Starting with dense fog and continuing into a bright sunny day with highs in the 70s, eleven participants on today's Windsor County 2012 Birding Quest field trip enjoyed a nice day afield -- which for some continued until after 5 PM. Among localities covered in Windsor County, VT, were Lake Runnemede and the floodplain near the Simon Pearce facilities, both in the town of Windsor, and both a part of the initial Quest coverage. Birders then went in different directions and covered such locations as North Hartland Reservoir, Lake Pinneo and Dewey's Pond in Quechee, Campbell Flats in Norwich, and Kilowatt Park South in Wilder (Hartford). In an UVB report from the field earlier today, Spencer Hardy mentioned some of the finds, and he is preparing eBird reports for several sites. A summary of some highlights from today follows. A Blue Goose (dark form of the Snow Goose) and a Ruddy Duck were at Dewey's Pond. Three Shovelers were at Lake Runnemede. In the late afternoon, a Gadwall, a few Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, and a female Red-breasted Merganser were among the waterbirds at Kilowatt South, where a flock of Turkey Vultures was present around dusk. A Common Loon was south of the Ledyard Bridge this morning. Pied-billed Grebe was seen at both Lake Runnemede and Dewey's Pond. An American Coot was at Dewey's Pond. A Solitary Sandpiper was foraging along the shoreline of Dewey's Pond. American Pipits were at Lake Runnemede and at Campbell Flats. Yellow-rumped and Palm Warbler were at Lake Runnemede. Sparrow numbers seemed, as might be expected, generally less than a week ago. A Vesper Sparrow and a Fox Sparrow were seen in the Windsor floodplain site. Rusty Blackbirds were at Lake Runnemede, at the Windsor floodplain site, and at Dewey's Pond. In addition to the birds, there were numerous sightings of insects including Monarchs and other butterflies, dragonflies, and bees. A pair of large snapping turtles were mating in a drainage flow at Campbell Flats. George Clark Norwich, VT