More signs of Spring have become evident with the coming of the Eastern Phoebe! The phoebe I observed at Nashoba Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Westford was not the first one nor would it be the last one for today! When I got up this morning, after having showered and had breakfast, I observed a singing Eastern Phoebe on the edges of our backyard while taking Mr. Gildor, our Corgi, outside for a bathroom break. And as the phoebe at Nashoba was not the last one, another was heard singing along Gray Farm Road in Littleton while taking Gildor for a walk late this afternoon, after having done my 4 miles worth of trekking at Nashoba.
It sure was a pleasant day to be outside, in spite of the brisk winds and slightly-below-normal temperatures. Today's little excursion started off with coming across 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets way up in the tops of the pines along the Woodland Loop Trail. Onwards, while on the trails situated on lands owned by the Westford Conservation Trust that connect the 2 parcels of property that make up Nashoba Brook, I came upon a Brown Creeper going from tree to tree, singing its lovely, ethereal song....a treat that was since the song of the creeper is one of my favorites! Lastly, the other most notable species of bird I came across was while on the trails near Nonset Brook that reside within property owned and maintained by the Westford Conservation Commission. These trails also connect to the MAS lands comprising Nashoba Brook. This particular species was a pair of calling Common Ravens observed flying just above the treetops heading northwards. I just love their guttural croak! The full listing of birds seen at MAS Nashoba Brook Wildlife Sanctuary are below:
Location: Nashoba Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Observation date: 3/28/11
Number of species: 17
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 6
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 5
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 15
Common Raven - Corvus corax 2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 18
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 6
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 14
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis 2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Before I depart here, I also wanted to mention a bird I have never had in our yards at home before until this past Saturday, that being a lone Fox Sparrow that came around late afternoon time (4:15 to 5:40), kicking up the ground very much in the fashion of an Eastern Towhee.....twas only the 3rd time I had ever seen a Fox Sparrow! Below is the full listing of birds in our yards observed at that time:
Location: 83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460
Observation date: 3/26/11
Notes: First Fox Sparrow I have ever seen in our yard, only the 3rd Fox Sparrow I have seen in my life thus far (first in 2009 in Sanbornton, NH; 2nd in 2010 at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary).
Number of species: 15
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 4
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 7
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 2
Fox Sparrow (Red) - Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria 1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis 5
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 6
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
It has been another good year of birding thus far! Get out there folks and enjoy it! Happy birding!!
Showing posts with label mass audubon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mass audubon. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Project FeederWatch - Week 12
For this weekend, I not only submitted my weekly sightings during today's observance to Cornell for Project FeederWatch, but also for Mass Audubon's Focus on Feeders citizen-science research program. And thankfully, this weekend was a bit more interesting than weekends past due to the following: There were 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers in attendance! One female near the top-center of the dogwood tree that is closest to the suet feeder in our front yard, and one male just a few feet below her. Both would take turns chowing down on the suet feeder nearby! Fucking loved it because they are my favorite woodpecker, with their bright colors and their awesome "chiv-chiv-chiv" call that always amuses me! However, the most notable bird observed today was the presence of an adult Cooper's Hawk that had swooped into our front yard in the same aforementioned dogwood tree. One moment I am looking at 2 Mourning Doves perched on this tree, the next moment, after looking away, watching the Celtics beat up on the Magic, I see a Cooper's Hawk in their place! Unfortunately for the Coopers, the doves got away, but fortunate for me, because it was a first here at home! Gorgeous raptor!! Anyhoo, below is my full listing, happy birding everyone!!
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 |
| Mourning Dove | 7 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 2 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 2 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 1 |
| Blue Jay | 3 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 8 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 5 |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 1 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 |
| Carolina Wren | 1 |
| European Starling | 1 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 5 |
| Northern Cardinal | 3 |
| House Finch | 12 |
| American Goldfinch | 5 |
Monday, January 31, 2011
Mass Audubon's Focus on Feeders: Feb. 5th and 6th, 2011
Just a rather quick message here in regards to a citizen-science project that I had participated in last winter before I was fully aware of Cornell's Project FeederWatch. Mass Audubon has been running their Focus on Feeders project for over the last 40 years, having citizen-scientists collect data on birds observed at their feeders one weekend every winter over the aforementioned time-frame and send them in to Mass Audubon for their research. Here is a copied image of the initial email that was sent to me a few weeks ago in regards to Focus on Feeders:
I want to thank a certain follower of my wee little birding blog for sending me a message not only in regards to Focus on Feeders, but her kind words about this blog. I am very glad to know that some people do find some enjoyment with my occasional exploits with the birding world! So, thank you Hilary at Mass Audubon and happy birding to all! Now go out there this upcoming weekend and watch what wonderful birds alight onto your feeders!
