Date: 2/14/19 7:23 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
I think this is what causes most irruptions. Major food availability, total exploitation, massive movements looking for new sources.
We usually see this in seed/fruit eaters (winter finches). Owls (and raptors?) can be more subtle, likely due to their and their prey's more stealthy methods. It is know widely known owl irruptions are well fed birds seeking new food sources.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On February 14, 2019 at 9:22 PM Chris Heys <chris.p.heys...> wrote: > > Dianne, > > Interesting that you brought up the mice. Summer time into early fall had us very busy emptying mouse traps. But this winter has brought us nearly no mice what so ever. We went from an invasion to total rodent abandonment. > > Chris Heys > Jaffrey NH > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Feb 14, 2019, at 8:06 PM, diane < <nahs52...> mailto:<nahs52...> > wrote: > > > > > I have never had a day-time Barred Owl in North Andover but had one about a month ago. It hung around for nearly an hour in one spot with no attempt to catch prey. > > > > Additionally, on Route 114 about a month ago there was a dead Barred Owl near Stop and Shop. > > > > Thanks to Rich Frechette for his explanation about day-time hunting of the Barred Owl. > > > > Just for the record, we have had a record # of mice in our house: we have caught 85 since late October. > > > > Diane Lightburn > > Merrimack Valley Bird Club. > > > > Diane Lightburn <nahs52...> mailto:<nahs52...> > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------- > > From: <massbird-approval...> mailto:<massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> mailto:<massbird-approval...> > on behalf of Liz Pease <lizpease...> mailto:<lizpease...> > > > Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 6:50 PM > > To: <Massbird...> mailto:<Massbird...> > > Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls > > > > I too have had quite a fall and winter for barred owls between the one that was at Salisbury Reservation for quite a bit, then one passing through my Salisbury backyard (being harassed by the resident area Cooper's hawk) early the day after Thanksgiving, to several sightings - twilight and daylight - at the intersection of Rte. 1 and 286 in Salisbury. > > > > As for road-killed owls, I observed one just south of the Rte. 1 and 286 intersection in January. I reported that owl to MA Aububon, and they were kind enough to call me back and tell me that, indeed, they have had record numbers of reports of deceased hit-by-car barred owls this season. > > > > That following week, on a commute from Salisbury to Wellesley, I saw another dead barred owl in the center/median breakdown lane of 95/128 around Lynnfield and decided to start keeping an eye out. Between Lynnfield and Wellesley, and then back home from Wellesley to Salisbury, I observed 11 dead raptors, and felt confident that 8 of those were barred owls, with the other 3 being questionable or hard to identify, including one that looked to be most likely a red tail. > > > > I was stunned by the number, having spent the last 20 years seeing only a small handful of owls -- barred or otherwise. Amazing! > > > > -- > > Liz Pease > > Salisbury, MA > > > > >
Hi, I birded from 12:00-4:30 in Rockport. I started at Cathedral Ledge, then walked along the lovely Atlantic Path to Andrew's Point. From thence, I walked to Halibut Point. I did a fair amount of thicket birding.
Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 2 Cathedral Ledge; same ones from two weeks ago? Great Cormorant 1 Harlequin Duck 60 Black Scoter 45 Long-tailed Duck 7 RAZORBILL 1 Andrew's Point Cooper's Hawk 1 near Cat Lady's Place (Halibut Point) WINTER WREN 1 Cat Lady's Place Carolina Wren 2 Halibut Point Hermit Thrush 1 Andrew's Hollow Rd. Gray Catbird 1 Cove Ave. Thicket Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Back 40
P.S. Not a good day to look out over the water, i.e. rough surf
Date: 2/14/19 6:29 pm From: Chris Heys <chris.p.heys...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
Dianne,
Interesting that you brought up the mice. Summer time into early fall had us very busy emptying mouse traps. But this winter has brought us nearly no mice what so ever. We went from an invasion to total rodent abandonment.
Chris Heys
Jaffrey NH
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 14, 2019, at 8:06 PM, diane <nahs52...> wrote:
>
> I have never had a day-time Barred Owl in North Andover but had one about a month ago. It hung around for nearly an hour in one spot with no attempt to catch prey.
>
> Additionally, on Route 114 about a month ago there was a dead Barred Owl near Stop and Shop.
>
> Thanks to Rich Frechette for his explanation about day-time hunting of the Barred Owl.
>
> Just for the record, we have had a record # of mice in our house: we have caught 85 since late October.
>
> Diane Lightburn
> Merrimack Valley Bird Club.
>
> Diane Lightburn <nahs52...>
>
> From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> on behalf of Liz Pease <lizpease...>
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 6:50 PM
> To: <Massbird...>
> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
>
> I too have had quite a fall and winter for barred owls between the one that was at Salisbury Reservation for quite a bit, then one passing through my Salisbury backyard (being harassed by the resident area Cooper's hawk) early the day after Thanksgiving, to several sightings - twilight and daylight - at the intersection of Rte. 1 and 286 in Salisbury.
>
> As for road-killed owls, I observed one just south of the Rte. 1 and 286 intersection in January. I reported that owl to MA Aububon, and they were kind enough to call me back and tell me that, indeed, they have had record numbers of reports of deceased hit-by-car barred owls this season.
>
> That following week, on a commute from Salisbury to Wellesley, I saw another dead barred owl in the center/median breakdown lane of 95/128 around Lynnfield and decided to start keeping an eye out. Between Lynnfield and Wellesley, and then back home from Wellesley to Salisbury, I observed 11 dead raptors, and felt confident that 8 of those were barred owls, with the other 3 being questionable or hard to identify, including one that looked to be most likely a red tail.
>
> I was stunned by the number, having spent the last 20 years seeing only a small handful of owls -- barred or otherwise. Amazing!
>
> --
> Liz Pease
> Salisbury, MA
Date: 2/14/19 5:13 pm From: diane <nahs52...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
I have never had a day-time Barred Owl in North Andover but had one about a month ago. It hung around for nearly an hour in one spot with no attempt to catch prey.
Additionally, on Route 114 about a month ago there was a dead Barred Owl near Stop and Shop.
Thanks to Rich Frechette for his explanation about day-time hunting of the Barred Owl.
Just for the record, we have had a record # of mice in our house: we have caught 85 since late October.
Diane Lightburn
Merrimack Valley Bird Club.
Diane Lightburn <nahs52...>
________________________________
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> on behalf of Liz Pease <lizpease...>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 6:50 PM
To: <Massbird...>
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
I too have had quite a fall and winter for barred owls between the one that was at Salisbury Reservation for quite a bit, then one passing through my Salisbury backyard (being harassed by the resident area Cooper's hawk) early the day after Thanksgiving, to several sightings - twilight and daylight - at the intersection of Rte. 1 and 286 in Salisbury.
As for road-killed owls, I observed one just south of the Rte. 1 and 286 intersection in January. I reported that owl to MA Aububon, and they were kind enough to call me back and tell me that, indeed, they have had record numbers of reports of deceased hit-by-car barred owls this season.
That following week, on a commute from Salisbury to Wellesley, I saw another dead barred owl in the center/median breakdown lane of 95/128 around Lynnfield and decided to start keeping an eye out. Between Lynnfield and Wellesley, and then back home from Wellesley to Salisbury, I observed 11 dead raptors, and felt confident that 8 of those were barred owls, with the other 3 being questionable or hard to identify, including one that looked to be most likely a red tail.
I was stunned by the number, having spent the last 20 years seeing only a small handful of owls -- barred or otherwise. Amazing!
Date: 2/14/19 3:55 pm From: Richard Guthrie <richardpguthrie...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A big winter for Barred Owls
It’s too bad eBird doesn’t allow reporting road kill (or other fresh casualty) birds. Those numbers would add to support the documentation of this eruption event.
Richard Guthrie
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 13, 2019, at 11:34 AM, Stephen Mirick <smirick...> wrote: > > Just a few comments and observations about the "good" winter we're having (at least locally) for Barred Owls: > > * I rarely "see" live Barred Owls during the day, except for the occasional bird that I hoot in on breeding territory during spring and summer. This winter, I've seen several with at least 4 different day-time sightings. All from non-breeding areas. One off I495 in Amesbury, MA, one off Rt. 1 in Hampton Falls, NH, and at least 2 (!) in one walk around Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH. The latter two are my FIRST EVER from the trails at Odiorne. > > * They don't nest in the immediate vicinity of our house in Haverhill, MA. We had our first "yard" Barred Owl in 16 years with one calling in mid-September. More recently, however, two of my neighbors have separately reported to me WITH PHOTOGRAPHS of a night-time Barred Owl that seems to be hunting by perching on the hood of their cars in their driveways!! > > * Numerous other birders and non-birders seem to be reporting day-time sightings and or road-kills to me. > > * There have been HUGE numbers of road-kill Barred Owls this winter. I haven't been paying close attention or count until recently, but there were clearly a lot in the late fall and early winter and they continue. On Monday while driving from Haverhill, MA to Manchester, NH, I noted at least 3 or 4 road-kills seemingly fresh kills on the north-bound side of the Rt. 213 Loop Connector off I495 in just 3 miles! And one more dead bird up toward Manchester, NH off I93. The day before, we saw a freshly hit bird off I495 in Amesbury. > > * I researched eBird and since January 1, 2019 (6 weeks) there are 130 reports of Barred Owls entered. Last winter there were 68 reports in the same time frame. > > * The last big winter, I can recall was in 2007-2008. Another huge winter with lots of day-time sightings in odd places. I think I had 8 or 9 different individuals sighted that winter! > > * Thus far, I can only vouch for lots of Barred Owls. I've only heard of one road-kill Saw-whet Owl in Stratham (M. Hatfield), and I haven't heard of any day-time sightings of Saw-whets. Nor have I heard of any abnormal sightings of Great Horned Owls. > > * I suspect that most or all of these sightings and road-kills are first winter birds; dispersing (south and east?) from breeding areas as the result of an excellent reproductive summer. Possibly correlated to the bumper crop of squirrels (and/or Red-backed Voles?). Boy wasn't that road-kill carnage of Gray Squirrels last summer amazing! And rather disgusting in places! > > * I wonder where these birds have come from. Are they local birds, or did they travel hundreds of miles? We never think of Barred Owls as a "migratory" species. > > * The Barred Owl incursion has made the news. Tufts Wildlife Clinic has had RECORD numbers of birds brought in. This is an article from two months ago: > https://www.telegram.com/news/20181205/barred-owls-keeping-tufts-wildlife-clinic-busy > > and from Connecticut: > https://www.nhregister.com/local/article/Reports-of-unusual-barred-owl-behavior-across-13581182.php > > and from Maine: > https://www.pressherald.com/2018/12/18/maine-wildlife-rehabilitation-centers-see-record-number-of-injured-owls/ > > Steve Mirick > Bradford, MA > > >
Date: 2/14/19 1:10 pm From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR-Concord Unit, Valentine's species census, Feb 14, 2019
All of the birds were apparently out buying Valentines.
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Feb 14, 2019 7:40 AM - 9:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.2 mile(s) Comments: Weekly species census for the NWR. Upper 20's F. Impoundments frozen except by the bridge. We walked a whole circuit (main dike around Lower Pool, and back railroad grade). Zero activity in the impoundments. 11 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 9 On river Common Goldeneye 10 On river gull sp. 1 Distant and briefly seen Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2 sparrow sp. 1 Northern Cardinal 2
Date: 2/14/19 1:10 pm From: Liz Pease <lizpease...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: A big winter for barred owls
I too have had quite a fall and winter for barred owls between the one that was at Salisbury Reservation for quite a bit, then one passing through my Salisbury backyard (being harassed by the resident area Cooper's hawk) early the day after Thanksgiving, to several sightings - twilight and daylight - at the intersection of Rte. 1 and 286 in Salisbury.
As for road-killed owls, I observed one just south of the Rte. 1 and 286 intersection in January. I reported that owl to MA Aububon, and they were kind enough to call me back and tell me that, indeed, they have had record numbers of reports of deceased hit-by-car barred owls this season.
That following week, on a commute from Salisbury to Wellesley, I saw another dead barred owl in the center/median breakdown lane of 95/128 around Lynnfield and decided to start keeping an eye out. Between Lynnfield and Wellesley, and then back home from Wellesley to Salisbury, I observed 11 dead raptors, and felt confident that 8 of those were barred owls, with the other 3 being questionable or hard to identify, including one that looked to be most likely a red tail.
I was stunned by the number, having spent the last 20 years seeing only a small handful of owls -- barred or otherwise. Amazing!
Date: 2/14/19 1:07 pm From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A big winter for Barred Owls
Hello,
I guess it is a big year yesterday on the way home from work at about 5:15 PM had a Barred Owl sitting on a realtor's For Sale sign along Rocky Hill Rd in Hadley. Would have made an amusing photo but the there was too much traffic and the road was narrower because of the recent snow.
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
On Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 11:38 AM Stephen Mirick <smirick...> wrote: > > Just a few comments and observations about the "good" winter we're > having (at least locally) for Barred Owls: > > * I rarely "see" live Barred Owls during the day, except for the > occasional bird that I hoot in on breeding territory during spring and > summer. This winter, I've seen several with at least 4 different > day-time sightings. All from non-breeding areas. One off I495 in > Amesbury, MA, one off Rt. 1 in Hampton Falls, NH, and at least 2 (!) in > one walk around Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH. The latter two are > my FIRST EVER from the trails at Odiorne. > > * They don't nest in the immediate vicinity of our house in Haverhill, > MA. We had our first "yard" Barred Owl in 16 years with one calling in > mid-September. More recently, however, two of my neighbors have > separately reported to me WITH PHOTOGRAPHS of a night-time Barred Owl > that seems to be hunting by perching on the hood of their cars in their > driveways!! > > * Numerous other birders and non-birders seem to be reporting day-time > sightings and or road-kills to me. > > * There have been HUGE numbers of road-kill Barred Owls this winter. I > haven't been paying close attention or count until recently, but there > were clearly a lot in the late fall and early winter and they continue. > On Monday while driving from Haverhill, MA to Manchester, NH, I noted at > least 3 or 4 road-kills seemingly fresh kills on the north-bound side of > the Rt. 213 Loop Connector off I495 in just 3 miles! And one more dead > bird up toward Manchester, NH off I93. The day before, we saw a freshly > hit bird off I495 in Amesbury. > > * I researched eBird and since January 1, 2019 (6 weeks) there are 130 > reports of Barred Owls entered. Last winter there were 68 reports in > the same time frame. > > * The last big winter, I can recall was in 2007-2008. Another huge > winter with lots of day-time sightings in odd places. I think I had 8 > or 9 different individuals sighted that winter! > > * Thus far, I can only vouch for lots of Barred Owls. I've only heard > of one road-kill Saw-whet Owl in Stratham (M. Hatfield), and I haven't > heard of any day-time sightings of Saw-whets. Nor have I heard of any > abnormal sightings of Great Horned Owls. > > * I suspect that most or all of these sightings and road-kills are first > winter birds; dispersing (south and east?) from breeding areas as the > result of an excellent reproductive summer. Possibly correlated to the > bumper crop of squirrels (and/or Red-backed Voles?). Boy wasn't that > road-kill carnage of Gray Squirrels last summer amazing! And rather > disgusting in places! > > * I wonder where these birds have come from. Are they local birds, or > did they travel hundreds of miles? We never think of Barred Owls as a > "migratory" species. > > * The Barred Owl incursion has made the news. Tufts Wildlife Clinic has > had RECORD numbers of birds brought in. This is an article from two > months ago: > https://www.telegram.com/news/20181205/barred-owls-keeping-tufts-wildlife-clinic-busy > > and from Connecticut: > https://www.nhregister.com/local/article/Reports-of-unusual-barred-owl-behavior-across-13581182.php > > and from Maine: > https://www.pressherald.com/2018/12/18/maine-wildlife-rehabilitation-centers-see-record-number-of-injured-owls/ > > Steve Mirick > Bradford, MA > > >
Date: 2/14/19 3:39 am From: <mexczech...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A big winter for Barred Owls
Hi Birders,
We are used to regularly seeing and hearing barred owl near our home. We had a nest which was easily observed from our home from which at least 3 fledged on one occasion. However, this has been the quietest last 6 months of the 15 years we've lived in our home.
Tim ZajicBoxford, MA
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...>
To: nhbirds <nhbirds...>; Massbird <massbird...>
Sent: Wed, Feb 13, 2019 11:40 am
Subject: [MASSBIRD] A big winter for Barred Owls
Just a few comments and observations about the "good" winter we're
having (at least locally) for Barred Owls:
* I rarely "see" live Barred Owls during the day, except for the
occasional bird that I hoot in on breeding territory during spring and
summer. This winter, I've seen several with at least 4 different
day-time sightings. All from non-breeding areas. One off I495 in
Amesbury, MA, one off Rt. 1 in Hampton Falls, NH, and at least 2 (!) in
one walk around Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH. The latter two are
my FIRST EVER from the trails at Odiorne.
* They don't nest in the immediate vicinity of our house in Haverhill,
MA. We had our first "yard" Barred Owl in 16 years with one calling in
mid-September. More recently, however, two of my neighbors have
separately reported to me WITH PHOTOGRAPHS of a night-time Barred Owl
that seems to be hunting by perching on the hood of their cars in their
driveways!!
* Numerous other birders and non-birders seem to be reporting day-time
sightings and or road-kills to me.
* There have been HUGE numbers of road-kill Barred Owls this winter. I
haven't been paying close attention or count until recently, but there
were clearly a lot in the late fall and early winter and they continue.
On Monday while driving from Haverhill, MA to Manchester, NH, I noted at
least 3 or 4 road-kills seemingly fresh kills on the north-bound side of
the Rt. 213 Loop Connector off I495 in just 3 miles! And one more dead
bird up toward Manchester, NH off I93. The day before, we saw a freshly
hit bird off I495 in Amesbury.
* I researched eBird and since January 1, 2019 (6 weeks) there are 130
reports of Barred Owls entered. Last winter there were 68 reports in
the same time frame.
* The last big winter, I can recall was in 2007-2008. Another huge
winter with lots of day-time sightings in odd places. I think I had 8
or 9 different individuals sighted that winter!
* Thus far, I can only vouch for lots of Barred Owls. I've only heard
of one road-kill Saw-whet Owl in Stratham (M. Hatfield), and I haven't
heard of any day-time sightings of Saw-whets. Nor have I heard of any
abnormal sightings of Great Horned Owls.
* I suspect that most or all of these sightings and road-kills are first
winter birds; dispersing (south and east?) from breeding areas as the
result of an excellent reproductive summer. Possibly correlated to the
bumper crop of squirrels (and/or Red-backed Voles?). Boy wasn't that
road-kill carnage of Gray Squirrels last summer amazing! And rather
disgusting in places!
* I wonder where these birds have come from. Are they local birds, or
did they travel hundreds of miles? We never think of Barred Owls as a
"migratory" species.
