Archives

Late Snow Brings Birds to Roadsides

An early April storm dumped up to a foot of the white stuff on our Valley this week.  Today I found many birds feeding in a frenzy at the feeders in the yard and several species along roadsides where the plow had scraped all the snow away. On a Sherman Road walk, I found two […]

Spring is on the Way – Check it out with the Birds

Although the snow continues to fall, bird sightings confirm that spring will come to the Valley.  During the past month, we have welcomed Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, American Woodcock, Snow and Canada Geese, Common Grackles, and Turkey Vultures.  Katie Woodruff heard a Winter Wren, saw Turkey Vultures and a Kingfisher.  Edie Connellee spotted an Osprey […]

Red-bellied Woodpecker Spotted off East Warren Road

While taking a walk through the woods, looking for Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Dawna Foreman and I were surprised to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker fly and land on a nearby tree.  I was so excited that I jumped up and down whooping it up.  Of course the bird flew off, but not too far.  […]

Snow Buntings in the Valley

The Mad River Valley is a vacation spot for Snow Buntings, a bird species that breeds further north than any other land breeding bird.  Flocks of these birds have been spotted in fields and along roadways this winter – just south of the intersection of Routes 100 and 100B, near Tremblay Rd and Route 100, […]

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 weather. […]

Mad Birders Conduct First Official Christmas Bird Count

The 2006 Christmas Bird Count in the Valley will take place on Friday, December 15.  Nine teams of birders will be scouring the area looking for as many birds as possible.  This is the first official year for our new circle and we are very excited to be joining groups from all over the North […]

Birding Fabulous Monhegan Island

In late September, six lucky Mad Birders spent three wonderful days birding Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine .  Led by Fred and Chris Pratt (Team Pipit), we enjoyed finding over eighty species of birds, many of them not usually seen in the East.  The weather was fantastic, although Fred kept looking for those northwest […]

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 […]

Babies at Blueberry Lake

Canada Geese and Eight Gosslings [photopress:geese_folsom_5_22_06.JPG,full,pp_image]