View this email in a web browser
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I want to thank a certain follower of my wee little birding blog for sending me a message not only in regards to Focus on Feeders, but her kind words about this blog. I am very glad to know that some people do find some enjoyment with my occasional exploits with the birding world! So, thank you Hilary at Mass Audubon and happy birding to all! Now go out there this upcoming weekend and watch what wonderful birds alight onto your feeders!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Project FeederWatch - Week 1
Just a fairly quick post here, something of which I will be attempting to do every weekend to give weekly updates on how my time participating in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch is going. This is the 24th year running for this program instituted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada, and this year it will run from November 13th, 2010 up until April 8th, 2011. This is my very first time participating with this annual program (I have participated with Mass Audubon's Focus on Feeders program in the past, and I'll do the same this year when it comes time; this season it is the weekend of February 5th and 6th, 2011).
Below you will find a complete list of the birds I observed off and on from Noon-time today until dusk. Highlights were a female Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Red-breasted Nuthatch both visiting our suet feeder out in the front yard. Sadly, of the 3 American Goldfinches that visited the nyjer and black sunflower seed feeders today, one of them had contracted House Finch eye disease, otherwise known as conjuctivitis. Will definitely have to clean the feeders to be sure there is a lessened chance of spreading the disease, and if there happen to be several birds infected, I will have to take our feeders down for at least a full week. Anyhow, here are my sightings for the day (normally, during Project FeederWatch, an observer would try to watch the feeders for 2 consecutive days for any period of time, though if only one day can be done, then that day must have a longer protracted time of observance):
Below you will find a complete list of the birds I observed off and on from Noon-time today until dusk. Highlights were a female Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Red-breasted Nuthatch both visiting our suet feeder out in the front yard. Sadly, of the 3 American Goldfinches that visited the nyjer and black sunflower seed feeders today, one of them had contracted House Finch eye disease, otherwise known as conjuctivitis. Will definitely have to clean the feeders to be sure there is a lessened chance of spreading the disease, and if there happen to be several birds infected, I will have to take our feeders down for at least a full week. Anyhow, here are my sightings for the day (normally, during Project FeederWatch, an observer would try to watch the feeders for 2 consecutive days for any period of time, though if only one day can be done, then that day must have a longer protracted time of observance):
| Mourning Dove | 4 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 1 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 2 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 1 |
| Blue Jay | 3 |
| American Crow | 2 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 8 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 5 |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 1 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 3 |
| Northern Cardinal | 2 |
| American Goldfinch | 3 (1 with eye disease) |
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I have returned from my hiatus and am back in action!
It seems like it has been ages since last I graced you all with my presence and my whereabouts! Never fear, for bird watching will always be on my mind, just a matter of having the time and mula to do so.
At any rate, I usually spend my Saturday mornings to early afternoons with the fine folks and even more intriguing animals and birds over with Wildlife Care at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. I have been giving my time, roughly 3 hours at a time, once a week for the past several months since late January of this year. It truly is an honor and a privilege to work with the animals over at WLC, most in particular the birds they tend to there. From the American Crows to the Raven, to the raptors (American Kestrels, Broad-winged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures) and owls (Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, Eastern-Screech Owls), to even the Mallards, Pekin Ducks, and our "ambassador" Canada Goose, I just can't get enough of them. It is my hope to continue working with these amazing creatures over at Drumlin for as long as possible, of course depending on what life throws at me in the future.
