Most often for me over the years, Easter is relatively unmemorable. The usual spending time with family (always welcome nonetheless), the usual stuffing your face, the usual stomach-ache afterwards. But on this past Sunday's Easter, it was a day I surely will never forget!
I met up with Kirk in Burlington by 7:30 am, then we headed off to Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, MA to get our bird on, after having had a long, arduous and dull week at work. Yesterday was a much needed day outdoors, and Great Brook Farm (and Oxbow as I will mention later) did not disappoint!
We had had aspirations of coming across at least one of the 2 Winter Wrens at Great Brook, but we were in the wrong area (stayed around the Meadow Pond trails). But thats okay, because we were treated with something we had not seen before (though I have yet to see a Winter Wren....my nemesis bird!), something that one might find in a nature documentary on Animal Planet. After coming across numerous Palm Warblers and a few Yellow Warblers (they were also singing) near the juncture of the Maple Ridge Trail, we chanced upon 2 Pileated Woodpeckers on the same dead tree....one of which we had already come across early along the Maple Ridge Trail......but it was what these two Pileateds did that took our breath away! Kirk, having had spotted these woodpeckers first, had a feeling, with the way these two Pileateds were interacting with one another, that a love-making session might be in order! And sure enough (lasting only 5 seconds......hmmm, sounds like most guys huh ladies??), these 2 love-birds (no pun intended) got it on, the male spreading out his wings as he planted the seeds of life! Just something you surely don't see every day, 2 woodpeckers copulating, and Pileateds to boot! The female stayed on a large snag on the dead tree, preening herself while the male flew off after doing the dirty deed. Certainly an unexpected and unique treat! And no, we aren't voyeurs, even if I am indeed a pervert!
Other highlights were several Wood Ducks and Ring-necked Ducks on Meadow Pond, 2 singing Brown Creepers following one another along the Keyes Loop Trail, a myriad of singing Chipping Sparrows throughout (3 of which we were actually able to observe), a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet (one observed, others heard) and 2 Black-and-white Warblers (one along the Maple Ridge Trail on our way back to the parking lot and one near the junction of the Corn Cob and Erickson Trails). A truly remarkable time at Great Brook Farm we had, all 3 hours of our time there, with a good variety of birds and fantastic weather conditions (lows 70s, light and variable winds, sunny).
Location: Great Brook Farm SP
Observation date: 4/24/11
Number of species: 27
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 4
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 6
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 5
Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris 6
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia 7
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 5
Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus 2
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 3
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 5
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 4
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 13
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 11
Palm Warbler (Yellow) - Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea 16
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 2
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 3
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 3
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana 1
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 13
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 7
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 7
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
We left Great Brook by 11 am and made a fairly brief (about 45 mins) visit at Oxbow NWR in Harvard, MA. We didn't expect to see much, and we really did not, seeing more Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers and most notably, a singing Blue-gray Gnatcatcher! But the HUGE moment was coming upon a BLANDING'S TURTLE along Tank Road near the top of the hill underneath the tall white pines, that of which are fairly close to the junction of Turnpike Trail and Tank Road. This Blanding's was on the right-hand side of Tank Road if you are heading northwards on it. Kirk captured several pictures of the amazing turtle, and after going further up Tank Road for a brief spell, on our way back I observed the Blanding's splooshing into the pools of water lining the edge of the railroad tracks.
Truly what a remarkable way to end our morning on Easter, seeing that Blanding's Turtle, something of which both Kirk and I have been desperately hoping to see at Oxbow due to the fact the USFWS is managing breeding populations there. Happy birding everyone, and just think, the big Spring migration is just around the corner (starts salivating......**DROOOOOOL**)!!
Showing posts with label black-and-white warbler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black-and-white warbler. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, August 29, 2010
eBird Report - Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve, Littleton, 8/29/10 - Some midday hometown birding!
I had desires to get up this morning and to make a day of it hiking/birding out in the Marlborough area at Sudbury Valley Trustee's Sawink Farm and Cedar Hill Reservations, but I thought better of it, desiring more to get a good night's rest and to sleep in! Plus, I didn't fall asleep until say 1:30 am after watching several episodes of LOST and reading a bit afterwards of Patrick Rothfuss' debut novel, "The Name of the Wind". And so, sleep in I did, not getting up until around 10:20 am!
