eBird Report - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, 4/9/11 - First visit of the year at my paradise in Mass!

What a superbly gorgeous day to be outside, no doubt about that! Temps in the low 60s, light and variable winds, a crystal-clear azure sky, with wood frogs and spring peepers abounding in song! I was at my own little slice of heaven here in Massachusetts, Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge in Harvard, MA, just after having finished up my work week in Bedford, MA. I honestly didn't expect to see much, but most appreciatively, was surprised to see what I did!

First up was a lone Wild Turkey just strutting around along the dirt road that leads to the entrance and parking lot for Oxbow NWR. I know, most everyone sees a turkey here and there (had a sizable flock in my own backyard last week), but I found this one most amusing for it didn't seemed to be phased by my car's presence at all as I was driving into the refuge. After a few minutes, it considered I posed no threat and meandered off slowly.

Next up I came across 2 Fox Sparrows along the Riverside Trail, nearer to the junction of said trail and Turnpike Trail. These two Fox Sparrows were calling to each other, Peterson referring to such a call as a "strong, flat chup." One was about 5 feet up in the snags of a pine tree while the other was foraging on the ground with its characteristic "double-scratching" move, kicking up the forest floor detritus for deliciousness.

Onwards I came across a soaring Red-shouldered Hawk on the Turnpike Trail, going in relatively lazy circles, its flight of choppy wing-beats in evidence.....though what is more tell-tale and striking is its "translucent window" along its primaries near the outer-edges of its wings....the sun was blazing gloriously through them as I followed its flight....the first time, as with the Fox Sparrows, that I had ever seen such a bird at Oxbow. I had seen Red-shouldered Hawks before at SVT's Memorial Forest in Sudbury, but to see it in my little slice of heaven was a real treat!

However, the biggest treat of the day has to go to while I was on my way back to the parking lot along Tank Road (along the wetlands on your left as you are walking back). Such a treat was an American Woodcock being flushed out in broad daylight, but to my good fortune, the woodcock landed about 15 feet away, just along the edge of the pathway and the mucky leaf matter littering the area. Whats most amusing to me was that I had been practically on top of this bird initially, me being unaware of the bird's presence as I was looking at other birds in the area. The timberdoodle had me in its sights the entire time, but whilst this bird was walking along, 15 feet away, it was performing its "mating dance" where it teeter-totters and bobbles in a herky-jerky motion that is purely comical and a delight to behold! Such a bizarre bird, I instantly fell in love with this bird the moment I first saw it, over 2 years ago, in the same area at Oxbow that I saw this particular woodcock today! 4 times now during my many ventures at Oxbow NWR have I had the good fortunes of coming across an American Woodcock out in broad daylight. Simply wonderful!

Anyhoo, the full listing of my sightings today during my time at Oxbow (12:45 to 2:45 pm) are below.....happy birding everybody and enjoy this superb weather we are finally having!

Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     4/9/11
Notes:     Ruffed Grouse heard only drumming near parking lot; Red-shouldered seen on Turnpike Trail along the boardwalk sections; American Woodcock seen bobbing whilst walking amongst muck and leaf matter alongside Tank Road; Fox Sparrows seen along Riverside Trail nearer to the junction with Turnpike.
Number of species:     26

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     2
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     2
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     5
Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus     1 (Heard only, drumming near parking/train tracks area)
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     1
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     2
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus     1
American Woodcock - Scolopax minor     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     3
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     4
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     3
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     13
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     4
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     2
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     4
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     21
Fox Sparrow (Red) - Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria     2
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     5
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     32
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     6

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

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 - Grassy Pond Conservation Land, Acton, MA, 4/20/10

After having done a little bit more yard work at home, I accompanied my brother and his good friend Ciaran O'Dwyer for a little nature walk to Grassy Pond Conservation Land in Acton, the main parking area located right off Nagog Hill Road. The parking lot will be on your left if you are coming from Acton via Route 27. It was my 3rd time being there and my first time in the spring. Fairly quiet until coming upon Grassy Pond itself. The highlight of this little excursion of course was seeing 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS chasing each other just above the surface of the pond for several minutes. At first I thought perhaps Bank Swallows, but no breast band or contrasting. They were dark brown above and pale brown below, especially around the chest to throat. I had also thought juvenile Tree Swallow, but again, no stark contrasting. So, I had myself a pair of Northern Rough-wings, a lifer for me! I had honestly did not expect to see much on this little trek, for it was nice just being out and about and seeing what lovely avian friends were around the vicinity! I hope others had a chance to get out and enjoy this fine day! Happy birding to all!!!


Location:     Grassy Pond Conservation Land, Acton, MA
Observation date:     4/20/10
Number of species:     15

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     4
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus     1 (Soaring fairly high up over pond)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1 (Off to the left amongst dead trees in marshy area of pond)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     2 (Excellent views of male checking out dead trees on left from platform over pond)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis     2 (Skimming surface of Grassy Pond chasing each other)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     4
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     5
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     7
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     5
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     5

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


Here is some general info from the Acton Conservation Commission for Grassy Pond Conservation Land

Red-shouldered Hawk at Memorial Forest in Sudbury! (03/18/10)

Just a quick little note here folks! While assisting Sudbury Valley Trustees with installing a bench that sits atop the boardwalk that spans Cranberry Brook, Dan and myself were graced with the presence of a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk! This lovely buteo was soaring overhead, just above the treeline over the marsh area around us. It was flying in tight cirlces, giving its characteristic "kee-yer" call quite often. Sibley and Peterson weren't kidding when they stated that the Red-shouldered is very vocal! A lifer for me, and had great looks at it for about 7 minutes or so. Also, at least 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches were heard calling back and forth to each other. Sadly, I could not get on them amongst all those tall pines there. Happy birding everyone!