After my time was done today at Drumlin, I shot over to Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge to finally get some physical exercise, to find some sense of solitude, and to see what birds I could possibly find through all the fierce winds we had whirling about today! As expected, not much in the way of activity was observed, thanks in part to the winds and also the simple fact I was there from 12:15 to 3:30 pm when birds typically are not as active. Our avian friends are more apt to be active in the dawn to mid-morning hours and also during the late-afternoon to dusk hours. The best bird of the day was seeing a Brown Creeper while hiking along Petapawag Trail....just fantastic looks at one of my all-time favorite birds! What I found most amusing was its propensity to follow this one White-breasted Nuthatch around from tree to tree. While the nuthatch probed the tree by walking up and down all sides of the trunk and branches, the creeper would, as is characteristic, walk in a spiral from base to crown until the nuthatch moved on and then would keep following aforementioned nuthatch! Its like the White-breasted Nuthatch was the Brown Creeper's best buddy or older brother! Of further note was seeing good numbers of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers and Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Juncos. Here is the full list of birds seen....not many, but here they are all the same:
Location: Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA
Observation date: 10/16/10
Notes: Please also note that weather conditions were as follows: Mostly Sunny, temps in the mid 50s, winds at times in excess of 25 mph.
Number of species: 9
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 11
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 5
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 26
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 3
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 18
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
To finish the day, I joined up with my always dependable good buddy Kirk Marshall and attended a banding demonstration of Northern Saw-whet Owls over at Drumlin Farm from 7 to 9:45 pm. What a freaking treat that was! For one, neither Kirk or myself had ever seen a Saw-whet Owl, and for me, this was my first banding demonstration of any kind! These lovely little owls (they only average 7 to 8 inches in length, from crown to tip of tail) are just so damned cute, especially with those huge saucer eyes that are so very startling yellow in contrast with their black pupils, pale facial disk and rufous-colored, streaky chest! We got to see how the tags were put on and how they recorded the data they obtained from each owl they captured. By the time Kirk and I had left Drumlin, from my best recollection (I was too concerned with the individual owls themselves afterall), we had 7 Saw-whets captured, banded, data-recorded and released back into the wild. I do wish I could count these Saw-whets as a Life bird, but that would be cheating. Yes, they are wild birds, but they were not seen on normal, everyday terms, as in just being out birding and chancing upon one in the wild, unfettered and not tampered with. These wild owls were captured in nets, tagged, measurements taken and finally released. Oh well.....one day Kirk and I will chance upon a Saw-whet in the wild just doing its thing without human interference! I did take a few pictures, but they are on my camera phone and not readily accessible to download to my laptop and thusly, upload to Facebook and this blog. The memory however, shall always remain, etched in my mind!
Truly a superb day it was....now it is time to catch some shut-eye and sleep in! Happy birding to everyone!
At any rate, I usually spend my Saturday mornings to early afternoons with the fine folks and even more intriguing animals and birds over with Wildlife Care at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. I have been giving my time, roughly 3 hours at a time, once a week for the past several months since late January of this year. It truly is an honor and a privilege to work with the animals over at WLC, most in particular the birds they tend to there. From the American Crows to the Raven, to the raptors (American Kestrels, Broad-winged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures) and owls (Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, Eastern-Screech Owls), to even the Mallards, Pekin Ducks, and our "ambassador" Canada Goose, I just can't get enough of them. It is my hope to continue working with these amazing creatures over at Drumlin for as long as possible, of course depending on what life throws at me in the future.
After my time was done today at Drumlin, I shot over to Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge to finally get some physical exercise, to find some sense of solitude, and to see what birds I could possibly find through all the fierce winds we had whirling about today! As expected, not much in the way of activity was observed, thanks in part to the winds and also the simple fact I was there from 12:15 to 3:30 pm when birds typically are not as active. Our avian friends are more apt to be active in the dawn to mid-morning hours and also during the late-afternoon to dusk hours. The best bird of the day was seeing a Brown Creeper while hiking along Petapawag Trail....just fantastic looks at one of my all-time favorite birds! What I found most amusing was its propensity to follow this one White-breasted Nuthatch around from tree to tree. While the nuthatch probed the tree by walking up and down all sides of the trunk and branches, the creeper would, as is characteristic, walk in a spiral from base to crown until the nuthatch moved on and then would keep following aforementioned nuthatch! Its like the White-breasted Nuthatch was the Brown Creeper's best buddy or older brother! Of further note was seeing good numbers of Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers and Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Juncos. Here is the full list of birds seen....not many, but here they are all the same:
Location: Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA
Observation date: 10/16/10
Notes: Please also note that weather conditions were as follows: Mostly Sunny, temps in the mid 50s, winds at times in excess of 25 mph.
