Only three short of our goal (if you include a Blue-winged/Golden-winged Warbler hybrid), but, as they say, a good time was had by all for the 11 participants in this year’s Century Count XX. This is our annual attempt to tally 100 species in Rutland County.
The predicted thunderstorms never materialized despite the thick, warm weather. Even at the day’s end at 7:15 p.m., the temperature was still around 80.
The morning started at West Rutland Marsh and the nearby power line where a large percentage of the day’s species was tallied. A Virginia Rail was seen near a recently cleared area of the marsh while a Wilson’s Snipe flew up nearby. A Common Gallinule was spotted in the distance from the boardwalk. An American Bittern was heard several times.
The section along Whipple Hollow Road had several warbler species including a Northern Waterthrush. A Winter Wren was heard there as well.
The Prairie Warblers and Eastern Towhees were in full song on the power line while two Wood Thrushes sang from the adjacent woods. A ‘beez buzz’ alerted us to a possible Blue-winged Warbler, but it was a no-show and so went into the “don’t know winged warbler” category.
Braving the ticks, the group trudged up into the Blueberry Hill WMA behind the Route 4 rest area (new world record: 26 on one pair of pants). The Cerulean Warbler, reported and photographed several times this year, was heard in the distance. Two Ovenbird nests were discovered along the trail. One of the season's last migrants, a Blackpoll Warbler, was also heard.
A Barred Owl was photographed along Black Pond Road in Hubbardton.
Everyone was glad of the lunch break at Bomoseen State Park. A Yellow-throated Vireo sang nearby and a Common Loon bobbed in the choppy water of the lake. Later a Bald Eagle was seen soaring over the campground area. A Bald Eagle was also seen on the tallest tree on Neshobe Island as viewed from the Kehoe Fishing Access.
A second loon, in basic plumage, was seen later in the day on Burr Pond in Sudbury.
An afternoon trip through Fair Haven and Benson produced the grassland species: Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Savannah Sparrow. A Green Heron was spotted in Mill Pond.
The recently restored wetland on Route 73 at the Brandon/Sudbury town line continues to be productive. Marsh Wrens and an American Bittern were still vocal despite the late afternoon heat. A Least Bittern popped up briefly. Both firsts for the day, a Belted Kingfisher and an Osprey flew by.
Winged warblers continued to confound with a Blue-winged x Golden-winged Warbler hybrid on Arnold District Road in Brandon. Nearby a male Baltimore Oriole took exception to the presence of a kestrel.
Our next to last stop at Pomainville WMA in Pittsford produced the fifth American Kestrel of the day. A Monarch butterfly was seen here as well.
Twenty-six eBird checklists were submitted for the day from various points throughout the county. Thank you to all who to participated and especially to Roy Pilcher for organizing the trip.
Checklist: