This morning at Victory WMA huge flocks of Pine Siskin & Purple Finch. One
flock of Purple Finch I estimated at 150 alone. Another flock of Pine Siskin
was 250. Passing through the town of Concord I found another flock of Purple
Finch with estimated 65.

I encountered these flocks from Damon's Crossing to the Pipeline anywhere I
stopped for more than 10 minutes a flock of 15-40 would fly over. While
flying they seemed to be a more consistent single species in each flock but
when foraging for grit on the road they tended to be a mixed bunch. 

I posted a horrible short video since it snowed the whole morning and was
very dark but turn your sound on to get an idea of just one of the flocks of
Siskins. I hate trying to gauge the size of these large flocks but feel very
conservative with these numbers. Someone who cares should do a more thorough
count soon.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpoll1/ 

 

Additionally also seen:

Victory Basin IBA, Essex, Vermont, US

Jan 3, 2016 8:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

16 species

 

Ruffed Grouse  4

Downy Woodpecker  1

Hairy Woodpecker  2

Pileated Woodpecker  2

Blue Jay  6

American Crow  3

Common Raven  2

Black-capped Chickadee  4

Red-breasted Nuthatch  3

Brown Creeper  3

Cedar Waxwing  3

American Tree Sparrow  1

Purple Finch  200     large flocks 200 plus.  several flocks, one estimated
at 150 alone

White-winged Crossbill  1

Pine Siskin  400     large flocks 400 plus. Video available

American Goldfinch  35

 

View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26642301

 

I did have  fly overs of another White-winged Crossbill and a suspected Red
Crossbill. The pileated was drumming and a second pileated responded.

 

 

Tom Berriman