To borrow a phrase from the texting world, OMG applies to today’s walk at West Rutland Marsh. A total of 81 made this our highest species count in almost 14 years of monthly monitoring thanks to the 18 pairs of eyes and ears participating this morning. Sixty-two species were observed in May 2014 and our average for this month of the year is 68.
A Least Bittern, heard, seen and photographed by many birders over the past two weeks, made itself heard when two participants picked up its low chuckling between the boardwalk and the power line. American Bittern was also heard.
A Solitary Sandpiper and a Spotted Sandpiper were taking advantage of the mud flats under the power line (cleared from work on the lines this past winter). Three Virginia Rails were also seen here with two having a bit of a kerfuffle.
A female Wild Turkey was spotted crossing True Blue Road.
Both Alder and Willow flycatchers are back.
Wood Thrush and Hermit Thrush lent their voices to the morning chorus as well as Veery, which is back in full force (and voice!).
Raptors included a Merlin, a Red-tailed Hawk, and high flyover of an Osprey.
Fourteen warbler species made the day with several seen and/or heard mostly along Whipple Hollow Road. They were Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, the hard to hear Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green. In addition, getting a good look at a Canada Warbler on Marble Street was a thrill while another was singing on Whipple Hollow.
The real treat of the day was a single Evening Grosbeak in a tree along Whipple Hollow Road, a life bird for a couple participants.
The next marsh walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at 7 a.m.
Today’s list:
Canada Goose 12
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 6
Wild Turkey 1
American Bittern 2
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Virginia Rail 7
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Wilson's Snipe 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Merlin 1
Alder Flycatcher 5
Willow Flycatcher 3
Least Flycatcher 3
Eastern Phoebe 2
Eastern Kingbird 7
Warbling Vireo 11
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 14
American Crow 10
Common Raven 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 17
Barn Swallow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1
House Wren 3
Winter Wren 1
Marsh Wren 6
Veery 10
Hermit Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 14
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 2
Ovenbird 2
Northern Waterthrush 4
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Nashville Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 15
American Redstart 7
Magnolia Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 2
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 13
White-throated Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Red-winged Blackbird 23
Common Grackle 9
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 13
Evening Grosbeak 1
House Sparrow 3