April 30, 2009

A very short "scouting" walk around the property yielded the songs of Yellow, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Common Yellowthroat. At lunch, staff were treated to a Broad-winged Hawk calling and circling overhead. Another new arrival is that of female Red-winged Blackbirds (pictured right)! Also, a new installment of "Tales from Texas" is now posted.

April 28, 2009

A school group went on a trip to monitor Peregrine Falcons in Marshfield today with our Youth Birding Program and managed to see one of the Falcons perched on the cliffs where they nest. Wood Frog egg masses were plentiful on our hike, and other birds such as Yellow-rumped Warbler, Winter Wren and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were seen and heard.

In other news here at NBNC, we had our first Savannah Sparrow of the season visit the feeder today, and although we have heard Chipping Sparrow for the past week, we saw one perch in a Crab Apple tree near the Center and sing its "chipping" song.

April 22, 2009

A new installment of Tales from Texas has been posted. We also had a visit from a Pine Warbler today, which briefly perched and sung from the Red Maple outside the office windows. It was our first Warbler of the season!

April 21, 2009

Our camp group focused on birds today and managed to see 22 species despite the rain! Highlights included a very active Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebes gleaning insects off the water at the beaver pond and a fly by from a Cooper's Hawk.

April 20, 2009

The first White-throated Sparrow of the season paid a visit to the bird feeder this morning. Wood Frog eggs were observed by our camp group, which was studying amphibians today. They also saw a Spring Peeper and Eastern Newts in the beaver pond!

April 15, 2009

On another very beautiful, sunny day we've had more signs that winter is gone. A Milbert's Tortoiseshell was seen flying near the Nature Center. Bloodroot and Colt's Foot are in bloom and many green plants are sprouting new growth. Also, a Merlin was heard calling alongside the North Branch of the Winooski River!

April 14, 2009

Tree Swallows have returned to the fields today, and have been seen coming and going from the nest boxes. Eastern Phoebes have also been heard calling from surrounding houses. The male American Goldfinch who continues to visit the feeder has almost fully obtained his breeding plumage and Wood Frog egg masses have been discovered in our small Cattail vernal pool.