Century Count XVII

How many species can you find in Rutland County in one day? If it’s May, the weather is good and you have teams out scouring a good portion of the county, at least 120!

On May 21 RCAS held annual Century Count XXVII. With the Covid pandemic still with us, we again divided into teams. This allowed us to cover a wide variety of habitats from marsh to forest to lakeshores to fields and power lines.

Each team had highlights and also found species other teams missed. The big find of the day was a yellow-breasted chat at the Buckner Preserve in West Haven.

A flock of 55 pine siskins, a species we associate with winter, were at a feeder in Shrewsbury.

It’s shaping up to be a big cuckoo year – both black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos were seen at quite a few locations.

With warbler migration winding down, most warbler species were seen with the exception of Cape May warbler and bay-breasted warbler, which may be at the tail end of their migration through our area. The ‘winged’ warblers, golden-winged and blue-winged and their hybrids including the ‘Lawrence’s’ hybrid were seen.

Some of the birding hotspots covered included the Buckner Preserve, Cogman/Ghost Hollow Roads in West Haven, West Rutland Marsh (including the new Whipple Hollow Trail), the Pleasant Street power line, Bomoseen State Park and the lake, Lefferts Pond and Kent Pond among others.

Many thanks to all who participated and submitted all their sightings to eBird!

Link to the eBird trip report, click here.

The List:

Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Wild Turkey Ruffed Grouse Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Virginia Rail Common Gallinule Killdeer American Woodcock Wilson's Snipe Spotted Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Common Loon Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker

Peregrine Falcon Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Carolina Wren European Starling Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Eastern Bluebird Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing

House Sparrow House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Eastern Towhee Yellow-breasted Chat Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Golden-winged Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting

century count XIX

RCAS was a decade short of a century on May 31. Our 19^th annual attempt to tally 100 species in Rutland County missed what seemed to be very obvious species. However, what we lacked in quantity was more than compensated by some unusual species as well as the opportunity to view some of Vermont’s beautiful scenery on our tour around the county.

After a couple quick stops, the real birding began along the Pleasant Street power line in West Rutland. As the early morning mist lifted over West Rutland Marsh below, the Prairie Warblers, Eastern Towhees and Field Sparrows were tuning up. Among the growing bird song we heard ‘bee buzz’ and knew one of the winged warblers was about, probably a Blue-winged Warbler. Following the new guidelines for reporting the winged warblers, we tracked them down (two males) and found they were indeed Blue-winged Warblers with all the appropriate field marks.

Sharp ears picked up a Brown Thrasher on the power line. A Nashville Warbler was also spotted and a Red-breasted Nuthatch was heard in the conifers along the edge. Oddly, we saw no White-breasted Nuthatch during the count.

Alder FlycatcherA good deal of time was spent at West Rutland Marsh where most of the expected species were seen or heard. This included five Virginia Rails heard along the boardwalk, Water Street and Pleasant Street and two American Bitterns flying over the marsh. A Marsh Wren was making a racket near the boardwalk so no doubt there is a nest nearby.

The next stop was the Route 4 rest area, which is probably ‘tick central’ for Vermont (please see our previous article for important information on ticks). American Redstarts are abundant in this area as are Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings. The highlight here and the highlight for the day was a Cerulean Warbler in the same area where it was seen in 2010 and 2011. It was in full song and, after much searching, we were able to glimpse enough of the bird to be confident of the identification.

After a break for cookies, we headed to the Lake Bomoseen area, where the north end (the Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton Marshes IBA) is a good prospect for ducks. There we were surprised to find four male Ring-necked Ducks. We also saw our first Killdeer for the day (that and a Wilson’s Snipe at Lake Hortonia were our only shorebirds of the day).

As we headed down Black Pond/Moscow Road toward our lunch stop at Bomoseen State Park, we picked up Wood Duck, a Double-crested Cormorant on Breese Pond, a Black-billed Cuckoo and a Northern Waterthrush. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was perched on a dead snag where we find him every year. Our only White-throated Sparrow of the day was found along this road.

A second Black-billed Cuckoo was at Bomoseen State Park where we also heard a Yellow-throated Vireo and saw an active Baltimore Oriole nest.

