Click here for a link to the Public Service Announcement that PEG-TV did for the new and beautiful Whipple Hollow Trail. It co-stars Ralph Nimtz, lead boardwalk developer, and Kathleen Guinness, current president of RCAS, and it both visually and aurally demonstrates the serenity and uniqueness of this recreational addition to West Rutland's Marsh.
West Rutland Marsh - February 2022
Five participants joined RCAS’s monthly walk around West Rutland Marsh, the walk scheduled to coincide with the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Snow fell non-stop throughout the walk, somewhat limiting visibility, but overall, the weather was not bad for February with little wind and the temperature in the mid-20s.
Nineteen species were tallied in all. This compares to 15 one year ago and 18 for our February average.
Not surprisingly, many of the species were seen near the feeders by the Marble Street boardwalk. Several American tree sparrows and black-capped chickadees were joined by a blue jay, a purple finch, mourning doves and a downy woodpecker among others.
A flock of American robins, a species being seen in good numbers throughout the state this winter, was flying back and forth over Marble Street
The only raptor for the day was a red-tailed hawk and, while crows were numerous, only one common raven was heard.
The walk along the new Whipple Hollow Trail was pretty in the snow, but otherwise quiet except for a chickadee and a few goldfinches.
Upon our return to the feeders, a single common redpoll was feasting on seed. Redpolls made a sudden appearance in the state the day before so it was good to have one included on our walk.
Our next walk is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, at 8 a.m.
The list:
Mourning Dove 8
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 14
American Crow 15
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 26
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 16
Purple Finch 1
Common Redpoll 1
American Goldfinch 38
American Tree Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 17
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 10
West Rutland Marsh - January 2022
Robin was the word of the day for January’s monitoring of West Rutland Marsh! Of the 20 species tallied, American robins were the most abundant with about 130 in all, some in sizable flocks. But, no, it did not feel, like spring was in the air.
The day started at minus 8 degrees, but sunshine and no wind, made it almost bearable. The eight participants managed to keep warm by being bundled up in everything they own and walking briskly in spots where no birds were to be seen.
Twenty species is the same number we saw a year ago and one less than our average for the month of January.
No raptors were seen, but one red-tailed hawk was heard. Three woodpeckers, either downy or hairy, were drumming. Though not in full song, birds were more vocal than they were on our December walk no doubt in response to the longer days (though certainly not the temperature!).
Our next walk is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, at 8 a.m. That count is scheduled to coincide with the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The list:
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Mourning Dove 7
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker 3 drumming
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 12
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 10
American Robin 130
Cedar Waxwing 10
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
American Tree Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 9
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 4
Winter Regulars & Rarities
Horned LarkAfter a week's delay due to extreme cold and winter, RCAS’s annual Winter Regulars and Rarities field trip was off and running. We still had frigid weather, but sunshine and no wind made being outdoors almost bearable.
Our first stop, after traveling through Brandon and Sudbury where we spotted a handful of horned larks and a couple rough-legged hawks, we made a stop in Orwell, where 24 bald eagles were feasting on the remains of turkey processing. Another visitor from the north the northern red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis abieticola) was spotted in the same area as well as numerous common ravens.
Lake Champlain being mostly frozen over, our primary destination for the day was Nortontown Road in Addison where a Harris’s sparrow had been seen for several days. After waiting in the cold, we were treated to a brief, but clear look – a life bird for some. A small flock of snow buntings entertained us while we waited for the sparrow to appear.
Several trip participants departed for the day, but later on two savannah sparrows were spotted at the Dead Creek WMA and an American Pipit not far from Nortontown Road.
An eBird Trip Report can be found here where you can see all our stops and what species we saw.
2021 Christmas Bird Count Results
For the second year in a row, bad weather and the pandemic played a part in the 2021 Rutland Christmas Bird Count held on January 2, 2022. Despite adversity, there were quite a few highlights. Two new species were added to our running species total, 105 in all now for the history of the Rutland count. This was National Audubon’s 122nd count and Rutland’s 48th.
