eBird Report - Woods Hole - Steamship Authority, 6/13/10 - Roseate Terns!

While waiting to board the Steamship Authority's Martha's Vineyard to head into Oaks Bluff on the Island, I chose to not waste my time and do a little bit of birding!! The first birds I noticed were a group of Double-crested Cormorants off on the rocks looking out from the pier, but then, closer to shore, a group of terns were fishing the currents and eddies near us. Several Common Terns were observed, but of much more fortune, 2 Roseate Terns came within 50 yards of us, dive-bombing the waters for something good to eat, then following them around until they dove into the frigid waters again! They had that mostly dark, black bill, long forked-tail, white underbelly with a hint of pink and were swifter than their fellow Commons. Had struck out the last 2 times looking for these particular terns, both at Sandy Point on Plum Island and at Plymouth Beach in Plymouth. Certainly the highlight of my time there before departing! The 2 Ospreys were busy attending to their nest atop some hazard tower (alternating red & white diamonds within the diamond-shaped signs). A few female Common Eiders were rafting along near the pier as well. All in all, very enjoyable! Happy birding to all!

Location:     Woods Hole - Steamship Authority
Observation date:     6/13/10
Number of species:     10

Common Eider - Somateria mollissima     3
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     11
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus     2
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     5
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus     4
Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii     2
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo     8
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia     4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     2
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus     13

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

eBird Report - Littleton Heron Rookery, 4/6/10 - Red-headed Woodpecker - NO; GHO, Ospreys, Great Blues - YES

Location:     Littleton Heron Rookery
Observation date:     4/6/10
Notes:     The Red-headed Woodpecker reported yesterday by Mark Rosenstein was not observed early this afternoon, though it is still possible it might be in the area nonetheless. Others who venture out this way might have better luck (hopefully).

Here is some copied, paraphrased text from Mark Rosenstein's post on Massbird from yesterday:

Take Route 2 west to exit 41 "Newtown Rd" toward Acton/Littleton, left on Central St, right on Littlefield Rd, continue as it becomes Depot Rd near junction of Littleton Rd (which is a Dead End street) until you reach the railroad crossing.

Park at the side of the road, but beware that these railroad tracks are active with several trains a day (Fitchburg MBTA Commuter Rail Line). Walk to the right along the tracks about 3 tenths of a mile.  Look for a trail off to the right with a bunch of trashed appliances at the start. Also note at this "trailhead" that there are AT&T signs posted. Take this a couple of hundred yards to the edge of the swamp. Do wear some waterproof boots that you don't mind getting a little mucked up when walking down this pathway to the edge of the swamp. 

There are nests forward and to the right.  The Great Horned Owl nest is in front of you (along with some of the other Great Blue Heron nests.)  The Ospreys are to the far right.  The Red-Headed Woodpecker was investigating trees along the left side of the swamp.

Number of species:     13

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     5
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     6 (in along marsh areas next to railroad tracks)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     4 (same as "Ooo-eek" Ducks)
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     6 (some in nests, some loping around main marsh)
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus     2 (at end of path, look to far right)
Great Horned Owl - Bubo virginianus     1 (straight ahead, slightly to the right of 2 occupied heron nests)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     10 (flitting and swooping throughout; numbers are conservative)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     9
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     X (everywhere)
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     X (everywhere)

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