From the upper lot of the Kehoe Fishing Access along Lake Bomoseen we found the expected Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Black-and-white Warbler. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was heard here and a Common Loon in basic plumage was seen out on the lake.

KilldeerAt the Fair Haven Municipal Airport we found four fuzzy Killdeer chicks with their parents fussing nearby. A second pair of Killdeer was guarding a nest with four eggs.

Our travels toward and through Benson yielded the expected Bobolinks and a Savannah Sparrow. Along Pleasant Valley Road in Benson we were happy to hear a Northern Mockingbird and an Eastern Meadowlark as well as more Bobolinks.

At the fishing access on Lake Hortonia the aforementioned Wilson’s Snipe were calling incessantly and a female Wood Duck was being trailed by eight young. Two female Hooded Mergansers were on Burr Pond in Sudbury.

Our final stop along Route 73, at a property recently restored under the Wetland Reserve Program on the Sudbury/Brandon line, we were treated to Common Gallinule, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern and Virginia Rail.

Thanks to all the sharp-eyed, sharp-eared participants and to Roy Pilcher for planning the trip.

The full list:  

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

American Bittern

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Virginia Rail

Common Gallinule

Killdeer

Wilson's Snipe

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Black-billed Cuckoo

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Yellow-throated Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Eastern Bluebird

Veery

Hermit Thrush

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Blue-winged Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart

Cerulean Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Canada Warbler

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Scarlet Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Bobolink

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

century count XVIII

BobolinkFew of us thought we would reach more than 75 species for Century Count XVIII. With perhaps the worst possible Memorial Day weekend weather in several years – rain, wind, cold temperatures – the prospects were not good. Ten participants, however, rose to the challenge and tallied 102 species in a day-long marathon through Rutland County.

Many of the expected species at West Rutland Marsh were found, such as Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren and both Alder and Willow flycatchers, but a good number of the usuals were missed at this location.

In deteriorating weather, the group trudged up the Pleasant Street power line and was pleasantly surprised. Although the Blue-winged Warblers may have been singing ‘bee-brrr’ instead of ‘bee-buzz’ four of them were found. Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, Eastern Towhees and Field Sparrows were singing away.

The Route 4 rest area, although hosting an unpleasant number of ticks, provided several warbler species including Blackburnian, Magnolia and Canada. There was no sign of a Cerulean Warbler as in past years, but that area was inaccessible due to a swollen stream caused by a blocked culvert.

At the north end of Lake Bomoseen an American Coot was a nice find in the heavy vegetation along with a few Wood Ducks including young.

A welcome rest for a picnic lunch at Bomoseen State Park provided the opportunity to find a Yellow-throated Vireo and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher plus a Baltimore Oriole sitting on a nest.

A Bald Eagle was seen from the Kehoe Fishing Access upper lot on Lake Bomoseen along with four Common Loons (two more loons were also seen on Lake Hortonia and six on Chittenden Reservoir, no doubt related to the bad weather).

A Northern Harrier, a Savannah Sparrow and a handful of bubbling Bobolinks were found during a brief stop at Fair Haven Municipal Airport. A good number of Bobolinks were found in Benson as well as a Meadowlark and an American Kestrel.

The highlight of the day was a stop along Route 73 in Brandon along the Otter Creek. A Pied-billed Grebe, two American Bittern, one Least Bittern and three Common Gallinule were observed. Click here to find out why this area is so special.

The day ended at Lefferts Pond as it traditionally does. A Wilson’s Snipe was seen calling atop a phone pole. The day closed out with the songs of a Purple Finch and a White-throated Sparrow.

All sightings have been contributed to eBird (25 checklists).

Despite the conditions, the group remained good humor all day. Everyone contributed to the effort of seeing, hearing and identifying 102 species. Special thanks once again go to Roy Pilcher for planning another successful Century Count.

The day's list:

Canada Goose Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard Common Merganser Wild Turkey Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail Common Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker

American Kestrel Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush

Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

century count XVIII

How would you like to go birding?

How would you like to go birding in Rutland County?

How would you like to go birding in Rutland County with the prospect of tallying 100 or more species?

How would you like to go birding in Rutland County with the prospect of tallying 100 or more species in one day?

