*Vermont *Statewide 3.26.07 *VT0403.06 This is the Vermont Rare Bird Alert for March 26, 2007 covering the period March 19 - March 25, 2007. Highlights this week include a BARNACLE GOOSE and 2 CACKLING GEESE seen at Vernon Dam on 3/25 and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Vernon Dam on 3/19. The first PIED-BILLED GREBE of the season was spotted at Vernon Dam on 3/23. The first DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS (2) reported this spring were seen at Allen Point in South Hero on 3/25. GREAT BLUE HERONS returned to Mississquoi NWR, Delta Park, Ferrisburg, Dead Creek and Charlotte this week. Two hundred and thirty SNOW GEESE were seen in Grand Isle on 3/24, 60 in Johnson on 3/23 as well as in Brownsville and at Dead Creek this week. Over 1,000 CANADA GEESE were present at Vernon Dam on 3/25. WOOD DUCKS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, MALLARDS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON MERGANSERS and GREATER AND LESSER SCAUP were prevalent wherever there was open water in the state this week, including Grand Isle, Delta Park, Vernon Dam, Allen Point, the Colchester Railroad Causeway and numerous other locations. A GADWALL was seen at the Ed Weed Fish Hatchery in South Hero this week, and two were seen off Grand Isle on 3/21. AMERICAN WIGEONS were observed in Grand Isle (3 on 3/19, 2 on 3/20), South Hero (1) on 3/19 and Vernon Dam (2 on 3/23, 4 on 3/25). NORTHERN PINTAILS were viewed at Vernon Dam (4 on 3/25), Delta Park on 3/24, Grand Isle, South Hero and Allen Point. GREEN-WINGED TEAL were seen at Dead Creek (3 on 3/23, 15 on 3/24) as well as at Vernon Dam (6) on 3/25. RING-NECKED DUCKS were present in large numbers at Allen Point on 3/21, Colchester Railroad Causeway (100 on 3/21), Vernon Dam (80 on 3/23, 40 on 3/25), Delta Park (1) on 3/24 and at Allen Point on 3/25. BUFFLEHEAD were seen at Vernon Dam (2 on 3/24, 5 on 3/25), Charlotte Ferry Landing (2) on 3/23 and Delta Park (3) on 3/24. An unspecified number of RUDDY DUCKS were reported off Grand Isle on 3/25 . A NORTHERN HARRIER was spotted in Middlebury on 3/23 and at Dead Creek on 3/25. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Burlington on 3/18, in East Dorset on 3/21 and in Woodbury on 3/24. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were observed in Jericho on 3/19, Middlebury on 3/23 and throughout the week in Westminster. Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen at Dead Creek on 3/25. A MERLIN was spotted in Milton on 3/21. Two AMERICAN COOTS were present at Vernon Dam on 3/20, 3/23 and 3/25. One was seen in Addison on 3/25. A WILSON'S SNIPE was spotted in South Newfane on 3/20. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in Waitsfield and Victory Bog this week and were displaying in Cornwall on 3/23 and 2/24. A late report came in of a LONG-EARED OWL that was found injured on the side of the road in Orwell, Vermont on 3/11 and was brought to VINS rehab. BELTED KINGFISHERS returned to Lowell, Addison and Vernon Dam this week. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was spotted in the Kingsland State Park in Ferrisburg on 3/23. The first report of a NORTHERN FLICKER came from North Williston on 3/22. Two EASTERN PHOEBES were sighted at Vernon Dam on 3/25. NORTHERN SHRIKES were observed in Whiting, Waitsfield, Dead Creek and South Newfane this week. TREE SWALLOWS are back in Ferrisburg (3 on 3/24), Dead Creek (7 on 3/25) and Vernon Dam (10+ on 3/25). CAROLINA WRENS were present in Royalton, Brattleboro, Middlebury, Chittenden and near the Colchester Railroad Causeway this week. There has been an EASTERN TOWHEE present at a feeder in Winhall since the 1st week in February. FOX SPARROWS were spotted in Bennington, South Burlington and South Newfane this week. There were many AMERICAN TREE SPARROW sightings throughout the state. An EASTERN MEADOWLARK made a timely return in Addison on 3/24. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science offers natural history trips, lectures and programs. To receive a copy of our program calendar, stop at one of our centers, call the office during business hours at 802-359-5000 or visit the VINS' web site at http://www.vinsweb.org <http://www.vinsweb.org/>. This Vermont birding report is a service of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. VINS is a non-profit, membership organization located in Quechee with a regional center in Manchester. Founded in 1972, VINS' mission is to protect our natural heritage through education and research. Your membership supports these goals and this reporting service. Updates are typically made on Fridays. Please report your sightings of rare or unusual birds to VINS, or email reports to [log in to unmask] If you have any interesting birds to report, you can send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: [log in to unmask] Or enter your sightings on Vermont eBird at http://www.ebird.org/VINS/. Mary Holland Chris Rimmer Kent McFarland Roz Renfrew Vermont RBA Compilers Conservation Biology Department Vermont Institute of Natural Science 6565 Woodstock Road PO Box 1281 Quechee, VT 05059 802-359-5001