The morning began with freezing rain so some teams had a late start and two teams did not go out at all. The temperature dropped throughout the morning causing the rain to turn to snow. Fortunately, road conditions improved as the day went on.
Forty participants, 21 in the field and 19 at feeders, tallied 52 species, not including Count Week species (species seen three days before or three days after, but not on the day of the count).
MerlinTwo teams covering the Otter Creek area in Clarendon by foot were especially productive. After a slow start, the birding became very exciting. A Wilson’s snipe, a CBC repeat in that area, horned larks, two snow geese and, a Rutland CBC first, a green-winged teal were among the highlights there.
A golden eagle, another Rutland CBC first and an uncommon species in Vermont especially in winter was spotted in Hubbardton!
Two of three possible falcon species, Peregrine Falcon, atop of its usual perch on the steeple of the Grace Congregational Church in Rutland, and a Merlin, also in Rutland, were spotted.
Other raptors included 13 red-tailed hawks, one barred owl and four Cooper’s hawks.
Other out-of-season species included great blue heron, northern flicker, belted kingfisher, song sparrow, common grackle and red-winged blackbird.
Feeder watchers throughout the circle area were especially helpful in adding to the numbers this year. The count’s only, and not recorded every year, yellow-bellied sapsucker was found at a feeder. Another feeder watcher reported evening grosbeaks, less common throughout Vermont this winter so far than last.
Three species not seen during the actual count, but during Count Week were hooded merganser, bald eagle and winter wren.
The day ended with a Zoom get-together to share some of the highlights and get a preliminary idea of the results.
Thanks to RCAS president Kathleen Guinness for putting together the Rutland CBC once again and all the participants for participating in community science!
For those interested in digging deeper into CBC data, whether Rutland’s or elsewhere, click here for a link to the information (the current count will not be available until later in the year). Rutland’s CBC code is VTRU.
Click here for a link to National Audubon’s CBC Summaries through from 1901 through last year.
West Rutland Marsh - December 2021
Five birders ventured out for RCAS’s monthly walk around West Rutland Marsh on December 11. Although the predicted wind never materialized, the trip was punctuated by heavy downpours. Fortunately, the temperature didn’t drop below 40.
Twelve species were tallied, a low number compared to last year’s 19 species and our December average of 19.
Black-capped chickadees provided the highest numbers count. American tree sparrows, along with the chickadees have found the newly-filled feeders at the boardwalk on Marble Street.
Although not terribly birdy, veering off onto our new Whipple Hollow Trail gave us a little shelter from the rain under the trees.
The walk was not without a couple highlights however. A pair of hooded mergansers flew up from the unfrozen water on Marble Street and our return to the boardwalk was celebrated with a male northern harrier flying low across the marsh.
Our next walk is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 8 a.m.
The list:
Hooded Merganser 2
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 17
American Goldfinch 3
American Tree Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
Welcome to the Whipple Hollow Trail
From age 2 to 82, people love the new boardwalk and trail off the Whipple Road in West Rutland. Most, however, wonder at its origin, since the kiosk in the parking lot currently lacks information and publicity for its construction came out last June, when the project was just beginning.
In 2019, Rutland County Audubon Society and the Town of West Rutland collaborated on and received a grant from the Recreational Trails Program, a state-administered fund, to construct Phase 2 of a three-part trail, envisioned by Rutland County Audubon members to enable them to monitor marsh birds without traveling on the busy Whipple Road. Phase 1 had been built with a Wetland Funds grant the previous year in an adjacent meadow and lowland just south of the newest phase.
COVID -19 intervened and construction on Phase 2 did not begin until June of 2021, at which time Rutland County Audubon and West Rutland hired the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps to construct the two-part boardwalk through a cedar and hemlock swamp. National Audubon provided a collaborative grant for equipment with which to build the trail. After over five weeks of labor in intense humidity the VYCC completed this project. The Town of West Rutland put in a parking lot and Stafford Technical School's construction class built a sturdy kiosk which will soon provide information about the new trail. Rutland County Audubon continues to add improvements to either end of the trail including trail markers and a rope railing for the boardwalk.
