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19 participants from near and far joined Rutland County Audubon in its annual Century County this past Saturday. A shortfall in number of species was more than made up by the new species added to previous years' lists. Starting at one of our favorite spots, West Rutland Marsh, we began the day with ruby-throated hummingbird, belted kingfisher, alder and willow flycatchers, warbling vireo, gray catbird, yellow warbler, swamp sparrow, and purple finch. The Pleasant Street powerline in West Rutland was the site of veery, brown thrasher, chestnut-sided warbler, prairie warbler, common yellowthroat, indigo bunting (sitting in a tree with a northern cardinal made a pretty sight), and field sparrow. Another swing through West Rutland Marsh brought the best gift of the day as we stood, open-mouthed, at the sight of a LEAST BITTERN flying the length of the marsh - a life bird for most of us and not an everyday sight for the rest. Virginia rail, sora, marsh wren as well as an American bittern flyover added to the stop. An eastern kingbird sitting on a nest on Water Street was a bonus. The Route 4 rest area brought us ruffed grouse with young, eastern wood-pewee, least flycatcher, wood thrush, blue-winged warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, magnolia warbler, black-and-white warbler, American redstart, ovenbird, common yellowthroat, scarlet tanager, another indigo bunting, and another field sparrow. The north end of Lake Bomoseen added wood duck with young, northern waterthrush, bobolink, and Baltimore oriole. The picnic area at Bomoseen State Park provided a warm and sunny spot for lunch as well as lots of bird entertainment. A warbling vireo nest (occupied) was, by raided by a Baltimore oriole for nesting material, a fight ensued, ending in a draw, but with the vireo enscounced in her nest. Not many yards away, a yellow-throated vireo was also sitting on a nest. A view through a spotting scope was one of the highlights of the day. Double-crested cormorant, blue-headed vireo and more American redstarts were also seen and heard at this stop. River Road in West Haven brought us red-tailed hawk and turkey vulture, a bank swallow in it's nest hole, eastern towhee, and a pair of affectionate rose-breasted grosbeaks. Thanks to sharp ears, a Tennessee warbler was also heard. Wilson's snipe was added at the Lake Hortonia fishing access as well as killdeer. Hollow Road in Brandon was a pleasant stop for creat crested flycatcher, eastern towhee, indigo bunting as well as some butterflies. A Savannah sparrow was also added in Brandon. 12 and a half hours later brought us to Lefferts Pond in Chittenden. There veery, hermit thrush, Swainson's thrush provided a nice concert. The elusive white-throated sparrow of the day also chimed in. Blackburnian warbler and yellow-rumped warbler concluded the day. Many thanks to Roy Pilcher for planning a great trip, Regina DeCorte for delicious coffee cakes, Davie Rolnick and Bill Alexson for providing all sorts of information about cool stuff like bugs, caterpillars and plants, and everyone for making it one of the highlights of Rutland County Audubon's birding year. Sue Elliott http://www.rutlandcountyaudubon.org __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com/