Ornithology - February 25, 2021

Date - February 28, 2021

Start time - 10:24 am
End time - 11:54 am
Location - Colchester Causeway
eBird Checklist - https://ebird.org/vt/checklist/S82505410

Spent the morning on an out and back walk down Colchester Causeway. There were a number of snags in the cedar stand between the parking lot and the causeway itself, but the only cavity nesters we observed/heard were Black-capped Chickadees, a Nuthatch (couldn't tell if it was White- or Red-breasted based on call), and a Downy Woodpecker. We were able to spend some time with some of the water-based birds on the recent ID quizzes -- namely Common Goldeneye and Herring Gull. Perhaps the most exciting sighting of the day were a sizeable flock (about 20) of Snow Buntings foraging on the ground on the Causeway.

Date - February 25, 2021

Start time - 8:11 am
End time - 8:47 am
Location - Saint Michael's College Natural Area
eBird Checklist - https://ebird.org/vt/checklist/S82309519

I kept my eye out for snags on my walk at Saint Michael's College Natural Area. I walked down from the intersection of College Parkway and Campus Road through the scrubby habitat. Because of the general shrubbiness of the habitat and small size of the trees, he there weren't many snags and the only one of the few I did see were anywhere approaching 10 inches dbh. Unfortunately, another aspect of biology forced me to head home for a pit stop, but when before I turned around, I was able to reach the river, where the presence of larger trees meant a few larger snags. Almost immediately upon seeing the larger snags I heard the drumming of either a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker (the consistent fast drumming pattern).

Start time - 9:36 am
End time - 10:16 am
Location - Shelburne Bay Park
eBird Checklist - https://ebird.org/vt/checklist/S82315800

After my stop back home, I headed back out for a bit longer. I started at Shelburne Bay Park and walked along the bike path that borders the TNC LaPlatte River Marsh Natural Area. Snags were much more frequent there -- particularly around the marshy areas and in the large pine stands. In the large stand of pines there were more snags of larger diameter and on said snags, there was evidence of Pileated Woodpecker foraging. I also heard a Pileated Woodpecker calling in the same pine stand.

Posted on February 25, 2021 06:00 PM by lizamorse lizamorse

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 09:41 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 09:46 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 09:46 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 08:30 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 08:27 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 08:20 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 25, 2021 08:16 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 2021

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 28, 2021 11:21 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Observer

lizamorse

Date

February 28, 2021 11:01 AM EST

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