And so I thought since I didn't get out and about 'til much later than usual that I would not see much in the way of birdage, and also considering the fact that it was/is a bit breezy and temps in the low-90s! Nonetheless, there is a reason why I love it here in my "hometown" of Littleton, MA, for the wildlife here is always evident and in good variety! To make a point, just a couple nights ago (Friday evening/night), 6 Common Nighthawks were catching flying insects overhead of our backyard, thusly signifying to me that their migration is in full swing. But that was not all for that night, for while out enjoying a fire in our firepit that resides in our backyard, a Barred Owl startled the wits out of my Dad and myself, giving a very loud and piercing "ooo-aawww" with a bit of their characteristic warble at the end of the vocalization. Besides giving us the heebie-geebies, it woke up Mourning Doves and Northern Cardinals from their slumber! Now, not an hour later, from across the street of our home, an Eastern Screech-Owl gave its clear, tremulous whinny! This was the first time I have ever heard a Screech-Owl's call here at home, let alone anywhere! What a treat that night was!
But I have gone off on a tangent again and must come back to today's exploits! Since I had started the day so late (but the sleeping-in part was nice nonetheless), I chose to get my bird on locally, traversing Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve that is owned and generally maintained by the Littleton Conservation Trust. I took my time in the preserve, being in its midst from 11:30 am to 2 pm, despite the heat. I was just enjoying myself and surprised at the birds I did observe at that time of day! A full list of results, as always, will be below my lovely little narrative. Highlights are as follows:
The most exciting bird I got to see is my favorite little falcon, the American Kestrel! Such a beautiful little raptor, gliding and swooping over the wetlands that border Beaver Brook and then flying off over the tree-tops towards the "summit" of Proctor Hill. I was also fortunate to observe a number of warblers, such species being a pair of Black-throated Green Warblers, a Black-and-white Warbler, a handful of American Redstarts, a pair of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers and a few Northern Parulas! Simply lovely! What birder doesn't love seeing warblers, no matter what time of year! The thing to remember is to always check the little flocks of Black-capped Chickadees that always seem to be chattering away (as I learned from Kirk) that come through, for it seems various other woodland species like to join in on the fun. That is how I saw ALL of the warblers I observed today, for very few were vocal (only the Black-and-white and Myrtles were a bit vocal). I also had the pleasure of seeing a Northern Flicker perusing the grassy areas along the trail and 2 juvie Red-bellied Woodpeckers making quite the racket as they went from tree to tree!
Again, it goes to show, even if you don't get yourself up early in the morn to try and see birds when they tend to be most active, that you never know how many birds and types of species you'll see at any given time of the day! Even had I not seen what birds I did perchance on today, I would have enjoyed my time of solitude out in the woods and wetlands of the Hartwell Preserve! Happy birding everyone, and get out there!
Location: Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve, Littleton
Observation date: 8/29/10
Notes: Red-bellied Woodpeckers seen were both juveniles; American Kestrel seen swooping and gliding above the tree-tops and edge of the wetlands that run along Beaver Brook (looking towards the summit of Proctor Hill).
Number of species: 24
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group] 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 12
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 25
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 7
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 8
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus 1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 23
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 2
Northern Parula - Parula americana 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 2
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 5
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 5
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 6
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 9
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
And so I thought since I didn't get out and about 'til much later than usual that I would not see much in the way of birdage, and also considering the fact that it was/is a bit breezy and temps in the low-90s! Nonetheless, there is a reason why I love it here in my "hometown" of Littleton, MA, for the wildlife here is always evident and in good variety! To make a point, just a couple nights ago (Friday evening/night), 6 Common Nighthawks were catching flying insects overhead of our backyard, thusly signifying to me that their migration is in full swing. But that was not all for that night, for while out enjoying a fire in our firepit that resides in our backyard, a Barred Owl startled the wits out of my Dad and myself, giving a very loud and piercing "ooo-aawww" with a bit of their characteristic warble at the end of the vocalization. Besides giving us the heebie-geebies, it woke up Mourning Doves and Northern Cardinals from their slumber! Now, not an hour later, from across the street of our home, an Eastern Screech-Owl gave its clear, tremulous whinny! This was the first time I have ever heard a Screech-Owl's call here at home, let alone anywhere! What a treat that night was!