I went to Dunback at about 4PM in search of the Evening Grosbeaks and had no luck with them but I did see a nice sleeping Barred Owl on the same trail. It was in a tree on the left about halfway from the crossroads to the first bridge. Carl WestlundWaltham
On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 12:02:19 PM EST, Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> wrote:
Hi, There were 12 Evening Grosbeaks, 8 females and 4 males this morning at Dunback Meadows in Lexington. From the Allen St. entrance go to crossroads take a right, the birds were feeding on fruit about 100 yards before first bridge. They were in a mixed flock with juncos and house finch. Pretty wet conditions, wear your Wellies(s?) Have fun! Jon <DamianCambridgejongennarodamian...>
Date: 2/13/19 9:00 am From: Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Evening Grosbeaks
Hi,
There were 12 Evening Grosbeaks, 8 females and 4 males this morning at Dunback Meadows in Lexington. From the Allen St. entrance go to crossroads take a right, the birds were feeding on fruit about 100 yards before first bridge. They were in a mixed flock with juncos and house finch.
Date: 2/13/19 6:45 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Volunteer opportunity - Coastal Waterbird Monitoring, Boston Harbor Islands National Park
Looking for a volunteer opportunity?
The Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is seeking volunteer support for the spring coastal bird monitoring season (terns, oyster catchers, cormorants, gulls, herons, and eider). Volunteers would work with scientists from the National Park Service and the University of Rhode Island to contribute to an ongoing monitoring study of the Boston Harbor. You can learn more about the study by following this link, and about the park by visiting bostonharborislands.org. <http://bostonharborislands.org/?fbclid=IwAR1TYtDCYpbvmPJR_n4vqKGbVw24YsudMqUZxBKenousQDXMQ0VX4m9GNAc>
Interested applicants should be knowledgeable about coastal birds, monitoring techniques, and comfortable out on the water in small watercraft. Training will be provided!
Volunteers will assist in surveying coastal breeding birds on the Boston Harbor Islands. This effort is part of the Park's long-term monitoring program.
To apply or for more information, contact <volunteers...> .
Thanks to Bonnie Schwartz, National Parks of Boston Volunteer Coordinator, for this announcement.
Date: 2/12/19 1:06 pm From: Kevin Ryan <kr1946...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Eagles
Hello allGetting to be that you can find Eagles anywhere, nice. This morning while driving through Braintree square I had an adult Bald Eagle, and judging by the size I'd say it was probably a male. After breakfast with my buddies I went searching the area and at Sunset Lake a stones through away I found an Immature that was probably a Female. Always nice to see after so many years without them. Thank you to Mass Fish and Game and Mass Audubon.Kevin Ryan Easton
Date: 2/12/19 12:49 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birdsong IDENTIFLYER Audio Bird Song Dictionary - for sale
Judy Noun has a new Birdsong IDENTIFLYER Audio Bird Song Dictionary that she would like to sell. Below is the information. Contact her directly if you are interested in this.
FOR SALE: Identiflyer: Audio Bird Song Dictionary
DESCRIPTION:The BirdSong IdentiFlyer is a useful tool that helps people learn and identify the songs of backyard birds. You can create a library of birdsongs by adding more song cards to the two included in the set.
The Identiflyer:
Plays digital birdsong recordings from interchangeable Song Cards.
Helps you identify birds by their songs.
Comes with 2 Yard Bird Song Card.
Each credit card sized sound card contains the songs of 10different birds.
CONDITION:Brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original
packaging.
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
Songplayer
Single Earbud for private listening
2 Song Cards (20 bird songs)-YardBirds Series 1 and YardBirdsSeries 2
Identiflyer Guide
3 AAA batteries (already inserted)
Case for player
AGES:This item is appropriate for beginners and experts of all ages who
want to become an expert at recognizing bird songs.
Price:$45 (cash only)
Location:Needham, MA, but am willing to meet halfway.
Date: 2/12/19 8:18 am From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Snow goose
Massbirders The previously reported snow goose in Eastham was enthusiastically reported to me via a student drive by, which I don't have reason to doubt, however I could not find it just now... Peter Trull <Petrull...>
Date: 2/12/19 4:49 am From: Pamela Ciccone <Phg44...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] American Bald Eagle
Hello, The bald eagle was sitting on the ice at one of the few open patches of water on Mystic Lakes in Medford while I was driving to work this morning. What a majestic bird!
Ron Hamburger just called to say he had the Trumpeter Swan in Milford behind the NRG fitness center on Sumner St around 3 p.m. He followed previous directions, walked down the little path and saw the swan with one Mute swan.
Ciao, Linda
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
Date: 2/11/19 12:38 pm From: Susan Hedman <2winterwren...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Feb 10, 2019
Nothing unusual during a walk on a cold day on the trails at IWRS, but I did have my first of year male Red-winged Blackbirds at the feeder behind the nature center. I also saw a good deal of fresh beaver work, and actually saw a beaver too! Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Essex, Massachusetts, US Feb 10, 2019 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.5 mile(s) 21 species Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 30 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4 Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 3 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2 Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 10 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 6 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 4 Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 5 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2 American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 1 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 8
Date: 2/11/19 8:56 am From: Joseph Bourget <joseph.bourget...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] EBird hotspots
Hello Massbirders!
As many of you know, I am one of the Hotspot editors for Massachusetts. However, I would like to ask a favor of everyone.
If you see any Massachusetts eBird hotspots that need a correction, please contact me (whether it is a simple grammatical fix or something larger). If a hotspot needs to be renamed (Ex: a pond that is named after an unofficial name, and it needs to be changed to the official name), please contact me with supporting documentation so we can be sure that it's accurate (google maps will not suffice). Thank you, and happy birding!
Date: 2/10/19 9:12 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Monday: Bruce Beehler at the HBC
Hi MassBirders,
All are invited to the February meeting of the Hampshire Bird Club, featuring Bruce Beehler of the Smithsonian Institution! His topic: the spring migration of songbirds from Texas to Canada. See the HBC website for details:
Date: 2/10/19 5:51 pm From: Cliff Cook <ccook13...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Moose Hill Red Crossbills and Lake Massapoag Barrow's Goldeneye
After reading Liam Water's article about Where to Go Birding in Sharon in the latest issue of Bird Observer I decided a visit to Sharon was long overdue. I spent the morning at Mass Audubon's Moose Hill sanctuary. I was hoping to find Red Crossbills and was not disappointed.Two were calling at the main parking lot when I arrived. They were only present breifly and I was unable either to get on those birds or to record them but they seemed to have very different calls. Around 12:30 I tracked down a group of at least 14 at the intersection of the Pepperbush and Vernal Pool Trails farthest from nature center parking lot. They were down Pepperbush 100 yards and off to the right in a group of red pines. I was able to record this group and will upload a recording to eBird. Other interesting sightings included a distant calling Raven, a close view of a female Piliated Woodpecker and exactly 100 Red Breasted Nuthatches.
From Moose Hill I went over to the north end of Lake Massapoag. There was a male Barrow's Goldeneye present not too far off the beach along with several Common's. One of the females might have been a Barrow's. It was associating closely with the male Barrow's nearby and not with the Common Goldeneyes. The bill on this bird had a fair amount of yellow, particularly on the upper mandible. The head shape appeared a bit more like the Barrow's than the Common. Could be good for someone else to take a close look if the bird remains in the area. Two Lesser Scaup were also present. From hers I checked out a could other spots - Farnham Street and Ward's Farm fields. There was a Raven calling at Farnham Street and several Bluebirds at Wards. I then returned to Lake Massapoag, hoping to see a rare gull appear. Alsas, that was not to be today but two Pine Siskins few over and a few more ducks drifted in.
Date: 2/10/19 4:54 pm From: Sabrina Hepburn <s.k.hepburn...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Trip to Plum Island and Salisbury 2/10
We had a slightly chilly but sunny day for today’s BBC trip to Newburyport and vicinity, which covered Plum Island and Salisbury. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the ROSS’S GOOSE, which the group stumbled on shortly after its initial discovery. Other good birds included decent looks at Snowy Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, and Snow Buntings, including two very cooperative birds on the ice at Plum Island. Nice looks 4 squabbling Bald Eagles from the north end of the island, and Peregrine Falcon from the Salisbury Beach Boat Ramp. Complete species list below.
Plum Island (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US
Feb 10, 2019 9:17 AM - 1:56 PM
Protocol: Traveling
16.99 mile(s)
36 species
Ross's Goose 1 Photographed by others. Feeding with flock of ~160 Canada Geese. Small white good with black wingtips. From snow goose by small, very triangular bill and round “cute” headed appearance.
Canada Goose 222
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 64
Northern Pintail 1
Common Eider 75
White-winged Scoter 18
Black Scoter 60
Long-tailed Duck 12
Bufflehead 30
Common Goldeneye 25
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Horned Grebe 17
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 16
Sanderling 75
Dunlin 25
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 150
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 5
Northern Harrier 4
Bald Eagle 4 3 imm 1 ad
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Snowy Owl 1
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
American Robin 3
American Goldfinch 1
Snow Bunting 2
American Tree Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Date: 2/10/19 3:42 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program - call for your support
Support Rare and Endangered Species in Massachusetts!
* * MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is responsible for the conservation and protection of wildlife species that are not considered game species and the natural communities that make up their habitats. The focus of the Program is on conservation and restoration of the 427 native plants and animals listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
Funding for the Program relies, in part, on individual contributions, NOT on general fund tax dollars. Your help does make a difference! It supports the field surveys, research, habitat management, regulatory review, and land protection for the hundreds of rare creatures and plants in the Bay State.
If you care about the future of our wildlife and wild places here in Massachusetts, you can contribute in one of several ways:
1 - We’re in tax filing season**-- Make a donation on your MA state income tax return on line 33a for
Endangered Wildlife Conservation. Contributions by this method in 2017 were $312,297 by just
over 23,000 individuals. (2016 - $302,603, 24,082 individuals contributed)
2 - Make a Direct Donation! (It’s tax deductible…)
- Send a check payable to “Comm. of MA-NHESP” and mail to:
MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581 OR
- Donate online with your credit card as a “Guest Customer” through MassFishHunt,MassWildlife’s licensing system.
Direct donations through this method in 2017 totaled $7,891 dollars, up from $6103 in 2016.
There’s plenty of room for improvement!
I will close by asking you to reflect on the success of the Bald Eagle restoration effort that began in 1982. This past year, a record-breaking 76 territorial eagle pairs were documented in Massachusetts! Observations from birders and other interested citizens played a big part in this documentation. MassWildlife depends on reports of eagle nests or observations of eagles carrying sticks from birders like you to monitor these magnificent birds.
MassWildlife and others are sure there are more eagle nests out there that haven’t been found or documented. For instance, who will find and confirm the first eagle nest on Cape Cod?!
Thank you for your support, whether it’s a donation, reporting observations or telling others about this important program that conserves wildlife for everyone to enjoy!
Remember – line 33a on your Massachusetts state tax return!
Date: 2/10/19 2:00 pm From: <warbler...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] February 10, 2019 Brighton - First song of the year!
I heard a house finch singing this morning in Chestnut Hill. Brave bird!
Sylvia Martin, Newton <warbler...>
Quoting "Matt S." <accipiter22...>:
> Just wanted to send along word that I heard a house finch singing on Friday > morning as I was filling my feeders. Hopefully just a few more weeks until > the cardinals join in too and then it'll be a lot easier to pretend that > warm weather is close behind. > > > Matt s. > > <Accipiter22...> > Brighton, MA
Date: 2/10/19 10:49 am From: Garry Kessler <gkessler001...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Trumpeter Swan, Milford, cont. 2/10, record photo
Having found people looking for the swan at the boat ramp who were unaware of how to access the alternate location on Clark Island, here is some info.
When not visible from the boat ramp (51 Cedar St), the trumpeter may be found on the west side of the pond by accessing trails to the bike path and Clark Island behind 51 Sumner St. (it's a business, a gym). There is trail parking behind the build. Go down to the bike path a few yards to the right and follow a wide path into the woods and onto the island.
If you don't spot the trumpeter right away, look for a sleeping swan and wait for it to stick its head up.
Date: 2/10/19 9:04 am From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] February 10, 2019 Brighton - First song of the year!
Just wanted to send along word that I heard a house finch singing on Friday morning as I was filling my feeders. Hopefully just a few more weeks until the cardinals join in too and then it'll be a lot easier to pretend that warm weather is close behind.
Date: 2/10/19 8:34 am From: Sandy Selesky <sandyselesky...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] goldfinch still in breeding plumage
The male goldfinch who never lost his summer breeding plumage that I reported back in November is still alive and well. I just saw him at the thistle feeder a few minutes ago and he is as bright yellow and black as if it were early summer! He never molted into his winter plumage and has so far survived being spotted by any predators!! What a beauty against the leafless trees!
Date: 2/9/19 10:18 am From: David Chernack <chernack...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Tundra swan Milford YES Sat. 2/9
Sorry, HUGE brain fart there! The TRUMPETER swan was seen. My bad.
On Sat, Feb 9, 2019, 12:33 PM Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> wrote:
> A Tundra Swan showed up along with the Trumpeter Swan?!?! > > Justin Lawson > Southbridge, Massachusetts > https://ebird.org/profile/Mjk3MjE3 > > On Sat, Feb 9, 2019, 12:16 PM David Chernack <chernack...> wrote: > >> Just observed the Tundra Swan on Milford pond at noon. Swan was visible >> from the trails on and around Clark Island but from a very far distance. >> Got close views by driving to 66 Dilla Street and parking there, the bird >> is with a Mute Swan where the Charles river enters the pond at the very >> northern tip of the pond. Can be seen from the road there. >> >
On Sat, Feb 9, 2019, 12:16 PM David Chernack <chernack...> wrote:
> Just observed the Tundra Swan on Milford pond at noon. Swan was visible > from the trails on and around Clark Island but from a very far distance. > Got close views by driving to 66 Dilla Street and parking there, the bird > is with a Mute Swan where the Charles river enters the pond at the very > northern tip of the pond. Can be seen from the road there. >
Date: 2/9/19 9:16 am From: David Chernack <chernack...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Tundra swan Milford YES Sat. 2/9
Just observed the Tundra Swan on Milford pond at noon. Swan was visible from the trails on and around Clark Island but from a very far distance. Got close views by driving to 66 Dilla Street and parking there, the bird is with a Mute Swan where the Charles river enters the pond at the very northern tip of the pond. Can be seen from the road there.
Date: 2/9/19 8:48 am From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] NorthEast Hawk Migration Conference Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Holyoke, MA
The NorthEast Hawk Watch (NEHW) will holds it 11th quadrennial NorthEast Hawk Migration Conference on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. The all-day conference features nine presentations by leaders in their field. * Laurie Goodrich on Broad-winged Hawk migration to Brazil and back * Rob Bierregard on Osprey journeys and the new technology used to track them * Cheryl Dykstra on urban raptors and their behavioral ecology * Chris Martin on dispersal, migration, and overwinter site fidelity of female Peregrines in New Hampshire * Eric Masterson on following Broad-winged Hawk migration via bicycle * David Oleyar presentation on the latest Raptor Population Index report * Chris DeSorbo on the conflicting influences of mercury contamination and the restoration of anadromous fish on Maine’s Bald Eagle population * Larry Fischer on the life history of Saw-whet Owls from four seasons of banding returns * Trudy Battaly and Drew Panko on the importance of your migration counts and what they tell us Registration for the conference is now open. For complete information, including directions to the conference, speakers’ abstracts, and registration forms, visit http://battaly.com/nehw/conference Registration is $45 FOR NEHW members; $50 for nonmembers. ($55 covers conference registration and a year’s membership in the NEHW, including a 40 pp annual report on hawk migration in the northeast.) An optional luncheon sandwich buffet (including vegetarian selections) is $15. Register in advance; first forty registrants receive a free one-page hawk calendar. Anyone interested in birds should find this “hawk talk” informative and fun. Everyone is invited!
Date: 2/8/19 8:48 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Turners Falls Aythya arrival and other Valley doings
Hi MassBirders,
On cold, rainy mornings like today’s, it is a blessing to be able to drive along the Turners Falls power canal and bird from the car. I was thankful that the government shutdown had ended, as during the shutdown, the gate was closed and the canal could only be birded on foot…
Anyway, Friday morning, among the usual suspects, I was surprised to see a small group of scaup, four males and a female; other than one late December individual, none had been reported in the county since last November, and no one had seen more than a single bird around Turners Falls since last April. I took several photos, decided that they were Lesser Scaup, and used my phone to post a back-of-my-camera photo to Western Mass Birders.
Then things got a little more interesting. I had assumed that the one female was the same species as the males with which she had appeared, but wondered why she had no noticeable white around the base of her bill. Josh Layfield observed from my photo that she also had a significantly different head shape than the males. Chuck Stern, who had read my post, visited the canal in the afternoon, after the rain had stopped and sun come out, and with much more modern camera equipment than mine, posted some much clearer photos in the Western Mass Bird Photography group (separate from the original Western Mass Birders). I posted in the original group "can someone give me a reason (aside from the company she's keeping) why she's a scaup and not a Redhead?” about 90 seconds before Eric Labato posted in the photography group "Are you guys sure that female duck is a Scaup? I don't see any white at all around the base of the bill. I'm thinking it could be a female Redhead.” Meanwhile, Bob Stymeist had visited the canal just after I had, then returned in the afternoon with Bob Bieda, who commented in his eBird report "female type, probably Greater Scaup but even suggested female Redhead to me (hybrid?)”. So, from three different directions, we all converged on the conclusion that the four male Lesser Scaup had arrived in the company of a female Redhead!
Meanwhile, the Valley Barred Owl extravaganza continues. I saw two on Monday morning: one along Federal Street (Route 63) in Montague as I was driving my son to school, then another in a riverside meadow in Deerfield on my way home. I followed up with four on Tuesday: one atop Woolman Hill, a Quaker retreat center just south of Greenfield; two more in Deerfield, along a road that winds over the ridge separating the historic town from the river; and a third in Amherst that afternoon, as I was walking the dog at Wentworth Farm Conservation Area! Wednesday I re-sighted two previously observed owls, one along North East Street in Amherst, the other the Montague bird from Monday, and added a new one from Hadley, along River Drive (Route 47) just south of Cold Springs Road. Yesterday and today I had to settle for re-sightings, yesterday the North East St bird again, and today a bird near the intersection of Knightly and Stockbridge Roads in Hadley, presumably the same individual that I observed around there back on January 7.
On a related note, a birder/photographer from Hatfield, Sloan Tomlinson, somehow managed to get a raccoon carcass positioned in front of the trail cam in his yard, and on Wednesday recorded a Barred Owl and a Red-tailed Hawk fighting over the carcass! The owl ultimately won and flew off with its prize. The following day, the hawk returned, looked around for the carcass, and the owl reappeared and chased the hawk away!
