Today Sara Eisenhauer, Ed Hack, Spencer Hardy, and I looked for birds  
in eastern Windsor County, VT. We started separately, and then, later,  
the four of us together visited Lake Runnemede in Windsor and Ferry  
Road in Weathersfield Bow. After early morning fog, skies cleared,  
becoming sunny and warm in the mid day and early afternoon -- almost  
summer-like conditions, but accompanied by some scenes with colorful  
fall foliage. Some avian highlights follow.

An American Coot was at Dewey's Pond in Quechee (SE, EH). A Common  
Loon was on the Connecticut River in both NH and VT waters south of  
the Ledyard Bridge (SH, GC).

At Lake Runnemede, highlights among more than 40 species included an  
Osprey flying by, a Peregrine Falcon feeding on unidentified prey, and  
a well seen Marsh Wren in the cattails and associated vegetation near  
the shoreline south of the pumpkin field. A flock of about 35 American  
Pipits was present. A Bobolink well seen and heard by SH at Lake  
Runnemede was unusually late.

A Northern Harrier and an American Kestrel were among the highlights  
of 19 species found at Weathersfield Bow.

Among conspicuous bird species encountered today were Eastern Phoebes  
(but in relatively lower numbers compared with earlier in the season)  
and various sparrows including Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrows.  
Various insects, but not biting ones, were also conspicuous and  
included a number of Monarch butterflies.

Thanks to Spencer for helping to prepare eBird entries.

George Clark
Norwich, VT