But I have gone off on a tangent again and must come back to today's exploits! Since I had started the day so late (but the sleeping-in part was nice nonetheless), I chose to get my bird on locally, traversing Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve that is owned and generally maintained by the Littleton Conservation Trust. I took my time in the preserve, being in its midst from 11:30 am to 2 pm, despite the heat. I was just enjoying myself and surprised at the birds I did observe at that time of day! A full list of results, as always, will be below my lovely little narrative. Highlights are as follows:
The most exciting bird I got to see is my favorite little falcon, the American Kestrel! Such a beautiful little raptor, gliding and swooping over the wetlands that border Beaver Brook and then flying off over the tree-tops towards the "summit" of Proctor Hill. I was also fortunate to observe a number of warblers, such species being a pair of Black-throated Green Warblers, a Black-and-white Warbler, a handful of American Redstarts, a pair of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers and a few Northern Parulas! Simply lovely! What birder doesn't love seeing warblers, no matter what time of year! The thing to remember is to always check the little flocks of Black-capped Chickadees that always seem to be chattering away (as I learned from Kirk) that come through, for it seems various other woodland species like to join in on the fun. That is how I saw ALL of the warblers I observed today, for very few were vocal (only the Black-and-white and Myrtles were a bit vocal). I also had the pleasure of seeing a Northern Flicker perusing the grassy areas along the trail and 2 juvie Red-bellied Woodpeckers making quite the racket as they went from tree to tree!
Again, it goes to show, even if you don't get yourself up early in the morn to try and see birds when they tend to be most active, that you never know how many birds and types of species you'll see at any given time of the day! Even had I not seen what birds I did perchance on today, I would have enjoyed my time of solitude out in the woods and wetlands of the Hartwell Preserve! Happy birding everyone, and get out there!
Location: Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve, Littleton
Observation date: 8/29/10
Notes: Red-bellied Woodpeckers seen were both juveniles; American Kestrel seen swooping and gliding above the tree-tops and edge of the wetlands that run along Beaver Brook (looking towards the summit of Proctor Hill).
Number of species: 24
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group] 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 12
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 25
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 7
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 8
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus 1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 23
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 2
Northern Parula - Parula americana 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 2
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 5
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 5
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 6
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 9
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
eBird Report - Chesterfield Gorge Reservation/Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest, 8/15/10 - A surprising variety of birds out in the Highlands!
Its been a little while since last I left ya'll with my whereabouts in terms of birding. And so, here I am! Did ya miss me??! I suppose not, but who cares, because whats important is that I have more birdiness to share!!
I chose to join my Dad on a little excursion to the rolling hills of the Highlands of Western Massachusetts in Hampshire and Hampden counties. Our target location was Chesterfield Gorge Reservation (well, for me it was). My Dad's goal, since he is an avid fly fisherman, was to check out the Westfield River. He hadn't been there since probably around 2001. This was, to my recollection, my first time visiting this area. Plus, I am finally putting my Trustees of Reservations membership to good use!
Both of us expected for the river to be low in volume, and it sure was. This bit of a drought we are in seems to be worse than I thought. A Trustees staff member at the parking lot of Chesterfield Gorge commented on this, saying that a good friend and local had not seen the Westfield River that low since 1953! Here is hoping for a good tropical system or two to come through, for all of the Bay State could use the rain!
Anyhow, onwards-ho we must go. While Dad tended to the fish in the Westfield (there were not many to be had, as unfortunately expected due to the low water levels), I followed the East Branch Trail from Chesterfield Gorge through the Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest all the way down to near the Indian Hollow Campground just over the Chesterfield/Huntington town-line in Huntington. I approximate I hiked 4.5 to 5 miles down, so thus, a total of 9 to 10 miles of hiking all told. I honestly did not expect to see much in the way of species of birds, at least in variety. I figured I would come across a good number of the usual suspects, but beyond that, not much else.
It had started out as I had feared (though I would've enjoyed my day nonetheless), but around Noon-time and from thereon out, it became much more active in terms of numbers of birds and variety! Such highlights are as follows:
Cedar Waxwings were virtually everywhere up and down the Westfield, as well as copious numbers of the Massachusetts State Bird, the infamous Black-capped Chickadee (definitely got sick of seeing Black-caps after a while....even the Waxwings!) A surprising number of Belted Kingfishers were observed, surprising because the waters were so low. But to no surprise, the Kingfishers stuck to areas near the bigger pools and the gorges themselves. 5 Common Mergansers were floating and diving along together in one of the broader stretches of the river with deeper waters. It was also a bit surprising to see these birds since again, the water levels were so low (but not low enough in that section apparently). For me, the biggest and loveliest surprise of all was the variety of warblers seen for this time of year here in MA! 3 Blackburnian Warblers, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 4 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers, 4 American Redstarts, 5 Black-and-white Warblers and lastly, 1 Canada Warbler were observed! Just lovely! I know the fall migration has not started quite yet, so all these birds must've been breeding in this area! The most wonderful of these warblers was seeing the Blackburnians, Black-and-whites and the Canada, much to my delight! Anyhoo, the full list of birds seen is below, as always!
