Date: 10/11/26 6:31 pm From: Ken Copenhaver <copenhvr...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Missisquoi NWR Bird Monitoring Walk
Please join us for our monthly bird monitoring walks on the refuge. Ken Copenhaver and Julie Filiberti lead the walks on various refuge trails on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except December and May when it's on the 2nd Saturday). The purpose of the walks is to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Observations are entered into the Vermont eBird database where the Cornell Lab of Ornithology stores the data. These walks are appropriate for birders of all skill levels and provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about birds throughout the seasons. After 198 months of walks, we have recorded 170 species of birds.
This month's walk will be on *Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM a**t the Discovery Trail*. Meet at the Visitor Center parking lot on Tabor Rd.
*Trail Description**:* The trail consists of grassy and gravel paths and long sections of boardwalk. It is mostly level except for a gradual incline near the parking lot. It's about 1 mile long. Recent improvements to the trail have made it more accessible.
*Trail Conditions:* While there shouldn't be any standing water on the trail, the grass could be wet with dew, so waterproof shoes are recommended.
If you have any questions, contact me at <copenhvr...>
Date: 10/7/26 11:58 am From: Veer Frost <0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Friends of Upper Meadow Birding Walk
Sorry to all, obv meant for Coleen, will fix that! Veer
On 10/7/2026 at 1:36 PM, "Veer Frost" wrote:Hi Coleen,
I'm very sorry, am following advice from physical therapist re not
being quite ready for a long walk (recovering from a fall)... If it
isn't too much trouble could you please describe directions from
Herrick's Cove Rd to the upper Meadows (at your convenience!)...am
determined to try when possible : ). Many thanks, and have a great
outing! Veer
On 9/19/2026 at 3:04 PM, "Coleen Lawlor" wrote:Friends of the Upper
Meadows Birding Walk
*Rockingham, Vermont*
*Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 AM*
*Rain Date: Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 AM*
Come join the *Friends of the Upper Meadows* for a fall birding walk
at the *Upper
Meadows in Rockingham, Vermont*, one of the region’s important areas
for
birds and wildlife.
We will meet in the *parking lot at Herrick’s Cove* and carpool from
there
to the Upper Meadows.
The Upper Meadows encompass approximately *280 acres along the
Connecticut
River*, including floodplain forest, beaver ponds, freshwater marsh,
vernal
pools, and about *80 acres of open grassland*. Together with nearby
Herrick’s Cove, the area has been designated an *Important Bird Area
by the
National Audubon Society*.
The grasslands provide vital nesting habitat for species including
*Eastern
Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers*. The
meadows are bordered by the Connecticut River to the east, where a
large
colony of Bank Swallows nests; cottonwoods to the south with an active
Bald
Eagle nest; a cattail marsh to the west; and vernal pools to the
north.
By October, the breeding season will be behind us, but fall migration
will
be underway. We’ll take our time, see what birds we can find, and
enjoy a
morning together in the meadows.
*We’d love to have you join us.*
If you’re planning to attend, please email *<lawlor.coleen...>
* so we know to expect you.
*Meeting place:* Herrick’s Cove parking lot
*Date:* October 11, 9:00 AM
*Rain date:* October 18, 9:00 AM
Date: 10/7/26 10:36 am From: Veer Frost <0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Friends of Upper Meadow Birding Walk
Hi Coleen,
I'm very sorry, am following advice from physical therapist re not
being quite ready for a long walk (recovering from a fall)... If it
isn't too much trouble could you please describe directions from
Herrick's Cove Rd to the upper Meadows (at your convenience!)...am
determined to try when possible : ). Many thanks, and have a great
outing! Veer
On 9/19/2026 at 3:04 PM, "Coleen Lawlor" wrote:Friends of the Upper
Meadows Birding Walk
*Rockingham, Vermont*
*Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 AM*
*Rain Date: Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 AM*
Come join the *Friends of the Upper Meadows* for a fall birding walk
at the *Upper
Meadows in Rockingham, Vermont*, one of the region’s important areas
for
birds and wildlife.
We will meet in the *parking lot at Herrick’s Cove* and carpool from
there
to the Upper Meadows.
The Upper Meadows encompass approximately *280 acres along the
Connecticut
River*, including floodplain forest, beaver ponds, freshwater marsh,
vernal
pools, and about *80 acres of open grassland*. Together with nearby
Herrick’s Cove, the area has been designated an *Important Bird Area
by the
National Audubon Society*.
