eBird Report - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, 6/8/10 - WHITE-EYED VIREO!!

I am never sure what to expect when I visit Oxbow NWR, but I always know that there is usually a good variety of birds there besides the fact I just love the landscape. I was rewarded with a few good birds I had already seen, but by far the highlight was seeing the WHITE-EYED VIREO around 9 am (I was there from 8:15 to 10:30 am). Before I got on him, I had thought it was a really weird sounding, whacked-out Gray Catbird. I chose to stick around to verify whether or not it really was a catbird, and by-god it was not.  This vireo had all the field markings, the white eye, the yellow specs, the bold wing bars, the yellowish flanks, the olive-green back. When I came home, I quickly hopped onto Cornell's All About Birds, and sure enough after listening to the song (from Peterson: "...sharply enunciated CHICK-a-per-weeoo-CHICK. Variable; usually starts and ends with chick.", I was 100% positive that it was a White-eyed Vireo, which of course, was obviously a Lifer for me! I found the White-eyed Vireo while walking the Turnpike Trail heading east towards Tank Road. He was active within some shrubbery and thickets off to my left before you come to the beaver lodge that you essentially walk over whilst on Turnpike Trail (He did not fly off when I walked passed him to continue down the trail).

Whew, so yes, I was very excited to come across this bird, knowing he is fairly uncommon in our neck of the woods. I do wish I had a quality camera, or else I would've tried to take pictures. Sadly, I am a poor fool. So, if others want to confirm, please do, though I know I am 100% sure of what I saw and heard! Other notable birds was a Yellow-throated Vireo along Riverside Trail, several Great Crested Flycatchers (Tank Road and Riverside Trail), a few Veerys and a female Wood Duck with 6 ducklings in tow in the swamp off of Tank Road.

I do hope this bird sticks around and others can enjoy him!

Directions to Oxbow NWR from USFWS: 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.

Happy birding to all!!!

Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     6/8/10
Notes:     White-eyed Vireo seen and heard on Turnpike Trail in between bridge closest to beaver lodge and the beaver lodge (walking eastbound towards Tank Road); viewed for at least 10 minutes, did not fly off when I walked passed it; song and ID verified via All About Birds website as well as pouring over my Sibley, Peterson and Smithsonian guides. I initially thought it was a whacked-out catbird before I got on him. Had distinctive white eye, yellow spectacles, yellowish flanks, wing-bars, the whole nine-yards. I wish I had a good, quality camera, otherwise I would've tried to take pictures.
Number of species:     34

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     2
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     1
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     7
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     5
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus     6
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     1
WHITE-EYED VIREO - Vireo griseus     1 (Turnpike Trail heading towards Tank Road near beaver lodge that one walks over along the trail)
Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons     1
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     4
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     5
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     10
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     5
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     7
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     2
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2
Veery - Catharus fuscescens     3
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     17
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     5
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     9
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     4
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens     3
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     2
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     6
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     6
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     2
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     4
Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea     1
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     6
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     11
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     9
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     8

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

eBird Report - Plymouth Beach, 6/6/10 - Terns everywhere!!

Sundays are usually reserved as the day both Kirk and I would go out birding together. We had initially planned on visiting Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson, NH, however, the weather forecasted for up north was less than desirable. Kirk and I had our reservations about doing any birding any where in New England yesterday due to the chance of getting rained upon, struck by lightning or being whisked away by a tornado (being sarcastic there....freaking Tornado Watches.....just trying to scare us, as always).

So, we just had to get our BIRD on, so we headed to the South Shore seeing as the rain was supposed to hold off until later down there. And hold off it did!

Our first stop was Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield. I had been there last Tuesday to get the Sedge Wren, but I went there again so Kirk could get that lovely little wren as well, since it would be a Lifer for him. And we got fantastic looks at the Sedge Wren, even better than the first time I saw him. Of course, there were still numerous Bobolinks around, as well as the Purple Martins and Willow Flycatchers.