For any who haven't walked this trail, you can find the parking area on the east side of Whipple Hollow Road in West Rutland, about half-way between Water Street and Pleasant Street. You can also watch for Phase 3 of this project in 2023.
RCAS's First Female Bird Walk trip report
Marsh Wren, sex unknownFollowing Bird Diva Bridget Butler's October 1 talk on Female Birds & The Founding Mothers of Ornithology, RCAS held a Female Bird Walk, open to everyone, at the West Rutland Marsh on Sunday, October 17. Five people participated.
We began by talking about the visual, audible, and behavioral clues to identifying female birds of many species as well as the need for more research into female bird behavior (especially on their wintering grounds).
Out of 20 species observed including a very cooperative Marsh Wren, we were able to positively identify females in only two - a Northern Cardinal and a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Fall is not the best time to do this, as immature males of many species resemble adult females as do some adult males. This event was a warm-up for a Spring Female Bird Walk next year, when it will be much easier to differentiate the sexes. Have a great winter of birding!
West Rutland Marsh - October 2021
Once again, the weather was summer-like for the walk around West Rutland Marsh. Rather than crisp fall weather, there was high humidity and a wind that grew steadily stronger as the morning went on. Eight participants tallied 30 species, two fewer than our October average. Last year’s species count was 34.
The number of marsh ‘regulars’ is dwindling for the year. One swamp sparrow (the call notes of two others were heard elsewhere on the way) sang near the boardwalk as did a marsh wren that sang its rattling song several times. The only waterfowl seen was one Canada goose that came in for a landing. A gray catbird was also near the boardwalk on Marble Street.
Raptors for the day included on accipiter species and one red-tailed hawk.
Canada GeeseOne ruby-crowned kinglet and four yellow-rumped warblers, two species being reported around the state right now, were seen.
Both black-capped chickadees and American robins were seen in good numbers. Blue jays and American crows were also in good numbers, but only one common raven was heard.
A ruffed grouse was on the boardwalk at the new Whipple Hollow Trail.
Seventy-two red-winged blackbirds and a dozen common grackles were observed.
Our next marsh walk is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, at 8 a.m.
The list:
Canada Goose 15
Ruffed Grouse 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Accipiter sp. 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 17
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 24
Tufted Titmouse 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 1
European Starling 1
Gray Catbird 1
American Robin 19
American Goldfinch 6
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 72
Common Grackle 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Northern Cardinal 3
West Rutland Marsh - September 2021
Was it summer or was it fall? Today’s walk around West Rutland Marsh was a toss-up between warm temperatures and red maples turning red. It was great to have a full complement of birders on today’s walk – 14 in all. Thanks to the new folks that joined us as well as those who traveled a bit to join us!
We tallied 33 species, five fewer than our September average and two few than last year this time. The south wind, which picked up as the walk progressed, which may have kept numbers low.
Raptors are on the move. Two red-tailed hawks, one sharp-shinned hawk and one osprey. Six turkey vultures were seen.
Sparrow-wise, a few swamp sparrows were still singing while the white-throated sparrows have arrived. Several song sparrows and a chipping sparrow were also counted.
Our next walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 8 a.m.
The list:
Mallard 4
Mourning Dove 8
Turkey Vulture 6
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Eastern Phoebe 7
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 2
Common Raven 5
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 1 Heard only.
Carolina Wren 3
European Starling 1
Gray Catbird 11
American Robin 3
Cedar Waxwing 20
American Goldfinch 27
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 28
Common Grackle 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Three Carolina wrens were singing as well as a warbling vireo.
Ruby-crowned kinglets are now passing through.
Part of the group split off to explore the new Whipple Hollow Trail and saw some additional species including a Cooper’s hawk and a yellow-rumped warbler.
Nature Revealed Art Show - September 17-October 29
Join RCAS for Nature Revealed, our newest art show, at the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland. It starts September 17 and runs through October 29. The show will feature nature-themed art by 30 artists and will include paintings, mixed medium, and photographs about what nature can show us.
