Spent much of the day birding locations in southeast Vermont.  Was successful in finding 2 Ruddy Ducks at Minards Pond in Bellows Falls - likely birds remaining from a group first spotted there by Joanne Russo a couple weeks ago.  Birding was pretty slow otherwise.  Highlights -

 
Retreat Meadows - from the west side (Route 30) -
Canada Goose - ~200 - flew in from the NW
1 Horned Lark
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Kingfisher
Note that virtually all the grassy habitat behind the water plant has been cut, so the only sparrow there was 1 Junco
 
Retreat Meadows - from the east side (Spring Tree Road)
10 Hooded Mergs
30 Mallards
1 Green-winged Teal
1 Horned Lark
12 Tree Sparrows
3 Song Sparrows
Found some good sedgy habitat there - would be great in summer for nesting birds (I'll be back there next Spring!)
 
 
Minards Pond - Bellows Falls - all ducks in the back on the left of the lake)
2 Ruddy Ducks (diving frequently)
4 Ring-necked Ducks
2 Hoooded Mergs
4 Black Ducks
8 Canada Geese

Herrick's Cove
6 Hooded Mergs
2 Buffleheads
1 Fox Sparrow
10 Tree Sparrows
2 Great Blue Herons
1 Red Fox
 
Lake off Rte 142 South of Brattleboro
40 Common Mergs (all females)
7 Hooded Mergs
1 Ring-necked Duck
 
Stump Dump, Stebbins Road, Vernon
6 White-throated Sparrows
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
 
 
Mike Resch
Pepperell, MA
www.statebirding.blogspot.com
 


Herrick's Cove
6 Hooded Mergs
2 Buffleheads
1 Fox Sparrow
10 Tree Sparrows
2 Great Blue Herons
1 Red Fox
 
Lake off Rte 142 South of Brattleboro
40 Common Mergs (all females)
7 Hooded Mergs
1 Ring-necked Duck
 
Stump Dump, Stebbins Road, Vernon
6 White-throated Sparrows
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
 
 
Mike Resch
Pepperell, MA
www.statebirding.blogspot.com