MadBirders

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 tree or bush.

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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. We birded until late afternoon, then gathered at the home of Dawna and James Foreman for a wonderful potluck and sharing of sightings and adventures.

Bridget Butler, our Coordinator, has summarized our results and they are now available at CBC Master Tally 2006

We had so much fun that Mad Birders are already looking forward to Christmas Bird Count 2007 – plan to join us!!

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 American continent in reporting species and numbers of birds seen.  Teams will be out scouting their assigned areas in the next few weeks, looking for spots where birds seem to hang out. 

 We encourage people who have bird feeders to keep them full.  If you would like to join us in the Christmas Bird Count by counting birds at home or joining a traveling team, contact our coordinator, Bridget Butler at bbutler@audubon.org.

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 winds to bring in lots of migrants.    Nevertheless, we saw fifteen species of warbler, including Cape May, Orange-crowned, Wilson’s.  Other highlights included five species of vireo, including White-eyed, a lifebird for me.  Blue Grosbeak, Clay-colored and Lark Sparrows, American Bittern from the hotel window, and Black-billed Cuckoo spotted when lowering the bins after watching two Bald Eagles. 

Monhegan is such a wonderful place, accessible by ferry only, a small village, the rest of the island great bird habitat with many trails.  We met so many birders from NY, ME, MA, and many artists taking advantage of this picturesque spot. 

Mad Birders on Monhegan!

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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.  Obviously, this young bird did not yet know the ways of the world.  Later in the summer, Lisa K. reported seeing another bittern in a field in the Valley.

This spring I saw an adult on the North Road, just north of the covered bridge and Tremblay Road.  Cathie A. and Katie W. reported bitterns in the wetlands just south of Bridge St.. in Waitsfield Village.  Their strange call and secretive nature make these birds a great treat to see.

Last Sunday an American Bittern landed near the pond at my house on East Warren Road.  Again, I would guess it to be a juvenile as it has no tall grass or reeds to hide in and sometimes stands with it’s neck extended, trying to look like a cattail.  It stays for about an hour, hunting frogs around the perimeter of the pond.  The bird has been here several times, usually early in the morning or mid to late afternoon.  He/she does run to the tall grass if we make a lot of noise, but sometimes continues hunting when we drive away in a vehicle.  I wonder if these birds are more plentiful this year, or if I’m just becoming more aware of their presence.  In any case, watch for the American Bittern.  It’s a really cool bird!

American Bittern
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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 two on the back.  It is normal to see one of two birds on these feeders at a time.  However, last week I counted a dozen birds at once, four birds on one feeder, several hovering or sitting on branches weiting in line.  People on VTBird listserv suggested that more birds will visit feeders during heavy rain because the food is easier to access than flowers. 

 Today, as the rains returned, I witnessed the same thing.  This time eight birds visible at a time.  Never have I seen hummingbirds share a feeder in Vermont like this.  The scene reminds me of the Southwest, where there are more kinds of hummers, all hungry and sharing.

There is a group in New England keeping track of hummingbird activity throughout the region.  Check them out a nehummers.com.

 What is the hummer behavior in your yard?

Canada Geese and Eight Gosslings
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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 had two mystery birds that I wish we had identified as one of them could have been a life bird for me (Louisiana Waterthrush).

Mad River Path list

Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Broad-winged Hawk (carrying frog for breakfast)
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Two mystery birds

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 out for them. It is the first time they have ever come to a feeder in the yard.  Later in the afternoon, an Indigo Bunting arrived and stayed around for a photo op.  It was a colorful way to end the day. 

Today, five Mad Birders enjoyed a walk at Knoll Farm.  Highlights included Bobolinks, three species of swallows, and Scarlet Tanagers, along with several warbler species in the woods.

Baltimore Oriole
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Indigo Bunting
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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 Jack and Helen’s sharp eyes) a very vocal Ovenbird
in the woods. An unidentified warbler was singing nearby, but we
never found it.

Three of us ventured to the top of Lincoln Gap – it’s still
early spring there with no green yet. A Winter Wren was singing
nonstop. We also heard Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green
Warblers, had a good look at a Black-and-white Warbler. A lot of
time could be spent birding the parking lots at the top of the
mountain.

Hope to see many of you at Blueberry Lake on Sunday, Mother’s
Day morning walk. Meet at Chamber at 7:30 AM or Blueberry Lake,
south end at 7:45 AM. Neal Harrington will be our leader.