Starting under foggy skies and continuing with increasing sunlight and  
warmth, a dozen observers walked the Lake Runnemede area (Windsor, VT)  
looking for birds this morning in the latest Vermont County 2012  
Birding Quest bird walk in Windsor County. Some highlights included a  
number of Wood Ducks, nice views of Great Blue and Green Herons, and a  
fleeting but adequate view of a Merlin. Gray Catbirds and Rose- 
breasted Grosbeaks were impressively numerous. Among species for which  
limited singing was heard were Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat,  
and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Some other species present were Ruby- 
throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-shafted Flicker,  
Empidonax sp., Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, Magnolia  
Warbler, American Redstart, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Indigo  
Bunting, a passing Bobolink, and American Goldfinch. Also, there were  
Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, American Crows, Black-capped  
Chickadees, American Robins, and European Starlings. Small numbers of  
falling leaves provided what seemed an appropriate setting for early  
fall birding.

George Clark
Norwich, VT