Brant

After re-finding the Cackling Geese and American Coots at Runemede on Sunday, we had to decide where to go next. We were getting into the car to head to the Windsor Industrial Park, but at the last minute, we decided on a very quick check of Mill Pond. It turned out to be a good decision. As the pond came into sight, Ed noticed a small group of geese close to the shore, "Brant" he joked without even raising his glasses. This started a brief discussion of how Brant would be a nice find in this county and is almost over due. The topic quickly changed as we had to figure out how to deal with the snow bank in front of the parking lot entrance. In a moment of indecision, the car stopped in front of the open gate. At about the same time, we all noticed a duck like bird walking around in said parking lot. "Brant!" "Brant!" "Brant!" it was unanimous. After a moments pause, the car erupted in laughter. The irony was to much to contain. We had joked about an unlikely bird in an unlikely place, then moments later found it in an even more unlikely place. It was contently feeding at the forested edge of the parking lot. It was alone surrounded by oak leaves and snow, 200 feet from the water. An approaching car ruined the fun, and we had to drive past. After turning around, we jumped out, snapped a few pictures and continued to find the next exciting bird. I don't think any of us had laughed so hard in quite some time.

Rain day

Its been while since I have had much time bird, let alone write about it. A teacher-in-service day was just what the doctor order. I was hoping the rainy weather might drop some migrants, particularly water birds. By the middle of October its getting hard to find new 2011 species, but I had a wish list for the outing. Ruddy Duck has been seen a couple times in the county, and could stop in at a place like the Wilder Dam. Vesper and Clay-colored Sparrows are two more species that have been seen in eastern Vermont this fall. "Easier" targets would be Orange-Crowned Warbler and Eastern Meadowlark. With these species in mind, I searched parts of Norwich to no avail. Waterbirds were none existent, but it was one of my better sparrow days of the fall. I ended with 8 species. Swamp Sparrows are everywhere, numbers seemed to have been climbing for a couple weeks now, but today I had upwards of 15 individuals. A Lincolns Sparrow was a nice surprise at the Coop Gardens, as were a couple late Blue-headed Vireos. Maybe tomorrow will bring something new.

Irene

Irene has been called the best Tropicbird hurricane ever. And yet we got nothing. Well, a little more than nothing. The entire state of Vermont has come up with a dead storm petrel and a Gannet. Exciting, but not quite up to expectations. Quabbin Reseavoir in western Massachusetts had a White-Tailed Tropicbird, a Sooty Tern, and a Leach's Storm-petrel all in one day.
For me, a full day of birding on Sunday was great, and turned up some exciting shorebirds, but storm blown birds were non-existent. 6 of use spent most of Sunday getting soaked, we birded up and down the Connecticut river in northern Windsor County. Shorebirds were everywhere.
Until this year, birds like Semipalmated Sandpiper or Lesser Yellowlegs would be seen here once every few years. In a good year I might find 5 species (including Woodcock and Snipe). Yesterday I had 11. White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and Sanderling were all first for me in eastern Vermont. The first Sanderling (of 4) was only the second record for the entire county (in ebird).

Today was far less productive. A single Sanderling above the Wilder Dam was nice, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher was a surprise. Both of the small Accipiters put up an nice show. Other raptors seen in the past two days include: Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Bald Eagle, and Osprey.


Although the storm has moved past and mostly dissipated, there is still a chance for some excitement. Frigatebirds take some time to wander back south and other species may stay put for a few days.

Hurricane Irene

Packed and ready to go. Early morning start to look for grounded migrants, after that its all up to the weather. Sooty and Bridled Terns being reported in the Carolinas.

Norwich update

With fall sports starting and school looming I haven't had much time to bird (or write).  However, an ironic sighting and a few good warbler days are worth a note. As is the case most years, upper valley birders spend many nights in the fall look for and watching migrating Common Nighthawks. This year hasn't been very different. Many other locations have been getting good numbers of this declining goatsucker. But until now our efforts have been unsuccessful. While rollerskiing this afternoon, two nighthawks appeared and feed of Turnpike Road in Norwich. These birds were several miles from the river, which I no longer think is that surprising.

Also away from the river--warblers are still abundant in our back yard. I can no longer bird most mornings and the numbers aren't as good as they were two weeks ago. That said, Black-throated Greens have appeared in force, a Canada this afternoon was the 7th warbler today, and 2 Tennessees on Tuesday must have know Chris had left.

For now my eyes are focused on Hurricane Irene and the possible bullied birds.

Spencer Hardy's photostream

Spencer Hardy's photostream on Flickr.

The last four pictures are from Vermont...too busy birding to provide details...sorry!