We left there say around 10:30 am and headed to Plymouth Beach to see if we could score of some terns. Our target birds were as follows: The Forster's Tern, the Arctic Tern, the Roseate Tern and the Least Tern (for me, Kirk had already seen Leasts). We struck out on all except the Least Terns, as there is a very large colony there of them, intermingling with the Piping Plover nesting colony. Those Least Terns are great little gull-like birds! So noisy, so graceful, so fast and active! I also got another Lifer besides the Least Tern, that being the Laughing Gull. I had never seen one before, and as Kirk had commented, they kinda looked and acted like a couple of cartoon characters, their funny laugh-like call (hence their name of course) and their black-hooded heads with white eye-rings. The Piping Plovers put on a display as well, darting here and there across the beach to the shoreline! Despite getting burnt to a crisp since we did not realize how sunny it would be, it was well worth it. Sure, it would've been nice seeing the Forster's, Arctic and Roseate Terns, but oh well, dems da breaks, ya know!

Happy birding to all!!

Location:     Plymouth Beach
Observation date:     6/6/10
Notes:     We did not walk the entire beach facing Plymouth Bay, roughly 3/4 of the way before the sun exposure did us in and we had to turn back. Numbers of Least Terns are conservative, same applies to Common Terns. I would suggest that they were more Piping Plovers there as well then the ones we had seen, since all seen were along the beach outside their nesting colony.
Number of species:     21

Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus     2
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     1
Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola     1
Piping Plover - Charadrius melodus     8
Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla     2
Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia     13
Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla     9
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     7
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus     15
Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus     6
Least Tern - Sternula antillarum     42
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo     10
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor     1
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii     1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     2
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     3
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     4
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     2
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus     4

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

eBird Report - Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary--IBA, 6/1/10 - Sedge Wren = YES!; numerous Bobolinks!

I had the darndest time trying to get some sleep last night. I was awoken by thunder at 2, then was in and out of sleep until I said screw this and got up at 4:20 am. I took a shower, got dressed, ate breakfast and decided to do something with my day since I was up. So, what better to do then to go do some birding when one is still unemployed (sadly)! I had been reading the earlier posts about the Sedge Wren being reported at Daniel Webster in Marshfield, so I figured that was where I was going to go!

It was a fairly long drive, but being up so early, I beat all the morning traffic and got to Daniel Webster by 7:30 am (stayed until 9:30). I must say, what a truly beautiful parcel of land Mass Audubon has here....there should be more grassland habitat like this, that of which is found at Daniel Webster! There were BOBOLINKS everywhere! Too bad there weren't any Eastern Meadowlarks yet, surely they would love this place! The PURPLE MARTIN colony was in full swing, nearly every box inhabited by a Martin. CEDAR WAXWINGS were quite numerous as well, especially going through the red maple swamps found along the River Walk Trail and Secret Trail.

But of course, the highlight and target bird was the SEDGE WREN that of which is still found near the Fox Hill Observation Platform (along right-hand side of pathway leading up to platform). Fantastic looks, but of course it was its "dry, staccato chattering" that alerted me to its precise location. Even if I did not get this bird, it was well worth heading out to Marshfield to experience this MAS sanctuary! Thankfully, the Sedge Wren was very cooperative, and we all know how much I adore wrens!

Anyhoo, happy birding to all, and I hope everybody had a great Memorial Day Weekend!

(Above photo of SEDGE WREN was taken by Joe Vincent)

Location:     Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary--IBA
Observation date:     6/1/10
Number of species:     39

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     12
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes     3
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     6
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     4
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Great Egret - Ardea alba     1
Green Heron - Butorides virescens     3 (wet panne nearest observation blind off of Fox Hill Trail)
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus     1 (flying over fields near parking lot)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     2
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii     5
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus     2
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     5
Purple Martin - Progne subis     28
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     27
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     2
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon     2
SEDGE WREN - Cistothorus platensis     1 (Fox Hill Observation Platform)
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     3
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     8
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     37
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     11
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     6
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus     46 (throughout all the fields)
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     31
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     11
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     4
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     1
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus     2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     15
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus     18

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

Here are the directions from MAS' website to Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary:

