West Rutland Marsh - May Monitoring Report

how many birders can you fit in a car?We always say nothing beats the West Rutland Marsh in May (well, June is good too!). Today 26 participants, enjoying a taste of summer, tallied 68 species.  

Although neither American nor least bittern was observed (least bittern was reported earlier in the week), both Virginia rail and sora were among today’s numbers. Marsh wrens, swamp sparrows, yellow warblers and common yellowthroat were in full voice.

Both alder and willow flycatchers have returned and a high number of eastern kingbirds – twelve – were busy defending territories. One great crested flycatcher was heard briefly along Whipple Hollow Road and the ‘che-bek’ of four least flycatchers was heard.

Hawks were in low numbers with only two red-tailed hawks and three raptor wannabes - turkey vultures.

Red Columbine along Whipple Hollow RoadA brown thrasher was observed along Marble Street (north of the green house). At least three Baltimore orioles were seen along this area where they have nested in the past.

Warblers, the joy of the season, were seen and/or heard in good number with 11 of those species. A ‘winged warbler’ sang ‘bees buzz’ from the east side of Marble street indicating the presence of a blue-winged or golden-winged warbler or a hybrid of the two. Two northern waterthrush were heard, one along Pleasant street and one along Whipple Hollow and two Canada warblers have returned to Whipple Hollow Road this year. Other warblers were black-and-white, Nashville, common yellowthroat, American redstart, yellow, chestnut-sided and black-throated green warbler.

The next marsh walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, at 7 a.m.

Today’s list:  

Canada Goose  9
Wood Duck  2
Mallard  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Virginia Rail  3
Sora  1
Wilson's Snipe  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Mourning Dove  8
Chimney Swift  4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
Alder Flycatcher  9
Willow Flycatcher  3
Least Flycatcher  4
Eastern Phoebe  3
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  12    
Warbling Vireo  10
Red-eyed Vireo  7
Blue Jay  11
American Crow  2
Common Raven  4
Tree Swallow  8
Barn Swallow  8
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  2
Brown Creeper  1
House Wren  5
Marsh Wren  10
Eastern Bluebird  2
Veery  8
Wood Thrush  1
American Robin  5
Gray Catbird  9
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  4
Cedar Waxwing  8
Ovenbird  7
Northern Waterthrush  2
Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warbler  1    
Black-and-white Warbler  7
Nashville Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  22
American Redstart  10
Yellow Warbler  22
Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
Black-throated Green Warbler  2
Canada Warbler  2
Song Sparrow  7
Swamp Sparrow  16
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  19
Common Grackle  12
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
Baltimore Oriole  5
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  19
House Sparrow  2