggered to feed their young 
by the begging sound and the sight of the bright yellow/orange/red 
lining of the mouth of young birds. I guess this is just one 
overstimulated woodpecker. Pretty funny.  The only other option is 
that female blue jays will display like that to males as part of the 
courtship display, but I doubt one would do that to a woodpecker!
Subject: Looking for plants
From: Deborah Lyter <mndlyter AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:54:39 -0400
Hi all,
We have alot of open space in our yard as well as near the wooded areas of 
our home. Our hopes is to make this all more bird and butterfly friendly. Would 

love to get new species of birds coming in. 
If while any of you are thinning out your perrenial gardens including ground 
covers or most any type of perrenial flower, please let me know before tossing 
it away. We would love many kinds to fill in !!
You can send message through here or email us at mndlyter AT comcast.net
Thanks so much!!
Debbie Lyter
Bristol, VT
Subject: Yardbirds today + Sora calling at Allen Bros. Marsh
From: Julie Waters <julie AT RIVERARTSPROJECT.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:25:26 -0400
First, a quick pass through Allen Brothers Marsh yielded a calling 
sora, but no visuals on it.

When I got home this evening, the feeders were a bit busy.

After yesterday's Eastern Towhee, the surprises continued.  Under the 
feeders this morning was a Brown Thrasher.  It showed up again when I 
got home and I was able to get a photo of it.

There was also a FOY ruby-throated hummingbird at our feeders today. 
Got photos of that as well.  Also included were gorgeous looks at a 
rose-breasted grosbeak and a tufted titmouse.

A real treat for me this afternoon was an American Redstart which 
just showed up and started bobbing about in the brush near the 
feeders while I was waiting for hummingbirds.  I can not tell you how 
much work I've put into getting not very good photos of redstarts, so 
to be presented with such a solid look at one was a real treat.

Finally, the orioles have been coming in a bit over the last few 
days, but never while I've been in a position to take photos.  So I 
tried something that a friend of mine said has worked for her.  I 
tried calling one in by whistling out my own mimicry of its call.  I 
didn't think it was working but about 90 seconds after I'd stopped, 
one showed up and presented itself in the tree.  Then it landed on 
the feeder pole.  I expected it to go for the suet, which is what 
they ate a lot of last year.

That's not where it was headed.

Several years ago, we had an oriole feeder that the orioles never 
touched.  Hummingbirds were at it a lot, but never an oriole.  We 
eventually replaced it with a hummingbird feeder that worked 
perfectly well.

Today, the oriole landed on the hummingbird feeder.

These birds just don't know how they're supposed to behave.

Photos at http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/_2008-05-08.php

--julie
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
julie AT riverartsproject.com                    http://juliewaters.com/

	We've heard that a million monkeys at a million
	keyboards could produce the Complete Works of
	Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know
	this is not true.

			--Robert Wilensky
Subject: 5/8 at Herricks
From: Don Clark <sapsbks AT SOVER.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:29:51 -0400
Some of what was at Herricks this AM
2 Kingbird
3 Least Flycatcher
2 Gt crested Flycatcher
1 Willow Flycatcher
4 Warbling Vireo
9 Yellowthroats
Ovenbird
3 Yellow-rump
5 Yellow W
Osprey
8  B. Oriole
2 Winter Wren
12 Catbird
4 Wt Crowned Sp.
2 Wt Throats
10 Lesser Yellowlegs
3 Gt Yellowlegs
8 Least Sandpipers

5/6 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, 2 B&W Warbler, N Waterthrush, Thrasher,  
Palm Warblers, Savannahs, Bobolink, RB Grosbeak

Don Clark
Grafton
Subject: Pine Hill Park, Rutland VT.
From: TRACEY BUSONY <curtandtracey27 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:04:32 -0400
Finally things came alive at Pine Hill !



1 Mourning Dove
3 Robins
2 Chickadees
4 American Goldfinch
1 American Redstart
1 Blk. and Wh. Warbler
1 Ovenbird
2 Blue Jays
6 White-throated Sparrows
1 Least Flycatcher


Tracey 
Subject: Interspecies behavior
From: Jane Stein <jeshawks AT SHOREHAM.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:10:17 -0400
I just looked out my window and saw the darnedest thing.  I have 
one of those house-shaped hanging feeders with suet cages on 
either end.  Sitting on the ledge of the feeder, with wings 
drooping in a begging posture, was a bluejay -- presumably adult 
this time of year? -- being fed bits of suet by a female Downy 
Woodpecker at the suet feeder.