From Rt 3 north or south: Take exit 12 (Rt 139). Follow Rt 139 east for 3.7 miles to Marshfield Center. Turn right at light onto Webster Street. Follow Webster Street 1.5 miles and turn left onto Winslow Cemetery Road. Sanctuary parking is 0.7 miles ahead (at the end of the road).

eBird Report - 83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460 , 5/29/10

Its been a pretty lax day in terms of being productive (it is Memorial Day Weekend after all), so thusly, boredom set in whilst at home. Henceforth, I decided to take a little stroll around the yard this evening and was blessed with some good birds, like a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER that is still kicking around that had arrived earlier this week. A RED-EYED VIREO was singing his heart out in our front yard, and the CAROLINA WRENS were still scrapping with the 2 resident HOUSE WRENS over the bluebird box that is in our backyard. It seems the Carolinas have become content with checking out the brush piles and shrubbery along the borders of our backyard. One pair of the 2 pairs of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS that have made our area home made an appearance during the time I was outside (5:30 to 6 pm), happily munching away at the main bird feeder (black sunflower seed). A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was chillin' along our western border of the yard (facing Proctor Hill) in the pines (though pines surround our entire front and back yard). Not too shabby I would say. Just a pleasant evening mingling (of sorts) with our fine-feathered friends! Happy birding to all!!


Location:     83 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460
Observation date:     5/29/10
Number of species:     18

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     2
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     1
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     4
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     2
Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus     3
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     2
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     1
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus     2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     1
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     6

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

eBird Report - Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, 5/26/10 - Numerous Marsh Wrens....JOY!

I must tell ya, Marsh Wrens are my absolute favorite wren! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all the wrens I come across immensely, but the Marsh takes the cake! Its gurgling, rattling, rolling trill makes me smile and laugh every time! And when it does pop out of the reeds, it flits around sporadically and on occasion will fly kinda like a miniature hovercraft from one section of reeds to another, gurgling the whole time! Man, ya just got to love all wrens....just zany, crazy, spunky little birds!

Anyhow, so yes, that was my highlight for today at Great Meadows NWR in Concord, being there from 8:30 am to 11 am. Sadly, no Moorhens, no Coots, no Pied-billed Grebe or Least Bittern (though I thought I might have heard the bittern's call, but am not confident about it). I must've been just a little too late in the morning. Plus, it was a bit sticky and fairly warm, and by the time I left, it was already about 90 out (its 94 now in Littleton, as of 1 pm). It was also a distinct pleasure to come across another Willow Flycatcher....just love their song (ritz-BEW!) And it was also sweet to see another small flock of another fave bird of mine, the Cedar Waxwing (Bohemians are just as amazing!). Well, enough from me, enjoy your day everybody and happy birding!

Location:     Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit
Observation date:     5/26/10
Notes:     Marsh Wrens mainly found along center dike trail bisecting the Upper and Lower Pools, but also a few along both dike trails that parallel the Concord River; relatively small flock of Cedar Waxwings found along dike trail parallel to concord on the Lower Pool side; Willow Flycatcher found in wetlands in between Concord River and Lower Pool in small copse of deciduous trees.
Number of species:     37

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     24
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor     4
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     3
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     3
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     3
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     4
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus     1 (seen flying over small creek that empties from the Lower Pool)
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     1 (Timber Trail)
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii     1 (Lower Pool Dike Trail)
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     1 (Bathrooms)
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     2
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     6
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     2 (buzzing by me along middle of center dike trail)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     7
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     3
Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris     11
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     6
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     2
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     11
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     2
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     1 (Timber Trail)
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1 (near Overlook Tower)
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     6
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     3
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     1
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     46
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     27
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     1
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     9

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

eBird Report - Martin Burns WMA, 5/23/10 - Olive-sided Flycatcher - NO, Luna Moth - YES

