Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 3 hours
Official Counter: Paul Roberts
Observers: Charlie Roche, Dan Roffman , George Russell, John Cannizzo
Visitors: Visitors helping with the count included Dan Roffman, Charlie Roche, George Russell, Bev Chaisson, Ursula Collinson and Andrea Cannizzo.
Weather: A hot end to official summer. Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations: Local raptors included 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Redtail, and two Common Ravens were seen. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Paul Roberts (<phawk254...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/22/19 6:09 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover yes 4:30 Sandy Point
Thanks to the tip on parking at lot 6 from Neil Hayward and taking the new trail down to the water, I found the previously reported Wilson’s Plover at Sandy Point (there were still no parking spots at Sandy Point at 5:30 !) Also present: 4 Western Sandpiper 5 Dunlin 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper > 100 both Semipalmated Sandpiper and Plover 3 Sanderling
The birds were jittery - at least once due to a Peregrine’s swoop through. Late afternoon sun was beautiful, as noted by a large contingent of beach goers also enjoying this perfect late summer day.
Date: 9/22/19 5:43 pm From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson Plover at Sandy Point
The Wilson's was easily seen Sunday evening at around 6:15 PM among the large flock of plovers at Sandy Point. From the parking lot, take the path to the beach on the right side of lot, walk out toward beach, follow the beach grass line to the right and continue past the point to an area not seen from the parking lot. There is a bar where the gulls, terns, and skimmers have been found. You will see the gulls. To the right of this area is a slough, covered with brown dead beach grass and in front of this slough is a wrack line. With your back to the beach, search the wrack line until you find the large flock of semi-palm plovers. Look for the bird with the much large black bill. The bird is grey, not black, and looks much like a juvenile semi-palm but is as large or a bit larger than an adult. The much larger bill is evident.
The White-throated Sparrows have returned! :-)
I found one today at The Pines Trail cavorting with an Eastern Towhee. I wasn't even sure what it was at first? I haven't seen that bird in what feels like forever. I’m so glad they’re back!
Both birds were on the ground just ahead of me, foraging alongside and in the middle of the gravelly path. I took a dozen or so photos, but won't have my eBird report submitted for another day or two.
Just wanted to give y’all the head’s up! The White-throated Sparrows have returned!
:-)Mr. Shilo McDonald, Lynn, MAShiloCM at yahoo dot com
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ― Mahatma Gandhi
Date: 9/22/19 3:50 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC pelagic - Bermuda Petrel, etc
Joe Bourget reports the following on the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert on facebook:
The September BBC Deepwater Overnight Pelagic went off without a hitch.
By far, the highlights were: 1 Brown Booby 5 Black-capped Petrel 1 Sabine's Gull 1 South Polar Skua 1 White-faced Storm-petrel And last, but definitely not even close to being least, 1 BERMUDA PETREL (CAHOW).
Date: 9/22/19 11:59 am From: Linda <tattler1...> Subject: Fwd: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
Sent from my iPhone
Linda Ferraresso
Salem, MA
<Tattler1...>
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Linda <tattler1...>
> Date: September 22, 2019 at 2:53:51 PM EDT
> To: Sebastian Jones <sebastianojones...>
> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
>
> I also got turned away but back in line now. Looks like they are letting cars in now (2:53).
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Linda Ferraresso
> Salem, MA
> <Tattler1...>
>
>> On Sep 22, 2019, at 2:14 PM, Sebastian Jones <sebastianojones...> wrote:
>>
>> Just to update Neil's update: Parker River is currently closed and will be for at least another half hour (possibly another hour and a half). You can't wait in line, etc. The beach traffic is insane.
>>
>> Best,
>> Sebastian Jones
>> Jamaica Plain, MA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my mobile.
>>
>>
>>
>> Original Message
>>
>>
>>
>> From: <opororniswarbler...>
>> Sent: September 22, 2019 1:44 PM
>> To: <massbird...>
>> Reply-to: <opororniswarbler...>
>> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
>>
>>
>> Dear Massbirders,
>>
>> The Brookline Bird Club trip to Plum Island was successful in seeing the Wilson’s Plover this morning. We had it on a falling tide mostly roosting in the wrack line just west of the back pool (past the point, round the corner if you’re coming from the Sandy Point parking lot). There was also a Red Knot and Lesser Black-backed Gull in the same area. Thanks especially to Leslie Kramer for being one step ahead of us and providing updates - including a Northern Shoveler from the Bill Forward blind.
>>
>> Today was definitely a beach day and the lot was completely full (as was entry to the island as we left). We took advantage of the “new” trail from lot 6 which goes past the observation deck to Ipswich Bluffs. That’s 0.7 miles from the parking lot, but don’t go all the way to the end. After about 0.5 miles there’s a turn to the left which brings you out on the beach. It’s still a 10-15 min walk from there (turn left) to where we had the bird. But if the Sandy Point lot is full this is a good alternative. Plus, it’s a beautiful walk.
>>
>> Good birding,
>> - Neil Hayward
>> Cambridge MA
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
Date: 9/22/19 11:18 am From: Sebastian Jones <sebastianojones...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
Just to update Neil's update: Parker River is currently closed and will be for at least another half hour (possibly another hour and a half). You can't wait in line, etc. The beach traffic is insane.
Best, Sebastian Jones Jamaica Plain, MA
Sent from my mobile.
Original Message
From: <opororniswarbler...> Sent: September 22, 2019 1:44 PM To: <massbird...> Reply-to: <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
Dear Massbirders,
The Brookline Bird Club trip to Plum Island was successful in seeing the Wilson’s Plover this morning. We had it on a falling tide mostly roosting in the wrack line just west of the back pool (past the point, round the corner if you’re coming from the Sandy Point parking lot). There was also a Red Knot and Lesser Black-backed Gull in the same area. Thanks especially to Leslie Kramer for being one step ahead of us and providing updates - including a Northern Shoveler from the Bill Forward blind.
Today was definitely a beach day and the lot was completely full (as was entry to the island as we left). We took advantage of the “new” trail from lot 6 which goes past the observation deck to Ipswich Bluffs. That’s 0.7 miles from the parking lot, but don’t go all the way to the end. After about 0.5 miles there’s a turn to the left which brings you out on the beach. It’s still a 10-15 min walk from there (turn left) to where we had the bird. But if the Sandy Point lot is full this is a good alternative. Plus, it’s a beautiful walk.
Date: 9/22/19 10:39 am From: Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson’s Plover update
Dear Massbirders,
The Brookline Bird Club trip to Plum Island was successful in seeing the Wilson’s Plover this morning. We had it on a falling tide mostly roosting in the wrack line just west of the back pool (past the point, round the corner if you’re coming from the Sandy Point parking lot). There was also a Red Knot and Lesser Black-backed Gull in the same area. Thanks especially to Leslie Kramer for being one step ahead of us and providing updates - including a Northern Shoveler from the Bill Forward blind.
Today was definitely a beach day and the lot was completely full (as was entry to the island as we left). We took advantage of the “new” trail from lot 6 which goes past the observation deck to Ipswich Bluffs. That’s 0.7 miles from the parking lot, but don’t go all the way to the end. After about 0.5 miles there’s a turn to the left which brings you out on the beach. It’s still a 10-15 min walk from there (turn left) to where we had the bird. But if the Sandy Point lot is full this is a good alternative. Plus, it’s a beautiful walk.
Date: 9/22/19 10:25 am From: Marj. Rines <marj...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Possible Wood Stork Hull
I have received a very second-hand report of a Wood Stork in Hull. It was posted on a group Facebook page that I don't belong to (but have asked to join), and there are no details on the exact location. Someone who saw it on the private page posted the info on the Mass Audubon Facebook page, and I've been messaging back and forth with him, and finally got him to screen grab the photo and I've posted it on my private Facebook page, but made the settings public for those interested.
I would underscore that this could EASILY be a hoax on the part of the original poster. That's my theory. But I am doing my best to get details. I have no more information that what I have posted, so please don't ask me where or when.
Date: 9/22/19 7:13 am From: Kathleen Rawdon <rawdonk...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Black skimmers
4 adult and 1 young at Hingham bathing beach on Rt 3A. Previous sightings this past week were all adults. Of note, the SSBC did their annual census yesterday and skimmers were found in Scituate and Plymouth. Kathy Rawdon Hingham Sent from my iPhone
This bird was in the entrance paring area. Suzanne Sullivan Wilmington, MA
On Sat, Sep 21, 2019 at 10:49 PM Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> wrote:
> Dear Massbirders, > > An update on the Wilson=E2=80=99s Plover found yesterday and a Golden-win= ged > Warbler found today: > > 1. Wilson=E2=80=99s Plover. Continued at Sandy Point this morning but was= missing > most of the afternoon. I spent a couple of hours at the back ponds around > the corner from Sandy Point just before sunset. It wasn=E2=80=99t there b= ut I did > find it with Chris Floyd on the walk back to the parking lot. > Unsurprisingly perhaps, it wasn=E2=80=99t hanging out with the semipalmat= ed but > instead was doing its own thing. Very pale, large with stonking bill. I= =E2=80=99m > leading a BBC walk at Plum Island tomorrow so will try to relocate and po= st > updates here. > > 2. Golden-winged Warbler. A stunning bird was found by Suzanne Sullivan > and John Keeley at Brace Cove / Niles Pond today. The checklist is here: > > https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59984538 > > Check out the photos. I don=E2=80=99t know where at Brace Cove this was. = Hopefully > Suzanne or John can post more details. > > Good birding, > - Neil > > Neil Hayward > Cambridge MA > > Sent from my iPhone >
--=20 Suzanne M. Sullivan Wilmington, MA <swampy435...>
"The self evident vision of who we are as a free and caring nation, and the ideal to fulfill this destiny is stronger than the division of those who's only vision is of themselves. =E2=80=9C SMB
An update on the Wilson’s Plover found yesterday and a Golden-winged Warbler found today:
1. Wilson’s Plover. Continued at Sandy Point this morning but was missing most of the afternoon. I spent a couple of hours at the back ponds around the corner from Sandy Point just before sunset. It wasn’t there but I did find it with Chris Floyd on the walk back to the parking lot. Unsurprisingly perhaps, it wasn’t hanging out with the semipalmated but instead was doing its own thing. Very pale, large with stonking bill. I’m leading a BBC walk at Plum Island tomorrow so will try to relocate and post updates here.
2. Golden-winged Warbler. A stunning bird was found by Suzanne Sullivan and John Keeley at Brace Cove / Niles Pond today. The checklist is here:
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Craig Jackson
Visitors: Joel Zaborowski, Dan Lounsbury, Nora Hanke, Andrew & Lorissa
Weather: Hot, stagnant, hazy, mostly cloudless. NNE winds started off gently in the morning but were a distant memory by 10:30am. Perfect conditions for a flying ant hatch, much to the dismay of the weekend day hiker contingent.
Raptor Observations: Yet another poor hawk day, even worse than the last two. A few accipiters, Kestrels and a small handful of Broad-wings were seen overhead, making little progress southward. My watch ended early but Craig Jackson continued into the afternoon - will let you know if anything significant developed late in the day.
Non-migrants: 1 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 25 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: Some nice birds spotted by Dan and Nora: Philadelphia Vireo, Northern Parula, Dark-eyed Junco. I also photographed a Blackburnian Warbler early in the day. And of course, the usual 25 Common Raven were present all day.
Predictions: Hot with WSW winds... not a great outlook for raptor migration. This ends my regular watch at Watatic - if you spend any amount of time in the coming week counting birds, please reach out at <14hawks8owls...> ! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Predictions: Same conditions only what is in the pipeline ======================================================================== Report submitted by Ted Mara (<tedmara...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/21/19 10:00 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birdbanding Saturday September 21
Thanks to Mark Blazis for this report.
I'm shocked as well.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Mark Blazis<markblazissafaris...> Subject: Birdbanding Saturday September 21 Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2019 12:14:06 -0400
For the first time in over 30 years of bird banding fall migration in Massachusetts, I mist-netted zero warblers (Auburn Sportsman’s Club station). I find that Shocking, really, for a September morning with a previous evening of westerly winds. Declining songbird populations, local spraying for EEE, pesticides, diminishing habitat, domestic/feral cat predation, and climate change have all conspired all too quietly among an uninformed public to negatively alter not just today’s numbers but, anecdotally, totals at my research over the last decade.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Paul Roberts
Observers: Bob Secatore, Colleen Tank, Jack Miano, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Morris, Nora Hanke, Paul Roberts, Ted Mara
Visitors: Observers helping with the count included Mark Morris, John Garting, Ed Norris, Pete Jacobson, Will Martens, Nora HAnke, Judy Marino, Joanne Hart, Nora Hanke, Joe Drager, Glen and Loriann Chretien.
Weather: A fair day, sunny and breezy. Sparse cloud cover. NW winds fairly consistent throughout th day, under 10 mph. Raptor Observations: A cool, slow start. Raptors mostly by ones and twos. Several Broadwing kettles during the day, the largest late in the afternoon with 42 birds. Totally BWs 167. Quoting Jack Miano, After 3 pm. EDT" ... we saw bird approaching from the NE that appeared to be an Osprey. When it came closer it showed a long tail, pointed wings and powerful strokes and appeared to be a Peregrine. But the tail was too long, and it showed slightly raised wings. It was harrier-like at that point, but not white or other colorations, and pointier wings, and flapping more and stronger than a NH." "Probable" Mississippi Kite. which we are reporting here for multiple purposes. Regrettably, no photographs were taken of the bird.... Had about 10 local TVs and 4 local Bald Eagles throughout the day.
Non-raptor Observations: Had six Common Ravens, along with multiple towhees and goldfinches. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Paul Roberts (<phawk254...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/21/19 5:25 am From: Sally Chisholm <swchis7...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Possible Crow Roost in the Hingham/Weymouth Area
On two different days this week, Tuesday at 6:50 p.m. and Friday at 6:10 p.m., I noticed a large gathering of crows on the CVS building and surrounding street, parking and traffic lights at 729 Bridge Street, Weymouth where there is also Lowes, Michael's & Staples. They were flying in from the north over Rte. 3A. Closer to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, they started leaving in groups headed south towards the Great Esker/Bare Cove Park area and beyond. Coming back through later last night, they were gone so suspect this is a staging area before they roost.
The birds weren't calling while I was there and didn't have binoculars or a camera so can't say whether they were American, Fish or a mixture of both.
Date: 9/20/19 8:14 pm From: Tom Murray <tmurray74...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wilson's Plover Sandy Point 9-20-19
This afternoon I decided to go to Parker River NWR and check out the shorebirds. While looking through the Semipalmated Plovers and other peep, I noticed a plover that was a little larger, with a larger bill and was very active. It was running and stopping constantly on the edge of the beach in front of the grassy dunes. I managed to get a few photos to confirm my suspicions.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: Sid Cash, Polly Baylies, Ben Millard
Weather: Warmest day of the week so far with heavy morning haze and only some very sparse cirrus clouds overhead. Winds started stiff and N but got stale and W as the day went on. Raptor Observations: I'll stick with highlights to spare you my gripes with the overall count the last two days.
