*Vermont *Statewide 4.23.07 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for April 23, 2007 covering the period April 16 - 22, 2007. The highlights of this week include a GREAT CORMORANT in breeding plumage along the shore of the Connecticut River near the Vernon dam on 4/21, two BLACK VULTURES soaring over Vernon on 4/17 and two separate sightings of SPRUCE GROUSE along the Moose Bog trail on 4/23, two displaying males early in the day and later a displaying male and female. COMMON LOONS were sighted at Charlotte Town Beach, Herrick's Cove, Bellows Falls, Lake Bomoseen, Newport and Grand Isle. A HORNED GREBE was seen near Thompson's Point in Charlotte on 4/18. AMERICAN BITTERNS were observed in Morrisville, West Rutland Marsh (3) and Shelburne Pond this week. The season's second sighting of a GREAT EGRET occurred at Lake Bomoseen on 4/20. The first GREEN HERON sighting of the season was in Hyde Park on 4/17 and the first BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were spotted at Delta Park on 4/21. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen in Johnson (4/17) , Bellows Falls (4/19) and Marlboro (4/22). MERLINS were spotted in Vernon and Jericho Center on 4/19. VIRGINIA RAILS were spotted at West Rutland Marsh on two separate days this week, 1 on 4/20 and 4 on 4/22. GREATER YELLOWLEGS returned to Vermont this week, with 2 sighted in Swanton on 4/20 and 21 in Pittsford on 4/21. There was a report of a GLAUCOUS GULL in Johnson on 4/17. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were seen at Victory Bog (2 on 4/19) and along the Moose Bog trail (a pair on 4/23). Three GRAY JAYS were sighted along the Moose Bog trail on 4/22. The season's first BARN SWALLOW sightings occurred in Brattleboro, West Rutland Marsh, Fairfield Swamp, Shelburne Bay, Herrick's Cove and North Ferrisburg this week. HERMIT THRUSHES were heard singing in Rupert and Rochester. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen at the West Rutland Marsh on 4/16. PALM WARBLERS were spotted at West Rutland Marsh (1 on 4/16) and Herrick's Cove (1 on 4/22). The first PINE WARBLERS were spotted in Proctor (1 on 4/21) and Rutland (1 on 4/21 and 4/22). Spring's first LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH song was heard in Hartland on 4/22. CHIPPING, FIELD, SAVANNAH and SWAMP SPARROWS were sighted throughout Vermont this week. The first VESPER SPARROW of the season was seen at the Franklin County Airport on 4/21. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at Brattleboro Retreat Meadows (1 on 4/18) and Burlington (2 on 4/21). 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 ****************************************************************