*Vermont *Statewide 3.12.07 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for March 12, 2007 covering the period March 5 - March 11, 2007. Highlights this week include a TUFTED DUCK off Allen Point in South Hero on 3/5 and a REDHEAD in South Burlington on 3/5 and in Grand Isle near the Ed Weed Fish Hatchery on 3/5. The first TURKEY VULTURES of the season were sighted this week: 2 in Bellows Falls on 3/10 and 2 near White River Junction on 3/11. Two WOOD DUCKS, the first of the season, were seen in Vernon above the dam on 3/11 along with 6 RING-NECKED DUCKS. It has been established that the Westminster RED-SHOULDERED HAWK that's been sighted with regularity lately is actually an atypically dark and rusty RED-TAILED HAWK. There were numerous BALD EAGLE sightings this week, including those in Dorset, Bellows Falls, Grand Isle, Vernon, Burlington and at the state park at Lake St. Catherine. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted on Grand Isle on 5/9. The second seasonal report of an AMERICAN KESTREL came from Burlington on 3/6. An early PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Burlington on 3/5. An early sighting of the first AMERICAN COOT occurred on the Connecticut River above the Vernon dam on 3/11. In Rutland Town the second KILLDEER of this spring was seen on 3/3. A BELTED KINGFISHER was spotted in North Windham on 3/11. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were observed in North Windham, Waitsfield, Pownal, Charlotte, Pomfret and Hartland this week. An unconfirmed report of a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at Moose Bog on 3/5 was submitted. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was spotted at Moose Bog on 3/5 and 3/10 and there was a sighting in St. Johnsbury on 3/9. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Richford on 3/7 and Vernon on 3/10. A GRAY JAY was observed in Huntington on 3/8. HORNED LARKS were spotted in Stowe, South Hero, East Enosburg, Vernon, and Burlington this week. CAROLINA WRENS were seen in Brattleboro, Pownal and Plainfield. AMERICAN ROBINS are back in force, with over 300 seen in Addison and Chittenden counties by traveling birders. A FOX SPARROW was spotted in Orleans on 3/10. Numerous SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in Stowe, Burlington, South Hero, Milton, Enosburg Falls, Hardwick, Cabot, Vernon and Shelburne this week. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were sighted in Milton, West Brattleboro, Saxton's River, West Rutland and Hartland. Two RED CROSSBILLS were seen along South America Pond Road on 3/4. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science offers natural history trips, lectures and programs. To receive a copy of our program calendar, stop at one of our centers, call the office during business hours at 802-359-5000 or visit the VINS' web site at http://www.vinsweb.org <http://www.vinsweb.org/>. This Vermont birding report is a service of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. VINS is a non-profit, membership organization located in Quechee with a regional center in Manchester. Founded in 1972, VINS' mission is to protect our natural heritage through education and research. Your membership supports these goals and this reporting service. Updates are typically made on Fridays. Please report your sightings of rare or unusual birds to VINS, or email reports to [log in to unmask] If you have any interesting birds to report, you can send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: [log in to unmask] Or enter your sightings on Vermont eBird at http://www.ebird.org/VINS/. Mary Holland Chris Rimmer Kent McFarland Roz Renfrew Vermont RBA Compilers Conservation Biology Department Vermont Institute of Natural Science 6565 Woodstock Road PO Box 1281 Quechee, VT 05059 802-359-5001 **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************