*Vermont
*Statewide
3.31.08
*VT0403.06
This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for March 31, 2008 covering the period
March 24-30, 2008.
The highlights of the week included 3 BLACK VULTURES seen on 3/25, one over
the Bethel Town Dump and 2 feeding on carrion at Brattleboro Retreat
Meadows; 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Vernon Dam on 3/25; 1 ROSS'S GOOSE
in Ferrisburg on 3/30 and 5 on 3/27, 2 in South Hero Center on 3/28 and 1 at
Little Chicago Road in Ferrisburg on 3/29; a TUFTED DUCK off the Colchester
RR Causeway on 3/30, 3/29 and 3/24; a 1st year GREAT GRAY OWL in Burlington
on 3/25 and a FISH CROW in South Burlington on 3/30.
A PIED-BILLED GREBE was spotted at the mouth of Otter Creek as well as in
Porter Bay on 3/29.
There were several DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT sightings this week, with the
largest number, 50, seen in Kellogg Bay on 3/29.
SNOW GEESE have been passing through Vermont, with large numbers seen from
the Mississquoi Bay Bridge (6,000 on 3/30), South Hero (3,000 on 3/27),
Alburg (2,000 on 3/30), Richmond (1,200 on 3/28) and Ferrisburg (1,100 on
3/26 and 1,000 on 3/29). CANADA GEESE numbers have also been high, with
over 6,800 seen in northwest Grand Isle on 3/28. A CACKLING GOOSE was
sighted in South Hero and in Grand Isle on 3/28 and a pair was spotted at
Dead Creek WMA on 3/29. A NORTHERN SHOVELER was seen at Derway Island Nature
Preserve in Burlington on 3/27. A total of 167 NORTHERN PINTAILS were
spotted from the South Hero end of the Colchester RR Causeway. Eight
CANVASBACKS were observed off the Colchester Railroad Causeway on 3/29 and 2
REDHEADS were seen off the South Hero end of the Colchester Causeway on
3/28. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was spotted from Charlotte Town Beach on 3/27.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS returned to East Creek WMA, Woodside Park, Putney,
Windham, Herrick's Cove and Orwell this week. On 3/25 one MERLIN was seen
in Burlington and 2 in Franklin and on 3/30 one was seen at the South Hero
end of the Colchester RR Causeway.
The season's first AMERICAN COOT was spotted at Herrick's Cove on 3/30.
ICELAND GULLS were sighted in Grand Isle (3/25), Basin Harbor (3/26) and
Kellogg Bay (one on 3/27 and 3/29, 3 on 3/30). A first year and two adult
GLAUCOUS GULLS were also seen in Kellogg Bay this week.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted at the junction of Little Chicago Road and
Walker Road in Ferrisburg on 3/26.
There were several reports of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS from all over Vermont this
week, with the largest number, 300, seen in Brattleboro on 3/28.
The first TREE SWALLOW reports of the season came from Macrae Farm Park in
Colchester and Converse Bay, both on 3/27.
A FOX SPARROW was seen in Rutland Town on 3/27.
SNOW BUNTING sightings were numerous, with the largest number, several
hundred, seen in Franklin on 3/29.
The one sighting of PINE GROSBEAKS this week was in Canaan on 3/30.
A HOARY REDPOLL was spotted in Waitsfield on 3/29 and 3/30.
A male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen at a feeder in Lowell on 3/27.
This weekly Vermont birding report is a service of the Vermont Center for
Ecostudies (VCE). VCE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
understanding and conservation of birds and other wildlife. With a reach
extending from northern New England through the Caribbean to South America,
our work in wildlife research and population monitoring unites people and
science for conservation. Our offices are located in White River Junction.
Please visit VCE's web site at www.vtecostudies.org .
Please report your sightings of rare or unusual birds to VCE, or email
reports to [log in to unmask] Better yet, enter your sightings on
Vermont eBird at http://ebird.org/content/vt/.
Mary Holland
Chris Rimmer
Kent McFarland
Roz Renfrew
Vermont RBA Compilers,
Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE)
802-649-1431
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