Dear VT birders,
    Several things to report - first, the neatest birds we saw on a bird walk at the Mystery Trail in Thetford on Saturday the 4th.  We watched a BARRED OWL swoop across the path and through open woods to land on a bare branch about twenty feet from us, in bright sunlight.  It was chased by a pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES.  We stared at each other for a minute or two, then the orioles started diving at it again, and it flew off into the woods with the orioles in pursuit.  Later we enjoyed watching a female HOODED MERGANSER with one duckling swimming along the river and diving every minute or so.  Then we watched a female WOOD DUCK swimming with seven ducklings.
    People seem to be reporting when they last see PINE SISKINS.  I last saw them here in Hartland on May 30 and 31, two of them on my thistle feeder.
    I heard a WHIP-POOR-WILL here  on June 7.  I hear a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO most days.
                                        Happy birding,
                                                                    Jean Harrison