The show kicks off on Friday, September 17, with an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’s free. We hope you can join us!
On Friday, October 1, we will have a very special event at the Chaffee. Bird Diva Bridget Butler will present “Female Birds & The Founding Mothers of Ornithology at 6 p.m. Bridget always gives a lively, fun and informative presentation. You won’t be disappointed! This event is also free to all.
The Chaffee Art Center is located at 16 S. Main Street (Route 7) in Rutland. The Chaffee is open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Masks required regardless of status.
West Rutland Marsh - August 2021
Year #21 of RCAS’s monthly monitoring of West Rutland Marsh kicked off in the rain. Undeterred by a mist that started the walk (but changed to a steadier rain as the morning went on), three participants tallied 32 species. This is quite a bit lower than our August average of 44, with a high of 58 (wow!) species occurring in 2015.
Despite it being a good day for ducks, only one duck was counted – a wood duck. There was, however, a good-sized flock of Canada geese in the open water off the boardwalk.
Flycatchers were by far the most numerous with several eastern kingbirds tallied and a notable olive-sided flycatcher.
Gray catbirds and cedar waxwings were numerous, while thrushes were limited to American robin and two veeries.
No red-winged blackbirds were seen or heard, but eight grackles were feeding on a lawn.
With bird song now diminished, not to mention the rain, only two warbler species were counted: one black-and-white warbler and a few of the expected common yellowthroats.
Our next walk is scheduled for Thursday, September 23, at 8 a.m.
The list:
Canada Goose 37
Wood Duck 1
Mourning Dove 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
Eastern Kingbird 6
Red-eyed Vireo 12
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 27
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
Gray Catbird 14
Veery 2
American Robin 6
Cedar Waxwing 28
American Goldfinch 16
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 5
Common Grackle 8
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
RCAS at the State Fair
If you're visiting the Vermont State Fair, August 17 through August 21, be sure to stop by the Forestry building to see our exhibit!
West Rutland Marsh - July 2021
July was the first open to the public marsh walk since covid protocols were instituted.
The day began comfortably cool but warmed as the tour progressed. Our group of 13 birders were happy to see each other after such a long hiatus.
Virginia rails were heard, both young and adults, near the boardwalk when I first arrived. Of course, they were silent when our group assembled.
Others birds were actively singing their songs or carrying food to waiting beaks.
An immature and unkempt American redstart sat on a branch hoping for breakfast while a nearby common yellowthroat had beaks full for their young.
A northern waterthrush was heard singing as well as the diminutive marsh wren.
Raptors noted included a pair of American kestrels, a Cooper’s hawk, one red tail hawk, a northern harrier, and one UFH, and one unidentified hawk.
While nothing out of the ordinary was seen, the group tallied a respectable 53 species.
2021 RCAS Annual Meeting - President's Report
Great Blue Heron at Glen LakeRutland County Audubon concluded its 2020-2021 year ending June 30 with a meeting held at Bomoseen State Park on June 26, following a bird walk at Glen Lake. Here is President Kathleen Guinness's annual report:
Good morning, friends. Welcome! I’m standing here to give the traditional annual report for a year that could have been either a disaster or a spinning-our-wheels kind of year, with the pandemic raging and few opportunities for any in-person events. But, I am happy to report that, instead, the year was fruitful and productive! And, I want to thank all of you for making it so, but especially two people who deserve RCAS MVP awards because they have come through time and time again throughout the year in ways of which many of you may be unaware.
First, Renee Warren stepped out of her usual role as Program Chair to act as our secretary when no secretary had been officially appointed. She did this, although she often had to listen in on Zoom and telephone meetings, and yet always managed to capture in her minutes the gist of what had been discussed. Supporting her were Sandy Duling, Marsha Booker and Joel Tilley, who keyboarded her handwritten minutes. She also has taken a lead role in communicating with the Chaffee Art Center to arrange our upcoming art show (more about that later). So, thank you, Renee!
