MadBirders » Bird Sightings

Snow Goose on the Mad River!

Jeannie Elias — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:15:44 +0000

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

Jeannie Elias — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:08:49 +0000

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 sparrows until the Spring. The White Crowned sparrows normally leave in late October, and the White Throated sparrows fly the coop in late November.

Summer Residents Head South

Jeannie Elias — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:58:14 +0000

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

nturner — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:16:11 +0000

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 is “tame”.

Pine Siskins and other Irruptives

Pat Folsom — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:01:46 +0000

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 (12,000) previous high count of siskins at their location in the fall.

The Foremans have a leucistic siskin (very pale yellow) that has been coming to the feeder with the flock. This unusual bird seems to hold its own with the rest of birds and is very interesting to watch.

Other irruptives visiting this winter included Snow Buntings, Common Redpolls, Bohemian Waxwings, White-winged Crossbills, and Pine Grosbeaks. Snowy and Northern Hawk Owls are hanging out elsewhere in Vermont. Let’s hope some visit our Valley. Keep your eyes open, there’s plenty of winter left.

Red Bellied Woodpecker!

nturner — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:51:52 +0000

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…

Jeannie Elias — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:04:29 +0000

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. Like many of our migratory songbirds, this bird generally arrives in Vermont during the first week in May, so this one was just about right on time. Be on the look out for the brilliant orange plumage of the male. It is unmistakable…no wonder they like oranges so much.

Red-winged Blackbirds Signal Spring

Pat Folsom — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:23:07 +0000

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.

Jeannie Elias — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:52:52 +0000

Barred Owl Sightings Numerous This Winter

Pat Folsom — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:41:20 +0000

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 reporting seeing them in their neighborhoods or along roadsides. One has even been hanging out in the middle of Burlington since early January, spotted by James Foreman and others at First Night celebration.

On Friday, January 25, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies devoted much of its weekly Birdbrains report in the Burlington Free Press to the Barred Owl. According to their report, the food source (small rodents such as mice and voles) of these birds in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence regions has crashed, forcing the birds further south to find prey. Many of these birds are probably young, stressed to find food, so hunting during the day.

Barred Owls will be begin nesting in February, so we will soon be hearing their “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” calls. Enjoy every sighting of these wonderful birds (and be happy they are decreasing our rodent population).