*Vermont *Statewide 12.23.08 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for December 23, covering the period December 19 - 22, 2008. The birding highlights of the week include the following Ferrisburg Christmas Bird Count sightings on 12/20: a TURKEY VULTURE, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a SAVANNAH SPARROW. In addition, a BROWN THRASHER seen on the Ferrisburg Beach Access Road on 12/22 and two SAVANNAH SPARROWS were spotted on Button Bay Road on 12/22. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen in Ferrisburg on 12/20 and on 12/22 in Oven Bay. A BLACK SCOTER was also seen in Oven Bay on 12/22. A GYRFALCON was spotted off Rte. 22a near West Haven on 12/20. In addition to many others, the Ferrisburg CBC also recorded the following sightings on 12/20: an AMERICAN COOT, 2 ICELAND GULLS, a SHORT-EARED OWL, A BELTED KINGFISHER and a NORTHERN FLICKER. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen on the first Randolph CBC on 12/20. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was seen on the Ferrisburg CBC on 12/20 as well as a BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 137 CEDAR WAXWINGS. Twenty CEDAR WAXWINGS were also seen on the Randolph CBC on 12/20 and a flock of 100 - 200 WAXWINGS was observed in Middlebury on 12/20. A CHIPPING SPARROW was sighted along Depot Street in Burlington on 12/21. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen in Waitsfield, Ferrisburg and Randolph (20) this week. There were many PINE SISKIN sightings throughout Vermont. The next Vermont Rare Bird Alert will be issued on 1/2/08. May the holidays bring you much avian delight. This weekly Vermont birding report is a service of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). VCE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and conservation of birds and other wildlife. With a reach extending from northern New England through the Caribbean to South America, our work in wildlife research and population monitoring unites people and science for conservation. Our offices are located in White River Junction. Please visit VCE's web site at www.vtecostudies.org . Please report your sightings of rare or unusual birds to VCE, or email reports to [log in to unmask] Better yet, enter your sightings on Vermont eBird at http://ebird.org/content/vt/. Mary Holland Chris Rimmer Kent McFarland Roz Renfrew Vermont RBA Compilers, Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) 802-649-1431 **************************************************************** 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 ****************************************************************