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Northern Shrike Visits Pat Folsom’s Yard

This shrike has been seen at Pat’s yard several times this winter. They breed in regions to the north and are seen during the winter here. Shrikes capture and kill small songbirds and will visit feeders seeking prey. Shrikes will occasionally store their uneaten food by skewering the prey onto a long thorn on a [...]

Warm Christmas Bird Count

On Friday, December 15, nine teams of Mad Birders spread out through the Mad River Valley, Northfield and Roxbury in search of birds. Many were surprised to find that the birds were not at feeders as they were last year, but dispersed in fields and forests, enjoying all the food available in the mild [...]

American Bittern sightings in Mad River Valley

Last summer I saw my first Valley American Bittern while driving down East Warren Road toward Waitsfield Village.  I remember stopping the car, backing up, and watching for several minutes.  I laughed because the bird was standing in the middle of a field with it’s long neck pointing skyward, thinking it was hiding in reeds.  [...]

Hummers Everywhere

Most of Vermont has had more than its share of rain in the last month.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived in early to mid-May throughout most of the Valley and state. 
Last week several people were making observations of unusual numbers of hummers at their feeders.  For example, I have three feeders on the front porch and [...]

Babies at Blueberry Lake

Canada Geese and Eight Gosslings

Mad Birders Mini-Birdathon at Mad River Path

We had fun on our Saturday Mini-Birdathon despite the weather. After over a week of rain, the Mad River was over it’s banks on the Mad River Path on the south side of Meadow Road. Five of us had good looks at several species, fleeting looks at others (oh, those flighty warblers!), we [...]

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

The last two weeks have been soggy ones in the Valley, but the birds are arriving anyway.  This week we’ve seen the return of Bobolinks, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, many species of warblers. 
Yesterday, two gorgeous Baltimore Orioles investigated the suet feeder, checked out the hummingbird feeder before settling on the orange slices I hastily put [...]

Mad Birders enjoy Lincoln Mountain Walk

Eight Mad Birders met to explore the Lincoln Mountain area
this morning. Many thanks to Bill Martin for being our leader and
guide. We started by checking out a great yard close to Bill’s
house. We had great looks at Eastern Phoebe, Baltimore Oriole,
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Chipping Sparrows.
Across the road we chased (and finally found, thanks to Bill’s
persistence and [...]

Wonderful Day at Herrick’s Cove

About forty birders enjoyed a great walk at the Herrick’s Cove Festival yesterday.  It was a bit chilly, but sunny and calm.  Highlights included Black-and-white, Magnolia, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Solitary Sandpiper, Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swamp Sparrows, and a posing American Bittern.  Many of us will never get a better view of [...]

Birds Seen Along Mad River on May 6

Eighteen birders enjoyed a walk along the Mad River Path this morning. We saw 26 species with good looks at some recent spring arrivals including: male Yellow Warblers singing, Spotted Sandpipers feeding along the river bank, Baltimore Orioles and Warbling Vireos. Birds seen, in no particular order:
Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Cardinal (heard)
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Mourning Dove
European [...]