I am still experiencing the joys of moving into my new apartment in
Charlotte, so I haven't been able to get out to do any serious
birding in Vermont yet.  Instead, I've had to be content with doing
some quick birding around the Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB)factory before
I head inside to work.  Today (30 Sept 2004) I was greeted by a
mystery whisper song as I stepped out of my car in the parking lot.
After a bit of searching, I was able to the locate the practice
singer--an exquisite juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  It was joined
in a shrub at the edge of a plowed field by a number of SAVANNAH
SPARROWS.
     Field birds in the area also seem to enjoy perching on the top of a
small pile of wood chips or sphagnum located between the VTB parking
lot and this field.  On Monday morning (27 Sept), there was a HORNED
LARK perched on top of this pile as I showed up to work.  It seems
too early for migrant Horned Larks to be in the area, so I'm guessing
that this individual is a local breeder.  Does that sound reasonable?

Good birding,
Matt Medler
Charlotte