Through the Window: June 2014

June is unbelievably beautiful; in Vermont—even when you are only looking through a window. Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.

  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Blue Jay
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Wild Turkey
  • Mourning Dove
  • Hairy Woodpecker (also juvenile, 6/24)
  • American Crow
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Common Grackle (also juvenile)
  • Eastern Phoebe (heard)
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Black-billed Cuckoo (heard at parking lot)
  • American Goldfinch
  • Song Sparrow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Red-tailed Hawk (soaring over parking lot)
  • Common Raven (over parking lot)

Additional friends and neighbors: Eastern Chipmunk, Red squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Woodchuck, , young White-tailed Deer (6/29), Tiger Swallowtail, White Admiral, and Skipper spp. butterflies, and a Swamp Darner (a rare dragonfly 6/7).

Come see them for yourself! We’re open daily from 10-4 and we have great art, cool science, and astonishingly detailed woodcarvings, as well as live birds outside. Check out our calendar of events for special things to do and see.

The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Early Birders’ Observations for June 22, 2014

Shirley Johnson led the June 22, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk . Thirty-eight species this day!

Enjoy our week’s walk’s summary:

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 Jun 22, 2014 7:05 AM - 9:25 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 2.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early morning bird walk led by Shirley Johnson
 38 species
 
 Ruffed Grouse  1
 Mourning Dove  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  6     seen in various areas along the trails
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Northern Flicker  1
 Pileated Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  1
 Blue-headed Vireo  0     monitored nest was unoccupied;  perhaps adults are off feeding
 Red-eyed Vireo  5
 Blue Jay  5
 American Crow  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  16     several families seen and heard along the trails
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 House Wren  2
 Winter Wren  1
 Veery  1
 Wood Thrush  1
 American Robin  3
 Gray Catbird  1
 Cedar Waxwing  2
 Ovenbird  4
 Louisiana Waterthrush  2
 Common Yellowthroat  1
 American Redstart  1
 Blackburnian Warbler  1
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  4     two adults seen carrying food, both dropped down into brushy area with the food so we assumed it where the nest is!
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
 Black-throated Green Warbler  2
 Song Sparrow  1
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 Scarlet Tanager  2
 Indigo Bunting  1
 Baltimore Oriole  1
 Purple Finch  1
 American Goldfinch  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18860273
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the last one, Sunday the 29th of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Upcoming events: Bird Monitoring Walks

Join experienced birders on the monthly bird monitoring walk on the Museum’s property. We go out the last Saturday of every month. Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. Most fun for adults, older children, and somewhat more experienced birders.

Free! • Please pre-register by email or phone: museum@birdsofvermont.org or (802) 434-2167

The next ones are:
Saturday, June 28 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, July 26 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, August 30 • 7:30 – 9:30am

Changes and updates will be posted on our website, at http://birdsofvermont.org/events.php, when possible.

Early Birders’ Observations for June 15, 2014

The June 15, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk split into two groups again. We love how popular this program series has been this year!

Here are their reports (and our apologies for the late posting):

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 Jun 15, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:45 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Group 1 traveled same route, east to west and led by Shirley Johnson
 28 species
 
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
 Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  3
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Blue-headed Vireo  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  2
 American Crow  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  5
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 White-breasted Nuthatch  1
 House Wren  1
 Winter Wren  1
 Hermit Thrush  1
 Wood Thrush  1
 Gray Catbird  1
 Ovenbird  5
 Louisiana Waterthrush  1
 Common Yellowthroat  4
 American Redstart  5
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  2
 Song Sparrow  2
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Indigo Bunting  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18793988
 

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
Jun 15, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     overcast skies, quiet morning but great sightings of breeding behaviors! Group 2.
35 species

Red-bellied Woodpecker  1     heard only
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  3
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1     The female sitting on nest did not move as we quietly walked around her
Red-eyed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  1
Winter Wren  1
Hermit Thrush  2
Wood Thrush  2
American Robin  3
Cedar Waxwing  5
Ovenbird  2
Louisiana Waterthrush  7     There has been LOWA nesting on the property in the past years and there has been discussion about the possibility of them nesting this year since the streams have had water in them consistently since spring.   On the western side of the trail, near a stream and above the pond, we came upon four fledged water thrushes actively moving and calling incessantly.  They moved consistently from tree to tree and there was no sign of an adult.  Later in the morning, on the eastern side of the trail, along a different stream, we found an adult LOWA carrying food.  There were at least 2 fledglings there as well, moving on the ground along the edge of the stream.  The fact that it was different streams, opposite sides of the property, about 100 yards apart, and behaviors were different, led us to believe there were two families seen.
Common Yellowthroat  2
American Redstart  1
Blackburnian Warbler  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  2
Song Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Scarlet Tanager  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  2
American Goldfinch  4

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18793729

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Early Birders’ Observations for June 8, 2014

The June 8, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk enjoyed some extra amphibians that day.

