American BitternClear blue skies and sunshine greeted the 35 participants for the West Rutland Marsh walk on April 21. The birds were as happy as the birders with the promising spring-like day. The feeders by the boardwalk were still busy with chickadees and American tree sparrows. Out on the boardwalk swamp sparrows were singing and seen as they proclaimed their territories. A Virginia rail was heard but remained hidden in the cattails. Red-winged blackbirds sang their rusty hinge sounding song and some displayed their red epaulets.
Notable were several raptor species overhead. No doubt glad for a day for hunting after so many gloomy ones.
As we proceeded around the route both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets were seen flitting among tree branches seeking a meal. The unseasonably cool weather has made insects hard to find for some of our early migrants. The importance of the marsh with insects rising from the waters make it a haven for these birds.
Swamp SparrowOne sharp-eyed observer found a chickadee excavating a nest hole in a broken stub of a rotten tree.
A yellow-bellied sapsucker was observed attending the wells it had drilled, while other woodpecker species were heard drumming. A winter wren, only 4 inches long, joyously sang its complicated song and a yellow-rumped warbler was seen high in the treetops. A total of 40 species was tallied for the morning. Our next walk takes place May 12th at 7:00 a.m. Many returning migrants should be present!
The list: