Date: 6/4/23 6:52 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Boston Nature Center surprises today
Thanks to Correne George for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: correne george <correnegeorge...> Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2023 15:07:13 -0400 Subject: Boston Nature Center surprises today
Hi all, Beyond the expected birds this afternoon, I was fortunate to find a Chestnut-sided Warbler on the Rabbit Trail! It came up as rare on eBird and it was certainly unexpected. It was on the left side entrance of the loop. Very soon after the community gardens on the right side. It wasn't very cooperative though. Also had a great serenade by a Canada Warbler on the Rabbit Trail near the Quaking Aspen sign post. It never showed itself and I had to review Warbler songs since I barely hear them. Happy birding! Correne George Milton, MA <correnegeorge...>
Date: 6/4/23 9:37 am From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Quabbin - Gate 15 - birds and caution
Hello,
Nice walk on this cool morning and there was a lot of bird song including the beautiful song of the Winter Wren. However I ended with a lot of company and wanted to pass along a word of caution to those that might like to enjoy a walk at Quabbin. Ended up removing 13 dog ticks and two deer ticks from my clothing…. Oh and did I mention the mosquitoes?
Quabbin Reservoir--Gate 15, Franklin, Massachusetts, US Jun 4, 2023 7:28 AM - 10:46 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.8 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Walked to reservoir and back 34 species
Canada Goose 1 Mourning Dove 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Common Loon 1 Calling from out on reservoir Bald Eagle 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 11 Blue Jay 3 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Winter Wren 1 Serenaded me on the way down and back up Gray Catbird 1 Veery 6 Eastern Towhee 3 Ovenbird 14 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 4 Pine Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 5 Canada Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
One of those special birding locations in MA is Skinner SP in Hadley and today's trip from MetroWest proved how special that location is despite cool overcast weather [no rain fortunately]. Our gameplan was to arrive at 9 am when the gates open, leave one car at the Halfway House after dropping the participants at the top parking lot and very slowly work our way down the mountain - our walk down to the Halfway House took over 3 hrs allowing us great looks/photos of many target birds, esp the Cerulean Warblers.One treat when we were starting was encountering the Brookline Bird Club & many friends at the top - shared some sightings as they started their descent. Meanwhile at the top, we enjoyed a few Indigo Bunting & Cedar Waxwings teed up, Turkey Vultures & Chimney Swifts in the sky, Yellow-thr & Red-eyed Vireos & Least Flycatcher in the trees - of course the target bird are the Cerulean Warblers off the lower parking lot that were singing & got low enough for pictures and all the participants got to enjoy these special birds.As we slowly worked our way down, we countered more Ceruleans, many Am Redstarts & Ovenbirds, Hermit & Wood Thrushes, Veery, Pileated & Hairy Woodpeckers, E. Wood Pewees, Worm-eating & Blackburnian & Blk&Wht Warblers, stunning looks at Scarlet Tanagers, soaring Bald Eagle, Barred Owls calling & 1 sitting, a nesting Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - a slow descent but great song & sightings all the way.After lunch, we hiked Mitch's Way - a dirt road following close to the Ct River with wonderful habitat all the way.Again, we slowly worked our way along the road to the river finding a somewhat different mix of species - great looks at Rose-br Grosbeaks, Yellow-b Sapsucker, Yellow Warblers, Gt-crested & Willow Flycatchers, E Wood Pewees, Red-bellied & Pileated Woodpeckers, C Yellowthroats, Warbling Vireos, E Towhee, Baltimore Orioles, House & Carolina Wrens, Veery & Wood Thrushes, Red-br & Wht-Br Nuthatches, etc.Once to the Ct River edge, we enjoyed a mix of swallow species [Bank, Tree, Barn & Rough-winged], a C. Merganser, calling Spotted Sandpipers, flying D-C Cormorants.In the end, we recorded 77 species on this dreary but productive day - the key was the folks had excellent looks at most species & in doing, also learned more of Bird Song ID in the field. As always, the great work of Dan Fournier and Leslie Bostrom co-leading the trip makes the participant's experience that more rewarding. Outside of one overnight trip to ME 6/25 - 26th, we will not start up new trips until Sept through the winter avoiding all the summer crowds - catch all those migrating passerines, raptors & shorebirds working their way south.
Date: 6/3/23 11:14 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sad news - Tom Prince
Longtime birder and butterflier and past president of the Brookline Bird Club passed away last weekend after a period of declining health.
Tom was a gentle giant, always kind, patient, and full of good humor. His positive attitude and upbeat demeanor were contagious. He was proud of his life list, exceeding 700 birds.
Visiting hours and service will be held at Hallett Funeral Home in South Yarmouth on Thursday, June 8. In lieu or flowers, contributions in Tom's memory can be made to Massachusetts Audubon, the Brookline Bird Club, or the Massachusetts Butterfly Club.
Date: 6/3/23 7:55 am From: Paul Humphries <paul.dwight.humphries...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: [MASSBIRD] absence of — eyes? ears?
Absolutely the modern tools and alerts help, especially average birders
like me. But I also wonder how much of the variation is just randomness.
The USA is a big place with hundreds of billions of trees and ever changing
weather conditions. Birds are tiny creatures hiding behind leaves with lots
of options for which paths to follow and which trees to land in. It would
be *much* more surprising to me if a person saw the same number of warblers
every year.
Anecdotal comments are insightful but perhaps you can only make sense of it
all by analyzing "big data" from a database like Cornell's Ebird.
Paul Humphries
Reading MA
On Sat, Jun 3, 2023, 7:50 AM <blafley...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Congratulations Justin that is certainly an impressive species total. I
> would just add that today species total is more a function of the number of
> birders out there, the technology available like eBird daily/hourly alerts,
> Merlin, Facebook, etc and how much time one chooses to spend driving, not
> necessarily the number of birds out there (as you alluded to).
>
> Bill Lafley
> New Salem
> <blafley...>
>
> On Jun 2, 2023, at 9:19 PM, Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> wrote:
>
>
> its very interesting. this was my best warbler migration ever. not
> dripping from trees like stories i have heard. 33 species of warbler
> within an hour from southern Worcester County. I was always lucky to get
> Bay-breasted Warbler. I have only had 19 sightings of Bay-breasted since
> 2013. this year i had 14! More Worm-eating Warblers in spots i have never
> had before. I think it was also a great year for Magnolia Warblers. I am
> jealous of all the stories I have heard from birders about what it used to
> be like.
>
> Justin Lawson
> Southbridge
>
> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 8:57 PM Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
>
>> I’m no hotshot, but I’m under 50 (barely) and I have had a total of 2
>> warbler species in my yard this year, compared to previous years of at
>> least 5, and really good years of 10+.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jun 2, 2023, at 5:40 PM, Marcia Dunham <mdunhamma99...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Yes
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023, 4:20 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> hey folks
>>> everyone who's been grousing about warblers
>>> whose name i recognize
>>> is surely a senior citizen.
>>> yeah, i'm 80 and i don't see/hear so many, either.
>>> run the numbers by some younger hotshots.
>>> just sayin'
>>> fred
>>> --
>>> <frederickbouchard...>
>>> 78 farnham st
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> belmont 02478 ma
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> 617-484-6692
>>> www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
>>>
>>> 'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a
>>> tasty wine,
>>> see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
>>> — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
>>> (1749-1836)
>>>
>>> 'Time is the only test of honest men,
>>> one day is space enough to know a rogue.'
>>> — Sophocles (515–405 B.C.), Oedipus The King (lines
>>> 614-5)
>>>
>> --
> Justin Lawson
>
>
On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 9:21 PM Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>
wrote:
> its very interesting. this was my best warbler migration ever. not
> dripping from trees like stories i have heard. 33 species of warbler
> within an hour from southern Worcester County. I was always lucky to get
> Bay-breasted Warbler. I have only had 19 sightings of Bay-breasted since
> 2013. this year i had 14! More Worm-eating Warblers in spots i have never
> had before. I think it was also a great year for Magnolia Warblers. I am
> jealous of all the stories I have heard from birders about what it used to
> be like.
>
> Justin Lawson
> Southbridge
>
> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 8:57 PM Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
>
>> I’m no hotshot, but I’m under 50 (barely) and I have had a total of 2
>> warbler species in my yard this year, compared to previous years of at
>> least 5, and really good years of 10+.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jun 2, 2023, at 5:40 PM, Marcia Dunham <mdunhamma99...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Yes
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023, 4:20 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> hey folks
>>> everyone who's been grousing about warblers
>>> whose name i recognize
>>> is surely a senior citizen.
>>> yeah, i'm 80 and i don't see/hear so many, either.
>>> run the numbers by some younger hotshots.
>>> just sayin'
>>> fred
>>> --
>>> <frederickbouchard...>
>>> 78 farnham st
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> belmont 02478 ma
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> 617-484-6692
>>> www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
>>>
>>> 'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a
>>> tasty wine,
>>> see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
>>> — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
>>> (1749-1836)
>>>
>>> 'Time is the only test of honest men,
>>> one day is space enough to know a rogue.'
>>> — Sophocles (515–405 B.C.), Oedipus The King (lines
>>> 614-5)
>>>
>> --
> Justin Lawson
>
--
--
David A. Wittenberg
*He/him/his*
617.365.6213
<davidawittenberg...>
Date: 6/2/23 6:46 pm From: Laura Markley <lauramarkley14...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Warblers this May
About the warblers..I thought this year was pretty good. I've only been birding about 5 years but very regularly. I feel like in past years I've gotten better, closer looks and photos of warblers - why that is, I don't know. I never saw a Prairie for some reason although I heard a few. But I did hear and had fleeting looks at plenty of warblers this spring, especially in mid-May in Franklin Park. There were a few mornings where it was hard to drag myself away to go to work. At Franklin Park I had lots of Bay- breasted (with some great, close views), tons of singing Tennessees, Black-throated Greens, Redstarts, Yellows, parulas, a Canada, Black-and-whites and more (including a Hooded). One or two oak trees had a big variety including Cape May and Blackburnian. Sebastian Jones had some impressive counts here and I'd like to hear him weigh in on this topic.
its very interesting. this was my best warbler migration ever. not dripping
from trees like stories i have heard. 33 species of warbler within an hour
from southern Worcester County. I was always lucky to get Bay-breasted
Warbler. I have only had 19 sightings of Bay-breasted since 2013. this year
i had 14! More Worm-eating Warblers in spots i have never had before. I
think it was also a great year for Magnolia Warblers. I am jealous of all
the stories I have heard from birders about what it used to be like.
Justin Lawson
Southbridge
On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 8:57 PM Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
> I’m no hotshot, but I’m under 50 (barely) and I have had a total of 2
> warbler species in my yard this year, compared to previous years of at
> least 5, and really good years of 10+.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 2, 2023, at 5:40 PM, Marcia Dunham <mdunhamma99...> wrote:
>
>
> Yes
>
> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023, 4:20 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>
> wrote:
>
>> hey folks
>> everyone who's been grousing about warblers
>> whose name i recognize
>> is surely a senior citizen.
>> yeah, i'm 80 and i don't see/hear so many, either.
>> run the numbers by some younger hotshots.
>> just sayin'
>> fred
>> --
>> <frederickbouchard...>
>> 78 farnham st
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >> belmont 02478 ma
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> >> 617-484-6692
>> www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
>>
>> 'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a
>> tasty wine,
>> see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
>> — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
>> (1749-1836)
>>
>> 'Time is the only test of honest men,
>> one day is space enough to know a rogue.'
>> — Sophocles (515–405 B.C.), Oedipus The King (lines
>> 614-5)
>>
> --
Justin Lawson
On Fri, Jun 2, 2023, 4:20 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>
wrote:
> hey folks
> everyone who's been grousing about warblers
> whose name i recognize
> is surely a senior citizen.
> yeah, i'm 80 and i don't see/hear so many, either.
> run the numbers by some younger hotshots.
> just sayin'
> fred
> --
> <frederickbouchard...>
> 78 farnham st
> belmont 02478 ma
> 617-484-6692
> www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
>
> 'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a
> tasty wine,
> see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
> — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
> (1749-1836)
>
> 'Time is the only test of honest men,
> one day is space enough to know a rogue.'
> — Sophocles (515–405 B.C.), Oedipus The King (lines
> 614-5)
>
Date: 6/2/23 1:18 pm From: Marsha Salett <msalett...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] The June 2023 issue of Bird Observer is now online
Massbirders -
Bird Observer announces that its June 2023 issue is now online at www.birdobserver.org <http://www.birdobserver.org/>.
Where to Go Birding finishes Michael J. Good’s three-part series on Mount Desert Island—just in time for the Acadia Birding Festival this weekend—with “Birds of Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island, Maine, Part Three: Blue Hill Bay, Western MDI.”
Articles include “The Precipitous Decline of Black-crowned Night-Herons in Massachusetts and the Northeast” by Katharine C. Parsons, “The History of Bird Observer, Chapter 7” by William E. Davis, Jr., and “William Brewster’s Photographs” by Dana Duxbury-Fox. The photo essay depicts Brewster’s photographs.
Field Notes describe “Salt Pannes: A Summer Stopover for Shorebirds” by Michael Rossacci and “Observing a Northern Flicker in the Late Summer Sun” by Bonnie Tate.
Sebastian Jones focuses on “Dark Ibises” in his Tricky Birds column. As usual, we include Musings from the Blind Birder by Martha Steele, About Books by Mark Lynch, Bygone Birds, Bird Sightings for January-February by Neil Hayward and Robert H. Stymeist, Hot Birds by Joshua Rose, and Wayne Petersen's "At A Glance.”
The cover art features John Sill’s Back-crowned Night-Heron.
Bird Observer is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Date: 6/2/23 1:12 pm From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] absence of — eyes? ears?
hey folks
everyone who's been grousing about warblers
whose name i recognize
is surely a senior citizen.
yeah, i'm 80 and i don't see/hear so many, either.
run the numbers by some younger hotshots.
just sayin'
fred
--
<frederickbouchard...>
78 farnham st
belmont 02478 ma
617-484-6692
www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a tasty
wine,
see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1836)
'Time is the only test of honest men,
one day is space enough to know a rogue.'
— Sophocles (515–405 B.C.), Oedipus The King (lines
614-5)
Date: 6/2/23 9:42 am From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Peter Vale - celebration of life
Family and friends are invited to the celebration of life/burial for Peter Vale at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 11 am.
Mt. Auburn will also live stream the celebration and will send the link a few days before the event; if you would like the link, please let one of us know (addresses below).
If you would like to speak, or if you cannot attend and want to share memories in a note and have someone else read it, please email:
Date: 6/2/23 9:06 am From: Popp, Cappy <cappy.popp...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
It might be weather-related. I was in the upper Midwest multiple times
during warbler migration, and it was, in a word ... epic. The heaviest I've
seen there in many, *many* years (I go every year.) And longer, too. Days
on end of vast numbers of many species, a few of which were not that usual
for the area (Hooded, Mourning, Golden-Winged, Cerulean, etc.), and many
big days of odd species, like a day of so many Chestnut-sided and
Bay-breasted that I truly got sick of counting them, being the most common
birds of any kind in the area, period. We had some heavy westerly winds
this year in MA and odd weather patterns that clumped big days around here
and made warbler migration quite localized, IMHO, though this is just a
lay-birder's opinion.
Cappy Popp
Reading, MA
On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 11:41 AM Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...>
wrote:
> This has been the first spring in the 10 years I have lived in Salem that
> I have not had one warbler in the yard. 🙁
> As well, I've had flycatchers, a black-billed cuckoo, and other songbirds
> but only the non-wintering bird this year has been gray catbird.
>
> Linda Ferraresso
>
> On 6/2/2023 6:34 AM, Maurice Gilmore wrote:
>
> Same in Newton. Small numbers , except for Yellow-rumped on a few days.
>
> Pete Gilmore
>
> On Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 9:30 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks to Walt Webb for this post.
>>
>> Barbara Volkle
>> Northborough, MA
>> <barb620...>
>>
>> *
>>
>> From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...>
>> Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400
>> Subject: Absence of Warblers?
>>
>>
>> As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the
>> number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these
>> birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two
>> single
>> warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this
>> lack
>> of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts.
>>
>> Walt Webb
>> Westwood
>> <waltwebb24...>
>>
>>
> --
> 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: 6/2/23 8:42 am From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
This has been the first spring in the 10 years I have lived in Salem that I have not had one warbler in the yard. 🙁 As well, I've had flycatchers, a black-billed cuckoo, and other songbirds but only the non-wintering bird this year has been gray catbird.
Linda Ferraresso
On 6/2/2023 6:34 AM, Maurice Gilmore wrote: > Same in Newton. Small numbers , except for Yellow-rumped on a few days. > > Pete Gilmore > > On Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 9:30 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> > wrote: > > Thanks to Walt Webb for this post. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...> > Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400 > Subject: Absence of Warblers? > > > As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence > of the > number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few > of these > birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only > two single > warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced > this lack > of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good > counts. > > Walt Webb > Westwood > <waltwebb24...> >
-- 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: 6/2/23 8:22 am From: Toby Sackton <tsackton...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
I also felt warbler numbers were less this year, but when I went back in
ebird I had 13 species, compared to 11 in 2022. I think the difference was
for several species I only saw or heard and listed them once, whereas last
year I would see them in multiple locations. For me, yellow-rump were
particularly fewer, but with abundant yellow warbler, pine warbler, common
yellowthroat, and in NH plenty of American redstart and oven birds, as well
as a wave of black-throated blue and black-throated greens that were very
common during a one week period. I think a few episodes of unfavorable
migration weather likely limited us, but I don't think the general
population is down based on reports of abundant warblers in Canada.
Toby Sackton
Lexington, MA
On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 6:47 AM Maurice Gilmore <petegilmore79...>
wrote:
> Same in Newton. Small numbers , except for Yellow-rumped on a few days.
>
> Pete Gilmore
>
> On Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 9:30 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks to Walt Webb for this post.
>>
>> Barbara Volkle
>> Northborough, MA
>> <barb620...>
>>
>> *
>>
>> From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...>
>> Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400
>> Subject: Absence of Warblers?
>>
>>
>> As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the
>> number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these
>> birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two
>> single
>> warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this
>> lack
>> of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts.
>>
>> Walt Webb
>> Westwood
>> <waltwebb24...>
>>
>>
Date: 6/2/23 7:30 am From: <environment...> <environment...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] June 1 - Aug 31: Summer Wild Turkey Survey
Forwarded from Dave Peterson, Rockport:
Summer wild turkey survey Help MassWildlife with the annual wild turkey count from June 1 through August 31. Every year from June 1 to August 31, wild turkey reports from the public help our biologists determine productivity, compare long-term reproductive success, and estimate fall harvest potential. Reports are welcome from all regions of Massachusetts, from the most rural communities to more densely-populated areas. The summer wild turkey survey is a fun way for people to connect with nature while contributing valuable data to MassWildlife biologists.
Report wild turkey sightings in your area! Contribute to the annual wild turkey survey by reporting observations of hens (female turkeys), poults (newly-hatched turkeys), jakes (juvenile males), and toms (adult males). Learn how to tell the difference between jake and female turkeys.
Date: 6/2/23 3:40 am From: Maurice Gilmore <petegilmore79...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
Same in Newton. Small numbers , except for Yellow-rumped on a few days.
Pete Gilmore
On Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 9:30 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
> Thanks to Walt Webb for this post. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...> > Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400 > Subject: Absence of Warblers? > > > As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the > number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these > birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two single > warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this lack > of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts. > > Walt Webb > Westwood > <waltwebb24...> > >
The same is true in my yard, Walt. I have heard hardly any warblers here over the last six weeks, and very few elsewhere as well, though i am not birding that much away from home. it seems like a sad situation indeed for warblers. jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...>
To: massbird <massbird...>
Sent: Thu, Jun 1, 2023 9:21 pm
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
Thanks to Walt Webb for this post.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...>
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400
Subject: Absence of Warblers?
As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the
number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these
birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two single
warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this lack
of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts.
I feel like the timing was also a bit strange this year, with some bad
weather hitting right around when the first big waves of migrants would
usually come through, and holding things up for a week or two. I know some
of the "early" migrants like white-throated sparrows seemed to stick around
much later this year in my area. I think the overall flow of birds might
have been compressed towards the back half of May. This is just my general
impression and conjecture, but I'm sure BirdCast has some interesting data
on it
- Kenrick
Lowell, MA (Middlesex County)
On Thu, Jun 1, 2023, 10:23 PM <blafley...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> From other Massbird posts and a few reports from local birders who headed
> out to Plum Island it sounded like there were a lot of migrating warblers
> out on Plum Island and perhaps other eastern sites. This may have been due
> to predominantly westerly winds that took the migrating birds on a more
> easterly track as they headed north. Just speculating.
> As a long time birder (40 years or so) I have noticed a real reduction in
> the number of migrating warblers in general. There was a time when we used
> the term a “wave” of warblers where there were dozens of warblers of many
> species passing through the trees. I can’t remember the last time I have
> seen that out here in W Mass. Today if I see 6-8 warblers of a few species
> I consider that a wave.
>
> Bill Lafley
> New Salem
> <blafley...>
>
> > On Jun 1, 2023, at 9:29 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks to Walt Webb for this post.
> >
> > Barbara Volkle
> > Northborough, MA
> > <barb620...>
> >
> > *
> >
> > From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...>
> > Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400
> > Subject: Absence of Warblers?
> >
> >
> > As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the
> > number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of
> these
> > birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two
> single
> > warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this
> lack
> > of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts.
> >
> > Walt Webb
> > Westwood
> > <waltwebb24...>
> >
>
>
From other Massbird posts and a few reports from local birders who headed out to Plum Island it sounded like there were a lot of migrating warblers out on Plum Island and perhaps other eastern sites. This may have been due to predominantly westerly winds that took the migrating birds on a more easterly track as they headed north. Just speculating. As a long time birder (40 years or so) I have noticed a real reduction in the number of migrating warblers in general. There was a time when we used the term a “wave” of warblers where there were dozens of warblers of many species passing through the trees. I can’t remember the last time I have seen that out here in W Mass. Today if I see 6-8 warblers of a few species I consider that a wave.
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
> On Jun 1, 2023, at 9:29 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: > > Thanks to Walt Webb for this post. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...> > Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400 > Subject: Absence of Warblers? > > > As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the > number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these > birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two single > warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this lack > of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts. > > Walt Webb > Westwood > <waltwebb24...> >
Date: 6/1/23 6:25 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Absence of Warblers?
