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.