After spending about 6 hours at Plum, Kirk and myself ventured over to Martin Burns WMA in Byfield for 2.5 hours to see if we could chance upon the Olive-sided Flycatchers that had been seen there recently. Sadly, chance upon we did not. Nonetheless, Martin Burns WMA is another wonderful property managed by the State of MA Div. of Fisheries & Wildlife....in fact, I daresay I like it more than Bolton Flats WMA! Just wonderful habitat allowing for all sorts of birds and insects there. Highlights were FOY INDIGO BUNTINGS, Chestnut-sided Warblers and Prairie Warblers! After such a great day, I nonetheless felt incredibly drained thanks to not protecting myself from the effects of the sun and cursing the meteorologists, for I thought they had forecasted mostly cloudy conditions with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Kirk and I joined up with Brian Cassidy (?) with his assumed better-half and John (Nelson?), and while together, we came across a LUNA MOTH, though it was in pretty rough shape, but it was the first Luna Moth I have ever seen! Good luck to those who try to find the Olive-sided Flycatchers, I hope you have better luck than we did!


Location:     Martin Burns WMA
Observation date:     5/23/10
Number of species:     24

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     3
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     1
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     1
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     3
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     2
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     5
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Dendroica pensylvanica     3
Prairie Warbler - Dendroica discolor     2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     2
Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea     1
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     2
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1
Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea     3
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     2
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     1
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     2
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     3

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

eBird Report - Parker River NWR, 5/23/10 - 4 more Lifers!

Today's weather sure was interesting during our time at Plum. Kirk nor myself expected the island to be socked in like it was with fog and mist, but it surely was! Despite this, it was still a good day of birding at Plum (it usually is this time of year anyhow).

I was able to obtain 4 more Life birds today, that being several COMMON TERNS (yes, I did not have a single tern up until today...I rarely get out to the seacoast), a SORA (absolutely fantastic looks along Marsh Loop, the little bugger walking along near the left side of the boardwalk going towards the old blind), a WILLOW FLYCATCHER ("fitz-bew"!), and 2 cute little PIPING PLOVERS at Sandy (and yes, I know Sandy Point is not a part of Parker River)!

I would write more about our time at Plum, but I am thoroughly exhausted (the sun kicked my gluteus maximus, and yes, its my own fault).

Also, please note that a SANDWICH TERN was observed at Sandy Point around mid-morning (sadly, we could not get on him; Wetmore received a call while Kirk, myself and a bunch of fellow birders, including that of Wetmore were trying to get on a Canada and Mourning Warbler that had been seen down close to the old blind) and Kirk and I also couldn't get on the Roseate Terns that were there (either they had all moved on or the fog obscured our chances of seeing them). We also ran across Pamela Sowizral at Hellcat, and we could not get on birds that she came across, like the Least Bittern (heard) and Virginia Rails down along the Marsh Loop. Wilson's Phalaropes had been seen down in Bill Forward Pool somewhat near the dike, but we also could not get on them (again too late....just bad timing for us I guess).

Anyhoo, happy birding everyone!

Location:     Parker River NWR
Observation date:     5/23/10
Number of species:     48

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     8
Mute Swan - Cygnus olor     1
American Black Duck - Anas rubripes     4
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     6
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus     3
Great Egret - Ardea alba     2
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula     3
Sora - Porzana carolina     1
Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus     2
Piping Plover - Charadrius melodus     2
Willet (Eastern) - Tringa semipalmata semipalmata     3
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes     1
Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla     5
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     1
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo     7
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     2
Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii     1
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     12
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     2
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     2
Purple Martin - Progne subis     4
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     2
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     1
Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris     1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     4
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     6
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum     3
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     2
Northern Parula - Parula americana     1
Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     1
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens     1
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca     1
Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata     1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     3
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     5
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     1
Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus     3
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     32
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     21
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     1
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     1
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     4
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus     2

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

eBird Report - Hubbardston Wildlife Management Area , 5/21/10

I decided to take up the offer and join Lydia Rogers and Dan Stimson of Sudbury Valley Trustees on a ramble through the woods and wetlands of Hubbardston Wildlife Management Area. This was my first time being there and was looking forward to the experience! While Dan and Lydia were focused on tracking animals that had been through the area (ie fox, deer, moose, raccoon, porcupine, beaver, etc.), I of course was interested to see/hear what birds could be found there! I would have to say Hubbardston is as diverse bird-wise as Bolton Flats is, though of course, there are is a much greater wooded area than the aforementioned.

