Eighteen participants lucked out with weather this morning and observed 69 species of birds (compared with 64 one year ago). First, to get this out of the way, NO Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was observed. 

However, there were some excellent sightings. The Bird Spotter of the Day award goes to Fred Bates for picking out an American Bittern in the reeds. This was the best look many of us have had of a bittern. 

A Yellow Wabler was observed building a nest and a White-breasted Nuthatch was seen exiting a nest cavity.

Despite the chilly temperature and relative lack of enthusiastic bird song, several warbler species were observed including Magnolia Warbler, several Black-and-White Warblers and a Blue-winged Warbler. Many Ovenbirds were heard.

8 Canada Goose  
1 American Black Duck  
1 Mallard  
1 American Bittern  
1 Great Blue Heron  
10 Turkey Vulture  
1 Cooper's Hawk  
1 Red-tailed Hawk  
1 American Kestrel  
2 Virginia Rail  
5 Rock Pigeon  
10 Mourning Dove  
15 Chimney Swift  
3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  
1 Belted Kingfisher  
3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  
3 Northern Flicker  
2 Pileated Woodpecker  
2 Least Flycatcher  
2 Eastern Phoebe  
1 Great Crested Flycatcher  
13 Eastern Kingbird  
7 Warbling Vireo  
4 Red-eyed Vireo  
6 Blue Jay (carrying food)  
5 American Crow  
2 Common Raven (the nest with young seen in April is now empty)
11 Tree Swallow  
2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  
2 Cliff Swallow  
12 Barn Swallow  
16 Black-capped Chickadee  
3 Tufted Titmouse  
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch  
2 White-breasted Nuthatch (seen exiting nest cavity)   
4 House Wren  
2 Winter Wren  
9 Marsh Wren  
2 Veery  
1 Wood Thrush  
11 American Robin  
11 Gray Catbird  
15 European Starling  
1 Blue-winged Warbler  
18 Yellow Warbler (nest building observed)  
2 Chestnut-sided Warbler  
1 Magnolia Warbler  
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler  
2 Black-throated Green Warbler  
6 Black-and-white Warbler  
1 American Redstart  
7 Ovenbird  
1 Northern Waterthrush  
21 Common Yellowthroat  
1 Eastern Towhee  
2 Chipping Sparrow  
19 Song Sparrow  
14 Swamp Sparrow  
1 Dark-eyed Junco  
1 Northern Cardinal  
9 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  
1 Indigo Bunting  
48 Red-winged Blackbird  
22 Common Grackle  
4 Brown-headed Cowbird  
25 Baltimore Oriole  
9 House Finch  
29 American Goldfinch  
4 House Sparrow 

The next marsh monitoring walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 7 a.m.

Sue Elliott
http://www.rutlandcountyaudubon.org