*Vermont

 

*Statewide

3.10.08

 

*VT0403.06

 

This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for March 10, 2008 covering the period
March 3 - 9, 2008.

 

Highlights include a TUFTED DUCK off the South Hero Causeway on 3/4 and off
the Colchester Railroad Causeway on 3/7; a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER off the South
Hero Causeway on 3/4; a MERLIN in Moretown Village on 3/5 and a number of
early waterfowl arrivals (see below).

 

A COMMON LOON was seen at the Charlotte Town Beach on 3/4 and 3/7.  

 

A HORNED GREBE was spotted at the Charlotte Town Beach on 3/7.

 

A GREAT BLUE HERON was sighted in Shaftsbury on 3/7.

 

Two SNOW GEESE were observed flying over Meach Cove on 3/3. Five juvenile
MUTE SWANS were seen on the cove 3/3.  The season's first pair of WOOD DUCKS
was seen off the Colchester RR Causeway on 3/7.  An unspecified number of
GADWALLS were seen at the Charlotte Town Beach on 3/7; six were observed at
Meach Cove on 3/8.  AMERICAN WIGEONS were seen at Shelburne Point (3 on
3/4), Shelburne Town Beach (1 on 3/7), Meach Cove (6 on 3/8, 2 on 3/9),
Charlotte Town Beach on 3/7 and Converse Bay (1 on 3/9).  NORTHERN PINTAILS
were observed at Shelburne Town Beach (4) and off the South Hero Causeway
(24) on 3/4.  One GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen off the South Hero Causeway on
3/4 and two were spotted off the Colchester RR Causeway on 3/7.  CANVASBACKS
were seen at the Shelburne Town Beach (12), Meach Cove (15) and Converse Bay
(7) on 3/9.  REDHEADS were sighted at Charlotte Town Beach on 3/4 (2) and at
the Colchester RR Causeway on 3/7 (2).  GREATER SCAUP were seen on 3/4 off
the South Hero Causeway (500) and Shelburne Town Beach (2), and off the
Colchester RR Causeway on 3/6 (2,000).  On 3/4 approximately 2,000 LESSER
SCAUP were observed off the South Hero Causeway and off the Colchester RR
Causeway on 3/6 (500) and 3/7.  A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen off the
Colchester RR Causeway on 3/7.  There were numerous sightings of COMMON
GOLDENEYES, including 1,500 at Charlotte Town Beach and 300 off the South
Hero Causeway on 3/4. HOODED MERGANSERS were seen in Shelburne Bay on 3/4
(11), at Wilder Dam on 3/6 (4) and in Meach Cove on 3/8 (4).   A
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was sighted off the South Hero Causeway on 3/4 and at
the Charlotte Town Beach on 3/7.

 

Three AMERICAN KESTRELS made a timely return on 3/9 in Bennington.

 

The first KILLDEER of the season were reported in Pownal (1) and Brattleboro
(1) on 3/7.  Five AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, the first seen this spring, were
observed in Bennington on 3/7.

 

A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen off the Colchester RR Causeway on 3/7.

 

A SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted on Grand Isle on 3/6.

 

AMERICAN ROBINS returned to Vermont in massive numbers this week.

 

BOHEMIAN and CEDAR WAXWINGS are still here, but the number of sightings has
greatly decreased.

 

Two SAVANNAH SPARROWS were sighted in Middlebury on 3/3.  A FOX SPARROW was
seen in North Bennington on 3/9.

 

PINE GROSBEAKS continue to be seen in both small and large flocks throughout
the state.

 

Three to four-hundred SNOW BUNTINGS were observed in East Enosburg this
week.

 

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS returned to Vermont in large numbers this week.  A
RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen in East Dorset on 3/8.

 

COMMON REDPOLLS continue to be spotted throughout Vermont; HOARY REDPOLLS
(2) were sighted in Fairfield on 3/6.

 

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.  Founded in 2007 as an outgrowth of VINS, 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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