At 1:50 EDT, a hawk flew across our view, just at the edge of naked eye vision. As I got a visitor on the bird, I couldn't help but feel that I wasn't sure what species I was looking at. Fortunately I took several frames and was able to figure it out. The bird had a long accipiter tail, was pale underneath, and had a proportionally small head. On closer inspection, the head showed a wide, bright eyebrow and a darker face: good for an adult Northern Goshawk! My 3rd NOGO in 5 years at Watatic, 1st migrant, and 1st adult. Record shot on my Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/2hikv73) Another strong Sharp-shinned Hawk flight today (24 birds) makes it five 20+ counts in the last six days.
2 Bald Eagles today gives us 60 on the season, tying an all-time Watatic Fall Hawkwatch record. Tomorrow should see our 61st and a new annual standard.
Non-migrants: 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 10 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: 20 Common Raven
Predictions: Even hotter (approaching 80F) with light winds from the NW/W throughout the day. Sounds familiar to today's conditions, so tough to be optimistic after today's count. That being said, tomorrow looks better than Sunday in terms of wind direction, so tomorrow's still worth an investigation! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/20/19 4:28 pm From: Fran Perler <franpix15...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Hi Jon,
I’m currently in Durham England. I just picked up the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Peter Holden and Tim Cleese’s. fourth edition. Only 11 British pounds. Nice drawings. A bird per page. Habitat, ID, migration, behavior, range.
The Where to Watch Birds books are a series. My friend had the Northeast England one by Britton and Day.
eBird is good, but I’m not sure the locals use it as much as we Americans. The hotspots near hear didn’t always have current checklists.
Have fun.
Take care,
Fran Perler
………………………………………………
Sent from Fran’s iPad
> On Sep 20, 2019, at 2:43 PM, Jim Hully <xenospiza...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jon,
>
> There are no decent field guides that just focus on England & Wales. UK-centric ones are moving towards using photos rather than drawings/paintings. I like "Britain's Birds An Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland" by Rob Hume et al. if you prefer photographs . "Birds of Europe", second edition, by Lars Svensson et al. is arguably the best overall guide and Svensson's illustrations are just amazing.
>
> If by guides you meant bird-finding ones then I would start with Simon Harrop & Nigel Redmon's "Where to Watch Birds in Britain", second edition. It may be getting out of date (published in 2010) but it makes a great planning book with lots of maps and useful directions. Once you decided where you want to go there are more regionalized bird-finding guides that are more up to date. I've pretty much stopped using bird-finding books preferring to use services like eBirds or the various RBAs for planning and getting up-to-the-minute info on what is around.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jim Hully
> <xenospiza...>
>
>
>> On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 9:18 AM Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> wrote:
>> Hi Massbird birding buddies!
>>
>> I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of course birding.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales.
>>
>> I appreciate your response.
>>
>> Jon Damian
>> Cambridge
>> <jongennardamian...>
>> 617-517-8706
Date: 9/20/19 11:43 am From: Andy Sanford <asanford2000...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
I am very happy with the Collins Bird Guide phone app for European birds. There is also an associated book by the same name (which I do not have). It could be incorrect, but I just read that the “Birds of Europe” book discussed here by others is known as the “Collins Bird Guide” in Europe.
Date: 9/20/19 8:54 am From: G M ARCHAMBAULT <gm72125...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
I second Jim Hully's recommendation of the Lars Svensson book. It is a thing of beauty. I'm very happy to have a pristine copy in my collection. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama
On Friday, September 20, 2019, 8:58:23 AM CDT, Jim Hully <xenospiza...> wrote:
Hi Jon,
There are no decent field guides that just focus on England & Wales. UK-centric ones are moving towards using photos rather than drawings/paintings. I like "Britain's Birds An Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland" by Rob Hume et al. if you prefer photographs . "Birds of Europe", second edition, by Lars Svensson et al. is arguably the best overall guide and Svensson's illustrations are just amazing.
If by guides you meant bird-finding ones then I would start with Simon Harrop & Nigel Redmon's "Where to Watch Birds in Britain", second edition. It may be getting out of date (published in 2010) but it makes a great planning book with lots of maps and useful directions. Once you decided where you want to go there are more regionalized bird-finding guides that are more up to date. I've pretty much stopped using bird-finding books preferring to use services like eBirds or the various RBAs for planning and getting up-to-the-minute info on what is around.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Jim <Hullyxenospiza...>
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 9:18 AM Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> wrote:
Hi Massbird birding buddies!
I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of course birding.
Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales.
I appreciate your response.
Jon <DamianCambridgejongennardamian...>
Date: 9/20/19 7:34 am From: Paul Humphries <paul.dwight.humphries...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Not everyone's cup of tea but Cornell's Merlin phone app is very well designed and easy to use. It has a bird pack specific to Britain/Ireland with 375 birds including photos, maps, and vocalizations. British Trust for Ornithology helped out. Merlin has bird packs for a sizeable fraction of the world now. Cornell also did an excellent job with the Ebird phone app.
On Fri, Sep 20, 2019, 9:53 AM Jim Hully <xenospiza...> wrote:
> Hi Jon, > > There are no decent field guides that just focus on England & Wales. > UK-centric ones are moving towards using photos rather than > drawings/paintings. I like "Britain's Birds An Identification Guide to > the Birds of Britain and Ireland" by Rob Hume et al. if you prefer > photographs . "Birds of Europe", second edition, by Lars Svensson et al. is > arguably the best overall guide and Svensson's illustrations are just > amazing. > > If by guides you meant bird-finding ones then I would start with Simon > Harrop & Nigel Redmon's "Where to Watch Birds in Britain", second edition. > It may be getting out of date (published in 2010) but it makes a great > planning book with lots of maps and useful directions. Once you decided > where you want to go there are more regionalized bird-finding guides that > are more up to date. I've pretty much stopped using bird-finding > books preferring to use services like eBirds or the various RBAs for > planning and getting up-to-the-minute info on what is around. > > Good luck. > > Cheers, > > Jim Hully > <xenospiza...> > > > On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 9:18 AM Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> > wrote: > >> Hi Massbird birding buddies! >> >> I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of >> course birding. >> >> Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales. >> >> I appreciate your response. >> >> Jon Damian >> Cambridge >> <jongennardamian...> >> 617-517-8706 >> >
Have not seen a hummingbird around the feeders or flowers for a week and a half up here (1100’ elev.) but on a walk in New Salem this AM had one chasing a Cedar Waxwing. ??
Bill Lafley New Salem <blafley...>
> On Sep 20, 2019, at 9:43 AM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote: > > Hi Mark Blazis, > We have hummingbirds staying later this year (seem to be mostly females; I think the males have left already). We have an area on our property where we've > let the jewelweed, goldenrod and milkweed grow wild. It's been a great year for hummingbirds and other pollinators. I also planted some Vermillionaire Cuphea this year > along with white flowered hostas (Royal Standard - an oldie with exceptional large, fragrant white flowers). > Donna, Townsend > > >
Date: 9/20/19 6:49 am From: Jim Hully <xenospiza...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Hi Jon,
There are no decent field guides that just focus on England & Wales. UK-centric ones are moving towards using photos rather than drawings/paintings. I like "Britain's Birds An Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland" by Rob Hume et al. if you prefer photographs . "Birds of Europe", second edition, by Lars Svensson et al. is arguably the best overall guide and Svensson's illustrations are just amazing.
If by guides you meant bird-finding ones then I would start with Simon Harrop & Nigel Redmon's "Where to Watch Birds in Britain", second edition. It may be getting out of date (published in 2010) but it makes a great planning book with lots of maps and useful directions. Once you decided where you want to go there are more regionalized bird-finding guides that are more up to date. I've pretty much stopped using bird-finding books preferring to use services like eBirds or the various RBAs for planning and getting up-to-the-minute info on what is around.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Jim Hully <xenospiza...>
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 9:18 AM Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...> wrote:
> Hi Massbird birding buddies! > > I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of > course birding. > > Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales. > > I appreciate your response. > > Jon Damian > Cambridge > <jongennardamian...> > 617-517-8706 >
Date: 9/20/19 6:48 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Grafton - Hummingbird today
Hi Mark Blazis, We have hummingbirds staying later this year (seem to be mostly females; I think the males have left already). We have an area on our property where we've let the jewelweed, goldenrod and milkweed grow wild. It's been a great year for hummingbirds and other pollinators. I also planted some Vermillionaire Cuphea this year along with white flowered hostas (Royal Standard - an oldie with exceptional large, fragrant white flowers). Donna, Townsend
Date: 9/20/19 6:48 am From: Leslie Miller <lmiller...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Exceptional Savings at Mass Audubon's Optics Fair Saturday Sept 21, 2019, 10:00am-3:30pm
We'd like to invite everyone to the Mass Audubon Shop's Optics Fair on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Representatives from many of our vendors will be here to answer questions and show optics. We carry Zeiss, Swarovski, Kowa, Pentax, Opticron, and Nikon, plus Manfrotto and Vanguard Tripods. Mass Audubon members will receive a 20% discount on binoculars and spotting scopes, plus great discounts and rebates on tripods. New members can join that day at the special introductory membership price of $32. The Audubon Shop is located on Route 117 at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, MA 01773. Please call 781-259-2214 for more information. All Shop purchases help support Mass Audubon and its conservation and education efforts.
Hope to see you at the Optics Fair on Saturday, September 21st!
Best regards, Leslie Miller Mass Audubon Audubon Shop 208 South Great Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781-259-2211
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Christine Restell, Chuck Johnson, Colleen Tank, Ed Norris, Fay Vale, Jack Miano, Marcus Rhodes, Mark Milnamow, Mark Morris, Marty McNamara, Mike Gendrin, Paul Roberts, Peter Vale, Steve Farrell, Susan Moses, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Assisting the watch: Steve and Amy Jackson, Lisa Burwell, Daryl Turek plus: Members of Audubon Society of R.I. crew: Laura Carberry, Steve Reinvert, Dave Gumley, Don Heitzmann, Steve Ruscito, Laurrie Jones, Barbarry Rhona, and Brad Turner. Welcome all, hope I got all names correctly and that your next visit has a major flight.
Weather: Wind was from NE until 11AM then variable for the rest of day between N and E, but calling it wind is a stretch! In first hour we had a gust near 5 mph .. otherwise, 0-3 thru noon and lighter for the rest of day. Ugh. Temp of 39F at start and rose to 42 by 10 AM then spiked to 53 by 11AM. Highest temp 56F at 1PM then dropped to 54 at 2PM. Visibility fine for 30 miles and then light haze gradually grayed features at the horizons. Cloud cover 0% gradually increased slightly (5%) with light wispy cirrus streaks paled the deep blue slightly around thru the day.
Raptor Observations: Sharpies were the only double-digit species at 19. Ouch. Add some strong-winging falcons and floating Ospreys and top it off with a few BW's and we get 54 birds. Double ouch. We did have a migrating TV -- full straight-line, no rocking flight E NE to SW.
Locals: BE: the 2 adults & 1 subadult up north; TV 12, RT 3.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Ravens 9, Geese 65, White-breasted Nuthatch, Towhee, Common Loon, Yellow-rump Warbler, Titmouse, House Ween, Phoebe.
Monarchs 19.
Predictions: Sunny, high near 77 (well below treeline..), Northwest wind around 7 mph.
Also predict I'll be a little late tomorrow :( ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/20/19 4:05 am From: <mexczech...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Hi Jon,
I took a trip to the UK back in 2010 and managed to get some birding here. My write up is at
http://www.timzajic.com/uk_trip_2010.htm Regards,
Tim Zajic
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...>
To: massbird <massbird...>
Sent: Wed, Sep 18, 2019 10:26 am
Subject: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Hi Massbird birding buddies!
I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of course birding.
Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales.
I appreciate your response.
Jon <DamianCambridgejongennardamian...>
With all of Helen’s garden flowers, we’ve had our best hummingbird year ever. Today, feeding on the white -flowered (very fragrant) and purple flowered hostas, one single hummingbird stayed with us. They had been feeding on jewelweed flowers, but almost all of them are gone. Mark
Date: 9/19/19 6:04 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow and Caspian Terns in Quincy, etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 00:30:05 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson<petersonpaul63...> Subject: Lark Sparrow and Caspian Terns in Quincy, etc.
I birded in Quincy today from 11:35-6:30. I first hit Passanageset Park (Broad Meadows). I then covered the entire length of Wollaston Beach with a side trip to Pine Island (off Fenno St.). I finished with Squantum.
Great Egret 12 Squantum Snowy Egret 11 Pine Island (Black's Creek) Great Blue Heron 3 Passanageset Park Turkey Vulture 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Passanageset Park Osprey 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3+ Semipalmated Plover 11 Semipalmated Sandpiper 100 including seventy-one Wollaston Beach American Oystercatcher 2 East Squantum St. sandbar Lesser Yellowlegs 12 Greater Yellowlegs 7 Spotted Sandpiper 1 STILT SANDPIPER 1 salt pan after Kennedy Center pan East Squantum St. CASPIAN TERN 2 flyby along shore Wollaston Beach near Rice Rd. Common Yellowthroat 1 Pine Island Saltmarsh Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 10 Passanageset Park LARK SPARROW 1 I pished it up out of the tall weed-covered pile on right in D.P.W. yard (worker didn't mind); it flew a short ways onto the raised meadow Bobolink 4 Passanageset Park Indigo Bunting 1 D.P.W. weed-covered pile
LEPIDS PASSANAGEST PARK:
Viceroy 1 Monarch 2 Common Buckeye 2 Orange Sulphur 4 Clouded Sulphur 4 Cabbage White 12 P.S. There was a dead Basking Shark and Common Eider on Wollaston Beach
Date: 9/19/19 5:52 pm From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sandy Point Highlights 9/19 PM
There were three Black Skimmers and four Caspian Terns at Sandy Point at around 5 PM today. The Skimmers stayed with the gulls for about an hour and then flew off toward Crane's Beach when a young Peregrine came through. The Terns remained, with what looked like at least one juvenile. Photos with checklist below.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: Tom Murray
Weather: Temps in the 40s this morning locally, but the top of the mountain was warm and comfortable all day long. Unfortunately, the winds were very light and eventually non-existent by afternoon. Hazy conditions generally around the horizon. Raptor Observations: No wind = no 'Wings, basically. A serious dearth of Broad-winged Hawk activity made today a mostly wasted effort. Winds were simply not favorable enough to generate any significant push. American Kestrels (9) were well represented in today's low count, perhaps taking advantage of a large number of dragonflies enjoying the still conditions. Thanks to Tom Murray (Groton, MA) for the help on today's count! Non-migrants: 3 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 25 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: 35 Common Raven 40 Canada Goose
Predictions: Hot and dry, with more wind (WNW direction). Certainly an improvement from today's conditions, but difficult to predict what tomorrow will bring for Broad-winged Hawk movement. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
We've scheduled another Chatham mini-pelagic for this Sunday, 9/22. Because of the tides, departure will be at 6:15 .m., returning about 10:15 a.m., with a cost of $110/person. If interested let me know a.s.a.p.
