Birding activity began this morning with a Norwich 2010 Birding Quest
program in the Norwich nature area. Seventeen bird species were found
and three birds banded: an Eastern Phoebe, a Black-capped Chickadee,
and a White-throated Sparrow. Other species found at the nature area
included a Turkey Vulture and Osprey flying past, Mourning Dove, Hairy
and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, crows, titmouse, 2 Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, 2 Gray Catbirds, a Song Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow, Purple
Finches, and a House Finch. The highest count for a single species was
an estimated 16 for White-throated Sparrow.
Four of the original participants then continued to Foley Park near
the Ledyard Bridge. Highlights among a dozen species there included a
Double-crested Cormorant on the Connecticut River (hence in NH), a
well seen but well camouflaged and relatively late American Bittern
along the south shore of the cove on the west side of the river south
of the Ledyard Bridge, a Belted Kingfisher, 9 Cedar Waxwings, and a
Common Grackle. An unusual nonavian feature along the river this
morning was the presence of numerous floating orange pumpkins
dislodged from a flooded pumpkin field far upstream along the river;
we saw people in a power boat near the Ledyard Bridge collecting
pumpkins from the river.
After being at Foley Park, Ed Hack and I continued birding northward
in Norwich, and some highlights included the following. A Great Blue
Heron was in the pond along Route 5 north of Butternut Road. A Pied-
billed Grebe was near Pompy Farm. Waterfowl today included 2 Canada
Geese and 5 Wood Ducks near Pompy Farm, and 2 Green-winged Teal and 6
Hooded Mergansers at Pompy. Two immature Bald Eagles were seen flying
together near Pompy Farm. Six Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk
were flying at Pompy. Along Kendal Station Road were a Red-eyed Vireo,
a Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a Golden-crowned Kinglet with its crown
feathers momentarily spread wide making a spectacular color show. The
largest flocks of passerine birds seen today were of European
Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds along Campbell Flats Road.
Additional bird species among the 44 found around Norwich today
included Mallards, Rock Pigeons, flickers, ravens, White-breasted
Nuthatch, robins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, cardinals, and goldfinches.
White-throated Sparrows were relatively numerous and widespread.
George
George Clark
Norwich, VT
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