Number of species: 9
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 11
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 5
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 26
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 3
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 18
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
To finish the day, I joined up with my always dependable good buddy Kirk Marshall and attended a banding demonstration of Northern Saw-whet Owls over at Drumlin Farm from 7 to 9:45 pm. What a freaking treat that was! For one, neither Kirk or myself had ever seen a Saw-whet Owl, and for me, this was my first banding demonstration of any kind! These lovely little owls (they only average 7 to 8 inches in length, from crown to tip of tail) are just so damned cute, especially with those huge saucer eyes that are so very startling yellow in contrast with their black pupils, pale facial disk and rufous-colored, streaky chest! We got to see how the tags were put on and how they recorded the data they obtained from each owl they captured. By the time Kirk and I had left Drumlin, from my best recollection (I was too concerned with the individual owls themselves afterall), we had 7 Saw-whets captured, banded, data-recorded and released back into the wild. I do wish I could count these Saw-whets as a Life bird, but that would be cheating. Yes, they are wild birds, but they were not seen on normal, everyday terms, as in just being out birding and chancing upon one in the wild, unfettered and not tampered with. These wild owls were captured in nets, tagged, measurements taken and finally released. Oh well.....one day Kirk and I will chance upon a Saw-whet in the wild just doing its thing without human interference! I did take a few pictures, but they are on my camera phone and not readily accessible to download to my laptop and thusly, upload to Facebook and this blog. The memory however, shall always remain, etched in my mind!
Truly a superb day it was....now it is time to catch some shut-eye and sleep in! Happy birding to everyone!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
eBird Report - Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 9/18/10 - The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still in attendance!!
Hello my fellow birders! Just a fairly quick notation here about my 55 minute trek at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in search of the reported Buff-breasted Sandpiper that had been seen over this past week and was initially sighted this past Saturday (the 11th) by Pamela Sowizral, Kathy Seymour and her birding group that she was leading that Saturday morning! So yes, as the title of this post implies, the Buff-breasted is still present in the southern section of the Boyce Farm Fields, chilling and perusing along with at least a Baker's dozen of Killdeer (probably more there)! A half-dozen Eastern Bluebirds (most of them immature) were hanging around the bluebird boxes they have up near Boyce Field. Other highlights were a Red-tailed Hawk buzzing by right over my head near the entrance of Wildlife Care while I was walking back to my car; a Red-bellied Woodpecker noisily looking for insects near the Education Center and a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird zipping around and perching near the array of bird feeders that are situated near the main parking lot/walkway up to the Nature Center. I hope other folks get a chance to see this Buff-breasted, for it was definitely a Lifer for me today! Happy birding everybody!
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 13 (Boyce Farm Fields)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Tryngites subruficollis 1 (Boyce Farm Fields)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1 (near Education Center)
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Location: Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Observation date: 9/18/10
Notes: Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still present at the Boyce Farm Fields near the southwestern quadrant of the area along with numerous Killdeer.
Number of species: 19
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1 (Wildlife Care area)Observation date: 9/18/10
Notes: Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still present at the Boyce Farm Fields near the southwestern quadrant of the area along with numerous Killdeer.
Number of species: 19
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 13 (Boyce Farm Fields)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Tryngites subruficollis 1 (Boyce Farm Fields)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris 1 (bird feeder area near parking lot)Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1 (near Education Center)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 6
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 3
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 5
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6 (Boyce Field area)Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 6
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 3
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 5
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 10
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 4
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1 (Drumlin Loop Trail)Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 4
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 7
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 8
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 8
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
eBird Report - Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary--IBA, 6/1/10 - Sedge Wren = YES!; numerous Bobolinks!
I had the darndest time trying to get some sleep last night. I was awoken by thunder at 2, then was in and out of sleep until I said screw this and got up at 4:20 am. I took a shower, got dressed, ate breakfast and decided to do something with my day since I was up. So, what better to do then to go do some birding when one is still unemployed (sadly)! I had been reading the earlier posts about the Sedge Wren being reported at Daniel Webster in Marshfield, so I figured that was where I was going to go!
It was a fairly long drive, but being up so early, I beat all the morning traffic and got to Daniel Webster by 7:30 am (stayed until 9:30). I must say, what a truly beautiful parcel of land Mass Audubon has here....there should be more grassland habitat like this, that of which is found at Daniel Webster! There were BOBOLINKS everywhere! Too bad there weren't any Eastern Meadowlarks yet, surely they would love this place! The PURPLE MARTIN colony was in full swing, nearly every box inhabited by a Martin. CEDAR WAXWINGS were quite numerous as well, especially going through the red maple swamps found along the River Walk Trail and Secret Trail.
