Today I traveled to Benson and West Haven, the former to check out Benson
Landing on Lake Champlain in the hope of seeing a Great Black-backed Gull.
No luck, but I was rewarded, encountering four Bald Eagles, all immatures
and all flying south. Also observed two Red-tailed Hawks, A peregrine Falcon
and two Northern Harrier. That makes nine! The tenth raptor was
unfortunately deceased and it was the bird's wing flapping in the wind that drew
my attention. Viewing through the scope it appeared that the bird was caught
between the upper two layers of the fencing wire. How it met its demise is
unknown! [See post for details.]
Selected posts.
Benson Landing, Rutland, US-VT
Dec 2, 2011 9:20 AM - 10:15 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Brisk south wind. Temperature 29 degrees F.
7 species
Common Goldeneye 44
Common Merganser 6
Bald Eagle 4 All four birds were moving south down the lake at an
elevation of 100 feet or lower. All four were immature birds, the first 2
were "white bellies", second year birds, and flying together. The other two
were immatures with dark bellies. All birds had white axillaries and
coverts.
Herring Gull 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 3
West Haven, Rutland, US-VT
Dec 2, 2011 12:35 PM - 12:50 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Stopped in "town center", [crossroads], to view active
feeder.
6 species
Peregrine Falcon 1 Peregrine Falcon observed launching toward what
appeared to be a Rock Pigeon in the distance. A minute later, assuming the
same bird, it was seen heading for a landing on the ground with a large prey
in its grasp.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
European Starling 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2 Both males.
House Sparrow 14
Stage Road, Benson, Rutland, US-VT
Dec 2, 2011 12:00 PM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Large wetland and extensive hay fields to the east. Third
raptor was deceased, hanging between upper two strands of fence wire. Wing
flapping in the breeze.
2 species
Northern Harrier 2 Both birds sitting on fence posts.
Common Raven 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt)
Cheers,
Roy Pilcher
The Gables at East Mountain, Rutland, Vermont
Speaking the same language.
|