Highlights of the excursion (from Noon to 4 pm) were the Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers, Eastern Wood-Pewees (though sadly, only heard....damn foliage) and my truly ultimate "Nemesis Bird", the Winter Wren (again, only heard....boooooo). I am so mesmerized and enthralled by that wee-little wren's explosive, complex and long song....just amazing....yet, sadly, no matter how many times I have heard that dastardly little bird (like the numerous Winter Wrens heard up at Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson, NH), I can NEVER GET ON IT!! GAAARR!!! Oh well, such is life. However, I plan on getting on one at Pondicherry....it will occur goddammit! Okay, enough ranting. Hubbardston is a wonderful area, comprised of "600 acres of hills and valleys" of "mixed hardwood and conifer forest interspersed with agricultural and brushy fields with some alder and grass hummock marshes" (State of MA Fish & Wildlife). Please note, do bring some bug spray and prepare to do a little bushwhacking (plenty of fallen trees down, probably still from the ice storm of 2008)!!

Directions: take Route 2 west to Exit 25 for Routes 2A & 140. Take 140 S/2A W briefly, then take a right onto 2A W/Main St. (at traffic light for on-ramp to Route 2 eastbound). About .75 miles on 2A, take a left onto South St. Follow this road (South St. will become New Westminster Road at Mare Meadow Reservoir) for a total of 6.4 miles. There will be a parking lot on your road just before the bridge spanning Joslin Brook. (Please note, there is a placeholder for a sign that would mention you are at Hubbardston WMA, but at present, it is not up yet.)

Location:     Hubbardston Wildlife Management Area
Observation date:     5/21/10

Notes:     Please note we only heard the following species: Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Brown Creeper and Winter Wren.

Number of species:     24

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     1
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1

Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus     1 (heard only)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     3 (heard only, but unmistakable)

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     3
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     2
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     1
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     3

Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     1 (heard only)
Winter Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes     1 (heard only.....damn you little bird!!)

Veery - Catharus fuscescens     2
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Dendroica caerulescens     2
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens     4
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     5
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     6
Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea     3
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     3
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     1

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

eBird Report - Wolbach Farm, Sudbury, 5/20/10 - B-T Green Warbler & Eastern Wood-Pewee

I apologize for the late posting (was exhausted after a long day yesterday). Nonetheless, I had some time to enjoy myself in between working on a farmer's rock wall and attending the SVT Volunteer Appreciation event, so I decided to ramble around the trails in behind Wolbach Farm itself and also whatever I could see on the rest of the property at Wolbach. Mainly a number of your usual suspects, but was pleasantly surprised to come across a Black-throated Green Warbler and an Eastern Wood-Pewee while walking along the Inner Loop Trail.  A Wood Thrush made it's presence known near the end of the Outer Loop Trail where it meets up with the fields in behind Wolbach Farm. 4 Chimney Swifts kept on seemingly chasing each other across these fields out towards the Sudbury River floodplain, intermingling with a few Tree Swallows.

If looking for a quick, easy little walk amongst some nice wooded habitat, check out SVT's Wolbach Farm (it is also its headquarters): http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/.

Here are some directions: Directions: 

From Intersection of Route 128/95 and Route 20
Go west on Route 20 to Wayland Center which is the intersection of 20 and Route 27. Take Route 27 north towards Sudbury approximately 1.5 miles. Cross town line into Sudbury, crossing over the Sudbury River. Third road on the left is Wolbach Road, which is marked by SVT sign. Parking in lot just before the house on the right.

From 495
Take Route 62 east through Hudson. Continue straight when Route 62 goes north (towards Stow): this becomes State Road and then Hudson Road when you enter Sudbury. From the Hudson rotary to Sudbury Center is approximately 4.5 miles. Route 27 merges onto Hudson Road and goes through Sudbury Center. Continue approximately 1.0 mile on Route 27 after the Center; Wolbach Road will be on your right as you head downhill into a straightaway. If you cross the river, you have gone too far. Parking is in lot just before the house.

