eBird Report - Frances A. Crane WMA, 7/11/10 - 2 More Lifers -- Grasshopper Sparrow and Orchard Oriole!!!

Today was a perfect day to finally do some birding with my good buddy Kirk Marshall, for the weather was not as hot, the air was not quite as sticky, and today would be the last time in about 2 to 3 weeks from now before I am able to do any birding again with Kirk (though I will be doing some birding/hiking while on vacation up at Tall Timber Lodge off of Back Lake in Pittsburg, NH....from the 18th through 25th of July!) For a few weeks now Kirk and I had known about the sightings of several Grasshopper Sparrows and a few Blue Grosbeaks down at Crane WMA in Falmouth, MA, so we hoped with some good fortune that both target species would still be kicking around. Thankfully, to our delight, at least one of them was still with us, the Grasshopper Sparrow! And what a wonderful cooperative little sparrow it was! It was just sitting on a tall single-stalk plant, looking around furtively whilst holding what looked to be a grasshopper in its bill! Ironic huh, considering the species is commonly known as a Grasshopper Sparrow! And according to Cornell's All About Birds, this sparrow is aptly named, for its primary source of sustenance is indeed grasshoppers. Anyhoo, sadly, we did not chance upon any of the Blue Grosbeaks in the area, but 1 target species is good enough! As a bonus, I was able to see both male and female Orchard Orioles as well as what appeared to be fledgling Orchards.....yes, its about time I finally saw an Orchard Oriole, since they are somewhat common, though not as much so as the much more brightly colored Baltimore Oriole! Both the "Quail" and "Pheasant" sections of Crane WMA abounded with Eastern Towhees and Indigo Buntings, as many more numbers of both species were heard than seen (tallies below are birds actually seen). Oh yes, how could I forget....Kirk and I heard 2 Northern Bobwhites calling in the "Pheasant" section of Crane, but alas, could not flush them out to get a look....plus, these bobwhites may not have been wild ones, for they could've been stocked game birds. Still, very sweet nonetheless! Get out there folks and happy birding to all!!!

Location:     Crane WMA
Observation date:     7/11/10
Notes:     Visited both the "Quail" section off of Sandwich Road and the "Pheasant" section off of Route 151 of Frances A. Crane WMA in Falmouth, MA.
Number of species:     31

Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     3
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     4
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     6
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     3
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     1
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     6
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     2
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     11
Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia     3
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     4
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     3
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     2
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus     1
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     5
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     4
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     3
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
Prairie Warbler - Dendroica discolor     1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     4
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     8
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     3
Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla     1
Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis     1
Grasshopper Sparrow - Ammodramus savannarum     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     2
Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea     5
Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius     3
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     11

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)


General directions to Frances A. Crane WMA are as follows, per the route Kirk and I took: Route 128/I-95 South until I-95 South splits off and heads toward Rhode Island. At junction of I-95 and I-495, take I-495 South to the Cape. 495 will end and become Route 25. Follow 25 to Bourne. At rotary that is just over the Bourne Bridge, follow Route 28 South into North Falmouth. Keep following 28 South (you will come across a second rotary, stay on 28 South). At the exit for Route 151 off of 28, take 151 East. Parking for the "Pheasant" section of Crane WMA will be on your left for the Allieta Softball Field after a couple of miles on 151. If you want to continue to the "Quail" section of Crane WMA, keep going on 151 until it junctures with Sandwich Road. Take a right onto Sandwich Road and after about a mile or so, take a left onto Ashumet Road.

eBird Report - Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA, 5/14/10

I decided to do some warming up for this weekend's MAS 2010 Bird-a-thon, which of course starts tonight at 6 pm EST. So, I chose to hit up Assabet River NWR, being there from 9:20 am to 1:40 pm. I also had a target bird in mind at Assabet that I wanted to scout out for my Bird-a-thon team, that being the Northern Goshawk that has been reported there not too long ago by USFWS' Jason St. Sauver. Well, it would've been a nice target bird to shoot for tomorrow, for I am assuming it is there. And I say assume because Towhee Trail has been roped off. Since it is blocked, I am assuming the goshawks are still there. However, sadly, this means we won't be able to go for this particular raptor, the trail being blocked off for good reason. Besides making sure the goshawks aren't overly stressed out and disturbed by passerby, it also prevents any unassuming hiker/birder from being bombarded. Oh well, still plenty of great birds out there!

As the list below shows, it still was a pretty good day of birding, despite the ravenous storm-clouds of mosquitoes that harassed me the whole time I was there. So yes, I had to douse myself in bug spray, and it kept them at bay, but not enough from buzzing around me incessantly. Highlight birds were several OVENBIRDS, SCARLET TANAGERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, an EASTERN KINGBIRD and EASTERN TOWHEES, among other good birds.

The route I chose to traverse is as follows: Hudson Rd Parking Lot - Petapawag Trail - White Pond Road - Harry's Way - Otter Alley - Taylor Way - Winterberry Way - Puffer Pond Trail - Winterberry Way - Sandbank Trail -  Winterberry Way - Harry's Way (near new visitor's center) - Pine Garden Trail - Tri-town Trail - Hudson Road Parking Lot: Total Approx. Mileage: 7.2 miles.

So, to those who dare venture at Assabet River NWR, be warned and advised, bring plenty of bug spray or suffer the consequences!! Good luck to all this weekend during the Bird-a-thon and happy birding!!

