JP48

In Vermont there are often events called 'monitoring walks', which go back to the same location every month and seek out birds. The first of these that I was involved with was a group of local birders, not directly involved with Audubon. As part of the group I was able to get involved with other trips and projects. Two others I have been involved with are sponsored by the local county Audubon Society. You might end up with 30 or more birders, but may not get many at all. One time on a very cold and inhospitable day I was the leader of the walk and ended up being the only one there. These two groups generally end the walk with snacks (provided) and group chitchat. All 3 of the above are free. Another nearby county sponsors occasional walks at different locations, and asks for donations from people who attend (commonly $10 in my experience) to raise funds like Charlie mentioned. Other places I've made contact with other birders are at local hotspots, especially if there is a rarity hanging about, but I guess everybody does that. Obviously I'm not a 'young birder', but everyone is always enthusiastically welcomed at these events.

True. I wasn't paying enough attention to that part of the description.

Hooded Merganser seemingly would be possible there.

At the risk of getting off topic, I'm going to kick myself (again) for not being specific. I just did an internet search tour of dogwoods, and realize how many types there are. I was referring to what I think is a grey dogwood shrub. which appears to have white berries. I actually have a few of these on a corner of my yard, and have occasionally seen birds eating those fruits.

Don't know much about plants, but is that a dogwood? Theoretically a big favorite among birds here in VT.

We only put out feeders in the winter (bear territory), and get Carolina Wrens off and on while the feeders are out. I suspect your wrens are getting what they need somewhere nearby, and will return to you with time. Keep your fingers crossed and keep watching (and listening).

I don't think you can see the wings well enough in these photos. A Black Vulture doesn't normally show that much di-hedral, and has a shorter tail.

Because of where my house and yard are located, I wait to put out my feeders until after the bears are likely to have headed for the hills. I do occasionally see migrants moving through the woods out back, but I don't try to entice them to feeders. I think there is plenty of food for them elsewhere, but I have to seek them out if I want to see them. For a somewhat different perspective, this was posted on our local listserve, I'm not trying to start an argument here, but is is something to think about. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/25/feeding-birds-garden-boost-dominant-species

I haven't had that problem, except that some of the birds just plain sing out of my range of hearing. For instance, I was once helping my son lead a bird walk for a group of beginning birders. He was trying to describe for them the song of a Cedar Waxwing, and I said "actually they're silent". Some of the older people in the group understood.

Perhaps something like a Prairie Warbler might fit.

Don't know what you mean by this.

NEK is Northeast Kingdom to us here in Vermont. As one would expect it covers the whole northeast corner of the state. VT is only lightly populated in general, but the NEK is considered to be the least populated of all.

I'm not sure what you're trying to do here. I don't think iBird is meant for any kind of listing (at least I don't use it for that). Perhaps 'Favorites'. Otherwise, I'd need more information about your expectations.

OK, thanks. I just hadn't heard anything quite like it before, nor had a few other experienced local birders.

Has anyone ever heard a Wood Thrush making this vocalization? At about 11-12 seconds in. Recorded last week in Vermont, a little south of Burlington. It was doing the same thing when we were there this morning. thrush.wav