Thanks to Walt Webb for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Walt Webb <waltwebb24...> Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2023 20:53:59 -0400 Subject: Absence of Warblers?
As a casual but longtime birder, I noticed this spring an absence of the number of migrant warblers I normally see. Although I heard a few of these birds at places I usually visit, I was able to actually see only two single warblers--a yellow-rump and a yellow. Has anyone else experienced this lack of warblers this spring? I know that some birders did have good counts.
Hi Wondering if anyone has tips or info on how to get on WeChat? I'm on a couple of groups but looking to get on MA because of course I live and bird in MA. Thanks in advance.
Date: 5/31/23 5:35 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 31, 2023 Rock Meadow Belmont– End of Migration Season Migration Wrap-up: What a fantastic May!
Hi all,
I ended spring migration, as I often do, at Rock Meadow this morning. I
did not run across any migrants, but got to see a lot of new families with
recently fledged young. I always find it interesting that as the warblers
are passing through on their mad dash, our resident birds like Robins and
finches, are already fledging broods. Even as the migrants pass through,
some young birds in our neck of the woods are already trying to fatten up
for Autumn.
Some years are memorable, either for paucity or abundance of migrants, or
those of a particular type. Others are great but maybe have a moment or
two you remember and not much else. This year I will definitely remember.
The abundance across a broad range of species is something I have not seen
in ages. There was a year a few years back that people remember as the
‘bay-breasted year’, 2018? 19? This year came close for me, or even
surpassed it in numbers of bay-breasted warblers seen. Tennessee warblers
too; last spring I actually saw 0 somehow. Wilson’s warblers all over the
place; more than I’ve seen in the past 6 or 7 years combined.
Big fallout days at Parker River of all sorts of migrants. I would have
eclipsed 100 species on a list for the first time ever on one of those
days, had there been much in the ocean. I will never forget the show at
the Middens just past Lot 1. Like the migrants were on a conveyor belt
coming up one after the other, with hundreds of migrating jays passing over
in swarms.
The “peak” this year did not feel like a few days, it was more of a large
plateau that seemed to go and go and go. I went out several days as we got
to the latter part of May, thinking “Ok, TODAY it will be quieter” and then
it never was, right up until the final few days of May. What a ride!
Oftentimes when May is over I think that it flew by in a blink of an eye.
This year, early May felt like eons ago. I remember the weather didn’t
cooperate and yellow-rumps, palms, and even early parulas didn’t show up in
big numbers on my trips. I was worried the whole spring would be like
that. Quite the opposite.
I set a new record for species in May by 15…and I’m only 34 off of a new
record for an entire year, already. As an added bonus, after a couple of
trips with her, my now one-year-old seems to enjoy looking at and
interacting with birds more than anything else. I think I may attempt to
turn her into the greatest ornithologist in history. She can already
identify gulls (all 4 species that actually exist) better than I can.
Crane Beach (TTOR), Essex, Massachusetts, US
May 31, 2023 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Time exact, distance carefully estimated. I met Miles Brengle and his associate at TTOR, Molly (sp.), at 8 at the barns where we started out in their 4-wheeler and went to the beach. We drove/walked south to the tip of the beach (now at least a mile from the Gloucester side of the channel) and up the west side for about half a mile, then returned by the same route. We ran out of gas on the way back, so while Mollie went for more gas--which was delivered by another 4-wheeler--I walked to the boardwalks with her, then hoofed it back to the barns via the dump trail and the south side of Castle Hill. Highlights for me were six RED KNOTS, a singing purple finch, 8 ruddy turnstones, and, on my solo walk, a singing field sparrow and a singing brown thrasher. Mammal highlight, if you can call it that, was a gray seal.
51 species
Mallard 2
Wild Turkey 4 all solo birds
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 1
Black-bellied Plover 20 some in full breeding plumage
Semipalmated Plover 0 this was a surprise
Piping Plover 40 Miles and Molly had GPS coordinates for about 48 plover nests and re-found all of them, though a few had been depredated. Every nest I saw (about half a dozen) had 4 eggs. We did not see any young yet. (Crane Beach is a major nesting site for this species.)
Ruddy Turnstone 8
Red Knot 6 These birds are my favorite of the sandpipers, and they were a glorious find by Miles.
Sanderling 11
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 another surprise--an exceedingly low count, though the date is rather late
Willet (Eastern) 12
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 45 est.
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Least Tern 150 Almost certainly under-estimated (and we were monitoring only the plover nests). There are large numbers of these birds (in the low hundreds) at this site every year.
Common Tern 8
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Downy Woodpecker 1 drumming
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Willow Flycatcher 1 in dunes
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 1 singing his head off at the barns
Blue Jay 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
Bank Swallow 65 in about 4 colonies
Barn Swallow 3 at the barns, of all places
House Wren 2
European Starling 3
Gray Catbird 9
Brown Thrasher 1 In their usual territory along the dump trail.
Northern Mockingbird 3
American Robin 14
Cedar Waxwing 1
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 1 singing in dunes
American Goldfinch 5
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 10
Eastern Towhee 3
Baltimore Oriole 4
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Common Grackle 5
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow Warbler 6
Northern Cardinal 1
Date: 5/31/23 9:38 am From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Charles River Esplanade, May 31, 2023
18 enthusiastic birders walked a portion of the Esplanade this morning, witnessing baby Song Sparrows and European Starlings being fed, a Warbling Vireo constructing a nest, and a single Canada Goose leading 20 goslings, among other birds.
Leslie Kramer Kramer.lf AT gmail.com
Charles River Esplanade, Suffolk, Massachusetts, US May 31, 2023 7:37 AM - 9:01 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.567 mile(s) 20 species (+1 other taxa)
Domestic goose sp. (Domestic type) 2 Canada Goose 46 Mallard 4 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1 Chimney Swift 4 Ring-billed Gull 4 Herring Gull 10 Great Black-backed Gull 2 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Kingbird 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Blue Jay 4 Barn Swallow 2 House Wren 1 European Starling 10 American Robin 5 House Sparrow 10 Song Sparrow 8 Baltimore Oriole 1 Common Grackle 9
Date: 5/30/23 6:24 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/28 Fowl Meadow in Milton
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Tue, 30 May 2023 21:42:15 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/28 Fowl Meadow in Milton
This place is extremely verdant. It is in Milton and Canton. (with inaccessible areas in Readville and Dedham as well). I birded from 5:05 p.m.-7:15 p.m,: I did one-half the length of the river trail. I don't know if the other half is doable. As it is, the first half certainly presented its challenges.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Willow Flycatcher 2 Warbling Vireo 4+ Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 they're lying low at this point Veery 1 Wood Thrush 2 in the upland Ovenbird 3 Blue-winged Warbler 3 one near beginning doing alternate song ( first right down dirt path towards river)Â Common Yellowthroat 20 Yellow Warbler 20 Eastern Towhee 4 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Date: 5/30/23 6:18 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/30 Belle Isle Marsh
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Tue, 30 May 2023 21:29:22 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/30 Belle Isle Marsh
I was here from 11:00-2:00, including Lawn Ave.
Glossy Ibis 2 Snowy Egret 2 Great Egret 2 Osprey 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Killdeer 1 American Oystercatcher 3 Willet 2+ Greater Yellowlegs 1 American Woodcock 1 Least Tern 2 Common Tern 2 Warbling Vireo 5 Yellow Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 1 Saltmarsh Sparrow 5Â Â Â including great looks from end of boardwalk of two Baltimore Oriole 2
* Over two months ago I last posted on the Arlington “eagles.” A pair, a female MK and a male KZ, has "nested" now for four consecutive years in two different nests in Arlington. The first year an intruding male eagle removed and killed at least one eagle chick. The nest did not fledge any young that year. The pair then moved their nest location less than half a mile and for two successive years fledged two young successfully. Only one of those four eaglets has survived to the age of one. Earlier this year MK was removed from her territory because of illness and taken to a rehabilitation center where she died. Within hours of being removed MK was “succeeded” in her nest by another adult female under the watchful eye of KZ, MK’s mate. I eventually labeled the new adult female *Fae* (for Female Adult Eagle) because she is not banded and therefore is a virtual unknown. Fae and KZ began bonding behavior very quickly, and they mated frequently, although not always when KZ expressed amorous intent. It should be noted that this all occurred near the peak of eagle mating season, when observers had been expecting MK to be laying eggs in the very near future. Very early it seemed Fae, unlike her predecessor, did not feel comfortable being closely observed by people, all of whom might be potential predators. She perched away from people. She even avoided perching prominently high in THE Eagle tree by the Medford Boat Club, the premier perch in the area. KZ and Fae worked on the nest, expanding it and making it a bit deeper so that if an adult was sitting tight on eggs, it usually could not be seen. At the end of March, Fae and KZ began doing nest exchanges multiple times a day, with Fae sitting in the nest all night. This suggested she had laid one or more eggs that needed to be incubated roughly 34-37 days to hatch. Many a day I looked at the nest from a number of angles in early morning and could not see any bird in the nest. Sometimes I would see an eagle’s crown, and occasionally the whole head and part of the neck. Observing from the Mystic Lakes I could see several nest exchanges a day, usually at least four, that showed they were apparently continuing to incubate responsibly. However, as 34 and more days passed from the first confirmed nest exchanges, there was cause to question if the eggs presumably in the nest had been viable. If they had been fertilized and incubated properly, as there were no visible indicators of a hatching. The couple had established general routines for nest exchanges. KZ would spend time on the lower lake before returning to the nest an hour or two after dawn. Fae would leave the nest and usually go to the western spruce on the lower lake, and then frequently to the old pine on the western shore where MK & KZ's first nest was located. That became her preferred perch on her breaks. She could sit out of the sun, away from most prying eyes (including people) yet have a grand view of the lakes and surrounding territory. She would often sit there for hours, usually on the 10 o'clock branch, named for its position vis-a-vis- the old dilapidated nest in the tree. There was one exception. About three weeks ago several observers noticed unusual behavior. An adult eagle went to sit on a large cottonwood tree on the eastern point of the lower lake, a prominent perch but not far from the trail where joggers and walkers pass by frequently. I found it had to believe this bird could be Fae, as we had never seen her perch there nor had she perched close to people in motion and remained there while humans passed and looked at her. I was able to photograph the bird and confirm it was an unbanded adult. John Blout had been watching the bird as well and saw it return to the nest for an exchange. It was clearly Fae, who had for several hours tolerated people running or walking by her, some stopping to photograph her. To my knowledge, this was the only time she had intentionally perched close to passers by and tolerated them for hours. Then I documented other changes in her behavior. She left the nest on an exchange and went to her favorite immediate post-exchange perch and remained there, close to and in full view of the nest tree. I saw her return to the nest, sit high on the inside, and walk gingerly through the nest. KZ then flew into the nest and did what looked like displacement activity, walking around the edge of the nest "working" on sticks in the nest wall. I thought these were all good indicators that either a hatch was starting or had been accomplished. However, normal incubation behavior appeared to resume the next day; there was no standing in the nest looking down, nurturing eaglets; no food deliveries (which usually don't happen the first day). In my limited experience, when the first hatch is about to occur the female is loath to leave the nest even on a bathroom break or to go very far away, and is quick to get back into the nest with her eaglets. I saw “unusual” behavior only one day, and then behavior reverted to apparent incubation. I've had the feeling, impossible to verify, that Fae is an experienced adult who has mated before, and perhaps even raised eaglets. She is much more cautious regarding people than her mate and appears to be more self-assured. I've seen her take large fish on her own, though I haven’t seen her do it frequently on the lakes. She appears to spend a lot of time at other bodies of water around the watershed. I’ve been told that one eagle nest incubated for 50 days before hatching young successfully, but I would think that was an incredible “one shot” occurrence. This nesting attempt appears to be unsuccessful. Yesterday I saw an adult eagle in the nest shortly after sunrise. Within the hour I had KZ fly from the nest area to THE tree at the dam. He sat there for a while observing the flow of water over the dam, looking for adult herring returning to the ocean after breeding. No herring had been seen going over the dam for over an hour, but when one finally did, KZ swooped down, grabbed it just before it swam off the apron, and took the herring to the dock to eat (which took less than 40 seconds). KZ then flew to the upper lake and into a favorite perch area near MK’s favorite beach, totally hidden in the lush new foliage. Meanwhile, Anna Piccolo watching near the nest saw KZ leave but did not see Fae arrive to “resume” incubating for KZ. She had apparently given up, and may have done so days earlier. The past week both adults were seen away from the nest at the same time on several occasions. Today, May 29, there was an adult sitting in the nest shortly after sunrise. I saw only the crown, but am inclined to think it had to be KZ. I should note that since my thinking there had probably been a hatch, the birds had altered their behavior, spending much less time on the lakes and more time perched in trees on private property away from the water. I’ve not seen Fae for at least three days (which should not be taken to mean that she was not there). KZ leaving without “handing the baton to Fae” suggests he has given up as well. They’ve lost a season, a year with the chance to help ensure the continuation of the species. I know of another nest that failed this spring for completely unknown reasons. The pair had been incubating religiously, but stopped suddenly, before reaching the expected hatch date. The likelihood is that they suffered nest predation, but no one knows for sure. What is known is that the pair was nesting together for the first time and when they stopped incubating, they perched side by side and began what seemed to be mournful wailing together. We don’t know how many eggs were laid in the Arlington nest, or what might have happened to them. We should remember that typically a pair goes through weeks, often months, of courtship and pair bonding, with the male bringing food to his mate to help ensure her health for laying several large eggs. Typically, it should not be a period of high stress, but one of eating well and feeling secure that the mate one had chosen would be attentive and reliable on nest exchanges and a good provider when the eggs hatched. That was not the case when Fae discovered an apparent opportunity available in Arlington. It was already well along in the breeding season. She had probably been moving around the Greater Boston area looking for possible opportunities. Perhaps she was familiar with MK and KZ, and noticed that MK had not been soaring well above the tree line for several days. Maybe she had seen the commotion when people chased and tried to capture MK one evening and returned the next morning to capture her successfully. When Fae did not see and was not challenged by an adult female, she had to act quickly, hopefully finding the male acceptable (at least tolerable) and begin establishing a bond with him. KZ, meanwhile, had not been able to copulate with MK for days and possibly longer because of her health. He had seen his mate’s health deteriorate quickly and saw her chased repeatedly, captured, and forcibly removed from her territory. Suddenly, within a matter of a few hours this healthy adult female appeared (she may have been a stranger but the likelihood is that she was not unfamiliar to KZ or MK) KZ did not chase her off but sat in the nest with this “new” eagle. KZ was probably anxious subconsciously to exploit the opportunity to produce a brood this year. The two eagles had roughly a month to become familiar with each other, strengthen their bond, modify the nest as necessary, and enhance Fae’s diet. We should remember this was also a coupling of birds who did not know each other very well. Many first nestings by eagle pairs are unsuccessful. Likely most of these failures occur with young birds attempting to nest for the first time. If the pair remains together after a first nest failure, they have the shared experiences of their courtship and nesting and are better able to be successful the second year. Will Fae and KZ remain together despite this failure? It is not a given. Both might think the failure is the fault of the other. One or both might conclude they are not really compatible, so they each go their own way separately. KZ might be expected to remain on “his” territory with Fae or to seek a new mate, but that is not necessarily the case. In a recent Peregrine nesting I have followed, a completely new pair took over an established, high-value nesting site. The female was badly injured in a building strike and died, just before she was about to lay. The adult male abandoned the nest site, which was eventually taken over by a new adult female. She was unable to attract an adult male, but eventually mated with an 11-month old male in juvenile plumage. The young tiercel copulated extensively with the female, and his instincts were good as he brought food to her and began incubating the eggs on nest exchanges. But he made a at least one well intentioned mistake. He began bringing food to the eggs in the nest, weeks before the eggs hatched. (He is now a proud father of one chick; three eggs did not hatch.) Will Fae remain with KZ? Or might the much larger and more powerful female decide possession is 9/10ths of the law and chase off her former mate? Anything seems possible. Two other factors are at play here. We are in the “middle” of the herring run, nearing its end. Normally the herring run attracts eagles, and lots of herons, cormorants and gulls. Free food! However, I’ve seen relatively few “boils” of herring teeming at the base of the fish ladder this spring. I have seen far fewer birds feeding on far fewer herring as they attempt to wend their way back to the Atlantic. Despite a few dramatic photos on Instagram, the eagles have spent little time on the lakes looking for easy herring meals. Most of the cormorants appear to have given up forming a “living sein” as herring enter the lower lake. They spend almost all their time standing on the docks, looking like they’re wondering how the Bruins could have lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. My impression is that so far the herring run is significantly smaller than in recent years. I hope I am wrong. The herring run normally attracts a number of Ospreys, which have been seen in average numbers this spring. If one of the territorial eagles is around (off incubation duties), they generally escort the Ospreys off the lakes, and if the Osprey is taking fish back to its nest, the eagle tries to steal it, often successfully. (KZ stole a herring from a Great Blue Heron this spring.) This has given rise to a familiar animosity between the two species. One day KZ saw two Ospreys flying down the east side of the lake, heading south, down river. KZ went up and escorted the Ospreys south, keeping his body between them and the nest area. However, Fae left the nest, so KZ flew directly to the nest to begin his incubation shift. Fae flew to the western spruce. However, one of the angry Osprey’s came back and flew directly over the eagle nest, low. KZ was heard screaming at the Osprey, but he did not rise to chase it. Fae, meanwhile, saw and heard everything but remained ensconced on her perch. She did not rise to defend her nest or mate from the Osprey. Technically, Ospreys really aren’t much of a threat, but they can be very aggravating. I’ve heard sitting eagles scream at taunting Ospreys but never have I seen the incubating bird rise to chase the Osprey, which could be too risky for the eggs or eaglets. “Don’t leave the nest unprotected.” Second, the herring run usually attracts many “floater” eagles in the Boston area. I know of only two floaters in the past several weeks; both apparently were seen only once, and not hunting for herring. The full leafing of most trees makes it much harder to see any perched floaters, and none have emerged from thickly leafed trees to pursue herring. One of the floaters was a subadult (white head and tail, with the tail heavily smudged) and the other was a juvenile, with plumage so dark and fresh that it might be a recent arrival from Florida, a bird possibly hatched last December. I’ll be unable to follow the eagles closely for the next month or more, so this is my last update. I’ll rely on reports from friends as to what is seen happening in the lives of Fae and KZ, but their future relationship might not be obvious for months. Fae and KZ made a bold attempt to breed, to reproduce their species. They invested a lot of themselves in the effort, but to the best of my knowledge, their attempt failed for reasons beyond their control. The next steps will be more under their control. Their essentially “gated” territory is prime breeding habitat for Bald Eagles in the Boston area. New challengers might appear at any time. MK will be missed by many people, but the future of eagles in our area is full of questions and opportunities. It should be very interesting. Some things have returned to "normal." The Eastern Kingbirds are back and nesting once again on THE Eagle tree, which they think should be known as THE Kingbird Tree. As you'll see in one of the photos, the Kingbird regularly attacks KZ or any eagle that has the audacity to perch on what many humans still call THE Eagle tree. Last year the kingbird's kids even flew across the dam to attack MK or KZ when they perched in the "Osprey Tree, on the east side of the dam. The Great Black-backed Gull pair which knows they own the Mystic Lakes are back monitoring the Herring Gulls they allow to intrude every spring in pursuit of spawning river herring. The Blackbacks are comfortable knowing they can rob almost any Herring Gull of its catch. Think of it as paying for a license to catch herring. A Ring-billed Gull sneaks in occasionally, looking for prey smaller than Herring, but generally the Ringbills wait until the Herring Gulls desert the lakes once the herring run is over. And last but not least, the Song Sparrows are singing again, serenading those of us who are looking for eagles or herring. It sounds as though a second brood is on the agenda again this year. A few recent photos of Fae and KZ will be posted tomorrow on my Facebook Page, which is fully public. (Paul M. Roberts) Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...> <mailto:<phawk254...>
Date: 5/28/23 8:24 pm From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] New Salem-a-thon
Hello,
The past couple days I set out on a low key attempt to record as many species I could find in New Salem. Did some walks from the house and visited some sites in town I regularly bird/walk. Turned up 95 species which was a few more than I expected and on a road in Quabbin was stared down by a Bobcat until it got bored with me and ambled into the woods.
Date: 5/28/23 9:20 am From: Jon Woolf <jswoolf01...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] NH Audubon Pelagic Birding Trip CANCELLED
Listfolk,
With great regret, I have to say that tomorrow's NH Audubon Pelagic Birding Trip has been *cancelled* due to a forecast of high offshore winds and seas. The forecast is for northeasterly winds of 15-18mph gusting to 30, with seas reaching 3.3 feet in the middle of the day. With that kind of seas and winds, there likely wouldn't be much to see and it would not be any fun. So Captain Pete Reynolds and I have decided to cancel.
If you are signed up for the trip, then please email me at <jsw...> to confirm that you have seen this notice or otherwise heard about the cancellation.
Date: 5/28/23 2:02 am From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lost Memory Card in McAllum WMA, Northboro, MA
*From:* Bern Krafsig <krafsig...> <krafsig...> *Sent:* Saturday, May 27, 2023 10:14 AM
I recently (2 weeks ago) found a camera memory card in the McAllum Wildlife Management Area in Northborough, Ma. The card had approximately 9000 photos on it, primarily birds, but also a few family shots. I've been trying to locate its owner as I imagine that much info would be a shame to lose. I often encounter bird watchers on walks in the area and one couple suggested your organization as a possible link. If there was any way for you to let your members know the owner could contact me at this email address ( <krafsig...>).
Date: 5/27/23 9:10 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birding by Ear field class
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sun, 28 May 2023 02:47:59 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: Birding by Ear field class
What a wonderful day - perfect weather this Sat 27th, the woods at Woman's Federated State Forest were alive with song from many species plus most cooperated by teeing up in song. The game plan was to slowly drive up this quiet road, stopping at key spots and all of us just listened from the road to all the songs surrounding us and then learned how to ID each song by various methods.Quickly we had several Red-eyed Vireos and Ovenbirds, the buzzy songs of both Blk-thr Blue and Green Warblers, the high notes of the Blk&Wht Warblers, Blackburnian & Pine Warblers, call notes of Veery.At this one amazing stop, we had all the following birds - 4 Broad-winged Hawks soaring & calling, Olive-sided & Gt-crested Flycatcher, N Waterthrush, Chestnut-sided & Prairie Warblers, Cedar Waxwings, C Yellowthroats, E Towhee, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-b Woodpecker, Ruby-thr Hummingbird, Blue-headed & Red-eyed Vireo, Red-b & Wht-b Nuthatches, Catbirds, Ovenbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers plus fly over Gt Blue Heron & DC Cormorant. - many of these species teed up in full view to hear their songs - a great learning combination.Further down the road, more of the same species, which was great for memory practice, but new species appeared singing - Brown Creepers, Scarlet Tanagers, a teed-up Winter Wren viewed through the scope in full song, a Field Sparrow singing plus a Magnolia Warbler. Always of interest was all the bear scat on the road.