As you can see, considering the numbers of times I used the word "surprise" in some form in this post, I was very pleasantly surprised to come across what I did out in Western Mass! Goes to show, no matter what time of the year it is, ya never know what you'll come across.....another reason why I love bird watching so very much.....its just a pity I cannot go out more often! Happy birding everyone!!
Location: Chesterfield Gorge Reservation/Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest
Observation date: 8/15/10
Notes: Hiked approx. 4.5 miles down the East Branch Trail paralleling the Westfield River down to the meadows that are just southwest of the Indian Hollow Campground, then obviously, reversed direction. Numbers of waxwings and chickadees (particularly waxwings) are conservative.
Number of species: 30
Common Merganser - Mergus merganser 5
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 2
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 4
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 4
Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius 1
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus 3
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 7
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 9
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2
Common Raven - Corvus corax 1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 8
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 46
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 13
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 9
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 13
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 38
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 4
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca 3
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 5
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 4
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 3
Canada Warbler - Wilsonia canadensis 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus 2
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 14
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
I chose to join my Dad on a little excursion to the rolling hills of the Highlands of Western Massachusetts in Hampshire and Hampden counties. Our target location was Chesterfield Gorge Reservation (well, for me it was). My Dad's goal, since he is an avid fly fisherman, was to check out the Westfield River. He hadn't been there since probably around 2001. This was, to my recollection, my first time visiting this area. Plus, I am finally putting my Trustees of Reservations membership to good use!
Both of us expected for the river to be low in volume, and it sure was. This bit of a drought we are in seems to be worse than I thought. A Trustees staff member at the parking lot of Chesterfield Gorge commented on this, saying that a good friend and local had not seen the Westfield River that low since 1953! Here is hoping for a good tropical system or two to come through, for all of the Bay State could use the rain!
Anyhow, onwards-ho we must go. While Dad tended to the fish in the Westfield (there were not many to be had, as unfortunately expected due to the low water levels), I followed the East Branch Trail from Chesterfield Gorge through the Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest all the way down to near the Indian Hollow Campground just over the Chesterfield/Huntington town-line in Huntington. I approximate I hiked 4.5 to 5 miles down, so thus, a total of 9 to 10 miles of hiking all told. I honestly did not expect to see much in the way of species of birds, at least in variety. I figured I would come across a good number of the usual suspects, but beyond that, not much else.
It had started out as I had feared (though I would've enjoyed my day nonetheless), but around Noon-time and from thereon out, it became much more active in terms of numbers of birds and variety! Such highlights are as follows:
Cedar Waxwings were virtually everywhere up and down the Westfield, as well as copious numbers of the Massachusetts State Bird, the infamous Black-capped Chickadee (definitely got sick of seeing Black-caps after a while....even the Waxwings!) A surprising number of Belted Kingfishers were observed, surprising because the waters were so low. But to no surprise, the Kingfishers stuck to areas near the bigger pools and the gorges themselves. 5 Common Mergansers were floating and diving along together in one of the broader stretches of the river with deeper waters. It was also a bit surprising to see these birds since again, the water levels were so low (but not low enough in that section apparently). For me, the biggest and loveliest surprise of all was the variety of warblers seen for this time of year here in MA! 3 Blackburnian Warblers, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 4 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers, 4 American Redstarts, 5 Black-and-white Warblers and lastly, 1 Canada Warbler were observed! Just lovely! I know the fall migration has not started quite yet, so all these birds must've been breeding in this area! The most wonderful of these warblers was seeing the Blackburnians, Black-and-whites and the Canada, much to my delight! Anyhoo, the full list of birds seen is below, as always!
As you can see, considering the numbers of times I used the word "surprise" in some form in this post, I was very pleasantly surprised to come across what I did out in Western Mass! Goes to show, no matter what time of the year it is, ya never know what you'll come across.....another reason why I love bird watching so very much.....its just a pity I cannot go out more often! Happy birding everyone!!
Location: Chesterfield Gorge Reservation/Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest
Observation date: 8/15/10
Notes: Hiked approx. 4.5 miles down the East Branch Trail paralleling the Westfield River down to the meadows that are just southwest of the Indian Hollow Campground, then obviously, reversed direction. Numbers of waxwings and chickadees (particularly waxwings) are conservative.
Number of species: 30
Common Merganser - Mergus merganser 5
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 2
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 4
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 4
Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius 1
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus 3
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 7
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 9
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2
Common Raven - Corvus corax 1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 8
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 46
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 13
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 9
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 13
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 38
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 4
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca 3
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia 5
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 4
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 3
Canada Warbler - Wilsonia canadensis 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus 2
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 14
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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