No cake and ice cream, but today was a birthday celebration of sorts as Rutland County Audubon kicked off its 15th year of monitoring West Rutland Marsh. As drizzly skies gave way to sun (and more humidity), the birds responded. Fifty-eight species were tallied, our new August high! This is well above last year’s meager 40 and our average of 45.
Marsh birds were still evident, but certainly not as abundant as earlier in the season. Marsh Wrens were chipping loudly near the boardwalk and a few Swamp Sparrows were singing. A single Virginia Rail was noted. Silent flycatchers had to go on the list simply as ‘Empid.’
A small flock of frenzied warblers on Whipple Hollow Road reminded us that migration will soon be in full swing. They included Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Pine Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler.
A Tennessee Warbler was seen early in the walk, not far from the boardwalk. Five Yellow Warblers were also seen during the morning, a high number for a species that seems to make itself scarce as breeding season ends.
BobolinkA Scarlet Tanager halfway between gaudy summer attire and drabber fall colors caused consternation until its identity became clear. A Green Heron perched high in a tree with its head held bittern-fashion also caught our attention.
Four Bobolinks, a species not often recorded on the marsh walk, were seen in a field on Pleasant Street.
Our next marsh walk is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, starting at 8 a.m.
Today’s list:
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 1
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 4
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Virginia Rail 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 2
Eastern Phoebe 6
Eastern Kingbird 5
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 8
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 1
Common Raven 3
Barn Swallow 10
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 4
Veery 4
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 11
Cedar Waxwing 31
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Tennessee Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
American Redstart 2
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 9
Swamp Sparrow 6
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Bobolink 4
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 56
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 26