Northern Shrike was at Damien's Crossing, NOT Roger's Trail.  Anyone 
familiar with the NEK would realize this makes more sense!
                                             P
Still, hope you get out and U  there to see some birds!

Ali
Huntington

-----Original Message----- 
From: Alison Wagner
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 7:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VTBIRD] NEK today: winter birding at its BEST!

Hello Fello Birders,

Today Zac Cota-Weaver and I teamed up with Tom Berriman in Ferdinand, VT to 
walk the Moose Bog Trail in pursuit of all things Boreal.  The moment we 
stepped from the warm security of the car into –16 degrees winter, we were 
greeted with buzzy calls of Boreal Chickadees. A walk to the wetland area on 
S. American Pond Road yielded warm sun, snowshoe hare tracks, but little in 
the way of birds.  However, the Moose Bog Trail proved to be the start of a 
January day that can’t be beat in the NEK.

White-winged Crossbills sang their typical variety of trills, or called 
while flying overhead.  Pine Siskins were heard buzzing everywhere.  One old 
set of tracks in the snow gave us hope that we might encounter a grouse. 
Two Gray Jays floated down to us (when they heard Tom’s jay whistle) and 
gave us long satisfying looks.  The jays were trumped however when a very 
soft and subtle sound came from close by in the woods...Zac and Tom both 
heard what they thought might be a grouse leap frogging from tree to tree. 
We all slipped off the path to investigate and soon Tom announced in a 
whisper,  “Spruce Grouse...directly above me.”  We watched  (from an unusual 
perspective) for only a moment before the bird watched us walk away.  WHAT A 
DAY!

Next we took the snow-covered boardwalk (be careful if you walk it) to the 
“bog,” and soaked up plenty of sunshine while enjoying the next act. We had 
estimated 12 White-winged Crossbills in total along the trail, and now 
several of them were here at this forest edge, this fabulous Amphitheatre. 
We watched several males perform territorial displays, calling in flight, 
and singing from treetops.  (They’ve been here for over eight months...they’re 
likely breeding).  It was just a matter of time before a Black-backed 
Woodpecker revealed itself with its distinctive drumming.

Feeling the victory of (an unanticipated) Boreal Slam, we walked the road 
back to our cars and headed to Victory.  The temperature, now on the other 
side of zero by 16 degrees, felt balmy.  WHAT A DAY!  Our next destination 
would be a spot along Victory Road, about a mile before River Road, to look 
for more Crossbills.  This is a nice open valley and wetland, a place where 
Tom and I have both had luck finding them in the past. Sure enough, as we 
approached the spot, a male Red Crossbill was in the road getting grit. 
Three males circled the area, possibly showing signs of breeding.  (The 
birds have been in this area now for over eight months...they’re likely 
breeding).

Finally, we took River Road,  heading toward home, with just a few more 
planned stops along the way. Tom and I launched into a brief conversation on 
the History of Birding.  (When we experience an uncommon species in an 
specific spot, we  expect it to be there again, like right now...)  Sure 
enough, there were crossbills south of Roger’s Creek where the river valley 
widens.  And Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, and an Evening Grosbeak.

And so, why shouldn’t there be a Northern Shrike near Roger’s Crossing (like 
there was a few years back)?  Right on cue,teed up in a lone tree, for all 
of us to see in all its beauty...

WHAT A DAY!

Thank you Tom, Zac, and fellow birders who took the time to read this post! 
I hope you can get up to the NEK to see these gems.

Ali
Huntington