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!

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/)

A weekend full of birding is looming near!!! WOO-HOO!!

Man oh man, what an exciting weekend this is going to be! First up is this years 2010 MAS Bird-a-thon! I am on Team Drumlin Farm, though a part of a small group that makes up the larger whole. I will be accompanying Pamela Sowizral (Volunteer Coordinator at Drumlin Farm), Mary Brogran, and Bruce Black.

We will be starting out by meeting up at the Ed. Center of Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary by 4:45 pm. From my understanding, Bruce is driving both Friday evening and on Saturday, at least that is where it stands right now. Our first stop will be Revere Beach to see if we can get on the Manx Shearwaters in the area, and if we are lucky, the Forster's Tern will still be in the area. Then we are going to head into East Boston to catch a glance at the nesting colony of Monk Parakeets, and whatever else is in the vicinity. Then, on our way back, we figure to stop by Great Meadows NWR, Concord Unit to chance upon Common Nighthawks and listen for rails (most likely Virginia Rails, if any around). Hopefully the Pied-billed Grebe and Common Moorhen will still be around before it is too dark. We should still have some daylight left to us until about 8:30 pm.

Saturday will be quite the whirlwind! It has not been decided what time we'll all be meeting up, but I wager wicked early in the morn, say 6 am or earlier! We should be meeting up at Pam's residence in Bolton, MA. From there, we'll be making stops at Bolton Flats WMA, Oxbow NWR, the grassy fields in North Devens, the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest for the Red-headed Woodpeckers and lastly, Assabet River NWR (hopefully the Northern Goshawk will still be kicking around). What a day it shall be! No matter how many birds we all get upon, it is going to be exciting and fun, and I am hoping we all can obtain a few more Life birds while we are at it!

On Sunday, it sounds like I will be meeting up with my good buddy and friend Kirk Marshall to check out Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, MA to see if we can chance upon the Cerulean Warbler that has been in the area recently as well as Red-eyed Vireos! Man, I wager I am going to be exhausted once all is said and done, but it will be so worth it!!

eBird Report - Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA, 4/7/10 - Phoebes, Chipping Sparrows and a Palm Warblah!!

A most fantastic day hiking/birding at the Assabet River NWR today. Was out there from 11 am to about 3:20 pm. I personally have never seen so many Eastern Phoebes, most of them right out around the parking lot and trailheads near the entrance off of Hudson Road. Also found 3 of the 4 Chipping Sparrows I came across there, 2 of which poking around the information kiosk. The lone FOY Palm Warbler I observed was along the section of Harry's Way Trail that is between White Pond Road and Towhee Trail. One Red-breasted Nuthatch was observed amongst the pines on White Pond Road before you come across the fields there. All in all a great day!

Here are general directions to Assabet River NWR: There are currently two parking areas on the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The main parking lot is on Hudson Road in Sudbury, MA, three miles west of the Sudbury Town Center. The north gate parking area is off White Pond Road, reachable from Rt. 117 in Stow, MA. 

I hope everybody has been able to get out at some point and enjoy this gorgeous day! Good luck and happy birding to all!

Location:     Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge--IBA
Observation date:     4/7/10
Number of species:     26

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     12
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor     1
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes     4 (Puffer Pond)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     5
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1 (among the reeds along northeastern shore of Puffer Pond)
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     4
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1 (near jct. of Otter Alley Trail and Taylor Way Trail)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     1 (also in same area is Palm Warbler)
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     9
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     7 (skimming Puffer Pond near northeastern edge)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     X
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     6
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     15
Palm Warbler (Yellow) - Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea     1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     X
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     3
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     6

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