Home

Hi all

We’re pushing through expected -17 degrees and upper -30 wind chills and birds going strong!

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy

Hi all

Most reliable spot I have found up here for Horned Lark, Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur to date. The dairy operation’s silage mounds are prime attractants providing great views. Bunch of photos and some zoomed in ones with all three species together. Just pullup, turn off car and wait. 🙂 Also, Red Fox crossed my path.

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy

Hi all

While crawling Dunsmore Road near Saint Albans Beach [Franklin] managed to find the Snow Bunting flock in new area … the dairy operation about one mile north of Maquam Shore Road (VT 36). I saw the flying above sillage pit on east and then duck behind. I turned off car and observed flock for a bit. Eventually they landed on the sillage pit on west side of road where they presented great views. They even landed atop the the siloes nearby which was pretty cool to see. Lapland Longspur and Horned Lark both seen as well.

Nearby at Saint Albans Beach there was open water closer to Kill Kare State Park hosting lots of Common Goldeneye and Merganser and some Mallard.

I visited Mill Creek Falls Natural Area–could not find the falls or the trail after wandering into the natural area. There were trail markers but they sort of ended after about four of them. I’ll have to try again next weekend. One lone Black-capped Chickadee was heard. Nice spot though.

Lakewood Drive just before the Alburgh Bridge produced a small flock of Snow Bunting.

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy

HI All!

This morning at the Alburgh bridge, I had a Peregrine Falcon fly across the road and land on the ice on the south side.

Hi all

Stumbled upon this non-profit, Quiet Places International. I’m quite sure Vermont would have some “quiet places” to nominate (?). Similar to the Dark-Sky Association only advocating for less light pollution – https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/.

Here is Quiet Places About Us page: https://www.quietparks.org/about.

Hi all

Once again Dunsmore Road near Saint Albans Beach produced! At least 125 Snow Bunting (last time saw about 80), half-a-dozen Lapland Longspur and about a dozen Horned Lark. If you want to see them best to go when fields covered in snow that drives them to the roadside. Cars would go by, they spook and return quickly to road. Awesome sight (for me).

Also, seven American Black Duck on West Shore Road in Alburgh. At our feeder array now up to seven Pine Siskin “frequent feeders”.

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy, Sheldon

Hi all

For the last two days we’ve had Pine Siskin (up to three) visiting our large feeder array along with many of the other usual suspects. Our two American Red Squirrel continue as well along with their cousin Gray Squirrel both cleaning up under the feeders (they can’t get to large feeder array).

Over at the I-89 exit 17 Sand Bar Bridge-area I had the following gulls:

Ring-billed Gull: ~65-70
Herring Gull: 10
Great Black-backed Gull: 2

Next at Saint Albans Beach-area a smattering of birds.

And finally driving around Missisquoi NWR found 27 Wild Turkey near end of refuge headquarters road on west. Some ducks on lake and stream flows.

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy

Hi all

Having seen this squirrel for the first time ever on the Franklin CBC (Thanks, Rich!) , next day American Red Squirrel appeared at our house below our feeders!

Thanks

The Vermont Birder Guy