Wildlife Sightings:

   January 9, 2007

   There is a thin crust of snow over the ground, unusual for this time of the year, with a light dusting of new snow on top. It is perfect tracking snow for small creatures. Two very different creatures in particular seem to be very active today - one, a bird and the other, a small rodent.

   The bird is dark-eyed junco and the small rodent is either a deer mouse or a white-footed mouse. A small flock of dark-eyed juncoes has been with us for several weeks now, a little longer than in most years. Its track clearly shows three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward, a foot print that indicates a songbird or perching bird. Each joint and each little pad showed in microscopic sharpness. The straddle of the print was quite wide and the pattern of movement was a hopping pattern with the two feet almost side by side. As this particular bird hopped, it consistently placed its left foot slightly ahead of its right foot. I followed the tracks for a while to see if I could tell what the birds were doing. Juncoes generally feed on the ground and these birds were waisting no time in locating patches of ground where northern white cedar seeds, cones and shed needles, all rusty orange in color, were thick. Broken snow suggested that the birds had scratched at the mixture in order to lift the cones and then find the tiny seeds inside.

   The mouse, on the other hand, was moving short distances on the snow from where a maple sapling was sticking up through the snow patch to where there was a small hole next to a stone. The movement was very even and there was no evidence that the creature paused or spent any more time above the shrinking snow than was necessary to move about. Its tracks were very detailed also in the soft new snow - one could count individual toes, nails and toe pads and one could see the drag mark left by the long tail. All it takes is a thin cover of fresh snow to see what is out and about.

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

   Wednesday, January 3, 2007

   "On Wednesday, I anticipated that the full moon would be bright under mostly clear skies. I have wondered if the full moon affects the movement of animals by creating greater visibility for a period of time. So I went out after the moon was high in the sky and walked a short distance away from any houses. I was sure that my footsteps could be heard on top of the snow, as witnessed by the neighbor's dog barking. I then stood still. There were no signs of wild animals for quite a while. I was not disappointed to not see any wild animals. The sight of the moon was spectacular and it was not cold at all. I turned to go back inside. Then, over to my left, a very small dark form moved quickly on top of the snow - a meadow vole, a creature that is active day or night at any time of the year. It appeared, made its quick dash and disappeared below the snow to the safety of its den in less than 2 seconds. I felt glad that the wild animals are having a mild winter so far."

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

   Tuesday, January 2, 2007

   "On Tuesday, following a light snow on top of a snowy crust, many tracks of small animals were clearly visible. Red squirrel tracks traced the route of this very active creature. Sometimes the track abruptly ended at the base of a tree. Each individual toe, palm pad and heel pad left a perfect impression. The tracks of a domestic cat showed clearly where a little snow had drifted deeper, then nearly disappeared when the animal crossed a windblown crusty area and reappeared (like the Cheshire cat) again where the new snow had collected in a depression. Upon looking closer, the tracks on the crusty patch could be detected as slightly melted impressions. The tiny tracks of a white-footed mouse were visible with a tail drag impression as this animal traveled from the base of a sapling to a hole next to a small boulder."

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

   December 31, 2006

   Winter finches and sparrows are lining up at the feeder. We have had American goldfinches right along since summer and dark-eyed juncoes that arrived in November. Redpolls came in this month. Within the last few days, purple finches and tree sparrows have also shown up in small numbers. They scratch at the ground under the feeders, pick up any spilled seed and visit the nearby garden for some late summer grass and weed seeds that are still fresh and dry.

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT.

   November 28, 2006

   Frequently, when I walk down the driveway to the road, I encounter a ruffed grouse or two or three. Usually I hear the bird before I see it when it springs startled from its low perch with loud wing beats. One bird flushing may cause another nearby bird to do the same. The flight is low and I believe that the bird travels only far enough for trees and shrubs to disguise its new location. This flight response to my presence happens in the same general area, a low sag where water meanders through from the nearby higher field and where there are wild apple trees and plenty of low herbaceous and woody vegetation to attract grouse for feeding and protection. It happens so frequently that I have trained myself to approach and enter this area cautiously and with my gaze out to the left and right (and not just at my feet) to try to get a longer glimpse of the birds.

   One day, I was walking along and a grouse made its noisy flush flight as usual except that the bird flew from a spot where I had just been much closer to where I assume that the bird was perched. I wondered why the bird delayed so long to fly. My guess is that the bird was sleeping and my approach was quiet when I was closest to the bird. Then, perhaps, a broken twig sound or a slight scape on gravel sound made by me awoke the bird and triggered its natural response.