Chestnut-sided WarblerIf you answered yes to the final question then meet Rutland County Audubon and friends on Sunday, May 26, at the West Rutland Price Chopper parking area at 6:00 am. For those who stay to “the glorious end” some 15 hours later we hope to have tallied over 100 species. If the past is any guide, the number of species tallied over the past five years is 106, 108, 114, 109 and 110!

We will be visiting many of Rutland County's best birding spots and see a wide variety of birds. It is a long day so be prepared with a lunch and beverage which we have taken in the past at Bomoseen State Park. There is a lot more driving than walking. It is a go-go-go, kind of a day but a lot of fun!

All our Audubon field trips are open to the public and are free. However, we will be collecting donations to be split between Audubon Vermont and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, both bird friendly organizations. You may make out your check to either organization or cash is just fine.

Contact Roy Pilcher 775-3461 or email us at birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org

century count XVII

Prairie WarblerFor the eighth consecutive year Rutland County Audubon has exceeded its goal of 100 species in Rutland County during its annual Century Count. This year's count, the seventeenth, totaled 110 species by 13 participants! Our record was 114 in 2010.

Although no rarities were observed, there was a good representation of the species to be found in Rutland County in May. By comparison this a little more than twice the number of species tallied during the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Prairie Warblers were in full song along the Pleasant Street power line in West Rutland and, as we left, the Eastern Towhees were tuning up. Both Blue-winged and Golden-winged warblers were heard.

West Rutland Marsh produced the expected species - American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren - as well as a Green Heron. A Canada Warbler, heard along Whipple Hollow Road during last week's marsh monitoring walk, is still singing. A Northern Waterthrush and Yellow-billed Cuckoo were also heard.

Many of us are now calling what used to be known as the Golden-winged Warbler pull-off (the rest area on Route 4), the Tick pull-off, no pun intended. No Golden-winged or Blue-winged warblers were heard, but the ticks are plentiful. Use caution when visiting! Five Wood Thrush were heard as well as one Mourning Warbler, a Black-billed Cuckoo and the first of many Eastern Wood-pewees of the day.

Castleton State College has a nice, easy-to-walk trail behind the athletic center. It produced Winter Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and Louisiana Waterthrush.

At the Kehoe Fishing Access on the west side of Lake Bomoseen, we could see an adult Bald Eagle sitting on a tree on Neshobe Island. An Osprey was also observed flying down the lake.

During the heat of mid-afternoon the grassland species were still singing - Savannah Sparrow at Fair Haven Municipal Airport, Bobolinks at several locations in West Haven and Benson, and Brown Thrasher and Eastern Meadowlark in Benson.

Unbelievably the only Red-tailed Hawk sighting of the day came at 7 p.m. in Brandon.

Common Loon and Spotted Sandpiper were observed at both Chittenden Reservoir and Kent Pond. The single Hermit Thrush of the day was heard at Chittenden Reservoir as well.

The day ended with the evening song of a Swainson's Thrush at Kent Pond in Killington and at Lefferts Pond in Chittenden "peent" of American Woodcock, the "oong-ka-choonk" of American Bittern, the White-throated Sparrow's "old Sam Peabody."

Two new species were added to the annual Century Count list: Carolina Wren at West Rutland Marsh and American Wigeon, a pair, at Lefferts Pond.

As an added bonus several Giant Swallowtail butterflies were observed during the day at various locations.

The day's list:

Canada Goose Wood Duck American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Common Loon American Bittern Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cucko o Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-belled Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Eastern Bluebird Veery Swainson’s Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

century count XVI

With weather more like a humid day in August, 15 participants were unsure whether they would hit 100 species for this year’s Century Count XVI. Nevertheless, a respectable 109 species were tallied in our annual attempt to see or hear as many species as possible within the county.

Sora (seen on a previous occasion)As expected, the early morning visit to West Rutland Marsh was one of the most productive stops of the day with 63 species. The day started with a Blackpoll Warbler singing on Sheldon Avenue. Other highlights included Virginia Rail and Common Moorhen at the boardwalk. Participants were thrilled with great looks at a Sora.

The birdsong along the Pleasant St. powerline in West Rutland was a bit subdued, but we still managed to pick up Blue-winged and Golden-winged warblers, Prairie Warbler and Field Sparrow. Indigo Buntings have finally returned to this spot for the year.

