annual meeting - june 26

White-necked JacobinMark your calendars! Wednesday, June 26, is the date for Rutland County Audubon's annual meeting, potluck and program. This year Vermont birder Maeve Kim will talk about her birding travels. Lots of her photos, such as the one shown here, will highlight her presentation.

A brief annual report and elections will follow supper and the program.

This is a great time to gather for some bird chat. We'd love to hear what you've been seeing.

Bring a dish to share. Beverages and utensils will be provided. 6 PM at the Proctor Library. Contact Roy Pilcher, 775-3461.

west rutland marsh - june monitoring report

What could be more perfect than a morning spent at West Rutland Marsh in June? After the seemingly endless rain, it was a treat to be there to witness all the sights and sounds of this special time of year.

New participants and regular attendees gathered to tally 66 species, 10 more than last year and six above our average for June.

Virginia Rails are always a highlight of a marsh walk especially when they have their fuzzy black chicks with them. Nine were seen or heard including three young. There have been numerous reports of young over the past couple of weeks.

A good bit of time was spent on the boardwalk watching the rails and listening to the differences in vocalizations between the Alder and Willow flycatchers. While there the group was treated to a long, satisfying look at a Least Bittern in flight. This was a life bird for many and a thrill for all.

Raptors were represented by a Broad-winged Hawk, four Red-tailed Hawks, and an American Kestrel.

Two Canada Warblers were singing, one on Pleasant Street and one on Whipple Hollow Road. Other warblers included Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and, of course, numerous Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats.

As with last month, there was much evidence of nesting activities including a Baltimore Oriole with a nest.

The morning ended with Green Heron flying across the marsh.

Today’s list:

Canada Goose  1
Wood Duck  1
Mallard  2
American Bittern  1
Least Bittern  1
Green Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Broad-winged Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  4
Virginia Rail  9
Killdeer  1
Wilson's Snipe  1
Rock Pigeon  1
Mourning Dove  20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  6
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
American Kestrel  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Alder Flycatcher  6
Willow Flycatcher  6
Least Flycatcher  3
Eastern Phoebe  10
Great Crested Flycatcher  3
Eastern Kingbird  6
Warbling Vireo  5
Red-eyed Vireo  9
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Tree Swallow  10
Barn Swallow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  11
Tufted Titmouse  2
House Wren  2
Marsh Wren  6
Carolina Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
Veery  12
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  16
European Starling  4
Cedar Waxwing  13
Ovenbird  6
Black-and-white Warbler  3
Common Yellowthroat  12
American Redstart  5
Yellow Warbler  15
Canada Warbler  2
Chipping Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  7
Swamp Sparrow  15
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20
Common Grackle  5
Baltimore Oriole  4
Purple Finch  3
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  9
House Sparrow  1

in the nick of time

My computer is very demanding and, from time to time, we have a serious discussion as to where my loyalty resides. Today was one such occasion. With a steady rain overnight and continuing well in to the morning and temperatures in the mid-fifties, it was surely a day when the computer and I could reestablish our relationship. The urge to go birding was equally strong and so a compromise was entered into. Two hours of birding and no more! 

So here I am a few hours later, together again with my trusty computer and with a story to tell. 

The weather at Kent Pond was no better than that down in the valley. The rain could not make up its mind from which direction to blow! First one window on one side of the car was opened and the rain came in. Then the window on the other side was opened and the rain continued to come in. Not all was lost. Through the curtain of rain drops a single Common Loon was seen in the center of the pond and from time to time a familiar song managed to seep through whenever a window was opened.

It was time to venture to the western side of the pond from which the loon nest could be viewed using a scope or binoculars. The island looked quite diminished. The rising waters had submerged a goodly portion of the limited real estate. My eyes strained to focus through the obscurity of rain, but no loon could be seen in or near the nest. It was difficult to gauge but surely no more than two inches of elevation separated the nest site from the rising waters. Probably a surge or the constant battering of waves from the exposed southwest had done their worst and all was lost! 

Not so! From around the north side in a rocky enclave an adult loon appeared and then a second. Closer and closer together they swam and, joyously, from between them, bobbing in the water a little black chick appeared. It was joined soon after by a second. Together the family group trod water, remaining close until an invitation from one adult enticed one chick on to its back to be followed by its sibling. With the raising of one wing both chicks disappeared into the embrace and warmth of the familiar not to be seen again.

One adult then left the area, mission accomplished! The second with the chicks safely and securely embedded, patrolled the westerly periphery of the island. Strategically, and to this observer, surprisingly, the adult then clambered back on to the nest site now almost completely obscured through the rain and opaqueness of the foliage. In a short while after some further movements and shuffling by the adult loon its head appeared and in its bill an egg shell could be seen only to be ceremoniously and defiantly tossed upon the rising waters. 

It had been in the nick of time!

a lucky turn of events

Western KingbirdFinding a new species here in Vermont, for those of us who have birded a long time, is a rare event. This past Sunday I was scheduled to lead a marsh walk for Otter Creek Audubon (click here to find out how that turned out). I attribute my good luck in finding a rare bird to that event. On Saturday I went to our local ATM to procure lunch money for the following day. There, on a bulletin board, was an ad for a program at Mt. Independence that afternoon. The subject matter was of interest to me so I proceeded over to Orwell.

Driving along the Mt. Independence Road, I was watching for whatever birds are usual there, knowing I would see and hear Purple Martins by the farm. Just about a half mile from Mt. Independence, there sat a bird on the wire. I immediately thought Stop and look at this. Something is different. As soon as I got the bird in my binoculars I knew I really had something special – a Western Kingbird! Putting the four-way flashers on, I jumped out of the car with a camera in hand and took two photos before it flew off across the field.

Had it not been for the pending field trip, I would not have gone to the ATM, learned about the program, made my way to Orwell, and found the kingbird. So thank you OCAS for this most exciting find!

[What to do if you find a rare bird? Click here.]

visitors to the marsh

This morning we had some visitors from the north at the marsh. Not birds this time, but our friends from the Otter Creek Audubon Society in Addison County. Fourteen people got together this morning and made it to West Rutland by 7 a.m. Our Audubon chapter, under the trip leadership of Sue Wetmore, spent the morning taking them through the paces of what we now consider a routine outing. Lucky us to have had them because it was a reminder of the great resource we have here in Rutland County. Over and over we heard what a terrific place it is and how special it is to have the marsh in our backyard.

The walk began on the boardwalk. RCAS members, Connie and Brad Coolidge were already there and had been watching a pair of Virginia Rails with chicks. When we walked on the boardwalk part of the family was under it and soon left for a more solitary location.

Tree Swallow bringing food to youngAs we walked along watching and listening for birds it became apparent that a few of members were new to birding or just returning to it after several years. That made it fun for the more experienced birders because they had the chance to explain their birding techniques. Being a new birder can be an intimidating experience with so many sounds and sights to remember. We helped allay that fear by sharing our experience and telling them how we had learned the birds by sight and sound.

Our walk included sightings of many birds with young. There was a female Mallard with six ducklings on the river, immature Hairy Woodpeckers calling from a nest hole, a Tree Swallow feeding young in a nest box and an Eastern Kingbird sitting on a nest near the boardwalk. Walking around the marsh is always rewarding, but it is the best in the spring!

Thank you, Otter Creek Audubon, for visiting today and reminding us of the importance of West Rutland Marsh. It is this kind of event that reminds us of why we must continue to protect this valuable resource.