In other birds that I’ve only seen on-line: one or more flocks of Common Redpolls have been hanging around central Hampshire County lately. Aaron Hulsey reported a group of over 100 birds in the Hadley Honeypot Thursday afternoon. A smaller, up to 75 birds, but more cooperative group was found February 1 by Mary McKitrick just outside Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Sanctuary, and has been seen most days since by numerous birders. There have, of course, been discussions of whether the palest members of this group might be Hoary Redpolls. The most intriguing possibility along this line was posted to eBird on Wednesday by Brian Kulvete:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52446894 <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52446894>
For the subspecies fans out there, Sam Zhang found an Ipswich (Savannah) Sparrow in the Honeypot on January 29. It was relocated by several birders through at least Monday the 4th.
Over in the Berkshires, Rene Wendell found a Common Loon at Bartholomew’s Cobble on February 1, but on the 5th he saw presumably the same loon being eaten by a Bald Eagle.
Date: 2/8/19 3:04 pm From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Three Snowys at Plum today (Friday)
A friend and I went looking specifically for Snowy Owls on Plum Island today and we had great luck! There was one bird opposite parking lot #2 and two more in the marsh behind the pans.
Jane Hills
Manchester, NH
jhbird(at)myfairpoint(dot)net
"We are all environmentalists now, but we are not all planetists. An environmentalist realizes that nature has its pleasures and deserves respect. A planetist puts the earth ahead of the earthlings." --William Safire
Date: 2/8/19 10:36 am From: Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brookline Bird Club Meeting - TOMORROW!
Dear Massbirders,
A reminder that the BBC Winter (though it may not feel like it today!)
Meeting is *TOMORROW night (SATURDAY) at 7PM *at the *John Glenn Middle
School, 99 McMahon Rd, Bedford, MA.*
There will be a social hour from 6PM–7PM with free light refreshments as
well as a few displays.
Talks will include:
1. Sea-birding to the Sub-Antarctic Islands of the Pacific (Sabrina Hepburn)
2. Birds of 2018 (Chris Ciccone)
3. Galapagos Birding (Thomas Michel)
4. Choosing a Birding Destination in Latin America (Will Freedberg)
5. Crows and a Winter Crow Roost (Bob and Dana Fox)
6. Readings form the Field (Doug Chickering - from his book, Reflections on
a Golden-winged Warbler)
7. Four-legged Birding (John Nelson)
8. Myakka River State Park (Shawn Carey)
9. Snowy Owls (Norm Smith)
Plus an art display by Avery Whitlock.
The meeting is free. If you're not a member yet, then please do come along
to find out what the club is all about.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night!
–Neil
Neil Hayward
President
Brookline Bird Club
www.brooklinebirdclub.org
AS OF February 6, they are staging and roosting west of Rt. 28 along the Merrimack River mainly on the south side.
Best idea as of February 6 is to go AN HOUR BEFORE SUNSET to the Bashara Boathouse at 1 Eaton St. (Crow watchers are welcome there) and park along the fence. Look up and down the river to determine what direction the crows are flying to determine where they are staging. Every night will be different.
The past few nights there was a western group that staged on the ice to the far west, another group that staged in the trees to the north of those on the ice and, one night there was a third group in the west that staged in the trees to the south of those on the ice.
There was an eastern group that staged just to the left (west of Rt.28 Broadway St. some out on the ice and others in the trees to the north and/or south of the river.
At sunset the birds will begin to go into the roost. A half hour after sunset they should be in the roost. All the western birds, at sunset, moved east (right) and made their way down to the trees or on the ice near the Experiment Station.
They recently roosted in the trees to the west of the Lawrence Experiment Station on Shattuck St.
Currently, the roosting is best observed from the Riverfront State Park on Everett St. When the ice melts, things will change but only the crows know how!!!
When Dana and Bob are not available for crow patrol, PLEASE CONSULT THE BLOG for recent entries by Craig Gibson or email Craig at cbgibson@comcast. TO FIND OUT THEIR LATEST WHEREABOUTS.
Plan to attend the Crow Art Exhibit at the Essex Art Center January 11th - March 15, 2019 | Monday to Friday 10$B!>(B6 pm
56 Island St., Lawrence, MA 01840 www.EssexArtCenter.org
Date: 2/8/19 5:53 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crow Patrol February 6 and 7
Crow Patrol February 6, 2019 Wednesday
It was cloudy, the temperature was in the low 30s, wind 9 MPH from the
east, and sunset at 5:02 PM.
I tried to gather the whole sequence of events during the staging and
roosting of the crow last night as we hope to contribute to the gathering of
citizen science information about this phenomenon.
Capturing the Whole Staging and Roosting Behavior February 6, 2019
Staging
Last night there was a definite pattern to the staging.
As we drove by, we noted the Crows from the east were staging in trees
amongst the city buildings to the south of Merrimack St. and east of the dam
We only noted this and did not follow them. NO crows were on the ice at
that time just to the west of the dam which is just to the west of Rt. 28.
We gathered at the Bashara Boathouse at 1 Easton St.at 4 PM and were joined
by a great group pf 8 folks from Framingham and Ashburnham.
At the Bashara Boathouse, we first noted two Bald Eagles on the ice a
juvenile and an adult. It was amusing to watch as a few crows would drop
down beside them (oh, the looked so small), cawing and jumping around. The
eagles paid no attention. Also, there were four common Mergansers across
from us in the open water on the far side.
As for the crows, we could see a large group far off to the left (west) ON
THE ICE stretching across the river. At about 4:30 a large group came in
from the north just to the west of the dam and went east to join that group.
As it got closer to sunset, thousands of crows lifted out of the trees not
visible to us to the north of the ones on the ice and started streaming over
the north side of the river towards the dam on the south side of the river.
Then another large swirling mass lifted from the trees on the south side of
the river to the south of the crows on the ice and made their way down river
like the ones from the north side. Only a small number of these birds were
visible from the boathouse.
Now the third group those on the ice lingered the longest but finally
some started to move east.
SO THERE WERE FOUR PODS OF CROWS ALL ACTING INDEPENDENTLY during the staging
phase. This was the first time we have noted so many distinct groupings of
the crows staging slightly differently. Who knows but it may reflect where
they came in from that night?
Roosting
At this point, as darkness set in, we all moved east to Riverside State Park
off Everett St. to see where the crows were all going to roost. Thousands
were to the east of us densely packed into the trees to the west of the
Lawrence Experiment Station a state water quality lab. Even some in the
tall trees amongst the multistory housing units to the south of Shattuck St.
Thousands were on the ice between us and the dam. At this point, Craig
Gibson began to watch the crows from the north side of the dam and then out
on the working area of the dam capturing pictures in the low light. Craig
later joined us at the park for a short discussion of the nights events.
Craig reports to e-bird what he sees during his time with the crows.
Based upon our return visit at 8 PM the previous night, we suspect those on
the ice did move up eventually into the trees.
Another night of wonder and mystery.
Dana
Crow Patrol February 7, 2019
It was about 31, cloudy, damp, with winds from the SE at 11 MPH and sunset
was at 5:05pm. Bob and I got to the Bashara Boathouse at 1 Eaton St. about 4
PM and met Will Broussard who was visiting the area from the White Mountain
Observatory. The western crows had begun to stage on the ice far to the
west. Others were streaming onto the trees on the northern side of the river
near those on the ice but out of view to us.
Nine male and one female Common Mergansers were across from us. Many gulls
continued to gather near the dam.
As we passed by on the way to the boathouse, we noticed a few crows had
begun to gather in the trees at the Lawrence Experiment Station at 57
Shattuck St. and a small number out on the ice.
Looking downstream to the east from the boathouse, we began to see a river
of crows pouring in from the north over the river by the dam. More and more
kept streaming in. Soon we could see crows start to fill the tops of the
trees on the northern side of the river. By the end they were from behind
the Boys and Girls Club to east of the Lawrence Water Treatment Plant. More
and more black bobbles kept appearing on the tops of the riverside trees.
At sunset, some of the crows lifted off from the west and headed towards
those near the dam. We moved to the Riverside State Park on Everett St. and
were struck by the number of crows in the trees to the east, three groups of
crows on the ice, and thousands of Crows were on the tops of the trees
across the river. The sound was deafening, and crows were everywhere. About
5:15 Craig, appeared on the northern shore camera to the ready. He continued
to move westward checking on the northern shore crows. It was dark now and
we had to leave but Craig reported as we drove away that all those crows on
the northern shore started to fly to the southern shore to roost. How those
trees could accommodate so many crows I will never know. Bob counted 23,000
crows and felt he could easily have missed many.
Date: 2/7/19 11:10 am From: Mick Verran <mick...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gale force winds
The birds I was hoping to spot offshore around Cape Ann this Saturday - will they come in closer if the prediction of gale force winds comes true, or move further out to sea?
Date: 2/7/19 8:27 am From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Weekly species census, Feb 7, 2019
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Feb 7, 2019 7:30 AM - 11:02 AM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 mile(s) Comments: Foggy early and damp but mild, 30's F, so we walked quite a ways. Upper Pool to Borden Pond, all the way around the Lower Pool and back down the railroad grade. Impoundments were still frozen and quiet with most activity on the river. 18 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 22 On Concord River Mallard 8 River vicinity Hooded Merganser 3 River Wild Turkey 7 Hutchins Farm area Bald Eagle 1 Adult making it's regular daily pass heading west. Later than usual, around 8:50. Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy/Hairy Woodpecker 1 distant call once Pileated Woodpecker 1 Heard calling several times on river near Borden Pond Blue Jay 7 American Crow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 4 Eastern Bluebird 1 Heard near river (holt area) American Robin 4 House Finch 4 American Tree Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 7 Northern Cardinal 2 Singing it's spring song. rather comforting to hear in February
Date: 2/6/19 7:06 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ipswich River below the dam (tidewater) and our feeders, Feb 6, 2019
Ipswich River below the dam (tidewater), Ipswich Feb 6, 2019 1:35 PM - 2:10 PM Protocol: Traveling 0.5 mile(s) Comments: I checked the river downtown in 3 spots, the lowest at the town wharf. 8 species (+1 other taxon)
Canada Goose 132 exact count in the "Cove" Mallard 160 Rough count--they were being fed, as they always are, by a woman whose house sits literally on the river bank. Mallard (Domestic type) 1 This bird was blacker than a black duck and had a little white on the breast; also had a dark bill. Clearly a domestic type. I did not see any black ducks or obvious hybrids today. Bufflehead 2 town wharf Common Merganser 5 f loosely with the mallards at County St. bridge Red-breasted Merganser 2 m town wharf Ring-billed Gull 2 Herring Gull 31 with the geese American Crow 6
142 County Rd., Ipswich (home) Feb 6, 2019 9:00 AM and intermittently thru the day Protocol: Stationary Comments: We watched the feeders intermittently and had a good woodpecker day. 19 species (+1 other taxon)
Mourning Dove 6 Larus sp. 1 Way, way up, 1000 feet or more. Ring-bill or herring. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 heard again from yard after 4 p.m.; one juv. has been around since Nov. Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 4 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 heard from yard Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 American Robin 11 European Starling 2 American Goldfinch 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7 White-throated Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 2
Elusive swam found after 2 hr search. Not seen at boat ramp off of Cedar St. in Milford. Mute swans were plentiful from there but more swans seen distantly behind tall phragmites. Finding how to get a vantage point for those swans was the hard part.
Relocated those swans off of bike path on Dilla street.( there is parking in the lot across street from bike path entrance on Dilla St.( near Sumner St. end of Dilla St.) which is parking for Louisa lake. Dilla St. runs between Cedar and Sumner. Sumner appears to run along other side of Milford Pond. The bike path runs parallel to Sumner street between Sumner and Milford pond. I walked about .25 miles until I could see swans through the vegetation( before I got to stockade fence on right of path) I had to bushwack to get closer to water's edge and a scope is needed. Lots of Briar could rip nylon parka.( in truth,, I don't know who owns this property I was on; it was bordering the bike path)
Trumpeter Swan was associating with three mute swans.
Date: 2/6/19 2:03 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island - 02-06-2019
David Moon and I led today's Wednesday Morning Birding program out of Joppa Flats Education Center on to Plum Island. We began at the north end of the island and made our way down to Stage Island Pool and back up to Hellcat. It was a beautiful day with sunshine changing to a high, thin overcast; temps in middle 30s; and winds NE/5-10 mph.
Our list:
Canada Goose - common. Mute Swan (11!) - 6, PI River, n. pannes; 5, marsh just north of Stage Island Pool, moving onto SIP ice. American Black Duck - common. Mallard - common. Common Eider - common; north end. White-winged Scoter (~ 16) - ~ 10, north end; ~ 6, one ocean. Black Scoter (~ 30) - ~ 25, north end; 5, one ocean. Long-tailed Duck (2) - one ocean. Common Goldeneye (~ 45) - ~ 35, north end; ~ 10, PI River, n. pannes. Red-breasted Merganser (2) - north end. Red-throated Loon (1) - north end; showing color in head. Common Loon (3) - north end. Northern Harrier (2) - including 1 male. Red-tailed Hawk (1) - The Old Pines. Rough-legged Hawk (1) - light morph; Cross Farm Hill. Herring Gull - common. Great Black-backed Gull (~ 10) - various. Razorbill (2) - 1, one ocean; 1, on SIP ice (PRNWR biologist notified). Rock Pigeon Snowy Owl (2) - 1 very white individual near w. shore of Main Panne; 1 in marsh further w. of Main Panne. Peregrine Falcon (1) - 1st-yr bird, probable female; North Pool dike just north of Hellcat dike. American Crow (~ 9) - various. American Robin (3) - S-curves. Northern Mockingbird (2) - 1, parking lot #1; 1, Hellcat. European Starling - large flock on wires n. refuge gate. House Sparrow (1) - refuge gate.
Next Wednesday, we will meet at 9:30 in the Gloucester Crossing shopping center parking lot for a visit to Cape Ann. Accessing Gloucester Crossing: from the southwest, take Route 128 toward Gloucester; go to second rotary (Blackburn Circle) and take second exit (continuing on Rt. 128); after rotary, take first right hand turn into Gloucester Crossing and then the first left into the parking area. Park to the left between PETCO and AT&T (Market Basket is at the other end of the shopping center to the right). For those wanting to hitch a ride from Joppa Flats, two vans will be departing there at 8:30.
For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 2/6/19 1:19 pm From: Kevin Ryan <kr1946...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Eagles
Hello AllThis morning, on Lake Winnecunnett in Norton, there were two Bald Eagles on the ice. One bird was an Adult and the other an immature. They seem to go back and forth between Lake Sabbatia up the road in Taunton and Winnicunnett. This year I've seen as many as 5 on one Lake or the other.Kevin Ryan Easton
Date: 2/6/19 7:41 am From: Eduardo del Solar <delsolar...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Boston birds, raptors and ducks, images
It has been a great two weeks visiting my favorite water holes in JP, Franklin Park and FHC. Species photographed includes a bathing Cooper’s hawk, the resident GHO at FHC, and a Grey Screech Owl at Franklin Park. This time of year as Leverett Pond freezes, the resident ducks (9 wood ducks) get to shine early in the morning before specular light takes away their details and saturation. Here is the link to these images:
http://delsolar.org/webs/birds/winter19/content/_32A7609_large.html Eduardo del Solar
Boston, Mass
<delsolar...>
http://delsolar.org
Date: 2/5/19 6:04 pm From: Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Winter Meeting – Saturday Night
Dear Massbirders,
The Brookline Bird Club will be meeting on Saturday evening for our
Members' Night. This is our regular winter meeting which is at the John
Glenn Middle School in Bedford. We'll have a social hour with refreshments
from 6–7 PM, followed by the meeting itself from 7–9 PM. Full details below:
*What*: Members' Night Brookline Bird Club Meeting
*Where*: John Glenn Middle School, 99 McMahon Rd, Bedford, MA
*When*: *Saturday, Feb 9, 2019 7–9 PM*, with a social hour (light
refreshments) from 6–7 PM
If you're not a member yet, but are interested in learning more about the
club, we'd love to see you. The meeting is free to members and prospective
members, and is a great way to get a taste of the club. We'll have a very
varied evening with photos, videos, readings and art from club members.
Presentations run the gamut from birds of the distant Antarctic to birds of
the not-so-distant Lawrence (crows!).
Club members should already have received invitations, and we're hoping for
a good turnout. These events are a great way to catch up with birding
friends.
Date: 2/5/19 5:17 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bare Meadow Conservation Area, Reading, Feb 5, 2019
Bare Meadow Conservation Area, Reading Feb 5, 2019 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 0.6 mile(s) Comments: I had an hour to kill in Reading, so I finally went to the Bare Meadow Conservation Area (misnamed "Reservation" in ebird), which Dave Williams wrote up in the Oct. 2011 issue of Bird Observer. With that issue as my guide I explored the western part of the place, which is all I had time for. On a warm day that must have been 60 F., my early sign of spring was a singing brown creeper. 10 species
Red-tailed Hawk 1 one twice or two Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Blue Jay 7 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Brown Creeper 1 singing on Feb. 5 Carolina Wren 2 apparent pair House Sparrow 1
Date: 2/5/19 4:49 pm From: Rick Bowes <rbowes...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 2/5 Duxbury - Bald Eagles
Each winter when we get a period of serious cold such as we just went through and the shore ice stretches way into the bay, it seems that Bald Eagles start to appear at various places along the west shoreline of Duxbury Bay. They also are seen from the road down to the Gurnet well out on the Bay ice as well - often near Clark's Island. Over the past 3 weeks I've seen at least 2 sub-adult birds on a couple of occasions, and then this weekend there were two, together on the ice, about 300 yards offshore near Eagle's Nest Point. And then this morning a sub-adult was sitting atop one of the Osprey poles north of the Bridge - about half-way between Blakeman's and the western shore. Of course today thanks to the crazy weather a lot of the shore ice has disappeared. I can't offer a staked out place to see them, but folks near the shoreline of the bay (probably in Kingston and North Plymouth too) should be alert for eagles for awhile - including in the trees right near the shoreline.
Date: 2/5/19 12:28 pm From: John Nelson <jnelson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island, Cherry Hill Reservoir highlights
Highlights at Plum Island Tuesday morning:
9 Northern Pintails (in marsh near Lot 6) 2 Rough-legged Hawks (around Cross Farm Hill) 3 Snowy Owls 32 Snow Buntings (moving through marsh near S curves)
One Snowy Owl was perched atop an antenna tower right off the road near Lot 2--tremendous look. One flew across the road in front of my car north of Hellcat and landed in the marsh. One was in the marsh near the main salt pan.
At Cherry Hill Reservoir in West Newbury, 3 Bald Eagles (two adults, one immature) put on a show, soaring around the reservoir and landing on the ice.
Also, one Turkey Vulture around Route 1A and Parker St. in Newbury, and one Cooper's Hawk beside Rt. 133 in Rowley.
Date: 2/5/19 10:50 am From: <paulk6...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] injured hawk
There is an injured hawk in my yard (Ayer, MA), the advice I have so far is ‘wrap it up and bring it in’ (from a rehabilitator) - is there someone who can help with the capture part of this?
The hawk has been sitting for an hour or so on a fence, wing dangling.