I hope everybody is able to get out this weekend to enjoy this fine weather and all the birds that there are to observe and enthrall in! Happy birding!

Location:     Wolbach Farm, Sudbury
Observation date:     5/20/10
Number of species:     19

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     1
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica     4
Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     3
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     3
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2
Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina     1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     10
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     3
Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens     1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     2
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     5
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     2
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     4

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

eBird Report - Wompatuck State Park--IBA, 5/16/10 - Worm-eating Warbler & Blackburnian Warbler; Cerulean Warbler heard (not seen)

Kirk Marshall and myself decided to make a day of it at Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, MA (being there from 8 am to about 3:45 pm). Our target birds were three-fold: Cerulean Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo and Worm-eating Warbler. Alas, we batted 1 for 3, getting extremely fantastic looks at a WORM-EATING WARBLER off the bike path near trail junction "N6". Thanks be to 2 fine gentlemen for locating the warbler (the song of the Worm-eating drew Kirk and myself in to the general area). Liam and David(?; sorry man, I need repetition with many things for stuff to sink in) spotted the Worm-eating, helped us get on him and let us get amazing looks through their spotting scope.

The CERULEAN WARBLER apparently has been a regular to Wompatuck every year for the past 4 years (according to fellow birders there; Kirk also knew that the Cerulean had been seen there the past couple of years). We sadly never got on him, but we heard the Cerulean's call several times, in and around Boundary Pond near the back gate/entrance of Wompatuck. We tried our darndest for at least 2.5 hours, hoping patience would pay off, but to no avail. Perhaps next weekend! Nonetheless, the Cerulean was seen by other birders earlier in the morning, so the bird is without a doubt there!

Ovenbirds were seemingly everywhere, like every quarter-mile you went, there was another 1 to 2 Ovenbirds singing their hearts out! American Redstarts, a Common Yellowthroat and a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER were seen off of South Pleasant St. (end closest to gate off of Union St.) We also heard a number of Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers, but were never able to get on them.

Yet another amazing day (3 more Life birds; Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler) however, I am thoroughly exhausted after having done some fantastic birding for the past 3 days.....time to unwind! To everyone, happy birding!

Location:     Wompatuck State Park--IBA
Observation date:     5/16/10
Notes:     Blue-winged Warbler actually seen in Burlington near wetlands adjacent to Wheeler/Blanchard Rd and Seven Springs Road; Norther Flicker seen at edge of parking lot for 128 Corporate Center off of Blanchard Road in Burlington.
Number of species:     36

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura     3
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis     1

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - Tringa solitaria     1 (Boundary Pond near back gate; same vicinity as Cerulean Warbler)
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     1 (Burlington, MA)
Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus     1 (Boundary Pond)
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     2 (several others heard)
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     4
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     6
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     2
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     1
Veery - Catharus fuscescens     1 (a handful of others heard singing)
Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina     1 (ditto)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     4
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis     2
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos     1
Blue-winged Warbler - Vermivora pinus     1 (Burlington, MA)
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER - Dendroica fusca     1 (Off of South Pleasant St.)
Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia     1
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     2
WORM-EATING WARBLER - Helmitheros vermivorum     1 (Off of bike path near trail jct. "N6")
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     X (everywhere you turned, there was an Ovenbird!)
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1

Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea     1 (off of trail leading to Wildcat Pond; a few others heard singing/calling)
Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus     3 (several others heard)
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     2 (several others heard)
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     1
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     4
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     5
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     2
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula     2 (several others heard)
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     3

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

And here some directions from DCR's website:

Park Directions
Wompatuck State Park is located near Hingham on Boston's South Shore.

From the south and Cape Cod: Rte 3 North to Exit 14 and the intersection with Rte. 228. Follow Rte. 228 North approximately 5 miles to Free Street on the right. Turn right onto Free Street one mile to the park entrance on the right. The camping area is 1.5 miles into the park on the right.

From the North: Follow Rte 3 South to exit 14 and the intersection with Rte. 228. Follow Rte. 228 North approximately 5 miles to the intersection with Free Street on the right. Turn right onto Free St. and follow it one mile to the Park entrance on the right.

