*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 **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. 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