> On February 4, 2019 at 4:29 PM linda pivacek <lpivacek...> wrote: > > > Mew Gull seen today at 3pm at outfall. no leg band visible on yellow legs. appears to be American Mew Gull, adult non-breeding. > > darker back vs Ring-billed Gulls. large white area on p10. brown smudges head and neck. no dark ring on yellow bill. > > ebird report below. > > Cheers, Linda > > Linda Pivacek, Nahant, <lpivacek...> mailto:<lpivacek...> > > > https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52384883 > > >
Date: 2/4/19 10:41 pm From: James Barton <redwing1986...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Mew Gull at Kings Beach Swampscott.
Hello. “American Mew Gull” = Short-billed Gull = the West Coast species? If so, could we have additional detail?.
For example, in my experience, Mew Gull is noticeably darker than Common Gull, the European species we see two or three examples of frequently in winter. I’ve seem one Mew in MA in many years of birding. Again in my experience, Common has short legs, bill like a plover, long wing extension. Distinctive. Graceful by comparison with RBG.
From: linda pivacek<mailto:<lpivacek...> Sent: Monday, February 4, 2019 4:33 PM
To: massbird<mailto:<massbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Mew Gull at Kings Beach Swampscott.
Mew Gull seen today at 3pm at outfall. no leg band visible on yellow legs. appears to be American Mew Gull, adult non-breeding.
darker back vs Ring-billed Gulls. large white area on p10. brown smudges head and neck. no dark ring on yellow bill.
Date: 2/4/19 5:10 pm From: Susan Hedman <2winterwren...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Common Redpolls, Kondelin Road Industrial Park, Gloucester MA, Feb 3, 2019
I usually stop here late in the day or on weekends when it doesn’t bother
anyone. If you go during a weekday so do be aware there maybe large truck
traffic here as it is an industrial park. The spot I usually visit is
across from the cell towers and beyond to the end of the road.
Kondelin Road Industrial Park, Essex, Massachusetts, US Feb 3, 2019 2:30 PM
- 2:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling 0.5 mile(s)
Comments: As we have been seeing Ravens in Gloucester somewhat
regularly I was our looking for possible nest sites. There are a couple of
cell towers here. There is also some wetland adjacent and I have had some
good birds here in the past. I was pleasantly surprised to have a flock of
Redpolls fly in and start eating on the catkins of the many birches at this
spot. Robins and starlings were eating sumac berries.
7 species
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 6
Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) 17 Flock of small streaked
passerines flew into birches and remained feeding. I was sort of expecting
goldfinches or Siskin. The flock had birds in various plumages. A few males
had the bright pink coloration on chest and flank, in addition to being
small billed, streaky, wing bars, black chin spot and red spot on head
visible on many, tail strongly forked
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1 Heard
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
Date: 2/4/19 3:34 pm From: Mark Fairbrother <bogelfin...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Milford Trumpeter Swan and others
In mid-afternoon on this beautiful day the Trumpeter Swan was still on the ice with 3 Mute Swans at Milford Pond. This looks like a great place to be birding at 5 am on a morning in mid-May.
On the way to Milford we had a flock of 14 Fish Crows at the Ludlow plaza on the Mass Pike, and a Turkey Vulture passed over Route 9 in Shrewsbury.
Date: 2/4/19 11:20 am From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Forge Pond Plymouth Access Help Needed
I am birding around Plymouth County today. Was wondering if anyone could point out where they are accessing this pond to view the Eurasian Wigeon. Thanks.
Date: 2/4/19 7:40 am From: <environment...> <environment...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Feb 14: "Puffins: The new canary of climate change" talk at Tufts
FYI: I thought this talk might be of interest. Puffins: The new canary of climate changeThursday, February 1412:00-1:00pmTufts, Multi-purpose Room, Curtis Hall, 474 Boston Avenue, Medford Derrick Z. Jackson, Environmental Writing Fellow, Union of Concerned ScientistsPuffins, down to their last 2 or 4 birds in the state of Maine in the early 1900s, are now 1,300- pairs strong on several islands. They were restored on several islands by Project Puffin, the 45- year-old brainchild of a then-young Audubon bird instructor. Derrick Z. Jackson is an environmental writing fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), newspaper and magazine essayist and co-author and photographer of Project Puffin: The Improbable Quest to Bring a Beloved Seabird Back to Egg Rock. Dave PetersonRockport
____________________________________________________________
Judge Judy Steps Down After 23 Years Over This Controversy
glancence-hality.com
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5c585b417264d5b412091st01vuc
Date: 2/4/19 7:38 am From: <environment...> <environment...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pair of shovellers in Rockport
This morning there have been a pair of shovellers off of Gully Point/Marmion Way in Rockport swimming around with our local harlequins and eiders. I've never seen them on the open ocean before. Dave PetersonRockport
____________________________________________________________
Oncologists Freak Out Over True Cause of Cancer
pro.healthresponses.org
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5c585ac73b9bd5ac71366st01vuc
Today (2/3) we birded FAIRHAVEN, including stopping at spots like Fort Phoenix, Egypt Lane, a number of overlooks on both sides of Sconticut Neck, Angelica Rock and surrounding water, West Island, and Shaw Cove Road. The number of waterfowl was impressive, particularly south of Fort Phoenix and off the upper north west side of Sconticut Neck. Species like brant and scaup were seen in impressive numbers. The weather was seasonable with little wind, and the water (low tide) was very calm. This combined with a fairly solid overcast most of the morning made viewing conditions ideal.
Common Loon (15); Horned Grebe (23); Great Cormorant (1); Canada Goose (1370); Cackling Goose (1 among the several large flocks of Canadas on Shaw Cove); Brant (772); Mute Swan (10); Gadwall (42); EURASIAN WIGEON (1m at mouth of stream seen from Egypt Lane among the flock of Gadwalls and American Wigeons); American Wigeon (34); A Black Duck (195); Mallard (21); Greater Scaup (1121); Common Eider (493); Surf Scoter (59); White-winged Scoter (11); Long-tailed Duck (102); Bufflehead (815); Common Goldeneye (952); Barrow's Goldeneye (2m: 1 from Fort Phoenix looking south and the other close to the western shore of Sconticut Neck ); Red-breasted Merganser (14); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Ruddy Turnstone (4: on rocks off beach on West Island); E Screech Owl (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (9 flying from Fort Phoenix to the city of New Bedford in the AM).
We were focused on counting waterfowl and did not spend a lot of time looking for passerines, but we did have: Carolina Wren (7); Gray Catbird (3); E Towhee (3: very vocal at Egypt Lane); Swamp Sparrow (1).
Date: 2/3/19 2:45 pm From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bohemian Waxwing and welcome to birders
The bird made a brief appearance at 157 South St in Plymouth about 10:35 this morning. Afterwards we spoke to someone exiting the building, which is an establishment for older people. He very kindly told us that there was a room inside with coffee that we were welcome to use to warm up. As it happens, it was not very cold, and we had seen the bird and were ready to leave, but I am alerting others to this very friendly offer.
-- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA
Date: 2/3/19 12:26 pm From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bohemian Waxwing followup
As we were leaving, a man emerged from the facility where the bird is being seen. He asked if we had seen it, and told us we were welcome to come in and get warm inside, where there is a room with coffee available. We were leaving so did not take him up on this offer, but I thought others might like to know about it.
-- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA
Date: 2/3/19 9:52 am From: Sean Williams <seanbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Black-headed Gull, Wollaston Beach- 2/3 now
Hello all,
Dan Burton, Rachel Baum, and I are enjoying a close Black-headed Gull (adult) at the southern end of Wollaston Beach. It’s been on the beachside, but mostly it has been foraging on the marsh side around Black’s Creek mouth and north of Caddy Memorial Park. Seen well from Quincy Shore Drive.
Good birding, Sean Williams Westboro, MA <seanbirder...>
Joe and MassBirders - just last year, there was one in Charlton. It was found in late May and hung around for nearly a month, according to eBird. Some of us on FaceBook were speculating whether the current swan in Milford might be the same bird, returning; the two sites are roughly 30 miles apart, I think?
I didn’t know until now (or maybe I forgot?) that there was also one in the Valley a while back, 2004, Northampton. I’m gathering from reading the eBird reports that it was originally found by Bob Bieda on March 10, but misidentified as a Tundra Swan at the time, until it was photographed and re-identified as a Trumpeter a few days later by Jeff Offerman. It continued to be seen around NoHo with a few stray reports from Hadley and Easthamtpon until early April. I heard that the Charlton bird was the first one accepted as an “official” state record by MARC, not because it and the NoHo bird came from different origins, but because the presumed source population in the Great Lakes was not considered to be fully established and self-sustaining at the time of the earlier record, and it was when the later one happened.
eBird also shows an October 2013 record from Monomoy, seen only once by two people who photographed it.
Great looks at the continuing Trumpeter Swan on the totally iced over Milford Pond this afternoon following Cliff's directions. One small correction: Go RIGHT on the bike trail and follow the path out to the end of the peninsula. A few pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/erikbogh/
Erik Nielsen Westwood, MA
On Sat, Feb 2, 2019 at 10:23 AM Cliff Cook <ccook13...> wrote:
> Subject bird present behind NRG parking lot. Go left on bike trail and > follow path out to end of peninsula > > Cliff Cook > Watertown. > > Sent from my iPhone >
“Crows are bored. They suffer from being too intelligent for their station
in life.”
Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science
and Nature by David Quammen
On Sat, Feb 2, 2019 at 3:08 PM Caroline Haines <chaines633...> wrote:
> The happy raven couple just flew over my house in downtown Gloucester.
> They were chatting each other up.
> Caroline Haines
> <Songbirder...>
>
> Sent from my iPhone-please excuse brevity, typos, or insults.
>
Date: 2/2/19 12:44 pm From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Eyes On Owls Program - Westport, MA - Saturday, March 30, 2019
The best of the best!!!
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Phil Brown
Sent: Friday, February 1, 2019 5:29 PM
To: MassBird
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Eyes On Owls Program - Westport, MA - Saturday, March 30, 2019
Date: 2/1/19 4:30 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
It’s ironic to see the question "Can't we have one place to go to see all the reports?” asked on the same day that the latest issue of Bird Observer was published. If there’s any one information source that compiles together noteworthy Massachusetts bird sightings and information from eBird, MassBird, FaceBook, MARC, and everything else as comprehensively as possible, Bird Observer is probably it.
Date: 2/1/19 3:02 pm From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Extralimital and extra exciting, part 2
Hi everyone, As I wrote to you earlier, my wife and I had the good fortune recently to go out west and work with The Peregrine Fund and to help with the release of captive-bred and wild-bred California Condors. Here is my latest blog post (part 2) that describes in more detail all that we did: https://birdpartner.com/2019/02/01/the-thrill-of-a-lifetime-part-two/. You'll find there additional photos and a terrific video taken by our host. Thank you so much--and Barbara, thank you! Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/
The Milford trumpeter swan was swimming and feeding today at 1:00. It is no longer visible from the original boat ramp location. The Sumner Street NRG parking lot access to the island/peninsula is the way to go.
I walked out onto the ice to get some nice, personal views of the swans. I only dared do this after I saw two other men and their dog do similar. I stuck close to the "pipeline" that extends into the lake, and walked as far as the end next to the birdbox. The swans could not have cared less about my presence there and didn't even stop to look up at me. There were also previous footprints that went even closer, but I didn't see any need to do so, as that would be almost in the swans' faces. Much closer than necessary.
If anyone does go out there: 1> bring handwarmers and serious wind protection. Two hours after coming in, my fingers still ache from the cold. 2> Be cautious about thin ice and don't go unaccompanied. I don't want to be blamed if anyone falls through!
Happy birding...
-Brad
________________________________________
Brad Dinerman
Ashland, MA
Date: 2/1/19 11:06 am From: Carolyn Longworth <bvm1290...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
I enjoyed Robert Scott's retrospective on birding communications and the various types of birding. And his reminder that a lot of reporting is volunteer-driven.
I use Massbird for putting up photos of birds I can't identify or questions about bird behavior. I like eBird for the feeling of contributing to the scientific body of knowledge in a small way and keeping track of my sightings. On Massbird, someone might say they saw a Pink-footed Goose at such a place, but they usually don't say what common birds or what numbers are at that place as well. It would be a pain to feel you have to post a sighting on every single website just so someone doesn't miss it. So far it is still a free country and birders are not obliged to tell anyone about any birds they see.
I don't use Facebook or whatever new group comes along, but if I were that gung-ho about rushing around the state to look at rarities I certainly would. Looking in three or four places doesn't seem that onerous and with Massbird and eBird you get emails automatically if you sign up.
Some of us like to just go to the same spots and observe what is there. I have friends who belong to the groups and if they see something somewhere that I might be interested in that is near one of my birding areas, they email or text me. If I see something and it's in a sensitive area or is a sensitive species I will let my trusted contacts know first and then decide whether to post it generally. Most birders are respectful and caring but there are some duds. I talked with a guy last year who bragged he has done "lots of bad things" to get close to a rare bird for a good photo, including climbing fences and walking into a marsh to get so close the bird flew away, ruining the chances for anyone else to see it.
As far as gender-bias, that never crossed my mind. I run into all kinds of people birding and the publications like Bird Observer have a lot of women writing and helping with the publication. The people I've run into from the Avian Records Committee have never seemed condescending and even the photo in the link shows a female committee member. And as a friend said, it's not the job of the Committee to put out alerts to everyone.
Just my two cents.
On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 7:19 PM Beth Roberts-Lee <bethrobertslee...> wrote:
> Why is it that to get all the birdwatching reports from this state one > must have the following: > > Ebird > Facebook > Massbird email list > Avian committee website > > Can't we have one place to go to see all the reports? > > Also, > > Look at the Mass Avian committee website. It seems to be the same people > year after year and they seem to be the same people who see the most and > greatest birds on the Ebird website. Also when was the last time some of > these people reported birds outside of ebird? When was the last time some > of these people used the Massbird email list? I see there names on the > Ebird website but never anywhere else. I bet they see birds from the > Massbird list. > > http://maavianrecords.com/about/ > > http://maavianrecords.com/past-committees/ > > What makes these people able to play gatekeeper year after year and why > are there never any women? Are the women of Massachusetts not good > birdwatchers? I doubt that. Boys club. It should be a representation of > everyone. > > Sorry for the frustration. > > Thanks, > > Beth Roberts-Lee > > Medway > <BethRobertsLee...> >
Date: 2/1/19 7:00 am From: Robert D Scott <rscott...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
<soapbox on>
I’m not going to respond to the gender-bias complaint part of this post; others in the local birding community are much more qualified than I to do so. But part of this message reflects a common complaint on the Internet which I call the “Burger King fallacy;” the notion that on the internet you are always entitled to “have it your way."
It may be helpful to remember that most birding resources from the regional level on out are cultivated and provided by volunteers and non-profit organizations who are doing what they do for their own personal reasons and the love of the thing itself, this thread going back through a century of bird clubs and CBCs. Looking back about 30 years, the first online resources were volunteers’ transcriptions of weekly volunteer-compiled RBA hotlines, themselves just answering machines fed by volunteers in the field (NBHC anyone?)—which were a technologic improvement over prior, somewhat more exclusive and exclusionary “phone trees". An online community of these transcribers began to chat about birds and created a small constellation of listservs and bbs newsgroups at various regional scales. Like many other pursuits which were subjected to the internet, it exploded from there, driven organically (or maybe haphazardly, depending on your point of view). eBird came online and became a joint project of (the non-profits) NAS and the Cornell Lab of O, and “citizen science” became a more widespread concept and reality. It seems to me there are a helluva lot more birders out there than there were when I got started, and they are certainly better connected to one another, and share a lot more of their experience with expert birders and newbies alike, and that’s by and large a good thing IMHO.
The fact is, you *can* try to have it your way, but in a volunteer-driven realm you just cannot reasonably expect everyone else to tailor what they do to suit you. Count whatever you want to count. Subscribe to whatever you want to subscribe. If you don’t want to use eBird, don’t. If you don’t like the state’s ARC, ignore them (but if you want to play a particular listing game with others, it’s usually in good faith to play by the rules). If you don’t like the way things work, If you see a gap or a way to improve things from your point of view, start something new. Some kids recently fired up a Discord server to do just that, using tools they preferred, borrowed from the online gaming/eSports community. They’re not forcing people to join, they are talking with their friends, making new friends, and generating birdwise content which attracts others.
On the internet, as in real life, there will always be “knowledge hoarders” and “knowledge sharers.” One must ultimately make the decision which of these types one wants to be. I am glad most birders fall into the latter category, even if a few are (and always will be) stingy remoras.
So thank you, everyone in the Massbird community, even if I still don’t understand why you are keeping the Evening Grosbeaks away from *my* feeders.
EBird is not just for ‘personal lists’, it is an important site for gathering information about bird distribution, migration, breeding, etc., to use for conservation. It is being used by scientists around the world.
WARNING: This email originated from outside of Long Island University. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. - LIU Information Technology
This is a loaded email. I will say Jessica Johnson was on the Committee and she's a fine birder. Also, many of the MARC members do post on here and find many awesome birds. People have the freedom to choose to report on whatever platform they choose. Most good sightings get related to Massbird. Ebird is great for personal lists and everyone is lucky that those are public and we at least get to see that. Many times I've seen birders in different states find a great bird and if they didnt ebird it no one would know because they arent subscribed to a mailing list (which can be complicated) its 2019 and the fact is there are better, faster and more social technologies out there.
Date: 2/1/19 6:24 am From: Mimi Bix-Hylan <mimibixh...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] re: Milford Trumpeter Swan - yes this afternoon
Beautiful captures. Thank you for sharing!
On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 11:51 PM Sean Williams <seanbirder...> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I stopped by Milford Pond this afternoon (January 31) at 3:45 PM and
> parked behind the NRG fitness center, as others have described. Just north
> of the small peninsula that reaches into the pond (Clark Island on Google
> Maps), there was still a patch of open water that contained eight Mute
> Swans and one Trumpeter Swan. I posted an eBird list here-
> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52256060 >
>
> Good birding,
>
> Sean Williams
> Westboro, MA
> <seanbirder...>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 3:55 PM Brad Dinerman <bdinerman...>
> wrote:
>
>> I stopped at Milford Pond this afternoon at 2:00. The area of water
>> where the trumpeter had been swimming the past few days is now frozen, and
>> there were just two mute swans sitting on that ice. There's an area to the
>> right (if viewing from the boat ramp) which is still open water, and there
>> were some swans over there, but I did not see the trumpeter amongst them.
>> I also viewed from the island path behind NRG, and I did not see it from
>> there either. Perhaps it moved on, or perhaps it was just in an area that
>> was obscured.
>>
>> -Brad
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-
>> > <approval...> On Behalf Of Linda
>> > Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 1:34 PM
>> > To: Daan Sandee <sandee...>
>> > Cc: <massbird...>
>> > Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: Milford Trumpeter Swan -update 1:15
>> >
>> > Ernie LeBlanc and I relocated the bird when we couldn’t find it based on
>> > earlier reports.