MAS 2010 Bird-a-thon: 4 new Life birds and a Red-headed Woodpecker at Oxbow NWR!

This year's MAS Bird-a-thon was my first time ever participating in this event, and it was one of the most memorable and exhausting birding experiences I have had to date!!

I was part of Team Drumlin Farm, going out into the field with Pamela Sowizral, Mary Brogan and Bruce Black and we definitely made the most of this year's event! 78 TOTAL BIRDS we observed/heard over the course of these 2 days, and saw several excellent birds!

The 4 Life birds for me was seeing the MANX SHEARWATER, MONK PARAKEET, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER & CLAY-COLORED SPARROW!! (Don't worry, in the list I'll tell ya'll where these awesome birds were/are!)

DAY ONE:

Friday evening we started off visiting Revere Beach to look for our target bird, the MANX SHEARWATERS. We weren't there long before they graced us with their presence (6 in total), roughly 50 to 100 yards offshore. What fantastic pelagic birds they are! We then headed over to Bremen Street Park in East Boston to gaze upon the nesting MONK PARAKEETS. We had to wait awhile, roughly 15-20 minutes before a pair of the Quaker Parrots (as they are commonly referred to and sold under in stores). So very nice to see such exotic birds in the wild, though seemingly very far from their supposed natural element! We then tried to go for the Clay-colored Sparrow at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, but it was just far too late in the evening to see much of anything.

DAY TWO:

So, guess what our first stop was today, this Saturday the 15th??! Yup, you guessed it, Millennium Park in West Roxbury to try for the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW again, and this time, we got all that we could've hoped for. I must say, I truly wish I had an iPhone with the iBird app installed on it, because it was indispensable this whole trip in verifying bird calls and songs. It was using this program coupled with a Sibley Guide that confirmed the presence of the Clay-colored! This lovely little sparrow was located, if looking from the front entrance to the park (gate), off to the left side of the hill in the reeds (phragmites); side of the hill in between the road that goes to the river and the road that goes toward the top of that hill. The next stop was the Boston Public Gardens. Our hope was to try and get upon the female Summer Tanager that had been reported there, but no luck. Nonetheless, we were delighted to come upon several warbler species, including the aforementioned BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER as well as other goodies like the BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, the BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, and MAGNOLIA WARBLER! CHIMNEY SWIFTS were indeed everywhere there at Boston Public Gardens. I also ran across my great friend and buddy Kirk Marshall there, for after seeing the Massbird report from there, he too had to get in on the action!! From there we made a quick stop to Hanscom Field and lucked upon a couple of BOBOLINKS. We proceeded to Great Meadows NWR, Concord Unit, and sadly, there was not much to see. Several MARSH WRENS were putting on quite the show for us though along the Dike Trail. Next up was Bolton Flats WMA, and we came across several YELLOW WARBLERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER as the highlights from there. Our final stop was Oxbow NWR where the day before a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER had been reported, and again, we were not disappointed! Had fantastic looks at this lovely and striking pecker for at least 15 minutes. He can or should be found off of Tank Road to your left in the swampy area that set in a bit. Put it this way, when on Tank Road and you come upon the culvert that leads into a more open-watered swamp on your right, look and listen off to your left into the swamp there. I hope this Red-headed decides to stick around so others can see him! That of course was the main highlight, but VEERYS were heard and seen, and a number of YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS were heard (seen by other birders there), but we could not get on them. OVENBIRDS were fairly plentiful as well. Oh, how could I forget, when we were over by the photo-blind off of Turnpike Trail, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK came soaring over.....yet another awesome bird!

