This morning 21 observers participated in a Windsor County 2013
Birding Quest bird walk in area of North Springfield Reservoir in the
towns of Springfield and Weathersfield, VT. Cloudy skies kept air
temperatures at pleasant levels while we visited two sites, the first
in the area of the west end of the dike forming the North Springfield
Dam and the second on the southern side of the Maple Street access
east of Perkinsville. Toward the end of our time afield, an amateur
acrobatics aerial competition based at the Hartness Airfield was
underway, Propeller aircraft overhead were performing barrel rolls,
loops, and other acrobatics -- activities not ordinarily seen during
bird walks.
More than 40 bird species were found. Excellent views were obtained of
one of the singing Prairie Warblers, and numerous Field Sparrows were
present. Among other highlights were 4 Common Mergansers, 2 Great Blue
Herons, 2 Bald Eagle fledglings by their nest, a Killdeer at the
airport, Belted Kingfishers on patrol, a few Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds, a few Eastern Kingbirds, chickadees caring for their
young, several Veeries vocalizing with song and call notes, numerous
Gray Catbirds, 2 Brown Thrashers, an Indigo Bunting, and a Bobolink.
Special thanks to Sara Eisenhauer for compiling the full eBird tallies
which are available at
http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/shared?subID=UzE0NjMzNDI1&s=t
and
http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/shared?subID=UzE0NjMzNDgw&s=t
George Clark
Norwich, VT
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