Location:     Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA
Observation date:     5/14/10
Number of species:     41

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     6
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     4 (in marsh area to left near jct of Harry's Way and Towhee Trail)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     9
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     9
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1
Merlin - Falco columbarius     1 (near jct of White Pond Road and Harry's Way)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     7
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     1 (checking out a dead tree to my right from fishing dock along SE shore of Puffer Pond, off of Puffer Pond Trail)
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     3 (near jct of White Pond Road and Harry's Way)
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     6
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     47 (all over marsh areas in between Otter Alley and Winterberry Way as well as Puffer Pond)
Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia     8 (wetlands nearest Puffer Pond)
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     2 (wetlands nearest Puffer Pond)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     34
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     13
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     3 (others heard, all along Petapawag Trail and White Pond Road)
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     2
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon     1 (near jct. of White Pond Road and Harry's Way)
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     1 (off of Taylor Way in between Otter Alley and Winterberry Way)
Veery - Catharus fuscescens     1 (Petapawag Trail)
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     2 (Petapawag Trail and Tri-town Trail)
Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina     1 (Petapawag Trail)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     26
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     5
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     4
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     8 (Petapawag Trail, Tri-town Trail, Pine Garden Trail, Harry's Way)
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1
Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea     4 (White Pond Road and Harry's Way)
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     11 (White Pond Road, Harry's Way, Winterberry Way)
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     5 (parking lot off of Hudson Road and along Taylor Way)
Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis     1 (Otter Alley)
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus     4 (near jct. of White Pond Road and Harry's Way as well as near jct. of Harry's Way and Towhee Trail)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     38
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     11
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     8 (White Pond Road, Harry's Way and Winterberry Way)
Purple Finch - Carpodacus purpureus     2 (wetlands along Winterberry Way, nearer to Puffer Pond)
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     9

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)

eBird Report - Memorial Forest, Sudbury, MA, 4/30/10

Sudbury Valley Trustees' largest reservation, the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest (in short, Memorial Forest) is by far, so far, my favorite property to visit that is owned and maintained by SVT. I had spent about 4.5 hours hiking around the majority of the trails on the property, from 10:45 AM to 3:15 PM.

I certainly wasn't entirely sure what I would see today, but seeing 7 EASTERN TOWHEES was definitely a pleasant surprise! Most of them (4 of the 7) were found along Pipeline Trail, while the rest were found along Desert Trail. They were singing and calling ("drink-your-tea" and "chewink"), music to my ears! Other highlights were the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK found by its vocalizations at first ("kee-yer")....simply gorgeous, especially with the sunlight showing its translucent crescents in its wings! PINE WARBLERS were heard everywhere, but I could only get on a few of them, and fantastic looks too! The PILEATED WOODPECKER I struck upon was heard first, off of Pipeline Trail near Cranberry Brook, caught a brief glimpse whilst it made its irregular, Flicker-like call numerous times. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES throughout, but particular along Desert Trail and Loop as well as Ocean Bypass. I have never seen a BROWN CREEPER sing before, and its song has always been a fave of mine!

A fine day indeed (and the weather couldn't have been better!) Happy birding to all!

Location:     Memorial Forest, Sudbury, MA
Observation date:     4/30/10
Number of species:     27

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     2
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     2
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1 (near boardwalk spanning Cranberry Brook on Heron Spur Trail)
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     1 (seen soaring over area near jct of Desert Trail and Pipeline Trail)
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus     1 (flying over Cranberry Brook near Heron Spur Trail)
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     6
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus     1 (off of Pipeline Trail near Cranberry Brook)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     5
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     7
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     X
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     6 (observed birds seen off of Desert Trail and Desert Loop)
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     5
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     1 (off of Heron Spur Trail)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     1
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     3
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     7 (along Pipeline Trail & Desert Trail)
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     4
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     15
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     26
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     7

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)

And here are the directions to SVT's Memorial Forest: From Sudbury Center (the intersection of Concord Road and Route 27), take Hudson Road west (staying left on Hudson rather than following Route 27 north) for 2.0 mi to Dutton Road on the left. Take Dutton Road 1.8 mi, staying on Dutton Road by bearing right at intersection with Garrison, to an unpaved access on the right into a parking area under pine trees. There is an SVT sign at the entrance to the parking area.

eBird Report - 83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460 , 2/7/10 - Focus on Feeders Watch

Location:     83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460
Observation date:     2/7/10
Notes:     This eBird Report is of my list of observed birds for Mass Audubon's "Focus on Feeders" program. The Eastern Towhee has been a regular visitor for approximately 3 weeks during the last 2 weeks of December and the first week of January. It hadn't been seen since until yesterday in the late morning (stayed underneath the Holly near our back porch, then would pop out over to underneath the main feeder to scrounge around for fallen sunflower seeds. This is about 15 feet from our main feeder (Black Sunflower seeds). It would stick around until about Noon time, then fly off.
Number of species:     15

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     3
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1
Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     6
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     5
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)

eBird Report - 83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460 , 1/13/10

Location:     83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460
Observation date:     1/13/10
Notes:     The Eastern Towhee has been a regular visitor for the past 3 weeks, especially in the early morning and in the late afternoon/early evening hours flitting back and forth from underneath our porch which is surrounded by snow, holly bushes and lilac bushes to the backyard feeder, picking off fallen black sunflower seeds that other birds have dropped.
Number of species:     13

Mourning Dove     2
Downy Woodpecker     3
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Blue Jay     5
Black-capped Chickadee     7
Tufted Titmouse     6
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Eastern Towhee     1
White-throated Sparrow     10
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)     6
Northern Cardinal     3
House Finch     1
American Goldfinch     2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)