Project FeederWatch - Week 8 (01/09/2011)

Yesterday's observance for FeederWatch sure was a blustery one, and still that didn't keep the birds down all too much. A fairly active period of time, and as always, its the usual suspects that are more in abundance than others. Still, a couple new bird species not noted in prior observations showed up, including this winter's first American Tree Sparrow and more unusually, a lone European Starling decided to stop by and gain some deliciousness from both the sunflower seeds and the suet. Yes, I know, its just a starling, and its an introduced species, but never had I seen a starling in our yard before. And yes, I know, its not like there could not have been an instance where a starling had shown up in the past, for I obviously cannot watch the feeders 24/7 year-round! Still, rather unusual in my opinion for here at home! Anyhoo, a Hermit Thrush was still in attendance as well, and thankfully, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is still kicking around! My full results from yesterday are below....happy birding folks!!

Mourning Dove	6
Downy Woodpecker	1
Blue Jay	6
Black-capped Chickadee	10
Tufted Titmouse	7
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	2
Carolina Wren	1
Hermit Thrush	1
European Starling	1
American Tree Sparrow	1
White-throated Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	5
Northern Cardinal	8
House Finch	9
American Goldfinch	3

Project FeederWatch - Week 7 (01/02/2011)

After a fantastic start to 2011 being down in RI, 2011 continued to offer up some goodness during yesterday's observance for Project FeederWatch. It was mostly the usual suspects as is expected at the feeders during this time of year (or any time of the year really), but what was most remarkable to me was the presence of a lone Hermit Thrush chilling around the lilacs and holly bushes that surround the main tube feeder full of sunflower seeds. Certainly a bird that I was not expecting to see this time of year, though as I understand it, it is not entirely unheard of for a few Hermits to winter over this far up north. I know they winter regularly in the South, but up here to me is a bit out of the ordinary. Certainly was nice to see such a lovely bird again!


And speaking of thrushes, a handful (5) of American Robins were present, gulping down the bright red berries that the holly bushes yield every year. A large group of 11 Mourning Doves were in attendance again, and thankfully, the lone Red-breasted Nuthatch that had been in attendance for several weeks and had been absent over the past week, returned for an encore! Here is hoping my all-time favorite bird decides to stick around just a bit longer! Below you will find my full list of sightings....happy birding to all!!

Mourning Dove	11
Downy Woodpecker	1
Hairy Woodpecker	2
Blue Jay	2
Black-capped Chickadee	6
Tufted Titmouse	7
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	1
Carolina Wren	1
Hermit Thrush	1
American Robin	5
Dark-eyed Junco	5
Northern Cardinal	4
House Finch	4
American Goldfinch	2

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 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

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!

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/massaudubon/)

eBird Report - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, 4/13/10 - A multitude of woodpeckers!

Another fine day to be out and about! I decided to hit Oxbow NWR for the first time this year, Oxbow being my favorite local area to find solitude in and to go a-birding! I had wanted to check out Oxbow prior to, but with the recent flooding, that was not possible. You can tell how bad the flooding was due the faint silty waterline about 4 feet up on some of the tree trunks. Just amazing!

At any rate, a fine day of birding it was, taking a jaunt through all the trails from 10:30 am to 2 pm. The place was loaded with chickadees, goldfinches, grackles, red-wings, robins, tree swallows, titmice and singing juncos. I was also amazed at the numbers of woodpeckers there, especially finding 6 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, the most I have ever seen anywhere at one time! It was also very nice seeing a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker again, FOY! Also finally notched my FOY Pine Warblers, some excellent looks along Tank Road. I also had the pleasure of seeing 2 Ruffed Grouse along Tank Road, the first grouse I have seen in years! Normally, from what I understand, they tend to be solitary, but there were 2 of them, one following the other. I will say they were a bit far back into the pines, but had good looks at them before losing them into the thick of the woods. Definitely sweet! Enough babbling from me!

Here are some directions to Oxbow NWR for those who would like to check it out (do where some good hikers, its very mucky, especially along the Riverside Trail): From MA 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.

Happy birding everyone!

Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     4/13/10
Number of species:     33

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     5
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     7 (all along Turnpike Trail near jct with Riverside Trail)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     5
Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus     2 (in pine forest area long Tank Road nearer to Route 2)
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     2 (Tank Road)
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     6
Barred Owl - Strix varia     2 (heard "who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all" fairly close, but could not get on them; was on Tank Road nearest jct of Turnpike Trail when calls were heard; were seemingly calling back and forth between each other)
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     6 (Most along Riverside Trail)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius     1 (near jct. of Riverside & Turnpike)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     5
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     3
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     11
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     X (throughout, but most along Turnpike Trail)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     X
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     6
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2 (along backside of marsh area that runs along Tank Road)
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     1 (pine forest area along Tank Road)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     X
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     3 (Tank Road)
Palm Warbler (Yellow) - Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea     2 (Turnpike Trail)
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     1
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     X
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     X
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     X
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     2 (near parking lot)
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     X

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