Joel Tilley also played a huge behind the scenes role in keeping this boat afloat and yours truly sane. He was there to offer a computer when mine died just before the Chapter Assembly. He was there to teach me how to use Zoom when I needed to conduct meetings. He was there to host meetings when my web browser crashed. He was there to get my new printer up and running. He was there to mix and pour cement at our new Chimney Swift Tower when it was needed. He was also willing to lead bird walks in the fall and spring, by reservation, giving RCAS a presence in the community. Thank you, Joel!
Harking back to the fruits and products, here are some:
1) We counted birds. In fact, we counted and counted and counted birds, doing not only the traditional Christmas Bird Count and the Century Count, but also an ABC-20 or Autumn Bird Count this year. I’m sure we boosted eBird’s numbers.
2) We continued monitoring the West Rutland Marsh, sometimes in a solitary way, sometimes in a socially-distanced, board members only way. By the end of July we will have completed 20 years of monitoring the marsh.
If these were our only accomplishments, we would be no more than a bird club and National would kick us out. But we also,
3) Raised funds. Paul Garland of Garland's Farm and Garden, being supportive of pandemic risk, held a seed sale for us for an entire weekend. Brandon area board members, Sue Wetmore, Mary Lou Webster, Marsha Booker and Allon Wildgust masked up and held two seed sales at Brandon Blue Seal. Marv Elliiott mailed and emailed hundreds of fundraising letters which raised a significant amount of money and Moi sold bluebird houses, wildflower seed, bird books, and Audubon caps by Front Porch Forum. In the process of which we also made new or renewed old friends.
4.) We received a Collaborative Grant from National Audubon and put up, not a pyramid or wall, but a tower, a Chimney Swift Tower, with the help of Jeff Fowler’s Stafford Technical Center construction class and Rutland Rec’s Tyler Dahlin. Joel Tilley, Mike Blust, Irene Goebel and my brother mixed and poured cement for it, but the other collaborators did the rest.
5.) Speaking of buildings, last year we had planned to use the grant we and the Town of West Rutland had received to build a new trail off Whipple Hollow Road, but the pandemic did not allow that. Nevertheless, under Ralph Nimtz and Nate’Dansereau's direction we continued to prepare for this event by clearing the trail and buying equipment and lumber. In only two more days, the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps will begin actual work on this new trail. Come out and help or watch this exciting project get underway!
6.) One of the other accomplishments of this year was holding regular meetings by Zoom, which offered a learning curve for most of us. But, beyond meetings, we were able to offer four educational programs through this medium: Jim Graves did one, and Marv Elliott did three. Thus, we were virtually able to keep in touch with friends and even to increase membership. The Book Discussion Group that was held by Zoom four times also accomplished these characteristics. Our membership is back up to where it was at a healthy number five years ago.
7.) The one fly in the ointment or boulder in our path has been our continued lack of progress in being allowed to monitor our conservation easement at the Mt. Top Farm. For the third year in a row, we have been shut out, although this year, on June 7, with our lawyer’s help, it almost became a reality. At the last minute, we had the rug pulled out from under us and we are now hoping to be able to reschedule.
PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR
- Continue monitoring and counting.
- Have a Wildlife Art Show at the Chaffee Art Center, mid-September until the end of October.
- Participate in the Rutland Halloween Parade.
- Complete Phase 3 of the Whipple Hollow Road trail and begin preparing for Phase 3.
- Provide renewable energy education.
- Place pollinator gardens in several communities.
- Sponsor a talk on women in ornithology and another on fern identification.
- Host the Chapter Assembly in November.
- Succeed in Monitoring Mt. Top Farm!
- Who knows?!
Century Count XXVI
Gray CatbirdRCAS’s annual Century Count, our attempt tally 100 or more species in Rutland County was another success – 121 species! Dividing up into teams or birding as individuals as we did last year in response to the pandemic, we were able to cover more areas and a wider variety of habitats.
Birding spots ranged from the Buckner Preserve to the Killington Marsh to birding hotspots in the Brandon area and many points in between.
Twenty-three species of warblers were seen including golden-winged warbler, blue-winged warbler and their hybrids.
