*Vermont *Statewide 5.28.07 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for May 28, 2007 covering the period May 21-May 27, 2007. The highlights of this week were a RED-THROATED LOON observed on 5/27 in Greensboro, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER observed at the mudflats near the end of the trail off the first parking lot of Dead Creek's Brilyea Access on 5/22 (usually seen only during fall migration through Vermont), four WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS at Herrick's Cove on 5/21, a likely sighting of the rare ACADIAN FLYCATCHER at Allen Brothers Marsh in Westminster, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a rare spring migrant, in South Burlington, sighted in the area bounded by Dorset Farms development on the SE and by South Point at Spear development on the NW and a rare sighting of a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in Brattleboro on 5/23. The first sighting of a LEAST BITTERN this spring occurred at Fay Hill in Grand Isle on 5/24. Seventy-two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen west of Woods Island in Lake Champlain on 5/22. Two MERLINS were sighted in Greensboro on 5/27. Two male SPRUCE GROUSE were spotted at Moose Bog on 5/23 and one male and a pair was seen there on 5/25. A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was sighted in Jericho on 5/26. Two SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS were seen at Herrick's Cove on 5/21 and at Dead Creek's Brilyea Access 2 were observed on 5/21, 13 on 5/22 and 3 on 5/23. Three GREATER YELLOWLEGS were sighted at Herrick's Cove on 5/21. On 5/21 one LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen at Isle la Motte, 19 at Herrick's Cove and 20+ at Dead Creek. Two RUDDY TURNSTONES were observed at Herrick's Cove on 5/21. Two SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS were at the Brilyea Access on 5/21. LEAST SANDPIPERS were seen at Isle la Motte, Herrick's Cove, Dead Creek, Rock Island and Popasquash Island this week. One PECTORAL SANDPIPER was spotted at Dead Creek's Brilyea Access on 5/21 and 5/22. Four DUNLINS were seen at Herrick's Cove on 5/21 and 5 at Brilyea Access on 5/21 and 5/22. Twenty-six SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were spotted at Herrick's Cove on 5/21 and 15 were seen at Allen's Marsh on that date. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were seen in Wells, West Haven, Castleton, Ira, Putney, West Rutland Marsh and Tinmouth Channel this week. NIGHTHAWKS were present at Dead Creek, Essex Junction and Essex this week. Three WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard in Brandon on 5/22. A female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen along the Moose Bog Trail on 5/23. EASTERN WOOD PEEWEES returned to Vermont this week, with the first sightings in West Haven, Dead Creek and Bald Mountain on 5/22. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at Whitney Creek on 5/21. Seven BICKNELL'S THRUSHES were observed on Stratton Mountain on 5/23. There were numerous BLUE-WINGED WARBLER sightings this week, including those in West Haven, South Burlington, West Rutland and Castleton. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER was seen in Windsor and a LAWRENCE'S WARBLER in South Burlington. Two PALM WARBLERS were observed at Groton State Forest on 5/22. Many BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS passed through Vermont this week. A CERULEAN WARBLER was observed at Groton State Forest on 5/22. A WILSON'S WARBLER was sighted in South Burlington on 5/23. At least two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were seen in South Burlington near the Dorset Farms development on 5/26. An ORCHARD ORIOLE was spotted in Cornwall on 5/22 and in Lyndonville on 5/27. 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 ****************************************************************