Here’s their report (and our apologies for the late posting):

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 Jun 8, 2014 7:00 AM - 9:05 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Sumo-wrestling bull frogs at the pond...
 32 species
 
 Mourning Dove  3
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  1
 Blue-headed Vireo  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  3
 Blue Jay  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  4
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Brown Creeper  1
 House Wren  2
 Winter Wren  1
 Veery  1
 Hermit Thrush  3
 Wood Thrush  1
 American Robin  2
 Ovenbird  3
 Black-and-white Warbler  2
 American Redstart  4
 Blackburnian Warbler  2
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  4
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  3
 Chipping Sparrow  1
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Indigo Bunting  1
 Brown-headed Cowbird  1
 American Goldfinch  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18725725
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Through the Window: May 2014

May is always a month rich in birds. We noted 31 species! FOY stands for First of the Year; Bold text indicates the species we did not see last month.

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • American Goldfinch
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Sparp-shinned Hawk
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Blue Jay
  • Song Sparrow
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Mourning Dove
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (FOY 5/4/2014)
  • Purple Finch (FOY 5/5/2014)
  • White-crowned Sparrow (5/9 and 5/15)
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (FOY male 5/10/2014, female 5/15/2014)
  • Indigo Bunting (FOY 5/13/2014)
  • Raven (5/23/2014)
  • American Robin
  • Common Grackle
  • Rusty Blackbird (5/16/2014)
  • Northern Goshawk 
  • Gray Catbird (5/16/2014)
  • Broadwing Hawk (5/16/2014)
  • American Crow
  • Baltimore Oriole (FOY 5/18/2014 male and female)

Additional friends and neighbors: Woodchuck, Eastern Chipmunk, Red squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Raccoon, and Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (on May 20).

Come see them for yourself! We’re open daily from 10-4 and we have great art, cool science, and astonishingly detailed woodcarvings, as well as live birds outside. Check out our calendar of events for special things to do and see.

The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Early Birders’ Observations for June 1, 2014

The June 1, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk was so well-attended that we split into two groups, travellign along two separate paths. Shirley Johnson led the one group, and Mae Mayville led the other. Mae also eBirded the results. Thank you!

Here’s their report (in two parts again this week):

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 Jun 1, 2014 7:05 AM - 9:10 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early morning bird walk: group 1.
 35 species
 
 Mallard  1
 Wild Turkey  1
 Mourning Dove  3
 Chimney Swift  1
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Red-eyed Vireo  6
 Blue Jay  4
 American Crow  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  6
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 House Wren  1
 Winter Wren  1
 Veery  3
 Hermit Thrush  2
 Wood Thrush  5
 American Robin  4
 Gray Catbird  1
 Cedar Waxwing  1
 Ovenbird  8
 Common Yellowthroat  1
 American Redstart  2
 Blackburnian Warbler  2
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  4
 Song Sparrow  2
 Scarlet Tanager  3
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
 Indigo Bunting  1
 Red-winged Blackbird  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18646066
 
 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT 
 Jun 1, 2014 7:05 AM - 9:20 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early morning walk: group 2. (Same route as group one, reverse direction.)
 36 species

 Mallard  1
 Wild Turkey  1
 Mourning Dove  2
 Chimney Swift  1
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  3
 Red-eyed Vireo  6
 Blue Jay  5
 American Crow  3
 Black-capped Chickadee  5
 Tufted Titmouse  2
 White-breasted Nuthatch  1
 Brown Creeper  2
 House Wren  1
 Winter Wren  3
 Veery  4
 Hermit Thrush  3
 Wood Thrush  2
 American Robin  5
 Gray Catbird  1
 Ovenbird  8
 Black-and-white Warbler  1
 Common Yellowthroat  3
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
 Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
 Black-throated Green Warbler  5
 Song Sparrow  2
 Dark-eyed Junco  2
 Scarlet Tanager  3 
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2 
 Indigo Bunting  1 
 Red-winged Blackbird  1
 Baltimore Oriole  1
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18646215
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

 

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Upcoming events: Bird Monitoring Walks

Join experienced birders on the monthly bird monitoring walk on the Museum’s property. We go out the last Saturday of every month. Please bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather. Most fun for adults, older children, and somewhat more experienced birders.