Anyhow, enough from me, here is the full list (78 total):

MANX SHEARWATER - (Revere Beach; look for pink apartment buildings)

NORTHERN GANNET - (Revere Beach; seen off a ways, fairly good looks with scope)

Double-crested Cormorant - (first observed while driving along Route 145)

Great Blue Heron - (first observed for me while driving past Littleton Heron Rookery heading east on Route 2)

Turkey Vulture - (Bolton Flats WMA)

Canada Goose - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)

BRANT - (Revere Beach, at least half-dozen observed)

Mute Swan - (Boston Public Gardens)

Wood Duck - (Oxbow NWR)

American Black Duck - (Boston Public Gardens)

Mallard - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - (Revere Beach)

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - (seen being mobbed by Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds near Assabet River while stopped at traffic light for jct. of 62 & 117 in Maynard)

Red-tailed Hawk - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 15th)

RUFFED GROUSE - (heard drumming several times from parking lot at Oxbow NWR)

Wild Turkey - (Drumlin Farm education dept. parking lot)

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - (Bolton Flats WMA)

Killdeer - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - (Bolton Flats WMA)

AMERICAN WOODCOCK - (heard peenting while watching the Red-headed Woodpecker; was seen by other birders there along Turnpike Trail)

Ring-billed Gull - (Revere Beach)

Herring Gull - (Revere Beach)

Great Black-backed Gull - (Revere Beach)

Rock Pigeon - (first observed when on Route 1A in Revere)

Mourning Dove - (first seen flying across hood of car while on Hartwell Ave in Littleton)

MONK PARAKEET - (Bremen Street Park, East Boston)

COMMON NIGHTHAWK - (Oxbow NWR)

Chimney Swift - (Boston Public Gardens)

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - (Oxbow NWR)

Red-bellied Woodpecker - (heard at Drumlin; seen at Oxbow NWR)

Downy Woodpecker - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)

Eastern Phoebe - (bathrooms at Great Meadows NWR, Concord Unit)

Eastern Kingbird - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - (heard at Oxbow NWR; seen by other birders)

Warbling Vireo - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)

Blue Jay - (Home)

American Crow - (first observed while driving past Littleton Heron Rookery)

Tree Swallow - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 15th)

Black-capped Chickadee - (Home)

Tufted Titmouse - (Home)

Red-breasted Nuthatch - (heard at Drumlin Farm)

White-breasted Nuthatch - (Oxbow NWR)

Brown Creeper - (Oxbow NWR)

House Wren - (Home)

MARSH WREN - (Great Meadows NWR, Concord)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - (Bolton Flats WMA)

Eastern Bluebird - (Millennium Park)

Veery - (Oxbow NWR)

American Robin - (first observed at Millennium Park on the 14th)

Gray Catbird - (first observed at Drumlin Farm)

Northern Mockingbird - (heard at Drumlin; first seen at Hanscom Field)

European Starling - (first seen along Route 1A in Revere)

CEDAR WAXWING - (Boston Public Gardens)

Northern Parula - (Boston Public Gardens)

Yellow Warbler - (first observed at Great Meadows NWR, Concord)

MAGNOLIA WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler - (Boston Public Gardens)

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER - (Boston Public Gardens)

Black-and-white Warbler - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)

American Redstart - (first observed at Boston Public Gardens)

Ovenbird - (Oxbow NWR)

Common Yellowthroat - (Bolton Flats WMA)

WILSON'S WARBLER - (first observed by me at Oxbow NWR; also seen by Pam at Boston Public Gardens)

Scarlet Tanager - (Oxbow NWR)

Savannah Sparrow - (Millennium Park)

Song Sparrow - (heard at Millennium; first seen by me at Bolton Flats WMA)

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - (Millennium Park; in reeds to the left side of the hill when approaching from main entrance)

Northern Cardinal - (Home)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - (Oxbow NWR)

BOBOLINK - (Hanscom Field)

Red-winged Blackbird - (seen everywhere)

Common Grackle - (seen everywhere)

Brown-headed Cowbird - (Millennium Park)

Baltimore Oriole - (first seen at Home)

American Goldfinch - (ditto)

House Sparrow - (Revere & Boston Public Gardens)

I want to sincerely thank Bruce Black and Mary Brogan for carting the whole group around and I want to truly thank Pam for inviting me to join them and participate in this year's Bird-a-thon....an amazing experience that shall stick with me forever!!

To all those who participated, I hope you had a great weekend of birding, saw many great birds and just had a fantastic time enjoying yourself, the birds and the company you kept! 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!!