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Two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were found June 5 in Shoreham on Richville Pond, an impounded portion of the Lemon Fair River, by Wesley Butler who posted them in an eBird checklist. The normal breeding range of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks is in Florida, Texas and Mexico along the coasts, but eBird shows they go vagrant all over the east, as far north as Quebec. They have previously been seen in all our surrounding States, but this is the first time they have ever been found in Vermont.

These birds have persisted at this location for two days now, with many birders seeing them, so if you would like to see them, it appears you have a good chance of success. They seem to have a preferred log to perch on which is best viewed from the historic covered rail bridge that can be found at the end of a trail off a fishing access on Shoreham Depot Rd.

– Ron Payne

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