What the...?

If it had been one of the Hairy WPs--

There, they just did it again!

--at least we'd be talking birds of similar size.  If it was 
post-nesting and the Downy female was in the midst of feeding her 
own young bits at the feeder, at least the behaviors would make 
some sort of sense.

But why in the world is an adult bluejay begging from a downy 
woodpecker this time of year, and why would the woodpecker feed it?

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Jane
Baffled in Shoreham...
Subject: Re: chukar
From: Bruce <mooseberrybush AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:03:49 -0700
In case you're interested: Chukars are raised and released by people who train 
dogs for bird hunting,. So the birds you see might not represent established 
populations. (That's important to some listers and not others.) They're still 
pretty cool looking birds! 

   
  Bruce Parfitt
  Johnson, VT

  
Evergreen Erb  wrote:
  A friend of mine here in Jericho called me a few hours ago to report a 
Chukar had been hanging out between her house and a neighbors, in a 
suburban neighborhood. I went up and saw it....what a gorgeous bird. 
I saw Gray Partridge in northern Vermont near Lake Champlain many 
years ago, but this was definitely a first for me. If you are 
interested in taking a look ( who knows how long it will hang around), 
email me off list and I will give you directions there. Evergreen in 
Jericho


       
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.
Subject: Warblers in NEK
From: Bill & Jeanne Prue <wjprue AT JEANNERAECRAFTS.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:41:11 -0400
The problem with reading this email list for us here in the Northeast 
Kingdom is that we have to be so-o-o patient! Some of you were reporting 
warblers while we still had a foot of snow on the ground. But finally, 
they've returned.
In our yard in Newport:
5/5 - Yellow-rumped warbler, first of the year
Today, they just fell out of the sky!
5/8 - Redstart
Black-throated Blue Warblers
Black-throated Green Warblers
Northern Parula
Black and white Warbler
Pine Warbler

The hummers have traditionally returned to Newport on May 8. Right on 
schedule, a beautiful male Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up today to 
feast on the daffodils, tulips and hyacinth.

Newport's had it's share of bears in the past week also, two adults and two 
cubs. We've been taking our feeders in at night now. But we heard of one 
resident who left a feeder that was located high on their house, thinking it 
was safe from bear raids. Maybe it was, but now the house has big claw marks 
all down the side.

Bill & Jeanne Prue
Newport 
Subject: Chimney Swifts in Proctor
From: Roy Pilcher <ShamwariVT AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:49:56 EDT
Location:     Proctor
Observation date:   5/8/08
Number of species:     7

Turkey  Vulture     2
Merlin     1
Chimney  Swift     5
Tufted Titmouse     X
Carolina  Wren     1
American Robin     X
Northern  Cardinal     X

This report was generated automatically by  eBird v2(http://ebird.org/vt)


Cheers,
Roy Pilcher
The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland,  Vermont

Speaking the same language.



**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
favorites at AOL Food.      
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Subject: Northern Harrier in Pownal
From: Mundi Smithers <amenfarm AT WILDBLUE.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:31:08 -0400
FOY Northern Harier just sailed through our meadws!!!
Mundi
 
Mundi Smithers
 
Subject: chukar
From: Evergreen Erb <evergreenerb AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:29:39 -0400
A friend of mine here in Jericho called me a few hours ago to report a  
Chukar had been hanging out between her house and a neighbors, in a  
suburban neighborhood.  I went up and saw it....what a gorgeous bird.   
I saw Gray Partridge in northern Vermont near Lake Champlain many  
years ago, but this was definitely a first for me.  If you are  
interested in taking a look ( who knows how long it will hang around),  
email me off list and I will give you directions there.  Evergreen in  
Jericho
Subject: wren
From: 2birdvt AT COMCAST.NET
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 16:33:27 +0000
Today in Pittsford a CAROLINA WREN feeding nestlings. The nest is located under the eave of a carport. 

