It was a glorious first day of autumn at West Rutland Marsh! Forty-five species beat last year by three and our September average of 39. We originally thought the day’s tally was 44, but a photo later revealed we actually had one additional species, a northern parula. Thirteen lucky participants all contributed to the total.
The day started with two tussling marsh wrens near the boardwalk, perhaps an immature still begging food of an adult?
One of the highlights of the day was Philadelphia vireo, with a nearby red-eyed vireo for contrast. They were both feeding frantically, but we had good looks at each. It was a life bird for some participants. Two warbling vireos were singing weakly.
Swamp SparrowRed-winged blackbird and blue jay numbers were high with 243 and 69, respectively.
Warblers included the parula, a black-throated green warbler, a magnolia warbler, a chestnut-sided warbler and several common yellowthroats.
Gray catbirds are still around in good numbers – 14 (last year we counted 13). Swamp sparrows are stilling singing away as well as a few marsh wrens. White-throated sparrows are putting in an appearance as the season changes.
Raptor numbers were low, one in fact, a sharp-shinned hawk.
Species #151 for our monitoring walk appeared today: an immature northern mockingbird, keeping company with starlings. At first we thought it was a juvenile starling, but its long tail and white wing patches gave it away.
The next monitoring walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, at 8 a.m.
Today’s list:
Canada Goose 9
Wood Duck 12
Mallard 7
Great Blue Heron 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 8
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 9
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 69
American Crow 4
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 3
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 14
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 5
Cedar Waxwing 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Magnolia Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
White-throated Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 243
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 1