The grasslands provide vital nesting habitat for species including
*Eastern
Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers*. The
meadows are bordered by the Connecticut River to the east, where a
large
colony of Bank Swallows nests; cottonwoods to the south with an active
Bald
Eagle nest; a cattail marsh to the west; and vernal pools to the
north.
By October, the breeding season will be behind us, but fall migration
will
be underway. We’ll take our time, see what birds we can find, and
enjoy a
morning together in the meadows.
*We’d love to have you join us.*
If you’re planning to attend, please email *<lawlor.coleen...>
* so we know to expect you.
*Meeting place:* Herrick’s Cove parking lot
*Date:* October 11, 9:00 AM
*Rain date:* October 18, 9:00 AM
Date: 10/6/26 2:44 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] birding upper NYS
Thanks, Kay in Hinesburg! If you, or anyone else on the listserv, would like some ideas about places to stay (and one place to avoid), let me know off-list.
Maeve in Jericho
> On Oct 5, 2026, at 6:27 PM, <kj813...> <0000002d57029402-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Thank you. It is a place I love to visit.
> Evocative report. Kay in Hinesburg
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>
>
> On Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:52 AM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
>
> Good morning, fellow birders - I just got back from a driving trip to New York State, with the primary aim of birding Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Here’s the trip report, with several other locations that might interest you:
> https://ebird.org/tripreport/578186 > Maeve Kim, Jericho
Thank you. It is a place I love to visit.
Evocative report. Kay in Hinesburg
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:52 AM, Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> wrote:
Good morning, fellow birders - I just got back from a driving trip to New York State, with the primary aim of birding Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Here’s the trip report, with several other locations that might interest you:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/578186 Maeve Kim, Jericho
Date: 10/3/26 7:00 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] VTBIRD Digest - 30 Sep 2026 to 2 Oct 2026 (#2026-176)
The "Lake America” absurdity is on Google maps and, I think, Apple maps because those billionaire-owned companies fell in line with the orange monstronsity in the White House, a man who has “made” over a few extra billions since taking office the second time while so many Americans struggle to pay for food, housing and medical care. I was pleased to see that It’s still Lake Ontario on signs up there, and probably will be again (unless DT becomes emperor for life). Sorry for injecting politics into birding, but now politics is in everything.
Maeve
> On Oct 3, 2026, at 8:08 AM, martha pfeiffer <mjbpfeiffer...> wrote:
>
> Maeve,
>
> Enjoyed learning about your trip. Very nice checklist. Thanks for
> sharing.
> First time I've noticed Lake Ontario is officially on the map as Lake
> America.
>
> Martha Pfeiffer, Dorset
>
> On Sat, Oct 3, 2026 at 12:00 AM VTBIRD automatic digest system <
> <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>
>> There is 1 message totaling 16 lines in this issue.
>>
>> Topics of the day:
>>
>> 1. birding upper NYS
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2026 10:52:47 -0400
>> From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...>
>> Subject: birding upper NYS
>>
>> Good morning, fellow birders - I just got back from a driving trip to New
>> York State, with the primary aim of birding Montezuma National Wildlife
>> Refuge. Here’s the trip report, with several other locations that might
>> interest you:
>> https://ebird.org/tripreport/578186 >> Maeve Kim, Jericho
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> End of VTBIRD Digest - 30 Sep 2026 to 2 Oct 2026 (#2026-176)
>> ************************************************************
>>
>
>
> --
> please use my new email address:
> <mjbpfeiffer...>
>
> Martha
Date: 10/3/26 5:08 am From: martha pfeiffer <mjbpfeiffer...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] VTBIRD Digest - 30 Sep 2026 to 2 Oct 2026 (#2026-176)
Maeve,
Enjoyed learning about your trip. Very nice checklist. Thanks for
sharing.
First time I've noticed Lake Ontario is officially on the map as Lake
America.
