Spring at Shelburne Farms
Today's sightings at Shelburne Farms were filled with some great birds of prey and of particular interest was the possible Northern Harrier. The crows as always are around the prey birds, mobbing, calling, and watching them. An exciting part of my bird walk was identifying my first song sparrow by sound in the wild and after hearing that unique song once, I will never forget it. Additionally, the activities of the tree swallows in the distance were exciting. The weather was high 40˚F with no wind. It was overcast and the ground fully saturated with water from the snowmelt and recent storms. Most of my time was spent along the sugarbush and farm field ecotone which proved to be a great place to see the birds in the open and hear the forest dwelling species.
Observations
What
Domestic Chicken (Gallus gallus var. domesticus)Observer
jnorris2Description
Yellow/orange colored Buff Orpington chicken, possibly smaller though. In portable chicken tractor. Made chatting calls when people came close. Strange occurrence!
Photos / Sounds
What
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)Observer
jnorris2Description
Large flock of 50-100 birds flying above trees mid afternoon in the distance. Flitting around and swooping in a disorderly fashion. Small -small/medium songbird shape.
Photos / Sounds
What
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)Observer
jnorris2Description
Large dark bird, soaring over fields, v-shaped wings
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)Observer
jnorris2Description
Two chickadees with dark head and white belly and grey back perched in sugarbush/mixed forest. Come close to people and perch curiously on branch when 'pshed' to. Dee-dee-dee call.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)Observer
jnorris2Description
Flying from rotted white and red pine trees, perching on side of trunk. Medium bird, red spot on head, white/black speckled back. Seemed to have decent lengthed beak and possibly larger than a downy from a distance.
What
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)Observer
jnorris2Description
Three short note intro to song followed by short segments of unique calls. Loud and perched at edge of hardwood forest by farm field.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Observer
jnorris2Description
Flying low over farm hay fields, this bird had a pale belly with a red/brown tail and brown back. Medium size bird of prey. Mobbed by crows.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)Observer
jnorris2Description
White-ish bellied bird perched on ground in hay field. Dark back. When flying it had dark tips on underside of wings and dark tip on tail.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)Observer
jnorris2Description
Sewing machine like trill of junco, loud and even. Did not see this bird but it was in hardwood forest near edge of field.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)Observer
jnorris2Description
cheer cheer cheer call and downturned male wistle pew pew pew. Bright red bird seen laster in bushes.
Photos / Sounds
What
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)Observer
jnorris2Description
Squeaky noisy ruckus sounding robotic
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