Winter Outings Report
By Pat Phillips
New Year’s Day Outing on the Burlington Waterfront
Birders celebrate the first day of 2025 at the Burlington Waterfront.
Thirteen participants braved cool and rainy conditions to start 2025 observing birds along the Burlington waterfront. The group was rewarded with excellent views of multiple Common Loons, Horned Grebes, and a lone Green-winged Teal hanging out with a raft of Mallards. In addition, folks got a great comparison look at a Great Black-backed Gull, an American Herring Gull, and a Ring-billed Gull adjacent to one another on a floating dock. Overall, the combined observations and the enjoyable camaraderie made for an excellent way to start the new year.
eBird report for the outing: https://ebird.org/checklist/S207451579
Missisquoi Outing with the UVM Birding Club
Members of GMAS, Friends of Missisquoi, and the UVM Birding Club gather for a morning of bird observation.
In a collaborative venture, members of the Green Mountain Audubon Society, the Friends of Missisquoi, and twenty-three members of the UVM Birding Club spent a March morning at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge observing birds along Stephen Young Marsh Trail. Even before starting on the trail, participants got wonderful looks at an early arriving Eastern Meadowlark singing in the fields opposite the refuge headquarters. Around the marsh, birders observed typical late winter/early spring species such as Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-breasted Nuthatches, along with a number of other species. Wonderful additions to the lists included a pair of Northern Shovelers and a surprise Red-shouldered Hawk. Members of each group are excited to plan for additional outings in the future.
Here's a link to the eBird Reports for the outing:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S219984740
https://ebird.org/checklist/S219988226
Champlain Lake Watch Outing
Birders scan Lake Champlain’s shoreline for waterfowl.
Winter's grip relented long enough to permit a group of twenty birders to enjoy spending time along Lake Champlain observing a variety of waterfowl. Starting at Shelburne Town Beach, then moving to Charlotte Town Beach, and ending at the Charlotte Ferry landing, the group was able to observe a variety of waterfowl including a multitude of Common Goldeneye, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, and Mallards. Highlights of the morning included the spotting of a female Long-tailed Duck, a Barrows Goldeneye, and a Horned Grebe. Special thanks to Tom Jiamachello for his expertise and enthusiasm and to fellow GMAS board members Adam Weiss, and Sarah Schmidt for helping out. In addition, thanks to Ken and Helen Ostermiller for their help in counting.
Here are links to the eBird reports:
Shelburne Town Beach: https://ebird.org/checklist/S218606802
Charlotte Town Beach: https://ebird.org/checklist/S218621605
McNeil Cove Ferry Landing: https://ebird.org/checklist/S218642210