Martha Pfeiffer, Dorset
On Sat, Oct 3, 2026 at 12:00 AM VTBIRD automatic digest system <
<LISTSERV...> wrote:
> There is 1 message totaling 16 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. birding upper NYS
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2026 10:52:47 -0400
> From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...>
> Subject: birding upper NYS
>
> Good morning, fellow birders - I just got back from a driving trip to New
> York State, with the primary aim of birding Montezuma National Wildlife
> Refuge. Here’s the trip report, with several other locations that might
> interest you:
> https://ebird.org/tripreport/578186 > Maeve Kim, Jericho
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of VTBIRD Digest - 30 Sep 2026 to 2 Oct 2026 (#2026-176)
> ************************************************************
>
--
please use my new email address:
<mjbpfeiffer...>
Date: 10/2/26 7:53 am From: Maeve Kim <maevekim7...> Subject: [VTBIRD] birding upper NYS
Good morning, fellow birders - I just got back from a driving trip to New York State, with the primary aim of birding Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Here’s the trip report, with several other locations that might interest you:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/578186 Maeve Kim, Jericho
Date: 9/30/26 7:46 am From: Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 30 September 2026: Hurricane Hill (1,100 feet), WRJ
6:16 a.m., thirty-one minutes before sunrise. Fifty-two degrees, the
north-northwest wind serene at one mile per hour, occasionally sighing to
three. Only the aspen leaves notice, twitching as though someone has given
the tree a gentle shake. Low cloud ceiling. A gaunt mist settles in—much
thinner than river fog, which, when colder, rises thick, white, and
determined to hide the world. Tree crickets murmur beneath it all, their
chorus keeping time with the cool morning air.
How to tell the temperature from the chants of tree crickets: *Dolbear’s
Law, or the **Mathematics of Morning**. *If I didn’t have my iPhone and
felt inclined to calculate—and thereby debase the dawn—I’d have four
formulas to choose from: three for Fahrenheit and one for Celsius.
*Fahrenheit corollaries: *handy in the United States and nineteen tiny
countries—Liberia and Micronesia among them, the others scattered like
crumbs across the Caribbean.
1) Count the chirps in 13 seconds and add 40.
2) Count the chirps in 15 seconds, divide by 4, and add 50.
3) Count the chirps in one minute, subtract 40, divide by 4, and add 50.
And now, the *Celsius corollary*:
4) Count the chirps in 25 seconds, divide by 3, and add 4.
One suspects Dr. Dolbear, like the rest of us during the pandemic, had a
lot of time on his hands—and crickets on his mind.
Color advances as green retreats, and the season unfolds into an
otherworldly theme park. Here and there, an acorn splashes down. White ash
leaves float and drift; rivulets of yellow ribbon the roadside. Orange
puddles gather around the trunks of solitary sugar maples. Lilacs linger in
green. Woodbine burns red, crimson vines weaving through wet, bright leaves
and crowds of goldenrod.
Asters brighten the dim woods in soft blues and deep purples, here and
there fading to nearly white. Last of the goldenrods, sprigs of yellow.
And, beneath the maples, pale wands of silverrod, two F-stops overexposed
like a bleached transparency.
A catbird whines from the aspen. White-throated sparrows stutter—dark birds
in dim light, just out of sight. Beyond the meadow, a barred owl sends out
a single, drawn-out *hoooo *from its throne in the hemlocks. Then comes a
full-bore outburst, deepening the spell of prolonged twilight.
Three crows head southwest toward the Ottaquechee, black on gray and noisy.
Two others perch in the leafless crown of a maple, conversing. I offer a
comment. The crows bolt. Apparently, my *cawing* needs work. Another flies
low over the road, skimming the orange-and-yellow treetops in restrained
passage.
Blue jays, omnipresent and persistent. Silent most of summer, they have
found their voices again—a fusillade, sharp and piercing, autumn’s unruly
brass section.
An adult red-tailed hawk—the first I’ve seen this season—offers another
sign of autumn on Hurricane Hill. Perhaps it will stay until the snows
come. (Or perhaps it’s merely the first of many passing through.)
Twenty-four species in all, including northern flicker (laughing at a
private joke; undulation above the meadow), hairy woodpecker (feeding),
black-capped chickadee, tufted titmouse, dark-eyed junco (chirping well
before sunrise), American goldfinch, northern cardinal, eastern towhee
(seasonal pass-through), eastern phoebe (tail in motion), song sparrow,
American robin (dining on highbush craneberries; the first I’ve seen and
heard in more than a week), field sparrow (also passing through), chipping
sparrow, mourning dove, yellow-rumped warbler (ushering me back to the
rolling dunes of Fire Island), golden-crowned kinglet (whispering in the
aspens), cedar waxwing (whispering in the highbush cranberries), and brown
creeper (whispering in the pines).
And the morning’s bonus bird: Lincoln’s sparrow, sulking in the lilac
shadows—brooding, secretive, almost theatrically shy. A little sparrow all
by itself: a glimpse on the ground, another on a blackened lilac limb. Then
gone, as fleeting as the morning sun.
Date: 9/28/26 7:48 am From: Megan Massa <00001231d6e80cb0-dmarc-request...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Scott Weidensaul Talk and Book Signing 10/2 and 10/3
Two opportunities to hear Scott Weidensaul discuss his new book, The Return
of the Oystercatcher, in the Upper Valley. Free and open to the public. No
registration necessary.
Friday October 2 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. Reception with
hors d’oeuvres 4pm, talk 5pm, book signing 6pm.
Saturday October 3 at The North Chapel in Woodstock, VT. Talk 4pm, book
signing 5pm.
At a time when the news for birds—and for the planet—has rarely seemed more
grim, there is reason for hope. All around the world, people are reviving
bird populations and providing a roadmap for wider recovery. In his newest
book, The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet,
best-selling author and researcher Scott Weidensaul shows why we should
never underestimate the resiliency of birds, and why creating a world that
works for birds will work for everything—including us.
Join the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Birds and Beans Coffee for a
special evening with ornithologist and New York Times best-selling author
Scott Weidensaul, featuring stories from his latest book, The Return of the
Oystercatcher. Books available for purchase courtesy of the Norwich
Bookstore (Lake Morey) and Yankee Bookshop (The North Chapel).
---
Megan Massa
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
www.vtecostudies.org
Also: Vermont North by Hand studio tour is coming up. I'll be at Sue Martin's farm on Route 5 at the Bradford-Fairlee line, with Sue's stained glass and Carole Kitchel Bellew's ceramics. Map of the other stops: https://vermontnorthbyhand.org/tour-map/
Date: 9/23/26 6:51 am From: Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 23 September 2026 (gateway to magnificence, day two: Hurricane Hill (1,100 feet), WRJ
6:15 a.m., twenty-two minutes before sunrise. Thirty-nine degrees (basal
harvest looms in the near future), wind north at four miles per hour,
gusting to six. The hill wrapped in rising river fog. Visibility less than
one hundred yards. Fog, condensing and rinsing, leaves drip. Sounds like
rain. Feels like rain. The sun rises (somewhere above the New Hampshire
ridgeline), an accelerant to the morning's ambiguity. Fog brightens.
Crickets murmur, a soft undercurrent. The wet, droopy meadow's score.
In the lilacs, shadows whisper, a sparrow jubilee. Seven species. Mostly
white-throated. Small silhouettes stipple the dark branches. One swamp
sparrow. One savannah sparrow. White-crowned sparrows (three days running)
passing through from the density of Canada. Chipping sparrows and song
sparrows, summer holdovers (for now). Dark-eyed juncos on the ground,
foraging.
A northern flicker, headed south, screams. It's white rump flashes through
the fog. Gray catbird, emperor of lilac, supervises restless sparrows. But
has nothing to say. Yet keeps its counsel. Stymied by the fog, summer
scatting a distant memory.
*Among the Others:* Golden-crowned kinglet and brown creeper in the pines,
barely audible. American goldfinches, now the brightest birds in the
meadow, everywhere and chattering. Northern cardinal. Black-capped
chickadees and tufted titmice. Both nuthatches, red-breasted and
white-breasted, calling in the pines. The shrill of blue jays, much more
vocal than in summer. American crows and a lone common raven, high above
the hillside, somewhere beyond the fog, avian foghorns.
*Bonus Birds: *Swainson's thrush, emphatic, piercing call notes ... *whit,
whit, whit*. Yesterday afternoon, the flight calls above my house reminded
me of tree frogs, peepers on the wing. Myrtle warblers in the aspens. Palm
warbler on the ground, bobbing tail, the morning's metronome. Least
flycatcher ... *pit, pit, pit.*
*On the Rodent Frontline: *Between the lower granite slabs of the steps is
a narrow gap, an inch or two, no more. In summer, a large garter snake
wedges itself in the seam, two or three coils soaking in the late-afternoon
sun. By dusk, the gap becomes a passageway for white-footed mice bound for
the back deck and the bounty of sunflower seeds. Mice take the evening
shift; chipmunks, the daylight hours. Gray and red squirrels keep the seeds
falling in a steady, extravagant spill. (Juncos profit, too.)
