Date: 11/15/24 3:58 am From: Paul Ippolito <paulippolito295...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] MBC Sunday walk and next week's meeting
Fellow MBC members,
We have another walk this Sunday at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus.
We will also have our next meeting this Tuesday, November 19th @ 7:00 PM at
the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road in Winchester as we will have Alan
Ankers presenting his photographic tour covering the entire breadth of
Namibia in southwestern Africa exploring the country’s history, geography,
animals, plants, reptiles and insects, as well as birds. Plenty of
birds! Doors
open at 6:30 for set up and social time and the meeting starts promptly at
7:00 PM.
As a reminder, this Fall we still have a few bird walks in conjunction with
the naturalists at the Boston Nature Center and the Brookline Bird Club at
places like Belle Island Marsh, the Boston Nature Center and Millenium Park.
Do however continue to look at the weekly e-mails as we continually add
trips based upon what is being seen, weather and availability of our
leaders.
Fall migration is wrapping up but continues with some interesting
observations being posted throughout Massachusetts and past experience
suggests that November is a good month for rarities to show up so keep
exploring your local patches, *report what you are seeing* and enjoy all
that our area has to offer.
*Sunday, November 17*
*Bear Creek Sanctuary, Saugus *
*Soheil Zendeh 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM*
Here are details for attending walks at this property:
Bear Creek is an upland wildlife sanctuary built on the Wheelabrator
(formerly RESCO) landfill at the northern end of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and
Revere. Access information is below. Wear good walking shoes and be
prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be
prepared for sun, wind and weather.
This walk is free and open to the public, but also note that this property
is accessible by invitation only and visitors need to be chaperoned at all
times. Please allow roughly 4 hours for this field trip. The actual length
of the trip depends on conditions and the birds present. It's usually
difficult to break up the party if you need to be somewhere in the early
afternoon. Come prepared to stay with the group.
Wheelabrator company has graciously stocked up on some extra pairs of
binoculars, so if you or someone you know wants to learn about birds and
birding, come on down. Please let Geoff Wilson <s2ary39...> know
you're coming so we can have a head count.
Bear Creek Sanctuary access is via the Wheelabrator plant, 100 Salem
Turnpike (Rte 107), Saugus. The rotary at the intersection of Rtes 60 and
107 is about 1½ miles southwest of the plant and about 1 mile east of Rte 1
exit on Rte 60. When traveling northeast on 107, if you go over the Ballard
Street bridge (just after a set of lights) you’ve gone too far — turn back.
Here is a link to google maps: http://tinyurl.com/326v87d
When you arrive, drive through the plant gates, park in the parking lot
immediately and wait for the group. Please do not drive farther into the
property without an escort.
*Tuesday, November 19*
*6:30 PM Social Time, 7:00 Meeting Start *
*Across Namibia – Birds and Other Cool Stuff*
*Alan Ankers – Jenks Center, Winchester*
The Menotomy Bird Club will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, November 19th
@ 7:00 PM at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road in Winchester as we will
have Alan Ankers presenting
his photographic tour covering the entire breadth of Namibia in
southwestern Africa exploring the country’s history, geography, animals,
plants, reptiles and insects, as well as birds. Plenty of birds!
Alan Ankers has keenly birded Middlesex County for the last thirty years
and in recent years started exploring the rest of the world’s birds. Since
co-leading the very first Menotomy Bird Club outing in March 2003, he has
led regular bird walks for the club in his current hometown of Carlisle. He
enjoys hiking and generally exploring the natural world, particularly
dragonflies and butterflies as well as birds.
Doors open at 6:30 for set up and social time and the meeting starts
promptly at 7:00 PM.
*Sunday, November 24*
*Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, Winthrop *
*120 Banks Street, Winthrop 8:00 AM*
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban
habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and
rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and
identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all
levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to
come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with
the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: Belle
Isle Marsh is accessible by the Blue Line at the Suffolk Downs stop and has
a large parking lot. Meet in the main parking lot by the bird feeders. The
walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing
<cgeorge...> and copying <neil.calabro1...> Please note that
participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to
30 people.
*Sunday, December 1 *
*Dunback Meadows, Lexington*
*Cliff Cook 8:00 AM - Noon*
Join us as we explore the fields and paths of Dunback Meadows looking for
wintering birds including raptors. As time permits, we may travel to
nearby areas in Waltham, Lexington and Belmont depending on recent reports.
Expect to walk about 3 miles on trails. Cosponsored with Brookline Bird
Club. Meet at the Clark Middle School, at the end of Brookside Avenue. 8:00
AM – Noon Cliff Cook <ccook13...>
*Sunday, December 8*
*Squantum Point Park, Quincy *
*MWRA Haul Road, Quincy 8:00 AM*
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban
habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and
rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and
identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all
levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to
come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with
the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: We
will park at the LEFT side entrance of the large parking lot off of MWRA
Haul Rd. Do not be concerned if parts of the lot are closed with orange
cones, the police frequently use the parking lot for training exercises.
The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing
<cgeorge...> and copying <neil.calabro1...> Please note that
participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to
30 people.
*Tuesday, December 17*
*6:30 PM Social Time, 7:00 Meeting Start *
*Saving and rehabbing wildlife in Massachusetts*
*Andrew Joslin – Jenks Center, Winchester*
The Menotomy Bird Club will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, December 17th
@ 7:00 PM at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road in Winchester as we will
have Andrew Joslin, a professional tree climber, naturalist, and artist
talking about his climbing experiences with our hawks and owls and the
difficult problem of rodenticide threats to our local raptors.
Andrew has become the go-to in eastern Massachusetts for getting stuck cats
out of trees. This expertise led to wildlife rehabilitators reaching out to
Andrew for assistance with raptor nest problems.
Doors open at 6:30 for set up and social time and the meeting starts
promptly at 7:00 PM.
*Sunday, December 22*
*Millenium Park, Boston *
*300 Gardner Street, Boston 8:00 AM*
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban
habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and
rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and
identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all
levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to
come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with
the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: Meet
in the parking lot nearest the canoe launch. Once you arrive at the park,
turn left and then you will very soon see a small sign at the first left
turn labelled Canoe Launch. Follow that road to the end of the parking
lot. The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing
<cgeorge...> and copying <neil.calabro1...> Please note that
participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to
30 people.
If you are interested in leading a trip, please reach out to Alan Ankers,
Renee LaFontaine or myself, the club would be so lucky to have you lead.
Please continue to post your observations.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
