May 29, 2009

Four participants braved the rain for our spring migration bird walk, at Hubbard Park this week. The rain, which varied from light to mderately heavy, hampered our efforts to find birds, but dispite the weather we managed to tally 16 species, with the highlight being two male Scarlet Tanagers on one tree! We also explored the many ferns of Hubbard Park, including New York, Christmas, Interrupted, Cinnimon, and Wood Ferns. Our complete bird list can be seen below:

Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great-crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Winter Wren
Veery
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Parula
Ovenbird
Scarlet Tanager

May 27, 2009

Bobolink have persisted on the property and males can be heard and seen singing as they circle over the fields. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been seen more frequently too, as a pair regularly visits the now-opened lilacs near the main building of the Nature Center. Canadian Tiger Swallowtails are also becoming a more common sight.

May 22, 2009

Our second spring migration bird walk at NBNC turned up a wide variety of birds and some new migrants returning to the area such as Alder Flycatcher and Veery. Ten participants tallied 46 species including Bobolink, which last year only briefly passed through the Nature Center's fields. A full list is shown below:

Hooded Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Alder Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Winter Wren
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

May 15, 2009

Participants of our spring migration bird walk, held this morning at Sodom Pond, were treated to a variety or resident birds with highlights including very active Warbling Vireos, very cooperative Wood Ducks and a female Baltimore Oriole constructing a nest. A full bird list form the morning is below:

American Bittern
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Broad-winged Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Gray Catbird
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

May 14, 2009

We had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak visit the Red Maple outside the office windows this afternoon. It was joined in the tree by several Yellow-rumped Warbkers, a Yellow Warbler, a Blackburnian Warbler and a Pine Siskin. The year's first Indigo Bunting(male) was also seen around the building in its brilliant, blue breeding plumage. Installment 7 of "Tales of Texas" is now posted for more insight into the life of a field tech studying the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

May 12, 2009

This morning and afternoon, several Bobolinks(2 male, 1 female) were seen in the fields, perching and singing from bushes and fence posts. Eastern Kingbirds have been returning to Central Vermont and were seen and heard flying overhead at the Nature Center this morning. A Great Crested Flycatcher was also heard from around the building.

May 11, 2009

An Osprey was seen today flying north along Route 12, parallel to the North Branch of the Winooski River.