>> > Park behind the Fitness center and take the short path to a road behind
>> the
>> > building. Go right on the road for a short distance then take the left
>> turn
>> > (main part of the road keeps going straight) - there are tire tracks on
>> the left
>> > turn portion). Go to the end of this road and you come to open water.
>> The
>> > Trumpeter was feeding there with at least 10 mute swans.
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPhone
>> >
>> > Linda Ferraresso
>> > Salem, MA
>> > <Tattler1...>
>> >
>> > > On Jan 30, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Bird still in same place at 11.15.
>> > > As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and
>> follow
>> > > his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view.
>> There
>> > > were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift
>> their
>> > > heads to see which one has a black bill.
>> > > Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise,
>> windchill
>> > > factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure
>> > > the footsteps.) Today was a nice day.
>> > >
>> > > Daan Sandee
>> > > Gloucester, MA
>> <sandee...>
>> >
>>
>>
Date: 2/1/19 5:02 am From: Carole Griffiths <Carole.Griffiths...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
EBird is not just for personal lists, it is an important site for gathering information about bird distribution, migration, breeding, etc., to use for conservation. It is being used by scientists around the world.
________________________________
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> on behalf of Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 9:23:46 PM
To: Beth Roberts-Lee
Cc: <Massbird...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
WARNING: This email originated from outside of Long Island University. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. - LIU Information Technology
This is a loaded email. I will say Jessica Johnson was on the Committee and she's a fine birder. Also, many of the MARC members do post on here and find many awesome birds. People have the freedom to choose to report on whatever platform they choose. Most good sightings get related to Massbird. Ebird is great for personal lists and everyone is lucky that those are public and we at least get to see that. Many times I've seen birders in different states find a great bird and if they didnt ebird it no one would know because they arent subscribed to a mailing list (which can be complicated) its 2019 and the fact is there are better, faster and more social technologies out there.
Date: 2/1/19 4:45 am From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committeeboys club.
I dont recommend anything. people do what they want. I love birds so I
follow every group that I want. I dont wanna miss anything so I put myself
in the best position to be notified of a bird. If a person really cares
about seeing birds they would do the same. you cant ask for a collective of
people to do it this way or that way. the individual needs to adapt or be
left behind. When I personally find really good rarities I post it
everywhere ( Purple Gallinule and Northern Wheatear for example) And yes I
understand ebird isn't just for personal lists even though it's in fact at
the base personal list. didnt think I had to get into the whlle scope of
what ebird is. My suggestion I suppose... use ebird because its only a
minority of you that dont. And if you travel to different states ebird is a
godsend.
On Fri, Feb 1, 2019, 1:17 AM James Barton <redwing1986...> wrote:
> Justin—please explain. What would you recommend? Why?
>
>
>
> Jim Barton
>
> Cambridge
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>
> *Sent: *Thursday, January 31, 2019 9:29 PM
> *To: *Beth Roberts-Lee <bethrobertslee...>
> *Cc: *<Massbird...>
> *Subject: *Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian
> committeeboys club.
>
>
>
> This is a loaded email. I will say Jessica Johnson was on the Committee
> and she's a fine birder. Also, many of the MARC members do post on here and
> find many awesome birds. People have the freedom to choose to report on
> whatever platform they choose. Most good sightings get related to
> Massbird. Ebird is great for personal lists and everyone is lucky that
> those are public and we at least get to see that. Many times I've seen
> birders in different states find a great bird and if they didnt ebird it no
> one would know because they arent subscribed to a mailing list (which can
> be complicated) its 2019 and the fact is there are better, faster and more
> social technologies out there.
>
> Justin Lawson
> Southbridge, Massachusetts
> https://ebird.org/profile/Mjk3MjE3 > <https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fprofile%2FMjk3MjE3&data=02%7C01%7C%7C748bcd3c90e04c42444a08d687ed0cb9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636845849515219785&sdata=Su1ccme3yuhKrGNG71RRNUbXQG5G1XevA%2FCfiPI7Gx4%3D&reserved=0> >
>
>
Date: 1/31/19 8:52 pm From: Sean Williams <seanbirder...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] re: Milford Trumpeter Swan - yes this afternoon
Hello all,
I stopped by Milford Pond this afternoon (January 31) at 3:45 PM and parked
behind the NRG fitness center, as others have described. Just north of the
small peninsula that reaches into the pond (Clark Island on Google Maps),
there was still a patch of open water that contained eight Mute Swans and
one Trumpeter Swan. I posted an eBird list here-
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52256060
Good birding,
Sean Williams
Westboro, MA
<seanbirder...>
On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 3:55 PM Brad Dinerman <bdinerman...>
wrote:
> I stopped at Milford Pond this afternoon at 2:00. The area of water where
> the trumpeter had been swimming the past few days is now frozen, and there
> were just two mute swans sitting on that ice. There's an area to the right
> (if viewing from the boat ramp) which is still open water, and there were
> some swans over there, but I did not see the trumpeter amongst them. I
> also viewed from the island path behind NRG, and I did not see it from
> there either. Perhaps it moved on, or perhaps it was just in an area that
> was obscured.
>
> -Brad
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-
> > <approval...> On Behalf Of Linda
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 1:34 PM
> > To: Daan Sandee <sandee...>
> > Cc: <massbird...>
> > Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: Milford Trumpeter Swan -update 1:15
> >
> > Ernie LeBlanc and I relocated the bird when we couldn’t find it based on
> > earlier reports.
> > Park behind the Fitness center and take the short path to a road behind
> the
> > building. Go right on the road for a short distance then take the left
> turn
> > (main part of the road keeps going straight) - there are tire tracks on
> the left
> > turn portion). Go to the end of this road and you come to open water. The
> > Trumpeter was feeding there with at least 10 mute swans.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > Linda Ferraresso
> > Salem, MA
> > <Tattler1...>
> >
> > > On Jan 30, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Bird still in same place at 11.15.
> > > As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and
> follow
> > > his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view.
> There
> > > were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift
> their
> > > heads to see which one has a black bill.
> > > Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise,
> windchill
> > > factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure
> > > the footsteps.) Today was a nice day.
> > >
> > > Daan Sandee
> > > Gloucester, MA
> <sandee...>
> >
>
>
Date: 1/31/19 6:54 pm From: Marsha Salett <msalett...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] February 2019 Bird Observer now online
Massbirders -
Bird Observer announces that its February 2019 issue is now online at www.birdobserver.org.
Where to Go Birding highlights “Birding Sharon, Massachusetts" by Liam Waters and the photo essay is “Birds of Sharon." Articles feature “Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Bird Banding Station” by Regina Harrison and “Mass Audubon’s Sanctuary and Inventory Monitoring Program” by Robert Buchsbaum.
Field Notes describe “Leucistic Male House Sparrow” by William E. Davis Jr., “Heart, Lefty, and Popsicle: a Winter with three Identifiable Juncos” by Jeffrey Boone Miller, and “Painted Bunting on Cuttyhunk Island, October 14, 2018” by Mike Sylvia. The Painted Bunting is just the second Massachusetts State Record. As usual, we include regular columns by David Larson, Martha Steele, and Mark Lynch, as well as Bird Sightings for September/October 2018, Bygone Birds, and Wayne Petersen's "At A Glance."
The cover art features Barry Van Dusen’s Iceland Gull.
Date: 1/31/19 6:31 pm From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
This is a loaded email. I will say Jessica Johnson was on the Committee and she's a fine birder. Also, many of the MARC members do post on here and find many awesome birds. People have the freedom to choose to report on whatever platform they choose. Most good sightings get related to Massbird. Ebird is great for personal lists and everyone is lucky that those are public and we at least get to see that. Many times I've seen birders in different states find a great bird and if they didnt ebird it no one would know because they arent subscribed to a mailing list (which can be complicated) its 2019 and the fact is there are better, faster and more social technologies out there.
Date: 1/31/19 6:10 pm From: James Taylor <jtaylor274...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
I for one have met many fine women birders in MA.
James Taylor Dorchester, ma
On Thu, Jan 31, 2019, 7:18 PM Beth Roberts-Lee <bethrobertslee...> wrote:
> Why is it that to get all the birdwatching reports from this state one > must have the following: > > Ebird > Facebook > Massbird email list > Avian committee website > > Can't we have one place to go to see all the reports? > > Also, > > Look at the Mass Avian committee website. It seems to be the same people > year after year and they seem to be the same people who see the most and > greatest birds on the Ebird website. Also when was the last time some of > these people reported birds outside of ebird? When was the last time some > of these people used the Massbird email list? I see there names on the > Ebird website but never anywhere else. I bet they see birds from the > Massbird list. > > http://maavianrecords.com/about/ > > http://maavianrecords.com/past-committees/ > > What makes these people able to play gatekeeper year after year and why > are there never any women? Are the women of Massachusetts not good > birdwatchers? I doubt that. Boys club. It should be a representation of > everyone. > > Sorry for the frustration. > > Thanks, > > Beth Roberts-Lee > > Medway > <BethRobertsLee...> >
Date: 1/31/19 4:16 pm From: Beth Roberts-Lee <bethrobertslee...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Why must I get Ebird? Use Facebook? Avian committee boys club.
Why is it that to get all the birdwatching reports from this state one must have the following:
Ebird Facebook Massbird email list Avian committee website
Can't we have one place to go to see all the reports?
Also,
Look at the Mass Avian committee website. It seems to be the same people year after year and they seem to be the same people who see the most and greatest birds on the Ebird website. Also when was the last time some of these people reported birds outside of ebird? When was the last time some of these people used the Massbird email list? I see there names on the Ebird website but never anywhere else. I bet they see birds from the Massbird list.
What makes these people able to play gatekeeper year after year and why are there never any women? Are the women of Massachusetts not good birdwatchers? I doubt that. Boys club. It should be a representation of everyone.
Date: 1/31/19 1:12 pm From: Brad Dinerman <bdinerman...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] re: Milford Trumpeter Swan - NO this afternoon
I stopped at Milford Pond this afternoon at 2:00. The area of water where the trumpeter had been swimming the past few days is now frozen, and there were just two mute swans sitting on that ice. There's an area to the right (if viewing from the boat ramp) which is still open water, and there were some swans over there, but I did not see the trumpeter amongst them. I also viewed from the island path behind NRG, and I did not see it from there either. Perhaps it moved on, or perhaps it was just in an area that was obscured.
-Brad
> -----Original Message----- > From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird- > <approval...> On Behalf Of Linda > Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 1:34 PM > To: Daan Sandee <sandee...> > Cc: <massbird...> > Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: Milford Trumpeter Swan -update 1:15 > > Ernie LeBlanc and I relocated the bird when we couldn’t find it based on > earlier reports. > Park behind the Fitness center and take the short path to a road behind the > building. Go right on the road for a short distance then take the left turn > (main part of the road keeps going straight) - there are tire tracks on the left > turn portion). Go to the end of this road and you come to open water. The > Trumpeter was feeding there with at least 10 mute swans. > > Sent from my iPhone > > Linda Ferraresso > Salem, MA > <Tattler1...> > > > On Jan 30, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote: > > > > Bird still in same place at 11.15. > > As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and follow > > his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view. There > > were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift their > > heads to see which one has a black bill. > > Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise, windchill > > factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure > > the footsteps.) Today was a nice day. > > > > Daan Sandee > > Gloucester, MA <sandee...> >
Date: 1/31/19 12:32 pm From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Correction: Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Jan 31, 2019
It has been pointed out to me that there was a rather indelicate typo in my initial post. Please see the corrected list below and accept my apologies if you were either a) offended or b) have injured yourself laughing.
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Jan 31, 2019 7:40 AM - 8:47 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.3 mile(s) Comments: Weekly species census for the NWR. Bitterly cold 2F (a record for the census) but thankfully sunny and calm. If you can manage the cold icy walk to the river it is active with ducks and feeding flocks. 10 species
Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 5 Wild Turkey 4 Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 3 American Robin 1 American Tree Sparrow 10 Flock feeding along the river Song Sparrow 1
Date: 1/31/19 12:08 pm From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, weekly species census, Jan 31, 2019
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Jan 31, 2019 7:40 AM - 8:47 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.3 mile(s) Comments: Weekly species census for the NWR. Bitterly cold 2F (a record for the census) but thankfully sunny and calm. If you can manage the cold icy walk to the river it is active with fucks and feeding flocks. 10 species
Bufflehead 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 5 Wild Turkey 4 likely more (flock heard near Monsen) Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 3 American Robin 1 American Tree Sparrow 10 Flock feeding along the river Song Sparrow 1
Date: 1/31/19 10:58 am From: Andrew Joslin <andrew...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Intersex Mallard
Very interesting! In the past we (on waterfowl counts) have considered that head pattern to indicate black duck X mallard hybrids, specifically a male hybrid. I gather you're going with the female mallard bill coloration to indicate an older female mallard? I wonder how many of these I've missed thinking I was looking at a "blallard"?
Andrew Joslin Carlisle,MA
On 1/29/2019 5:48 PM, Nick Tepper wrote: > Hi all, > > For anyone who enjoys strange ducks: On the 24th, I found a female > Mallard at Millpond in Maynard that is showing some male plumage > characteristics. Checklist here: > https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52001372 I have read that this > usually happens when a female duck gets so old she doesn’t produce > enough estrogen to produce female plumage, so she reverts to the male > form. > > There are many Mallards roosting here, and the intersex as well as 130 > or so others continued at the pond this evening. > > Nick Tepper > Stow, MA > > -- > Nick Tepper > Stow, MA
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex January 29 PRESS RELEASE:
Refuge Announces Partial Trail Closure Due to New Construction
Officials at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have announced that, beginning on Tuesday, February 5th, the entire Marsh Loop section of the Hellcat Boardwalk Trail will be closed to public access in order to allow for replacement of a 300 foot-long section of boardwalk. While Hellcat’s Dune Loop (and parking lot 4), will remain open during construction of the new boardwalk segment, officials expect the Marsh Loop closure to last for 5 – 6 months.
Male seen under rear feeder, flew to overhead branch for another minute and took off towards the "Magnolia Woods". Noted 10AM today, noonish yesterday. Fox Sparrow still present daily, but Towhee not seen since day after last week's cold snap/storm. Of note, exchanged sightings with a dog walker in the Magnolia Woods Park yesterday who told me that he had seen Snowy Owl there TWICE last year. Will advise if I get that lucky... Just a few more species to keep an eye out for around here...not to take anything away from the resident Pileateds! Denise PeloquinGloucester PS, If you come for a look-see, please respect my neighbors' privacy and property. This is 398, not 398 REAR. Posted what I thought was explicit instructions for viewing the Fox Sparrow and Towhee for the Superbowl and was horrified to see a line of folks hanging out directly in front of my neighbor's front door INSIDE the fenced in yard. Even noted one with a huge camera lense. Requested they join the majority of the SOB'ers viewing from the driveways. Unfortunately, 398 Rear driveway is now also off limits. (I'd freak out too, if I looked out my front door to see someone standing there with a mega camera lense!) Please do not go into the driveway at 398 REAR, beyond the white fence. You are welcome behind the yellow house, just be aware of where you're aiming any optics, please. My neighbors advised me that this spring, they are going to install heavier, higher, gated fencing.
Date: 1/31/19 9:36 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Black Hawk update
Below is the facebook post from Avian Haven this morning.
The Great Black Hawk put up a good fight, but the frostbite was just too extensive.
Please keep in mind that organizations like this do need the support of birders to do their work., so contributions are welcome.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
From AVIAN HAVEN -
Great Black Hawk - 1/31
Yesterday, our senior staff met onsite with two additional veterinarians as well as two wildlife biologists from the Bird Group of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Diagnostic tests that included infrared thermography and doppler ultrasound revealed no circulation at all in the feet or lower legs up to where leg feathers can be seen in the photo posted on Tuesday. Underneath the bandages, both feet were discolored and beginning to decompose. As of yesterday, the bird was lying down during the day, not just overnight, and was not eating as well as previously.
Frostbite is well known for its insidious progression. When the body’s cells freeze, they expand, burst, and then die. Cells that form skin, muscles, nerves, tendons, and blood vessels are all affected, and once those cells die, they cannot be brought back to life. The goal of frostbite treatment is to limit further tissue death, though the success or failure of those efforts may not be apparent for several weeks or even months. Based on how rapidly the hawk’s feet deteriorated, we suspect that the initial frostbite damage occurred well before the bird was found on the ground on January 20, when frozen feet and associated pain had likely resulted in an inability to perch. Although he may not have appeared to be in distress in the few days prior to his rescue, any injured wild animal will hide discomfort until unable to compensate.
Our treatment efforts followed the most up-to-date protocols in human and veterinary medicine. Sadly, however, because foot and leg tissues had already been irreparably damaged, those efforts came too late. For those of you who have asked, our treatment plan included topical applications to enhance skin viability, plus a suite of medications to control pain and promote blood flow to extremities: western/conventional drugs, herbal formulations, and homeopathic remedies. We also used low level (“cold”) laser treatments.
Of course, we had hoped that the frostbite damage would be minor and that the bird might be releasable. Once the extent of the damage became obvious, possibilities for prosthetics use and captive placement were discussed at length. In this bird’s case, neither option was realistic. First of all, the damage was too extensive: both legs as well as both feet had been damaged. Secondly, animals that adapt best to prosthetics are not only less severely affected, but they are also of calm temperament, comfortable around people, and used to being handled. None of us could even remotely imagine a reasonable quality of life for a wild bird having two artificial legs that would need frequent adjustment, and that would likely never be completely comfortable. Related hawk species present in North America are known for their high-strung, hyperactive temperaments, and this bird has been no exception to that general rule. During the hawk’s stay here, we often had to turn off the cage lights to discourage challenges to the cage walls. The wildlife professionals who met yesterday all agreed that the Great Black Hawk would never successfully adapt to captivity, especially without even one foot that could be used in a natural way to perch, grasp food, or land successfully after flight.
The decision to euthanize was completely unanimous among all who gathered here yesterday, though that decision was tinged with regret, sorrow, even heartbreak. It was seen by some of us as an end of suffering, and by others as the release of a spirit from its hopelessly damaged shell. Either way, all of us believed it was the only course of action that was fair to the hawk.
Although greatly saddened that this beautiful hawk could not be saved, we take some comfort in knowing that she or he touched a great many lives, bringing people together and inspiring a greater interest in the natural world. Although this was an extreme case of species displacement, with changing climate and increasing destruction of natural habitats, it is likely that we will see more and more animals dispersing from their homelands into territory they are not well adapted to. A decision as to what will happen to the remains has not been made, though several scientific institutions are under consideration. Genetic studies may finally reveal the original home of this remarkable visitor to Maine.
All of us at Avian Haven extend our profound appreciation to all of you for the good wishes, prayers, love, and support that have poured in during this remarkable bird’s stay here. We intend to dedicate your donations toward funding a special project that will enhance our ability to care for future birds, whether or not they are frostbite victims. For us, and for many of you as well, today will be a day of grieving, but also of imagining this extraordinary Great Black Hawk flying free again in some realm other than our own.
