About a dozen participants today enjoyed a fine and song-full morning  
for birding at the northern end of the Union Village Dam area in  
Thetford, VT. Among 50 bird species detected, there were numerous  
highlights, some of which are here briefly mentioned as follows.

An American Bittern provided an exceptionally good view as it partook  
of an unidentified item of prey. Two Solitary Sandpipers were nearby.  
2 Wood Ducks, a Mallard, 2 Common Mergansers, and 6 Canada Geese  
constituted this morning's waterfowl. Ruffed Grouse were drumming in 3  
locations. A Least Flycatcher was present along with the Eastern  
Phoebes. Song by a couple of Red-eyed Vireos contrasted nicely with  
that of a Blue-headed Vireo. House, Winter, and Carolina Wrens were  
present and singing. 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and several Gray  
Catbirds were among the insectivores. Ten species of warblers,  
including parulas and Blackburnians, provided a good opportunity to  
compare songs. Several White-crowned Sparrows were seen, and excellent  
views were obtained of White-crowns alongside the bright white-crowned- 
stripe form of the White-throated Sparrow. A Scarlet Tanager was  
singing, and our group obtained excellent views of a Baltimore Oriole.

Today's walk was one of Feathered Friday series, held throughout the  
month of May, as arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire  
Audubon. For more details on Mascoma Chapter programs, including  
Warbler Wednesdays in May, please visit
www.mascomabirds.org

Special thanks to Charlie Harcourt for keeping records during today's  
walk and for entering into eBird the complete list and other details  
which can be viewed at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23303707

George Clark
Norwich, VT

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