Walking through the meadow on the Whipple Hollow Trail. Photo by Sue Elliott.
Thirteen birders enjoyed peak foliage during October’s monitoring walk around West Rutland Marsh. The sun was out, but a brisk wind probably kept many birds down. Nonetheless, we tallied 26 species.
Several skeins of Canada geese were spotted in their migratory Vs high up in the sky. Three Mallards were also seen in flight, not fooled by the decoys floating in the open water at the end of the boardwalk.
Many of the ‘marsh’ birds are gone, but we did hear three Swamp Sparrows. Other sparrows seen included White-throated Sparrows, a species seen in good numbers throughout the state this month, and Song Sparrows.
A good-sized flock of Dark-eyed Juncos was spotted along Whipple Hollow Road and a lone Purple Finch was at a feeder.
Two Northern Harriers were observed swooping over the marsh, one near the Marble Street boardwalk and the other off of Pleasant Street.
A full trip report can be found here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/283836
Fall foliage along the Whipple Hollow Trail. Photo by Sue Elliott.