Marsh species included sora, Virginia rail and common gallinule.
Two hard-to-find birds were found by late-day birders: eastern whip-poor-will and common nighthawk.
Thanks to everyone who participated! It was a great day to be out!
| Canada Goose |
| Wood Duck |
| Mallard |
| American Black Duck |
| Hooded Merganser |
| Ruffed Grouse |
| Wild Turkey |
| Rock Pigeon |
| Mourning Dove |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo |
| Black-billed Cuckoo |
| Common Nighthawk |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will |
| Chimney Swift |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
| Virginia Rail |
| Sora |
| Common Gallinule |
| American Woodcock |
| Killdeer |
| Wilson's Snipe |
| Spotted Sandpiper |
| Ring-billed Gull |
| Herring Gull |
| Common Loon |
| American Bittern |
| Great Blue Heron |
| Green Heron |
| Turkey Vulture |
| Osprey |
| Bald Eagle |
| Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Broad-winged Hawk |
| Red-tailed Hawk |
| Barred Owl |
| Belted Kingfisher |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
| Downy Woodpecker |
| Hairy Woodpecker |
| Pileated Woodpecker |
| Northern Flicker |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee |
| Alder Flycatcher |
| Willow Flycatcher |
| Least Flycatcher |
| Eastern Phoebe |
| Great Crested Flycatcher |
| Eastern Kingbird |
| Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Blue-headed Vireo |
| Warbling Vireo |
| Red-eyed Vireo |
| Blue Jay |
| American Crow |
| Common Raven |
| Black-capped Chickadee |
| Tufted Titmouse |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
| Tree Swallow |
| Barn Swallow |
| Cliff Swallow |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch |
| White-breasted Nuthatch |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
| House Wren |
| Winter Wren |
| Marsh Wren |
| Carolina Wren |
| European Starling |
| Gray Catbird |
| Eastern Bluebird |
| Veery |
| Hermit Thrush |
| Wood Thrush |
| American Robin |
| Cedar Waxwing |
| House Sparrow |
| House Finch |
| Purple Finch |
| American Goldfinch |
| Chipping Sparrow |
| Field Sparrow |
| White-throated Sparrow |
| Savannah Sparrow |
| Song Sparrow |
| Swamp Sparrow |
| Eastern Towhee |
| Bobolink |
| Eastern Meadowlark |
| Baltimore Oriole |
| Red-winged Blackbird |
| Brown-headed Cowbird |
| Common Grackle |
| Ovenbird |
| Louisiana Waterthrush |
| Northern Waterthrush |
| Golden-winged Warbler |
| Blue-winged Warbler |
| Black-and-white Warbler |
| Tennessee Warbler |
| Nashville Warbler |
| Mourning Warbler |
| Common Yellowthroat |
| American Redstart |
| Northern Parula |
| Magnolia Warbler |
| Blackburnian Warbler |
| Yellow Warbler |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler |
| Blackpoll Warbler |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler |
| Pine Warbler |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
| Prairie Warbler |
| Black-throated Green Warbler |
| Canada Warbler |
| Scarlet Tanager |
| Northern Cardinal |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
| Indigo Bunting |
RCAS Annual Meeting - June 26
The Annual Meeting of Rutland County Audubon Society will be held on June 26, 2021 at Bomoseen State Park's Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Please join us and bring a lunch for conversation after the meeting.
West Rutland Marsh - May 2021
There’s no doubt it’s spring when you visit West Rutland Marsh in May. Seven RCAS board members conducted our monthly monitoring, tallying 65 species. This compares to our May average of 67 species and 51 species one year ago.
With many new arrivals within the past two weeks bird song has increased dramatically. For some species nesting is already underway. An American robin was seen carrying food for young and a gray catbird was carrying nesting material.
Marsh wrens, swamp sparrows, yellow warblers and common yellowthroats have claimed their territories with much singing and chasing of rivals.