Date: 1/31/19 7:04 am From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Franklin County - gulls and Barred Owls
Greetings birders,
The last two weeks have seen some nice diversity amid the gull flock at Turner's Falls with birds most frequently gathering at the power canal. Up to four individual Glaucous Gulls have showed up, though they haven't been present on every evening. However, 1 adult, 1 second-cycle and 2 first-cycles have been in the mix at times; https://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2019/01/ma-glaucous-gulls-plenty-and-january.html
Two lesser Black-backed Gulls (adult and third-cycle) have also been present throughout the month.
The Iceland Gull show has been quite spectacular hitting double figures on Jan 29th when Scott Surner and I tallied 10 individuals including three adults. Also of interest, a pretty strong candidate for Lg.thayeri on Jan 30th, also an adult. I don't have any definite records of Thayer's Gull for the site so this would be my first if it can be somehow sorted from dark winged kumlieni - the jizz looks quite good to me; https://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2019/01/ma-adult-thayers-gull-perhaps.html
Interesting passerines have been hard to come by but I did have 15 redpoll sp on South Ferry Road, Montague on the 29th where there was also 150 Snow Buntings and a similar sized flock of Horned Larks. On the 30th, I had another redpoll sp and a single Winter Wren in Northfield Meadows.
Date: 1/31/19 6:16 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] American Tree Sparrows
Someone recently posted about the absence of these birds...last year (and most years) we had 3 coming regularly to the feeder. This year we have had one -- but it has vanished in the past several days while we were away. There was plenty of food in our absence, although not much fresh water...
-- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA
Date: 1/30/19 2:13 pm From: Mardi Dickinson <mardi1d...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Patricia González on Red Knots - BirdCallsRadio
Birders et al,
I thought many of your would be interested in my next guest Patricia M. González from Argentina on studying migration of Red Knots through the America. https://bit.ly/2akUsxp
Date: 1/30/19 2:07 pm From: David Moon <dmoon...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island 1-30-2019
This morning's outing from Joppa Flats braved chilly temperatures and strong wind, and enjoyed bright sun for a perfect winter day. I am deeply chagrinned to have misidentified a Golden Eagle as a Rough-legged Hawk. We were very happy with the purest white Snowy Owl anyone in our group had seen, along with another SNOW that flew higher over the marsh than anyone had ever seen, but is noticeably darker than the other bird in photos. It was very nice that the gate at hellcat was open!
Our list:
Canada Goose - common; salt marsh.
American Black Duck - common; salt marsh.
Common Eider - common; north end and Emerson Rocks.
White-winged Scoter - common.
Black Scoter - common.
Long-tailed Duck - common.
Bufflehead - (40), Emmerson Rocks.
Common Goldeneye common - north end, Emerson Rocks, Bar Head.
Red-breasted Merganser (8), various.
Common Loon (1) - Emerson Rocks.
Horned Grebe (8) - 2 one ocean, 6 Emerson Rocks.
Bald Eagle (1) - North End.
GOLDEN EAGLE (1) - near Maine Panne.
Northern Harrier (~6) - various, including one adult male at North Field.
Red-tailed Hawk (2) - 1 imm. at North Field, 1 on PI Turnpike - off island.
Rough-legged Hawk (1) Cross Farm Hill.
Ring-billed Gull (8) various.
Herring Gull - common
Great Black-backed Gull (4) various.
Rock Pigeon - common; developed areas
Mourning Dove (1)
Snowy Owl (2) - 1, on North Marsh and Maine Panne, 1 flying over North Marsh. One of these birds was pure white, the other noticeably flecked.
American Crow (1) - S-Curves.
Black-capped Chickadee (1) - roadside.
American Robin (1) - Pines Field.
Northern Mockingbird (1) - near seven.
European Starling - common; developed areas.
Song Sparrow (2) - Hellcat.
We will meet again at Joppa Flats next week for Wednesday Morning Birding at 9:30 am, and be at Cape Ann on February 13. For more information about Joppa Flats birding programs, call me or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
David Moon
Sanctuary Director
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon
1 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-462-9998
www.massaudubon.org/joppaflats<http://www.massaudubon.org/joppaflats>
You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. - Hal Borland
Date: 1/30/19 11:57 am From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: Milford Trumpeter Swan -update 1:15 further clarification
Further clarification: the "road" behind the fitness center is actually a bike path but it is paved (and being unfamiliar with the area, it appeared to be a road).
Linda
On 1/30/2019 1:34 PM, Linda wrote: > Ernie LeBlanc and I relocated the bird when we couldn’t find it based on earlier reports. > Park behind the Fitness center and take the short path to a road behind the building. Go right on the road for a short distance then take the left turn (main part of the road keeps going straight) - there are tire tracks on the left turn portion). Go to the end of this road and you come to open water. The Trumpeter was feeding there with at least 10 mute swans. > > Sent from my iPhone > > Linda Ferraresso > Salem, MA > <Tattler1...> > >> On Jan 30, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote: >> >> Bird still in same place at 11.15. >> As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and follow >> his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view. There >> were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift their >> heads to see which one has a black bill. >> Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise, windchill >> factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure >> the footsteps.) Today was a nice day. >> >> Daan Sandee >> Gloucester, MA <sandee...> > >
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
Date: 1/30/19 10:39 am From: Linda <tattler1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: Milford Trumpeter Swan -update 1:15
Ernie LeBlanc and I relocated the bird when we couldn’t find it based on earlier reports. Park behind the Fitness center and take the short path to a road behind the building. Go right on the road for a short distance then take the left turn (main part of the road keeps going straight) - there are tire tracks on the left turn portion). Go to the end of this road and you come to open water. The Trumpeter was feeding there with at least 10 mute swans.
Sent from my iPhone
Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA <Tattler1...>
> On Jan 30, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote: > > Bird still in same place at 11.15. > As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and follow > his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view. There > were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift their > heads to see which one has a black bill. > Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise, windchill > factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure > the footsteps.) Today was a nice day. > > Daan Sandee > Gloucester, MA <sandee...>
Bird still in same place at 11.15. As Nick says, park behind the NRG fitness center on Summer St, and follow his footsteps on what is now a beaten path, until you get a view. There were four swans on the ice, and you may have to wait until they lift their heads to see which one has a black bill. Actually I hope they leave before they get frozen in. Otherwise, windchill factors will be below zero tomorrow (and there will be snow to obscure the footsteps.) Today was a nice day.
As of 1 PM, the trumpeter swan is actively feeding at the closest point of open water to the boat ramp. Easy views. Also seven mute swans with it.
It is really, really tempting to walk out on the frozen pond for better lighting conditions, but no way am I going to be the one to test the ice’s thickness. I’m also the only one here at the moment, so way too risky.
-Brad
(Sent from my mobile office, a.k.a the iPhone)
__________________________________
Bradley J. Dinerman, President
Fieldbrook Solutions LLC
12 Kings Row, Ashland, MA 01721<x-apple-data-detectors://0/1>
voice: (508) 231-0931<tel:(508)%20231-0931>
The bird was not at the boat ramp at sunrise, so Jessica Johnson and I relocated to the NRG Lab Fitness Center lot (51 Sumner St.). Jessica spotted the bird there, and we walked down a path to the pond for nice scope views. Following the snowy footprints of both ourselves and a Gray Fox is a good way to find the vantage point.
Date: 1/30/19 5:10 am From: Nick Tepper <nicholastepper6739...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Milford Trumpeter Swan
Hi all,
The bird was not at the boat ramp at sunrise, so Jessica Johnson and I relocated to the NRG Lab Fitness Center lot (51 Sumner St.). Jessica spotted the bird there, and we walked down a path to the pond for nice scope views. Following the snowy footprints of both ourselves and a Gray Fox is a good way to find the vantage point.
I am looking for information regarding 10+ Bohemian Waxwings in "Norton". This might be adjacent to the Myles Standish Industrial Park behind the Holiday Inn. There are fruit trees throughout the area.
ebird only has Bird Observer data with just "Norton" (not my report).
Can someone with more specific location help?
Thanks so much.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
I hit the Needham Rail Trail, High Rock Woods, Needham Transfer Station, the Charles River Peninsula, and Village Falls Park. The Charles River Peninsula is owned by the Trustees and is open to all:
Common Goldeneye 3 big surprise at dam on Dover border; living dangerously! (Village Falls Park) Common Merganser 5 peninsula Hooded Merganser 1 peninsula Red-tailed Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 accipiter sp. 1 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Fish Crow 70 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 1 Song Sparrow 10 Charles River Peninsula White-throated Sparrow 10 in total from rail trail and peninsula Dark-eyed Junco 20 ditto Pine Siskin 1 peninsula House Finch 30 peninsula American Goldfinch 10 peninsula striped wintergree christmas fern moss red squirrel 5
Date: 1/29/19 3:32 pm From: kirk marshall <no6km...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Eyepiece of scope found
Been busy so just getting around to posting this. I found the eyepiece of a scope at Kenoza Lake when I and G. Campbell Kaynor were there for the canvasback on the 12th of January. If anyone has lost a scope eyepiece in that area around that date please email me at no6km at yahoo dot com. I will not divulge the make of the scope unless the person who actually owns it tells me.
For anyone who enjoys strange ducks: On the 24th, I found a female Mallard
at Millpond in Maynard that is showing some male plumage characteristics.
Checklist here:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52001372 I have read that this usually
happens when a female duck gets so old she doesn’t produce enough estrogen
to produce female plumage, so she reverts to the male form.
There are many Mallards roosting here, and the intersex as well as 130 or
so others continued at the pond this evening.
Date: 1/29/19 8:42 am From: Alan Strauss <ansch100...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Trumpeter Swan
I relocated the Trumpeter today Tuesday between 9 and 10 AM at Milford Pond, Rte 85, at boat ramp near ball field. It is the one place there is open water.
NOTES:
All dark straight long bill. Black lores, no yellow and no orange on bill. Straight neck~@~Tnot S-curve like Mute Swan. Dark smudging on back of head and neck. Head tucked in often.
Date: 1/29/19 5:58 am From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Snow Buntings- Dalton
Hello,
This morning on my way to Pittsfield I noticed 10 Snow Buntings in a tree across from Holiday Brook Farm on Route 9 in Dalton. There is also an adult Bald Eagle at the compost piles just east of the farm.
Date: 1/28/19 7:58 pm From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 1/27 Evening Grosbeak Fowl Meadow Canton, etc.
In Canton. Simply walk one mile from Milton parking area to four-way intersection. Then take a left to the end, making sure to keep to the left where the path splits. You will know you are at the end of the path when the woods end and you come to an asphalt road. The bird was on the ground under a crabapple tree up the asphalt road going left. All but the vultures were at Fowl Meadow:
Turkey Vulture 3 Milton- Trailside Museum (near Canton line) Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 adult male Hairy Woodpecker 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 2 including one near grosbeak Golden-crowned Kinglet 1+ FOY; near grosbeak; where are the kinglets this winter? Cedar Waxwing 1 near grosbeak EVENING GROSBEAK 1 under crabapple Purple Finch 2 ditto American Goldfinch 1 ditto House Finch 4 near crabapple Dead Racoon 1 Canton Ave.; sad
Date: 1/28/19 2:34 pm From: Kevin Ryan <kr1946...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cardinals
Hello AllIts always a challenge to get accurate numbers of birds at the feeder but while looking at a beautiful sunset I got lucky and counted 9 CARDINALS, 4 males and 5 females all at the same time. They didn't put up with each other for long though, started their chasing right after I got my count.Kevin Ryan Easton
Date: 1/28/19 12:41 pm From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Snowy owl and black scoters - Winthrop, Revere
The Snowy Owl continued yesterday at the same location. Sticking out like a sore thumb. I scoped it from the Cottage Park Yacht Club. Also a male Barrow's Goldeneye quite closed to shore.
Justin L Southbridge On Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 1:34 PM <dlapenson...> <dlapenson...> wrote:
> Dear MassBird, > > Last Saturday 1/26/19, about 10 AM, I saw one snowy owl on the trestle at > Crystal Cove, Winthrop. Got some good pictures...On the part of the > trestle that is above water at mid-low tide, there was ice and snow there, > giving it camouflage, and you had to look closely. From a distance it > looked a lot like another seagull. Today, all the snow has melted, so I > don't think it would want to return, since there is no cover; it would > stand out like a beacon against the brown pebbles and rocks there... > > Then on Revere beach, just before noon, I saw hundreds of black scoters, > just off shore... > > David Lapenson > Winthrop, MA > ____________________________________________________________ > Judge Judy Steps Down After 23 Years Over This Controversy > glancence-hality.com > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5c4f48e1968d048e164e1st04vuc > > -- Justin Lawson Southbridge, Massachusetts
Date: 1/28/19 10:31 am From: <dlapenson...> <dlapenson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Snowy owl and black scoters - Winthrop, Revere
Dear MassBird,
Last Saturday 1/26/19, about 10 AM, I saw one snowy owl on the trestle at Crystal Cove, Winthrop. Got some good pictures...On the part of the trestle that is above water at mid-low tide, there was ice and snow there, giving it camouflage, and you had to look closely. From a distance it looked a lot like another seagull. Today, all the snow has melted, so I don't think it would want to return, since there is no cover; it would stand out like a beacon against the brown pebbles and rocks there...
Then on Revere beach, just before noon, I saw hundreds of black scoters, just off shore...
Hello all,
The King Eider at Scusset was seen late this afternoon in the Cape Cod Canal by Pole 95, quite a bit inland from the fishing pier where it has been commonly reported. It was at the rear of the eider flock, drifting seaward.
Patty O'NeillMiltonpattyoneill(at)verizon.net
Date: 1/27/19 4:26 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sudden influx of Rough-legs in the Valley
Hi MassBirders,
The Valley has had a spike over the past few days in observations of Rough-legged Hawks. Daniel Schell reported the first one, a light morph in the Hadley Honeypot on on Friday January 25. Joe Oliverio followed up by finding a dark-morph bird on South Maple Street in Hadley on Saturday, then went and relocated the light-morph Honeypot bird for good measure. Scott Surner photographed a dark-morph several miles further north in Hadley, along Knightly Road, a couple of hours later. Then today, I was at Quaker meeting in Leverett with my wife and son, and saw another light-morph bird outside the meetinghouse! And Mark Lynch saw another light morph along South Maple. So, at least 3 and possibly 5 individuals!
In other western MA reports, Kyron Hanson, Stefan Townsend, and Jean Jew heard a group of White-winged Crossbills in flight over a farm in Ashley Falls (near Sheffield). The Turners Falls gull flock recently had three Glaucous Gulls join the multiple Iceland and Lesser Black-backed continuing among the crowd there. And assorted birders have encountered at least one flock of 30+ Common Redpolls in the Honeypot.
Date: 1/27/19 10:05 am From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26: missing Purple Sandpipers
Hello,
Kim and I are enjoying a walk at Halibut Point SP and we just had a flock of 8 Purple Sandpipers fly by and land on the rocks near us.
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
> On Jan 27, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> wrote: > > Margo and I did see 7 purple sandpipers roosting on the rocks at Bass Rocks, Gloucester yesterday mid-afternoon. > > Steve Grinley > Essex > > Sent from XFINITY Connect App > > > > ------ Original Message ------ > > From: linda pivacek > To: Linda Ferraresso, MASSBIRD > Sent: January 27, 2019 at 8:38 AM > Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26: missing Purple Sandpipers > > Purple Sandpipers also missing here in Nahant at usual spots. have seen them at Red Rock, Lynn Beach, but even there not as reliable as expected. > > > Linda Pivacek, Nahant, <lpivacek...> > > > > On January 26, 2019 at 10:51 PM Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> wrote: > > It was a lovely day on Cape Ann - sunny, seasonal temperatures and very light wind. Of note were very small numbers of land birds and total absence of Purple Sandpipers ( where are they??). > > Full eBird report below. > > Linda > > Cape Ann (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US > Jan 26, 2019 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 5.0 mile(s) > Comments: BBC Walk - sunny, 28 degrees at the start, little wind. > 45 species > > Canada Goose 135 > Gadwall 4 > American Wigeon 3 Brace Cove > Mallard 210 > American Black Duck 51 > Northern Pintail 2 Rockport Harbor > Greater Scaup 7 > King Eider 1 Eastern Point - thanks to Sean Williams > Common Eider 435 > Harlequin Duck 72 > Surf Scoter 43 > White-winged Scoter 17 > Black Scoter 11 > Long-tailed Duck 19 > Bufflehead 89 > Common Goldeneye 8 > Red-breasted Merganser 27 > Horned Grebe 2 > Red-necked Grebe 1 > Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 83 > Mourning Dove 6 > Purple Sandpiper 0 ( Noticeably absent everywhere we checked) > Razorbill 1 > Black Guillemot 5 1 Jodrey Pier, 3 Bass Rocks, 1 Loblolly Cove > Ring-billed Gull X > Herring Gull X > Great Black-backed Gull X > Common Loon 13 > Great Cormorant 9 > Red-tailed Hawk 1 > Snowy Owl 1 > Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Private residence > Peregrine Falcon 1 > Blue Jay 5 > American Crow 48 > Tufted Titmouse 3 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 > Carolina Wren 2 > American Robin 6 > Northern Mockingbird 1 > European Starling 143 > House Finch 2 > American Goldfinch 1 > Song Sparrow 1 > Northern Cardinal 2 > House Sparrow 48 > > -- > Linda Ferraresso > Salem, MA > tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net > > "Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore > > > > > > >
Date: 1/27/19 8:42 am From: Pamela Sowizral <psowizral...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Today at Drumlin Farm
Nothing exciting this morning but happy to see 24 species including a nice brown creeper and pileated woodpecker. I saw a yellow-bellied sapsucker from my office window a few time last week - it likes the big maple by the gift shop. Other birders have been reporting barred owls at Drumlin although have yet to track them down.
Pam Sowizral
Mass Audubon's Drumlin farm
Lincoln
Canada Goose 25
Mourning Dove 7
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 13
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 33
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 9
Dark-eyed Junco 7
White-throated Sparrow 17
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 7
House Sparrow 8
Date: 1/27/19 6:44 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26: missing Purple Sandpipers
Margo and I did see 7 purple sandpipers roosting on the rocks at Bass Rocks, Gloucester yesterday mid-afternoon.
Steve Grinley Essex
Sent from XFINITY Connect App
------ Original Message ------
From: linda pivacek To: Linda Ferraresso, MASSBIRD Sent: January 27, 2019 at 8:38 AM Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26: missing Purple Sandpipers
Purple Sandpipers also missing here in Nahant at usual spots. have seen them at Red Rock, Lynn Beach, but even there not as reliable as expected.
Linda Pivacek, Nahant, <lpivacek...>
On January 26, 2019 at 10:51 PM Linda Ferraresso<tattler1...>wrote:
It was a lovely day on Cape Ann - sunny, seasonal temperatures and very light wind. Of note were very small numbers of land birds and total absence of Purple Sandpipers ( where are they??).
Full eBird report below.