But of course, the highlight and target bird was the SEDGE WREN that of which is still found near the Fox Hill Observation Platform (along right-hand side of pathway leading up to platform). Fantastic looks, but of course it was its "dry, staccato chattering" that alerted me to its precise location. Even if I did not get this bird, it was well worth heading out to Marshfield to experience this MAS sanctuary! Thankfully, the Sedge Wren was very cooperative, and we all know how much I adore wrens!
Anyhoo, happy birding to all, and I hope everybody had a great Memorial Day Weekend!
(Above photo of SEDGE WREN was taken by Joe Vincent)
Location: Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary--IBA
Observation date: 6/1/10
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 12
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes 3
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 6
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo 4
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
Great Egret - Ardea alba 1
Green Heron - Butorides virescens 3 (wet panne nearest observation blind off of Fox Hill Trail)
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 1 (flying over fields near parking lot)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group] 2
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii 5
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus 2
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 5
Purple Martin - Progne subis 28
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 27
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 2
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon 2
SEDGE WREN - Cistothorus platensis 1 (Fox Hill Observation Platform)
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 3
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 8
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 37
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 11
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus 4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 6
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2
Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus 46 (throughout all the fields)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 31
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 11
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 4
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 15
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/
Observation date: 6/1/10
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 12
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes 3
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 6
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo 4
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
Great Egret - Ardea alba 1
Green Heron - Butorides virescens 3 (wet panne nearest observation blind off of Fox Hill Trail)
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 1 (flying over fields near parking lot)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group] 2
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii 5
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus 2
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus 1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 5
Purple Martin - Progne subis 28
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 27
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 2
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon 2
SEDGE WREN - Cistothorus platensis 1 (Fox Hill Observation Platform)
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 3
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 8
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 37
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 11
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus 4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 6
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 2
Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus 46 (throughout all the fields)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 31
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 11
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 4
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula 1
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 15
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/
Here are the directions from MAS' website to Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary:
Saturday, May 15, 2010
MAS 2010 Bird-a-thon: 4 new Life birds and a Red-headed Woodpecker at Oxbow NWR!
This year's MAS Bird-a-thon was my first time ever participating in this event, and it was one of the most memorable and exhausting birding experiences I have had to date!!
I was part of Team Drumlin Farm, going out into the field with Pamela Sowizral, Mary Brogan and Bruce Black and we definitely made the most of this year's event! 78 TOTAL BIRDS we observed/heard over the course of these 2 days, and saw several excellent birds!
The 4 Life birds for me was seeing the MANX SHEARWATER, MONK PARAKEET, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER & CLAY-COLORED SPARROW!! (Don't worry, in the list I'll tell ya'll where these awesome birds were/are!)
DAY ONE:
Friday evening we started off visiting Revere Beach to look for our target bird, the MANX SHEARWATERS. We weren't there long before they graced us with their presence (6 in total), roughly 50 to 100 yards offshore. What fantastic pelagic birds they are! We then headed over to Bremen Street Park in East Boston to gaze upon the nesting MONK PARAKEETS. We had to wait awhile, roughly 15-20 minutes before a pair of the Quaker Parrots (as they are commonly referred to and sold under in stores). So very nice to see such exotic birds in the wild, though seemingly very far from their supposed natural element! We then tried to go for the Clay-colored Sparrow at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, but it was just far too late in the evening to see much of anything.