Sue Wetmore

Subject: FOY eastern towhee, brown thrasher, rose-breasted grosbeak and house wren
From: Hilke Breder <hbreder AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:18:11 -0400
Several FOY birds showed up in my backyard over the  past couple of days:

a female eastern towhee on the grass around the feeder, a brown thrasher 
hammering away 

on something in the ground for several minutes, and a red-breasted grosbeak 
returned 

several times to the sunflower seed feeder. While in my closed-in porch I saw a 
house wren 

singing and hopping around in the rhododendron outside the window. I had to 
take a picture 

of that one too, although shot through glass and a screen. Here are some 
photos: 



http://www.onejackdaw.com/My%20NA%20Birds%20Gallery/Brown_Thrasher.html
http://www.onejackdaw.com/My%20NA%20Birds%20Gallery/Eastern_Towhee.html
http://www.onejackdaw.com/My%20NA%20Birds%20Gallery/HouseWren_Red-
breasted_Grosbeak.html

Hilke Breder
Brattleboro
Subject: West Rutland Marsh
From: Carol Johnson <carol AT PETERMANSHIPDESIGNS.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 08:31:47 -0400
Birded the West Rutland Marsh and found the following:
EasternTowhee  4
Baltimore Oriole  3
Yellow Warbler  1
Pheobe  1 
Marsh Wrens   many
Swamp Sparrow  5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Catbird  3
Wood duck  1
Mallards   5 m 
Song,Tree sparrows
Canada Geese
Chickadees
Red-wings everywhere
Tree Swallows
Flicker  1
Raven  1
Robins
Goldfinch  5
Pileated woodpeckers  2
Broad-wing Hawk  1 on Rt 4
Grackles  
 A total of 25 species of bird,one Wood Chuck and five Butterflies
which were :
Silvery Blue  2  Photos at:
http://carolandpetes.blogspot.com/2008/05/silvery-blue-butterfly.html

Morning Cloak  1
Comma  1
Cabbage White  3
And what I think was a Spricebrush Swallowtail
A very nice day at the marsh

Good Birding
Carol and Pete
Ludlow Vt
http://carolandpetes.blogspot.com
Subject: Scarlet Tanager in Pownal
From: Mundi Smithers <amenfarm AT WILDBLUE.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 08:17:29 -0400
On a hike in our woods yesterday I had a lovely look at my FOY Scarlet
Tanager and a wonderful opportunity to listen to a Winter Wren sing.  I
suspect that the wren won't be staying around but I can hope!!
Mundi
Pownal
 
Mundi Smithers
 
Subject: Northern Parula
From: Jim Mead <jlmead AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:47:45 -0400
Hi All,

A quick trip to Woodside Natural Area this morning presented me with great 
looks at a Northern Parula feeding high in the trees at the entrance to the 
trail. 


Enjoy Birds,

Jim Mead
Subject: White crowned Sparrow
From: Bruce and Mary Lou <webson2 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:30:18 -0400
Yesterday, May 7, my FOY White crowned Sparrow showed up in the yard along with 
a small group of 5 Siskins. It was a treat to see them again. Monday, May 5, 
while stocking fish down in the Rawsonville area along the Windhall River I saw 
a Merlin and heard Black throated Blue and Black throated Green Warblers, Black 
and White Warblers. There were Spotted Sandpipers along several sections of the 
river. On another outing on Tuesday up into Addison Co. I heard my FOY catbird 
calling from the edge of an old orchard in an area just north of Snake Mt. The 
humming bird feeder is out and ready. 


Mary Lou Webster
Brandon
Subject: Re: Bobolink, etc.
From: "Flewelling, Joel" <Joel.Flewelling AT STATE.VT.US>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:12:18 -0400
I also heard a loon calling as it was flying over yesterday at around
12:00 in Shrewsbury.

**************************************************
Joel Flewelling, Fish and Wildlife Specialist
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
271 North Main Street, Suite 215
Rutland, VT 05701-2423
(802) 786-3879 Office


Also, I heard something that sounded very much like a loon.   Possibly
this 
was some hunter trying to summon a turkey - I cannot imagine finding a
loon 
yodeling on the top of a mountain nowhere near any large body of water.

Cheers!

Davie Rolnick
Rupert, VT
Subject: thrasher
From: 2birdvt AT COMCAST.NET
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:57:05 +0000
A first for my yard---BROWN THRASHER feeding and fending off jays from ground seed.
Also present WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 
I'm still waiting for the hummers.