Linda
Cape Ann (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US Jan 26, 2019 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.0 mile(s) Comments: BBC Walk - sunny, 28 degrees at the start, little wind. 45 species
Canada Goose 135 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 3 Brace Cove Mallard 210 American Black Duck 51 Northern Pintail 2 Rockport Harbor Greater Scaup 7 King Eider 1 Eastern Point - thanks to Sean Williams Common Eider 435 Harlequin Duck 72 Surf Scoter 43 White-winged Scoter 17 Black Scoter 11 Long-tailed Duck 19 Bufflehead 89 Common Goldeneye 8 Red-breasted Merganser 27 Horned Grebe 2 Red-necked Grebe 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 83 Mourning Dove 6 Purple Sandpiper 0( Noticeably absent everywhere we checked) Razorbill 1 Black Guillemot 5 1 Jodrey Pier, 3 Bass Rocks, 1 Loblolly Cove Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Common Loon 13 Great Cormorant 9 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Snowy Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Private residence Peregrine Falcon 1 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 48 Tufted Titmouse 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 2 American Robin 6 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 143 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 1 Song Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 2 House Sparrow 48
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
Date: 1/27/19 5:41 am From: linda pivacek <lpivacek...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26: missing Purple Sandpipers
Purple Sandpipers also missing here in Nahant at usual spots. have seen them at Red Rock, Lynn Beach, but even there not as reliable as expected.
Linda Pivacek, Nahant, <lpivacek...>
> On January 26, 2019 at 10:51 PM Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> wrote: > > It was a lovely day on Cape Ann - sunny, seasonal temperatures and very light wind. Of note were very small numbers of land birds and total absence of Purple Sandpipers ( where are they??). > > Full eBird report below. > > Linda > > Cape Ann (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US > Jan 26, 2019 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 5.0 mile(s) > Comments: BBC Walk - sunny, 28 degrees at the start, little wind. > 45 species > > Canada Goose 135 > Gadwall 4 > American Wigeon 3 Brace Cove > Mallard 210 > American Black Duck 51 > Northern Pintail 2 Rockport Harbor > Greater Scaup 7 > King Eider 1 Eastern Point - thanks to Sean Williams > Common Eider 435 > Harlequin Duck 72 > Surf Scoter 43 > White-winged Scoter 17 > Black Scoter 11 > Long-tailed Duck 19 > Bufflehead 89 > Common Goldeneye 8 > Red-breasted Merganser 27 > Horned Grebe 2 > Red-necked Grebe 1 > Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 83 > Mourning Dove 6 > Purple Sandpiper 0 ( Noticeably absent everywhere we checked) > Razorbill 1 > Black Guillemot 5 1 Jodrey Pier, 3 Bass Rocks, 1 Loblolly Cove > Ring-billed Gull X > Herring Gull X > Great Black-backed Gull X > Common Loon 13 > Great Cormorant 9 > Red-tailed Hawk 1 > Snowy Owl 1 > Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Private residence > Peregrine Falcon 1 > Blue Jay 5 > American Crow 48 > Tufted Titmouse 3 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 > Carolina Wren 2 > American Robin 6 > Northern Mockingbird 1 > European Starling 143 > House Finch 2 > American Goldfinch 1 > Song Sparrow 1 > Northern Cardinal 2 > House Sparrow 48 > > -- > Linda Ferraresso > Salem, MA > tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net > > "Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore > > >
Date: 1/27/19 4:21 am From: Robert Gervais <rgervais...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bald Eagles in Townsend
There have been a pair of adult bald eagles in Townsend for the past week in the fields off of West Meadow Road...specifically in the fields near the silo which have provided great views of this regal bird.
Date: 1/26/19 9:11 pm From: Susan Hedman <2winterwren...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Raven Gloucester, Jan 25, 2019 and Jan 23
Today during our hike in Dogtown, I saw and heard the Raven, and Wednesday morning 1/23 a Raven flew directly over my yard as I was getting to my car to go to work. That is 3 times this month. Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts, US Jan 25, 2019 9:00 AMProtocol: Incidental Comments:3 hour hike in Dogtown, Raven seen and heard twice during later part of hike near Babson Boulders Trail 7 species
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2 Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 5 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
Date: 1/26/19 8:44 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Lawrence Riverfront SP, Jan 26, 2019
Lawrence Riverfront State Park, Lawrence Jan 26, 2019 3:30 PM - 5:20 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Comments: I went to Lawrence with Brian O'Neill, Lynne Holton, and Anna Kjoss. We started at the north end of the Rt. 28 (Broadway) bridge where we could see the birds on the ice just above the dam. Then we went over to the south side of the river to this park, where Craig Gibson joined us. We could see that most of the crows were still heading upriver from there, so we went farther upstream on Everett St. to Eaton St. (a route previously described by Dana) to the Lawrence Community Boating facility (public), where we walked out to the point behind the boathouse and could see downstream to the dam and upstream at least another mile. Thousands of crows had assembled on the ice (the river upstream of the dam is almost all frozen) and in the bare trees on both sides of the river and were making a real racket. They had not finished settling down by the time we left (5:20), so I don't know where they finally roosted. 13 species
Mallard 20 American Black Duck 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 40 Ring-billed Gull 10 rough estimate, as are (almost) all the gull and crow numbers Herring Gull 250 Iceland Gull (kumlieni) 1 im. (1W) Glaucous Gull 1 im. (1W) Great Black-backed Gull 10 Bald Eagle 1 im. Much white on belly and underwings. Whenever this bird flew over all the gulls dispersed, which is why I couldn't get a better fix on their numbers. Peregrine Falcon 1 chasing pigeons downtown American Crow 13,000 Very hard to estimate numbers due to their coming in from all directions, constantly flying back and forth, and increasing their rate of arrival after sunset to the point where counting even by 100s was not enough. I'd say 13,000 was the minimum number present, and it could easily have been 20,000. This is one of the truly great avian spectacles in Massachusetts. Until one has seen this flight, the numbers are hard to imagine. Fish Crow 50 The approximate number I heard calling as the birds flew over and by us. European Starling 30
Date: 1/26/19 7:58 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Cape Ann January 26
It was a lovely day on Cape Ann - sunny, seasonal temperatures and very light wind. Of note were very small numbers of land birds and total absence of Purple Sandpipers ( where are they??).
Full eBird report below.
Linda
Cape Ann (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US Jan 26, 2019 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.0 mile(s) Comments: BBC Walk - sunny, 28 degrees at the start, little wind. 45 species
Canada Goose 135 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 3 Brace Cove Mallard 210 American Black Duck 51 Northern Pintail 2 Rockport Harbor Greater Scaup 7 King Eider 1 Eastern Point - thanks to Sean Williams Common Eider 435 Harlequin Duck 72 Surf Scoter 43 White-winged Scoter 17 Black Scoter 11 Long-tailed Duck 19 Bufflehead 89 Common Goldeneye 8 Red-breasted Merganser 27 Horned Grebe 2 Red-necked Grebe 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 83 Mourning Dove 6 Purple Sandpiper 0 ( Noticeably absent everywhere we checked) Razorbill 1 Black Guillemot 5 1 Jodrey Pier, 3 Bass Rocks, 1 Loblolly Cove Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Common Loon 13 Great Cormorant 9 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Snowy Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Private residence Peregrine Falcon 1 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 48 Tufted Titmouse 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 2 American Robin 6 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 143 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 1 Song Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 2 House Sparrow 48
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
We spent this morning (1/26) birding around Westport, spending most of our time in Acoaxet. We did not bird much at Gooseberry Neck. The gate was closed, and waves breaking over the causeway when we were there. Some were venturing across, including 2 guys with paper bags filled with bottled beer, but we gave it a pass and birded from the beginning of the causeway. Richmond and Cockeast Ponds were 98% ice-covered, but some waterfowl were crowded in the small areas of open water. Many waterbirds were on the Acoaxet River as well as large concentrations of gulls along the beaches, well up the Acoaxet River and particularly on the east side of Gooseberry. All the beaches showed signs of the recent storms.
Red-throated Loon (2); Common Loon (30); Horned Grebe (2); Great Cormorant ( 21); Great Blue Heron (1 walking on the ice at Cockeast); Turkey Vulture (3); Canada Goose (1079: we searched and searched through the large flocks for anything different, but came up with just Canadas); Mute Swan (31: one on the Herring River had a hook and large amount of line around it's bill. As we approached it, it went out into the bay); Gadwall (7); A Wigeon (6); A Black Duck (473); Mallard (51); N Pintail (3); Greater Scaup/scaup sp (12); Common Eder (267); Surf Scoter (55); White-winged Scoter (41); Bufflehead (137); C Goldeneye (111); Hooded Merganser (34); Common Merganser (2); Red-breasted Merganser (76); N Harrier (1m); Red-shouldered Hawk (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3);
Among the thousands of gulls, mostly Herring, we spotted (2) Iceland Gulls; E Screech Owl (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (1).
Blue Jay (25); A Crow (7); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (18); White-breasted Nuthatch (7); Carolina Wren (21); Golden-crowned Kinglet (4, together in a small wet woodlot, feeding close to or on the ground); E Bluebird (3); Hermit Thrush (7); A Robin (275: the holly berries were a big attraction); Gray Catbird (3); N Mockingbird (10); NB: along Division Road there were several HUGE flocks of starlings numbering in the thousands); Yellow-breasted Chat (1); A Tree Sparrow (1); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (27); White-throated Sparrow (36); Dark-eyed Junco (4); N Cardinal (8); Purple Finch (1); House Finch (9); A Goldfinch (7).
Non-avian highlights included a very casual Eastern Coyote.
Date: 1/25/19 9:16 pm From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, weekly species census, Jan 25, 2019
T.he sunrise was very beautiful this morning casting a golden glow over everything. Refuge lot is closed as are restrooms but walking/ birding is permitted. Impoundments are frozen; all ducks were on the river. There is a great deal of beaver and muskrat activity.
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Jan 25, 2019 7:15 AM - 10:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.2 mile(s) 23 species
Weekly species census for the NWR. Observers: Joan Stoner, Frank Richichi, Kathy Dia
Canada Goose 4 Mute Swan 2 Mallard 1 American Black Duck 4 Bufflehead 2 Common Merganser 2 Bald Eagle 1 Seen over trees towards Borden Pond Red-tailed Hawk 3 Three seen interacting midair. One (presumably male) displaying talons in flight. Third bird flew off. Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 5 Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Continuing. Heard calling near river. Blue Jay 4 American Crow 6 Black-capped Chickadee 16 Tufted Titmouse 14 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 8 House Finch 7 American Goldfinch 2 American Tree Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2 Song Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 1
Date: 1/25/19 8:58 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] More Valley birds
Hi MassBirders,
Daniel Schell has had a great couple of days. On Thursday he photographed an immature Golden Eagle in Montague (not far from where I saw one in late October). He followed up on Friday with a light-morph Rough-legged Hawk in the Hadley Honeypot.
Noah Kahn has been reporting a flock of 20+ Common Redpolls just outside the USF&WS HQ building in Hadley. They have been coming and going fairly erratically, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
On Wednesday, I saw two more Barred Owls, both along North East Street in Amherst, about a quarter-mile apart. After going owl-less on Thursday, I saw one owl roadkilled at the side of N East St Friday morning, but another still alive, healthy, and hunting.
Also on Wednesday I spotted a “gray ghost” male Northern Harrier cruising near Stockbridge Road in Hadley. In the same area Thursday, no harrier, but instead a flock of 60+ Horned Larks was near Knightly Road.
Earlier on Thursday I visited Deerfield North Meadows. A Horned Lark flock there was about one-third the size of what I’d see later in Hadley, but the Deerfield flock also included a Lapland Longspur.
Friday morning I noticed that while Barton Cove remains 99% frozen, the 1% unfrozen corner had attracted 5 Common Goldeneye and a pair of Mallards. While I was watching them, I heard huge wings whooshing above, and glanced up to see an immature Bald Eagle flying into the tree above me! I went on to the nearby Canalside Rail Trail bridge; the river there was disappointing, probably because the recent rains had resulted in very deep water and an abundance of ice chunks floating downstream. However, the big agricultural field at the Deerfield end of the bridge had a flock of 30+ Snow Buntings.
Around mid-day I took the dog for a walk at the aforementioned USF&WS HQ building in Hadley. Did not see any redpolls, but did hear one calling in the distance somewhere. Did see a nice flock of 45+ Cedar Waxwings, and an accipiter skimming up the driveway just inches above the pavement (I felt like the "Jaws" theme should have been playing). And as we were leaving, I snooped around in the car a bit, and noticed yet another Barred Owl sleeping in the bushes over by the Marriott...
Date: 1/25/19 8:43 am From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] extralimital, but extra exciting
Hi everyone, My wife and I had the good fortune recently to go out west and work with The Peregrine Fund and to help with the release of captive-bred and wild-bred California Condors. That organization is doing absolutely incredible work to save raptors and to reintroduce the condor. If you're interested in learning more about the work they do, and if you're interested in learning more about condors and our trip (photos included), please click on this link: https://birdpartner.com/2019/01/24/the-thrill-of-a-lifetime/. Thanks so much! Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/
Date: 1/25/19 4:47 am From: ECOC Mail <ecocmail...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Essex County Ornithological Club - Meeting Reminder and talk by Scott Weidensaul, A Galaxy of Falcons - February 01, 2019 - 7:45pm
Friday, February 1, 7:45 pm A Galaxy of Falcons with Scott Weidensaul Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm
Each autumn, more than a million Amur falcons congregate in India’s remote northeast state of Nagaland, pausing on a 9,000-mile migration from Asia to southern Africa. Until 2012, no one in the outside world knew this great gathering existed—or that the local people were killing hundreds of thousands of the birds for food.
What happened next was one of the most remarkable conservation success stories in recent years, but also poses thorny questions about what happens when a poor community does the right—but difficult—thing. Join renowned author and bird researcher Scott Weidensaul as he discusses his 2017 expedition to Nagaland, and the future of this galaxy of falcons. This event is made possible by a generous donation from The Echo Charitable Foundation. Co-sponsored by PEM.
Morse Auditorium, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. Free and open to the public.
Date: 1/24/19 10:23 pm From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] The BIrdwatcher: A Mystery for Those Interested in Birding Mysteries
I enjoy reading a good mystery. Not the "tea cozy" kind, but a wide variety of mysteries: American, British, and increasingly, international and historical. A modest number of primarily prosaic mysteries have involved birding as a hobby. Recently, however, I picked up a mystery by William Shaw called "The Birdwatcher: A Novel." I was not familiar with Shaw, but the title intrigued me, and it takes place in Ulster and England.
Birding is not core to the mystery, but is an interesting theme throughout the book because the central character, a detective named William South, is an avid birdwatcher. There are multiple references to his birding as a youth and birding as a police detective on the Kentish coast. I questioned at first if all the birding references were gratuitous, something just thrown in to make the book more distinctive. A marketing ploy. On page 115, however, I learned that the author HAD to be a real birder. The detective takes the teenage daughter of a colleague to a "hide" (blind) to show her birds for the first time. The girl takes a very real interest in the birds, primarily shorebirds and waterfowl. An old couple was eating lunch in the hide and left grumbling when the detective and teenager began actually looking at birds. Watching the old couple give up their picnic spot the teenager birding for the very first time says,"Good riddance. They weren't even proper birdwatchers,! ' she said." The detective immediately thought, "Her first time out and she was already judging others. She'd fit in fine; he smiled to himself." Shaw HAS to be a real birdwatcher to say that! I smiled to myself as well.
Shaw has written three other novels as of 2018, and other references suggest they are mysteries sent in 1960s. London. I will be looking for them. "The Birdwatcher" is a well written mystery a cut above the norm.
I thought many of your would be interested in my next guest Katrina van Grouw, Author & Natural History Illustrator of The Unfeathered Bird and Unnatural Selection. https://bit.ly/2akUsxp
Date: 1/24/19 11:39 am From: Derek Brown <derekbrownbuild...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sharp shinned hawk stands in savasana
I looked out a window yesterday and saw a sharp shinned hawk in the snow, where he was halfway through eating a junco. I pretty quickly realized that the hawk was absolutely still, not even a feather moved, for minutes. So I walked out and looked closely through binos and saw that only the one visible eye remained active. I walked away, playing scenes from "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" on my internal screen. After another half minute i again approached the all but lifeless though standing bird. It was only as I was within 10 feet that he lit up and out like a rocket, heartstoppingly avoiding a huge and rapidly descending cooper's hawk that, unknown to me had been lining up the sharpie for lunch. Awed by my own ignorance and the coolness of this tiny hawk i watched as the junco's remains were breeze blown on the snow.
Date: 1/23/19 1:28 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Salisbury Beach State Res & Plum Island - 01-23-2019
David Moon and I led today's Wednesday Morning Birding program out of Joppa Flats Education Center to Salisbury Beach State Reservation and the north end of Plum Island. We had hoped that the refuge would be open, but, alas, not to be. Skies were overcast, temps made it up to 36F, and the winds were SW-WSW/10-25 mph.
Our list:
Salisbury Beach -- Canada Goose - common. American Black Duck - common. Mallard - common. Common Eider - common. White-winged Scoter (~ 15) Long-tailed Duck (2) Bufflehead (7) Common Goldeneye (~ 15) Red-breasted Merganser (3) Red-necked Grebe (3) Turkey Vulture (1) Bald Eagle (1) - imm. Northern Harrier (3) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Ring-billed Gull (~ 12) Herring Gull - common. Great Black-backed Gull (3) Rock Pigeon [Eastern Screech-Owl (1) - red morph; Newburyport.] Merlin (1) American Crow (~ 6) Northern Mockingbird (1) European Starling Song Sparrow (3)
Plum Island -- [Canada Goose - common; marsh, w. side PI River, from w. end of bridge.] [American Black Duck - common; marsh, w. side PI River, from w. end of bridge.]. Common Eider - common; north end. Black Scoter (~ 8) - north end. Long-tailed Duck (4) - north end. Common Goldeneye (5) - north end. Red-breasted Merganser (2) - north end. Common Loon (1) - north end. Northern Harrier (1) - marsh, n. refuge gate. [Red-tailed Hawk (1) - PI Tpk.] Herring Gull - common. Great Black-backed Gull (2) - marsh, n. refuge gate. Rock Pigeon (2) - n. refuge gate house. Snowy Owl (1) - fly over, n. to s., east end PI Bridge; lost track once landed in marsh w. side PI River. American Crow (1) European Starling [Snow Bunting (1) - marsh, w. side PI River, from w. end of bridge.]
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 1/23/19 10:04 am From: Walt Webb <wwebb24...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Coop & Red-tail at My Yard, Westwood
Over the past 4 days, my bird feeding station has attracted both an adult Cooper's Hawk & an adult Red-tailed Hawk. In fact, the red-tail pounced on a squirrel. When I appeared at the window, the hawk flew to a branch without the squirrel then left. Later it returned. By peering from the corners of my kitchen window, I was able to get 2 photos of the hawk standing on its prey. Still, the sharp-eyed hawk spotted me & once again flew off without the dead squirrel. Finally, after about 15 mins. the bird came back & this time carried off the carcass. I've shared my photos on Facebook's Eastern Massachusetts Birders & on my own page.