Week one

It has been 6 days, I have 13 checklist and 14 warbler species--I have way to much time to bird. Unfortunately today was an exception, unfortunately because the birding was as good as it gets--anywhere. I have seen a fallout on High Island and birded Cape May numerous times, but today, in my own back yard, the warbler show was better than just about any other. 50+ birds in under 10 minutes, many just yards away. Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Black-and-white were by far the most abundant species, but only 3 of the 12 seen today. If only I could have birded for more than an hour. The first week of August isn't exactly prime migration either. Last year my first warblers were on the 8th, and I finished with 21 species for the month.
Outside of Parulidae a Yellow-throated Vireo yesterday was the 50th species for the month and a first for the yard. This is interesting since this species is a bottom-land lover. Did it come up from the river, or is it a true migrant from some northerly sight? My guess is the latter, given that everything seems to be moving a little early.

Moving out of the passerines, on the night of 3rd we heard a strange noise from down the road. The scream/squeal vocalization had to have been a bird, but it didn't match any I could think of...so we grabbed headlamps and a sound recorder. Lucky for us the animal was close to the road. With a little patience and searching we found the culpable, a Barred Owl. This species is known to make a lot of different sounds, and this call has been recorded before, but a strange sound none the less.

Morning bees (and warblers)

I promise there will not be daily updates, but today was too interesting to let go. I was able to get out earlier today than in past outings, which allowed for some new findings. The first was not bird related. Bumble bees (Bumbus sp.) were incredibly abundant on a species of large pink flowers. And they were still asleep. This isn't ground breaking science, but was very cool to see. There must have been upwards of 50 individuals (of at least two species). They all seemed to be frozen upside-down underneath the flowers, and didn't respond to my bushwhacking--all except one that decided to sting my hand. The bees would have been enough to make the morning worthwhile, but the avian surprises were far better. Its hard to believe that fall migration is underway on August 2nd, but the bird list indicates it is.
Mourning Warbler-My 25th warbler species for the yard!
Tennessee Warbler-My first for 2011. Very early, but has been reported in Massachusetts. Likely an adult, although very ratty, maybe molting.
Canada Warbler- A great surprise. The earliest record at the house by more than two weeks. An adult female seen in the feeder tree.

You never know what you are going to find if you don't look!

Day 1

August 1st. This date means nothing to any bird, but it has a little more importance to me. Since its conception, I have gotten more and more attached to this August big month. Now that August is here, each bird has a little more meaning for me. August is traditionally the first month with much southbound landbird movement, so I began the day with a walk around "my" old beaver pond. Nothing I saw was definitely a migrant, but post-breeding wandering was clearly evident. The list on the right gives some highlights as well as the current species total.
Some individual sightings worth mentioning-
Indigo Bunting-singing for the second week in a row, not seen most years during the summer. This may be a breeder that I missed as a result of extended travel during June and early July. If so it would be the first time I have found this species breeding in the neighborhood.
Black-billed Cuckoo-one bird singing as a I write. This species is well known to be a irruptive species, and this year is clearly an invasion year. During one of the last invasions, we found a nest (during the breeding bird atlas) near our neighbors pond. Since then I have never heard one well enough to be positive they are around.

Peru 2011

Peru 2011, a set on Flickr.

August Challenge

Migration is just around the corner. Shorebird numbers are steadily rising on the coast, and local passerines are leaving their breeding territories. In the next month warblers and other boreal nesters will be heading south through our area. Our yard is rapidly gaining a reputation for a great migrant trap. On some fall days it has more warblers than any other spot in Vermont. We could have double-digit warbler days by the second week in August. Last year I spent many mornings roaming the woods and clearings in search of  warblers, vireos, flycatchers and anything else. In the month of August I ebirded 15 checklists containing 58 species. This year I want to do better. The goal is a total of 100 (checklists+species). Given that I am gone for parts of the month, I can't hope for more than 70 some odd species, but 30 checklist is doable.
It will make relativity common birds more exciting and meaningful. Things like Tree Swallow will become a great surprise (if I get it at all), and it will force me to check places that I don't always bird. Looking forward to some great surprises!

The Beginning

Late last night I decided I need a blog. There doesn't seem to be a logical reason for this. I generally dislike blogs, I am a mediocre writer (at best), and I don't have all that much free time. I do do a lot of birding, and for now that's what I am going to write about. I will try to provide updates on the Windsor County part of the 2011 Vermont County Quest (http://www.vtecostudies.org/quest/) as well as other interesting things that come in to my head.
I am justifying the time commitment as a way to play with ideas for a possible college essay.

As for the name, it's a reference to a group of South American flycatchers. During my first trip to a true rainforest (south-east Peru), I found and identified a flycatcher who's name has stayed with me ever since. It was not an unusual sighting nor a colorful bird, but the name "Olivaceous Flatbill" still rings in my head from time to time. Not only is it the quintessential neotropical bird name, but it is a very descriptive name for this large-billed bird. All in all its the perfect name for a kid with a particular affinity for South American birding.