Yesterday, a southern red-backed vole darted into the space between the
stones—gray-brown and hamster-like, with a chestnut saddle and bright,
dark, beady eyes. A mouse of the forest floor, it forages through the leaf
litter for succulent vegetation, berries, insect larvae, and snails. I have
never seen one scavenging sunflower seeds on the deck. In fact, I hadn't
seen a red-backed vole in several years—not since the neighborhood
barred owl plucked one from the roadside gully and carried it to a
transformer box on a nearby pole. One swallowed. One blinked.
C. Hart Merriam, the American naturalist and ethnographer, claimed
that *the flesh
of the red-backed mouse is tender and well-flavored. *Only the barred owl
knows—and keeps its counsel.
Date: 9/19/26 1:10 pm From: DIANA& JOHN KENTFIELD <00000c8a5508c4a8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Friends of Upper Meadow Birding Walk
I wish you would do this on a Saturday!
> On 09/19/2026 3:04 PM EDT Coleen Lawlor <lawlor.coleen...> wrote:
>
>
> Friends of the Upper Meadows Birding Walk
>
> *Rockingham, Vermont*
>
> *Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 AM*
> *Rain Date: Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 AM*
>
> Come join the *Friends of the Upper Meadows* for a fall birding walk
> at the *Upper
> Meadows in Rockingham, Vermont*, one of the region’s important areas for
> birds and wildlife.
>
> We will meet in the *parking lot at Herrick’s Cove* and carpool from there
> to the Upper Meadows.
>
> The Upper Meadows encompass approximately *280 acres along the Connecticut
> River*, including floodplain forest, beaver ponds, freshwater marsh, vernal
> pools, and about *80 acres of open grassland*. Together with nearby
> Herrick’s Cove, the area has been designated an *Important Bird Area by the
> National Audubon Society*.
>
> The grasslands provide vital nesting habitat for species including *Eastern
> Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers*. The
> meadows are bordered by the Connecticut River to the east, where a large
> colony of Bank Swallows nests; cottonwoods to the south with an active Bald
> Eagle nest; a cattail marsh to the west; and vernal pools to the north.
>
> By October, the breeding season will be behind us, but fall migration will
> be underway. We’ll take our time, see what birds we can find, and enjoy a
> morning together in the meadows.
>
> *We’d love to have you join us.*
> If you’re planning to attend, please email *<lawlor.coleen...>
> <lawlor.coleen...>* so we know to expect you.
>
> *Meeting place:* Herrick’s Cove parking lot
> *Date:* October 11, 9:00 AM
> *Rain date:* October 18, 9:00 AM
To view a hotspot's information on eBird, on the left side of a
hotspot's page
there's an "About" button that brings you to a page with associated
information (ex: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L751883/about). You're also
able
to suggest content for these pages.
*Kevin Tolan *(He/Him)
*Staff Biologist* at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Mail: PO Box 420, Norwich, VT 05055
Physical: 20 Palmer Court, White River Junction, VT 05001
Phone: (802) 649-1431 ext. 204
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 11:26 AM Veer Frost <
<0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I just went to hotspots dot org and was directed to eBird. There,
the
> page was mostly print so small as not to register in my brain,
though
> I found a link to Plan your visit. For location I input Vermont and
> was led to a set of world maps, clicked on what looked like New
> England, and in the upper right corner of the page that appeared I
> input Vermont. An orange and red set of fuzzy pixel-squares
appeared,
> I clicked on the approx spot I thought Vermont might be in and ended
> up in a block that ended in 'stan'. A pop up floated into view
> confirming 255 species (is this the VT total?) it sounds low as the
> climate has steadily brought more here ... I do see the comical
side
> and am sort of commemorating the ascendance of globalism over place
in
> a thankfully positive context: science. If anyone has a direct link
> to Vermont birding hot spots, please share! The singing chevrons of
> geese are night flying here (Bellows Falls), along the river. thank
> you!! Veer
> _Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in
art, with
> the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to
> values as yet uncaptured by language._ Aldo Leopold
>
>
Date: 9/19/26 12:25 pm From: Charlie Teske <cteske140...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] 34 species morning
Female hummer at the feeder in Hyde Park this afternoon. Looked bulked-up for its upcoming journey.