> On Jan 22, 2019, at 10:25 PM, GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> wrote:
>
> Folks, seems like White-throats are declining. My annual trips to Mt Greylock in June has seen a steady decline with now the only White-throats at the very top when they used to be as low as Jone's Nose in the early years (1980's). If you have followed my annual summary of species from Greylock, White-throats have dropped almost to zero. I feel some year we will no longer have White-throats on the mountain.
>
> An interesting trend is Dark-eyed Junco has dropped in altitude and can be seen as low as half-way; perhaps filling the niche left by White-throats (?).
>
> Glenn
>
> Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
>
>
>> On January 22, 2019 at 4:48 PM Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> kevin, we have only 4 or 5 white-throats at our feeder in ipswich,
>> whereas in past years we typically had 15-20. but they have been
>> slipping here for the last several years, for whatever that's worth. it
>> can vary from feeder to feeder.
>>
>>> On 1/22/2019 1:02 PM, Kevin Ryan wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello allEvery storm is exciting for those of us that feed birds, you never know what your going to get, or not get ! In all my years of feeding I don't think I've ever had a storm with no WHITETHROATS but I did not have one White-throated Sparrow in the last 3 days, plenty of other birds though. 45 Junco, 25-30 goldfinches, 4 Pine Siskin, 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Amer tree Sparrow, 1 Carolina Wren, 5 Cardinal plenty of birds but no Whitethroats, wonder what happened to them this year?Anyone else have the same thing happen?Ķevin Ryan Èaston
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. <jim.berry3...>
>>
>> ---
>> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
>> https://www.avg.com >>
>
All sorts of upheaval in the face of sudden snow cover and deep cold. Some of the more eye-catching sightings in western MA this morning:
Larry Therrien reported a Red-necked Grebe and a Red-breasted Merganser “at a very cold Winsor Dam”.
Mike Locher found a Lapland Longspur in a large flock of Horned Larks at the Hadley Honeypot; then Mary McKitrick followed up and got photos of at least three longspurs.
As for me, after hearing a Carolina Wren’s song echo over the solid ice of Barton Cove, I ran into a flock of at least 55 Snow Buntings at the Turners Falls airport. From there, I car-birded through the Montague Sandplains without finding anything, but out in the Montague meadows, ran into a small group of Common Redpolls, my first of the winter. I also noted that one of the farmers out there had a carcass out in his field again, which had attracted at least 7 Bald Eagles and a similar number of Common Ravens.
Folks, seems like White-throats are declining. My annual trips to Mt Greylock in June has seen a steady decline with now the only White-throats at the very top when they used to be as low as Jone's Nose in the early years (1980's). If you have followed my annual summary of species from Greylock, White-throats have dropped almost to zero. I feel some year we will no longer have White-throats on the mountain.
An interesting trend is Dark-eyed Junco has dropped in altitude and can be seen as low as half-way; perhaps filling the niche left by White-throats (?).
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On January 22, 2019 at 4:48 PM Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> wrote: > > > kevin, we have only 4 or 5 white-throats at our feeder in ipswich, > whereas in past years we typically had 15-20. but they have been > slipping here for the last several years, for whatever that's worth. it > can vary from feeder to feeder. > > On 1/22/2019 1:02 PM, Kevin Ryan wrote: > > > > Hello allEvery storm is exciting for those of us that feed birds, you never know what your going to get, or not get ! In all my years of feeding I don't think I've ever had a storm with no WHITETHROATS but I did not have one White-throated Sparrow in the last 3 days, plenty of other birds though. 45 Junco, 25-30 goldfinches, 4 Pine Siskin, 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Amer tree Sparrow, 1 Carolina Wren, 5 Cardinal plenty of birds but no Whitethroats, wonder what happened to them this year?Anyone else have the same thing happen?Ķevin Ryan Èaston > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. <jim.berry3...> > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > https://www.avg.com >
kevin, we have only 4 or 5 white-throats at our feeder in ipswich, whereas in past years we typically had 15-20. but they have been slipping here for the last several years, for whatever that's worth. it can vary from feeder to feeder.
On 1/22/2019 1:02 PM, Kevin Ryan wrote: > > Hello allEvery storm is exciting for those of us that feed birds, you never know what your going to get, or not get ! In all my years of feeding I don't think I've ever had a storm with no WHITETHROATS but I did not have one White-throated Sparrow in the last 3 days, plenty of other birds though. 45 Junco, 25-30 goldfinches, 4 Pine Siskin, 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Amer tree Sparrow, 1 Carolina Wren, 5 Cardinal plenty of birds but no Whitethroats, wonder what happened to them this year?Anyone else have the same thing happen?Ķevin Ryan Èaston > > > > > > > > > >
Date: 1/22/19 10:08 am From: Kevin Ryan <kr1946...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Whitethroats
Hello allEvery storm is exciting for those of us that feed birds, you never know what your going to get, or not get ! In all my years of feeding I don't think I've ever had a storm with no WHITETHROATS but I did not have one White-throated Sparrow in the last 3 days, plenty of other birds though. 45 Junco, 25-30 goldfinches, 4 Pine Siskin, 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Amer tree Sparrow, 1 Carolina Wren, 5 Cardinal plenty of birds but no Whitethroats, wonder what happened to them this year?Anyone else have the same thing happen?Ķevin Ryan Èaston
Date: 1/22/19 6:52 am From: Devin Griffiths <devingriffiths...> Subject: Fw: [MASSBIRD] Maine Great Black Hawk - in rehab
With permission from Barabara, I'm sharing info on how to donate to Avian Haven, the rehab group in Maine that's caring for the Great Black Hawk. As of today, the bird is alert and healthy--frostbitten feet (treated by AH) seems to be the main issue.
If you can, please make a contribution to support AH's work.
Best,
Devin
More info about Avian Haven: Avian Haven
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Avian Haven
Avian Haven wild bird rehabilitation center
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Donate: Support Avian Haven on Mightycause
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Support Avian Haven on Mightycause
AvAvian Haven was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1999. Since that time, its annual case ...
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This is thermo regulation. They lose a lot of heat through the bare parts and attempt at reducing risk of frostbite.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On January 21, 2019 at 6:53 PM Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> wrote: > > > How cold was it today? It was so cold, many of the ground feeding birds were going one- legged. The first one I saw was a titmouse, and I thought it was injured. Then I noticed a song sparrow and 2 white throated sparrows also had only one leg, then 3 chickadees. > > Then I saw two of them switch legs, and tuck the other up into their fluffed-up feathers. One legged hopping was the rule of the day. This may be common, but I had never seen as much of it as today. > > It was so cold... > > Robert Mussey > Milton > > > > Sent from my iPhone
How cold was it today? It was so cold, many of the ground feeding birds were going one- legged. The first one I saw was a titmouse, and I thought it was injured. Then I noticed a song sparrow and 2 white throated sparrows also had only one leg, then 3 chickadees.
Then I saw two of them switch legs, and tuck the other up into their fluffed-up feathers. One legged hopping was the rule of the day. This may be common, but I had never seen as much of it as today.
I found a spot to go brrrr-rding this morning without having to get out of the car--the old Titleist parking lot on the Acushnet River, north side of the Slocum Street Bridge. I saw a small goose among the Canadas and wondered if it could have been a Cackling Goose. At first from the back it looked like one of the Mallards or Hoodies (by size) but I realized the markings were Canada. What do you think? It's in the first four pictures on this page -- lousy since I shot them through the window. https://clongworth.smugmug.com/Birds/January-2019/January-21-2019/i-p85dQmD
After about half an hour a Snow Goose raised up its head from the head of geese.
Date: 1/21/19 8:28 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Maine Great Black Hawk - in rehab
Here's the update from Avian Haven this morning, posted on facebook. For more updates, check their facebook page. Do not phone them.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
Great Black Hawk – rescued!
The Great Black Hawk that has been at Portland’s Deering Oaks Park for the last few weeks was found on the ground yesterday morning,unable to stand. A gentleman discovered the hawk, had fetched a box, and was soon joined by a woman named Terra, who was skiing in the park. Terra not only recognized the celebrity but also had some raptor experience; she recognized signs of debilitation, got the bird into the box, walked home with it, set it up comfortably in a warm place, and called us. For those of you who are not local, the weather here yesterday was basically a widespread sleet storm. Various transportation options were considered, with the final plan ultimately involving our regular I-295 corridor transporters, Diane Davison, Karen Silverman, Lyn Adams, and Cheryl King. We thank them as well as Maine Game Wardens Justin Fowlie and Chris Roy.
Due to the poor travel conditions, what would normally be an hour and a half trip took four hours. The hawk seemed nearly dead when it left Portland, but was provided with plenty of heat for the trip and had its eyes open when checked at the Topsham hand-off. The hawk was active when it arrived here around 5 pm. The bird’s obvious difficulty was frostbitten feet. After some emergency care for that condition as well as general debilitation, the hawk was settled into an ICU for the night. This morning, he was alert and standing. Dr. Neville, our veterinarian, will conduct a full exam today that includes radiographs and bloodwork, and we will provide further updates as we have them.
We greatly appreciate everyone's support. PLEASE do not call the Center for updates! We will provide updates as we have them on our Facebook page. Thank you!
Date: 1/20/19 9:40 am From: Floyd, Chris <chrisf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Long Pond (Harwich/Brewster) Tufted Duck Drake Continues, 1/19/19
I was very lucky to be informed of close views of this bird by a birding couple (thank you!) just before I had to head home, having searched for it from several vantage points around Long Pond. It was in a little cove at the extreme western point of pond, near where the bike path crosses Pleasant Lake Avenue (room to park one car). At the time, I was scanning through a huge scaup flock from the Beach off Crowells Bog Road, viewing site of several earlier reports.
Another good vantage point is the bigger beach off Long Pond Drive, near Courtney Road (Barrow's Goldeneye observed by others there). The eastern end of the pond (viewable from a beach off Cahoon Road) is frozen.
Date: 1/20/19 8:26 am From: Floyd, Chris <chrisf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Provincetown Eared Grebe Continues, 1/19/19
After failing to find this bird on thorough search up and down Macmillan Wharf, I located it on the far side of the private wharf to SW (by yellow restaurant building "9 Ryder" ), unfortunately now inaccessible, preventing for closer approach. Good scope views from beach there, but not close enough to photograph. Alcids were much more accommodating!
Date: 1/20/19 5:34 am From: Ida Giriunas <ida8...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brookline Bird Club Jan 21 trip cancelled
Greetings:
My BBC trip scheduled (on the BBC Web site) for Monday, Jan 21 to Newburyport and vicinity is cancelled because of the weather and the closure of Plum Island do to the snow which will not be plowed due to the government shutdown.
Date: 1/19/19 6:29 pm From: Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cackling and Snow Goose, Middleton 1/19
Margo Goetschkes and I went to the Middleton Community Gardens this afternoon in search of the reported northern shrikes. Though I may have seen a shrike at a long distance as it flew across the southern-most field, we walked to that field and only found 7 NORTHERN FLICKERS and 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS along with a few song sparrows. In the corn stubble field north of the gardens we saw a SNOW GOOSE (thanks to John Keeley) and we also found a CACKLING GOOSE among about 200 Canada Geese. As we were leaving, a male NORTHERN HARRIER was hunting the field across the road.
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift 194 Route 1, Newburyport, MA 01950 <Birdwsg...> 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com
Annie and I birded a bit with Steve Moore and Barbara Volkle and stopped in at Heard Farm Conservation Area in Wayland. Around noon, as we were about to leave Barbara saw the shrike fly in to the west end of the long hedgerow in the western field.
The clay-colored sparrow in the fields behind the smoke stack building at 289 Lyman St. is also still being seen daily. It is with a large flock of juncos.
Frantically raking the leaf litter under rear feeder since 1st noted around 1(?) Hope they remain daily visitors after the storm. Denise Peloquin, Gloucester
Date: 1/19/19 11:32 am From: Lindsey Nichols <pepper.please...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Razorbills in Charlestown Inner Harbor (Boston) today
Massbirders,
I took the Charlestown ferry from Long Wharf around 1pm this afternoon. The 10 min trip offered decent looks of some inner harbor razorbills. I saw them heading toward Spaulding Hospital, so ran over there (I was heading back from a longer run anyway), and enjoyed the closest looks of razorbills I've had so far! Would have been a great photo opp if my fingers weren't so frozen.
10 razorbills (1 group of 6, 1 group of 4), making regular dives for fish
Date: 1/19/19 10:40 am From: dpeloquin06 <dpeloquin06...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow browsing forsythia under feeder in back yard. Flushes frequently, but returns quickly. Cooper's here daily. Female Towhee been joining him later in PM. She likes leaf litter where 2 yards meet near fencing. If viewing desired, park above 398 Western Ave, Gloucester & walk down between houses (slowly), feeders on your left, front & rear, Pileated evening roost on right, behind garage, retires for the day @ 2:30-3 when overcast. Usually announces his arrival from top of pitchfork-shaped tree behind garage. Wow, is getting so dark now at 1:30...what's to come?! Stay safe & toasty!D
Date: 1/19/19 9:44 am From: David Williams <dave.williams6...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sunday's BBC Newburyport & vicinity trip cancelled.
The BBC trip to Newburyport & vicinity schedule for tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 20, has been cancelled due to the impending storm. Dave Williams Reading, MA
Date: 1/19/19 7:39 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Northern shrike, Wayland
John Damien called the store at 10:25 to report a Northern shrike at the Heard Conservation land on Heard Road in Wayland. From the parking lot take the boardwalk on the right, walk a ways until approaching a hedge row and scan the tops of the trees.
Barrett S Bacall
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift 194 Route 1, Newburyport, MA 01950 <Birdwsg...> 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com
I was catching up on my stack of eBird RBA updates and came across one that I don’t recall seeing posted here yet, despite having come up on eBird over a week ago. It involves a bird that was found dead, so maybe no one considered it worth repeating. But I figure that many of us like to know what’s out there, what’s possible, even for birds that we can’t go see for ourselves. Silver lining, at least nobody missed out on chasing the bird due to the delay in sharing the eBird report…. Anyway, an immature Purple Gallinule was found dead on a golf course in Cohasset! Discovered by Sally Avery, identified by Mass Audubon's David Ludlow. Further details in the eBird post:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51428547 <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51428547>
As for me, the Barred Owl fest continues: not only was today my fifth consecutive day with a sighting, I went on to see FOUR of them! Three in Montague, plus one in Hadley. I cheated a bit; two of the four were repeats. The day started fast, as my son and I spotted one before we even got to school. The second was in the sandplains, in the same clearing where I spotted one on Monday to start my streak, so probably the same bird. Then one off Old Greenfield Road which had a Red-tailed Hawk perched almost directly above it, glaring down, probably thinking "What the heck is this nut doing out in the daytime?" And finally one near Mill River Lane in Hadley, in the exact same tree where I saw one over a month ago, on December 12! Can only imagine what's going to happen to these poor critters when the storm hits on Sunday, followed by a brutal cold snap Monday....
Date: 1/18/19 9:22 am From: John Nelson <jnelson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Essay on Ravens in Gettysburg Review
FYI: My essay "Raven Knowledge" is in the current (Autumn 2018) issue of *The Gettysburg Review. *I discuss raven behavior, look at ravens in mythology and literature, and compare ravens to humans. "Why," I ask, "should people be the world's only practical jokers?"
The essay is available online only to subscribers, but if you'd like a copy, e-mail me privately, and I'll send you the essay.
Date: 1/18/19 9:04 am From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Red-shouldered Hawk in Groveland
An immature Red-shouldered Hawk was posing nicely along Rt. 97 (Salem or West Main Street) in Groveland this morning. It was seen directly opposite Federal Way and was oblivious to the busy traffic. Anyone who travels this route for the Superbowl tomorrow should keep their eyes open for it.
Fortunately, it stayed long enough for me to go home and get my camera!
Date: 1/18/19 9:00 am From: Andrea Bean <abean60...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Two shrikes at Middleton community Garden
There are 2 shrikes at the community garden. As I was standing by the pond, I heard an odd squawking sound and two shrike flew out in front of me and tussled slightly with each other, and then chased each other across the field.
Date: 1/18/19 7:36 am From: Ida Giriunas <ida8...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Dot Davis obituary
Massbirders:
Many of you will remember Dot Davis who was the Brookline Bird Club Membership Secretary for several years and lead many wonderful bird trips. She will be long remembered by many.Open the link for her obituary.
Date: 1/18/19 6:15 am From: John Nelson <jnelson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brookline Bird Club Young Birder Scholarship Extension of Application Deadline
The BBC is extending the application deadline for our two Young Birder
Scholarships until *February 21, 2019*. We have not yet received any
applications for these scholarships, which cover the full cost ($1395) of
the Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens program at National Audubon’s Hog
Island camp on *June* *16-21, 2019*. Our seven previous recipients have had
great, even transformative experiences at Hog Island, and we hope that
young birders will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. If you
know some eligible young birders, please encourage them to apply. The
scholarship covers housing, boat travel, and all meals. Scholarship
recipients will be responsible for transportation costs to and from the
camp.
Applicants must be New England residents, ages 14-17, and must submit a
written application and two letters of reference. Preference will be given
to applicants with individual or family BBC memberships. To be considered a
member, an applicant may join the club at the time of application. “I truly
had an unforgettable experience at the Hog Island camp,” wrote 2018
recipient Sam Mroz in a thank-you note to the BBC, “and I would not have
been able to attend within your sponsorship.”
Completed applications and references must be received by the BBC by *February
21, 2019*. Selection and notification of recipients will be completed
by *February
28, 2019*.
For instructions on how to apply and to download an application, go the BBC
website at www.brooklinebirdclub.org
Date: 1/17/19 8:10 pm From: Kat Birder <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR, weekly species census, Jan 17, 2019
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Jan 17, 2019 7:25 AM - 9:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.9 mile(s) Comments: Weekly species census for the NWR. Chilly 16F and partly cloudy but thankfully without wind. We walked our usual route from the lot to the river on the main dike, around the lower pool and down the railroad grade. 21 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 146 Mute Swan 2 Mallard/American Black Duck 3 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Wild Turkey 27 Bald Eagle 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Heard some distance off on Concord River Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 2 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 7 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 3 American Robin 3 American Goldfinch 6 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 13 Song Sparrow 4 Northern Cardinal 1 House Sparrow 2
Peter Crosson reports on Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert on Facebook that MJ Foti just sent him photos of a drake TUFTED DUCK she found today amongst a flock of scaup at Long Pond in Harwich. She spotted the bird from the resident beach at Crowell’s Bog Road.
You can see a photo on facebook. Thanks to Peter and MJ for reporting.
Date: 1/17/19 4:32 am From: James MacDougall <jm3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hingham- Bare Cove Park
Hi,
While working on the periphery of Bare Cove Park at Beal Cove, in Hingham yesterday, I had 2 Ravens, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and 4 Red-winged Blackbirds among the usual complement of winter birds.
