DunlinOn January 22, birders from across the state gathered at the Montshire Museum in Norwich to celebrate the successful conclusion of the first Vermont Quest and to toast the winners. Awards were given to the winning county based on a par system, the top birder in each county, and the top eBirder in each count, among other categories. Windham and Windsor counties took top honors - congratulations to birders there! Click here to see how Rutland County stacked up (pretty much in the middle).
From all the chatter at the gathering, birders seem eager to continue the competition in 2012. Stay tuned to see how we are faring this year compared to last. In the meantime, here is a summary of highlights, first through fifth sightings of the 'unusual' birds seen in Rutland County in 2011:
|
Tundra Swan |
4/13/85 11/30/90 4/9/98 4/11/11 |
Lake Bomoseen Shrewsbury Brandon Rutland |
|
Red-throated Loon |
11/27//97 10/28/11 |
Lake Bomoseen Lake Bomoseen |
|
American White Pelican |
5/31/11 11/17/11 |
Kent Pond, Killington Kent Pond, Killington |
|
Sandhill Crane |
10/4/92 8/26/95 4/7/09 4/11/11 9/29/11 |
Lake Hortonia Brandon Clarendon “flats” Mt. Tabor – Otter Creek wetlands Lefferts Pond, Chittenden |
|
Dunlin |
11/5/88 6/4/08 10/29/11 |
Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton IBA Lefferts Pond, Chittenden Lefferts Pond, Chittenden |
|
Red-necked Phalarope |
10/5/11 |
Lake Bomoseen |
|
Laughing Gull |
9/20/11 |
Lake Bomoseen |
|
Black Tern
|
5/29/89 6/15/04 5/4/11 5/16/11 |
Rutland Lake Bomoseen/Hubbardton IBA Kent Pond, Killington Kent Pond, Killington |
|
Common Tern |
5/20/89 5/4/11 8/27/11 10/3/11 |
Lake Bomoseen Kent Pond, Killington Chittenden Reservoir Lake Bomoseen |
|
Snowy Owl |
11/15/91 1/25/01 11/27/11 |
Shrewsbury Chittenden Mt. Tabor |
|
Connecticut Warbler |
9/5/81 10/2/11 |
White Rocks Nat'l Rec. Area Rutland Town |