DAY TWO:
So, guess what our first stop was today, this Saturday the 15th??! Yup, you guessed it, Millennium Park in West Roxbury to try for the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW again, and this time, we got all that we could've hoped for. I must say, I truly wish I had an iPhone with the iBird app installed on it, because it was indispensable this whole trip in verifying bird calls and songs. It was using this program coupled with a Sibley Guide that confirmed the presence of the Clay-colored! This lovely little sparrow was located, if looking from the front entrance to the park (gate), off to the left side of the hill in the reeds (phragmites); side of the hill in between the road that goes to the river and the road that goes toward the top of that hill. The next stop was the Boston Public Gardens. Our hope was to try and get upon the female Summer Tanager that had been reported there, but no luck. Nonetheless, we were delighted to come upon several warbler species, including the aforementioned BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER as well as other goodies like the BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, the BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, and MAGNOLIA WARBLER! CHIMNEY SWIFTS were indeed everywhere there at Boston Public Gardens. I also ran across my great friend and buddy Kirk Marshall there, for after seeing the Massbird report from there, he too had to get in on the action!! From there we made a quick stop to Hanscom Field and lucked upon a couple of BOBOLINKS. We proceeded to Great Meadows NWR, Concord Unit, and sadly, there was not much to see. Several MARSH WRENS were putting on quite the show for us though along the Dike Trail. Next up was Bolton Flats WMA, and we came across several YELLOW WARBLERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER as the highlights from there. Our final stop was Oxbow NWR where the day before a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER had been reported, and again, we were not disappointed! Had fantastic looks at this lovely and striking pecker for at least 15 minutes. He can or should be found off of Tank Road to your left in the swampy area that set in a bit. Put it this way, when on Tank Road and you come upon the culvert that leads into a more open-watered swamp on your right, look and listen off to your left into the swamp there. I hope this Red-headed decides to stick around so others can see him! That of course was the main highlight, but VEERYS were heard and seen, and a number of YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS were heard (seen by other birders there), but we could not get on them. OVENBIRDS were fairly plentiful as well. Oh, how could I forget, when we were over by the photo-blind off of Turnpike Trail, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK came soaring over.....yet another awesome bird!
Anyhow, enough from me, here is the full list (78 total):
MANX SHEARWATER - (Revere Beach; look for pink apartment buildings)
NORTHERN GANNET - (Revere Beach; seen off a ways, fairly good looks with scope)
Double-crested Cormorant - (first observed while driving along Route 145)
Great Blue Heron - (first observed for me while driving past Littleton Heron Rookery heading east on Route 2)
Turkey Vulture - (Bolton Flats WMA)
Canada Goose - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)
BRANT - (Revere Beach, at least half-dozen observed)
Mute Swan - (Boston Public Gardens)
Wood Duck - (Oxbow NWR)
American Black Duck - (Boston Public Gardens)
Mallard - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - (Revere Beach)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - (seen being mobbed by Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds near Assabet River while stopped at traffic light for jct. of 62 & 117 in Maynard)
Red-tailed Hawk - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 15th)
RUFFED GROUSE - (heard drumming several times from parking lot at Oxbow NWR)
Wild Turkey - (Drumlin Farm education dept. parking lot)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - (Bolton Flats WMA)
Killdeer - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS - (Bolton Flats WMA)
AMERICAN WOODCOCK - (heard peenting while watching the Red-headed Woodpecker; was seen by other birders there along Turnpike Trail)
Ring-billed Gull - (Revere Beach)
Herring Gull - (Revere Beach)
Great Black-backed Gull - (Revere Beach)
Rock Pigeon - (first observed when on Route 1A in Revere)
Mourning Dove - (first seen flying across hood of car while on Hartwell Ave in Littleton)
MONK PARAKEET - (Bremen Street Park, East Boston)
COMMON NIGHTHAWK - (Oxbow NWR)
Chimney Swift - (Boston Public Gardens)
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - (Oxbow NWR)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - (heard at Drumlin; seen at Oxbow NWR)
Downy Woodpecker - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)
Eastern Phoebe - (bathrooms at Great Meadows NWR, Concord Unit)
Eastern Kingbird - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - (heard at Oxbow NWR; seen by other birders)
Warbling Vireo - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)
Blue Jay - (Home)
American Crow - (first observed while driving past Littleton Heron Rookery)
Tree Swallow - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 15th)
Black-capped Chickadee - (Home)
Tufted Titmouse - (Home)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - (heard at Drumlin Farm)
White-breasted Nuthatch - (Oxbow NWR)
Brown Creeper - (Oxbow NWR)
House Wren - (Home)
