Vermont birders
 
Jay Peak in the Northeast Kingdom is home to Bicknell’s Thrush and other high elevation birds. Access to the summit of Jay Peak, about 3,800 feet in elevation, can be made with its tram, which operates from 10 AM to 5 PM during the summer, except for Fridays, when it operates until dusk. The Friday later tram rides afford birders the opportunity to look for Bicknell’s Thrush.
 
We went to the Jay Peak resort, which offers a Friday night BBQ and tram ride, all for the price of $24.95 per person, tram ride included. We arrived early to eat a delicious BBQ buffet (all you can eat) and then took the 6:30 tram to the summit. Once there, we walked down a ski trail only about 100 yards before we started hearing Bicknell’s Thrush. With additional spishing, we called in a total of four Bicknell’s (three of which were seen well) ,also we heard at least four singing Swainson’s Thrush, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, Dark-eyed Juncoes, Ruby crowned Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows though no Blackpoll Warblers, another target of the evening. We walked back to the tram and took the 7:30 tram back down to the base lodge, where we enjoyed s’mores by an outdoor fire pit. It was a wonderful evening and an exceedingly easy way to reach Bicknells Thrush territory.
 
The Friday specials at the Jay Peak resort run throughout the summer and we thought Vermont birders might be interested in knowing about it in the event that you wan to try for Bicknell’s and Blackpolls. We do caution that last night, we were met with swarms of black flies, so they are still out in force at Jay’s summit, though not at all at the base lodge. Enjoy!

On another note, this was fledge week at our home in Westmore, Phoebes successfully raised three young, Tree Swallows  another two or three and yesterday the first Bluebird left the nest box, in addition we have juvenile Chipping Sparrow, Sapsucker and Robins

 

Bob Stymeist and Martha Steele
Westmore Vt and 
Arlington MA
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