Sue Wetmore

Subject: Re: loon call
From: Betty Jillson <bljillson AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 02:13:47 +0000
I had a common Loon fly over me in the mist as I was near the top of White 
Rocks in Wallingford on my way to watch hawks early one morning. 

 
Betty Jillson
PO Box 58
Bridgewater Corners
VT 05035> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:33:05 -0400> From: fogleman AT MVGALAXY.COM> 
Subject: [VTBIRD] loon call> To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU> > Hi Davie,> > Maybe you 
did hear a loon. They do sometimes call in flight, and they are> migrating 
right now. I've heard them in the funniest and most unexpected> places, such as 
right over downtown Montpelier!> > Susan Fogleman> Campton NH> > -----Original 
Message-----> From: Vermont Birds [mailto:VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of 
David Rolnick> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 9:56 AM> To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU> 
Subject: [VTBIRD] Bobolink, etc.> > Also, I heard something that sounded very 
much like a loon. Possibly this > was some hunter trying to summon a turkey - I 
cannot imagine finding a loon > yodeling on the top of a mountain nowhere near 
any large body of water.> > Cheers!> > Davie Rolnick> Rupert, VT 

_________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.

http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_052008 
Subject: Henwood Hill Rd. marsh & Herrick's Cove IBA
From: Lance Tanino <Lance_Tanino AT ANTIOCHNE.EDU>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:15:02 -0400
07 May 2008

Henwood Hill Rd. (Allen Bros) marsh (7am)
1	Sora - calling

Herrick's Cove IBA (4pm); a few patches of mudflat were exposed
10 	Lesser Yellowlegs
1	Greater Yellowlegs
4	Spotted Sandpiper
2	Warbling Vireo
3	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - observed a pair building a nest with lichen on a
white birch branch
1 	Baltimore Oriole - heard
1	Eastern Kingbird
Subject: The Birds of Shelburne Farms
From: Bruce MacPherson <BMacPhe AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 20:09:31 EDT
Sorry for the late posting. Here is the bird list from last Saturday's  GMAS 
field trip to Shelburne Farms. We had a large group which we divided into  
smaller groups that explored the property near the Lone Tree Trail, the Farm  
Trail, Whimsey Meadows, and the Lake. This is a composite list which includes 

the birds recorded by Chip Wright, Alison Wagner, Larry Haugh, Shirley  
Johnson, and myself. 35 species were identified despite the rain.

Cattle  Egret               
Great Blue  Heron            
Canada Goose     
American Black Duck     
Mallard               
Ring-billed Gull         
Wild Turkey               
Osprey                 
Mourning Dove             
Rock Pigeon               
Downy Woodpecker            
Hairy  Woodpecker            
Pileated  Woodpecker         
Eastern Phoebe     
Rough-winged Swallow       
American Crow                
Blue Jay                   
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted  Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern  Bluebird
American Robin
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler  (?)
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common  Grackle
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
Chipping  Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated  Sparrow

Bruce MacPherson
South Burlington










**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
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Subject: FOY in Brownsville
From: Marcia Baker <bakermlb AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:13:29 -0400
Quite a FOY Day in Brownsville:? First a white crowned sparrow; then two ruby 
throated hummingbirds (a week earlier than any?previous year;) then an eastern 
kingbird; and finally, a bobolink.? Along with the rose breasted grosbeaks, the 
oriole and the black and white warbler, it has been quite the FOY week.? Happy 
Migration to All! 



?


Marcia
Subject: Adventures in the NE Kingdom: BLVU, SPGR, Migrants
From: Michael Benjamin Lester <mlester AT UVM.EDU>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:07:16 -0400
Autumn Amici, Tom Ford-Hutchinson and I birded Moose Bog this morning  
for several hours.  Our highlights include:

2 SPRUCE GROUSE-- male displaying to female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2 Blue-headed Vireos
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Hermit Thrush
Nashville Warbler
Black-throated Green Warblers
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Palm Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Swamp Sparrow
Purple Finch

On our way back, we took Hudson Rd. in East Charleston where we spotted:

