jpleonar's Journal

This log documents a bird-walk that I took through Centennial Woods Natural Area on Saturday, March 19th. I arrived at the site around approximately 4:30 pm. Upon arrival, I entered the woods through the entrance across the street from UVM Police Services. My transect took me through a large portion of the Natural Area, eventually bringing me towards the southeast portion close to the Sheraton. I stopped at some feeders and stood still for approximately ten minutes. During this duration of time I was assailed by Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees which were engaging in their typical social mobbing behavior. In addition to these songbirds, I also saw a Downy Woodpecker. I watched this bird for about ten minutes as well to ensure that it was in fact a Downy. Judging by the size of the bird and the fact that the beak seemed approximately half the length of the head, I was able to confirm this identification. I then proceeded out of the heavier forested area of the woods and went into an open field. It was here that I saw a large Pileated Woodpecker which stopped on a tree but did not stick around for long, flying due east (ballistic flight pattern.)

I then exited the natural area and walked up Carrigan Drive towards UVM Police Services. On the periphery of Centennial Woods, I saw a large group of American Robins in staghorn sumac trees as well as the ground, intermixed with some European Starlings. With this large group of birds, I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker which was significantly larger in body size than the Downy Woodpecker I saw in the interior of the forest. The bill of this bird was also significantly longer (about 2/3 the length of the head.) Lastly, there were two Mallard Ducks present in the constructed wetland on the opposite side of Carrigan Drive, consisting of one hen and one drake.

My fifth and final bird-walk took place along the Burlington Bike Path and extended through North Beach and into Lone Rock. This walk took place on Thursday, April 14th between the hours 3:00-5:15pm. The first siting that I had was on the shoreline of North Beach where I saw a colony of Ring-billed Gulls, consisting of around twenty birds. A large majority of them walked into the water and swam due west. I then continued to the northern portion of the Beach, hitting the treeline and following it along into a small cove. While walking along the treeline, I head the distinct rattling call of a Belted Kingfisher. Shortly after I saw the bird that was emitting the call fly over the cove to an opposite treeline. In the cove itself, I saw eight Canada Geese. The majority of these geese were splashing the water with their wings and were in close proximity with two Mallard Ducks (one hen and one drake.) I observed these birds for approximately ten minutes and then headed into the woods along a trail. The next siting I had was a large Pileated Woodpecker. I first heard the slow drumming of the bird and then walked up onto it, excavating a large snag.

Following the trail, I was lead into a large open field where I saw a singular Song Sparrow. I was able to differentiate it from the House Sparrow by the dark striations on the chest and head. I continued to follow the trail along, which eventually wound around and lead me back to the North Beach area. At the northern tip of the beach, there is a rather large wetland, full of cattails on the periphery. There were many Red-winged Blackbirds, most of which I saw were males. Key characteristics I used for identification were the red band on their wing, square tail shape, and "checking" call. For the second time in the day, I heard the distinctive rattle of the Belted Kingfisher, however, this time it sounded like there were two birds. I then spotted both of them, on the opposite (east) side of the wetland, perched over the water on the tips of two separate branches. In an attempt to get a better look I headed to this side of wetland. Both of them eventually dove down and glided across the top of the water. One was slightly larger than the other which I hypothesize was the female (typically the female is larger in this species.) On this side of the wetland I also saw three female Common Mergansers together. They had gray bodies, long bills, and reddish/cinnamon colored heads with a crest on the back of them.