Safe travels! Have your papers in order and don't stop to rest on any oil rigs.
On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:05:32 -0400, Walter Medwid <wmedwid...> wrote:
Thin fog this morning on the Derby bike path. The cattails are turning
brown, a phoebe just misses capturing a monarch with a loud snap of an
empty bill, and a nice array of avian species hungry from the night’s
migration flight. A black throated blue, two Merlins, a group of common
mergs on a feeding frenzy and a blue headed vireo topped my list. Still one
moment then a wave of life forms seem to drop in from nowhere and then
they’re gone.
Date: 9/19/26 12:04 pm From: Coleen Lawlor <lawlor.coleen...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Friends of Upper Meadow Birding Walk
Friends of the Upper Meadows Birding Walk
*Rockingham, Vermont*
*Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 AM*
*Rain Date: Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 AM*
Come join the *Friends of the Upper Meadows* for a fall birding walk
at the *Upper
Meadows in Rockingham, Vermont*, one of the region’s important areas for
birds and wildlife.
We will meet in the *parking lot at Herrick’s Cove* and carpool from there
to the Upper Meadows.
The Upper Meadows encompass approximately *280 acres along the Connecticut
River*, including floodplain forest, beaver ponds, freshwater marsh, vernal
pools, and about *80 acres of open grassland*. Together with nearby
Herrick’s Cove, the area has been designated an *Important Bird Area by the
National Audubon Society*.
The grasslands provide vital nesting habitat for species including *Eastern
Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers*. The
meadows are bordered by the Connecticut River to the east, where a large
colony of Bank Swallows nests; cottonwoods to the south with an active Bald
Eagle nest; a cattail marsh to the west; and vernal pools to the north.
By October, the breeding season will be behind us, but fall migration will
be underway. We’ll take our time, see what birds we can find, and enjoy a
morning together in the meadows.
*We’d love to have you join us.*
If you’re planning to attend, please email *<lawlor.coleen...>
<lawlor.coleen...>* so we know to expect you.
*Meeting place:* Herrick’s Cove parking lot
*Date:* October 11, 9:00 AM
*Rain date:* October 18, 9:00 AM
To view a hotspot's information on eBird, on the left side of a hotspot's page
there's an "About" button that brings you to a page with associated
information (ex: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L751883/about). You're also able
to suggest content for these pages.
*Kevin Tolan *(He/Him)
*Staff Biologist* at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies
<https://vtecostudies.org/>
Mail: PO Box 420, Norwich, VT 05055
Physical: 20 Palmer Court, White River Junction, VT 05001
Phone: (802) 649-1431 ext. 204
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 11:26 AM Veer Frost <
<0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I just went to hotspots dot org and was directed to eBird. There, the
> page was mostly print so small as not to register in my brain, though
> I found a link to Plan your visit. For location I input Vermont and
> was led to a set of world maps, clicked on what looked like New
> England, and in the upper right corner of the page that appeared I
> input Vermont. An orange and red set of fuzzy pixel-squares appeared,
> I clicked on the approx spot I thought Vermont might be in and ended
> up in a block that ended in 'stan'. A pop up floated into view
> confirming 255 species (is this the VT total?) it sounds low as the
> climate has steadily brought more here ... I do see the comical side
> and am sort of commemorating the ascendance of globalism over place in
> a thankfully positive context: science. If anyone has a direct link
> to Vermont birding hot spots, please share! The singing chevrons of
> geese are night flying here (Bellows Falls), along the river. thank
> you!! Veer
> _Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with
> the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to
> values as yet uncaptured by language._ Aldo Leopold
>
>
Date: 9/18/26 8:26 am From: Veer Frost <0000038039fb4cf6-dmarc-request...> Subject: [VTBIRD] help / hot spots / on eBird
I just went to hotspots dot org and was directed to eBird. There, the
page was mostly print so small as not to register in my brain, though
I found a link to Plan your visit. For location I input Vermont and
was led to a set of world maps, clicked on what looked like New
England, and in the upper right corner of the page that appeared I
input Vermont. An orange and red set of fuzzy pixel-squares appeared,
I clicked on the approx spot I thought Vermont might be in and ended
up in a block that ended in 'stan'. A pop up floated into view
confirming 255 species (is this the VT total?) it sounds low as the
climate has steadily brought more here ... I do see the comical side
and am sort of commemorating the ascendance of globalism over place in
a thankfully positive context: science. If anyone has a direct link
to Vermont birding hot spots, please share! The singing chevrons of
geese are night flying here (Bellows Falls), along the river. thank
you!! Veer
_Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with
the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to
values as yet uncaptured by language._ Aldo Leopold
Date: 9/18/26 7:05 am From: Walter Medwid <wmedwid...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 34 species morning
Thin fog this morning on the Derby bike path. The cattails are turning
brown, a phoebe just misses capturing a monarch with a loud snap of an
empty bill, and a nice array of avian species hungry from the night’s
migration flight. A black throated blue, two Merlins, a group of common
mergs on a feeding frenzy and a blue headed vireo topped my list. Still one
moment then a wave of life forms seem to drop in from nowhere and then
they’re gone.
