Long trip Saturday over back roads from Cornwall to Burlington.  The news, I suppose, is the dearth of birds.  Not one raptor (never happened on that route before in 50 years)  Fewer than 15 tree sparrows.  No other winter finches.  Small flock of robins.

Creek Road, Middlebury, not much better.  Flock of about 10 robins.  Maybe 10 tree sparrows, a dozen mourning doves.  Only interesting action was a large flock of crows mobbing something at the junction of the Middlebury River and Otter Creek.  Turned out to be a fisher (as in mustelid not sportsman), the only one I’ve ever seen down here in the valley.  Has anyone else seem them outside of the mountains?

Bruce Peterson