*Vermont

 

*Statewide

1.27.06

 

*VT0403.06

 

This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for January 27, 2006 covering the period
January 20 - 26, 2006.

 

A COMMON LOON was seen from Charlotte Town Beach on the 22nd of January.

 

A PIED-BILLED GREBE was sighted at Shelburne Bay on the 22nd.

 

Rare sightings at Shelburne Bay on the 22nd include a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE and one CACKLING GOOSE.  A SNOW GOOSE was also seen by several birders
at Shelburne Bay on the 22nd.  The following waterfowl were seen at Crown
Point Bridge on January 22nd.  Technically they were in New York, but could
be seen from Vermont: 2 CANVASBACKS, 28 REDHEADS, 400-500 SCAUP (70%
GREATER), 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK, 2-3,000 COMMON
GOLDENEYE, 1 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and more than 100 COMMON MERGANSERS. 

 

Several sightings of BALD EAGLES occurred this week, with many of them
involving eagles retrieving food on the ice.  Locations where they were seen
include North Hartland (3), Wilder, Colchester Railroad Causeway, Bridport,
Shelburne Bay, Button Bay, Delta Park and Chimney Point Bridge (8).  A
NORTHERN GOSHAWK was sighted in Lyndonville on the 23rd of January.  There
was a report of a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in South Burlington on the 23rd,   an
unusual sighting for this time of year.  A MERLIN was spotted in Hardwick on
the 20th, and a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen near Mt. Philo on the 22nd.

 

A sighting of a SHORT-EARED OWL took place in Grand Isle on the 24th of
January.

 

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was spotted in Brandon on the 21st and two were
also seen in Pownal on the 22nd.  A NORTHERN FLICKER was present in Brandon
on the 23rd of January.

 

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was spotted south of Button Bay on the 22nd as well as in
Monkton on the 25th of January.

 

Two CAROLINA WRENS were seen in East Dorset on January 25th.

 

On January 22nd a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was sighted in Wilder and in
Brattleboro.

 

Twelve BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and 65 CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen in West Rutland on
the 26th of January.

 

The CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen for the 62nd consecutive day in Rutland on the
24th.  Apparently crunchy peanut butter and freeze-dried mealworms are a
life-sustaining combination.

 

A SONG SPARROW was seen in Bennington on the 23rd.   Two WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS have been sighted repeatedly in Bennington this week.

 

Twenty RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were observed in Clarendon on January 26th.  

 

COMMON REDPOLLS were seen in Huntington (75-100), Hardwick, East Thetford,
Stowe and Reading this week.  One HOARY REDPOLL was sighted in the Hardwick
flock of COMMON REDPOLLS.

 

 Thanks to the following contributors and others whose observations were
cited: Fred Bates, Thomas Berriman, Eric Cannizarro, Bonnie Dundas, Heather
Forcier, David Hoag,  Holly Hungerford, Ted Murin, Heidi Rich, Carl Runge,
Mundi Smithers, Ruth Stewart, Allan Strong, Christopher Trammel, Ron and
Norma Wiesen, Sue Wetmore, Rich Wickman and Terry Wright

 

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science offers natural history trips,
lectures and programs.  To receive a copy of our program calendar, stop at
one of our centers, call the office during business hours at 802-457-2779 or
visit the VINS' web site at http://www.vinsweb.org
<http://www.vinsweb.org/>.

 

            This Vermont birding report is a service of the Vermont
Institute of Natural Science.  VINS is a non-profit, membership organization
located in Woodstock with regional centers in Quechee, Montpelier and
Manchester.  Founded in 1972, VINS' mission is to protect our natural
heritage through education and research. Your membership supports these
goals and this reporting service.  Updates are typically made on Fridays.
Please report your sightings of rare or

unusual birds to VINS, or email reports to [log in to unmask]

 

            This message is also available by phone recording:  call
802-457-1053 and press 3.  This will put you into a menu where you will be
directed to press 5 to hear the RBA.  If you have any interesting birds to
report, you can leave a message by pressing 6, or you can send your
sightings to the RBA via e-mail at:  [log in to unmask]  Or enter your
sightings on Vermont eBird at http://www.ebird.org/VINS/.

 

 Mary Holland

 

Chris Rimmer

 

Kent McFarland

 

Roz Renfrew

 

Vermont RBA Compilers

 

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

 

Conservation Biology Department

 

27023 Church Hill Road

 

Woodstock, VT  05091 

 

802-457-2779