*Vermont *Statewide 3.31.08 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for March 31, 2008 covering the period March 24-30, 2008. The highlights of the week included 3 BLACK VULTURES seen on 3/25, one over the Bethel Town Dump and 2 feeding on carrion at Brattleboro Retreat Meadows; 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Vernon Dam on 3/25; 1 ROSS'S GOOSE in Ferrisburg on 3/30 and 5 on 3/27, 2 in South Hero Center on 3/28 and 1 at Little Chicago Road in Ferrisburg on 3/29; a TUFTED DUCK off the Colchester RR Causeway on 3/30, 3/29 and 3/24; a 1st year GREAT GRAY OWL in Burlington on 3/25 and a FISH CROW in South Burlington on 3/30. A PIED-BILLED GREBE was spotted at the mouth of Otter Creek as well as in Porter Bay on 3/29. There were several DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT sightings this week, with the largest number, 50, seen in Kellogg Bay on 3/29. SNOW GEESE have been passing through Vermont, with large numbers seen from the Mississquoi Bay Bridge (6,000 on 3/30), South Hero (3,000 on 3/27), Alburg (2,000 on 3/30), Richmond (1,200 on 3/28) and Ferrisburg (1,100 on 3/26 and 1,000 on 3/29). CANADA GEESE numbers have also been high, with over 6,800 seen in northwest Grand Isle on 3/28. A CACKLING GOOSE was sighted in South Hero and in Grand Isle on 3/28 and a pair was spotted at Dead Creek WMA on 3/29. A NORTHERN SHOVELER was seen at Derway Island Nature Preserve in Burlington on 3/27. A total of 167 NORTHERN PINTAILS were spotted from the South Hero end of the Colchester RR Causeway. Eight CANVASBACKS were observed off the Colchester Railroad Causeway on 3/29 and 2 REDHEADS were seen off the South Hero end of the Colchester Causeway on 3/28. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was spotted from Charlotte Town Beach on 3/27. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS returned to East Creek WMA, Woodside Park, Putney, Windham, Herrick's Cove and Orwell this week. On 3/25 one MERLIN was seen in Burlington and 2 in Franklin and on 3/30 one was seen at the South Hero end of the Colchester RR Causeway. The season's first AMERICAN COOT was spotted at Herrick's Cove on 3/30. ICELAND GULLS were sighted in Grand Isle (3/25), Basin Harbor (3/26) and Kellogg Bay (one on 3/27 and 3/29, 3 on 3/30). A first year and two adult GLAUCOUS GULLS were also seen in Kellogg Bay this week. A SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted at the junction of Little Chicago Road and Walker Road in Ferrisburg on 3/26. There were several reports of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS from all over Vermont this week, with the largest number, 300, seen in Brattleboro on 3/28. The first TREE SWALLOW reports of the season came from Macrae Farm Park in Colchester and Converse Bay, both on 3/27. A FOX SPARROW was seen in Rutland Town on 3/27. SNOW BUNTING sightings were numerous, with the largest number, several hundred, seen in Franklin on 3/29. The one sighting of PINE GROSBEAKS this week was in Canaan on 3/30. A HOARY REDPOLL was spotted in Waitsfield on 3/29 and 3/30. A male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen at a feeder in Lowell on 3/27. 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. 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 **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************