Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2021

Present for one or all 8:30, 9:15 and 9:20 observations: Craig Provost, Liz Lackey, Jim Mead, Clem Nilan, Graham Rice, Scott Morrical.

Full sun (at observers' backs for most of observation), wind SSE 10, air 34 degrees Fahrenheit, water 54 F. Air/water temperature discrepancy created meaningful atmospheric distortion at greater distances, which were partly overcome by observations being made from approximately 40 foot bluff. Viewing conditions at closer distance were very good.

Zeiss 8x42 TFL binoculars; Nikon 60mm Fieldscope with 20-45x eyepiece set at 20x and Celestron 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with Celestron 18mm X-Cel LX eyepiece (effective 113x magnification) mounted on custom platform, Manfrotto 3066 video head and Manfrotto 132XB heavy duty tripod.

Have seen many of this species and Common and Thick-billed Murres on breeding grounds in Newfoundland, and limited numbers of various alcids off coast of Maine.

Lake Champlain

Rapid wingbeats. Bird flew over large resting flock of Canada Geese, which were lifting up as it approached. Unclear if their rise to flight was in reaction to the Razorbill's approach or independent. Bird banked and U-turned as it reached the rising blanket of geese. This was the only interaction observed.

None detected

First spotted heading south just above the water by Graham Rice at roughly 8:30AM. Bird banked and U-turned over rising goose flock and returned northbound. Lost from sight after about a mile. A southbound Razorbill was seen again at roughly 9:15AM, once again flying just above the water, but this time much closer. This afforded reasonably spectacular views. The bird continued south and out of sight once again after about a mile. Roughly five minutes later a Razorbill passed by heading north just above the water. The bird was lost once again heading north after about a mile. There was nothing detected to indicate that there was more than one individual observed, although the bird was not seen as well during the first, more distant sighting. So there could have been more than one.

Large, chunky alcid, appearing structurally heavier than a duck. Much smaller than Canada Geese but not dwarfed by them. Roughly the length of a medium sized duck, though there were no other birds nearby for direct comparison.

Large headed, appearing virtually "neckless" in flight. Forehead, crown, nape, and face above and in front of eye black, face below bill bright white. Face behind and above eye smudged white fading to bright white below. This white area distinguished from similar Thick-billed Murre, which would have shown black here instead in any plumage.

Relatively large, very deep and blunt bill. Bill appeared gray and distinctly lighter than adjacent black plumage. However, unable to determine if was a light pattern on it contributing to the gray appearance, or an artifact of sunlight reflecting off it. The bill's chunky structure also distinguished this bird from Thick-billed Murre, which would have shown a much more tapered end to the bill.
Feet not scrutinized or sorted out from tail.

Black

Black

Black above; white trailing edge to secondaries; white underwing coverts.

All bright white

Black, relatively short

Deep, blunt bill and smudged white behind and above eye distinguish from the most similar species, Thick-billed Murre.

Fully developed bill appearing gray (see above) indicates adult. White above and behind eye distinguished as non-breeding plumage.
Whether we observed one, two, or three individuals is impossible to know. However, my guess is we observed one individual searching for an exit to the lake. A Razorbill was photographed at the Champlain Bridge in Addison about an hour after our last sighting. If we missed it heading south a third time, then this could be the same bird. Otherwise there were at least two Razorbills on the lake. A flock of up to eleven Razorbills was observed in Montreal for several days about two weeks prior to this sighting. So the prospect of multiple Razorbills on Lake Champlain during the past couple weeks is certainly plausible.