Cerulean Warbler is back at the Route 4 rest area this year (and adding one to our County Quest numbers). An American Redstart, seen nest-building last week, is now sitting on her nest.

The Kehoe Fishing Access at Lake Bomoseen produced a Louisiana Waterthrush singing away at mid-day.

Cliff Swallows were collecting mud for nests at the Fair Haven Municipal Airport. A Savannah Sparrow sat in the open and sang for us.

West Haven and Benson in the western part of the county produced the expected Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks along with Northern Harrier, Wild Turkey, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Wilson's SnipeA stop at the old Brandon Training School for Northern Mockingbird also provided Wilson’s Snipe, sitting nearby on a stump and giving us a great look, and another Eastern Meadowlark singing on a wire.

After the warm day, we needed a spotting scope to make out a Common Loon and two Common Mergansers on Chittenden Reservoir. At Lefferts Pond American Woodcock were ‘peenting’ and Northern Waterthursh and White-throated Sparrow singing in the fading light.

Trip List:

Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Trip List: Canada Goose Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Common Loon American Bittern Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail Sora Common Moorhen Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Cerulean Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Eastern towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

century count XV - a new record!

Rutland County Audubon’s annual Century Count and Christmas Bird Count act as bookends to the year. Although the protocols are different, it is interesting to note that this year’s Century Count produced a record of 114 species, beating 2007’s record of 109. By contrast this past Christmas Bird Count had one of the lowest species count at 43 (the average is about 49).

On May 29, 20 birders gathered at 6 a.m. for Century Count XV. Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, and notebooks, we set out to cover the county in our annual attempt to tally 100 species.

A trip around West Rutland Marsh produced Virginia Rail and Sora. A Marsh Wren was seen carrying nesting material. Warblers, mostly along Whipple Hollow Road, were Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Canada Warbler. The highlight of the marsh, however, was not the warblers, but a male Orchard Oriole in full song along Marble Street. This was a first Vermont bird or life bird for many of the participants.

The Pleasant St. powerline in West Rutland was a successful stop as usual with Blue-winged Warbler (dressed and singing appropriately) and a feisty Prairie Warbler. An Eastern Towhee and a Field Sparrow were also observed.

One of the highlights of the day was our stop at the Rte 4 rest area, where a Cerulean Warbler looking at the Cerulean Warblerwas singing and observed high in the trees. RCAS Co-president Roy Pilcher first observed this bird May 11 (16 years after he saw it at the same location). Again The Cerulean was a life bird for many. Another Blue-winged Warbler (also appropriately dressed and singing) was seen here as well as a Golden-winged Warbler singing a Blue-winged Warbler song. All the field marks indicated Golden-winged and not a hybrid. A hermit thrush nest was found with two chicks, one possibly a Brown-headed Cowbird, and two blue eggs, one with the egg tooth poking through. A Louisiana Waterthrush was also heard at this location.

The Castleton College Nature Trail produced a Hairy Woodpecker nest with young, the second Canada Warbler of the day, and a Pine Warbler. A Broad-winged Hawk was seen and a Brown Creeper was singing.

The Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton IBA produced Wood Duck, including a female with eight young, and a Cliff Swallow on its nest under the church eaves.

happy birdersAt our lunch stop at Bomoseen State Park, we observed a Herring Gull and Yellow-throated Vireo.

At the Kehoe Fishing Access at Lake Bomoseen, we heard a Tennessee Warbler singing, quite incessantly, for mid-day. Appropriately a Nashville Warbler was also heard at this spot. A Red-eyed Vireo was observed bringing in birch bark strips for its nest-building efforts.

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen at the Bird Mountain WMA in Castleton. No Peregrine Falcon activity was observed on the cliffs. However, two Red-tailed Hawks were seen soaring.

Wild Turkeys, a Brown Thrasher, a few Bobolinks, and two Eastern Meadowlarks were seen in Benson. Bank Swallows were seen entering and exiting their nests at the town sand supply in Brandon. The day ended at 9:20 p.m. at Lefferts Pond with, most appropriately, Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl.

Notably absent for the day were American Bittern, American Woodcock, Winter Wren, and Black-throated Green Warbler. A total of 28 checklists were submitted to eBird.

 Total Species List:

Canada Goose Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail Sora Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher

Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Cerulean Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow