*Vermont

 

*Statewide

5.14.07

 

*VT0403.06

 

This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for May 14, 2007 covering the period May
7-May 13, 2007.

 

The highlight of this week was a EURASIAN WIGEON seen on 5/12 south of Creek
Road in Salisbury Station, just east of the covered bridge.

 

            A GREAT EGRET was spotted at the Mississquoi NWR on 5/12.

 

            Two MERLINS were observed on 5/9, one in Proctor and one at Red
Rocks Park in South Burlington.  On 5/12 a MERLIN was seen in Richford.

 

            A SPRUCE GROUSE was spotted at Moose Bog on 5/12.

 

            Ten VIRGINIA RAILS were discovered along Rock River in Highgate
Springs on 5/7.

 

            Shorebird numbers increased greatly this week, with many GREATER
and LESSER YELLOWLEGS as well as LEAST SANDPIPERS observed in likely spots
such as Brattleboro Retreat Meadows, Berlin Pond, West Swanton, North Hero,
Highgate Springs, South Burlington and Salisbury Station.  A BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER was seen in North Hero at City Bay on 5/7 and 5/8.  SEMI-PALMATED
PLOVERS were spotted at Brattleboro Retreat Meadows on 5/9 (1) and 5/10 (3)
as well as at Muddy Brook Marsh in South Burlington on 5/12 (1).  A
SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER was seen in Essex on 5/13.  A DUNLIN was spotted in
North Hero on 5/7 and 5/8.

 

            A CASPIAN TERN was sighted at Delta Park on 5/9 and a COMMON
TERN was seen at the Sandbar Fishing Access on 5/3.

 

            The first sighting of a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO occurred in Brandon
on 5/9 followed by another sighting in Danby on 5/13.

 

            The season's first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were observed in
Grafton on 5/10.

 

             A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen in Sugar Hollow in Brandon on
5/13 and RED-EYED VIREOS, the first seen this spring, returned to Middlebury
and Woodstock on 5/7.

 

            Sixteen PURPLE MARTINS were observed on 5/7 in Grand Isle.

 

            BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were observed building a nest at
Herrick's Cove on 5/9.

 

            The first reported WOOD THRUSH this spring was observed in
Ripton on 5/8.

 

            BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were sighted this week in Ripton, West
Rutland and Brandon while GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were seen in Brandon,
Hinesburg and Huntington.  A LAWRENCE'S WARBLER was also spotted along
Hollow Road in Brandon on 5/13.  The first CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was
spotted in Saxton's River on 5/7.  MAGNOLIA WARBLERS have returned
throughout the state.  A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen in Colchester on 5/9.  A
PRAIRIE WARBLER was sighted at the West Rutland Marsh on 5/12.  BAY-BREASTED
WARBLERS were observed at Thurman W. Dix Reservoir in Barre (1) on 5/10 as
well as at Little Otter Creek WMA (2), across from Hawkin's Slang Launch.
The first report of a BLACKPOLL WARBLER this spring came from Moose Bog on
5/12.  A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at Snake Mt. on 5/12.  Four LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSHES were heard singing within a mile-long stretch of the Bristol
Notch Road ravine on 5/7.  A MOURNING WARBLER was spotted at Bomoseen State
Park in Castleton on 5/12.  WILSON'S WARBLERS were observed this week in the
following locations:  Herrick's Cove on 5/10, South Starksboro on 5/11 and
at Mississquoi NWR, Whitney Creek and Brattleboro Retreat Meadows on 5/12.
The first CANADA WARBLER of the season was spotted in Plainfield on 5/13.


 

            SCARLET TANAGERS returned throughout the state this week.

 

            A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was spotted in Ira on 5/8 and in Brandon on
5/13.

 

            The first report of an INDIGO BUNTING was from Sharon on 5/9.

 

            An ORCHARD ORIOLE was observed at a Wallingford feeder on 5/9
and at Lefferts Pond on 5/10.

 

            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 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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