*Vermont *Statewide 1.2.09 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for January 2, covering the period December 23, 2008 - January 1, 2009. The birding highlights of the week include the following: a GREAT CORMORANT in Ferrisburg off Fort Cassin Road on 12/29; a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on the Rutland County CBC on 12/27; a REDHEAD in Kellogg Bay on 12/23; an EASTERN TOWHEE in Proctor on 12/27 and two SAVANNAH SPARROWS near Ferrisburg on 2/26. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Charlotte Town Beach on 1/1. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was spotted in Button Bay on 12/28. A RING-NECKED DUCK and 12 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were sighted at the Tri-town Water District Plant on 1/1. An ICELAND GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL were seen on the north side of the Sandbar Causeway, from Sandbar State Park, on 12/28. A PEREGRINE FALCON was sighted on the steeple of Grace Church in Rutland on 1/1. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen flying over a perched SNOWY OWL on the Whiting-Shoreham Road, 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Route 30 in Whiting on 12/23. The most recent sighting of a SNOWY OWL in Whiting took place on 1/1. It was located along the Richville/Whiting Road between Shoreham Center and Whiting, east of Cutting Hill Road and west of Webster Road. There was an unconfirmed report of a SNOWY OWL in East Braintree in the last week. A NORTHERN FLICKER was seen in Brandon on 12/25 and 1/1 as well as in Ferrisburg on 1/1. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER winter sightings are becoming commonplace, with many sightings this week; a total of three were found on the Woodstock CBC. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were spotted in Plainfield (67 on 12/28) and in Barnard (60 on 12/30). Several large flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS were reported, including two flocks of 100+ seen on the Woodstock CBC on 12/30 and a flock of 100 in Brattleboro on 12/25. A CHIPPING SPARROW was sighted in Londonderry on 12/26, in South Burlington on 1/1 and four were reported in Brattleboro on 1/1. Sightings of EVENING GROSBEAKS were more numerous this week, occurring in South Starksboro, Victory Bog, Westmore, Norwich and Lyndonville. The number of PINE GROSBEAK sightings was larger as well (8 in Waitsfield on 12/24 and 9 on 12/25, 3 in Lincoln on 12/26 , 17 in Orleans on 12/26, 6 in Morristown Corners and one in Woodbury on 1/1). WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen in Waitsfield (1 on 12/26), Hartland (30 on 12/27), Lincoln (6 on 12/26), Rutland (5 on 12/27) and Victory Bog (8 on 12/26). COMMON REDPOLLS were sighted in Victory Bog (4 on 12/26), Middlesex Center (15 on 12/26) Lyndonville (4 on 12/26), Middlebury (20 on 1/1), Woodbury (20 on 1/1), Canaan on 12/31 and at Hinesburg feeders all week. PINE SISKINS, often in large flocks, were reported throughout Vermont this week. 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 ****************************************************************