2 Ruffed Grouse along the side of the road, and
1 Eastern King

Then, while driving along rt 15 , we saw
1 BLACK VULTURE flying overhead near Jeffersonville, and
1 Broad-winged Hawk sitting very cooperatively on a power line in Underhill

Tom's pictures (Spruce Grouse and Broad-winged Hawk) can be found at:  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77523243 AT N00/


Michael Lester
UVM
Subject: Hummingbird presentation in Vergennes
From: Winslows <mikekira AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:25:35 -0400
On Thursday May 15th Ernie Franzgrote will present a presentation on his
attempt in 2000 to see and videotape 200 species of hummingbirds.  The event
takes place at the Bixby Library on Main St. in Vergennes at 7PM.  The
Hummingbird Society says, "No other video study of hummingbirds matches what
Dr. Franzgrote has created in the past ten years.His expertise with video is
exceptional!"  The event is free and open to the public.  For more
information please contact the library at  877-2211.  This event is
co-sponsored by Otter Creek Audubon.
Subject: hummer in Waitsfield
From: Patricia Folsom <pfols AT GMAVT.NET>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:07:51 -0400
First male hummer just arrived in the yard, wonderful!

Pat
Subject: hummers in the NEK
From: carolyn boardman <carolyn.boardman AT HUGHES.NET>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 14:31:14 -0400
A male ruby throated hummingbird has found our feeders in Brownington as of 
yesterday May 6 th. He has come today, also. Here to stay I'd say.

carolyn boardman
Subject: Suspected Mockingbird and Towhee in Monkton
From: "Lawrence, Miriam" <mlawrence AT HORSESMOUTH.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 14:09:33 -0400
Pretty sure I heard an Eastern Towhee here in our yard twice this morning, but 
not able to see to confirm. Would be a first for us. 

 
Also saw what I am pretty sure was a Northern Mockingbird -- the light was 
tough, but it was the right size, longish tail, light gray breast, thin black 
stripe through eye, very mocker-like beak, and white wing patches were visible 
when it took flight. Again, can't confirm, but I can't think what else it could 
have been and this would also be a first for our yard, so I thought it worth 
mentioning. 

 
Lastly, like everyone else, we got our first Baltimore Orioles here this 
morning. 

 
Miriam Lawrence
Monkton

________________________________

From: Vermont Birds on behalf of Julie Waters
Sent: Wed 5/7/2008 1:41 PM
To: VTBIRD AT LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [VTBIRD] Eastern Towhee under feeder in Westminster



I have -never- seen an Eastern Towhee in our yard before.  I had to
double-check with binoculars but yeah-- absolutely no doubt.  There
is, right this moment, an Eastern Towhee feeding from the seed on the
ground beneath the birdfeeders.

Additionally, beyond the standard birds (grackles, robins,
goldfinches, wb nuthatches, bc chickadees, etc.) we have Pine
Siskins, American Redstarts, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore
Orioles in the yard.

This morning at Allen Brothers Marsh, I was able to photograph a
yellow warbler, a warbling vireo and a tree swallow:

http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/_2008-05-07.php

I'll post more later if anything new comes up but the towhee was such
a surprise I just wanted to get it out there.

--julie
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
julie AT riverartsproject.com                    http://juliewaters.com/

        We've heard that a million monkeys at a million
        keyboards could produce the Complete Works of
        Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know
        this is not true.

                        --Robert Wilensky
Subject: Eastern Towhee under feeder in Westminster
From: Julie Waters <julie AT RIVERARTSPROJECT.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 13:41:16 -0400
I have -never- seen an Eastern Towhee in our yard before.  I had to 
double-check with binoculars but yeah-- absolutely no doubt.  There 
is, right this moment, an Eastern Towhee feeding from the seed on the 
ground beneath the birdfeeders.

Additionally, beyond the standard birds (grackles, robins, 
goldfinches, wb nuthatches, bc chickadees, etc.) we have Pine 
Siskins, American Redstarts, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore 
Orioles in the yard.

This morning at Allen Brothers Marsh, I was able to photograph a 
yellow warbler, a warbling vireo and a tree swallow:

http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/_2008-05-07.php

I'll post more later if anything new comes up but the towhee was such 
a surprise I just wanted to get it out there.

--julie
-- 
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julie AT riverartsproject.com                    http://juliewaters.com/

	We've heard that a million monkeys at a million
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