As it often can be on a late summer/early fall evening, Campbell Flat was hopping tonight. I walked the loop along the road from above the flats, then around the corn field. Most action was in the brushy area around the flats and beaver-flooded meadow east of the corn field.
Two surprises were a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and an immature egret/heron that was either a Snowy Egret or a Little Blue Heron. I never managed to get my spotting scope on the bird, but based on a 20-25 second view through binoculars as it perched atop a tree, I believe it was a Little Blue. However, I'm far from confident on that ID, especially as Snowy Egret is a far more likely
species in Vermont, especially in the Connecticut River Valley.
Hopefully others will find this bird in the days ahead!American Bittern 1
white egret sp. 1 Either an immature Snowy Egret or Little Blue Heron, seen at 7:45 am as it flew from the river or flats behind trees and landed in a tree along Campbell Flat Road, calling several times in flight. See notes in my eBird checklist.
Green Heron 1
Wilson's Snipe 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 singing
Eastern Phoebe 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1 singing
Tree Swallow 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 unexpected, but seen clearly for 30+ seconds as it foraged along the road
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Cedar Waxwing 20
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
American Redstart 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 5 1 singing
Bobolink 1 heard from inside standing corn; others may have been present
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
________________________
Chris Rimmer
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055
802.649.1431 x202
http://vtecostudies.org/