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

   Friday, September 8, 2006

    A broad-winged hawk dropped out of the sky with a garter snake in its talons and perched on a bent over 6" diameter big-toothed aspen (a tree that was damaged by last October's heavy snowstorm). The hawk found that the horizontal perch, about 15' above the ground and somewhat sheltered by some nearby trees, was an ideal place to consume its meal. It also gave us a perfect view to watch this event through binoculars for the next 20 minutes.

   At first the snake was squirming vigorously and the hawk spent some effort to simply secure its prey. Holding the snake firmly against the tree trunk with one foot, it would reach out with the other foot and pull in the writhing snake. I was able to clearly see the hawk's patterned tail: light-colored at the very tip, with a wide dark band above, then a white band, and then dark again. The body plumage was that of a light-phase adult broad-winged hawk with plain brown on the wings and back, rusty streaks on the breast and sides, a clear light throat framed by black and an evenly colored brown head.

   After securing the snake, it reached down and began to rip the head end into strips that it could swallow. Every few minutes, it would pause and look around. It was wonderful to look into the bird's great yellow eyes with black pupils. After five minutes, the snake no longer moved and the bird's yellow beak had bits of shiny red flesh on it as it continued its meal. At one point, a small bit fell; the bird tried to catch it, but missed. When all but the last 8" of the tail end was consumed, the hawk grasped the rest of the snake in its mouth and gulped it down whole with some effort.

   Having finished its meal, the hawk cleaned its talons with its beak and then cleaned its beak and cheeks on the tree trunk. Then it stood tall, raised its tail and evacuated a considerable amount of white dropping - perhaps the remains of the last snake. Shortly it left its perch to join its comrades high in the sky on its journey south.

Debbie Benjamin, Eden, VT

   Saturday, June 10, 2006

   Numerous deer seen throughout the woods near Bear Paw Pond. Sharp-shinned hawk observed near bottom of Rossier Road. Flushed a woodcock off its nest near Upper Twin Pond. Beavers active at Moosewood Ponds. - Rolf Anderson.

   Tuesday, May 2, 2006

   Nancy Gilman in Killington, VT reports: "Right now, the beavers are continuing their great displacement of the headwaters of the Ottauqueechee (it's now a small pond just down the road). But water fowl is closer with two ducks this evening and a king fisher sitting on the wire waiting to dive into the newly established waters."

   Monday, May 1, 2006

   "Have seen several courtship displays by male turkeys over the past few days," reports Rolf Anderson. "One was at the foot of the Rossier Road; another was behind the Kalsmith's house on the Mountain Road. This is in addition to all the large groups I have seen in the High Meadow on the High Ponds Farm and even a turkey road crossing in front oy car on the Mountain Road," adds Rolf.

   Sunday, April 31, 2006

   Many reports of tree swallows in the area; Bluebirds are presenting courtship displays. Lots of Barred Owl song, especially in the Covewood area of Sugar Hill. Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk and a probable Red-tailed hawk all seen in the vicinity of High Ponds Farm & Bear Paw Pond area. Woodcock sightings are down.

   Trillium coming on nicely especially under apple trees. Blue Cohosh rising among Spring Beauty. Cinnamon fern croizets are just now showing amidst the Trout Lilly - all on the High Ponds Farm. Spirea and raspberry just beginning to break bud.

Rolf Anderson, Montgomery, VT

   Monday, April 24, 2006

   "We have always welcomed spring here in Killington on River Road with the return of the red wing black bird and shortly after, the peeping of the spring peepers. We had never heard the quacking of the wood frogs until this spring on a very cold day the beginning of April. Even though we are native Vermonters, we weren't sure what kind of frog they were. It wasn't until I heard a nature comentary by Edith Hunter that I realized that what we had heard was the wood frog.

   Quickly, I went on line and discovered your site. What a find, and what terrific information. I now know we have wood frogs in my small pond -- I, too, have pictures of these frogs piggy-backed in my pond.

   Thank you for solving our frog mystery. I shall look forward to using your website often. (We are avid watchers of nature -- and have had the fortune of having a full flock of wild turkeys all winter, an ermine who pranced around the yard all winter and a bob cat who showed up on the front yard one morning.) Thank you again."

Nancy Gilman and Paul Dorian
Killington, VT