Date: 9/19/19 2:07 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crane Beach, Ipswich, Sep 19, 2019
Crane Beach, Ipswich Sep 19, 2019 1:00 PM - 3:10 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.75 mile(s) Comments: Jeff Denoncour of TTOR took Dorothy and Ed Monnelly to the end of the beach in his four-wheeler, and they invited me along to fill the 4th seat. Bird highlights were TWELVE black skimmers and 2 whimbrels. It was a great way to enjoy the beach and discuss the many changes to it over the years, and the perfect weather didn't hurt. But, alas, no terns whatsoever. At the end I spent a half-hour in the nearest dunes looking for songbird migrants, but the dunes were not very active in the NE breeze. 19 species (+2 other taxa)
Mourning Dove 2 Black-bellied Plover 3 Semipalmated Plover 17 Whimbrel 2 These 2 were foraging at the edge of the foredune looking for large insects. They were down just a few hundred yards from the parking lot, and they made my day. Sanderling 82 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 2 Both had longer, droopier bills than SESAs. This has been a great summer for them! peep sp. 3 couldn't see their bills Laughing Gull 8 1 juv, 7 adults, one with an almost still-complete hood. Ring-billed Gull 475 rough est.--most at end of beach Herring Gull 225 rough est.--most at end of beach Great Black-backed Gull 38 no lessers today Black Skimmer 12 Number still building. This time there was one juv. with the flock. Roosting with gulls at end of beach. Double-crested Cormorant 5 Turkey Vulture 4 2 over dunes, 2 outside gate Northern Harrier 1 ad. female Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 4 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chipping Sparrow 1 sparrow sp. 1
10 adult black skimmers at Hingham bathing beach now, occasionally skimming, now resting on mud flats. ( photo available via scope) Kathy Rawdon Hingham, Ma.
Date: 9/19/19 6:56 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Joe,
Just curious, did you go to Snettisham? It's on my list for next
visit.
Donna, Townsend
On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 6:03 AM Joe Scott <joexcski...> wrote:
> I agree with Donna's comments about Norfolk. We were there last December
> and again in late April - both excellent visits. For a guide, try Norfolk -
> Best Birdwatching Sites, by Neil Glenn. Without question it is the best
> bird finding book I've ever seen. He has done books on some other British
> counties but Norfolk is the only one I've used in the field.
>
> ...and the pubs in the little villages are excellent.☺
>
> Joe Scott
> Chatham NH
>
> On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:19 AM Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Massbird birding buddies!
>>
>> I am headed to England and Wales in late May for some concerts and of
>> course birding.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest a decent guide that focuses in to England and Wales.
>>
>> I appreciate your response.
>>
>> Jon Damian
>> Cambridge
>> <jongennardamian...>
>> 617-517-8706
>>
>
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bill LaFleche, Bill Rasku, Billy Earl, Bob Morris, Bob Secatore, Chris Eddy, Christine Restell, Ed Norris, Fay Vale, Herb Stone, Jack Miano, Judy Davis, Kathryn Chihowski, Kevin Ryan, Lauren Grimes, Marcus Rhodes, Matt Bollus, Meghan Gately, Paul Roberts, Peter Vale, Ranger Wilson, Steve Farrell, Ted Mara
Visitors: Steve and Naomi Jackson visiting from abroad were very pleasant and might be back this week to`talk hawk` some more. Laurie Drake a newcomer to our watch took some nice photos and is welcome back anytime. Assisting in the count: Laura Hart, Laurie Drake, Ray Jacobs.
Weather: Winds were from the N all morning and the NE from noon on at 2-10 mph early and slowly diminishing to 0-5 mph at the end. A few gusts in the first 2 hours approached 15 mph but were brief -- just long enough to add to the AM chill. Temp started at 48F, rose to 57 by 11am and 58F for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 1% at start but quickly rose to 50% at 10am and 70% from noon on. Visibility was 35 miles all day though the haze did allow even Greylock to be noticed at 66 mi in North Adams, MA.
Raptor Observations: Today the BWs dominated the flight (354 was 85% of our total). BWs were active from the start until 2pm; the 8am and 10am hours each had over 100. Two Black Vultures and our first Northern Harrier were nice surprises. Local raptors were shy: TV 5, RT 4, BE 1 (subadult we see almost daily -- white tail but not yet the head.)
Non-raptor Observations: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Herring Gull, 5 Common Ravens.
Monarchs: 24
Predictions: N/A due to late posting. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Paul Roberts
Observers: Ann Howe, Bob Secatore, Colleen Tank, Dave Brown, Herb Stone, Jack Miano, John Cannizzaro, Judy Davis, Matt Bollus, Nora Hanke, Paul Roberts, Ted Mara, Ursula Goodine, Will Martens
Visitors: Observes helping with the count included Joanne Hart, Rod Chase, Paul Roberts, Mark Letiz, Colleen Tank, Chuck Johnson Judy Davis, Herb Stone, Dave Brown Maryellen Stone, Bob Stone, Dave Goodine, Ursala Goodine Ann Howe, Nora Hanke, Dianne Lubby. From the North River Audubon ; Doug Lowry, Charlie Gregory, Elaine and Doug Arnold, Kathryn and Clark Johnson, and Meryl, Tom Graham, Doug Chickering, Mary Margret Hausley, Chris Eddy, Dan Steiblin, Peter Szwaja, Michele and Joe Pop, Jack Milano Sandy Selesky, Ed Norris, Megan Gatley, Tim Jordan, Rachael Steinberg
Weather: The day started out heavily overcast but lightened up as earth day progressed. Winds were favorable NNE 89-10 mph all days. The winds were more favorable than the birds. Raptor Observations: Several local Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures were seen throughout the day. Despite excellent migration conditions very few raptors were seen. Slower than "nickel and dime." There was excellent lift and some outstanding spotters and observers, but we saw very few birds at the limits of "scope vision," much less close, and two Peregrines migrating together where one playfully stooped hundreds of feet on a migrating kestrel, providing perhaps the best moments of the day. Also had a Black Vulture, a very uncommon visitor. Another highlight were two adult Red-shouldered Hawks (seen close) which appeared to be migrating and a third bird somewhat distant. We generally do no see and have not been seeing any local Shoulders this season. Non-raptor Observations: 7 Canada geese, 8 playful Common Ravens, and a Common Merganser were seen. 41 Monarch Butterlies were reported.
Predictions: ????? Excellent conditions in the morning with very moderate N winds, shifting NE and then E in afternoon. From reports elsewhere, birds are apparently passing west somewhat north of us. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Paul Roberts (<phawk254...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/18/19 8:02 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Indigo Bunting Stuck and Another Investigates Nahanton Park
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2019 00:46:55 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Indigo Bunting Stuck and Another Investigates Nahanton Park
Hi, This evening, I birded at this spot in Newton. An Indigo Bunting was stuck in fencing. Suddenly, another appeared, landing next to the trapped one. I went over to see if I could help, but the bird got very uneasy and managed to fly through a small hole.
Osprey 1 Charles River perched on protruding tree trunk at edge Red-eyed Vireo 2 one upper garden, other lower garden Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Woodcock Trail behind kayak house INDIGO BUNTING 3+ one plus upper, two lower garden
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Daniel McDermott
Visitors: Patrick Fellion
Weather: Downright chilly the first half of today's hawkwatch, with a moderate NE breeze and near total stratus cloud cover. As the day warmed, the clouds burnt off and revealed ice blue skies for the second half of the day. Raptor Observations: Today's flight did not quite meet expectations. A decent number of Broad-winged Hawks were moving, but not the truckload we were wishing for. The morning activity was steady but not overwhelming. The afternoon flight died right around 3pm EDT. We had another double-digit flight of Bald Eagles, and seem to be well on our way to a new single season high for Watatic. Huge thanks today to Daniel McDermott and Patrick Fellion for their hours on the watch, helping me by picking streams and kettles out of the gray and eventually the blue.
Non-migrants: 6 Bald Eagle 3 Red-tailed Hawk 10 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: A (the?) Horned Lark returned this afternoon to chomp on more summit spiders!
1 Common Nighthawk 20 Common Raven
Predictions: A frost warning (!) in the area, morning temps expected to be in the 40s, but quickly warming. Winds predicted to be light but still in a northerly direction. Still looks like good conditions for hawk migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bessie Liu, Betty Ann Sharp, Bill Rasku, Bob Secatore, Colleen Tank, Dave Brown, Eric Schultz, George Russell, Greg McGuane, Jack Miano, Janet Kovner, Jim Ellis, Joe Drega, Jon Jones, Judy McGuane, Julie Brown, Kathryn Chihowski, Marcus Rhodes, Marty McNamara, Paul Roberts, Susan Moses, Susan Williamson, Tom Gottschang, Wayne Peterson
Visitors: Also assisting in the count: JoAnne Hart, Kathy Cahill,Scott Ricker, Laura de la Flor, Mark Burns. Rick Arnoud, Eric Schultz, Rob Larson were with the Mass Audubon group; Wayne Peterson and three others mentioned as Observers in the 11am hour but there were a few others whose names I didn't get. My apologies to them and whoever else was on the platform with names I missed. The Sunday crowd of hikers and other visitors was, no surprise, quite large and I and others were fielding questions all day.
Weather: Wind 0-3mph thru 11am from the West; then 0-10mph thru 1pm from NW; last two hours 5-15mph from west again. Temp rose slowly from 57 at 7am to 64 at 3pm. Visibility barely .5 mi, in a few directions, during the foggy 1st hour.This rapidly grew to 5 mi at 8 am, 15 mi at 9, and 30 mi from 9 am on.
Raptor Observations: Flight didn't start until 9:40 with 4 birds by 10 am. The next two hours' counts were in the teens but the pace picked up when the BWs arrived: our peak hour was 2-3 pm with 123 (121 BW and 2 SS). 95% of the afternoon migrants were Broadwings. We had 6 BEs in the noon hour and 1 in the last. Most BWs came solo or loose groups under ten except from 2:30-3pm we did find groups of 54, 36 and 16 (and in that order.)
Locals: TV 14; BE 2 (adults to N, 9:30; 1st year bird at 10:20 to NW and W); RT 4.
Non-raptor Observations: 1 DC Cormorant and at least 12 Common Ravens. 1 Purple Drone from the Ski Base...
Monarchs 22
Predictions: N/A... The only thing I left on the mountain yesterday was my tally sheet. Retrieved today, fortunately, but apologies for this day-later report :( Ok ... glitches with site... 4 day late :-(
======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/18/19 5:11 pm From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Golden Eagle - New Salem
Hello,
On a late afternoon walk in Quabbin I watched a soaring imm. Golden Eagle for several minutes along the western shore and the northerly breeze took it slowly over the Phrag Island and out of sight between Mount L and the N Dana peninsula. N Quabbin birders should keep an eye on those eagles. As I walked along the shore I also interrupted a bull moose’s dinner.
Date: 9/18/19 4:03 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] RFI - Denver area
Please contact Jennifer Novak if you have information for her about birding in Denver.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: <jfer.novak...>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2019 16:37:00 -0400
I’ll be in the Denver area in a few weeks and I am looking for birding suggestions. I will likely go to Rocky Mountain National Park, but would love any suggestions in the general vicinity. Jennifer Novak <jfernovak...>
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bessie Liu, Betty Ann Sharp, Bill Rasku, Bob Secatore, Colleen Tank, Dave Brown, Eric Schultz, George Russell, Greg McGuane, Jack Miano, Janet Kovner, Jim Ellis, Joe Drega, Jon Jones, Judy McGuane, Julie Brown, Kathryn Chihowski, Marcus Rhodes, Marty McNamara, Paul Roberts, Susan Moses, Susan Williamson, Tom Gottschang, Wayne Peterson
Visitors: Also assisting in the count: JoAnne Hart, Kathy Cahill,Scott Ricker, Laura de la Flor, Mark Burns. Rick Arnoud, Eric Schultz, Rob Larson were with the Mass Audubon group; Wayne Peterson and three others mentioned as Observers in the 11am hour but there were a few others whose names I didn't get. My apologies to them and whoever else was on the platform with names I missed. The Sunday crowd of hikers and other visitors was, no surprise, quite large and I and others were fielding questions all day.
Weather: Wind 0-3mph thru 11am from the West; then 0-10mph thru 1pm from NW; last two hours 5-15mph from west again. Temp rose slowly from 57 at 7am to 64 at 3pm. Visibility barely .5 mi, in a few directions, during the foggy 1st hour.This rapidly grew to 5 mi at 8 am, 15 mi at 9, and 30 mi from 9 am on.
Raptor Observations: Flight didn't start until 9:40 with 4 birds by 10 am. The next two hours' counts were in the teens but the pace picked up when the BWs arrived: our peak hour was 2-3 pm with 123 (121 BW and 2 SS). 95% of the afternoon migrants were Broadwings. We had 6 BEs in the noon hour and 1 in the last. Most BWs came solo or loose groups under ten except from 2:30-3pm we did find groups of 54, 36 and 16 (and in that order.)
Locals: TV 14; BE 2 (adults to N, 9:30; 1st year bird at 10:20 to NW and W); RT 4.
Non-raptor Observations: 1 DC Cormorant and at least 12 Common Ravens. 1 Purple Drone from the Ski Base...
Monarchs 22
Predictions: N/A... The only thing I left on the mountain yesterday was my tally sheet. Retrieved today, fortunately, but apologies for this day-later report :( Ok ... glitches with site... 4 day late :-(
======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/18/19 12:12 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island (Parker River NWR) - 09-18-2019
David Moon and I led today's Wednesday Morning Birding program out of Joppa Flats Education Center on to Plum Island. Skies were clear to partly cloudy; temps ranged from 59 to 63 degrees; and winds were ENE/10-15 mph.
Our list:
Canada Goose (~ 20) - Bill Forward Pool (BFP) Gadwall (2) - Main Panne. American Black Duck (8) - Main Panne. Mallard - some, mostly BFP & North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Green-winged Teal (~ 25) - mostly BFP; 2, North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Common Eider (~ 10) - Emerson Rocks. Black Scoter (7) - seven ocean. Double-crested Cormorant - common. Great Blue Heron (2) - Stage Island Pool (SIP). Great Egret (~ 40) - various. Snowy Egret (2) - 1, panne n. SIP; 1, North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Turkey Vulture - common. Black-bellied Plover (4) - 3 in flight n. SIP; 1, BFP. American Golden-Plover (1) - ad. in molt; BFP. Semipalmated Plover (~ 35) - mostly BFP. Spotted Sandpiper (1) - North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Greater Yellowlegs (~ 27) - 7, SIP; ~ 20, BFP & North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Lesser Yellowlegs (5) - North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Sanderling (~ 20) - seven beach. Semipalmated Sandpiper (~ 100) - 3, seven beach; ~ 25, SIP; ~ 70, BFP. Western Sandpiper (1) - BFP. Least Sandpiper (2) - North Pool from Hellcat Dike. White-rumped Sandpiper (5) - BFP. Pectoral Sandpiper (2) - North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Dunlin (1) - BFP. Short-billed Dowitcher (~ 20) - BFP & North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Ring-billed Gull (~ 8) - Emerson Rocks. Herring Gull Northern Flicker (2) - S-curves. Common Raven (1) - flyover, lot #6. Tree Swallow (~ 30) - SIP vicinity. American Robin (~ 10) - roadside. Gray Catbird (1) - roadside. Northern Mockingbird (2) - vicinity lot #7. European Starling Song Sparrow (~ 5) - mostly vicinity Hellcat Dike. House Sparrow (1)
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 9/18/19 11:24 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Danehy Park, Cambridge, Sep 18, 2019
Thanks to Mark Rosenstein for the following post.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Subject: Danehy Park, Cambridge, Sep 18, 2019 From: Mark Rosenstein <mar...> Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2019 14:05:46 -0400
This morning I co-led with Karsten a walk at Danehy, where 7 people joined us including Jeremiah. Highlights were a Lark Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and a Merlin. Photos of the Lark Sparrow and Merlin at attached to the ebird checklist at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59897470
-Mark Rosenstein <mar...> Cambridge, MA
Danehy Park, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Sep 18, 2019 7:23 AM - 9:03 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.527 mile(s)
27 species
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2 Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 9 Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1 Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 7 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 39 Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 5 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 24 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2 House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 5 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 4 Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1 Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) 1 Will attach photo Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 5 Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1 Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 1 Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1 Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2 American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1 Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
Date: 9/18/19 10:12 am From: Elliot Mednick <elliot...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Consider Anglesey Island off the northwest coast of Wales. There’s a bridge, so you can drive there. Most notably, the section called South Stack where puffins and various other alcids nest. Start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglesey.
If you go, I’d love a full report. Wish I could go with you.
Regards,
--Elliot
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On Behalf Of Donna Carkin
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 11:47 AM
To: Jon Damian <jongennarodamian...>
Cc: Massbird <massbird...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Jon,
I've only birded in the Norfolk area. Highly recommend:
"Norfolk may well be the bird watching capital of Britain. It certainly has Premier League status nature reserves - just the names of Titchwell, Cley, Holkham, Blakeney, Snettisham and Welney make birdwatchers weak at the knees. There's plenty to see whatever the time of year."
Date: 9/18/19 8:52 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] A question about birding England and Wales
Jon, I've only birded in the Norfolk area. Highly recommend: Ttitchwell area https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/titchwell-marsh/ Norfolk Broads https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/things-to-do/Birdwatching.aspx "Norfolk may well be the bird watching capital of Britain. It certainly has Premier League status nature reserves - just the names of Titchwell, Cley, Holkham, Blakeney, Snettisham and Welney make birdwatchers weak at the knees. There's plenty to see whatever the time of year." Enjoy your time in England and Wales :) Donna, Townsend
Date: 9/17/19 7:28 pm From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 10/10 - Celebration of Life - Ida Giriunas
Reposting this since I've had many questions regarding this recently.
Thanks, Linda
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
Thanks to Carol Grimes, Ida Giriunas's niece, for the following notice.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
On Thursday, October 10 at 2 PM, we will hold a celebration of life for Ida at the Barn at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield. Friends and relatives are most welcome to attend.
Thanks to all of you for your kind support during this time.
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Levi Burford, Tim Mowry
Visitors: Levi Burford, Tim Mowry, Ed Auclair
Weather: Dry and warm, with North winds starting strong and easing up later in the day. Cloud cover started off non-existent, but many helpful cumulus formations made the sky-high hawkwatching much more efficient. Raptor Observations: Today was a good reminder of how fickle hawkwatching can be - we had our biggest day of the season but a huge majority of birds came in two extremely quick bursts. Huge thanks to Pack Monadnock regular counter Levi Burford and local observer Tim Mowry who both helped detect today's big groups. At 11:30am EDT, a huge pack of Broad-wings streamed high over the East side in a SW direction, totaling 385 raptors in just about 5 minutes. Later in the day, a high kettle developed into a massive stream that re-kettled up over the East side, bringing us another 310 birds in just about 10 minutes. I hate to think of what today's numbers would've looked like without these sharp eyes. Almost all of our action was well overhead throughout the watch. Otherwise, a solid showing of Sharpies for the entire day. A handful of Northern Harriers included our first adult male of the season. A few ultra-high Turkey Vultures made a solid case for being counted as migrants.
In the morning, a juvenile Cooper's Hawk appeared over the True Summit, and tucked its wings heading right towards the East Summit. I assumed it was making a run at the decoy owl, but the accipiter spread its wings just 50 feet in front of me and dove into a bush, trying to spear one of a few Dark-eyed Juncos foraging on the ground. It came up empty, but the action was downright delightful. Non-migrants: 7 Bald Eagle 20 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: For several minutes today, we were treated to amazing looks at a ground-foraging Horned Lark on the summit. My FOY and first I've seen at the watch.
25 Common Raven 69 Canada Goose
Predictions: Cooler but still dry, with NE winds. Looking great for another big number day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/17/19 4:17 pm From: Shilo McDonald <shilocm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Royal Tern, Sandy Point, 9-16-19
Hi there Matt (and MassBirders!),Sounds to me like you're going to all the right places.
I feel your pain. I don't have a scope. I'm using a borrowed pair of binoculars. And the longest lens I have for my camera is 200mm. And that camera is now in the shop. So, I'm especially hamstringed lately.
And yet... we persist. I birded Plum Island yesterday too. Did not see the Common Ringed Plover. Did not see a Gull-billed Tern. Did not see Black Skimmers. And did not see a Forster's Tern.
But, you know what? I did see an American Golden Plover at the Bill Forward Pool. A Stilt Sandpiper at the Stage Island Pool. And a Dunlin at Sandy Point.
Plus... Somehow... Being at the right place, at the right time? I found myself a Life Bird. A very funny looking ROYAL TERN, who reminded me of my high school physics teacher. :-D
My eBird report with Photos (and an Audio file too!):https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59871573 [ Text only version of report included beneath my signature. ]
- Shilo McDonaldLynn, MassachusettsShiloCM at Yahoo dot com
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ― Mahatma Gandhi
Sandy Point State Reservation, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Sep 16, 2019 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Cassandra's up from Arizona. And so I took her to Plum Island to go see some birds. It was her first time birding and her first time at Plum Island. I think she liked it? We found a Royal Tern, which was a first time for me! So, it was a day of firsts for the both of us!
21 species (+4 other taxa)
duck sp. 3 Flybys.
Mourning Dove 1 Perched in the parking lot.
Semipalmated Plover 70
Piping Plover 7
Sanderling 10
Dunlin 1 One lone Dunlin in the mix of shorebirds foraging in the mud. Long black drooping bill. Black legs. And the fading remnants of a black belly patch. See photos.
Semipalmated Sandpiper 35
peep sp. 50 Not close enough to us to properly ID.
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 24
gull sp. 25 Too far away to ID.
Royal Tern 1 Pretty sure this bird flew in just to see the Common Ringed Plover. And I'd say he dipped. Because he had a serious mid-life crisis look going on. One lone tern in a mixed flock of gulls. Black legs. Orange dagger-like bill. Shaggy black feathers sticking up and out at back of head. Either he's having a really bad hair day. Or else he's stressed out about missing that life bird. See photos.
Double-crested Cormorant 8 Flying by or swimming by.
Great Egret 1 Flying by.
flycatcher sp. (Tyrannidae sp.) 1 Heard a "whit" sound. Looked up and spotted a bird perched on a bare branch, flycatcher shaped. Bird flew before I could get a picture.
Blue Jay 2 Heard only. Near the parking lot.
European Starling 5
Gray Catbird 1 Whining call heard. Coming from bushes alongside the path to the beach.
Northern Mockingbird 1 Seen, not heard.
Cedar Waxwing 3 Heard only. In the trees near the parking lot.
House Finch 1 This bird really confused me. I'm not used to seeing finches on the beach. And due to the direction of the sunlight, it looked much more sparrow-like in person. When I brightened up the photos, I could see it was a juvenile House Finch.
American Goldfinch 2 Near parking lot.
Song Sparrow 1
Common Yellowthroat 1 Chuck call heard. Coming from bushes beachside, near the cliff.
On Monday, September 16, 2019, 10:41:15 PM EDT, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
From: "Matt S." <accipiter22...>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:19:53 -0400
Subject: 9/16/2019 Parker River NWR Blue-Headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo,
Bay-Breasted. Ringed Plover - No, Gull-Billed Tern - No, Hudsonian Godwit -
No, Black Skimmer - No, Lark Sparrow - No, Royal Tern - No
Greetings,
I had rented a large lens for my camera and was using it all weekend, and
decided to head up to Parker River today. I've had horrid luck over the
years with pelagic / shore-birds there, but after the reports this weekend
I figured I'd cross a few life-listers off, or at the very least add to my
PRNWR life list....That did not happen. More on that in a moment, since I
had some questions I was hoping the readers here could help me with.
The highlights were a blue-headed vireo and bay breasted that were
cavorting with a couple chickadees. Chickadees always seem popular this
time of year. I also had a Philadelphia vireo (now that I think of it I
think that's a lifer for Parker River) that cooperated for a couple
photos. I was with a couple people when we saw it at Pine Loop; if you're
reading this, it's not a Tennessee, it's a Philadelphia, which personally I
think is WAY rarer, even if you didn't get your lifer Tennessee.
So now for my conundrum: Where exactly are people finding the pelagics at
Parker River? I've probably been there 30 times, and I've seen a total of
5 terns (not species, 5 individual birds), 1 loon, and 1 bonaparte's. I
have got to be looking in the wrong spots. I tried Lot 1, looking out at
the ocean today, twice, for extended periods of time. The ocean was empty;
not like empty of exotic birds, just empty. No gannets, terns, skimmers,
gulls, etc. I tried at a few of the lots, and again at Sandy Point.
Again, the ocean was empty. That's pretty much a common theme for me. I've
tried going early, going late, high tide, low-tide. Empty ocean to the
horizon, nothing flying over except a cormorant or a GBB Gull. I've
probably spent 60 hours at this point staring at the ocean and not seen a
thing.
It's not that I'm having ID'ing stuff I'm seeing, it's that I usually don't
see ANYTHING out on the water. Even today, I talked to probably 2 dozen
birders, no one had seen a thing, but then I get home and check e-bird and
there's a dozen lists that have a bunch of interesting shorebirds. Even
with peeps, I take broad sweeping shots with my camera when I see flocks,
in case I'm missing something, but when I get home I go through bird by
bird and it's just the usual smattering. So for the experts that are
finding these things, could you shed light on it for the rest of us?
Predictions: N/NE winds Sunny Favorable ======================================================================== Report submitted by Ted Mara (<tedmara...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/17/19 11:49 am From: Mardi Dickinson <mardi1d...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Nick Bonomo, Shorebirds, Gulls, Pelagics - BirdCallsRadio
Birders et al,
Thought many of you would be interested in my next guest Nick Bonomo on Shorebirds, Seabirds, Gulls and so much more! Your in for a treat! I encourage all to subscribe so you won’t miss any episodes. https://bit.ly/2akUsxp
Date: 9/17/19 7:12 am From: Shilo McDonald <shilocm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Royal Tern, Sandy Point, 9/17/19
Hi there Matt,Sounds to me like you're going to all the right places.
I feel your pain. I don't have a scope. I'm using a borrowed pair of binoculars. And the longest lens I have for my camera is 200mm. And that camera is now in the shop. So, I'm especially hamstringed lately.
And yet... we persist. I birded Plum Island yesterday too. Did not see the Common Ringed Plover. Did not see a Gull-billed Tern. Did not see Black Skimmers. And did not see a Forster's Tern.
But, you know what? I saw an American Golden Plover at the Bill Forward Pool. A Stilt Sandpiper at the Stage Island Pool. And a Dunlin at Sandy Point.
Plus... Somehow... Being at the right place, at the right time? I found myself a Life Bird. A very funny looking Royal Tern, who reminded me of my high school physics teacher. :-D
My eBird report with Photos (and an Audio file too!):https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59871573 [ Text only version of report included beneath my signature. ]
- Shilo McDonaldLynn, MassachusettsShiloCM at Yahoo dot com
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ― Mahatma Gandhi
Sandy Point State Reservation, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Sep 16, 2019 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Cassandra's up from Arizona. And so I took her to Plum Island to go see some birds. It was her first time birding and her first time at Plum Island. I think she liked it? We found a Royal Tern, which was a first time for me! So, it was a day of firsts for the both of us!
21 species (+4 other taxa)
duck sp. 3 Flybys.
Mourning Dove 1 Perched in the parking lot.
Semipalmated Plover 70
Piping Plover 7
Sanderling 10
Dunlin 1 One lone Dunlin in the mix of shorebirds foraging in the mud. Long black drooping bill. Black legs. And the fading remnants of a black belly patch. See photos.
Semipalmated Sandpiper 35
peep sp. 50 Not close enough to us to properly ID.
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 24
gull sp. 25 Too far away to ID.
Royal Tern 1 Pretty sure this bird flew in just to see the Common Ringed Plover. And I'd say he dipped. Because he had a serious mid-life crisis look going on. One lone tern in a mixed flock of gulls. Black legs. Orange dagger-like bill. Shaggy black feathers sticking up and out at back of head. Either he's having a really bad hair day. Or else he's stressed out about missing that life bird. See photos.
Double-crested Cormorant 8 Flying by or swimming by.
Great Egret 1 Flying by.
flycatcher sp. (Tyrannidae sp.) 1 Heard a "whit" sound. Looked up and spotted a bird perched on a bare branch, flycatcher shaped. Bird flew before I could get a picture.
Blue Jay 2 Heard only. Near the parking lot.
European Starling 5
Gray Catbird 1 Whining call heard. Coming from bushes alongside the path to the beach.
Northern Mockingbird 1 Seen, not heard.
Cedar Waxwing 3 Heard only. In the trees near the parking lot.
House Finch 1 This bird really confused me. I'm not used to seeing finches on the beach. And due to the direction of the sunlight, it looked much more sparrow-like in person. When I brightened up the photos, I could see it was a juvenile House Finch.
American Goldfinch 2 Near parking lot.
Song Sparrow 1
Common Yellowthroat 1 Chuck call heard. Coming from bushes beachside, near the cliff.
On Monday, September 16, 2019, 10:41:15 PM EDT, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
From: "Matt S." <accipiter22...>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:19:53 -0400
Subject: 9/16/2019 Parker River NWR Blue-Headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo,
Bay-Breasted. Ringed Plover - No, Gull-Billed Tern - No, Hudsonian Godwit -
No, Black Skimmer - No, Lark Sparrow - No, Royal Tern - No
Greetings,
I had rented a large lens for my camera and was using it all weekend, and
decided to head up to Parker River today. I've had horrid luck over the
years with pelagic / shore-birds there, but after the reports this weekend
I figured I'd cross a few life-listers off, or at the very least add to my
PRNWR life list....That did not happen. More on that in a moment, since I
had some questions I was hoping the readers here could help me with.
The highlights were a blue-headed vireo and bay breasted that were
cavorting with a couple chickadees. Chickadees always seem popular this
time of year. I also had a Philadelphia vireo (now that I think of it I
think that's a lifer for Parker River) that cooperated for a couple
photos. I was with a couple people when we saw it at Pine Loop; if you're
reading this, it's not a Tennessee, it's a Philadelphia, which personally I
think is WAY rarer, even if you didn't get your lifer Tennessee.
So now for my conundrum: Where exactly are people finding the pelagics at
Parker River? I've probably been there 30 times, and I've seen a total of
5 terns (not species, 5 individual birds), 1 loon, and 1 bonaparte's. I
have got to be looking in the wrong spots. I tried Lot 1, looking out at
the ocean today, twice, for extended periods of time. The ocean was empty;
not like empty of exotic birds, just empty. No gannets, terns, skimmers,
gulls, etc. I tried at a few of the lots, and again at Sandy Point.
Again, the ocean was empty. That's pretty much a common theme for me. I've
tried going early, going late, high tide, low-tide. Empty ocean to the
horizon, nothing flying over except a cormorant or a GBB Gull. I've
probably spent 60 hours at this point staring at the ocean and not seen a
thing.
It's not that I'm having ID'ing stuff I'm seeing, it's that I usually don't
see ANYTHING out on the water. Even today, I talked to probably 2 dozen
birders, no one had seen a thing, but then I get home and check e-bird and
there's a dozen lists that have a bunch of interesting shorebirds. Even
with peeps, I take broad sweeping shots with my camera when I see flocks,
in case I'm missing something, but when I get home I go through bird by
bird and it's just the usual smattering. So for the experts that are
finding these things, could you shed light on it for the rest of us?
Date: 9/17/19 4:23 am From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crow Patrol: Lawrence - Crows are back!!
Greetings all,
A number of emails have arrived over last two weeks asking about the Winter Crow Roost and the return of the Crows. They're back!!
We've had young Fish Crows over the summer. These are likely one and two year old birds that, unlike the American Crows, tend not to be cooperative breeders. They hang out with each other as parents engage in the breeding cycle nearby. The Fish Crows are easy to distinguish by their vocalizations.
The American Crows have just started to return and this matches the timing of their fall return last year, and the slow build-up in numbers like last year. It is a joy to watch them stream in along numerous flight paths; then gather in a staging area, prior to converging into the final overnight communal roost.
For those with an interest, the blog has been keeping up with Crow news and Crow research during the summer months. We've been in contact with Wayne Petersen, John Marzluff, Kaeli Swift, Andrea Townsend, and Kevin McGowan. These four and many others, including Drew Vitz and Becky Harris are part of a growing group of informal advisors helping with plans for the winter season ahead.
Two articles have recently been posted on the blog. The first one is about a fascinating article in National Geographic:
Nat Geo: Crows Love Cheeseburgers!
National Geographic highlights a new research report on American Crows that has just been published in the bird journal The Condor: Ornithological Applications. The Condor is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research, syntheses, and assessments from all parts of the globe focusing on the application of scientific theory, ornithological knowledge, and methods to the conservation and management of birds and to policy.
In a study just published, Andrea Townsend and her team at Hamilton College show how urban living affects the health of American crows, including their cholesterol, and what happened to a rural population when cheeseburgers became part of their diet…..read more by visiting the winter crow roost blog and clicking the link!
The second article is about crows having fun:
Crows know how to have fun!
An article released by Peter Reull in the Harvard Gazette reports on a study about Crows that has been published in Current Biology by organismic and evolutionary biology graduate student Dakota McCoy. It is widely known that Crows are considered to be among the world’s most intelligent animals. In many recent research studies, Crows and other members of the Corvid family are known for using complex tools and may play around with tools for pleasure like we play Scrabble and take photos!
In the Science and Technology section of the the Harvard Gazette, the article “Clever crows” talks about crows and their optimistic behavior after tool use:
“It’s no secret crows are smart. They’re notorious for frustrating attempts to keep them from tearing into garbage cans; more telling, however is that they are one of the few animals know to make tools”……read the full story in the winter crow roost blog.
Date: 9/16/19 10:30 pm From: Tom Murray <tmurray74...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 2 Gull-billed Terns at Parker River NWR 9-16-19
When I first got to the salt pans a Gull-billed Tern was flying around, then later in the afternoon at Hellcat I photographed another tern that turned out to be a second Gull-billed.The first one lacked a black cap, and the second had a nice black cap.
Date: 9/16/19 9:24 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crane Beach, Ipswich, Sep 16, 2019
Crane Beach, Ipswich Sep 16, 2019 1:15 PM - 4:05 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.5 mile(s) Comments: I walked the beach to the farthest tip at the SE end (about 2.5 miles) and back. That's where the black skimmers were today, but the 2 royal terns found by Ian Pepper and others yesterday were not there. In fact, I saw zero terns the whole walk (Ian's 3 Forster's terns today had also left). The other highlight was 3 lesser black-backed gulls, prob. the most I have seen in one place in this county. 15 species (+2 other taxa)
Wild Turkey 5 female(s) and young outside the gate--1 or 2 of the young were not full-grown Semipalmated Plover 1 Piping Plover 0 I was amazed not to see any, as it's early for them all to be gone. (Ian saw 1 juv.) Sanderling 235 Most at SE end of beach in one big flock. Many juvs. Did not see any dunlins with them. Western Sandpiper 3 These peeps (the only peeps) with the sanderling flock all had long droopy bills; one still had reddish scaps. peep sp. 1 Laughing Gull 2 juvs Ring-billed Gull 240 Herring Gull 210 Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 All adults. At first I thought 5: 2 at first point half a mile down the beach (to the right from parking lot) and 3 more at SE end. But in comparing notes with Ian Pepper, I concluded that my first two had flown to the end of the beach and joined the other bird there. (And neither of us saw those 2 at the first point on our respective walks back.) Great Black-backed Gull 40 Black Skimmer 7 Up from 5 yesterday, at the end of the beach with gulls. From the sizes there were 4 males and 3 females. One of the males was sub-adult (back of neck not entirely black yet); the others were adults. Common Loon 1 Double-crested Cormorant 5 cormorant sp. 1 Great Egret 1 salt marsh outside gate Turkey Vulture 1 American Crow 1
Late Monday morning 9/16 in Uxbridge at my banding site, my assistant looked up and spotted a 1st year Golden Eagle soaring over the site - the large white patches mid wing were surrounded by brown/black as well as the blackish body made the white patches jump out - some whitish color at base of tail - this large bird's soaring profile is different than a Bald Eagle with not flat wings, head shape The bird soared around for a while before disappearing SE. Other raptors seen this morning also at the site were a pair of Sharp-shin Hawks plus a Red-Shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk
Date: 9/16/19 7:43 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 9/16/2019 Parker River NWR Blue-Headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo,,Bay-Breasted. Ringed Plover - No, Gull-Billed Tern - No, Hudsonian Godwit -,No, Black Skimmer - No, Lark Sparrow - No, Royal Tern - No
Thanks to Matt S. for the following post.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: "Matt S." <accipiter22...> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:19:53 -0400 Subject: 9/16/2019 Parker River NWR Blue-Headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-Breasted. Ringed Plover - No, Gull-Billed Tern - No, Hudsonian Godwit - No, Black Skimmer - No, Lark Sparrow - No, Royal Tern - No
Greetings,
I had rented a large lens for my camera and was using it all weekend, and decided to head up to Parker River today. I've had horrid luck over the years with pelagic / shore-birds there, but after the reports this weekend I figured I'd cross a few life-listers off, or at the very least add to my PRNWR life list....That did not happen. More on that in a moment, since I had some questions I was hoping the readers here could help me with.
The highlights were a blue-headed vireo and bay breasted that were cavorting with a couple chickadees. Chickadees always seem popular this time of year. I also had a Philadelphia vireo (now that I think of it I think that's a lifer for Parker River) that cooperated for a couple photos. I was with a couple people when we saw it at Pine Loop; if you're reading this, it's not a Tennessee, it's a Philadelphia, which personally I think is WAY rarer, even if you didn't get your lifer Tennessee.
So now for my conundrum: Where exactly are people finding the pelagics at Parker River? I've probably been there 30 times, and I've seen a total of 5 terns (not species, 5 individual birds), 1 loon, and 1 bonaparte's. I have got to be looking in the wrong spots. I tried Lot 1, looking out at the ocean today, twice, for extended periods of time. The ocean was empty; not like empty of exotic birds, just empty. No gannets, terns, skimmers, gulls, etc. I tried at a few of the lots, and again at Sandy Point. Again, the ocean was empty. That's pretty much a common theme for me. I've tried going early, going late, high tide, low-tide. Empty ocean to the horizon, nothing flying over except a cormorant or a GBB Gull. I've probably spent 60 hours at this point staring at the ocean and not seen a thing.
It's not that I'm having ID'ing stuff I'm seeing, it's that I usually don't see ANYTHING out on the water. Even today, I talked to probably 2 dozen birders, no one had seen a thing, but then I get home and check e-bird and there's a dozen lists that have a bunch of interesting shorebirds. Even with peeps, I take broad sweeping shots with my camera when I see flocks, in case I'm missing something, but when I get home I go through bird by bird and it's just the usual smattering. So for the experts that are finding these things, could you shed light on it for the rest of us?
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: None
Weather: Light NW winds all day and abundant sunshine. Scattered clouds overhead were the norm throughout the day. Great day to be on the mountain!
Raptor Observations: Our first decent numbers of Broad-winged Hawk movement finally came today. Action in the morning was very consistent until around 11am, and then high streaming 'Wings dominated the afternoon. Two kettles of 25 Broad-wings each were the largest groups observed. The decoy owl drew interest from a Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin and American Kestrel. Non-migrants: 1 Bald Eagle 30 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: 25 Common Raven
Predictions: More of the same weather: clear and dry with light winds out of the N. More of the same good migrant results are expected tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/16/19 7:18 am From: Childs, Jackson <jchilds...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pesticides and neonicotinoids
Hello,
Related to the recent discussion of spraying for EEE (which I understand is a potentially complex issue), research published a few days ago shows that neonicotinoid pesticides, which are disastrous for insect populations, are also toxic to birds. This is a good summary of much of the research to date:
I did a little searching and it appears that Massachusetts still allows neonicotinoids to be used. A recent bill on the matter, "An Act to Protect Massachusetts Pollinators" (which I'm not sure was signed into law by the governor?) apparently only limits spraying to "certified commercial applicator, certified private applicator or licensed applicator". It's unclear to me how much protection this bill offers. I confess my ignorance is such that I'm not sure the state could effectively ban the pesticide-does it have effective legal authority to do so? If it does, this seems like something that could be discussed with local representatives.
Date: 9/16/19 7:09 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gull-billedTern, Godwit - Newburyport Harbor 9/16
A quick check of the harbor on my way to work, incoming tide around 9am, produced the following highlights: 1 GULL-BILLED TERN 1 HUDSONIAN GODWIT 2 BONAPARTE's GULLS and small numbers of black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, yellowlegs and peeps.
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift 194 Route 1, Newburyport, MA 01950 <Birdwsg...> 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Tom Pirro
Visitors: Julie Brown of HMANA, Jason Forbes, Anthony and Felica Lischio, Chris Auclair, Rick Quimby, Christian Gras
Weather: Foggy and damp hike up with yesterday's precipitation, but fortunately it quickly burned off into a glorious late summer day. Winds started NW but quickly moved into a more straight W direction for most of the day. Mostly clear with some moderate cumulus/cirrus cover at times. Raptor Observations: Generally unimpressive day in terms of raptor numbers. Our biggest group of Broad-wings of the season showed up (15) but mostly we dealt with single and doubles all day long. We had plenty of eyes at Watatic for a change, but not enough birds to keep them busy. So it goes! Morning and late afternoon were dead - most of our action came between 1:30-3:30pm EDT.
Non-migrants: 4 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 20 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: 6 Common Nighthawk 35 Common Raven 1 Common Loon 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Predictions: Light NW winds, dry weather - should be nothing stopping us from beating today's results. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/15/19 6:24 pm From: newburyportbirders <newburyportbirders...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Common Nighthawks - Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Sept 15th
Birders,Around 6:00 pm this evening, my participants & I watched 4 Common Nighthawks in the campground area of SBSR.Good birding,SueSue McGrath Newburyport BirdersNewburyportSent via the Samsung Galaxy S7, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
This past Saturday 14th Drumlin Farm had a very different birding experience as we traveled to Uxbridge MA where the group visited my fall banding site for always a fascinating and educational adventure. This site is at an historic farm located along a marsh surrounded on the historic house side with mowed trails through the fields, lovely gardens, all surrounded by old forest - a stunning property which is part of the Metacomet Land Trust that's goal is to totally protect the plants,birds for future generations.I was surprised how little signs of fall migration we encountered - a flock of 40+ Chipping Sparrows that was still there and a large flock of C. Grackles flying about - balance were the summer residents for the most part.During the balance of the morning, the group walked the trail along the edge of the swamp where I had cut several net lanes into the brush edge and placed mist nets [special nets for capturing flying birds safely].As we checked the nets over the morning, we encountered various captures that=C2=A0 my team helped untangle the birds carefully from the fine mesh - a skill that comes from experience to ensure the birds safety.The captured birds were placed individually in cloth bags to bring back to the banding table by the house where one by one, we would take each bird from the bag, ID it and place an aluminum band around a leg provided by the Dept. of the Interior with a series of numbers that would be unique for that particular bird - thus if recaptured in the future, we can learn much information from all the data we provide. So in careful examination, we measure the wing cord which sometimes help separating males from the females by the length of the wing, check the wing and tail for various detailed signs of shape, age and color all helping to figure out adult birds versus immature - record all the data which we later send in to the Dept of the Interior - no brood patches in the fall - with our previous Saw-whet Owl banding, we have had several of our owls recaptured along the coast over the past several years.
So the educational part for the participants was to see the whole process from releasing the birds from the nets which varies from somewhat painful like the cardinal with that large seed eating bill clamps on your fingers [apparently not liking being caught in the net] to the captured Ovenbirds that quietly allow you to extract them.At the banding table, the folks had opportunities to see in detail the incredible pattern & colors of a Brown Creeper, it's long stiff tail, curved bill - what a stunning fascinating plumage. Likewise, we did that for each bird as we saw the intricate barring on the House Wren, the yellow feet of the Pine Warbler, the lovely olive back tones of the Ovenbirds, the short thick legs of a Downy Woodpecker versus the skinny long legs of the Chipping Sparrow, the various bill shapes from the Cardinal, Catbird, House Finch to the Creeper and warblers - an appreciation in depth to what you only see though binoculars in the field.Meanwhile while doing all this, a Pileated Woodpecker was sitting in a bare pine tree calling non-stop, a Kingfisher calling and flying around the marsh, a Cooper's Hawk & Red-s Hawk zipped by, Bluebirds sitting on the posts in the field, a Virginal Rail calling from the marsh, hummingbirds feeding on all the flowers plus several other species that we heard or saw.After the banding was completed and the birds were ready to be released, with careful instructions how to hold and release the birds, the participants got to release each bird giving them each a rare opportunity to hold these special birds, feel how light and tiny some of them were and send them back to the wild - quite an experience.In the future, I hope to do other banding programs in the spring and fall through Drumlin Farm for those interested in experiencing a morning of banding. Each day is always full of surprises & occasionally the unexpected as we have previously caught Chats, Ct. & Prothonotary Warblers, most flycatchers, etc, etc along with the common Catbirds, Chickadees, etc - today the surprise was the Brown Creeper...........
What is special for me about this farm is that my parents were close friends to the previous owners, as a child I would fish for Brook Trout in the stream plus bird at the same time - then to have this family acquire this historic property and preserve it for future generations is awesome - no condos are going to be build here.So Saturday was so special to be on this property again, share the beauty and the birds with the participants and look forward to several more banding sessions this fall, especially in early Oct. when volumes of birds are migrating through.
Date: 9/15/19 3:13 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] updates - Common Ringed Plover, Gull-billed Tern, etc
Thanks to Joe Bourget for the following updates. Barbara Volkle
Northborough,MA
<barb620...>
*
The Common Ringed Plover was present at Sandy Point throughout the day, on both the Clam flats behind Sandy Point, and the area where the Terns and Plovers nest. The Gull-billed Tern was present, seen multiple times during the day at Sandy Point, the S-curves, and the Pans. Other notable reports of birds at PR NWR: Black Skimmer appeared on the Birding Eastern MA Facebook page, a Dickcissel (found by someone, I never got their names) was on the Stage Island trail leading down to the Clam Flats, and the Hudsonian Godwit continued at the North Pool Overlook. The Townsend's Warbler was NOT seen today, as reported by Sean, Max, and Francis.
Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: John Weeks
Observers: Janice Zepko, John Weeks, Kathy Conway, Myles Conway
Visitors: Members of the Allen Bird Club (Springfield, Mass.) and the Hoffmann Bird Club (Pittsfield, Mass.) held our joint annual hawkwatch and picnic today. Also observing with us were visitors from Granby, Conn., who attended my "hawk talk" at the Granby Public Library earlier this week. Two staff members from Massachusetts Audubon brought some guests as well. Approximately three dozen persons in all.
Weather: Mostly sunny; cloud-cover never exceeded 15%. Temp 60s-70s F. Wind NW~WNW 5-10 mph, becoming W 0-5 mph late.
Raptor Observations: Largest kettles of Broad-wings: 106, 95, 66, 50 (twice). Birds were often hard to see, flying high and against blue sky. Non-migrants: Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles (3), Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawks (2), Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations: Rock Pigeons (flock of 50), Chimney Swift, Hummingbirds (4), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireos (2), Red-eyed Vireos (2), Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Ravens (2), Black-capped Chickadees (3), Tufted Titmice (2), House Wren, Cedar Waxwings (4+), Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart (m), Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroats (2), Field Sparrow. Monarchs: 18. Viceroy. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Weeks (<aerie.john...>)
Lots of action in western MA lately, I wish I had time to even keep up with it all, much less actually see most of it! Most remarkable has been an influx of American Golden-Plover, with birds found in multiple locations. The first were back on August 29, when Larry Therrien noticed two flying over the Honeypot in Hadley. Then nothing for over a week, until September 8, when Ted Gilliland noted one in an agricultural area of Hatfield. The following day, Jeff Johnstone and Bruce Kanash found a few on an island in the Quabbin; my understanding is that this island (called “Phragmites Island” in most reports) is only visible from a boat. Up to 3 have been observed there. A few days later, on the 12th, Ted noted another in flight over the Honeypot, then located a group in the Northampton East Meadows which included at least 8 individuals!. This group was seen by numerous local birders through this morning, where at least 2 were still present as of a, 11:40 eBird report by Sam Zhang. And finally, one was found yesterday at Orange Airport by Ernie LeBlanc.
The aforementioned Quabbin Phragmites island has been quite productive over the past couple of weeks, including a Snowy Egret and a Sanderling, both originally found in late August, both still present when the golden-plovers were found there on September 9. Two days after that, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper turned up there as well.
Noteworthy non-plover sightings recently include:
Yellow-breasted Chat found this morning on Orchard Hill at UMass-Amherst, by Mary McKitrick
Connecticut Warbler, found yesterday at Arcadia MAS by Larry Therrien, relocated this morning by Derek Allard
Clay-colored Sparrow, a whole week ago, September 7 in the Hadley Honeypot, also by Larry
I haven’t seen any of the above species, but did enjoy encountering Olive-sided Flycatchers on back-to-back days: Wednesday the 11th near the south end of Meadow Road in Montague, and Thursday the 12th along the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Amherst. There have been mixed-species insectivore flocks all over the place since Wednesday, which have led me to various fun sightings including at least 10 species of warblers, 3 of vireos, and a few Scarlet Tanagers. My most noteworthy waterbirds have been a Pied-billed Grebe yesterday on Lake Wyola, and a Gadwall on Barton Cove back on Tuesday; the Gadwall had been previously reported a few times back to its first detection in late August, but with all of the dabbling ducks in eclipse plumage, picking the Gadwall out of several dozen Mallards is challenging, especially if the birds are a fair distance away, in poor light, or sleeping….
Date: 9/14/19 1:51 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 9/13 Long-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper in Squantum, etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2019 17:38:20 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson<petersonpaul63...> Subject: 9/13 Long-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper in Squantum, etc.
Hi, Yesterday, there was a Long-billed Dowitcher and a Stilt Sandpiper in the salt pan that is next to the Kennedy Center. This is on East Squantum St. just a bit up from the Dunkin Donuts. Killer looks with binoculars at these two birds side-by-side just twenty-five feet away from me. They were completely oblivious to anything going on around them. They must have been very hungry.
Great Egret 14 incl. five at south end of Wollaston Beach Snowy Egret 12 incl. five at south end of Wollaston Beach Great Blue Heron 4 incl. two at Passanageset Park (Broad Meadows) accipiter sp. 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Osprey 3 incl. one at Passanageset Park (Broad Meadows) Semipalmated Sandpiper 200 mudflats Moswetuset Hummock Least Sandpiper 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 See Above Stilt Sandpiper 1 See Above Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Merlin 1 Wollaston Beach Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Squaw Rock Park Bobolink 3 Passanageset Park (Broad Meadows)
Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 3.75 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: Joe Turcotte and Linda Hunnewell
Weather: A raw SW wind was blowing strong all morning, the exact opposite direction that migrant raptors want to go in September. Complete overcast conditions - both Wachusett and Pack Monadnock faded in and out of view. A very brief shower at 9:30am EDT had me abandon the summit, and a more prolonged one had me end the watch early at 12pm EDT. We'll try it again tomorrow!
Raptor Observations: Difficult for any raptors to make headway this morning. The few birds that were up struggled to make any progress. Non-migrants: 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk
Non-raptor Observations: 7 Common Raven
Predictions: Forecast looks great - warm, partly cloudy with moderate WNW winds. A great chance to see some big numbers of migrants. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/14/19 9:24 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winter Finch forecast 2019 - 2020
Thanks to Ron Pittaway for his annual winter finch forecast. According to Jean Iron:
WINTER FINCH FORECAST 2019-2020:This is not an irruption (flight) year for winter finches in the East. Most finches will stay in the north. Please see link to this year's forecast by Ron Pittaway.
Date: 9/14/19 7:44 am From: Sean Williams <seanbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Townsend’s Warbler, Robinson Farm, Marblehead 9/14
Hello all,
A Townsend’s Warbler currently is mixed in with several other warblers at Robinson Farm in Marblehead, seen with Max Chalfin-Jacobs and Francis Morello. The location is also referred to as Jermyn Farm. It was seen in a willow from the boardwalk along the Jermyn Trail at this location- https://goo.gl/maps/XGYXZrzZsGXxBskm9
It’s moving around a bit, but it’s a small area, so focus on finding the flock. Parking is along the end of Byors Rd in Marblehead. More details and photographs will be posted later to eBird.
Good birding, Sean Williams Westboro, MA <seanbirder...>
Date: 9/14/19 7:06 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] resign
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Date: 9/14/19 7:04 am From: Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Common Ringed Plover - Friday at Plum Island.
Dear MassBirders,
Cross-posting this to Massbird.
Looks like there was an adult Common Ringed Plover at Plum Island yesterday morning. See eBird report with photos from Suzanne Sullivan:
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) (1)
- Reported Sep 13, 2019 06:30 by Suzanne Sullivan
- Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.7639008,-70.8022995&ll=42.7639008,-70.8022995 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59782584 - Media: 6 Photos
- Comments: "This one unlike the one a few weeks ago is a pretty typical adult for this time of year, likely male. Nice face mask! Note the way the white flares under the eye and over the eye. 1/3 of bill black, head shape more “peaked” not as flat. Note the grayish new feathers coming in too. This is a real cutie. I did a much better job with this one and was able to get good feet shots!"
Date: 9/14/19 6:26 am From: Bob & Bonnie Buxton <bbxt...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Female Ruby-throated today in Merrimac
I'm watching a female (or young?) Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder this morning and it has been present for the last few days. Keep those feeders fresh and ready folks! Bonnie BuxtonMerrimac, MAbbxt(AT)comcast.net
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Ann Howe, Bessie Liu, Chris Eddy, Colleen Tank, Darryl Tureq, Jack Miano, Jon Jones, Kathy Olson, Marcus Rhodes, Mark Milnamow, Marty McNamara, Matt Bollus, Meghan Gately, Paul Roberts, Phil Brown, Steve Farrell
Visitors: Also assisting in the count: JoAnne Hart and Christine Restell. Many visitors for a Friday. Did meet newcomer Rachael Steinberg who is psyched to learn about raptors. Also spoke with Martha Gach for advice about a trip with a small group of 10-12 yr. olds tomorrow.
Weather: Wind speed approx. 5-8 mph all morning then 0-5 thru 3 pm, 0-3 mph in last 1.5 hrs. Direction drifted from NE to ENE in the morning and was basically from E all afternoon. Temp rose from 47 to 55F; one funny blip was a drop from 48 to 46 as a minor cool front blew by (or down?) before 11 am but was quickly erased within half an hour. Cloud cover of 20% at the start quickly grew to 75% by 11 am; it remained there until 2pm before declining in the last hour to 65%. Visibility 15 miles in morning and 30 mi. thru the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Migration started at 8am was fairly active thru noon; at that hour we had totaled 120. Unfortunately ... the 4.5 hour afternoon only brought us 8 more birds. Was the reduction due to no "N" in our wind direction or what?! We had plenty of eyes on the hill today! Our double-digit migrants were the BWs 62; SSs 22; AKs at 10.
non-migrating raptors: TV: kettle of 19 - but suspect we saw many more that "missed the convention." RT: 6; BEs: 2 imm, 2 adult.
Non-raptor Observations: Monarchs ran 3-5/hr. all day except for 21 between 11am and noon. Total was 53 for the day.
Common Ravens (17, maybe?) were very feisty in their play with raptors today; also with each other, of course. RT Hummingbird, 6 Cormorants, 1 distant gull, Phoebes, Juncos, Tree Swallow.
Predictions: Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precip. 30%. (Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 7 to 9 mph.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Ann Howe, Bessie Liu, Chris Eddy, Colleen Tank, Darryl Tureq, Jack Miano, Jon Jones, Kathy Olson, Marcus Rhodes, Mark Milnamow, Marty McNamara, Matt Bollus, Meghan Gately, Paul Roberts, Phil Brown, Steve Farrell
Visitors: Also assisting in the count: JoAnne Hart and Christine Restell. Many visitors for a Friday. Did meet newcomer Rachael Steinberg who is psyched to learn about raptors. Also spoke with Martha Gach for advice about a trip with a small group of 10-12 yr. olds tomorrow.
Weather: Wind speed approx. 5-8 mph all morning then 0-5 thru 3 pm, 0-3 mph in last 1.5 hrs. Direction drifted from NE to ENE in the morning and was basically from E all afternoon. Temp rose from 47 to 55F; one funny blip was a drop from 48 to 46 as a minor cool front blew by (or down?) before 11 am but was quickly erased within half an hour. Cloud cover of 20% at the start quickly grew to 75% by 11 am; it remained there until 2pm before declining in the last hour to 65%. Visibility 15 miles in morning and 30 mi. thru the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Migration started at 8am was fairly active thru noon; at that hour we had totaled 120. Unfortunately ... the 4.5 hour afternoon only brought us 8 more birds. Was the reduction due to no "N" in our wind direction or what?! We had plenty of eyes on the hill today! Our double-digit migrants were the BWs 62; SSs 22; AKs at 10.
non-migrating raptors: TV: kettle of 19 - but suspect we saw many more that "missed the convention." RT: 6; BEs: 2 imm, 2 adult.
Non-raptor Observations: Monarchs ran 3-5/hr. all day except for 21 between 11am and noon. Total was 53 for the day.
Common Ravens (17, maybe?) were very feisty in their play with raptors today; also with each other, of course. RT Hummingbird, 6 Cormorants, 1 distant gull, Phoebes, Juncos, Tree Swallow.
