a Bohemian Waxwing reaches for fruitAn extra day in February isn’t enough to explain the large increase in species seen this year over last year this time. Perhaps the enthusiasm generated by last year’s County Quest has carried over. Maybe there are some new eBirders out there. Or maybe it has been the weird winter, or lack thereof, weather. Whatever the reason, an amazing 11 more species have been observed in Rutland County over the first two months of last year. Some highlights from February:
Our unusually large number of species of waterfowl this winter increased with the addition of a Snow Goose and four Northern Pintail thanks to the open water of Otter Creek in Proctor and an alert birder.
A Merlin, a bird that has expanded its range into Vermont over the past several years, was seen near the ball fields of Giorgetti (Pine Hill) Park in Rutland.
Our largest and smallest regularly occurring owls have been reported this year. A Great Horned Owl was seen draped over a TV dish in Danby when the owner went out to make an adjustment. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard on a calm, moonlit night, also in Danby.
American Robin continues to be bird of the year, with flocks of a handful of birds to a few dozen, being seen throughout the county. Small numbers of Bohemian Waxwings have been seen in Danby and also around the Diamond Run Mall in Rutland. Most of these flocks have been under a dozen, but one flock in Danby consisted of 68 birds.
Enormous flocks of Snow Buntings were seen in Addison County the last week of February. Although not numbering in the thousands like the ones up north, two flocks of 250 and 500 each were spotted swirling over farm fields in Proctor and Rutland Town.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler, about the only species of warbler likely to be seen this time of year, was observed twice along the Cadwell Loop of the Pittsford Trails.
One bird not included in this month’s numbers is Swamp Sparrow, two actually, seen at the Pomainville WMA. Because it out of its expected date range, a report and photos, must be approved by the Vermont Bird Records Committee.
Red-winged Blackbirds are back! A few have been seen here and there with one flock of about 80 seen in Clarendon along with about 20 Common Grackles. Two Rusty Blackbirds, a species in serious decline, were seen in Danby.
A sharp-eyed birder spotted five White-winged Crossbills in the conifers along the ‘strip’ on Route 7 south on February’s extra day.
A couple of species are missing from this year’s list. After all of last year’s Barred Owl sightings, not one has been reported this year. Without heavy snow, they are probably finding enough to eat without being forced to hunt near the sides of roads. A loss for us, but it is probably better and safer for the owls. Although Horned Larks were reported at the end of last year, none have been reported yet in 2012.
Also, good to note, 150 eBird checklists were submitted this February compared with 123 last February. For a complete list of this year's sightings click here. Keep up the good work, birders!