eBird Report - Bolton Flats WMA, 5/7/10 - Several Yellow Warblers and an Eastern Wood-Pewee

Did some birding near my neck of the woods again, this time with my good buddy Kirk Marshall, all before he had to head off around noon time to class. He got to my house in Littleton at about 6:30 am. We were going to try and make a morning of it at Assabet River NWR, but the clouds of mosquitoes were utterly horrendous, thusly scaring us off. We were there for no more than 15 minutes.

We then tried to bird SVT's Memorial Forest in Sudbury, which is rather close by to Assabet. We survived a little bit longer, lasting probably about 45 minutes, hiking from the parking lot to Heron Spur Trail and the Desert Loop, but eventually, the mosquitoes that assailed us drove us away. And yes, we did have bug spray, but trust me, these bloodsucking pests had us in their targets big-time! We did manage to come across an Eastern Towhee around Cranberry Brook on Heron Spur Trail, and a Pine Warbler along Desert Loop. Red-breasted Nuthatches were heard everywhere, as well as Common Yellowthroats, but we just could not stand the mosquitoes. We did come upon a very brightly colored Baltimore Oriole on the way out near Hop Brook when walking over the bridge that spans said waterway.

So, we then decided to check out the section of Bolton Flats WMA off of Route 117 in Bolton. It was here that we finally started to have a good morning of birding! 7 Yellow Warblers, an Eastern Wood-Pewee and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were the highlights. A fellow birder from Concord had also spotted a Magnolia Warbler before Kirk and I had arrived. The eBird report is added below this little narrative.

Our final stop, after having spent 45 minutes at Bolton Flats WMA (9:30 to 10:15 am) was to check out Oxbow NWR (yes, my 3rd day in a row there). Also fairly productive there, coming across a couple of American Redstarts, a couple of Common Yellowthroats, a Veery, an Eastern Kingbird and 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Overall, a decent day of birding, in spite of the atrocious beginning with mosquitoes assailing us from all directions! Good luck to everyone, happy birding, and bring plenty of bug spray!

Location:     Bolton Flats WMA
Observation date:     5/7/10
Number of species:     17

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     1
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus     1
Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca     1
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes     6
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     1
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea     1
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     1
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     7
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     3
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     3
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     25
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     6
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     6

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

To get to Bolton Flats WMA from I-495, take Exit 27 for Route 117. Go west on 117. Soon enough, you will come across Route 110. At this traffic light, keep going straight, and I would say about a quarter to half-mile down on your right will be the pull-in and parking lot for this small section of Bolton Flats.

Doing some good and worthwhile work at Oxbow NWR!!

There are many days where I really wish I had a job (I wish I had a job period right now) working for an esteemed organization like that of the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Mass Audubon or the Trustees of Reservations. Today I joined Alan Bragg, Ziggy and Frank of USFWS at Oxbow NWR around 8 am. We worked together as a team clearing fallen trees, brush, weed-whacking the boating ramp parking lot and main parking lot, you know, general trail and property maintenance. I was there with them until 12:30 pm. It was solid, worthwhile and enjoyable work with a trio of fine gentlemen. I've met Alan before at Great Meadows NWR (Concord Unit) when doing some birding there. It was just such a pleasure being outside, helping maintain my "little piece of paradise" in this region while also doing some spot birding. Highlight for me was seeing an American Woodcock out in broad daylight (Ziggy saw another one earlier in the day), both along Tank Road. I love those bizarre Snipe-ish birds! I am including a partial list of what we all casually observed today while working. Alan may send me an updated list later on today with anything else I might have missed/he observed.

Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     5/6/10
Notes:     Casually noticed these birds as we were going along performing trail and property maintenance at Oxbow NWR with Alan Bragg, Ziggy and Frank from USFWS. Many other birds were heard, but not seen, like American Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, etc. I am sharing this list with Alan Bragg since he may have more to add to this report. It was fantastic seeing the timber doodles out in broad daylight (well, sort of, off and on rain/thunder showers).
Number of species:     15

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     2
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
American Woodcock - Scolopax minor     2
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     1
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     2
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     1
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia     1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus     1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     4
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     3
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     1

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

eBird Report - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, 5/5/10

I probably should've gotten up earlier (I was there from 9 to 11 am), or else there is a lull in-between waves of migrants, but a decent day of birding nonetheless at Oxbow! FOY ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK along Tank Road, as well as 4 WARBLING VIREOS. Another Life bird as well, that being the YELLOW-THROATED VIREO seen along Turnpike Trail (boardwalks section). Also FOY VEERY and OVENBIRD (many calling). GRAY CATBIRDS were everywhere and just before getting back to the parking lot, a COMMON RAVEN came crahnking along, a pleasant sight at Oxbow! In my neck of the woods, Oxbow NWR is my little piece of paradise! Happy birding everyone!


Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     5/5/10
Number of species:     28

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     2
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     2 (Turnpike Trail)
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Barred Owl - Strix varia     1 (near parking lot/boat ramp across Nashua River)
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1 (Nashua River)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     3
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     2 (Tank Road and bathroom at parking lot)
Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons     2 (Turnpike Trail boardwalks)
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     4 (Tank Road)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     4
Common Raven - Corvus corax     1 (near parking lot/Tank Road)
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     5
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     4
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     4
Veery - Catharus fuscescens     1 (Riverside Trail)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     9
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     7
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     1 (along Riverside Trail)
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     1 (Riverside Trail)
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus     1 (Tank Road)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     6
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     10
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     8

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


Directions to Oxbow NWR: From Massachusetts Route 2, take Exit 38 (Route 110/111) south toward Harvard; bear right to stay on Route 110 at Harvard Center; and, turn right onto Still River Depot Road at the Still River Post Office. The refuge parking area is at the end of Still River Depot Road, past the railroad tracks.

eBird Report - Parker River NWR, 5/2/10 - Warbler Haven!!

Both Kirk and I had a feeling today might been an amazing day, a banner day in terms of seeing spring migrants, and we were generously rewarded! I cannot remember what time Kirk had to get up, but I arose at 4:30 AM, picked him up in Burlington by 6 AM, and we were out birding at Plum by 6:45 AM. And we birded non-stop until 12:30 PM!

Along with seeing 14 different species of warbler, I also gained 4 more Life birds (PURPLE MARTIN, WILLET, MAGNOLIA WARBLER & CAPE MAY WARBLER)!! It was just astounding the numbers of birds there, especially warblers, White-thoated Sparrows and Eastern Towhees! They were everywhere!! Please note, most warblers that were seen along Dune Loop were on the Plum Island Sound side of the Dunes Loop Trail. Definitely one of the finest days of birding in my life thus far, and I am sure there will be many more! I wager many other fellow birders had a fantastic day, all before the sweltering heat took over (91 degrees back at home in Littleton)! Good luck and happy birding to all!

Location:     Parker River NWR
Observation date:     5/2/10
Notes:     3 Soras heard by clapping hands along Marsh Loop, but none seen; 1 Marsh Wren heard in reeds along Marsh Loop, but not observed.
Number of species:     54

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     8
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor     3
Gadwall - Anas strepera     4
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     15
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     4
Great Egret - Ardea alba     7
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus     1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus     1 (Hellcat)
Sora - Porzana carolina     0 (heard, not seen off of Marsh Loop)
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus     3
Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca     1
Willet (Eastern) - Tringa semipalmata semipalmata     4 (along Plum Island River near Lot 1)
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus     2
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     1
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     3 (Dune Loop)
Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius     2 (Dune Loop)
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     1 (Dune Loop)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Purple Martin - Progne subis     7 (Martin houses near Lot 1)
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     17
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     3 (North Pool)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     5
Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris     0 (heard, not seen along Marsh Loop)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula     30 (Hellcat & Pines)
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     1 (Marsh Loop)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     6
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     3 (Hellcat & Pines)
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     2
Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum     2 (near Lot 2 and at Pines)
Nashville Warbler - Vermivora ruficapilla     4 (Dune Loop & Pines)
Northern Parula - Parula americana     7 (Dune Loop & Pines)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Dendroica pensylvanica     1 (Pines)
Magnolia Warbler - Dendroica magnolia     2 (Dune Loop & Pines)
Cape May Warbler - Dendroica tigrina     1 (Dune Loop)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Dendroica caerulescens     2 (Dune & Pines)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     45 (everywhere, numbers are conservative)
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens     13 (Dune & Pines)
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     2 (Dune)
Prairie Warbler - Dendroica discolor     2 (Pines)
Palm Warbler (Yellow) - Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea     12 (Dune, Marsh & Pines)
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia     5 (Dune & Pines)
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     1 ("S" Corners)
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     2 (Pines)
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     12 (everywhere!)
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     2 (Marsh Loop)
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     60
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     3
Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus     2 (in fields across from parking lot at Pines)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     150
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     20
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     2 (Dune Loop)
Purple Finch - Carpodacus purpureus     5 (Dune & Pines)
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     4

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