Just this one road consumed approx 4 hrs - one highlight after another. On the way for lunch, made a short stop at a marsh where we enjoyed hearing and viewing a Swamp Sparrow & Tree Swallows.
Following lunch, down to Gate 8 to check for the Arcadian Flycatcher [no luck] but enjoyed several Am. Redstarts, more Chestnut-sided & Blk&Wht Warblers, many Veery, C Loon and Spotted Sandpiper & Bluebirds at the water - midafternoon, the volume of song definitely was toned down.
In all, we recorded 74 species which many of the participants learned their songs - that was the goal!! Like always, super thanks to Dan Fourier and Leslie Bostrom for all their help with the driving but more importantly, their work with the participants in teaching them tools in IDing the songs plus spotting skills.
Date: Sat, 27 May 2023 19:12:46 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/27 McLaughlin Woods Highlights
Hi, I birded from 10:45-1:15:
Red-eyed Vireo 1 Common Raven 1 heard Canada Warbler 1 flew in to oak tree at top of long stairs near basketball court Magnolia Warbler 1 American Redstart 3 Northern Parula 3 two together orchard Common Yellowthroat 2 Black=throated Green Warbler 1 White=throated Sparrow 1 first one in a while
Fun group this morning at Fenway Victory Gardens with co-leaders Mia, Lucas and Tom. Great looks at Eastern Wood Pewee and lingering warblers. List below.
Fenway & Victory Gardens, Suffolk, Massachusetts, US May 27, 2023 6:06 AM - 8:48 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.005 mile(s) 37 species
Canada Goose 2 Mallard 3 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4 Chimney Swift 3 Herring Gull 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Warbling Vireo 4 Blue Jay 7 Black-capped Chickadee 2 House Wren 1 Gray Catbird 3 Northern Mockingbird 1 American Robin 27 Cedar Waxwing 12 House Sparrow 20 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 4 White-throated Sparrow 1 Singing Song Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 Baltimore Oriole 4 Red-winged Blackbird 4 Common Grackle 19 Ovenbird 3 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Redstart 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 2
Date: 5/27/23 6:13 am From: Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Balto. Oriole building nest
Two days ago I discovered Baltimore orioles building their nest in a large elm tree directly in front of our house, over a driveway. First time I’ve watched the whole process. The male apparently did most of the carrying and weaving.
He picked a hanging branch with elm leaves obscuring views from several angles. Suspension is from 3 branchlets. He brought dried grasses up to 3’ long, starting weaving it in at one end, as he progressed, the hanging loose end gradually disappeared upwards, until it entirely disappeared.
It was apparently done yesterday. The female only was in the nest for periods today, the male nearby periodically singing. Was she laying eggs, or preparing to?
Date: 5/26/23 5:55 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Female Bird Day Birdathon: Birding in Place
Thanks to Meghadeepa Maity for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: Meghadeepa Maity <maity22m...> Date: Fri, 26 May 2023 14:55:11 -0400 Subject: Female Bird Day Birdathon: Birding in Place
Dear friends,
A huge thanks to the 250 of you that registered for our Female Bird ID workshop (last Wednesday) and the 260 of you that have purchased campaign t-shirts (available until Monday). The Birdathon launched today and we've already raised over $12,000!
I've been so busy coordinating our inaugural Birdathon that I forgot how excited I am to get out birding this weekend.
During this Birdathon, you'll find me perched in several of my favourite, strategically-located, stationary birding spots - at least an hour in each spot. Since my TBI, I've adapted my identification techniques and birding habits to be gentle on my body. But I was surprised to find that by practicing birding in place, I can find far more birds than when I'm moving.
Can you pledge $1 per bird species I find, to motivate me on this incredible journey? I'm really hoping to get to 120 species! You can donate or pledge any amount here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/f/gHDnb0eXzs
Thank you,
Meghadeepa (they/them)
FBC Board of Directors
P.S.
Our Massachusetts chapters are also organizing open teams this weekend. FBC Boston will be leading a bird walk at Mount Auburn Cemetery on Saturday and FBC Western Mass/Anti-racist Collective of Avid Birders is leading a birding by bike event at the Norwottuck Rail Trail (Amherst) on Sunday. If you follow us on social media, you'll find event details and registration info there.
Date: 5/26/23 5:20 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Newton Cemetery Oriole City
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Fri, 26 May 2023 21:42:50 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Newton Cemetery Oriole City
Hi, This afternoon, I saw six Baltimore Orioles together in the same bush by the brook. This was at 4:15 p,m, A minute later, three were bathing together. Then, on the ground, two were mating, A few minutes later, I got my first good looks this season of an Orchard Oriole. This happened between the third and the fourth ponds, near the two orange Rhododendrons (Azaleas?)
Green Heron 1 F.O.Y. Warbling Vireo x Eastern Kingbird x Baltimore Oriole 12 Orchard Oriole 1 male. had just bathed Snapping Turtle 2 every pond seems to have these! WOW!
Cold Spring Park in Newton : Red-tailed Hawk 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Cedar Waxwing x American Redstart 2 Common Yellowthroat 3 Yellow Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Baltimore Oriole 1
Date: 5/25/23 8:36 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birding St. Louis #1
Thanks to Robert Ross for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: <plumisl...> Date: Thu, 25 May 2023 11:13:47 Subject: Birding St. Louis #1
Here is a report on a birding trip I took to St. Louis, MO earlier this week.
St. Louis offers some very impressive birding opportunities. It is on the Mississippi Flyway. With two large rivers, there's plenty of open water, drainage, eddies, sloughs, and many deciduous forests surrounding wide-open grasslands. The habitat is varied, given the higher ground surrounding the rivers as well as the lower-lying wetlands.
I planned my excursions around eBird reports, hoping to add a few rarer birds to an accidental or two and all the commons. On the first day, I was on the trail of a Swainson's Warbler, having not seen one before. This took me to the Weldon Springs Conservation Area's Lost Valley trail. This trail follows an old gravel road through thick woods. The area of this CA was once a part of the Manhattan Project and there are various relics of its past scattered around, including a domed spent uranium chamber.This area appeared to me to be a forest, with a gravel roadway. There were several open fields as well.
The roadway follows a shallow creek, with plenty of signs it swells in the early spring and after heavy rains. Culverts are built around and through the trail area for drainage. An old barbed wire fence runs along both edges of the roadway. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded here, including 33 warbler species. Accidentals are not rare.
The trail park sits along state Highway 94, about 25 minutes from where I stayed in Clayton, a near-in, western suburb of St. Louis. It was an easy drive, all state highways and interstates.
Pulling into the parking lot, I could hear Summer Tanagers, Yellow Warblers, Robins, Crows, and Parula Warblers signing away. I started the hike down the gravel pathway and immediately heard White-eyed, Warbling, and Red-eyed Vireos all around me.I was unprepared for the chorus of calls I stumbled into. It was difficult to focus on a single bird as movement erupted all around.
Above it all I heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. This was to be the first of four heard that day. I heard an Acadian Flycatcher across the creek and sure enough, there it was sitting on a bare branch. Acadians would also prove to be very common here.
Among warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated, Yellow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Parula, and Black and White-lined the trail on both sides. I was to learn Cerulean Warblers nest here. It was only perhaps a hundred yards in when I heard the first Swainson's. It was in the deep, thick woods to my right. The bird had been continuously reported further up the trail. There were many reported recorded calls, but few photos, none clear views.
As it called, suddenly two more called. One was directly across the creek. Another was further off in the woods across and behind me. Reports had stated how difficult it was to entice the birds to come out into the open. Fishing and other calls had not worked effectively. I took a position just behind some bushes along the road and waited. I used all the various warning calls in my arsenal, and although the bird came nearer, I could not see it. The woods in this part of the country are much thicker with underbrush than what is found in New England. There is an impenetrable wall of green rising about twenty feet all around.
While I stalked the cleverly hidden Swainson's, Cerulean, Yellow-throated, Black and White, and White-eyed Vireos reacted to my calls, as did Catbirds, Robins, and what seemed like a flock of Indigo Buntings. I was surrounded by birds. The Indigos would prove to be ubiquitous all over St. Louis. I waited patiently, then figuring I had been exposed and all the birds were scared off, I proceeded up the trail.
A second Yellow-billed Cuckoo called, then a third. I came to a fork in the path where the Swainson's was reported continuously for the last several days. There was a small, deer trail-like path to my left and I took it, after only a few steps, I noticed something moving right above me, only about ten feet higher. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo emerged from the thick leaves where three different small trees merged. It was right above me.
A photo from that angle would be difficult. It would capture mainly branches and leaves. I took about three very quiet, gingerly steps backward. As I did, the bird jumped to an open branch right in front of me.
As any bird photographer can relate to, raising the camera is a moment of trepidation mixed with excitement. The common result is a too-quick movement eliminating the opportunity. With this in mind, I raised my camera very slowly. As I did so, it looked as if the bird was smiling at me! I took about thirty quick shots and it was gone. It hopped back into the bunch of leaves where I first saw it and was swallowed.
I was thrilled; I had never seen a full profile of a Yellow-billed before. All of my sightings were of a head sticking up briefly or a blur of black and brown movements, mostly obscured by vegetation.
Thinking my luck had peaked, I decided to return to the way I came. I took about two steps when a very large black snake with reddish scales below its head slithered out into the path. Missouri is known for its snakes, including Timber Rattlesnakes and Cottonmouth Water Moccasins. Given the latter, a large black snake near a creek is a good reason to freeze.
I watched it move slowly across, paying me no attention. Having lived in New Mexico, I know a bit about how poisonous snakes react to humans. There's typically a moment when they freeze, start to curl and look your way. This snake could not have cared less about me.
I used my phone to research it and determined it to be a Western Rat Snake. It was well over three feet long and looked to be wider than my hand could reach around. A beautiful animal on the hunt.
With the path cleared, I headed back toward the lot. As I came to where I had heard the Swainson's earlier, I could hear one still singing for love. I am not a fan of using recordings of birds to attract them near. I did, though, desperately want a decent shot. Knowing I was going to search for the bird the next day, I had spent about an hour in my hotel room the night before learning to mimic the Swainson's song. I did not think I was very close to mastering it.
I gave it a try. Instantly, the bird I had heard across the creek, not the one I was hearing deep in to my left, flew across my front about waist high. I had a brief look and could make out the brown feathers and a bit of yellow beneath. I watched as it dived into the deep understory and was gone. Perhaps I was closer in pitch and melody than I thought.
I gave it another go. The bird popped up and a branch, not quite in the open but at eye level on a small sapling. Bingo, I could confirm the sighting. It started belting out its song and I knew I had it, the awaited shot would come.
We played long-lost lovers for a minute or two, it hoping it had found a mate, me hoping only to immortalize it. Then, it flew up to a branch directly in front of me, tilted its head back, and sang out, as if to say, "No, like this!" I shot away.
Then, as I often do when I call up a bird, I felt guilty. As my bird sounded off, I could hear the other, the first one I had heard, calling back. My guess was these were of the same sex. Neither made an effort to find the other. I assume the third bird I heard was also the same because these birds were calling frantically as if they were in dire competition.
I wanted to give it a break. I lowered my camera, turned, and walked away. The bird followed. It remained at the same height, it simply flew from branch to branch, tree to tree to my left and just behind me. I thought, I am not the one you want, little one. After about 30 yards or so, it gave up and veered off.
Of course, we take advantage of birds' natural curiosity all the time. It's a key to successful sightings. Still, I feel a bit sad for them because I suspect they cannot comprehend what just happened when they respond to a mimic or warning call and instead of finding another of their species, they find a large homo sapiens with a big black cannon (no pun intended) pointed at them and clicking away. It must truly give them wonder. At least the Yellow-billed Cuckoo merely satisfied the curiosity of its own volition. I admire it for that.
Feeling joy at not only being able to capture the Swainson's but also the Cuckoo, I was quite satisfied with myself. I also had a run-in with a cool snake. The Ceruleans were still going off all around me and I paused to see if I could locate one. I did, very high in the canopy. I managed to get it to come lower by fishing, but it was still a good thirty feet above me. No shot.
Then Louisiana Waterthrushs joined in, along with two Baltimore Orioles, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse (Meesees?), Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, a Cedar Waxwing, and Cardinals. I had opened the Merlin app and I watched in awe as one after another species popped up. I heard the Black-billed Cuckoo as it reached the app, but it was far into the woods. It called only once. I did not find it.
I singled out the Louisiana Waterthrush and decided to search along the creek bed. It sounded as if they were all around me. I did not see any movement. Merlin found a Black-crowned Night Heron, more Summer Tanagers, an Eastern Kingbird, and more. A Connecticut Warbler had been reported on the same trail a day or two previously, but I never encountered one.
There was a small culvert bridge over the creek and from that angle, I could scan up both sides of the bridge along the opposite banks. I kept my glasses looking low and slowly scanned. The Waterthrush was still vocalizing. I saw nothing move.
I gave this effort about ten minutes, then decided I had to call it a day. I had not walked more than a quarter mile out and back and I had ID'd over fifty species.
Perhaps twenty yards from the parking lot, there was another small, rusted culvert at my feet, I instantly noticed something small moving along the lower bank. A Waterthrush. But was it Louisiana? Northern had been reported here as well.
I raised my camera without first checking through my binoculars, breaking my usual pattern. It was the bird I was hoping for; I shot away. It was not close; even so, I extended my lens fully as I took a few steps backward. It hopped up the steep embankment and back down. It paused to look my way. I got some excellent shots of a bird I had seen only once before.
I could not have asked for a better first day. It was beyond my expectations. I had captured great photos of three birds either hard to find or uncommon or very rare in New England. As I came back to my car, I ran into a couple who asked what I call the "Dorfman question: "Are you guys playing cards?" Theirs: "Are you birding?
My common retort to this is, "No, I'm a foreign spy," And to make myself laugh, I think, "And now you have to die." But I was in too good a mood to be sarcastic. "Yes," I said, "this place is fantastic!" We talked about what I had seen and what they had seen on their daily hikes, including a Pileated Woodpecker they loved to find and saw often. I had heard it, but out of sight. I showed them my photos, told them I was from Boston, and they seemed genuinely proud an out-of-towner would be so thrilled with their local trail.
Date: 5/25/23 8:30 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/24 Franklin Park Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Thu, 25 May 2023 14:59:07 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/24 Franklin Park Highlights
I birded here from 9:45-5:00 p.m. Snapping Turtles were either mating or fighting. So dramatic. I could actually see the eyes of one of them, including watching its eye lid blinking! A female Wild Turkey was dust bathing. A cloud of dust arose from her as she shook her feathers.
Red-tailed Hawk 2 Wild Turkey 2 Killdeer 1 Barred Owl 1 heard call Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 heard at bear cages at 11:00 a.m Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 Eastern Phoebe 3 Eastern Kingbird 1. Warbling Vireo 6 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 1 EASTERN BLUEBIRD 2 male and female; she snagged a gig, juicy caterpillar Swainson's Thrush 2 I tracked down the singer and realized it was a Swainson's! Canada Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 2 American Redstart 7 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 on territory Yellow Warbler 4 far flung Northern Parula 3 Common Yellowthroat 2 Eastern Towhee 4 two nesting pair? Scarlet Tanager 1 singing above Wizard's Hollow Orchard Oriole 1 pond; singing Baltimore Oriole 10(guess) including a pair nest building on the island closer to Morton St.
Lepids:
Common Buckeye 1 Black Swallowtail 1 Tiger Swallowtail 6 Cabbage White 2 Horace's Duskywing 5 skipper sp. 3 Snapping Turtle 2
Date: 5/24/23 4:32 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird Song ID class - Quabbin
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Wed, 24 May 2023 21:01:17 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: Bird Song ID class - Quabbin
Beth Milke and I scouted this Wes morning the Woman's Federated SF, Gate 35 & 31 & 8 of Quabbin for the best variety of Bird Songs for Sat's MetroWest trip out to these areas. As always, we were the only folks at the Woman's Federated SF but no shortage of Bird Songs surrounded us - Blk-thr Blue & Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, Canada & B&W Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, N Waterthrushes, Pine & Prairie Warblers, Blue-headed & Yellow-thr Vireos, Veery, Wood Thrush, Wood Pewee, Gt Crested & Least Fly, many Scarlet Tanagers, Winter Wrens, Brown Creepers, Wood Ducks, Purple Finch & so much more Between the 4 areas, we heard 67 species [11 warbler species] and saw many of them - song continued everywhere all day - lots of repartition of songs for learning. If free & interested on working on Bird Song ID, join us Sat. https://www.massaudubon.org/program-catalog/drumlin-farm/88203-birding-by-ear-at-quabbin-reservoir
I've been fielding a lot of questions about this - why Femal=e Bird Day?
So - birders and ornithologists tend to pay closer attention to male birds than females. Birds are routinely named after field marks present only in males (e.g. Black-throated Blue Warbler). Female and immature birds are often clubbed together in literature about field marks, and female bird ID tips are sometimes left out of field guides entirely.
Though it isn't true for all birds, for sexually dimorphic species (meaning that visually, we can tell the sexes apart), most males are brighter and generally more colorful. For songbirds, it's common in North America for males to be more prolific singers, but female birdsongs also have a complex and critical role in sustaining bird populations. Female birds usually also play a more attentive role in nesting and raising newborn birds.
Focusing on female birds could be key in conservation of declining bird species
For example, it was overlooked until recently that female Golden-winged Warblers spend the non-breeding season in lower elevations than males, and as a result females have lost twice as much of their foraging habitat as males!
So the Galbatross Project <https://femalebirdday.wordpress.com/> (a group of scientists, birders, writers, and conservationists) came together to count feathered females at the 2019 World Series of Birding and it impacted them deeply! Since then, they have been talking about female birds every chance they get, and every year on Memorial Day weekend they organize Female Bird Day to raise awareness of female birds and encourage more birders to get outside and observe them. Read more about Female Bird Day at their website: https://femalebirdday.wordpress.com/
This is the first year the Feminist Bird Club also started helping spread the love for feathered females! In case you missed it, we are kicking off our Female Bird Day Birdathon (https://charity.pledgeit.org/FemaleBirdDay) *today* May 24 at 8 PM with a female bird ID webinar led by the Galbatross Project so if you want to take your birding skills to the next level, this is the workshop to join! The event is free and open to all, but donations are recommended.
I make it a practice to record our virtual events for accessibility reasons, such as if someone has a developmental disorder and might need more time to understand the spoken parts. In this case, the webinar content has been sourced from the Galbatrosses' academic work and classes they teach, so for copyright reasons we cannot distribute it publicly. But I have their permission to make the recording available for registered participants until May 29 (the end of the Birdathon).
This highly destructive insect has been found in several Massachusetts locations.
From the Massachusetts Introduced Pest Project website:
Spotted lanternfly is an invasive sap-feeding insect from Asia that was first found in the United States in w014, in Pennsylvania. While the main host plant of the pest is tree-of-heaven (Alianthus altissima), SLF attacks a variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, and has the potential to impact a brad range of agricultural commodities, including grapes and wine, apples, peaches, and maple syrup.
Additionally, here's an SPF Mass Look-alike Sheet:
Date: 5/23/23 4:38 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Spotted Lanternfly - if you find them, report them!
Your eyes in the field are needed!
Check out this graphic about Spotted lanternfly from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
This highly destructive insect has been found in several Massachusetts locations.
From the Massachusetts Introduced Pest Project website:
Spotted lanternfly is an invasive sap-feeding insect from Asia that was first found in the United States in w014, in Pennsylvania. While the main host plant of the pest is tree-of-heaven (Alianthus altissima), SLF attacks a variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, and has the potential to impact a brad range of agricultural commodities, including grapes and wine, apples, peaches, and maple syrup.
Additionally, here's an SPF Mass Look-alike Sheet:
Please contact Gino directly if you have additional questions.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Sat, 20 May 2023 13:33:41 From: Gino Ellison <tbm2126...> Subject: Upcoming Speaker Event in Newburyport
We are all very excited about our next Birds & Brews gathering !!!
We have secured Tiffany Kersten to speak to our Birds & Brews Group on TUESDAY, May 30th beginning @ 4 pm. Tiffany’s talk is titled “Elevating Women in Birding” and sharing about her record setting Lower 48 Big Year ! This event will take place at The Riverwalk Brewing Company on 40 Parker Street in Newburyport.
Please set this date aside as we will have a blast !
We are asking everyone to please insider a $ 20 donation to help us with the speaker fee. (This NOT a requirement - please join us for all the fun !)
We will have raffle prizes, courtesy of Bird Watchers Supply & Gift and Wild Birds Unlimited as well as a reading from Doug Chickering.
Please bring friends … everyone is welcome !!!
Here is a link to information about Tiffany Kersten !
Date: 5/23/23 4:08 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Learned Nighthawks ? In Brookline
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Tue, 23 May 2023 16:42:22 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Learned Nighthawks ? In Brookline
Hi, Last evening, at 7:55, as I was about to enter the Brookline Village Public Library, I heard a Common Nighthawk. I investigated, and saw one doing its typical dynamic flying and swooping. These birds are truly special! Five days ago, as I was exiting the Coolidge Corner Library, I also had one. I wonder whether these birds will visit the library to become scholars!
Date: 5/22/23 8:26 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/22 Franklin Park Seventeen Warbler Species, Lincoln's Sparrow,,Etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Tue, 23 May 2023 00:44:20 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/22 Franklin Park Seventeen Warbler Species, Lincoln's Sparrow, Etc.