Date: 9/16/26 9:58 am From: Eugenia Cooke <euge24241...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Female RTH in Montpelier still
Still at least one daily in last few days, including this morning. Visiting
feeders and flowers.
Eugenia
Rutland
On Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 11:43 AM lizl <lizl...> wrote:
> Hummingbirds are still considered frequent on ebird in my location,
> Hinesburg. I'm guessing that is the case for most low elevation locations.
> The bar charts on ebird are a great tool for this. You can look up
> frequency by county and hotspots.Liz LeeSent from my Galaxy
> -------- Original message --------From: CAMERON O'CONNOR <
> <cameron103...> Date: 9/16/26 9:11 AM (GMT-05:00) To:
> <VTBIRD...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Female RTH in Montpelier still
> we have had a lot of hummer activity here too! several juveniles
> buzzingaround... and as you said, quite voracious!On Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at
> 8:11 AM John Snell <jrsnelljr...> wrote:> Again this morning at
> 7:30 a female RTHummingbird was feeding quite> voraciously on nasturtium
> blooms.> John
Date: 9/16/26 8:43 am From: lizl <lizl...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Female RTH in Montpelier still
Hummingbirds are still considered frequent on ebird in my location, Hinesburg. I'm guessing that is the case for most low elevation locations. The bar charts on ebird are a great tool for this. You can look up frequency by county and hotspots.Liz LeeSent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: CAMERON O'CONNOR <cameron103...> Date: 9/16/26 9:11 AM (GMT-05:00) To: <VTBIRD...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Female RTH in Montpelier still we have had a lot of hummer activity here too! several juveniles buzzingaround... and as you said, quite voracious!On Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at 8:11 AM John Snell <jrsnelljr...> wrote:> Again this morning at 7:30 a female RTHummingbird was feeding quite> voraciously on nasturtium blooms.> John
Date: 9/15/26 8:13 am From: Ken Copenhaver <copenhvr...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Missisquoi NWR Bird Monitoring Walk
Please join us for our monthly bird monitoring walks on the refuge. Ken Copenhaver and Julie Filiberti lead the walks on various refuge trails on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except December when it is on the 2nd Saturday). The purpose of the walks is to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Observations are entered into the Vermont eBird database, where data is stored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These walks are appropriate for birders of all skill levels and provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about birds throughout the seasons. After 197 months of walks, we have recorded 170 species of birds.
This month's walk will be on *Saturday, September 19, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM a**t the Stephen Young Marsh Trail*. Meet at the parking lot on Tabor Rd, about 1 mile south of the Refuge Visitor Center.
*Trail Description**:* The walk starts at a gravel parking lot. We will cross Tabor Road and descend a short but steep bank along the edge of the road. (An alternative route from the parking lot is available that crosses the road where there is no embankment.) The trail continues on a level section with a gravel trail surface, then gradually rises to a trail surface with many exposed tree roots. There are benches partway up and at the top of the rise. From there, the trail continues on a gravel path going very gradually downhill, then another grassy, level section to a short boardwalk and observation deck where there is another bench. From the observation deck, the trail goes on a gradual uphill, grassy path.