MARSH WREN - (Great Meadows NWR, Concord)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - (Bolton Flats WMA)
Eastern Bluebird - (Millennium Park)
Veery - (Oxbow NWR)
American Robin - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)
Gray Catbird - (first observed at Drumlin Farm)
Northern Mockingbird - (heard at Drumlin; first seen at Hanscom Field)
European Starling - (first seen along Route 1A in Revere)
CEDAR WAXWING - (Boston Public Gardens)
Northern Parula - (Boston Public Gardens)
Yellow Warbler - (first observed at Great Meadows NWR, Concord)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler - (Boston Public Gardens)
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)
Black-and-white Warbler - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)
American Redstart - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)
Ovenbird - (Oxbow NWR)
Common Yellowthroat - (Bolton Flats WMA)
WILSON'S WARBLER - (first observed by me at Oxbow NWR; also seen by Pam at Boston Public Gardens)
Scarlet Tanager - (Oxbow NWR)
Savannah Sparrow - (Millennium Park)
Song Sparrow - (heard at Millennium; first seen by me at Bolton Flats WMA)
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - (Millennium Park; in reeds to the left side of the hill when approaching from main entrance)
Northern Cardinal - (Home)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - (Oxbow NWR)
BOBOLINK - (Hanscom Field)
Red-winged Blackbird - (seen everywhere)
Common Grackle - (seen everywhere)
Brown-headed Cowbird - (Millennium Park)
Baltimore Oriole - (first seen at Home)
American Goldfinch - (ditto)
House Sparrow - (Revere & Boston Public Gardens)
I want to sincerely thank Bruce Black and Mary Brogan for carting the whole group around and I want to truly thank Pam for inviting me to join them and participate in this year's Bird-a-thon....an amazing experience that shall stick with me forever!!
To all those who participated, I hope you had a great weekend of birding, saw many great birds and just had a fantastic time enjoying yourself, the birds and the company you kept! Happy birding to everyone!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
eBird Report - Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 4/21/10 - A Kestrel, 4 Sapsuckers, a dozen Hermit Thrushes & a Porcupine!!
I guess there is one good thing about being unemployed (and thankfully still collecting UI) and that is I am able to get out more often.....yeah, I know, I shouldn't be out birding at all, I should be hitting the pavement day in, day out looking for employment. I wish I were that motivated (I should be nonetheless). Anyhow, I digress, for today was an amazing day to be outside enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer (including annoying insects and a bit of a sunburn).
I hope other folks were able to get out today to enjoy this fine weather and do a little bit of birding/hiking! Happy birding to all!
I chose to visit Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton, MA, only my 2nd time visiting this Mass Audubon property. I had fallen in love with it the first time I visited (back in autumn of last year), but this visit was even more inspiring! I didn't quite hike as much as I did on my 1st visit, but still, I would say 7.5 miles worth of trails is plenty enough! I was at Wachusett from 9 am until about 2:20 pm.
I started off visiting the trails that go along near Beaver Wetland (South Meadow Trail and Beaver Bend Trail). It is here I saw the majority of the Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows and all of the Brown-headed Cowbirds (though they stayed mainly near the meadows next to the barns). The lone White-crowned Sparrow I lucked upon was found while walking along South Meadow Trail. It is also here that I saw 2 of the 3 Red-tailed Hawks and the highlight of this area, the AMERICAN KESTREL! Great looks for several minutes before being chased off by Common Grackles. 2 of the 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were found along this stretch as well.
I then went onto Pasture Trail and Heron Rookery Trail. Goldfinches were everywhere throughout the sanctuary, but most were found along Pasture Trail. Sadly, no Great Blue Herons yet at the rookery, but of course more Tree Swallows and a few Eastern Bluebirds. It was when I got onto Fern Forest Trail that I started seeing the Hermit Thrushes (and numerous Dark-eyed Juncos). More Hermit Thrushes were seen along Hemlock Seep Trail as well as the 3rd Sapsucker of the day.
Most of Chapman Trail, West Border Trail, Brown Hill Loop and Summit Trail was quiet. I did find the rest of the Hermit Thrushes I observed on the trails criss-crossing the Brown Hill area, a few of them singing, which was a very welcome sound to my ears! The biggest highlight of this area was coming across a lumbering, slow-moving PORCUPINE, near the northern junction of West Border Trail and Chapman Trail. He either didn't know I was there or just didn't care that I was, for this porcupine was only about 30 feet in front of me....what a sight it was, the first porcupine I have seen in the wild alive! Anyhow, I also trekked along Otter Pond Trail (more Tree Swallows and Bluebirds) and Birch Trail (where I saw my 4th Sapsucker). I made a stop at the Farm Pond found on along the lower half of the North Meadow Trail area and was greeted with Eastern Phoebes, numerous American Goldfinches and Red-winged Blackbirds, a few Eastern Bluebirds and alas, a number of House Sparrows. The other House Sparrows were found, of course, near the barns and other man-made structures.