Free! • Please pre-register by email or phone: museum@birdsofvermont.org or (802) 434-2167

The next ones are:
Saturday, May 31 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, June 28 • 7:30am – 9:30am
Saturday, July 26 • 7:30 – 9:30am

Changes and updates will be posted on our website, at http://birdsofvermont.org/events.php, when possible.

Early Birders’ Observations for May 18, 2014

The May 18, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk was led by our Board President Shirley Johnson led the walk, and Mae Mayville (another great volunteer and Board member) eBirded the results. Thank you!

Here’s their report (in two parts this week):

 Sherman Hollow Road, Chittenden, US-VT
 May 18, 2014 7:10 AM - 7:50 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 0.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Sunday Morning Bird Walk led by Shirley Johnson: Part 1
 20 species
 
 Mallard  1     Flying over
 Red-tailed Hawk  1
 Downy Woodpecker  1
 Alder Flycatcher  1
 Least Flycatcher  1
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  2
 Blue Jay  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  3
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 Gray Catbird  3
 Ovenbird  1
 Common Yellowthroat  3
 Yellow Warbler  1
 Song Sparrow  3
 Swamp Sparrow  1
 White-throated Sparrow  2
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Red-winged Blackbird  8
 American Goldfinch  4
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18444498
 
 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 May 18, 2014 7:50 AM - 9:20 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 0.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Sunday Morning Bird Walk led by Shirley Johnson: Part 2
 25 species
 
 Mourning Dove  2
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
 Merlin  1
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Great Crested Flycatcher  1
 Blue Jay  10
 Black-capped Chickadee  1
 Tufted Titmouse  1
 House Wren  2
 Winter Wren  1
 Wood Thrush  1
 American Robin  3
 Gray Catbird  2
 Ovenbird  3
 Common Yellowthroat  5
 Blackburnian Warbler  1
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  4
 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
 Black-throated Green Warbler  1
 Song Sparrow  2
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3
 Baltimore Oriole  5     One of which was completely orange, slightly lighter orange than a breading male, same size as breading male, same bill as male, but no black plumage.
 American Goldfinch  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18444595
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

 

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org

Early Birders’ Observations for May 11, 2014

The May 11, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk was wonderfully attended today, with some new birders as well. Our Board President Shirley Johnson led the walk, and Mae Mayville (another great volunteer and Board member) eBirded the results. Thank you!

Here’s their report:

 Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 May 7, 2014 7:10 AM - 10:00 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early morning Bird walk led by Shirley Johnson
 28 species
 
 Broad-winged Hawk  1
 Mourning Dove  2
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4
 Downy Woodpecker  3
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Eastern Phoebe  1
 Blue-headed Vireo  3
 Blue Jay  6
 Common Raven  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  12
 Tufted Titmouse  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  2
 Winter Wren  1
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
 Hermit Thrush  2
 Ovenbird  9
 Louisiana Waterthrush  1
 Black-and-white Warbler  2
 Common Yellowthroat  2
 Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
 Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
 Black-throated Green Warbler  2
 Song Sparrow  2
 Northern Cardinal  3
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  4
 Red-winged Blackbird  2
 Common Grackle  1
 American Goldfinch  4
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18332969
 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

We also spotted Ruby-throated hummingbirds and an Evening Grosbeak at the bird feeders while we were drinking our after-walk coffee and chatting about birding adventures near and far.

Join us for the next one or more, every Sunday through the end of June. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds—and we welcome additional possible leaders. Let us know if you’re interested in volunteering.

Finish the walk with bird-friendly coffee at the viewing window inside the Museum.

Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. Park at 900 Sherman Hollow Road, in the Museum parking lot.

Best for adults and older children • Free, donations welcome.
Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Call 802 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org