Weekend Birds [Franklin/Chittenden]

Hi all

I visited Rock River WMA, Saint Albans Beach, Sand Bar Park and WMA, and Mud Creek WMA (actually hiked trails a bit).

First, Mud Creek WMA. Looks like a fabulous spring or fall migration place. Mix of trees, swamp and multiple ponds. This will be regular spot come next spring for me. I flushed two Ruffed Grouse alongside one of the trails I was on. I got to see Pileated Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Dark-eyed Junco, American Crow and Double-crested Cormorant. No bird photos but did take scene photos.

Rock River WMA was quiet, quite a few vehicles with boat trailers parked so assume in their on-the-water blinds out in lake.

This is a regular gull hangout at Swanton dam area on north side of bridge crossing over the Missisquoi River-though always Ring-billed Gull when I stopped to view.

Driving down to Saint Albans Beach Park I had the usual suspects Great Black-backed, Ring-billed and Bonaparte’s Gull. Of note a Common Merganser and two Common Raven.

Down at Sand Bar Beach State Park and WMA-area I had five Wild Turkey along I-89S between exits 17 and 16, at Sand Bar had Bald Eagle (ad.) flyover, Mallard, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-billed and Herring Gull.