Lefferts Pond - Chittenden (55 acres)

Lefferts Pond - Chittenden (55 acres)

Green Mountain National Forest Chittenden, Vermont 05737

Official Website

Tips for Birding

Birds of Interest

Common Loon and Pied-billed Grebe are occasionally seen on the pond. Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser, and Hooded Merganser are frequently seen in the spring and fall and teal and scaup are occasional visitors. Osprey and Bald Eagle, drawn by the nearby reservoir, are often observed once the ice is out in mid-April. A scope is handy for observing the pond. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Winter Wrens can also begin to be heard at this time.

Great Blue Heron, Wilson’s Snipe, and Spotted Sandpiper are usually seen in spring and summer. Hermit Thrush and Swainson’s Thrush are frequently heard along with Blue-Headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, and Red-eyed Vireo. Barred Owl and Common Raven are also often heard.

Early May and mid-September are excellent times for viewing migrating warblers. Several warblers nest here such as Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Canada Warbler. Blackpoll Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler have been seen in both spring and fall migration.

Few species are seen in winter, but Lefferts Pond is an excellent spot for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Resident birds sure to be seen or heard in all seasons include Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-Breasted, and Red-Breasted nuthatches, and Brown Creeper as well as both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers.

About this Location

Lefferts Pond, located in the Green Mountain National Forest in Chittenden, can be enjoyed two ways, on foot or on the water by canoe or kayak. Between the trail that partially circumnavigates the pond in deciduous and coniferous woods and Wildcat Road with its mix of woods and wetland shrubs, there is plenty of habitats to attract a good variety of birds. Over 115 species have been tallied here. The best times to visit the area are from mid-April through early October. Kayaking or canoeing is best enjoyed before July as the pond becomes heavily vegetated.

As a bonus, moose, otter, beaver, and mink are frequently seen around the pond.

Lefferts Pond is located southeast of Chittenden Reservoir in the town of Chittenden. From the North Main Street intersection of Routes 4 and 7 in Rutland, go north on Route 7 for 1.8 miles and turn right on East Pittsford Road. Continue for 6 miles (East Pittsford Road becomes Chittenden Road) to the intersection of Dam Road and Holden Road. Go 1.3 miles on Dam Road and turn right on Wildcat Road (the sign is frequently missing). At .9 mile is the dirt road access to the Chittenden Dam and Lefferts Pond parking area. An alternative is to go past the dirt road one-tenth of a mile to a small canoe access along Wildcat Road.

Lefferts Pond (55 acres) is a site for the Vermont LoonWatch annual survey. Birders are encouraged to volunteer as often and whenever they are able. See Join LoonWatch for details.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Roadside viewing

  • Entrance fee

Content from Susan Elliott, Rutland County Audubon Society