With considerable sunshine, puffy white clouds against a blue sky background, and an overhead cool wind of more than 15 miles per hour, 24 participants joined in a bird walk this morning in and near the Taylor Floodplain Preserve in the Post Mills section of Thetford, VT. Likely because of the wind, bird song seemed subdued, and birds were often found in places at least partially sheltered from the brisk wind. Nevertheless, the group was able to find nine species of warblers, including especially nice views of Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow Warblers. Ovenbirds provided occasional song but for the most part remained visually inconspicuous in the woods.

Ground water levels remained quite high after recent rains, and pools of standing water were in places often dry by this late in the year. At one small pool enclosed within a low woodland, a distinguished looking Solitary Sandpiper spent many minutes standing in place and allowed everyone a fine view. Soon thereafter, good views were obtained of a Spotted Sandpiper along the river, thus providing a nice comparison of the two sandpiper species. Among raptorial birds, Cooper's and Broad-winged Hawks were notable. The Cooper's made an unsuccessful pass at an aggregation of birds feeding near the farm buildings, and, as usual in such situations, no birds were in sight just after the Cooper's flew past. 

Altogether 40 bird species were found this morning, and shortly after the end of the walk, an additional species, a Dark-eyed Junco, was seen at the farm.

Thanks to all the participants for this fine morning of birding, with special acknowledgment to our guides Tim and Janet Taylor, to Connie Snyder and other members of the Thetford Conservation Commission which arranged the walk, and to birding coleaders Kathy Thompson and Susan Tiholiz. Susan served as list-keeper and her full eBird report with many more details can be found at https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56141343

George Clark
Norwich, VT


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