*Trail Conditions:* With no rain predicted for this week, the trail should be dry except for possible dew in the grassy areas. If you have any questions, contact me at <copenhvr...>
Date: 9/15/26 5:26 am From: Walter Medwid <wmedwid...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Derby bike path sightings
A brisk 39 degrees on a clear morning that brought a good variety of birds along the bike path to feed. I suspect a good night for migration encouraged the morning search for insects. And even though these habitats have been gleaned many times sover, there were still good sized caterpillars to find. Red eyed and blue headed vireos, black throated green warblers, lots of yellowthroats, a redstart and a chestnut sided as well. A brown creeper silently worked the side of an aspen. The activity also brought two Cooper's and a sharpie to the location accompanied by a band of crows who announced the presence of predators while the Cooper's hawks made dashes after the crows. Hundreds of dew capturing spider webs decorated the wetland vegetation. A good start to the day. Derby
Date: 9/14/26 4:23 am From: Terry Marron <00000d129fea9673-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Hummingbird
We still had hummingbirds in North Hero at our camp and they are still here in Williston.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 14, 2026, at 7:21 AM, Carol Yarnell <yarnellcarol1219...> wrote:
>
> Usually they leave by the 10th-12th, but I had the younger one still here
> on the feeder this morning.
>
> Carol Yarnell
> South Alburgh
Date: 9/13/26 6:41 pm From: Donald Clark <sapsbks...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 9/13/26 Westminster Station Nighthawk Count, 319
9/13/26 Westminster Station Nighthawk Count. They're still on the move with 75 last night and 319 tonight bringing the season total to 25,033. We had to shut down the count for awhile this evening as a large group of 70-80 birds stopped to feed on a large flying ant hatch.
Don Clark
Grafton,
<sapsbks...>
Date: 9/13/26 5:44 am From: Ted Levin <tedlevin1966...> Subject: [VTBIRD] 13 September 2026: Hurricane Hill (1,100 feet), WRJ
5:53 a.m., thirty-three minutes before sunrise. Wind south-southeast, six
miles per hour, gusting to sixteen. A migration roadblock. A blend of thin
drizzle and rising river fog ... hard to separate into components. Matters
little to the owl barking in the hemlocks, rolling hoots hijacked by the
wind. Drizzle turns to rain. Fog thickens, rises, softening contours of
nearby hills, eclipsing those farther away. Leaves, noticeably blushing and
rusting, amplify the sound of rain. Sun sneaks into a saturated sky,
unnoticed (by me).
Crows stay put, scattered in the crowns of maples, cawing. Wet, black
flowers on dark stems. Like a rainy morning at summer camp. No one wanted
to get out of bed and go to breakfast.
I pick several sprigs of goldenrod to keep summer breathing a little longer
in a kitchen vase.
Blue jay screams. Cardinal chips: a well-spaced *tick, tick, tick*. No sign
of woodpeckers. Or doves, noisy wings silent for the moment. Phoebe on a
lilac limb, mum as marmalade, rainwater dripping from its tail, conducting
the weather.
Forty-eight hours without a hummingbird. Twenty-four hours without a
broad-winged hawk, last heard (not seen), yesterday above the art fair in
Woodstock. A sharp, thin cry on a bright, sunny afternoon.
*Dead in the Road (DOR): *A hatchling milk snake, still as stone, no longer
or wider than a number 2 pencil. Banded beige and purple-gray, with a
keratinized egg tooth protruding from the tip of its upper jaw. Like
Houdini, the snakelet had slipped from a seemingly inescapable chamber,
sawing and sawing and sawing at the inside of its oblong, leathery egg.
Where there is one hatchling, there must be others. Milk snakes are my
frontline defense against tick-borne disease, along with barred owls.
Adults eat white-footed mice, the principal vector of *Borrelia burgdorferi*,
the spirochete spread by the black-legged tick that causes Lyme disease.
White-footed mice do not get sick. Almost everything else does. A mast year
means mice upon mice the following summer. An adult milk snake eats,
roughly, a mouse a week, maybe more: twenty or more mice from May through
September.
*At the feeders, *goldfinches and juncos eat seed after seed, hulls
scattering across the deck. Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches come and
go; each takes a single seed to tuck into the fork of a sodden branch or
behind a piece of loose bark. Remarkably, they remember where they have
hidden them—thousands of seeds, some waiting uneaten until the eve of
spring ... six months from now.