Hi, I birded here from 9:55-5:45'
Double-crested Cormorant 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Killdeer x heard Spotted Sandpiper 2 Barred Owl 1 heard calling Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 F.O.Y. Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 heard everywhere Eastern Kingbird 5 Eastern Phoebe 3 including one young being fed Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Least Flycatcher 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 10 guess; lots of song, especially at the pond Tree Swallow 3 Barn Swallow4+ Wood Thrush 1 Cedar Waxwing x heard; one seen Bay-breasted Warbler3 Tennessee Warbler 1+ Wilson's Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 1 American Redstart 8 Magnolia Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Northern Waterthrush 1 pond Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 lots of song everywhere Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Northern Parula 1 Pine Warbler 2 Ovenbird 1 Eastern Towhee 4 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Wizard's Hollow Savannah Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Baltimore Oriole 10 guess Orchard Oriole 1
Date: 5/22/23 8:08 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] OT: Birding in Richmond VA
Thanks to Neil Calabro for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: Neil Calabro <neil.calabro1...> Subject: OT: Birding in Richmond VA Date: Mon, 22 May 2023 18:51:59 -0400
Hi folks,
Iâm traveling to Richmond, VA this week and will have a couple free days end of the week to devote to birding. Are there any local birding destinations I should visit?
Are there any local bird species (not visible here in Boston) I should keep an eye out for?
Are there any bird clubs/ organizations there I could connect up with for better bird walks?
Date: 5/22/23 5:44 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC trip Westover Grasslands Complex, May 20, 2023
Westover ARB laid out the welcome mat for 3 MA bird clubs and took us on a tour of the grassland they carefully maintain for several nesting grassland species - Upland Sandpipers, Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolink. We outran the rain for the majority of the trip and had up close and personal looks at all these nesting birds. A great time was had by all!
Linda
-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: eBird Report - Westover Grasslands Complex, May 20, 2023 Date: Tue, 23 May 2023 00:21:29 +0000 From: <do-not-reply...> To: <tattler1...>
Westover Grasslands Complex, Hampden, Massachusetts, US May 20, 2023 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Checklist Comments: BBC walk 57 degrees, cloudy to light rain 21 species
Mourning Dove 1 Chimney Swift 2 Killdeer 3 Upland Sandpiper 8 Known breeding location for this species Great Blue Heron 1 Eastern Kingbird 3 Tree Swallow 6 Barn Swallow 10 European Starling 18 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 2 American Robin 12 Grasshopper Sparrow 4 Field Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 Bobolink 6 Eastern Meadowlark 4 Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Common Grackle 11 Ovenbird 1
Date: 5/22/23 10:28 am From: H Christian Floyd <hchrisfloyd...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Report for Mt Auburn Cemetery 5/22
Still lots of migrant song but tough to see those warblers! Details here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S138845859 Email me your eBird user ID if you'd this checklist shared with you directly.
Date: 5/22/23 8:16 am From: Brad Dinerman <bdinerman...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island/Hellcat Road 5/21 - 21 species of warblers plus olive-sided fly
Hi Paul,
Thank you for the report, and I’m glad you were able to see so many species. I’m trying to decide whether to visit Plum tomorrow (Tuesday). It’s a 1.5 hour drive for me, which means a VERY early wakeup. It seems that despite the large variety of warblers and other non-typical birds, there were relatively few of each type to be seen. Would you, or anyone else reading this, say that the migration is already winding down? Just wondering so that I can make an informed decision.
Thank you,
Brad Dinerman
Ashland, MA
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On Behalf Of Paul Guidetti
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2023 9:32 AM
Cc: Massbird <Massbird...>
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island/Hellcat Road 5/21 - 21 species of warblers plus olive-sided fly
Fantastic morning on Plum Island on Sunday. Lots of birders and photographers getting on some good birds. Almost all sightings from the road North from Hellcat parking. Great discussion about the merits of using Merlin Sound ID in place of/in addition to field marks, experience, etc. Great long look at olive-sided fly up the road from hellcat in clearing near lone pine full of warblers. Many people got to see good looks at the vest and white patches when the bird turned its back to us (no song, sadly).
Parker River NWR--Hellcat Dike
May 21, 2023
6:24 AM
Traveling
6.18 miles
261 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 2.17.1 Build 2.17.3
3 Canada Goose
2 Mourning Dove
2 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Killdeer
2 Willet
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 Ring-billed Gull
1 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Least Tern
4 Common Tern
2 Double-crested Cormorant
4 Great Egret
1 Snowy Egret
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
3 Great Crested Flycatcher
6 Eastern Kingbird
2 Warbling Vireo
2 Red-eyed Vireo
2 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
2 Black-capped Chickadee
6 Purple Martin
4 Tree Swallow
2 Barn Swallow
2 Marsh Wren
6 Gray Catbird
4 American Robin
14 Cedar Waxwing
1 House Finch
3 Purple Finch
3 American Goldfinch
4 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
8 Eastern Towhee
2 Orchard Oriole
6 Baltimore Oriole
6 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Common Grackle
3 Ovenbird
1 Northern Waterthrush
2 Black-and-white Warbler
2 Tennessee Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Mourning Warbler -- Heard only
12 Common Yellowthroat
15 American Redstart
1 Cape May Warbler -- Female
3 Northern Parula
6 Magnolia Warbler
4 Bay-breasted Warbler
3 Blackburnian Warbler
12 Yellow Warbler
3 Chestnut-sided Warbler
12 Blackpoll Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
5 Yellow-rumped Warbler
6 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Canada Warbler
4 Wilson's Warbler
2 Northern Cardinal
Date: 5/22/23 7:34 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord unit 5/21
Thanks to Correne George for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: correne george <correnegeorge...> Date: Mon, 22 May 2023 08:54:24 -0400 Subject: Great Meadows Concord unit 5/21
Hi all, Sorry for the late email. We had a pretty epic bird walk at Great Meadows yesterday, sponsored by Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center. Although several weren't able to make it, the 4 of us managed over 50 species! This includes 6 flycatcher species! Another participant also had Eastern Bluebird and American Kestrel, which I didn't see or hear. The only thing lacking was, there wasn't too much warbler variety. Here's our list below: https://ebird.org/checklist/S138697271
Date: 5/22/23 6:36 am From: Paul Guidetti <guidettipaul...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island/Hellcat Road 5/21 - 21 species of warblers plus olive-sided fly
Fantastic morning on Plum Island on Sunday. Lots of birders and photographers getting on some good birds. Almost all sightings from the road North from Hellcat parking. Great discussion about the merits of using Merlin Sound ID in place of/in addition to field marks, experience, etc. Great long look at olive-sided fly up the road from hellcat in clearing near lone pine full of warblers. Many people got to see good looks at the vest and white patches when the bird turned its back to us (no song, sadly).
Parker River NWR--Hellcat Dike May 21, 2023 6:24 AM Traveling 6.18 miles 261 Minutes All birds reported? Yes Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 2.17.1 Build 2.17.3
3 Canada Goose 2 Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Killdeer 2 Willet 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull 4 Least Tern 4 Common Tern 2 Double-crested Cormorant 4 Great Egret 1 Snowy Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 6 Eastern Kingbird 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Purple Martin 4 Tree Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 2 Marsh Wren 6 Gray Catbird 4 American Robin 14 Cedar Waxwing 1 House Finch 3 Purple Finch 3 American Goldfinch 4 Field Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 8 Eastern Towhee 2 Orchard Oriole 6 Baltimore Oriole 6 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Common Grackle 3 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 2 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Mourning Warbler -- Heard only 12 Common Yellowthroat 15 American Redstart 1 Cape May Warbler -- Female 3 Northern Parula 6 Magnolia Warbler 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 3 Blackburnian Warbler 12 Yellow Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 12 Blackpoll Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 4 Wilson's Warbler 2 Northern Cardinal
Date: 5/22/23 3:22 am From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wendell State Forest - 5/21/23
Hello,
Yesterday spent the AM waundering through Wendell State Forest. Wonderful morning except for an unnerving incident with 3 charging, unleashed dogs. Only one Canada was disappointing as in the past the same route would yield 6–8. Hopefully this species is just moving north. Painted Trillium and Clintonia in bloom also.
Wendell State Forest, Franklin, Massachusetts, US May 21, 2023 7:19 AM - 12:20 PM Protocol: Traveling 6.0 mile(s) 66 species
Canada Goose 5 Wood Duck 8 Hooded Merganser 7 2 adults, 5 young Mourning Dove 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Turkey Vulture 5 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Alder Flycatcher 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 2 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 17 Blue Jay 4 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 2 Tree Swallow 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 1 European Starling 1 Gray Catbird 4 Eastern Bluebird 1 Veery 1 Hermit Thrush 2 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 4 American Goldfinch 1 Chipping Sparrow 5 Field Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 3 Swamp Sparrow 1 Eastern Towhee 9 Baltimore Oriole 4 Red-winged Blackbird 5 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Common Grackle 6 Ovenbird 26 Minimum Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 8 American Redstart 3 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 8 Black-throated Blue Warbler 7 Pine Warbler 7 Prairie Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 Canada Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Date: 5/21/23 8:38 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] West Hill Dam - Banding trip
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 22 May 2023 01:27:25 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: West Hill Dam - Banding trip
Thank goodness Sat's banding demonstration from MetroWest to West Hill Dam in Uxbridge was moved to Sun morning - basically clear skies, low wind and volumes of bird song to start the morning - songs surrounded us from Baltimore & Orchard Orioles, Warbling Vireos, Rose-b Grosbeaks, Pine & Yellow Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, Ovenbirds, Common Yellowthroats, Catbirds, Towhees, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinals, Gt Crested Flycatcher, E Kingbirds, Red-wing Blackbirds - the fields had Bluebirds & 4 swallow species sweeping the field [Tree, Barn, Rough-winged and 1 Bank]For all the song and bird movement mostly higher in the trees, the mixture = being caught in the nets over the few hours banding were only 6 Catbirds, 1 E. Towhee [F], 1 Baltimore Oriole [M], & 1 male Cardinal - somehow the wrens, Yellowthroats, sparrows, warblers, etc avoided the nets, but the participants had ample opportunity to see the extraction process, all the steps involved in banding these species, and each had the opportunity to release the species after being shown all the correct steps how to hold and release the captures - all very exciting with many photos being taken.Once the nets were closed, we drove a short distance to River Bend Farm - another wonderful property for a variety of species. Here we had many Cedar Waxwings flying about, great looks at Rose-b Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, Blue-winged & Yellow Warblers, Gt Crested Flycatchers, Rough-winged, Tree & Barn Swallows, Warbling Vireos, etc - even at midday, plenty of song and activity.After lunch, we made a quick stop along the Goat Hill Trail that runs along Rice City Pond - enjoyed more of the Warbling & Red-eyed Vireos, Red-b Woodpeckers, Gt Crested Flycatchers, etc - did have a Bald Eagle circling overhead, Gt Blue Herons in the marsh, calling Spotted Sandpipers - no Trumpeter Swans or Worm-eating Warblers today.
After another quick stop at River Bend Farm to enjoy again the Cedar Waxwings, etc, the final stop before heading back to Drumlin Farm was a pond near the Pike hoping for a few new species- one of the coolest things was watching a Gt Blue Heron standing motionless up to it's stomach in the pond, suddenly strike and pull up a struggling fish! Other species at the pond were calling Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanagers & Belted Kingfisher, a Spotted Sandpiper resting on a rock & more orioles and Warbling Vireos.The final count of species seen or heard was 67 - many with awesome close looks.Like always to make this trip a success, having Leslie Bostrom & Dan Fournier co-leading the trip and having Kristina Lambert & her son Enzo helping with the nets [opening & closing] plus other banding help made this all possible.
Date: 5/21/23 6:56 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 21, 2023 Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge/Watertown - BBC Walk - Light flows of migrants, maybe the weather or migration starting to wind down?
Hi All,
We had a BBC walk at Mount Auburn this morning, it was a bit quieter, possibly due to the rain over the region last night. Every year though I convince myself that THIS is the year we get a last pulse that lasts into June. Of course the birds keep a much stricter calendar than I do apparently...so maybe this is just things starting to wind down a little bit.
Still, there was a decent showing with about a dozen warblers. Bay-breasteds still well represented...I recall 2018, I think, or maybe 2019, there was a huge flight of bay-breasted warblers in May. That'll always be the "bay-breasted year" in my memory, mainly because the flight seemed to go on forever. This year things were delayed a bit at the start, but once migration broke open it seemed like there was a constant song from bay-breasteds in the air. Today was no different, there were quite a few singing. Maybe this will be the "Tennessee Year, Featuring Bays" in my memory. There was another one out and about today. At laurel circle above the Dell a Chestnut-sided sang on an open branch for some time. Magnolias were out and about, as were blackpolls. Female redstarts were abundant, usually a sign that we're entering the last push....
Since birds enjoy timeliness, at one point I said "I haven't seen an indigo bunting at Mount Auburn this year" and one promptly started singing about 20 seconds later. Other highlights included the black-crowned night-heron still hanging around spectacle.
Overall I would say it was a fun trip, one gentleman got 7 lifers which is fantastic and makes these trips so much funner. I would say the air was less "dense" with bird song as things "move along". There were some juvenile robins about; each year I find it to be such a juxtaposition...warblers, vireos, etc. in a mad dash up north, meanwhile as they are still a week or more away from breeding grounds, robins, cardinals, sparrows, etc. have already fledged their first broods. I find it akin to the fact that from the very moment summer starts, the days are getting shorter, leading us to the conclusion. Migration is still going on, breeding is already well under way for others and some fledglings will already be attempting to fatten up.
That's all for now,
Matt S. Newton,MA <Accipiter22...> ----------------------------------- Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US May 21, 2023 6:01 AM - 8:31 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.81 mile(s) 51 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2 Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 5 Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2 Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2 Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) 1 Ho Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2 Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 2 Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2 Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 5 Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 1 Ho Harvard hill once Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1 Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2 House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 3 Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 8 Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 1 Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1 Catharus sp. (Catharus sp.) 2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 31 Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 16 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2 House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 5 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2 Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 7 Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 5 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 9 Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 9 Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 2 Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1 Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) 1 Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) 1 Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 1 American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 8 Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2 Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1 Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 2 Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 7 Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1 Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2 Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Thanks to Rita Grossman for this report of the Boxborough Birders and Brookline Bird Club walk.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Rita Grossman <rgibesgrossman...> Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 16:23:48 -0400 Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 100-132 Prospect Hill Road, May 20, 2023
Sightings yesterday morning on joint walk of Brookline BC and Boxborough Birders at the Fruitland's museum campus in Harvard. Finished before the rain. Good morning but a bit quiet most likely due to approaching storm.
Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 100-132 Prospect Hill Road, Worcester, Massachusetts, US May 20, 2023 7:00 AM - 10:10 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.4 mile(s) Checklist Comments: 55F at start; mostly cloudy, no breeze. Sandy O. and Rita GG led walk for the Brookline Bird Club and the Boxborough Birders. 56 species
Canada Goose 10 Wild Turkey 3 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 3 of us heard calling very clearly on lower campus. Chimney Swift 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 American Woodcock 1 Great Blue Heron 1 F-O over New Meadow Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 American Kestrel 1 On edge at old meadow. Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 7 Conservative count. Blue Jay 10 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 2 Tree Swallow 2 Barn Swallow (American) 1 Over meadow abutting upper parking lot. White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 1 European Starling 7 Gray Catbird 12 Northern Mockingbird 3 Eastern Bluebird 4 Veery 1 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 17 House Sparrow 2 House Finch 3 American Goldfinch 2 Chipping Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 4 Eastern Towhee 4 Bobolink 1 Heard clearly at New Meadow. Baltimore Oriole 3 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Common Grackle 4 Ovenbird 8 Blue-winged Warbler 4 Good sightings. Black-and-white Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 10 American Redstart 2 Yellow Warbler 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Excellent sightings at New Meadow. Pine Warbler 2 Canada Warbler 1 .At hedge area along the trail abutting New Meadow Scarlet Tanager 4 Northern Cardinal 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 4
Date: 5/19/23 6:47 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Female Bird ID webinar (Female Bird Day kickoff event)
Thanks Meghadeepa Maity for this announcement.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: Meghadeepa Maity <maity22m...> Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 18:47:01 -0400 Subject: Female Bird ID webinar (Female Bird Day kickoff event)
Join Purbita Saha and Martha Harbison, two of the co-founders of the Galbatross Project, for an introduction to female bird identification.
Date: May 24 (Wednesday)
Time: 8 PM Eastern Time
Duration: 40 minutes + Q&A
This workshop is for anyone curious about bird ID, and we'll learn how to incorporate these skills into the ways that we already appreciate birds. Female bird ID is relevant for any birding practice, including nest and feeder cams, backyard birding, feeder watching, regular birding outings, or just staring out a window!
This webinar will definitely give you an edge in the Female Bird Day Birdathon that starts on May 26! This workshop is free, virtual and open to the public, but donations are encouraged (and tax-deductible), and all proceeds will benefit the Western Mass Asylum Support Network.
Accessibility: The presentation is in English, closed captions will be available, visual content will be described, and a text-only summary of the talk will be distributed to registered participants. An event recording will be available only until the end of the Birdathon.
One special birding location in MA is Skinner SP in Hadley - a location Bill Gette and I this Thurs 18th went with the goal of taking pictures of Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers. The gate to the Park opens at 9 am if you want to drive to the summit or the Halfway House for parking, otherwise one could walk up at any hour past the gate or hike the several trails.
We started at the Summit enjoying the stunning beauty of the CT River Valley below us plus we were greeted by a few Cerulean Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Bluebirds, Am Redstarts. Later the morning, returning to the same location, a pair of Worm-eating Warblers joined the Cerulean's.As we walked slowly down the road towards the Halfway House, we encountered more Ceruleans and Worm-eating Warblers along with Magnolia, Blk-thr Blue, Blk-thr Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blk&Wht, N Parula, Tenn, many Am Redstarts, Ovenbirds plus Hermit & Wood Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-b Grosbeak, Yellow-thr & Red-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Wood Pewee, Gt Crested Fly, Sapsuckers, Ravens, many Chipping Sparrows, Wht-b Nuthatches, etc - no shortage of song & birds to sort through.Along the way, Bill was pointing out all the many wildflowers & interesting plants that line this well-maintained paved road - that was an education for me!Net result on the desired photos of the Cerulean & Worm-eating Warblers, several blurry pictures as they were moving targets through the foliage or high up in the tall trees - another day. Nearby fields close to the entrance, one could enjoy Bobolinks on the fences and Warbling Vireos singing away in the nearby trees.
While charging the car at the Northfield Town Hall I walked down Parker Ave to the farm fields:
Northfield US-MA - Center Cemetery (42.6945,-72.4611), Franklin, Massachusetts, US May 18, 2023 9:58 AM - 10:59 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.1 mile(s) 38 species
Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 5 Virginia Rail 1 Called on its own from cattails. Please don’t harass with recordings Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 Barn Swallow 2 House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 1 European Starling 4 Gray Catbird 4 Northern Mockingbird 1 Veery 2 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 6 House Sparrow 3 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 2 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 3 Orchard Oriole 1 In trees at end of road at farm fields Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Common Grackle 4 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
I hope that his many friends in the birding community will share photos and memories on the site. Plans for the funeral or celebration of life are still developing.
In sympathy, Jane Lothian Maynard, MA janelothian2(at)gmail.com
Date: 5/18/23 6:42 pm From: <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Blue-wing in the sun
Massbirders:
It was one of those mid migration days that will probably pass through our memories in a slight blur. It was an iconic ay day, if starting off little cold. Bright sun, a sky that reached up for ever, and high trees. I was birding Martin Burns with Mary Margaret Halsey. We were listening for Blue-wings and whatever. We would see three of them. One in particular flew to a nearby small conifer and perched near the top. He was on the other side of the tree, but at one point he hopped to a place where I could see the Blue-wings head clearly through an opening in the foliage. It was in the bright sun and immediately I was struck by the yellow in the head. What with the black line through the eye and sitting in the sun, this small vision was striking. The yellow in the head seemed to grow deeper as it approached the crown until it was that special yellow plus. Very much like the yellow on the head and neck of a Prothonotary Warbler.
Earlier in the morning, on Plum Island, I had another arresting , long look of a majestically cooperative Blackburnian. And prolonged looks at two Bay-breasted Warblers. The Blackburnian was in the dappled sunlight and breathtakingly beautiful; as expected. I noticed, not the for the first time, the deep and singular beauty in the dark browns and corrupted red of the Bay-breasted . However, for me, the star of the day was the Blue-winged Warbler. There is no real way to weigh the relative beauty of these three birds so my selection was arbitrary. Maybe because I had been seeing a good number of blackburnians and Bay-breasted for a few days now. It is really my first Blue-winged Warbler for a long time. Another day of adventure and beauty.
Date: 5/18/23 6:16 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Walk Mt. Auburn Cemetery, May 18, 2023
Things were hopping this morning at Mt Auburn in-spite of the chilly start. Our group had 20 species of warblers, though others reported seeing Blackburnian as well. We did have a brief look at one silent flycatcher at the tower, which probably was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, but the sun was in our eyes and the look was too brief. Maybe others had a better sighting of this bird.
Today was reminiscent of some of the 'good old days' when I lived 2 miles from the cemetery and frequented it often before work. Nice to see some old friends there, as well.
Cheers, Linda
Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US May 18, 2023 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) Checklist Comments: BBC Walk, chilly 41 degrees, sunny but surprisingly birdy! 54 species
Mallard 1 Wild Turkey 1 Mourning Dove 4 Chimney Swift 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 5 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tree Swallow 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 1 Gray Catbird 3 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 American Robin 12 Cedar Waxwing 4 American Goldfinch 4 Chipping Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 3 Baltimore Oriole 12 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Common Grackle 5 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 3 Mourning Warbler 1 Heard only in the Dell Common Yellowthroat 4 American Redstart 1 Cape May Warbler 3 Northern Parula 5 Magnolia Warbler 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 8 probably undercounted Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 Pine Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 Canada Warbler 1 heard only on Indian Ridge Wilson's Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 5 2 males, 3 femaies Northern Cardinal 1
Date: 5/18/23 6:04 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 18, 2023 Fantastic Mt. Auburn Morning – 19 warblers, barely leaving the Dell
It was chilly this morning, so I waited a little bit before heading to
Mount Auburn. I spent two hours there and only ended up hitting the Dell,
tower slope, and about 1/3 of spectacle. It was a warbler circus, and
reminiscent of the bay-breasted spring we had a few years ago, if only for
a day.
I parked by the Dell at Beech Ave, and as soon as I got out I heard a lot
of activity. Sometimes I like using Merlin to try and pick out what I
should be on the lookout for, particularly if there is “dense” bird song
that may be overlapping to my ear. I immediately got something like 6
warblers within 15 seconds on it and started scanning. My first spot was a
bay-breasted warbler, lower than I have ever seen one, frenetically
gleaning and singing. Parula, BTG, redstart, and blackpoll were also
calling, along with a maggy. The bay-breasted went silent, and I refound
him, flirting with a female. I was just commenting on a walk on Sunday
that I never see them lower than about 40’ up in the canopy of some tree.
I headed over to the Dell to see if there were any bathing birds, but not
before picking out a couple singing Tennessees; I had wondered if this
would be my 2nd straight spring without one. I then ran into a group that
was watching the edge, so I knew I was in luck. It was like a conveyor
belt of warblers coming in. We had, Ovenbird, Tennessee, Nashville,
Mourning, Redstart, Cape May, Magnolia, Parula, Blackpoll, Black-Throated
Blue, Yellow-Rump, Black-Throated Green, Veery, Scarlet Tanager,
Swainson’s, Hermit, Swamp Sparrow, and the omni-present robins all taking
dips. I think that’s 18 SPECIES, many of which included both male and
female. Overhead at least two more bay-breasted were singing, along with
another handful of magnolias. It was constant, just one of those days
where you were in the right place at the right time. Every few minutes a
new species joined the mix and cavorted with the others. Splashing,
preening, sunning. What a good time.
After a while I tore myself away to haunt the slopes near the tower where a
Canada had been seen, and a white-crowned sparrow. I was joined by Anna,
who I must say has a better ear than I. We didn’t find either target
species, but found the world’s most quiescent wood-pewee and added a couple
more bay-breasteds, a chestnut-sided at point blank range below the tower,
a pine,white-throated sparrow (you’re still here??) and more BTGs. There
were veery singing nearby as well…I always forget who has that beautiful
song, and always regret the times I do not have my microphone on me to
record it. As we stalked around more maggies called overhead, and a couple
more Tennessees. I was growing short on time and wanted to see spectacle,
and in a few minutes there and on the trip over picked up least flycatcher
(FOY for me) another couple bay-breasteds, and a wilson’s, of which I have
seen a lot this spring. Anna thought she heard a yellow-throated vireo,
and I wouldn’t doubt it. I had to hoof it though, so I jogged through the
dry dell, hearing more Tennessee and Maggies calling on my way out.
What a day….I didn’t have time for a full circuit, but I would imagine 21
or 22 warblers and all the vireo species were probably possible today, as
would be 70+ species. This has been a fantastic spring so far for me, and
I hope it has been for others as well.
Date: 5/18/23 4:21 pm From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] multiple dead sandpipers on road
this is so sad...
the reports I'd heard about avian flu fatalities were all large birds - raptors, waterfowl, grouse, etc.; if you should get any detail back from CDC regarding your report, kindly share it with MassBird
------------------------------------
(by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019
Lynette Leka
Newbury, MA 01951
email: <lynette.leka...>
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, 12:54:29 PM EDT, Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
Thanks, Karen -- and thanks for the place to report. I must admit that the avian flu had been off my radar, so I appreciate the reminder.
On Thu, May 18, 2023 at 12:43 PM Karen Idoine <kidoine...> wrote:
According to the CDC avian influenza, H5N1, is currently being detected, particularly in eastern Massachusetts.
|
| H5N1 Bird Flu Detections across the United States (Wild Birds) | Avian Influenza (Flu)cdc.gov | |
|
And this from Mass.gov: Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Department of Fish and Game Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) using the online form found at mass.gov/reportbirds
Karen IdoineWendell, MA
On May 18, 2023, at 12:12 PM, Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
Hi all,
The other day during my afternoon walk down my road, I found a small dead bird on the side of the road that I believe to have been a least sandpiper. I live near the marsh, and yesterday I saw a small flock of what could have been sandpipers heading to an area between the marsh and a meadow where there is a small pond (only easily accessible through private property; I have never been to it nor seen a person down there).
This morning, my husband and I were walking and found another dead sandpiper on the side of our road. Then, on the way back, there were two more on the opposite side. All within a few feet of where I found the first one. All appeared intact, as if they had just dropped from the sky (which I know can happen during migration, but 4, all in the exact same area, seems odd).
Any ideas?
Date: 5/18/23 9:56 am From: Liz Pease <lizpease...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] multiple dead sandpipers on road
Thanks, Karen -- and thanks for the place to report. I must admit that the
avian flu had been off my radar, so I appreciate the reminder.
On Thu, May 18, 2023 at 12:43 PM Karen Idoine <kidoine...> wrote:
>
> According to the CDC avian influenza, H5N1, is currently being detected,
> particularly in eastern Massachusetts.
>
> H5N1 Bird Flu Detections across the United States (Wild Birds) | Avian
> Influenza (Flu)
> <https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-wild-birds.html> > cdc.gov <https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-wild-birds.html> > [image: apple-touch-icon-180x180.png]
> <https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-wild-birds.html> > <https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-wild-birds.html> >
> And this from Mass.gov: *Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to
> the Department of Fish and Game Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (**MassWildlife)
> using **the online form found at* mass.gov/reportbirds
>
> Karen Idoine
> Wendell, MA
>
> On May 18, 2023, at 12:12 PM, Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> The other day during my afternoon walk down my road, I found a small dead
> bird on the side of the road that I believe to have been a least sandpiper.
> I live near the marsh, and yesterday I saw a small flock of what could have
> been sandpipers heading to an area between the marsh and a meadow where
> there is a small pond (only easily accessible through private property; I
> have never been to it nor seen a person down there).
>
> This morning, my husband and I were walking and found another dead
> sandpiper on the side of our road. Then, on the way back, there were two
> more on the opposite side. All within a few feet of where I found the first
> one. All appeared intact, as if they had just dropped from the sky (which I
> know can happen during migration, but 4, all in the exact same area, seems
> odd).
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --
> Liz Pease
> Salisbury MA
> <lizpease...>
> (she, her, hers)
>
>
>
And this from Mass.gov <http://mass.gov/>: Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Department of Fish and Game Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) using the online form found at mass.gov/reportbirds <http://mass.gov/reportbirds>
Karen Idoine
Wendell, MA
> On May 18, 2023, at 12:12 PM, Liz Pease <lizpease...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> The other day during my afternoon walk down my road, I found a small dead bird on the side of the road that I believe to have been a least sandpiper. I live near the marsh, and yesterday I saw a small flock of what could have been sandpipers heading to an area between the marsh and a meadow where there is a small pond (only easily accessible through private property; I have never been to it nor seen a person down there).
>
> This morning, my husband and I were walking and found another dead sandpiper on the side of our road. Then, on the way back, there were two more on the opposite side. All within a few feet of where I found the first one. All appeared intact, as if they had just dropped from the sky (which I know can happen during migration, but 4, all in the exact same area, seems odd).
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --
> Liz Pease
> Salisbury MA
> <lizpease...> <mailto:<lizpease...> > (she, her, hers)
>
Date: 5/18/23 9:42 am From: Andrea Bean <abean60...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Noble knee-high muck boots Size 6
Hi all, I have a brand new pair of women's SIZE 6 Noble muck boots that I've worn once but they come up right under my knee and it's a little uncomfortable for me. I got them at the Co-op in Topsfield last year so I can't return them. I am GIVING them away to any birder who would like them, I want them to go to good use and log lots of birding miles!
I'm in W. Peabody Ma and I don't want to ship them so if you bird in the Essex County area, I would be happy to meet up with you.
If anyone is interested, please email me directly rather than respond to this Massbird post so we don't clog up the system on Barbara. I can send you a photo if you'd like. Thank you, and happy birding! Andrea Bean <abean60...>
Date: 5/18/23 9:16 am From: Liz Pease <lizpease...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] multiple dead sandpipers on road
Hi all,
The other day during my afternoon walk down my road, I found a small dead bird on the side of the road that I believe to have been a least sandpiper. I live near the marsh, and yesterday I saw a small flock of what could have been sandpipers heading to an area between the marsh and a meadow where there is a small pond (only easily accessible through private property; I have never been to it nor seen a person down there).
This morning, my husband and I were walking and found another dead sandpiper on the side of our road. Then, on the way back, there were two more on the opposite side. All within a few feet of where I found the first one. All appeared intact, as if they had just dropped from the sky (which I know can happen during migration, but 4, all in the exact same area, seems odd).
Any ideas?
-- Liz Pease Salisbury MA <lizpease...> (she, her, hers)
Date: 5/17/23 3:21 pm From: sylvia.martin <sylvia.r.c.martin...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Raven Over Newton Corner
Friends,
As I was in the yard tending plants this morning at around 10:00 a.m., I heard the familiar slow croak and looked up. A Common Raven was flying overhead in a westerly direction, pursued by three starlings.
Also today, in Waltham, I witnessed a very spotted young robin being fed by a parent. The young one was trying to cling to a window screen without much success but with much wing flapping, then dropped down to a bush to await the next worm.
Date: 5/16/23 11:56 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Female Bird Day: inclusive Birdathon, Female Bird ID webinar & more
Thanks to Meghadeepa Maity for this announcement.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Meghadeepa Maity <maity22m...> Date: Wed, 17 May 2023 02:06:36 -0400 Subject: Female Bird Day: inclusive Birdathon, Female Bird ID webinar & more
Join us on Female Bird Day (Memorial Day weekend) for a groundbreaking, free Birdathon that's tackling the premise that not all of us engage with birds the same way!
Are traditional Birdathons too intimidating because they demand the sort of prior experience, money, or insider knowledge that are beyond your reach?
Or, have "normal" competitive birding events felt too boring for an expert birder like you?
On May 26 - 29, we invite both beginners and seasoned birders - of all abilities and backgrounds - to explore an aspect of birding that brings you joy... options include finding lifers, observing as many female birds as possible, watching online feeder-cams, just spending time in nature, and more.
This multi-part mutual aid campaign, organized by the Feminist Bird Club, the Galbatross Project, and the Western Mass Asylum Support Network, is a celebration of female birds... and we're simultaneously fundraising for another often-overlooked and vulnerable population: asylum-seekers in Massachusetts.
Don't forget to drop by our May 24 kickoff event (a Female Bird ID webinar with the Galbatross Project) and order limited-edition t-shirts ft. Casey Girard's "Birders Against Borders" illustration. https://www.bonfire.com/store/birders-against-borders/
We're excited to help every bird-enthusiast across the globe feel included, connected and supported as you bird YOUR way! To learn more and register, visit charity.pledgeit.org/FemaleBirdDay
Thank you!
Meghadeepa Maity
On behalf of the Feminist Bird Club
Note:
- Donations are tax-deductible. - Remote teams are welcome. - Questions? Review the campaign FAQs and Resources pages first, then <contactFBC.WMA...>
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Christopher Godfrey, Janet Kovner, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Will Martens
Visitors: Eric Goodrich, Jake Hoag, Jim McCoy, Dave Salt, Dave Williams and Eric Lovato.
Weather: Weak to moderate WSW winds for the first half of the watch and then strengthening and SW and W later. Hazy overcast for most of the watch facilitated finding flying migrants until sun began to shine through at end. Temps 60 to 70 deg F.
Raptor Observations: Our total count today was 19 migrants: 4 NH, 2 SS, 7 AK (1M & 1F) and 6 ML.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 5 imm BE swirling in a group that passed directly over our platform, 5 TV, 4 OS and 1 NH.
This watch marks the end of our 2023 spring season.
Non-raptor Observations: Today Will Martens patiently tallied another mass movement of 780 Blue Jays and so ending our season with, for us, a rather extraordinary total migration of them here on the island.
Visitor Eric Goodrich alerted us early in the watch that gorgeous male Hooded Warbler was foraging on a nearby mound providing us with great, extended views of it.
Also, 1 Prairie Warbler, 3 Least Terns and a Brown Thrasher.
Predictions: This being our closing day, it would probably be asking a bit too much of meteorologists to provide a forecast for our next watch day on March 15th of next year. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/16/23 12:35 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Request For Temporary Binocular Usage
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Tue, 16 May 2023 15:42:18 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Request For Temporary Binocular Usage
Hi, If anyone out there has an extra pair of binoculars that I could borrow for the remainder of the songbird migration season, i sure would appreciate it. I lost my almost new pair of Nikon Monarchs last night somewhere in Coolidge Corner Brookline. Thanks.
Date: 5/15/23 6:00 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/15 Sixteen Warblers at Leverett and Willow Pond Jamaica Plain
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 19:21:21 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/15 Sixteen Warblers at Leverett and Willow Pond Jamaica Plain
Hi, I birded here from 9:10-1:00, starting at Leverett Pond and its accompanying woods (Boston side). I then went to where the action really was: Willow Pond and surrounding woods and brush:
Great Blue Heron 1 Wood Duck 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Leverett Pond Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo 1+ Canada Warbler 1 near the small bridge on Boston side, in open knotweeds (lots of it) Bay=breasted Warbler 1 in oak near ridge that separates woodland from Ward's Pond Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Palm Warbler 1 Northern Parula 7 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Redstart 6 Black and White Warbler 4 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 in open, brushy area Tennessee Warbler 1 near stickleback "pond" Nortyhern Waterthrush 1 ditto Wilson's Warbler 2 Ovenbird 2 Magnolia Warbler 3 Scarlet Tanager 1 on ridge; in oak above Ward's Pond Baltimore Oriole 2 Tiger Swallowtail 1
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Ted Mara
Observers: Bob Secatore , Jack Miano, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Ted Mara
Visitors: Keith Bradberry, Bill Fiolek, Dave Moon and Wayne Peterson.
Weather: Weak to middling W, WNW and NW winds with fairly extensive but rather thin cloud cover. 55 to 67 deg F.
Raptor Observations: toatal migrant count of 7 birds: 1 TV, 1 OS, 1 NH, 1 AK and 3 ML.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 3 BE (2 imm and 1 ad), 7 TV and 4 OS.
Non-raptor Observations: After a lull in yesterday's count, the Blue Jays continued to migrate through in extraordinary numbers again today with an additional 387 birds counted. Other birds: 1 Brown Thrasher, and 2 Snowy Egrets.
Predictions: The forecast for tomorrow calls for WSW winds all day between 9 mph early on to 18 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 25 mph. If this prediction holds and if there are indeed any birds left in the pipeline, these conditions might just bring on a much anticipated late season surge in Sharpies. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
this morning a beautiful adult Red-tailed Hawk was struck and killed on Route 1A (High Road) in Newbury, just south of Tender Crop farm stand; it was likely part of the pair that nests in this area, in which case eggs/nestlings now have just one parent
------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019
Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>
Date: 5/15/23 10:12 am From: Mark Taylor <m.taylor604...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Beech Forest today
Hello massbirders, Birding this morning was relatively quiet today compared to Saturdays fallout in the Beech Forest, Provincetown. Single Magnolia, Blackburnian warblers were only migrants present other than several Ruby crowned kinglets Mark Taylor Northfield,MA
Date: 5/15/23 9:08 am From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Birding protocol at Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands in Lancaster
Hello,
Thanks Jon for this post. Shouldn’t this be the protocol for everywhere we bird not just Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands? : ) As for playing recordings unfortunately it was published in the recent Boston Globe article on birding.
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
> On May 14, 2023, at 9:20 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: > > Thanks Jon Skinner for this thoughtful and important post. > > Please read carefully and thanks again to Jon. > > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > From: Jon Skinner <jon...> > Date: Sun, 14 May 2023 15:17:25 -0400 > Subject: Birding protocol at Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands in Lancaster > > > Hi everyone, it appears that there may need to be an annual reminder about > the proper etiquette of birding at the Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands. As one of > the best breeding grounds for sensitive species like Grasshopper Sparrow, > it was disappointing to see several people walking through the fields and > grasses this weekend. As a good amount of these fields are actually private > property, at best there's a good chance you're trespassing and at worst, > you are stomping through habitat and could easily disturb ground-nesting > birds. As birders, it's our duty to ensure we're maintaining a good > relationship with the surrounding landowners and also not impacting any > breeding birds, sensitive or not. > > It's easy to do both of these by staying on the road at all times. All of > the main target species, like Grasshopper Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows, can > easily be experienced at this location by learning their songs. Please take > your time to listen and watch carefully for the birds to show themselves. > > I also heard from others that some folks were playing Vesper Sparrow > recordings in order to draw them out. While playback is a hotly contested > topic (I recommend reading David Sibley's article on the use of it: > https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/04/the-proper-use-of-playback-in-birding/), > I just want to point out that easily over 30 individuals visited this > location so far this weekend and if everyone who visited used playback, it > feels impossible to say that it wouldn't cause negative effects. > > Here is a link to the eBird hotspot:https://ebird.org/hotspot/L937177 > > Jon Skinner > Leominster, MA >
Date: 5/15/23 5:22 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BAT - outer Cape results
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 01:10:49 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: BAT - outer Cape results
What an ideal day weather-wise for BAT - warm southerly winds, little breeze & no Rain!Friday at 6 pm Kerri & Dan Fournier & myself were at Fort Hill at high tide with high expectations of finding rails, marsh sparrows, Bobwhite and any other surprises. Please note the zillion ticks in the grasses were a negative surprise, but beyond those ticks, Kerri found a pair of Bobolinks & then a pair of Orchard Orioles. Clapper Rails started calling, then a nice surprise, a Seaside Sparrow calling plus quick looks - then the Bobwhite started calling near dusk, pair of Oystercatchers in the marsh with many Willets, Yellowlegs, etc. We left there with about 50 species finding some of our target species, then on to Marconi SF to enjoy several Whip-poor-wills sitting along the road plus a few Woodcocks. Sat morning we left approx 4:30 am [we slept in] and visited Wellfleet Bay WS where we heard a Barred Owl for the only owl on the trip - then off to High Head to scan the marshes where we had Green Herons, calling Virginia Rails, Kingfishers, 3 male Wood Ducks. Nearby on High Head the passerines came alive in the thickets as warblers and more were calling but were also visible for excellent looks - Prairie, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Blk & Wht, many Yellow, N Parula, Blackburnian, Pine and throw in a Swainson's Thrush, Wht-cr & Wht-thr Sparrow, E Kingbird and a Pine Siskin [shocker].=C2=A0Given that load of passerines, quickly headed to Beech Forest assuming many more migrants landed there. We were quickly rewarded with a Yellow-thr Warbler, Wilson's, Bay-breasted, Blk-thr Green, Prairie N Parula, Pine, Yellow, Blackburian,=C2=A0 Am Redstart plus Wood Thrush, Red-b Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Least & Gt-crested Flycatchers, E Kingbirds and much more - lots of birders in the parking lot all sharing there finds which is always positive interaction..
A quick stop at Race Point Beach hoping for a surprise like an alcid or shearwater or whale - no surprises for us today but had Wht-winged & Black Scoters, Red-thr & C Loons, Red-b Mergansers, many N Gannets, Piping Plovers, volumes of Boneparte & Laughing Gulls, Roseate & Common Terns - lots of activity but no surprises!.
On our way back we re-stopped at Wellfleet Bay WS to check for shorebirds, their Purple Martins and any other surprises. The big surprise was a Little Blue Heron [wht morph] relatively close in the marsh. One of the fun highlights as we were checking out when one of the 2 ladies behind the desk asked what we had found & we relayed about the heron. That started a fun exchange and when they found out we were a BAT team battling Wellfleet's team, the exchange got even funnier - so a shout out to those 2 ladies at the desk, you were great!
Back to birding business near Chatham - Bank Swallows at Tern Island along with all the Least & Common Terns, Blk-b Plovers, Willets, Gt Yellowlegs.Bells Neck Rd we filled in a few misses like Blue-w Teal, Blk-cr Night Heron & even a Mute SwanWest Dennis Beach was our last stop were we enjoyed a few Horned Larks, more Osprey, Willets, Gt Egrets.
Final total species for us was 127 that included 17 species of warblers that included stunning looks at many.Now we wait [somewhat impatiently] to see how all the balance of the MetroWest teams fared in total species against Wellfleet and all the other teams out to capture the most species seen in 24 hrs. Note besides all the competitive juices flowing with all the hundreds of expert birders across the state, BAT is a major fund raiser for MAS & the sanctuaries which is equally important.
Had enough energy to band Sun morning for a few hours & the highlight for me was a Lincoln Sparrow - other species banded were a Swamp & Song Sparrow, Least Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, 5 Baltimore Orioles, 3 C Yellowthroats, few Gray Catbirds, Blk-c Chickadee - around the nets were Scarlet Tanagers, Gt Crested Fly, Phoebe, Prairie Warblers & more.
Date: 5/14/23 6:15 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birding protocol at Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands in Lancaster
Thanks Jon Skinner for this thoughtful and important post.
Please read carefully and thanks again to Jon.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Jon Skinner <jon...> Date: Sun, 14 May 2023 15:17:25 -0400 Subject: Birding protocol at Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands in Lancaster
Hi everyone, it appears that there may need to be an annual reminder about the proper etiquette of birding at the Pine Hill Rd. Grasslands. As one of the best breeding grounds for sensitive species like Grasshopper Sparrow, it was disappointing to see several people walking through the fields and grasses this weekend. As a good amount of these fields are actually private property, at best there's a good chance you're trespassing and at worst, you are stomping through habitat and could easily disturb ground-nesting birds. As birders, it's our duty to ensure we're maintaining a good relationship with the surrounding landowners and also not impacting any breeding birds, sensitive or not.
It's easy to do both of these by staying on the road at all times. All of the main target species, like Grasshopper Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows, can easily be experienced at this location by learning their songs. Please take your time to listen and watch carefully for the birds to show themselves.
I also heard from others that some folks were playing Vesper Sparrow recordings in order to draw them out. While playback is a hotly contested topic (I recommend reading David Sibley's article on the use of it: https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/04/the-proper-use-of-playback-in-birding/), I just want to point out that easily over 30 individuals visited this location so far this weekend and if everyone who visited used playback, it feels impossible to say that it wouldn't cause negative effects.
Here is a link to the eBird hotspot:https://ebird.org/hotspot/L937177
Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Mark Schoene
Observers: Janet Kovner, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene
Visitors: Dave Moon from Mass Audubon.
Weather: NW winds all day between 5 and 9 mph. Mostly sunny with 48 to 57 deg F temps.
Raptor Observations: Total migrant count of 7; 3 AK (1M & 1F), 3 ML and 1 UA that appeared several hundred yards south of us and climbed steadily until it finally "blinked out" and was at that point regarded as a migrant.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 1 RT, 7 TV and 5 OS.
Non-raptor Observations: The massive influx of Blue Jays has finally seemed to come to a halt with less than 50 birds seen today. ! Hummingbird, 1 Baltimore Oriole.
Predictions: Tomorrow (Mon): West winds 6-15 mph; partly cloudy and temps 49-73 deg F.
Tuesday: steady WSW winds between 9 and 17 mph; mostly cloudy early and partly cloudy in afternoon; 58-76 deg F. These Tuesday conditions would be the most favorable for a good Sharpie flight we've had in some time and will likely be our last best hope of the season.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
I am heartbroken about the untimely loss of Peter - his kind, quiet, generous nature was a gift to all, and one that I assumed would be with us forever.
------------------------------------
(by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019
Lynette Leka
Newbury, MA 01951
email: <lynette.leka...>
On Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10:05:09 PM EDT, <dovekie...> wrote:
Lois and I and Fay Vale were engaged in animated, and no doubt fascinating conversation and Peter stood with us, his quiet self. Then he abruptly ended our conversation with five words. “I have a Louisiana Waterthrush”. And sure enough, while we were talking, Peter was silently birding and found the only Louisiana Waterthrush I have ever seen on Plum. So, characteristic of Peter. Quiet and polite as well as competent. Two of the more reliable observers, Peter and Faye, were special friends to Lois and I. They were responsible for some of more memorable sightings like the Ivory Gull and a Prothonotary Warbler in Groveland. We would meet in the field and occasionally we would have lunch. Every year we would have a deliberate lunch that we dubbed the cattle egret lunch. Every spring after both couples found a Cattle Egret we would celebrate with a lunch.
Peter’s passing was a surprise to me. And not only is deeply saddening but leaves me with a strange sense of isolation. A sad little insert to the migration.
Date: 5/14/23 3:06 pm From: andrew Magee <andrewfmagee...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] 17 sp.of warblers - New Salem and vicinity
Very cool! the out birder gets the worm! tomorrows my first day out for
this migration, so, yay me, too!! andrew magee
On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 5:49 PM <blafley...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Being a year round local birder and coming home many winter days with cold
> fingers and toes and barely 15 species it is amazing to encounter 17
> species of one type of bird in the local area.
>
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> Northern Waterthrush
> Black and White
> Prairie
> Blackburnian
> Black-throated Blue
> Black-throated Green
> Pine
> Chestnut-sided
> Yellow
> Yellow-rumped
> Wilson’s
> American Redstart
> Nashville
> Ovenbird
> Common Yellowthroat
> Northern Parula
>
> Bill Lafley
> New Salem
> <blafley...>
>
Date: 5/14/23 10:58 am From: Jane Lothian <janelothian2...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Peter Vale
Lovely to read Doug Chickering's tribute here!
Here are my own thoughts:
My friend and fellow birder Peter Vale passed away May 13, while in the
hospital recovering from heart surgery.
Behind Peter's quiet demeanor was a brilliant mind and a giving heart. He
began birding with Fay, his beloved wife of fifty years, and together they
birded the world. Even after Fay’s passing, Peter birded abroad, including
recent trips to Uganda and Cambodia.
I remember Peter's generosity at sharing birds in the field, and his many
contributions to Massachusetts birds and birding. He led numerous Brookline
Bird Club trips, including many Big Sits. He loved inviting birders of all
ages and experience levels to join in the Melrose Christmas Bird Count,
which he coordinated. After retirement, he volunteered at the Plum Island
banding station. I'm told that he also converted the Bird Observer
sightings data to eBird.
He’s survived by his brother Al and cats Munchie, Florence, and Pam. When
memorial information is available, I’ll share it here.
Date: 5/14/23 8:22 am From: Haynes Miller <hrm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hooded Warbler continues at Nahanton Park, Newton
The Hooded Warbler was heard this morning at the soccer circle at Nahanton Park, during a Newton Conservators/Friends of Nahanton Park walk. Also a pair of Barred Owls. Earlier, in the reed bed at the base of Kendrick Pond, Cutler Park, Needham, a Least Bittern was sounding off. First of the year Eastern Pewee there too.
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 15:15:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Brian Rusnica
Observers: Mark Schoene
Visitors: Harris Stein, Liz Natenshon, George Nassiopolous.
Weather: WNW, NW and NNW winds moderate in the early ours and stiffening a bit later. Haze from Canadian wildfires still apparent.
Raptor Observations: A total of 13 migrants were recorded: 12 AK (1 female) and 1 OS. A single ML passed through during the 2 pm hour only to return southward a few minutes later.
Failed to migrate: 2 NH, 2 BE, 4 OS, 2 TV
Non-raptor Observations: 270 Blue Jays.
Predictions: Partly cloudy with NW winds all day, rather weak (5 mph) early on but rising to 12-15 mph in the afternoon. Temps: 40-63 deg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/13/23 7:07 pm From: <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Peter Vale
Peter Vale
Lois and I and Fay Vale were engaged in animated, and no doubt fascinating conversation and Peter stood with us, his quiet self. Then he abruptly ended our conversation with five words. "I have a Louisiana Waterthrush". And sure enough, while we were talking, Peter was silently birding and found the only Louisiana Waterthrush I have ever seen on Plum. So, characteristic of Peter. Quiet and polite as well as competent. Two of the more reliable observers, Peter and Faye, were special friends to Lois and I. They were responsible for some of more memorable sightings like the Ivory Gull and a Prothonotary Warbler in Groveland. We would meet in the field and occasionally we would have lunch. Every year we would have a deliberate lunch that we dubbed the cattle egret lunch. Every spring after both couples found a Cattle Egret we would celebrate with a lunch.
Peter's passing was a surprise to me. And not only is deeply saddening but leaves me with a strange sense of isolation. A sad little insert to the migration.
Date: 5/13/23 5:54 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/13 Sixteen Warbler Species at McLaughlin Woods
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sat, 13 May 2023 16:05:53 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/13 Sixteen Warbler Species at McLaughlin Woods
I birded here from 6:30-11:30. The Prairie Warbler must have came in towards the very end of my biding. I hadn't had any evidence of it before that. I finally got looks at the elusive Canada Warbler down in thickets. The oak at the top of the dirt path staircase was crazy, with about ten warbler species all at once, including a Cape May and a Bay-breasted Warbler. I didn't see the Bay-breasted Warbler, but Carter did, and he got a photo.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Common Raven 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Cape May Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Prairie Warbler 1 Northern Parula 7 Nashville Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 4 Magnolia Warbler 6 Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Ovenbird 5 White-throated Sparrow 30 Indigo Bunting 1 top level and sunny backyard along the dirt path Scarlet Tanager 2 min. male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Dekay's Brown Snake 1 Garter Snake 3
Date: 5/13/23 10:53 am From: <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hamlin Reservation (TTOR), May 13, 2023
Had a great walk this morning at Hamlin in Ipswich.
Hamlin Reservation (TTOR), Ipswich
May 13, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.6 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: A great walk with many newly arriving birds.
31 species
Mourning Dove 3
Willet 9 prob. under-counted; many displaying over the marsh
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 6
Glossy Ibis 12
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2 both just heard
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
Barn Swallow 4
Marsh Wren 2
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 1 singing loudly and long
American Robin 3
American Goldfinch 2
Song Sparrow 3 minimum
Swamp Sparrow 1
Orchard Oriole 1 seen and heard singing
Baltimore Oriole 6 Courting all over; possibly arrived last night, but I hadn't been here this year and so couldn't know.
Red-winged Blackbird 40 estimate
Common Grackle 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 2 both seen
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Observation start time: 05:45:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Doug Chickering, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Ted Mara
Visitors: Dave Salt
Weather: Weak west winds until 10:00 am when winds turned east. Diminishing cloud cover made it difficult to locate birds. Temps: 57 to 78 deg F.
Raptor Observations: A total of 26 migrants: 2 TV, 1 OS, 1 SS, 1 CH 15 AK and 6 ML.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 BE, 8 TV, 3 OS and a very stubborn adult female NH that insisted upon circling back onto the refuge after flying northward and being counted at least six times.
Non-raptor Observations: At least 600 additional Blue Jays migrated through. This has been a rather extraordinary Blue Jay migration here on the island this spring with intermittent flocks of 20 to 50 birds along with single individuals moving through for each entire watch period for a number of days now.
Predictions: Sunny with NW and WNW winds of 6 to 15 mph. Temps: 62 to 73 deg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/12/23 6:50 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 12, 2023 Parker River NWR - BOILING with migrants...Day I'll probably always remember. 15 Warblers, and that's with a few misses.
May 12, 2023 Parker River NWR
Wow what a day….I got to Parker just before seven and saw a few people by
the first dunes there (I’m told they’re referred to as the Middens, never
knew that). Right away I could tell it would be a special day. I had read
stories of people never even making it to Hellcat because it takes hours
just to get past the pans because of how dense the birds are. This was not
quite on that level, but it gave me a taste of what it must be like on
those days. The air/ground/trees were absolutely boiling with migrants.
The middens had almost 40 species in and around them, wilson’s,
chesnut-sided, orchard orioles, most of the common warblers as well.
Overhead migrating blue jays streamed by in packs of one or two dozen at a
time. It felt like a conveyer belt with birds popping up and then rolling
off as a new wave came up in the brush. After about 45 minutes of this I
checked the Lot 1 ocean and saw the small armada of long-tailed ducks, a
couple loons and some terns. I had hopes of breaking the 100 species mark,
but with how light the shorebird flow is that was not to be. It looks like
someone who got in earlier than I got to 104 though, so it was definitely
possible today.
Afterward I started pressing towards Hellcat, particularly with how quiet
the Pans were. I stopped by the S-Curves and got a singing Canada along
with some other sundry migrants. Blue jays were still going overhead. I
got to Hellcat and there was no chance of getting parking, it was packed
out to the road so I headed down to Bill Forward…also full. I jumped to
the Pines Loop, which is actually my favorite spot and apparently held a
Golden-Winged earlier in the day, and crammed myself in. I had intended to
walk back to Hellcat after a quick loop, but ended up staying an hour.
Veery, thrushes, two male scarlet tanagers at eye level, sometimes too
close for my camera to even focus on, tons and tons of migrants passing
through here as well. The air was a cacophony of catbirds, towhees,
parula, redstarts, and anything else that was passing by a point at a
particular moment.
I eventually started walking back to Hellcat, where earlier in the day you
could get over a dozen warbler species in about 50’ of trail. It was
getting later by the time I was there, but I still got almost everything
aside from a blackburnian. Northern Waterthrush, singing prairie warbler,
Black-Throated Blues, a trio of Wilson’s warblers fighting, and a wave of
white-throated sparrow crossing the trail around me, which was surreal.
The air was this rustling mix of their feet kicking around. Blue jays were
still crossing overhead. I ended up at over 250 of them, and honestly might
have undercounted by 100, sometimes groups were half gone by the time I
noticed them going over.
After this I started heading further in, but it was close to noon and aside
from the Jays passing over, the constant song of yellow warblers and the
catbirds squealing, there was not much for new songbirds. Lot 6 didn’t
turn up much, so if I was going to hit 100 I needed something at Sandy
Point looking back. Zip. Nada. Empty ocean, apart from the gulls and a
few cormorants.
At this point I was low on water, tired, hungry and getting bleary. I was
at 95 species, but it was about 1:00PM and unless a mixed flock of peeps
and raptors fell into my lap I wasn’t hitting 100. I didn’t really care
though. I haven’t had a day birding like this in a long time. The past
few years I seem to have missed the “big day” that seems to come around
once per season, or the peak of the season hasn’t been as huge as other
years when I’ve been out. Today was great from start to finish. You could
feel the energy from all these little lives passing through around you,
their song filling the air, or kicking around in the leaves around you.
Sometimes after trips, when I lay in bed at night I hear birds singing and
calling still. Not in my memory, it’s almost like they’re outside my
window, and I have been fooled more than once by it. Almost like those
days when you float in the ocean long enough, then at night as you lay in
bed you feel the waves still. Same thing. I imagine that as I lay in bed
tonight drifting off I will hear once again the chorus from this morning.
I do not know if I will ever forget that first 45 minutes at those first
dunes…my goodness.
Now for tomorrow…it’s my wife’s and also my daughter’s birthday…and so
momma can sleep in, daughter is making her first foray to Mount Auburn with
me…
Date: 5/12/23 4:20 pm From: David Scott <dscott0313...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC trip to Millennium Park, West Roxbury 5/12/2023
12 participants joined me on a very enjoyable BBC trip to Millenium Park in West Roxbury this morning.
Highlights included a small flock of Bobolink that perched and sang in the trees along the path next to the wetland, with one feeding close to us on the ground at one point. Singing Savannah Sparrows, always a treat to hear. Abundant Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats.
Five Orchard Orioles, two pairs and another male. Least and Willow Flycatchers seen and heard well. A few of us got a glimpse of a Virginia Rail. Lots of activity in the woods over the bridge - Canada and Magnolia Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Eastern Bluebirds.
Date: 5/12/23 2:38 pm From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 17 sp.of warblers - New Salem and vicinity
Hello,
Being a year round local birder and coming home many winter days with cold fingers and toes and barely 15 species it is amazing to encounter 17 species of one type of bird in the local area.
Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Black and White Prairie Blackburnian Black-throated Blue Black-throated Green Pine Chestnut-sided Yellow Yellow-rumped Wilson’s American Redstart Nashville Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula
The WEWA without the head stripes found by Eddie Giles about 7 yrs ago at Wompatuck has returned again.I believe all reported were males( singing) Records for about 7 yrs now report it is in same area , give or take one gate away at WOMPATUCK STATE PARK in Hingham. Guessing recent ones are an OFFSPRING ?
Date: 5/12/23 12:42 pm From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] PI Oak Caterpillar Hatch
The moth caterpillar hatch that has been running a bit late happened about 7:00 PM on Thursday night in the oaks on Plum Island. With very few sightings over the previous hour, the oaks along Hellcat boardwalk were suddenly full of warblers, vireos, and orioles. They all came at once. With the fading light, I counted nine species of warblers in a single tree. Almost on cue, an Ovenbird appeared at my feet.
Today brings the start of the peak Warbler migration through the Island. Here is a list of Warbler seen or heard this AM:
Common Yellowthroat Yellow-throated Magnolia Chestnut-sided Bay-breasted Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Prairie Northern Parula Black-throated Green Black-throated Blue Blackburnian American Redstart Blackpole Black and White Pine
Hellcat and the Pines Trail were both replete with migrants. A group is moving north up the Refuge and by this weekend, the bushes across from the pans should be full as well.
Date: 5/12/23 4:43 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] The Caterpillar Hatch
Thanks Bob Ross for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Date: Thu, 11 May 2023 19:58:57 -0400 Subject: The Caterpillar Hatch
The moth caterpillar hatch that has been running a bit late happened about 7:00 PM tonight in the oaks on Plum Island. With very few sightings over the previous hour, the oaks along Hellcat boardwalk were suddenly full of warblers, vireos, and orioles. They all came at once. With the fading light, I counted nine species of warblers in a single tree. Almost on cue, an Ovenbird appeared at my feet. Tomorrow AM will start the peak.
Date: 5/11/23 9:39 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Scarlet Tanager and others
Thanks Doug Chickering for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: <dovekie...> Subject: Scarlet Tanager and others Date: Thu, 11 May 2023 16:11:09 -0400
Massbirders:
It was what I had been waiting for, Waiting all winter with mounting anticipation; and now I was there. Standing in the cool shade, totally transfixed, while, before me, three male Scarlet Tanagers shook the new foliage of the new birches in the sun. There they posed, hopped, and lashed out at luckless insects. It was, at the minimum, breathtaking. My concentration is only enhanced when I become convinced that even this red, so brilliant, is at its height right now. Perhaps this minute. Then. sic transit gloria. We really only have minutes. Birding is the long hunt, followed, usually, with a few seconds of transcendent glory. Even the dull and common birds are elegant expressions of natural selection. Either nature makes beauty, or we interpret nature as beautiful. It makes no matter. Scarlet Tanager is up at the top of my scale of beauty. Today I ended up with seeing, really seeing, six males and a female.
The Tanager show was the greatest moments of the morning, for me at least. But there were other good looks at the magic of the migration season. Nice day added. There were a lot of Black-and-whites, Parulas, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, along with the early arrival of at least two Bay-breasteds. I can't remember the last time I saw and palm Warbler and a bay-breasted Warbler on the same day. I had a long languid look at a rather relaxed and tolerant Veery. And my first empi of the year; a Least Flycatcher.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Paul M. Roberts
Observers: Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Paul Roberts
Weather: NW winds throughout the watch period that diminished from moderate for the first two hours to rather feeble during the last two hours with periodic but brief gusty periods that seemed to bring on more birds. Noticeably hazy all day due to wildfire smoke coming down from western Canada. Very little cloud cover.
Raptor Observations: A total count of 46 migrants today: 1NH, 1 SS, 1 CH, 35 AK, ML 7 and 1 UA. While we were hoping for a better Sharpie count today, we've been blessed with a better than expected turnout of Kestrels during the past week or so.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 BE and 2 OS.
Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jays continued to migrate through with approximately 140 observed. Swallows (Tree and Barn) and other small passerines still coming through steadily. Also, Chimney Swifts, 4 Great Egrets and 2 Hummingbirds.
Predictions: West winds turning to WNW by mid-afternoon and strengthening to moderate (~10 mph) by then. Mostly cloudy turning to partly cloudy later in afternoon. 58 to 75 deg F. These conditions look promising for a good Sharpie turnout at this point in the season.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/11/23 2:22 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Athol Hawk Watch Report for Thursday, May 11, 2023 (6 migrating raptors)
Hawk Watch Report for Thursday, May 11, 2023 Adams Farm, Athol MA
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch has been conducting a daily Spring hawk count since March 20 of this year at Adams Farm in Athol MA. Although the time period that we set for the watch this year has passed, some of our friends from the Athol Bird and Nature Club will continue to go up from time to time to see what's passing by. Today was such a day.
If anyone else happens to go up to Adams Farm, please send your findings to Eric Mueller at <ericmueller1912...> If possible, please include the hour(s) in which you saw each of the birds.
Migrating Raptor Species_____________Today__Month__Season ------------------------------------------------------------- Black Vulture____________0_____0_____0 Turkey Vulture___________0_____0__175 Osprey__________________0____15____63 Bald Eagle______________0_____2____12 Northern Harrier________1_____2____17
Observation start time: 9:00 AM *EDT* Observation end time: 12:00 PM *EDT* Total observation time: 3 hours, 0 min
Official Counter: Eric Mueller Observers: Dave Small, Lynn Harper, Steve Farrell, Joanne Hart
Weather:
A sunny but hazy day, with temps from 57 to 72 F, and very little wind until around 11:00 am when the breeze picked up to 5 to 8 mph from the NW.
Raptor observations:
Dave and the team took an unscheduled (and much appreciated) visit to Adams Farm today, and the 6 migrating raptors that they saw this morning put us over the 2,300 bird mark for the season. The day's highlight was a Grey Ghost Northern Harrier that was well seen by Dave. The local birds included two Bald Eagles (an Adult and an Immature), one of the continuing Black Vultures and a number of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures.
Non-migrating raptors observed (13 local birds):
Black Vulture (1)
Turkey Vulture (6)
Bald Eagle (2, 1 Adult, 1 Immature)
Red-tailed Hawk (3)
Unidentified Accipiter (1)
Non-raptor observations:
Mourning Dove (3)
Chimney Swift (4)
Great Blue Heron (5, including 4 flying north in a group)
Red-bellied WP (1)
Blue Jay (20)
Amer Crow (6)
Common Raven (4)
Tree Swallow (8)
Barn Swallow (4)
Euro Starling (20)
Gray Catbird (1)
Amer Robin (4)
House Sparrow (10)
House Finch (4)
Chipping Sparrow (2)
Song Sparrow (1)
Red-winged Blackbird (20)
N Cardinal (1)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1)
Weather predictions:
Not sure when we'll go up again. Watch for southerly winds.
Submitted by Eric Mueller
Clinton, MA
<ericmueller1912...>
Eastern MA Hawk Watch conducted this Spring hawk watch daily from March 20 through May 7, and after that, people go up as the spirit moves them. Although we aren't yet posting these results on hawkcount.org, we are following protocols established by the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). However, for ease of understanding by the readers, we are changing our time keeping notes to Eastern Daylight Time when reporting our raptor observations here. If you have questions, please contact Eric Mueller (<ericmueller1912...>) or Mark Morris (<mdmremodeling...>)
Adams Farm is a retail store and animal processing plant located at 854 Bearsden Road in Athol MA. We thank them for their support in allowing us to use their location for this watch. The public is welcome to participate in this hawk watch, but we ask you to be mindful of the on-going operations and make way for their customers and delivery vehicles. Parking spaces are somewhat limited, so please carpool if possible. The birds are often distant, so spotting scopes are very useful. This location is on a hillside about 400 feet above the town, so weather conditions are typically cooler and windier than downtown Athol.
Thanks to the Athol Bird and Nature Club for their support of this endeavor!
Date: 5/11/23 10:16 am From: Haynes Miller <hrm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hooded Warbler, Nahanton Park
This morning around 8:30 a Hooded Warbler was sounding off (thanks, Adam) and eventually putting in a great appearance in the woods between the upper garden and the Pond at Nahanton Park, Newton.
Also usual suspects plus a spring Lincoln's Sparrow (near the Nature Center).
Date: 5/11/23 8:46 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] News Coverage of Yesterday's Rally on Beacon Hill In Support Of, Rodenticide Mitigation Bills
Thanks to Gary Menin, Sr. for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: gcmeninsr <gcmeninsr...> Date: Thu, 11 May 2023 06:55:42 -0400 Subject: News Coverage of Yesterday's Rally on Beacon Hill In Support Of Rodenticide Mitigation Bills ~
*Much Needed & Deserved Attention Is Finally Realized On Beacon Hill - Thank you Laura Kiesel & The Entire Arlington Environmental Crew !*
Date: 5/10/23 5:08 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/10 Solitary Sandpiper Muddy River at Longwood, Boston
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 10 May 2023 21:24:38 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/10 Solitary Sandpiper Muddy River at Longwood
Hi, Every spring, there seems to be Solitary Sandpiper on the Muddy River at Longwood. Today was no exception. It was in the more expansive mudflat further down from Longwood Station heading towards the Fenway.
Wood Duck 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Black and White Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Northern Parula 1 Ovenbird 1
Observation start time: 05:45:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Doug Chickering, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Ted Mara
Visitors: Dan Prima, Mark Timmerman, Sam Miller, Mary Margaret Halsey, Jennifer Dowd and Gary and Ann Gurka.
Weather: Sunny with rather weak WNW, W and NW winds and temps 44 to 68 Deg F. The 15+ mph winds that were forecast in the afternoon unfortunately did not occur.
Raptor Observations: We tallied a total of 37 migrants today: 4 TV, 5 NH, 8 SS, 13 AK (4 F & 3 M), 4 ML (1 M) 1 UF and 1 UR. Sadly, unlike on several recent counts where many of the birds' flight paths afforded us spectacular close-up views, today's birds were by and large distant flyers, either at the shoreline along the beach to the east or out over the marsh well to our west. Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 BE both imm, 1 RT, 4 OS and 2 TV. Sam Miller, a veteran local birder, clearly observed a single RS further south shortly before Sam arrived here at the watch site. Alas, the hawk, a rare species here on the island, never showed up.
Non-raptor Observations: A seemingly unending surge of Blue Jays, typically in flocks of 20 to 45 birds, poured through throughout the entire watch period. Tree Swallows also came through in goodly numbers accompanied by lesser numbers of Barn Swallows and a good showing of Goldfinches and various warblers. One Kingfisher, 3 Great Blue Herons and 4 Great Egrets.
Predictions: Forecast is for conditions not very different from today's forecast: W and WNW winds rather weak in the early hours but rising to 10 to 12 MPH in the afternoon. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/10/23 4:06 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Raven nest - South End, Boston
Jeannea Paine reports finding a raven's nest in Boston's South End. She's been hearing them for quite a while. Today she reports seeing 4 fledglings testing their wings, flapping.
Is this the first Raven's nest for the city? Even if it isn't, it's a remarkable report of the evidence of the expansion of Ravens in to the eastern part of Massachusetts.
From: correne george <correnegeorge...> Date: Wed, 10 May 2023 16:27:48 -0400 Subject: Glossy Ibis flocks
Hi all, I apologize I meant to send this yesterday. Driving down Granite Ave towards East Milton Square, I had two flocks with about 25 total Glossy Ibis yesterday. It was about 145pm and it took me a moment to figure out what they were while driving! They were heading towards the Presidents Golf course and may have been going down for a landing. Nice surprise but seemed strange to me if that's what was happening. If anyone noticed that before or has comments, let me know! Correne George Milton, MA <correnegeorge...>
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Martens, Will
Observers: Doug Chickering, Mark Schoene
Visitors: John Edmondson. Also, students from the Ambrose Huskies School, Winchester, MA.
Weather: Moderate NE, ENE, E and ESE winds with moderate cloud cover. Temps 8 to 14 deg C.
Raptor Observations: A total of 14 migrants counted: 1 NH, 4 SS, 3 AK and 6 ML.
Raptors that did not migrate: 2 adult BE, 1 NH, 1 AK, 15 TV and 3 OS.
Non-raptor Observations: A lone coyote along the dunes.
Predictions: winds WNW and W, rather weak 4 to 6 mph early but strengthening t0 12 to 15 mph later in watch period. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Martens, Will
Observers: Doug Chickering, Mark Schoene
Visitors: John Edmondson. Also, students from the Ambrose Huskies School, Winchester, MA.
Weather: Moderate NE, ENE, E and ESE winds with moderate cloud cover. Temps 8 to 14 deg C.
Raptor Observations: A total of 14 migrants counted: 1 NH, 4 SS, 3 AK and 6 ML.
Raptors that did not migrate: 2 adult BE, 1 NH, 1 AK, 15 TV and 3 OS.
Non-raptor Observations: A lone coyote along the dunes.
Predictions: winds WNW and W, rather weak 4 to 6 mph early but strengthening t0 12 to 15 mph later in watch period. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/9/23 7:12 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 9, 2023 Mount Auburn Cambridge/Watertown - 12 Warbler species, One black-billed cuckoo and 3/4 of the breeding population of Yellow-Rumps apparently
Hi All,
I took an early trip to Mount Auburn today, spending almost 4 hours there
which is my longest venture there in ages. The highlight was hearing a
black-billed cuckoo calling between the dry dell and Auburn lake, two
times. The main migrants were yellow-rumps, of which I spotted over 40 and
probably should have counted even more, b&w warblers with their sweet song,
a bunch of parula, and a horde of white-throated sparrows staging by Willow
Pond. I have little doubt they’re vacating in the next day or two; some
bushes had 10+ white-throats beneath them.
I ended up with a decent tally, mainly because of time spent at the
Cemetery as opposed to density. I think yesterday probably was more
bountiful. Although I saw a lot of FOY birds, included GC Flycatcher,
Warbling Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Solitary Sandpiper, RT Hummer, Tanager,
Nashville and the aforementioned cuckoo.
Two highlights for me: The first was in the Dell. I like going there and
sitting along the path hoping a foraging flock will come through for a dip.
I recall several years ago when a maggy, yellow-rump and some others came
in and splashed at the water’s edge. Today there were not many people
there, so it was even more peaceful. Even better, a small flock was
bathing. Mainly yellow-rumps, but then out of the blue a female indigo
bunting came down and splashed a bit. I enjoyed sitting on the pine
needles breathing in the damp air and feeling like I was the only person on
Earth for a few moments.
After that some other people came around so I got up to leave and headed
down to Willow, with the horde of white-throats. Along the way I ran into
the Nashville and also a parula that dropped from a tree, screamed its song
at me, then jumped back into a bush. The second highlight was a blackpoll
warbler singing from the depths of a tree by willow; I got some great looks
at this guy who will hopefully get a nice prime spot up north as he is WAY
early.
I ran into Bob and some other birding friends too, which is always nice, I
miss my bird-folks during the less-popular months.
So overall, plenty of birds around, most of them yellow-rumps and
white-throats. People saw a bunch of Cape Mays, I missed all of them.
Lots of single again though. I seem to be working on the best days and out
in the field on the thinner ones. I won’t be heading out Thursday, so
that’s probably a fantastic time to hit Mount Auburn. Be prepared to hear
things like “Hey did you see that Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in the Dell?” and
for someone to reply “Yeah, all six of them”. This of course before I
head out again on Friday and the woodpecker decides it would rather be
extinct again than be on my life list.
That's all for now,
Matt S.
<Accipiter22...>
Newton, MA
-------
Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
May 9, 2023 6:50 AM - 10:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.79 mile(s)
57 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) 1 FOY. Called for two
volleys from between the dry dell and Auburn Lake.....didn't realize you
could get down off the ridge if you walked further down so I spent several
futile minutes scanning from IR. Still, this was the first time I heard
one call in-person, so that was nice.
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1 FOY
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 1 FOY
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 1
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 4
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 1 FOY
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1 FOY
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 5
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 4
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 6
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2 FOY
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 33
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 4
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 5
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 42
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 4
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 7
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) (Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus Group])
37
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 27
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 3
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 15
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) 1 FOY
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 13
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1 FOY
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1 FOY. By willow pond singing.
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 2
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 41
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 2
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1 FOY
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1 FOY. Female bathing in the dell
Date: 5/9/23 2:34 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] How I love Spring banding
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Tue, 9 May 2023 19:17:35 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: How I love Spring banding
Tues morning at West Hill Dam in Uxbridge 6 am - sunny & no wind - bird song was surrounding me - the ingredients for a busy morning of banding & I was not disappointed.By 7:15 am, finally all the nets were open and ready for action. Just walking back by the 3 nets we just had open were 2 male Rose-b Grosbeaks side by side [probably chasing each other] - very beautiful but scary also if you are the one who has to take them out of the net. They do not appreciate you catching them and are quickly ready to clamp on your fingers and not let go - that really hurts worse somehow than that of a Cardinal's bite.Fortunately I had 2 helpers with me & we put a twig in front of the grosbeak's beak which I was carefully working on which the grosbeak clamped on. Once that grosbeak was out, I had the helper hold the bird in the bander's grip versus putting the bird in a cloth bag otherwise I would have to reach into the bag and would get nailed instantly.Once the 2nd grosbeak was out using the twig trick, the 2nd helper held that bird as we quickly got to the banding table - banded them collecting data & sent them on the way without any pain.From that productive beginning to 10 am when we closed, it was non-stop birds being caught as many migrants [winter & spring] were moving - 9 Wht-thr Sparrows [and many left], 1 Pine Warbler, 1 Cowbird, 1 Brown Thrasher [awesome], 6 Gray Catbirds [everywhere], 1 E Towhee, 2 Rose-b Grosbeaks, 3 Baltimore Orioles & 1 Chipping Sparrow - 25 captures Thank goodness Paul & Beth Milke [subpermittee] were there to deal efficiently with the extraction & the banding process.Around the nets were House Wrens, Prairie & Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ovenbirds, Field Sparrows -even a Pileated Woodpecker landed just over a net!=C2=A0 Again Orioles, grosbeaks, Phoebes, Gt Crested Flycatcher, Catbirds, Wht-thr Sparrows, warblers seemed everywhere. Now waiting for all the thrushes & other migrants to pass through.
Date: 5/9/23 9:50 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Warblers on Plum Island
Hello All:
A quick list of the warblers found this AM and last evening along and near the Hellcat boardwalk in the Parker River Refuge:
Black-throated Green (4) Blackburnian (2) Prairie Northern Waterthrush (3) Ovenbird (2) Northern Parula (6) Black-throated Blue (2) Palm (3) Pine (1) Yellow (3) Common Yellowthroat (4)
Also, a host of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, quite a few White-crowned Sparrows, many of the usual suspects, a somewhat rare-for-the-Refuge Spotted Sandpiper in the pans,and Brants at Sandy Point.
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Kathryn Chihowski, Paul M. Roberts
Observers: Bob Secatore , Christopher Godfrey, Doug Chickering, Erik Nielsen, Janet Kovner, Kathryn Chihowski, Paul Roberts, Sam Miller, Tom Wetmore
Visitors: Dan Prima, Peg Von Rohr.
Weather: Sustained NW winds, weak early in watch but building to 15 to 25 mph for last several hours. Sunny with temps 59 to 72 deg F.
Raptor Observations: Another fairly good late season day: 175 migrants including 3 NH (1 imm), 52 SS (mostly imm males but 2 imm females and 1 adult), 1 CH (imm), 91 AK (19 females and 13 males), 24 ML (1 female and 3 males) and 3 UF. Early on, most of our migrants were flying fairly low and moving along on the length of the island as they passed. Later in the watch, however, as the wind velocity grew, the birds tended to climb as they moved over the marsh northwesterly. Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 BE (1 ad and 1 imm), 4 OS, 4 TV and 1 NH.
Non-raptor Observations: At least 150 Blue Jays, an intermittent but heavy flow of Goldfinches and other small passerines, 9 Common Terns.
Predictions: NNE, NE, ENE and E winds of 7 to 11 mph, partly cloudy with temps 48 to 55 deg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/9/23 4:40 am From: Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Female hummers late
Our first female ruby throated hummingbird finally arrived May 8. The average over the past 13 years has been arrival on May 1. Our 1st male arrived this year April 20, so he waited 18 days for a mate. I guess the prolonged cold, rainy weather and north wind delayed our females.
Date: 5/8/23 3:55 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Whip-poor-will program - 5/12 - 5/13
Thanks to Nancy Landry for this announcement of a Whip-poor-will Program at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 5/12 - 5/13.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 8 May 2023 13:45:27 From: Nancy <nlandry5...> To:<barb620...> Subject: Whip-poor-will program - 5/12 - 5/13
Birders,
I will be leading a free Whip-poor-will program this May at the Parker River NWR.
Here is the dates, times and a brief description of the program. To registrar, please send an email to <parkerriver...>, write the name of the program in the subject line and write your first and last name in the body of the email and the date of the program. Someone from the refuge will get back to you to confirm.
Whip-poor-will Walk
Friday May 12th at 7:30pm, 19th at 7:45pm
Saturday’s, May 13th at 7:30 pm, May 20th at 7:45pm
Have you even heard a strange bird singing in the background of a movie and wondered what it was? You may have been hearing the song of the Whip-poor-will. Join Nancy Landry, refuge volunteer and avid birder, for an evening of listening to the Whip-poor-will’s song and other night time birds. Participants will meet at the Hellcat Parking Lot of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, see times above. Dress appropriately for weather conditions. Preregistration is required; enrollment limited to 15 people.
Date: 5/8/23 11:34 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Welly the Crow
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 8 May 2023 16:57:17 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: Welly the Crow
Fun past memories from 45 yrs back when some folks brought to me a young crow in the spring that they found & knowing my passion for birds, they dropped off this crow at my house to raise - little did I know what I was to experience as well as the neighborhood that spring. My 3 children [oldest around 10] named the crow Welly as Welly became part of the family that included my Black Lab [my hunting dog back in those days]. Welly lived in the house or outside in the back yard often playing with the Lab or the children. With the lab, the two of them became best buddies eating out of the same bowl, sleeping side by side on a hot day on the porch, once seeing Welly spreading a wing over the dog. The most fun was when Welly would tease the dog with a stick and the dog would run to get the stick, then Welly would fly over to another part of the yard with the stick to play keep away - these games between the 2 could go on awhile.With the children, Welly would take their toys occasionally & drop the toy on the roof making the children running in the house crying that Welly took one of their toys and dropped it on the roof. Other times Welly liked to ride on their handlebars when biking - the children all loved Welly despite his teasing. For me when sitting in a lawn chair in the yard, he would sneak up behind and pinch my butt which did hurt some but more the surprise.My poor neighbors also had to deal with Welly because he loved playing with the neighbor children [and tease them], but he would love to pinch the clothespins when the folks hung out their clothes to dry & watch the clothes hit the ground. When neighbors would have a picnic lunch outside, Welly would fly in for a snack even though he was not invited - those habits were not really appreciated.One day in late summer, Welly did not return - hopefully joining a flock of crows in some happy place. What brought this all back to me very recently was when I was waiting for my food from an outdoor restaurant, the owner came to the window and asked if I was Strickland Wheelock which I admitted to. Apparently he lived 4 houses away and was one of the neighborhood children that played with my children and wanted me to know that he still thinks about Welly, has told his 2 boys all about Welly exploits & now his boys are wanting to feed the crows. I am still in shock that this once young man somehow could recognize me through a window at this restaurant after 45 years - just shows the imprint Welly had on the neighborhood!
Date: 5/8/23 6:28 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Backyard Bird List
Dear All:
Here is our updated backyard bird list for Byfield. We're up to 78
species so far. We just added Eastern Kingbird this AM. The rule is, we
have to see or confirm hearing the birds. There is a wetland across the
street from us and we're about half a mile from the headwaters of the
Parker River. We have suet out all year, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds,
niger seeds, a hummingbird feeder, and an oriole feeder.
Also, five nesting boxes and a Purple Martin house on a heavily wooded
one-acre lot. Martin Burns refuge is about a mile away to the north. Many
species nest in and around the yard.
This list is accumulated over a five year period.(not in any particular
order). * indicates common sightings.
1. Red-bellied Woodpecker*
2. Downy Woodpecker*
3. Hairy Woodpecker*
4. Red-tailed Hawk*
5. White-breasted Nuthatch*
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch
7. American Goldfinch*
8. House Finch*
9. Eastern Bluebird*
10. Tufted Titmouse*
11. Song Sparrow*
12. Chipping Sparrow*
13. House Sparrow*
14. Savannah Sparrow
15. Blackpoll Warbler
16. Common Yellowthroat Warbler
17. Northern Parula Warbler*
18. American Redstart
19. Pine Warbler*
20. American Robin*
21. House Wren*
22. Carolina Wren*
23. Baltimore Oriole*
24. Orchard Oriole
25. Northern Cardinal*
26. Great-crested Flycatcher
27. Dark-eyed Junco*
28. Mourning Dove*
29. Red-winged Blackbird*
30. Brown-headed Cowbird*
31. European Starling*
32. Rose-breasted Grosbeak*
33. Grey Catbird*
34. Sharp-shinned Hawk
35. Cooper’s Hawk*
36. Purple Finch
37. Ring-necked Pheasant
38. White-crowned Sparrow
39. Common Grackle*
40. American Crow*
41. Eastern Phoebe
42. Pileated Woodpecker
43. Brown Thrasher
44. Cedar Waxwing
45. Black-throated Green Warbler
46. Black and White Warbler
47. Great Blue Heron (flyover)*
48. Turkey Vulture (fly)*
49. Bald Eagle (fly)
50. Canadian Goose (Fly)*
51. Mallard (fly)*
52. Common Nighthawk (fly)*
53. Broad-winged Hawk (fly)
54. Sandhill Crane (fly)
55. Great Horned Owl (heard)*
56. Barred Owl*
57. Pine Siskin
58. Red Crossbill
59. Least Bittern (heard)
60. Turkey*
61. Purple Martin
62. Tree Swallow*
63. Wood Duck (fly)*
64. Raven*
65. Rusty Blackbird
66. Alder Flycatcher
67. Blue-headed Vireo
68. Red-eyed Vireo
69. Baxter’s Warbler
70. Green Heron (fly)
71. Osprey (fly)*
72. Herring Gull (fly)
73. White Throated Sparrow*
74. Black Vulture
75. Fox Sparrow
76. Magnolia Warbler
76. Yellow-Rumped Warbler
77. Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
78. Eastern Kingbird
A few commons are missing, so we're hoping to hit 80 this spring!
Date: 5/8/23 5:45 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] tap tap tap!
Hi:
Woodpeckers, like squirrels, are very adept at sliding around to the blind
side of a tree when they think we are too close. I once watched a Hairy
Woodpecker do this to me for a few minutes. I found it drilling away on a
dead tree. As I raised my camera, it simply hopped to the blind side. I
moved right, it moved left. The only woodpecker I've been able to zero in
on while it was drilling a hole is a Pileated, oddly enough. They are shy
but they tend to focus in and as long as a good distance is maintained,
they'll rip apart the trunk while we shoot away.
Good luck out there.
Sincerely,
Bob
On Mon, May 8, 2023 at 8:20 AM <blafley...> wrote:
> Hi Laura,
>
> After all these years of birding I am not sure I can offer any tips for
> finding tapping woodpeckers but what I can say is if I had a dollar for
> every time I looked for a tapping woodpecker and failed to find it I’d be a
> wealthy man.
>
> Bill Lafley
> New Salem
> <blafley...>
>
>
> > On May 7, 2023, at 10:08 PM, Laura M <magrinha97...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > While at Peters Hill today at Arnold Arboretum, I spent 15 minutes
> slowly circling a cottonwood tree, trying to find the bird responsible for
> the repeated tapping sounds I was hearing. It seemed that the longer I
> looked, the louder it tapped and the closer it seemed to be. Yet I could
> not see movement anywhere! If anyone has any woodpecker finding tips,
> please let me know!
> >
> > Laura Markley
> > South Boston
>
>
Date: 5/8/23 5:15 am From: <blafley...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] tap tap tap!
Hi Laura,
After all these years of birding I am not sure I can offer any tips for finding tapping woodpeckers but what I can say is if I had a dollar for every time I looked for a tapping woodpecker and failed to find it I’d be a wealthy man.
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
> On May 7, 2023, at 10:08 PM, Laura M <magrinha97...> wrote: > > > While at Peters Hill today at Arnold Arboretum, I spent 15 minutes slowly circling a cottonwood tree, trying to find the bird responsible for the repeated tapping sounds I was hearing. It seemed that the longer I looked, the louder it tapped and the closer it seemed to be. Yet I could not see movement anywhere! If anyone has any woodpecker finding tips, please let me know! > > Laura Markley > South Boston
Date: 5/8/23 4:44 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] West Hill Dam banding
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sun, 7 May 2023 22:01:31 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: West Hill Dam banding
Finally the rain/mist has stopped, sunny warm weather returned - thus this Sunday morning I opened my nets at West Hill Dam in Uxbridge. Bird song was all around including many species for the 1st appearance getting my juices flowing - Gt Crested Flycatcher along with the Phoebes, Yellow-thr Vireos, several Ovenbirds, several warblers like Pine, Blk&Wht, Prairie, N Parula, Yellow, Yellow-rumped & C Yellowthroats, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Bluebirds, maybe 5 Baltimore Orioles, Cedar Waxwing, Rough-w & Tree Swallows, Catbirds, Swamp & Field Sparrows, Killdeer plus the regulars like Goldfinches & woodpeckers, etc - sure I missed hearing other interesting species but busy setting up the nets along the field with help from Christina Lambert & her son Enzo.By 7:30 am, we had the nets open and instant action until we closed at 10 am due to the heat. Right off on 1st net check, we had 4 Wht-thr Sparrows, 1 male E Towhee [stunning] & 3 Robins - later net runs we caught 3 Baltimore Orioles [1 male originally banded 5 yrs ago plus also recaptured last spring, 1 female banded last spring & a new unbanded male], 1 Chipping & 1 Swamp Sparrow.Hopefully will band Tues and this time, have the nets opened by 6 am this time with the expectation of a greater mix of species [warblers, thrushes & more]If not familiar with West Hill Dam area off E Hartford Ave, many trails throughout this large property for birding that includes forest, fields and marshes - seen the last 2 days were an Osprey, Gt Yellowlegs, Kingfisher, Gt Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Pileated Woodpeckers, N Waterthrush, Barred Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, etc
Close by is another wonderful birding area called River Bend Farm with its Orchard Orioles, Blue-winged & Yellow Warblers, Red-s Hawks, Warbling Vireos, many Woodcock at dusk - great spot for cuckoo's plus surprises sometimes like Summer Tanager & Phila. Vireo - always action.What I am looking forward to [besides BAT] is having a group from Drumlin Farm on the 20th to experience the banding experience at West Hill Park from start to finish, then birding local areas.
One upcoming new trip on May 27 is a Birding by Ear up to the Woman's Federated Forest & other gates on the Quabbin where we will experience & hopefully learn the many songs of all the warblers, flycatchers and thrushes that breed in the area.
Date: 5/8/23 4:33 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/7 Mt. Auburn Cemetery Eleven Warbler Species, Etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sun, 7 May 2023 19:55:32 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/7 Mt. Auburn Cemetery Eleven Warbler Species, Etc.
Hi, I birded here from 8:00-11:00.
Double-crested Cormorant 1?? ?? flyover Red-tailed Hawk 1 accipiter sp. 1 Chimney Swift 3 Blue-headed Vireo 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Common Raven 1 heard Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Hermit Thrush 1 Cape May Warbler 1?? ?? ??on Indian Ridge about one-third of the way down; in an oak American Redstart 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Palm Warbler 3 Pine Warbler 2 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Northern Parula 5 White-throated Sparrow 3 Baltimore Oriole 1 American Lady 1 F.O.Y. on Indian Ridge
Date: 5/8/23 4:29 am From: Steve Hale <srhale20...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] tap tap tap!
[My apologies. I intended the response for this thread, but put it in a
different (unrelated) thread.]
This (breeding) time of year, the woodpeckers are excavating nesting
holes/cavities deep inside the trees and branches. So, the tapping-culprit
might be inside of the tree (out-of-view) doing its work. Yesterday at Mt.
Auburn Cemetery, my birding party had this exact thing happen, except we
were able to see just the distal tips of the tail from a Downy Woodpecker
sticking out of the hole. I will have some photos of this I can share.
Had we not seen the feathers we would not have been certain from where or
from whom the tap tap tap was coming.
Steve
On Sun, May 7, 2023 at 11:09 PM Laura M <magrinha97...> wrote:
> While at Peters Hill today at Arnold Arboretum, I spent 15 minutes slowly
> circling a cottonwood tree, trying to find the bird responsible for the
> repeated tapping sounds I was hearing. It seemed that the longer I looked,
> the louder it tapped and the closer it seemed to be. Yet I could not see
> movement anywhere! If anyone has any woodpecker finding tips, please let me
> know!
>
> Laura Markley
> South Boston
>
Date: 5/8/23 4:27 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island MA (07 May 2023) 186 Raptors
Date: Sun, 7 May 2023 23:45:12 +0000 From:<reports...> Subject: Plum Island MA (07 May 2023) 186 Raptors
Plum Island MAPlum Island MA (07 May 2023) 186 RaptorsPlum Island MA (07 May 2023) 186 Raptors Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 07, 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Kathryn Chihowski
Observers: Bob Secatore, Doug Chickering, Janet Kovner, John Cannizzo, Kathryn Chihowski, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene, Nancy Givens, Peter Duffy, Susan Moses, Tom Wetmore
Visitors: Other observers who provided invaluable help: Lisa Boisvert, Mark Timmerman, Tom Wetmore, Nancy Givens.
Visitors: Lisa Nelson, Steve Deffly, Mim McCoy, Andrea Cannizzo, Phoebe Porter.
Weather: NW and WNW winds of only moderate (5-8 mph) strength. Sunny and temps of 63 to 73 degrees F.
Raptor Observations: This was a good day here on the island. Our best day yet this season, in fact. 186 migrants were counted: 74 SS, 2 CH, 99 AK, 9 ML and 2 UF.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 BE (1 imm and 1 ad), 4 OS, 8 TV and 1 RT.
Non-raptor Observations: A nice flock of at least 20 Ibis, 2 very large flocks of Blue Jays of at least 4o birds each, 3 Hummingbirds, 2 Brown Thrashers and an intermittent stream of small passerines.
Predictions: Sunny with WNW and NW winds of 6 to 16 mph. 59 to 69 dreg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/8/23 4:20 am From: Steve Hale <srhale20...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] The Birders
This (breeding) time of year, the woodpeckers are excavating nesting
cavities deep inside the trees and branches. So, the tapping-culprit might
be inside of the tree doing its work. Yesterday at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, my
birding party had this exact thing happen, except we were able to see just
the distal tips of the tail from a Downy Woodpecker sticking out of the
hole. I will have some photos of this I can share. Had we not seen the
feathers we would not have been certain from where or from whom the tap tap
tap was coming.
Steve
On Sun, May 7, 2023 at 10:29 PM Laura M <magrinha97...> wrote:
> I've been watching an excellent documentary about the Northern Colombian
> birding trail called The Birders - check it out, if you haven't already.
>
> Laura Markley
> South Boston
>
Date: 5/7/23 8:03 pm From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] tap tap tap!
While at Peters Hill today at Arnold Arboretum, I spent 15 minutes slowly circling a cottonwood tree, trying to find the bird responsible for the repeated tapping sounds I was hearing. It seemed that the longer I looked, the louder it tapped and the closer it seemed to be. Yet I could not see movement anywhere! If anyone has any woodpecker finding tips, please let me know!
Date: 5/7/23 7:41 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Athol Hawk Watch Report for Sunday, May 7, 2023 (50 migrating raptors) - final day!
Hawk Watch Report for Sunday, May 7, 2023 Adams Farm, Athol MA
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch has been conducting a daily Spring hawk count since March 20 of this year at Adams Farm in Athol MA. Today was the last watch of the season. Our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the watch this year and to those of you who sent messages of support and encouragement!
If anyone happens to go up to Adams Farm on their own over the course of the next two weeks and sees any migrating raptors, please send your findings to Eric Mueller at <ericmueller1912...> If possible, please include the hour(s) in which you saw each of the birds.
The numbers below have been updated to correct some transcription errors from past reports.
Migrating Raptor Species_____________Today__Month__Season___% of season total --------------------------------------------------------- Black Vulture____________0_____0_____0_____0.00% Turkey Vulture___________0_____0__175_____7.61% Osprey__________________1____15____63_____2.74% Bald Eagle______________0_____2____12_____0.52% Northern Harrier________0_____1____16_____0.70%
Observation start time: 8:30 AM *EDT* Observation end time: 2:00 PM *EDT* Total observation time: 5 hours, 30 min
Official Counter: Eric Mueller Observers: Eric, Mark Morris, Dave Small, Joanne Hart, Chris Eddy, Jeff Johnstone, Anne Cervantes, Jon Skinner, Juliana Skinner
Weather:
A lovely summer-like day that started with temps in the mid 50's and climbed to the mid 70's. The sky was sunny most of the day, with some thin cirrus clouds that built up as the day went on. The day started with gentle winds from no particular direction and ended with solid 6 to 12 mph winds from the W, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Raptor observations:
Broad-wings again dominated the day, but we got to see our only migrating Peregrine Falcon of the season. While we had clear, nearby views of some passing birds, many took advantage of both the thermal and wind lift to climb high in the sky.
Non-migrating raptors observed (55 local birds):
Black Vulture (2)
Turkey Vulture (39, including the bird with the large white patch on the end of its right wing)
Osprey (1, seen several times flying in the area but not migrating north)
Bald Eagle (3, minimum number, 2 Adults, 1 Immature)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
Broad-winged Hawk (2)
Red-tailed Hawk (5, 4 Adults, 1 Immature)
Non-raptor observations:
American BL Duck (3) Killdeer (1)
Chimney Swift (2, minimum number)
Mourning Dove (2)
shorebirds (2)
DC Cormorant (1)
Great Blue Heron (1)
Red-bellied WP (1)
Hairy WP (1)
Blue Jay (18, 6 local and 12 migrating)
Amer Crow (4)
Common Raven (2)
BC Chickadee (2)
Tufted Titmouse (1)
Tree Swallow (2)
Barn Swallow (4)
Swallow sp (12)
Euro Starling (16, minimum number)
Gray Catbird (1)
E Bluebird (1)
Amer Robin (1)
House Sparrow (4)
Amer Goldfinch (2)
Field Sparrow (1)
Song Sparrow (2)
E Towhee (1)
Yellow Warbler (1, FOY here)
N Cardinal (1)
At Bearsden Rd beaver dam area:
BC Chickadee (1)
Pine Warbler (1, female)
Ovenbird (1, FOY)
E Bluebird (1)
Weather predictions:
Our hawk watch season ended today. Best wishes for good birding weather wherever you may go!
Submitted by Eric Mueller
Clinton, MA
<ericmueller1912...>
Eastern MA Hawk Watch conducted this Spring hawk watch daily from March 20 through May 7, weather permitting. Although we aren't yet posting these results on hawkcount.org, we are following protocols established by the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). However, for ease of understanding by the readers, we are changing our time keeping notes to Eastern Daylight Time when reporting our raptor observations here. If you have questions, please contact Eric Mueller (<ericmueller1912...>) or Mark Morris (<mdmremodeling...>)
Adams Farm is a retail store and animal processing plant located at 854 Bearsden Road in Athol MA. We thank them for their support in allowing us to use their location for this watch. The public is welcome to participate in this hawk watch, but we ask you to be mindful of the on-going operations and make way for their customers and delivery vehicles. Parking spaces are somewhat limited, so please carpool if possible. The birds are often distant, so spotting scopes are very useful. This location is on a hillside about 400 feet above the town, so weather conditions are typically cooler and windier than downtown Athol.
Thanks to the Athol Bird and Nature Club for their support of this endeavor!
Date: 5/7/23 7:20 pm From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Merlin
Silly me.. the mystery raspy Eastern Phoebe like ending, I realized, is that of the end of a House Finch's song! The Orchard Oriole song is completely different. Merlin confused me (I'll blame Merlin) and I think I need to go back to listening to those Peterson CDs!!
Date: 5/7/23 6:08 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] LOWA - a little history
Louisiana Waterthrush used to be reliably present in the Blue Hills off of Unquity Road. I came across this ebird report which is the area:
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported May 06, 2023 06:55
- Unquity Bottom, Norfolk, Massachusetts
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-71.0887527&<ll...>,-71.0887527 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S136290611 - Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "stopped for loud Waterthrush calls, eventually the LOWA sang a couple times, captured once on recording; briefly and distantly popped into view, best I can say is that undersides were whitish and ‘eyebrow’ appeared significantly prominent at rear; observed in skunk cabbage patch, from trail about across road from Camp Sayre"
Is it possible a population has returned to this area? Some of this area is private holdings and not part of the reservation.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
Date: 5/7/23 12:55 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 7, 2023 Nahanton Park, Newton: Quiet day
Hi all,
Hoping that some more migrants had arrived on the warm winds, I headed out
to Nahanton this morning. It appears quite the opposite of my desires
though, as I think the birds that were here kept trucking without anything
replacing them. It was pretty quiet. If yesterday felt like May first-ish
as far as migrant composition goes, today felt like May 24. A couple BTGs,
a FOY Nashville, a parula, a couple B&W. That was it for migrants really.
The resident tree swallows, house wrens, cardinals, etc. were out in force
and calling, so that gave the area some life. I’m thinking that the
weather earlier in the week held a lot of the ‘first-wave’ we usually see
in early May to our south, and they probably fueled up and are jumping
right over us. It looks like Mt. Auburn had a bit more action this
morning, but even there it doesn’t look like the start of the peak
week…hoping the radar improves over the next couple days and we get some
monster mornings.
Date: 5/7/23 11:00 am From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird May-nia
To put it in song terms, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," when "you can't always get what you want.. but if you try some time, you might find, you get what you need." Yet, all too often, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." I call it my "bird May-nia," when most of my waking and dreaming hours are focused on birds, especially the warblers, those colorful, boldly singing visitors we are so privileged to see or hear this month, before they depart for their breeding grounds. It's hard to sleep some nights, after hours spent perusing ebird lists and groupme's to try to maximize my chances of finding some gems (all good birders should be asleep by 10).. But this post is not about bird May-nia. It's about Merlin, and I'm going to cast a yes vote, if used judiciously. I think it can be a good learning tool for non-expert birders assuming we don't rely on it too much and try to always visually confirm what it hears. For example, today I was trying to find an Orchard Oriole, a bird that I often find difficult. It sings but tends to hide deep in the treetops. I was at Peter's Hill, where they are always present in Spring. And I heard something like an Eastern Phoebe's song, a raspy, descending two note bit. I turned on Merlin, which I sometimes do when it's birdy, and wondered why it wasn't picking up Eastern Phoebe. I then realized this sound was the tail end of the Orchard Oriole's song, which kept lighting up on Merlin whenever I heard it. I then went to ebird and listened to OROR songs, but they did not seem to have this ending. But then looking to the source of the songs, towards the trees with deep pink blossoms, I saw two birds flying low, chasing one another.and at first thought they were starlings. But I noticed they had rust-red rumps and I realized they were both male Orchard Orioles. I saw this behavior several times, and they were moving quickly from tree to tree. I followed them to the eastern edge of Peter's Hill, and across the wide path there, one alit at the top of a tree where I was able to get a photo. Mission accomplished, and I felt that Merlin helped me. While I truly admire those birders who take the time to learn hundreds of bird songs - I'll admit I'm a little lazy with that. I can learn while out in the field using Merlin, as long as I'm careful. For example, last winter it told me I had a Northern Shrike in a conifer at the Arboretum. It only popped up once though, and I think it just misheard something else. I wouldn't put that bird on my list unless I verified it. But I find that Merlin is right a lof of the time, and even picked up the call note of a Townsend's Warbler at the Boston Public Garden last year. Thoughts?
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Brian Rusnica, Kathryn Chihowski
Observers: Amy Maurer, Bob Secatore, Brian Rusnica, Doug Chickering, Judd Nathan, Julie Roberts, Kathryn Chihowski, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene , Paul Roberts
Visitors: Other observers included Mark Timmerman and Harris Stein.
Vistors: Dave Moon, Jim Pinfold and Bill Fiolek.
Weather: Rather weak NW winds turning W for three hours and finally NW again for the last hour period. Temps 13.3 to 21 deg C and next to no cloud cover whatsoever.
Raptor Observations: Although today didn't live up to expectations for a big early May Sharpie push, we did get a moderate flight of them along with a decent AK tally. And any day with 6 ML is never all that bad. A final count of 93 migrants today: 2 OS, 1 NH, 44 SS, 4 CH, 36 AK (1 M & 1 F), 6 ML, 1 UF and 1 UR.
Raptors that failed to migrate: 1 NH, 10 TV, 1 ad BE,1 RT, 1 PG.
Non-raptor Observations: At least 700 Goldfinches, 1 Hummingbird, 10 Purple Martins.
Predictions: Mostly sunny. WNW winds at 7 to 12 mph; 55 to 70 deg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 5/6/23 5:55 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 6, 2023 Parker River NWR - 70+ species: Three Mass/ABA Lifers - Red-Necked Phalarope, YC Night-Heron, Seaside Sparrow. Also Common Gallinule. Decent breadth overall, but low "depth" for each species
Hi All,
Had a really nice trip to Parker River today, although overall there were a
lot of species to be seen, there weren't a ton of each. Right off the bat
before pulling in I saw people pulled off and it turned out there was a
seaside sparrow, which is a lifer for me, probably #2 or #3 on my to-see
list behind Cerulean and a YC Night-Heron. Lot 1 had a huge raft of
long-tailed ducks as a highlight. Moving along I started picking off a
couple of the ‘usual suspects’ for early May migration, or even late
April. At the maintenance shed there was a lot of sparrow activity,
highlighted by a white-crowned, there were also several singing field
sparrows throughout the refuge. I dropped by North Pool Overlook, which I
frequently skip. Last time I was there a common gallinule was being seen.
Today a common gallinule was being seen.
Hellcat was where most of the action was though; I bumped into someone who
gave me the location of a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, which would be a
lifer for me. I would’ve found it anyway since there were about a
half-dozen people observing it roost about 20’ back from the trail. Other
folks said there was a red-necked phalarope at the end of the trail, so I
went out there, and after a few minutes it swam to the middle of the open
water before sinking back into the phragmites. On the way out of hellcat
I hit a foraging flock of blue-headed vireos, and a mix of B&W,
Yellow-Rumps, and a BTG warbler, as well as running into an old birding
buddy Jeff, which is always nice. On the back half of stops I ran into
Glenn D’, and scoped some action out over the ocean; I learned a lot about
habits/impression of seabirds, which is much appreciated. Also, a
black-bellied plover almost collided with his back while he was intently
scoping a piping plover.
I ended up at over 70 species, which appears to be around the high on eBird
for recent visits, but it was one of those 5 minutes earlier / 5 minutes
later at each stop and I probably would’ve been at 45. There were a LOT of
one-offs. While I saw a decent number of early-season warbler & vireo
species, there were a lot of single groups in one spot. Even yellow-rumps,
I just saw two foraging flocks and that was it. Same for everything
really. Aside from being rife with Towhee, LT Ducks, and Willets, the
overall “density” of birds felt pretty low. I thought with the weather
clearing we’d have a burst, but maybe there’s a pressure system to our
south or something keeping things at bay.
Overall, a really satisfying trip; I didn’t think it would be possible to
get 3 Massachusetts lifers at this point, without doing a pelagic trip.
The “depth” of each species really whet my appetite though, and hopefully
in the next few days reinforcements arrive and bolster numbers.
Matt S.
Newton,MA
<Accipiter22...>
------------------------------------------
Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
May 6, 2023 6:50 AM - 12:16 PM
Protocol: Traveling
16.39 mile(s)
75 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 9
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 3
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 4
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 1
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 2
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 3
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) 23
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 30
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 230 At least
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 1 Npo
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 1 almost smacked into
Glenn's back as he was scoping Piping
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 5
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 13
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) 1 Pics, end of hellcat
trail. ABA / Massachusetts Lifer
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2 Pans
Willet (Tringa semipalmata) 36 Everywhere
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 8
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 7
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 17
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 7
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) 1 Was with Glenn D' and snapped a
few photos of a blurry loon as we were leaving. Turned out to be a RT,
which he thought he had seen a few minutes before.
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 3
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 6
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) 1 M9 On hellcat.
Pics. LIFER
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 3
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 2
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 7
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Purple Martin (Progne subis) 5
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 18
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 14
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 5
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 2
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 5
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 3
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 7
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 6
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 3
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 4
Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) 1 Before you turn onto Refuge
Road, on the right. LIFER
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 12
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 31
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 22
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 3
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 22
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 6
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 4
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 8
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 9
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
Date: 5/6/23 5:43 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 5/6 Mt. Auburn Cemetery Ten Warbler Species, Etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sat, 6 May 2023 19:14:22 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 5/6 Mt. Auburn Cemetery Ten Warbler Species, Etc.
Hi, A fun time was had due to the gorgeous weather. I birded from 8:00-12:00:
Great Blue Heron 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1+ Cooper's Hawk 1 Chimney Swift x heard only Blue-headed Warbler 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 most or all from yesterday moved out last night Hermit Thrush 1 min. Blackpoll Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 seen from above Auburn Lake (Spectacle Pond) Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Black and White Warbler 6 Northern Parula 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler 15 Nashville Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 1 White-throated Sparrow 13 an influx from last night Purple Finch 1
Date: 5/6/23 4:45 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC walk Boston Public Garden, May 4, 2023
It was more of a late winter day at the Garden, gloves were necessary for sure! Most of our birds were found a little later in the a.m. though I'd hardly say it warmed up!
There is one more BBC walk at the Public Garden on May 11 meeting at 6:30 a.m. at the entrance on Charles Street across from the Boston Common Underground parking garage.
Cheers! Linda
Boston Public Garden, Suffolk, Massachusetts, US May 4, 2023 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Checklist Comments: BBC trip - cloudy, drizzly 44-47 degrees! 23 species
Canada Goose 6 Mallard 28 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11 Herring Gull 7 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 fly over Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Brown Creeper 1 European Starling 13 Veery 1 on the island, at the end of the trip American Robin 3 House Sparrow 14 American Goldfinch 2 Chipping Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 8 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Common Grackle 8 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Date: 5/6/23 2:40 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Athol Hawk Watch Report for Saturday, May 6, 2023 (67 migrating raptors)
Hawk Watch Report for Saturday, May 6, 2023 Adams Farm, Athol MA
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch is conducting a daily Spring hawk count this year at Adams Farm in Athol MA. We welcome the public's participation. Please see below for more details.
Migrating Raptor Species_____________Today__Month__Season --------------------------------------------------------- Black Vulture____________0_____0_____0 Turkey Vulture___________0_____0__176 Osprey__________________6____14____62 Bald Eagle______________2_____2____12 Northern Harrier________0_____1____13
Observation start time: 8:30 AM *EDT* Observation end time: 2:30 PM *EDT* Total observation time: 5 hours, 0 min
Official Counter: Eric Mueller Observers: Eric, Mark Morris, Dave Small, Joanne Hart, Chris Eddy, Jeff Johnstone, Bryan DiFabio
Weather:
A lovely, sunny spring day that started with temps in the high 40's and climbed to the low 70's. Fair weather cumulus dotted the skies and provided a much appreciated background against which to see and help others locate the passing birds. Winds were light to moderate, generally from the NW but varying at times. Low humidity and high clouds gave us good visibility, with Mt Greylock and the VT mountains all easily visible.
Raptor observations:
As usual, Broad-wings were the most numerous migrants, but as with yesterday, both Sharp-shinned Hawks and Osprey came through in higher than normal percentages. The 9 am to 10am hour and the 12 pm to 1 pm hours had the largest counts with 20 and 13 birds respectively. The good weather brought the local birds out in good numbers and we had repeated views of some identifiable individuals like the adult Red-tail that's growing back two of its primaries.
Non-migrating raptors observed (51 local birds):
Black Vulture (3, 2 circled directly overhead along with a few TV's)
Turkey Vulture (30, including the bird with the large white patch on the end of its right wing)
Sunday 5/07 - mostly sunny changing to mostly cloudy. Temps 55 - 68 F. Gentle winds at the beginning of the day ramping up to 5 to 15 mph from the WNW. Good conditions for our last day planned for this season.
Submitted by Eric Mueller
Clinton, MA
<ericmueller1912...>
Eastern MA Hawk Watch is conducting this Spring hawk watch from around 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (possibly later) daily from March 20 through May 7, weather permitting. Although we aren't yet posting these results on hawkcount.org, we are following protocols established by the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). However, for ease of understanding by the readers, we are changing our time keeping notes to Eastern Daylight Time when reporting our raptor observations here. If you have questions, please contact Eric Mueller (<ericmueller1912...>) or Mark Morris ( <mdmremodeling...>)
Adams Farm is a retail store and animal processing plant located at 854 Bearsden Road in Athol MA. We thank them for their support in allowing us to use their location for this watch. The public is welcome to participate in this hawk watch, but we ask you to be mindful of the on-going operations and make way for their customers and delivery vehicles. Parking spaces are somewhat limited, so please carpool if possible. The birds are often distant, so spotting scopes are very useful. This location is on a hillside about 400 feet above the town, so weather conditions are typically cooler and windier than downtown Athol.
Thanks to the Athol Bird and Nature Club for their support of this endeavor!
Date: 5/6/23 2:22 pm From: Jeremy Coleman <jcolemanarch...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Swallow-tailed Kite over Easthampton today
Cool! I saw one overhead driving south on I91 just north of Hartford. Just
put it up on eBird.
Jeremy Coleman
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 1:44 PM Spector, David (Emeritus) <spectord...>
wrote:
> Not my sighting. A friend sent me an identifiable photograph of the bird
> taken about 10 A.M. today.
>
> Eyes up!
>
> David Spector
> kiteless in Belchertown, Mass.
>
>
>
