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| The group observes a Snowy Owl perched on a treetop at the "Goose Viewing Area" at Dead Creek WMA |
The weather was perfect for birding in the Champlain Valley today,
January 18, with the water like glass, minimal heat distortion on the lake, and
mild temperatures. A group of 15 birders ventured out with the North
Branch Nature Center to have fun, make friends, and see birds. All three objectives were accomplished. Here are the highlights:
The day began at Shelburne Bay, where a drake Canvasback has
been hanging out for about a week. This
handsome duck is rare in Vermont, with only a handful of sightings in the state
each year. We trekked onward to Shelburne
Point, where a nice assortment of waterfowl were congregated along the
lakeshore. Several Gadwall were a rare
winter treat, as was a drake Ring-necked Duck.
Far offshore, a number of Red-breasted Mergansers were present. On most days, they would have been hard to
see, but the perfect conditions allowed us to see them well through spotting
scopes.
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| Snowy Owl 4/5 for the day |
En route to our Charlotte Town Beach, we came across a flock
of Eastern Bluebirds along Orchard Road.
A winter bluebird always warms the heart. We also came across our third Red-bellied
Woodpecker of the day at this location.
After arriving at the beach, a group of 4 Long-tailed Ducks were spotted
far out on the lake. A Common Loon was
also seen, associating with a group of Common Goldeneye far offshore.
After a stop at the Old Brick Store in Charlotte, we were
off to Addison County in search of Snowy Owls.
We were not disappointed! A total
of 5 Snowy Owls were seen throughout the afternoon. We admired each, noticing their different
plumages and behaviors. Raptors abounded
in the open landscapes of Addison, with Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks,
and even a few American Kestrels. After
moving from spot to spot, with another stop at the West Addison General Store,
our final bird of the day was a Snowy Owl, seen right around sunset. A full bird list is included below:
(note: all observations were posted to eBird)
| Gadwall |
| American Black Duck |
| Mallard |
| Canvasback |
| Ring-necked Duck |
| Long-tailed Duck |
| Bufflehead |
| Common Goldeneye |
| Common Merganser |
| Red-breasted Merganser |
| Common Loon |
| Horned Grebe |
| Cooper's Hawk |
| Bald Eagle |
| Red-tailed Hawk |
| Rough-legged Hawk |
| Ring-billed Gull |
| Herring Gull |
| Great Black-backed Gull |
| Rock Pigeon |
| Mourning Dove |
| Snowy Owl |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
| Pileated Woodpecker |
| American Kestrel |
| Blue Jay |
| American Crow |
| Black-capped Chickadee |
| Tufted Titmouse |
| White-breasted Nuthatch |
| Eastern Bluebird |
| American Robin |
| European Starling |
| Cedar Waxwing |
| Northern Cardinal |
| American Goldfinch |
| House Sparrow |
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