Hello:

Ted Murin and I birded Gage Rd and the east end of the Dead Creek WMA goose viewing area this afternoon.  At Gage Rd we found a Short-eared Owl at about 2:00 PM. It was sitting out in the open in the field south of where Gage Rd makes a 90 degree turn to the north, clearly catching some rays on this gorgeous sunny day.  About 100 feet up that northern spur of Gage Rd, we found a tight little flock of 4 Savannah Sparrows.  One of these was slightly larger, more boldly streaked, and with more rufous coloring than the other three, perhaps suggestive of the labrodorius race although other variations would have to be eliminated.  Details will be posted soon on eBird.

Fields at the east end of DCWMA goose viewing area had a busy mixed flock that included 5 Lapland Longspurs, 50 Snow Buntings, and 100 Horned Larks.

Raptors in the area included 2 Rough-legged  Hawks including 1 dark morph, 2 Northern Harriers, and several Red-tailed Hawks.

An earlier stop along Greenbush Road at the site where the Gyrfalcon was reported previously, produced no Falcons. However there was a busy flock of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings there, perhaps 100 birds in total, with at least 3 Lapland Longspurs in the mix.  Lots of American Crows and Rock Doves, plus a flock of 19 Turkeys nearby.

Scott Morrical
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South Burlington

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