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This morning brought a memorable birding surprise. On Kendall Station Road in Norwich, I was startled to hear and then moments later observe at close range an adult male Red-headed Woodpecker. The bird called persistently during >10 minutes that I watched it, flying between a large silver maple on the river and a stand of poplars across the road. At one point, it was joined by a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, then moments later by a flicker. The bird appeared agitated or restless, being both very vocal and physically active, moving constantly. I know it stayed in the area for at least an hour, as others were able to see it as well, although it was not found in late morning. Quite a thrill, needless to say. Across Route 5 at the Ompompanoosuc River flats were at least 51 Short-billed Dowitchers roosting tightly on small vegetated islands among the flooded mud flats, bills tucked into their back feathers. In Norwich village was a singing N. Mockingbird, the first I've ever encountered in >25 years there. With the late morning discovery of a Northern Wheatear at the VA Hospital in White River Jct (I was en route to DE by the time it became known, so missed it) and yesterday's find of a singing Yellow-breasted Chat in Bethel, the Upper Valley is serving notice to the big, bad Champlain Valley that we're gunning to become Vermont's rarity mecca! Chris -- Chris Rimmer Vermont Center for Ecostudies P.O. Box 420 Norwich, VT 05055 802-649-1431 ext. 1 www.vtecostudies.org