Predictions: Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precip. 30%. (Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 7 to 9 mph.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
<b>Wachusett Mountain</b><br>Princeton, Massachusetts, USA<br><br><table border=1><tr><td colspan=4 bgcolor=c0c0e0><b>Daily Raptor Counts: </b>Sep 13, 2019</td></tr><tr><td><b><font color=2020c0>Species</font></b></td><td><font color=2020c0>Day's Count</font></td><td><font color=2020c0>Month Total</font></td><td><font color=2020c0>Season Total</font></td></tr><tr><td>Black Vulture</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>1</td><td align=right>1</td></tr> <tr><td>Turkey Vulture</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Osprey</td><td align=right>7</td><td align=right>37</td><td align=right>41</td></tr> <tr><td>Bald Eagle</td><td align=right>6</td><td align=right>15</td><td align=right>25</td></tr> <tr><td>Northern Harrier</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Sharp-shinned Hawk</td><td align=right>22</td><td align=right>40</td><td align=right>50</td></tr> <tr><td>Cooper's Hawk</td><td align=right>6</td><td align=right>17</td><td align=right>23</td></tr> <tr><td>Northern Goshawk</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Red-shouldered Hawk</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Broad-winged Hawk</td><td align=right>62</td><td align=right>239</td><td align=right>296</td></tr> <tr><td>Red-tailed Hawk</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>1</td></tr> <tr><td>Rough-legged Hawk</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Golden Eagle</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>American Kestrel</td><td align=right>10</td><td align=right>18</td><td align=right>21</td></tr> <tr><td>Merlin</td><td align=right>8</td><td align=right>12</td><td align=right>14</td></tr> <tr><td>Peregrine Falcon</td><td align=right>1</td><td align=right>6</td><td align=right>6</td></tr> <tr><td>Unknown Accipiter</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>2</td><td align=right>2</td></tr> <tr><td>Unknown Buteo</td><td align=right>1</td><td align=right>3</td><td align=right>3</td></tr> <tr><td>Unknown Falcon</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Unknown Eagle</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td><td align=right>0</td></tr> <tr><td>Unknown Raptor</td><td align=right>5</td><td align=right>15</td><td align=right>16</td></tr> <tr><td><b><font color=c02020>Total:</font></b></td><td align=right><font color=c02020>128</font></td><td align=right><font color=c02020>405</font></td><td align=right><font color=c02020>499</font></td></tr></table><br><br><table cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2><tr><td>Observation start time: </td><td>08:00:00 </td></tr><tr><Td>Observation end time: </td><Td>16:30:00 </td></tr><tr><td>Total observation time: </td><td>8.5 hours</td></tr><tr><td>Official Counter</td><td>Rod Chase</td></tr><tr><td>Observers: </td><td>Ann Howe, Bessie Liu, Chris Eddy, Colleen Tank, Darryl Tureq, Jack Miano, Jon Jones, Kathy Olson, Marcus Rhodes, Mark Milnamow, Marty McNamara, Matt Bollus, Meghan Gately, Paul Roberts, Phil Brown, Steve Farrell</td></tr></table><br><br><br><b>Visitors:</b><br>Also assisting in the count: JoAnne Hart and Christine Restell. Many visitors for a Friday. Did meet newcomer Rachael Steinberg who is psyched to learn about raptors. Also spoke with Martha Gach for advice about a trip with a small group of 10-12 yr. olds tomorrow.<br><br><b>Weather:</b><br> Wind speed approx. 5-8 mph all morning then 0-5 thru 3 pm, 0-3 mph in last 1.5 hrs. Direction drifted from NE to ENE in the morning and was basically from E all afternoon. Temp rose from 47 to 55F; one funny blip was a drop from 48 to 46 as a minor cool front blew by (or down?) before 11 am but was quickly erased within half an hour. Cloud cover of 20% at the start quickly grew to 75% by 11 am; it remained there until 2pm before declining in the last hour to 65%. Visibility 15 miles in morning and 30 mi. thru the afternoon.<br><br><b>Raptor Observations:</b><br> Migration started at 8am was fairly active thru noon; at that hour we had totaled 120. Unfortunately ... the 4.5 hour afternoon only brought us 8 more birds. Was the reduction due to no "N" in our wind direction or what?! We had plenty of eyes on the hill today! Our double-digit migrants were the BWs 62; SSs 22; AKs at 10.
non-migrating raptors: TV: kettle of 19 - but suspect we saw many more that "missed the convention." RT: 6; BEs: 2 imm, 2 adult.<br><br><b>Non-raptor Observations:</b><br>Monarchs ran 3-5/hr. all day except for 21 between 11am and noon. Total was 53 for the day.
Common Ravens (17, maybe?) were very feisty in their play with raptors today; also with each other, of course. RT Hummingbird, 6 Cormorants, 1 distant gull, Phoebes, Juncos, Tree Swallow.<br><br><b>Predictions:</b><br>Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precip. 30%. (Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 7 to 9 mph.)
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: None
Weather: Brilliantly clear in the morning, scattered cumulus building and then receding by the end of the day. Temps brisk and a bit cooler than brisk when the sun hid behind a cloud. Winds started strong NE and shifted to lighter SE by the end of the day. Raptor Observations: This day will be memorable for me as the site set what I believe to be a single day record for Bald Eagle migrants with 21 (previous single day was 13). A remarkable showing consisting mainly of juvenile and immature birds made several naked-eye passes over the summit, exciting even the most casual of observers today.
Otherwise, a wide variety of species made up for a relatively unimpressive number of Broad-wings. The action was furious early with a trio of Cooper's Hawks coming in close, harassing the local ravens and the decoy owl. I saw my first Broad-wings floating over the east summit before I had even taken my pack off this morning, so the conditions seemed ripe early. Our first Northern Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, and Peregrine Falcon of the year were all counted. Winds moved SE around 2pm EDT and the flight seemed to die off concurrently. The decoy owl survived close calls from 2 Merlin and 2 American Kestrels (and also fooled a pack of Ravens).
Predictions: Cloudy and cool with SW winds. Earlier looks better than later. The Broad-wing peak window remains open but TBD how the birds respond to these conditions. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/13/19 2:13 pm From: Leslie Miller <lmiller...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Exceptional Savings at Mass Audubon's Optics Fair Saturday Sept 21, 2019, 10:00am-3:30pm
We'd like to invite everyone to the Mass Audubon Shop's Optics Fair on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Representatives from many of our vendors will be here to answer questions and show optics. We carry Zeiss, Swarovski, Kowa, Pentax, Opticron, and Nikon, plus Manfrotto and Vanguard Tripods. Mass Audubon members will receive a 20% discount on binoculars and spotting scopes, plus great discounts and rebates on tripods. New members can join that day at the special introductory membership price of $32. The Audubon Shop is located on Route 117 at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, MA 01773. Please call 781-259-2214 for more information. All Shop purchases help support Mass Audubon and its conservation and education efforts.
Hope to see you at the Optics Fair on Saturday, September 21st!
Best regards, Leslie Miller Mass Audubon Audubon Shop 208 South Great Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781-259-2211
This AM had an OS Flycatcher where the Swift River intersects Fay Rd. Perched at the tip of a dead pine for several minutes then flew off to the west. Also had 8 species of hawks at the Orange Airport including 2 Bald Eagles, a Merlin (harassed a few crows then decided to be really bold and harassed the imm. Eagle for a while) and a very vocal and active Red-shouldered Hawk. Might have been a good day at the hawk watching sites.
Date: 9/13/19 10:51 am From: marj <marj...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Daily Field Card
Actually Mass Audubon is working on a new field card right now. In addition to changes in taxonomy we need to consider changes in distribution that will affect the list, but we are targeting having it available in a few months time.
> On September 13, 2019 at 11:59 AM Deb Drexler <debdrex...> wrote:
>
> This daily field card is wonderful. Maybe you can find similar info on Ebird, but not as easily or efficiently. Is there any way to prevail upon Mass Audubon to produce these again?
>
> Deb Drexler
>
> On Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 10:24 AM Soheil Zendeh < <sohzendeh...> mailto:<sohzendeh...> > wrote:
>
> > >
> > There is a very useful tool that MassAudubon used to publish but is no longer in print. It’s called the Massachusetts Daily Field Card which I have posted here:
> >
> > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SLQI18c5Y3B1JYu3-9QN01-79XAm4lKc/view?usp=sharing > >
> >
> > >
Date: 9/13/19 9:38 am From: Linda <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: Upland And pectoral SP Bill Forward Blind - update
Mea culpa - type 1 error - not Upland SP rather juvenile Golden Plover.
Linda
Sent from my iPhone
Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA <Tattler1...>
> On Sep 13, 2019, at 12:25 PM, Linda <tattler1...> wrote: > > Two Upland SP and a Pectoral and 5 White rumps being seen now at Bill Forward Blind at Parker River NWR. > > Linda > > Sent from my iPhone > > Linda Ferraresso > Salem, MA > <Tattler1...>
Date: 9/13/19 9:08 am From: Deb Drexler <debdrex...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow- Parker River NWR
This daily field card is wonderful. Maybe you can find similar info on
Ebird, but not as easily or efficiently. Is there any way to prevail upon
Mass Audubon to produce these again?
Deb Drexler
On Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 10:24 AM Soheil Zendeh <sohzendeh...> wrote:
> Donna, Dr Joshua’s explanation is right on the money. Lark Sparrow is a
> common breeder in the Midwest and locations further west, wanders rarely
> but regularly east to Massachusetts and other east coast locations in the
> fall.
>
>
>
> There is a very useful tool that MassAudubon used to publish but is no
> longer in print. It’s called the Massachusetts Daily Field Card which I
> have posted here:
>
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SLQI18c5Y3B1JYu3-9QN01-79XAm4lKc/view?usp=sharing >
>
>
> It does not exactly point out the rarity of Lark Sparrow but you can see
> by the symbols 8C – 10C that one could expect it here between the 3rd week
> of August and the 3rd week of October. Other simple shortcuts (bold,
> italic, asterisk etc) give a quick summary of a bird’s occurrences in the
> state. Of course you must keep in mind that as the years advance these
> abundances and occurrences can change. And the list does not distinguish
> among the various types of habitats or geographic variations in the state.
> It’s just a good basic guide for what to expect and when.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Soheil Zendeh*
>
> *Lexington, MA 02421*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* <massbird-approval...> [mailto:
> <massbird-approval...>] *On Behalf Of *Josh
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 12, 2019 7:51 PM
> *To:* Massbird
> *Subject:* Re: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow- Parker River NWR
>
>
>
> Hi Donna - it can be described as mildly unusual; a species that is not
> seen every day, doesn’t breed in the state nor migrate through in any
> appreciable numbers, but a few show up here every year. It occurs regularly
> enough that the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC) doesn’t
> include it on the state “Review List” of species for which they like to
> receive reports with documentation, for inclusion in their records. But
> it’s rare enough that one can actually count how many show up in the state
> per year; eBird shows 9 of them so far in 2019, including the one reported
> on Plum Island recently.
>
>
>
> (Sadly, for those of us who live in the non-eastern parts of the state,
> the vast majority of them show up along the coast, including 8 of the 9
> this year; there hasn’t been one west of the Quabbin since 2014, and only 5
> since 2000, as far as I can tell….)
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Josh
>
>
>
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
>
>
>
> Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club
>
> https://hampshirebirdclub.org/ >
>
>
> Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
>
> https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa >
>
>
> http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 >
> https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
>
> On Sep 12, 2019, at 3:25 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Is this an unusual sighting for New England? Full disclosure I'm a
> 'newbie' bird watcher.
>
> Donna, Townsend
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/13/19 7:53 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] morning heron madness
Thanks to Alice Morgan for the following.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2019 08:11:25 -0400 Subject: morning heron madness
The tide was high when I looked out at about 7:15. I counted 6 YCNH (one adult, the rest juveniles) 3 GBHEs 3 AMCR, and masses of gulls -- at least some were Laughing Gulls. There were numerous DC Cormorants in the deeper water areas. Pretty much everything was gone 20 minutes later.
-- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA
Date: 9/13/19 7:19 am From: Soheil Zendeh <sohzendeh...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow- Parker River NWR
Donna, Dr Joshua’s explanation is right on the money. Lark Sparrow is a common breeder in the Midwest and locations further west, wanders rarely but regularly east to Massachusetts and other east coast locations in the fall.
There is a very useful tool that MassAudubon used to publish but is no longer in print. It’s called the Massachusetts Daily Field Card which I have posted here:
It does not exactly point out the rarity of Lark Sparrow but you can see by the symbols 8C – 10C that one could expect it here between the 3rd week of August and the 3rd week of October. Other simple shortcuts (bold, italic, asterisk etc) give a quick summary of a bird’s occurrences in the state. Of course you must keep in mind that as the years advance these abundances and occurrences can change. And the list does not distinguish among the various types of habitats or geographic variations in the state. It’s just a good basic guide for what to expect and when.
Soheil Zendeh
Lexington, MA 02421
From: <massbird-approval...> [mailto:<massbird-approval...>] On Behalf Of Josh
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2019 7:51 PM
To: Massbird
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow- Parker River NWR
Hi Donna - it can be described as mildly unusual; a species that is not seen every day, doesn’t breed in the state nor migrate through in any appreciable numbers, but a few show up here every year. It occurs regularly enough that the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC) doesn’t include it on the state “Review List” of species for which they like to receive reports with documentation, for inclusion in their records. But it’s rare enough that one can actually count how many show up in the state per year; eBird shows 9 of them so far in 2019, including the one reported on Plum Island recently.
(Sadly, for those of us who live in the non-eastern parts of the state, the vast majority of them show up along the coast, including 8 of the 9 this year; there hasn’t been one west of the Quabbin since 2014, and only 5 since 2000, as far as I can tell….)
Date: 9/13/19 5:18 am From: Andy Sanford <asanford2000...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lark sparrow marblehead neck
Lark sparrow, along with a pair of cape mays, just seen at the “little private beach” ebird hotspot on marblehead neck (around 232 ocean ave I think). Lark was feeding on sidewalk along beach but was driven off by a careless landscaper. Probably still around as seemed very tame.
Date: 9/13/19 3:06 am From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Buff breasted Sandpiper
I was not expecting to see a Buff breasted sandpiper last Monday night at Winthrop Beach and didn't even know what it was. It flew in with the other peeps - about 8 to 10 semi SPs and PLs, Sanderlings and Western(s). I watched it fly in through my bins and immediately knew I'd never seen this bird and thought how beautiful it was, larger than the other peeps with that buffy, almost lemony orange underside that fairly glowed in the sunset light. It brought MODO to mind. But I was focused on properly IDing my first Western SP. I was pretty sure I had it but the bird was being coy and making me laugh when, after seeing its diagnostic long, slightly droopy bill through my bins, I'd then raise my camera and it would quickly tuck its bill in. I finally got decent photos. Got other nice looks and photos of the Buff breasted but had that original problem of not knowing what it was! Ebird came to the rescue - when I hit "rarities" to bring up the Western, the Buff breasted popped up as choice beside it and, clicking the image, I realized I had my bird. (Incidentally, ebird's algorithm has the Baird's SP, which I saw there Wednesday evening, as being rarer than those two, being seen with less than 10% frequency at that location.) So it was nice to go out hoping for one bird, see it, and then see an unexpected bonus bird.
Hi Donna - it can be described as mildly unusual; a species that is not seen every day, doesn’t breed in the state nor migrate through in any appreciable numbers, but a few show up here every year. It occurs regularly enough that the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC) doesn’t include it on the state “Review List” of species for which they like to receive reports with documentation, for inclusion in their records. But it’s rare enough that one can actually count how many show up in the state per year; eBird shows 9 of them so far in 2019, including the one reported on Plum Island recently.