Turkey VultureIn addition to yellow warbler and common yellowthroat, warbler species included ovenbird, northern waterthrush (one singing high from a bare tree top), several black-and-white warblers, a Nashville warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, yellow-rumped warbler and a black-throated green warbler. We also heard the ‘bees buzz’ of a winged warbler, but without a visual confirmation we couldn’t determine if it was a golden-winged warbler, a blue-winged warbler or a hybrid.
Virginia rails were heard near the boardwalk and one along Water Street. After the walk ended one of the departing participants spotted a common gallinule.
The beautiful song of wood thrush was heard in a few places, while the newly-arrived veeries were only making their ‘veer’ call.
Raptors included two broad-winged hawks, a red-tailed hawk, a Cooper’s hawk and one falcon species, either a kestrel or a merlin.
A parting gift from this winter’s amazing irruption – a single pine siskin at a feeder and a lone female evening grosbeak calling from a tree in the same yard.
The list:
Canada Goose 12
Mallard 5
Ruffed Grouse 3
Mourning Dove 11
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Virginia Rail 2
Wilson's Snipe 1
American Bittern 1
Turkey Vulture 6
Cooper's Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
falcon sp. 1
Least Flycatcher 3
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 4
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 8
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Tufted Titmouse 8
Tree Swallow 19
Barn Swallow 4
swallow sp. 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 4
Marsh Wren 9
European Starling 10
Gray Catbird 19
Eastern Bluebird 3
Veery 7
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 20
House Sparrow 2
Evening Grosbeak 1
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 3
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 23
Chipping Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 13
Swamp Sparrow 19
Eastern Towhee 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 18
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 12
Ovenbird 10
Northern Waterthrush 4
Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 9
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 24
Yellow Warbler 24
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Century Count - May 22
Prairie WarblerThe annual RCAS Century Count will take place this year on Saturday, May 22, dawn to dusk. Options for being part of it are numerous and it is fun. Not only can you enjoy seeing all the beautiful birds which have returned or are migrating through, but if you have a competitive spirit, you can count species and help us get up to (or over!) our goal of 100 species. Last year we had 126!Your options for participating are:
1. Join the north-east team or the south-west team.
2. Create your own team to cover areas not covered by the teams.
3. Bird on your own and report findings to RCAS through eBird.
4. Bird in pairs and report through eBird and share with RCAS.
5. If you still have feeders up, report your birds from there to ebird and share with RCAS.
(All of these options come with COVID safety restrictions, of course.)
If these options don't suit you, and you can think of others, please let us know. At any rate, email us at birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org and tell us your preference, so we'll have an idea what to expect. We need YOU! Thanks!
West Rutland Marsh - April 2021
The April morning greeted us with overcast skies and a temperature of 37 degrees making it a chilly start for the monthly marsh monitoring. Snow dusted the nearby mountains with what is hopefully winter’s last hurrah. Forty-two species were tallied.
In spite of this, some migrants have returned to the marsh. Along the boardwalk a Virginia rail was calling. An American bittern was heard then seen as it took flight north.
Eastern PhoebeNumerous swamp sparrows were singing as was one marsh wren.
Several woodpecker species were noted with some couples getting down to the business of guaranteeing a new generation.
Male red-winged blackbirds proclaimed territorial rights, while a cold looking Eastern phoebe hunted for insects.
Bloodroot, early saxifrage, and marsh marigold were wildflowers seen along the road on the west side.
A Cooper’s hawk glided silently and low near the tree line setting off alarm calls from blue jays and chickadees. The raptor disappeared into the trees without snatching any prey.
The lovely golden-green hue on the trees that is ephemeral is aptly written by Robert Frost:
Nature’s First Green is Gold,
Her Hardest Hue to Hold.
Time to enjoy this season and the coming wave of more migrants.
The list:
Canada Goose 14
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 5
Hooded Merganser 1
Ruffed Grouse 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 7
Virginia Rail 1
Wilson's Snipe 3
American Bittern 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 7
Eastern Phoebe 4
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 10
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Tufted Titmouse 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 1
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 8
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 16
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 4
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 24
Red-winged Blackbird 28
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 9
Northern Cardinal 5