MadBirders

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.

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”.

A Red Eyed Vireo was discovered nesting on Two Dog Mountain in Fayston.  This nest was discovered on a small maple tree very close to a second story porch.  We will keep an eye on the nest, with hopes of capturing some photos of hatchlings before they fledge.  Craig Goss got this great photo on 7/3/09.

Mad Birder Mary Spencer got this terrific shot of a Young Pileated Woodpecker peeking out of its nest in a poplar tree on Center Fayston Road in Fayston.  Surprisingly the nest was in the middle of a yard where there was frequent human activity.  Mary saw an adult Pileated feed breakfast to the young ones on Wednesday morning June 24th and reported that the nestlings made an amazing amount of noise.  She also noted that this particular “baby” was quite large.  The next day, with no witnesses, the young birds fledged!

Unidentified bird chatter led Mad Birder Jeannie Elias to look about 15-20 feet up in a small maple on Two Dog Mountain in Fayston, Vermont, revealing this wondrous nest filled with loud, insistent baby birds.  When an adult bird returned on numerous occasions to feed the occupants it became clear that this was a nest of Blue Headed Vireos.  Craig Goss got this great photo.

Tina Valentinetti got these great shots of a clutch of young robins in a nest built on the side of her Moretown home.  She noticed the nest being built in mid May.  Robins are born altricial, but according to the Birder’s Handbook (and Tina) they fledge within 14 days of birth.

 This is the last shot Tina got before these birds fledged sometime between June 8th and June 9th.  Tina is hoping that the female will return to lay a second clutch and take more advantage of that great Valentinetti hospitality.

Perfect weather and good birding karma gave a troupe of Mad Birders the prize they’d hoped for following an ascent of Mt. Ellen in Fayston on Saturday June 6th… a terrific look at the Bicknell’s Thrush.  Scott Saintsbury took these shots…a great view in every direction.  What a day!

Sandra Reilly and her husband John have had nesting Eastern Phoebes for years.  Here is a shot of this year’s new crew.

This Common Snipe called many times before it posed on a light fixture above the outdoor skating rink in Waitsfield, perhaps trying to ward off trespassers from trampling a nest of offspring nearby in a wetland meadow.  Eight Mad Birders got great looks at it on a weekly Spring Migration Walk on the new section of the Mad River Path, which includes a  boardwalk that runs between the Big Picture Theater on Carroll Road and the Skatium.  Thirty four species of birds were seen or heard on the walk, including a Swainson’s Thrush!   Bill Martin took the photo.

James and dawna Foreman noticed this female hummingbird building a nest about thirty feet off the ground in a Sugar Maple tree near the MadBush Condos on Rolston Road in Waitsfield.   Note the careful construction and attention to detail as well as the attractive lichen exterior.  Pat Folsom got this shot.