Nine birders gathered for today’s walk around West Rutland Marsh, our last walk of 2017. The seasonal temperature and no wind made it a refreshing day to be out. The species total for the day was 21, two more than our December average and one more than a year ago.
With vegetation dormant and a skim of ice on the water, we are left with mostly our resident species. One exception is a winter visitor, the American tree sparrow. They were active at the feeders at the boardwalk. A few more were found along the walk.
A mixed flock of eastern bluebirds (no, they don’t all leave in winter!), several chickadees and a few golden-crowned kinglets fed in the trees along Marble Street. Kinglets were also found in small groups on Pleasant Street and Whipple Hollow Road.
Red-bellied woodpeckers are becoming a regular sight on the walk. We saw two today on Pleasant Street.
A brown creeper was seen and heard along Whipple Hollow Road.
The highlight of the walk was a winter wren. At first we heard its call note up in the woods. It then flew across the road and scolded us several times before disappearing into the phragmites.
Our next walk is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, at 8 a.m.
Today’s list: