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

Early Birders’ Observations for May 4, 2014

The May 4, 2014,  Early Birders Morning Walk came across a great selection of birds for the first walk of the season. 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 4, 2014 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.5 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Sunday morning bird walk led by Shirley Johnson on pond side of property.
 28 species
 
 Mallard  1
 Mourning Dove  2
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
 Downy Woodpecker  4
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Northern Flicker  2
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Blue-headed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  3
 American Crow  1
 Common Raven  2
 Black-capped Chickadee  8
 Red-breasted Nuthatch  3
 White-breasted Nuthatch  1
 Winter Wren  3
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
 Hermit Thrush  2
 American Robin  5
 Ovenbird  1
 Black-and-white Warbler  1
 Yellow-rumped Warbler  2
 Black-throated Green Warbler  2
 Song Sparrow  2
 White-throated Sparrow  2
 Dark-eyed Junco  1
 Northern Cardinal  1
 Red-winged Blackbird  5
 American Goldfinch  12
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18211664
 
 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.

Appropriate 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 16

The June 16th Early Birders Morning Walk walk left the Museum about 7 am. led by our amazing Shirley Johnson. A great group of friendly birders! They were out until almost 10, because it was such a lovely day. Here’s their list:

  • Mourning Dove
  • Barred Owl
  • Chimney Swift
  • Ruby-throated Hmmingbird
  • Yellow-bellied Sapasucker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Northern Flicker
  • Eastern Wood Pewee
  • Least Flycatcher
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • Winter Wren
  • American Robin
  • Veery
  • Hermit Thrush
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Black-throated Green Warbler
  • Pine Warbler
  • Common Yellow-throat
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Song Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Common Grackle
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • American Goldfinch

 

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble! We’re out in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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.

Appropriate 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 9

The June 9th Early Birders Morning Walk walk left the Museum about 7 am. led by Shirley Johnson. I was out of town, but she left me a lovely long list to share with you. I’m quite envious!

  • Wood Duck
  • Wild Turkey
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Blue-Headed Vireo
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • House Wren
  • Winter Wren
  • Veery
  • American Robin
  • Gray Catbird
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Black-throated Green Warbler
  • Pine Warbler
  • American Redstart
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Ovenbird
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Song Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Common Grackle
  • Brown-headed Cowbird

Her note adds: Really great views of Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos to compare. Great views of Indigo Bunting, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery, and Great-crested Flycatcher.

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble! We’re out in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate 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 2

Our Executive Director, Erin Talmage, led the Early Birders Morning Walk walk on Sunday June 2. Why, yes, we are a wee bit behind in posting these lists. Just a bit.

We had both new and experienced birders along this morning, a beautiful sunny day rising after a rainy night, so lots of dew and a smattering of fog. Our notes suggest we didn’t all see and hear exactly the same birds, but here’s what we were pretty sure about.

  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Wild Turkey
  • Veery
  • Black-capped Chicakdee
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler
  • Blue-headed Vireo
  • Red-Eyed Vireo
  • Ovenbird
  • Black-throated Green Warbler
  • American Robin
  • American Goldfinch
  • Winter Wren
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Blue Jay
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • American Crow
  • Mourning Dove
  • Duck spp (some discussion arose as to whether it was a Wood Duck or Mallard. Both were known to frequent the spot; our youngest birder—age 4—was sure it was Wood Duck and related some field marks, but older birders were less confident, and most had only caught a glimpse as it flew away.)
  • Common Grackle
  • Nest of Baltimore Oriole

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble! We’re out in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate 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 26

Shirley led our Early Birder Morning Walk walk on Sunday May 26. One of  our volunteers also posted the list on eBird and emailed it to us. Have you used eBird yet? You can list and generate reports of what you’ve seen there, and the data contributes to a long-running, large citizen science project. Our emailed report looks something like this:

Birds of Vermont Museum, Chittenden, US-VT
 May 26, 2013 7:15 AM - 8:15 AM
 Protocol: Traveling
 1.0 kilometer(s)
 Comments:     Early morning walk led by Shirley Johnson. Cold and rainy!
 23 species (+1 other taxa)
 
 Wild Turkey  1
 Mourning Dove  2
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
 Downy Woodpecker  2
 Hairy Woodpecker  1
 Empidonax sp.  1
 Eastern Phoebe  2
 Red-eyed Vireo  1
 Blue Jay  5
 American Crow  1
 Black-capped Chickadee  1
 American Robin  1
 Ovenbird  2
 Common Yellowthroat  1
 Song Sparrow  1
 Scarlet Tanager  1
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  3
 Common Grackle  2
 Brown-headed Cowbird  1
 Baltimore Oriole  2
 American Goldfinch  2
 Evening Grosbeak  2
 
 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14245937 
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Birders were out from 7:15 through 8:15 a.m., as it was very chilly and damp.  Another birder’s list records both Least and Great-crested Flycatchesr (instead of Empidonax spp.), which may have been a combination of luck, songs heard, or different birding experience.

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate 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 2013 gets exciting

Nesting time! And the list grows on. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!

  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • Common Grackle
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Blue Jay
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Song Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • American Robin
  • Purple Finch
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Wild Turkey (One male, 3 females on 5/15)
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • White-crowned Sparrow (5/6/13, 5/18/13)
  • Winter Wren (heard)
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5/8/13)
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch (5/12/13)
  • American Crow
  • Great-Crested Flycatcher (5/15/13)
  • Gray Catbird (5/17/13)
  • Cooper’s Hawk (5/20/13)
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Tufted Titmouse

If you want to get involved with NestWatch, let us know how we can help you!

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 other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.

Early Birders’ Observations for May 19

Shirley took us out on another Early Birder Morning Walk on Sunday May 19.  Wow, were there some wonderful birds or what!

  • Mallard Duck
  • Wild Turkey
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Northern Flicker
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Down Woodpecker
  • Hair Woodpecker
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Least Flycatcher
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Tufted Timouse
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • Winter Wren
  • Veery
  • American Robin
  • Blue-headed Vireo
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • Nashville Warbler
  • Northern Parula
  • Black-and-White Warbler
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Black-throated Green Warbler

Birders were out from 7:15 through 9:30 a.m., and traversed about 1.5km. Both new-at-it and experienced birders came along, and there was some strong coffee and delicious muffins (from our local Backdoor Bakery) at the end of the walk.  (Coincidentally, the Burlington Bird-a-thon was also out walking here today, so they too saw and heard amazing birds and enjoyed some post-exploration treats. One of the groups saw a porcupine, too.)

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum‘s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. 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! Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

Appropriate 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 on May 12

Join us Sundays at 7 a.m., May 12 - June 30
Join us Sundays at 7 a.m., May 12 – June 30

We’ve restarted our Early Birder Morning Walks, and Shirley Johnson (Board President and Expert Birder) led the first one. She was kind enough to provide us a list of what the walkers observed on Sunday May 12. How many of these do you recognize by sight or sound? Come on the next walk and practice!

  • Wood Duck
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Blue-headed Vireo
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Brown Creeper
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Winter Wren
  • Veery
  • Hermit Thrush
  • Northern Parula
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Pine Warbler
  • Black and White Warbler
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Louisiana Waterthrush
  • Ovenbird
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Song Sparrow
  • Red-winged Blackbird

Join us next time, for an early morning ramble in the Birds of Vermont Museum’s forest and meadows every Sunday from May 12 through June 30. Enjoy the start of the day with us, birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced birders familiar with Vermont birds. Come to several walks to hear the changes in who calls and when!

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.

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