Well, enough blabbering from me! It was a most fantastic venture and I encourage all others to make a trip out to Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary! Here are the directions from Mass Audubon's website:
From Rt 2: Take exit 28 (Rt 31, Fitchburg/Princeton). Follow Rt 31 south for 3.9 miles to a blinking red light. Turn left at the light and follow Rt 31 and Rt 140 south for 1.8 miles to a blinking yellow light. Turn right and follow Rt 31 south for 2.8 miles to a steep hill and a blinking yellow light (center of Princeton). At the light, follow signs for Rt 62 west by crossing the intersection and bearing right (follow the road as it curves right on the far side of the common after the light). Follow Rt 62 west for 0.6 miles, and you will see the sanctuary sign on the right at Goodnow Road. Turn right on Goodnow Road, and the parking lot is 1 mile ahead on the left.
From Rt I-190: Take exit 5 (Rt 140, Sterling/W. Boylston). Follow Rt 140 north for 2.4 miles to the intersection of Rt 62 (blinking yellow light). Take a left onto Rt 62 west and follow it for 4.2 miles to a stop sign. Turn left on Rt 31 and go up the hill to a flashing yellow light (center of Princeton). Follow directions above from the "center of Princeton."
Here is the link to the information page on Mass Audubon's website for Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Observation date: 4/21/10
Notes: Also came across a porcupine, my first seen in the wild, alive!
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 4
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 2 (Beaver Wetlands near jct of South Meadow Trail and Beaver Bend Trail)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 5
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1 (soaring over Brown Hill)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK - Buteo platypterus 1 (slowly circling over Beaver Wetland and neighboring woods)
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 3
AMERICAN KESTREL - Falco sparverius 1 (overlooking Beaver Wetland from trees along South Meadow Trail, near jct with Beaver Bend Trail)
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - Sphyrapicus varius 4 (Wildlife Pond area of South Meadow Trail, Beaver Bend Trail, Hemlock Seep Trail, Birch Trail)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 4 (near barns and also near Farm Pond)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 6
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor X (throughout, especially over Beaver Wetland and adjacent meadows)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor X
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 1 (along Fern Forest Trail)
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 4
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6 (check all bluebird boxes, especially both North and South Meadow Trails)
HERMIT THRUSH - Catharus guttatus 12 (Fern Forest Trail, Hemlock Seep Trail, Chapman Trail, Brown Hill Loop)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 1 (Beaver Bend Trail)
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 1 (near feeders adjacent to parking lot)
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 3
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (EASTERN) - Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys 1 (South Meadow Trail)
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis X (throughout, but mainly along Fern Forest Trail)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus X
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula X
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 8
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis X
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 10
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/
Observation date: 4/21/10
Notes: Also came across a porcupine, my first seen in the wild, alive!
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 4
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 2 (Beaver Wetlands near jct of South Meadow Trail and Beaver Bend Trail)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 5
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1 (soaring over Brown Hill)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK - Buteo platypterus 1 (slowly circling over Beaver Wetland and neighboring woods)
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 3
AMERICAN KESTREL - Falco sparverius 1 (overlooking Beaver Wetland from trees along South Meadow Trail, near jct with Beaver Bend Trail)
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - Sphyrapicus varius 4 (Wildlife Pond area of South Meadow Trail, Beaver Bend Trail, Hemlock Seep Trail, Birch Trail)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 4 (near barns and also near Farm Pond)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 6
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor X (throughout, especially over Beaver Wetland and adjacent meadows)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor X
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 1 (along Fern Forest Trail)
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 4
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 6 (check all bluebird boxes, especially both North and South Meadow Trails)
HERMIT THRUSH - Catharus guttatus 12 (Fern Forest Trail, Hemlock Seep Trail, Chapman Trail, Brown Hill Loop)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 1 (Beaver Bend Trail)
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 1 (near feeders adjacent to parking lot)
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 3
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (EASTERN) - Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys 1 (South Meadow Trail)
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis X (throughout, but mainly along Fern Forest Trail)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus X
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula X
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 8
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis X
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 10
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/
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