an old vireo nest seen on the walkA record was set at West Rutland Marsh this morning with a new January species high of 22. Though not earth-shattering, this is four more than our January average of 18 and two more than last year’s tally.
Fortunately, the predicted deep freeze has not yet arrived so the 10 participants enjoyed a relatively mild walk.
Highlights included a flock of 21 Wild Turkeys in the fields along Pleasant Street and seven Red-winged Blackbirds in a tree on Marble Street.
The group hit the redpoll jackpot with about 75 visiting a feeder at the green (formerly yellow) house on Marble. A single Common Redpoll was seen at another feeder, where a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a species not often seen on this walk, was also visiting.
Golden-crowned Kinglets were heard in the trees along Whipple Hollow Road and the lone raptor of the day was a Red-tailed Hawk soaring high over the ridge.
This marked the 138th time RCAS has made the monitoring trip around the marsh with 1,615 observers to date (albeit with several repeats). 145 species have been seen to date.
Wild Turkey 21
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 9
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 11
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
European Starling 10
American Tree Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 7
House Finch 7
Common Redpoll 76
American Goldfinch 24
House Sparrow 7