Category

Snow Goose on the Mad River!

Mad Birder Scott Sainsbury got this great shot of a rare avian visitor to the Mad River Valley, a Snow Goose.  The bird was seen today, 3/22/10  at the Ward Memorial Recreation Area of the Mad River on Route 100b in Moretown, Vermont.   Way to go Scott!!

Birds of the First Snow

White Crowned Sparrow
 

White Throated Sparrow
 

White Breasted Nuthatch
 

Dark Eyed Junco
 Mad Birder Bill Martin got these great shots in Warren, Vermont as the first snow of the season blanketed the Mad River Valley on this mid October morning.  We will see the Juncos and Nuthatches all winter long, but these may be our last glimpses of the [...]

Summer Residents Head South

This shot of a Warbling Vireo was taken by Mad Birder Scott Sainsbury this week in Moretown. Warbling Vireos typically leave Vermont around the fourth week in September to head for their winter homes, typically located anywhere from Mexico south to El Salvador.

Juvenile Saw-whet Owl

The sighting of this owl caused a fair amount of excitement here on East Road among our extended family. It was sitting at the side of the house and was seemingly unafraid as it was approached. It looks just like the Juvenile Saw-whet Owl in Peterson’s guide book; the book also implies that this owl [...]

Pine Siskins and other Irruptives

This winter is proving to be a good one for birders looking for irruptives – those birds that visit our Valley some years, looking for food.  Several Mad Birders and birders all over the east are reporting flocks of Pine Siskins at their feeders.  The Hawk Mountain migration report forecast this irruption when they reported ten times [...]

Red Bellied Woodpecker!

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was spotted by Joan Gilbert on December 12th. This woodpecker is expanding its range north; they have been spotted by Mad Birders only a few times in the valley. We will keep our fingers crossed that it will stick around for next week’s Christmas Bird Count!  

 

Look who just flew in from the south…

Pat Folsom got this great shot of a Baltimore Oriole, (back to its original name after being known for a short while as the Northern Oriole,) this morning just after sunrise at one of the feeders at her Waitsfield home. The Baltimore Oriole winters in Southern Mexico, Northern South America and the Greater Antilles. [...]

Red-winged Blackbirds Signal Spring

Despite the snow and wind, the male Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived in the Valley and across the state.  Bridget says blackbirds are the true harbingers of spring.  Rejoice!!

Pine Grosbeaks and Snow Buntings still being spotted in the Mad River Valley, but numbers are down and their days south of their breeding territory are due to come to an end soon.

Barred Owl Sightings Numerous This Winter

There have been many Barred Owls reported in the Valley and around the state this winter.  One of the Valley Christmas Bird Count teams spotted three on December 14.  The Barred is the most common species of owl in the Valley, but the number being seen during daylight hours is very unusual.  Many residents are [...]