(Sadly, for those of us who live in the non-eastern parts of the state, the vast majority of them show up along the coast, including 8 of the 9 this year; there hasn’t been one west of the Quabbin since 2014, and only 5 since 2000, as far as I can tell….)
> On Sep 12, 2019, at 3:25 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
>
> Is this an unusual sighting for New England? Full disclosure I'm a 'newbie' bird watcher.
> Donna, Townsend
>
>
Date: 9/12/19 4:34 pm From: Nick Tepper <nicholastepper6739...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gull-billed and Royal Terns continue- North End Plum Island
Hi all,
After searching for the Royal Tern at Parker River for about 4 hrs, I had almost given up but decided to scope lot 1 on the way out. I scoped a sandbar north of the refuge, and saw a distant blur of what I thought might be a big tern, and decided to make haste north to get a better look before I lost all light.
Long story short, I ran/ trotted/ jogged up to the cut of beach in between 23rd St. and 25th St. Newbury, and was rewarded with nice scope views of the tern on the sandbar which was indeed Royal. I walked north to get a bit closer and when I got back in the scope the Royal was taking off north. While following the bird, another large tern took its place in my scope, Gull-billed. I cursed so loud a beach-jogger scoffed. The bird landed on the bar for 5 min before taking off towards the north end as did the Royal.
Date: 9/12/19 9:43 am From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Tuesdays mini-pelagic.
Massbirders,
Capt. Kenny Eldredge and I took a group of 6 birders and photographers out east of Chatham looking for birds and marine life this past Tuesday, 9/10. We had all four species of shearwaters around the boat with good numbers of manx, a single parasitic jaeger and large numbers of roseate terns. Juvenile laughing gulls were the dominant species around the boat. Wilsons storm petrels were also well represented, despite the late date. One never knows what to expect on the open sea, whether common or not so common. Something unexpected besides the 5-6 Ocean Sunfish and 3 species of great whales, was a tight flock of 35 Manx Shearwaters flying low over a raft of 125 swimming roseate terns, something you don’t see every day. Welcome to the North Atlantic! Fall is full of surprises. E-bird list is below.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Peter Trull
Brewster
<petrull...>
www.petertrull.org
US-North Atlantic Ocean (41.6917,-69.7992), Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
Sep 10, 2019 10:12 AM - 2:12 PM
Protocol: Traveling
16.0 mile(s)
18 species
American Oystercatcher 2
Black-bellied Plover 5
Whimbrel 4
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Laughing Gull 300
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 60
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Roseate Tern 160 Rafts of swimming/resting terns were 95% ROTE
Common Tern 60
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 190 Over 100 individuals came in to a skate liver slick. I counted the total.
Cory's Shearwater 1
Great Shearwater 145
Sooty Shearwater 45
Manx Shearwater 50 1 flock of 35
Northern Gannet 16
Double-crested Cormorant 90
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Paul Roberts
Observers: Bill LaFleche, Bob Secatore, John Cannizzo, Marty McNamara, Will Martens
Visitors: Contributing to the count were Polly Baylies, Marty McNamara and Daryl Turek.
Weather: A low cloud ceiling shrouded the top of the mountain in dense fog for the first two hours, limiting visibility to a hundred feet or so. Visibility gradually improved for the next few hours, but a fairly heavy mist covered pretty everything below in all directions, making finding the few birds that did show up difficult to see. Winds were steady WSW throughout the day with no real chance for thermals to develop, pretty much assuring allow count.
Raptor Observations: Locals included 10 Turley Vultures and 2 Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations: Nonraptors included 2 Common Nighthawks, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 8 Chimney swifts, 1 Eastern Phoebe and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Paul Roberts (<phawk254...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/12/19 7:48 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] EEE spraying
btw, I was just saying to my husband last night some of the mosquitos look
different than what we usually see.
The mosquitos I was seeing last night had stripes -- I just looked up what
Josh mentioned 'Asian species'.
I'm pretty confident that's what I saw.
Donna, Townsend
On Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 6:52 PM Josh <opihi...> wrote:
> Donna and MassBirders,
>
> Bt only works if you can find every single place where the mosquitoes are
> breeding, and infuse them all with the spores. EEE is, unfortunately, not
> spread to a great degree by the mosquito species which breed in large,
> cohesive wetlands. The mosquitoes most responsible for infecting humans
> with EEE (also West Nile) are invasive exotic Asian species that breed in
> very small water deposits. In nature, they mostly use tree holes; in
> developed areas, they breed in clogged gutters, poorly maintained bird
> baths, discarded tires, plant saucers under flowerpots, puddles on top of
> tarps or pool covers, basically anywhere that rain water accumulates and
> remains for longer than a couple of days. Little pockets of stagnant water
> like this are so massively abundant in populated areas that it’s basically
> impossible to find them all, making Bt use impractical for this purpose.
> Hence, the wide-area aerial spraying, so that the poison in the spray can
> reach as many of the zillions of little pockets of stagnant water as
> possible….
>
> JSR
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
>
> Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club
> https://hampshirebirdclub.org/ >
> Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
> https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa >
> http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 > https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
> On Sep 11, 2019, at 2:49 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
>
> Just thinking 'out loud' here..... I wonder if the mosquito dunk product
> (or something similar) could be used as an alternative to aerial spraying?
> excerpt from Summit site:
> "Bti is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils.
> (Bti is short for *Bacillus thuringiensis* subspecies *israelensis*.) It
> contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only
> affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat.
> EPA has registered five different strains of Bti found in 48 pesticide
> products that are approved for use in residential, commercial and
> agricultural settings primarily for control of mosquito larvae."
>
> Donna, Townsend
>
>
>
Date: 9/12/19 7:47 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] EEE spraying
Josh,
Thank you for the explanation :) I learn something new everyday from
this group.
Donna, Townsend
On Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 6:52 PM Josh <opihi...> wrote:
> Donna and MassBirders,
>
> Bt only works if you can find every single place where the mosquitoes are
> breeding, and infuse them all with the spores. EEE is, unfortunately, not
> spread to a great degree by the mosquito species which breed in large,
> cohesive wetlands. The mosquitoes most responsible for infecting humans
> with EEE (also West Nile) are invasive exotic Asian species that breed in
> very small water deposits. In nature, they mostly use tree holes; in
> developed areas, they breed in clogged gutters, poorly maintained bird
> baths, discarded tires, plant saucers under flowerpots, puddles on top of
> tarps or pool covers, basically anywhere that rain water accumulates and
> remains for longer than a couple of days. Little pockets of stagnant water
> like this are so massively abundant in populated areas that it’s basically
> impossible to find them all, making Bt use impractical for this purpose.
> Hence, the wide-area aerial spraying, so that the poison in the spray can
> reach as many of the zillions of little pockets of stagnant water as
> possible….
>
> JSR
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
>
> Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club
> https://hampshirebirdclub.org/ >
> Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
> https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa >
> http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 > https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
> On Sep 11, 2019, at 2:49 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
>
> Just thinking 'out loud' here..... I wonder if the mosquito dunk product
> (or something similar) could be used as an alternative to aerial spraying?
> excerpt from Summit site:
> "Bti is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils.
> (Bti is short for *Bacillus thuringiensis* subspecies *israelensis*.) It
> contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only
> affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat.
> EPA has registered five different strains of Bti found in 48 pesticide
> products that are approved for use in residential, commercial and
> agricultural settings primarily for control of mosquito larvae."
>
> Donna, Townsend
>
>
>
Thanks Josh-
So, what are the facts. Effective or not, does Bti target only mosquito/black fly larva? Or is it more wide spectrum, effecting other aquatic invertebrates?
Pam
On Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 06:46:57 PM EDT, Josh <opihi...> wrote:
Donna and MassBirders,
Bt only works if you can find every single place where the mosquitoes are breeding, and infuse them all with the spores. EEE is, unfortunately, not spread to a great degree by the mosquito species which breed in large, cohesive wetlands. The mosquitoes most responsible for infecting humans with EEE (also West Nile) are invasive exotic Asian species that breed in very small water deposits. In nature, they mostly use tree holes; in developed areas, they breed in clogged gutters, poorly maintained bird baths, discarded tires, plant saucers under flowerpots, puddles on top of tarps or pool covers, basically anywhere that rain water accumulates and remains for longer than a couple of days. Little pockets of stagnant water like this are so massively abundant in populated areas that it’s basically impossible to find them all, making Bt use impractical for this purpose. Hence, the wide-area aerial spraying, so that the poison in the spray can reach as many of the zillions of little pockets of stagnant water as possible….
JSR
Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
Amherst, MA
Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Clubhttps://hampshirebirdclub.org/
Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americashttps://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa
http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399https://www.facebook.com/opihi
On Sep 11, 2019, at 2:49 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
Just thinking 'out loud' here..... I wonder if the mosquito dunk product (or something similar) could be used as an alternative to aerial spraying? excerpt from Summit site:
"Bti is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils. (Bti is short for Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis.) It contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat. EPA has registered five different strains of Bti found in 48 pesticide products that are approved for use in residential, commercial and agricultural settings primarily for control of mosquito larvae."
Donna, Townsend
What I am reading is organisms which feed on insects will be seriously affected as food becomes scarce. Starvation is possible especially among those which are migrating through needing to find food quickly to refuel.
Here's a downward spiral: the spray does not get to the mosquitos its intended to kill. What it does is kill the insects which feed on mosquito larva (dragonflies) which limits mosquitos. This means more mosquitos in years to come as a breeding cycle is missing on the predator. If I understand the dragonfly cycle they live a few years as nymphs (?) feeding on larva in the water column. Don't know if the spraying gets to the dragonfly larva as it does not get to the specific mosquito larva of the species which begin the EEE cycle. They are in pockets of water under tree roots and the like, in swampy areas. They "feed" on birds which are the vector of the EEE virus. It does not affect the bird. Now two things have to happen which is very unusual; the mosquito has to live long enough to require a second blood meal for breeding and it has to feed on a mammal, not a bird. That might be a simplification, but I think that is the cycle of EEE. This is why there are no cases early in the summer.
The South Shore Bird Club is holding their annual Round up on Sept 21. I expect low numbers of species and individuals of "common" species.
We'll see.
If you are interested in participating in this count you can check out the South Shore Bird Club website or contact me.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On September 11, 2019 at 1:14 PM Jude Griffin <judegriffin...> wrote:
>
> Anvil degrades rapidly under ideal conditions (direct sunlight). Less than ideal conditions means it persists in the environment.
>
> It is fatal to terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. It is diluted, not rendered useless, by rain (more water). Cover your small ponds (like, koi-sized). Some people cover their flowers with cheesecloth-type material to protect sleeping insects.
>
> We have two ponds on our property: one large and open (10 acres), the other small and tree-lined, maybe 1/8 acre. The sunny day after spraying, the large pond had a single dragonfly when it usually had 30+ in just the small area where I stand, the smaller pond had notably more activity. Bumble and hummer numbers were normal, non-native ladybugs totally absent, no sightings again of the two species of ground-dwelling digger wasps, no monarchs, not one butterfly, as before. No swallows. Non-native oleander aphids, as active and numerous as before. Not one firefly: I expected them to survive among the high wet grass.
>
> Other anecdotal reports from Plymouth County mentioned large crashes in dragonfly numbers and diversity.
>
> All anecdotal. To my knowledge, no one is tracking this.
>
> Jude Griffin
> Sutton, MA
> <judegriffin...> mailto:<judegriffin...> >
> On Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 11:08 PM Melissa Aldrich < <melcaldrich...> mailto:<melcaldrich...> > wrote:
>
> > > The product they are spraying, in Worcester County, is Anvil 10/10. It degrades after a day and is rendered useless(?) by rain.
> >
> > It targets mosquito larvae, however, it will also kill, dragonflies and beetles. Dragonflies:
> > one of the best mosquito predators.
> >
> > The Oxford fire department and made an all call to my home instructing me to "close windows, cover koi ponds and keep pets indoors".
> >
> > Monitoring of all species should be required during these events.
> >
> > Melissa Aldrich
> >
> > 413-219-2417
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 9:12 PM GLENN D'ENTREMONT < <gdentremont1...> mailto:<gdentremont1...> > wrote:
> >
> > > > >
> > > Any one in these spray areas-could you take a notice tomorrow/the next day on the numbers of chickadees you encounter and compare with last week? I expect the number to plummet (OK, lower than last week). I have noticed this anecdotally when spraying in other years. If they drop extrapolate that to all species in the area.
> > >
> > >
> > > Glenn
> > >
> > >
> > > Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> mailto:<gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> > >
> > > > > > > On September 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM Jonathan Jones < <brewbird...> mailto:<brewbird...> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi folks,
> > > >
> > > > Apparently they are doing more mosquito spraying in new areas starting tonight.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > > > > https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts#-september-2019-aerial-spraying-information > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > They don’t explicitly list Wrentham, but half the town appears in the spray map, including where we live.
> > > >
> > > > Do I need to do anything special with regards to bird seed, suet, or hummingbird feeders?
> > > >
> > > > Sincerely,
> > > > Jonathan Jones
> > > > Wrentham, MA
> > > >
> > > > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > >
> > >
Bt only works if you can find every single place where the mosquitoes are breeding, and infuse them all with the spores. EEE is, unfortunately, not spread to a great degree by the mosquito species which breed in large, cohesive wetlands. The mosquitoes most responsible for infecting humans with EEE (also West Nile) are invasive exotic Asian species that breed in very small water deposits. In nature, they mostly use tree holes; in developed areas, they breed in clogged gutters, poorly maintained bird baths, discarded tires, plant saucers under flowerpots, puddles on top of tarps or pool covers, basically anywhere that rain water accumulates and remains for longer than a couple of days. Little pockets of stagnant water like this are so massively abundant in populated areas that it’s basically impossible to find them all, making Bt use impractical for this purpose. Hence, the wide-area aerial spraying, so that the poison in the spray can reach as many of the zillions of little pockets of stagnant water as possible….
> On Sep 11, 2019, at 2:49 PM, Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> wrote:
>
> Just thinking 'out loud' here..... I wonder if the mosquito dunk product (or something similar) could be used as an alternative to aerial spraying?
> excerpt from Summit site:
> "Bti is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils. (Bti is short for Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis.) It contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat.
> EPA has registered five different strains of Bti found in 48 pesticide products that are approved for use in residential, commercial and agricultural settings primarily for control of mosquito larvae."
>
> Donna, Townsend
>
Baird's Sandpiper continues in the wrack directly across from middle 'sister', Winthrop Beach. As of 5:25pm, 9/11
-Mike Mulqueen
On Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 5:22 PM Sebastian Jones <sebastianojones...> wrote:
> Hi Massbirders, > The Baird's found earlier today at Winthrop Beach/Five Sisters by Robert > Jilek is still around as of 5 p.m., though a Peregrine just shuffled the > deck and I'm attempting to relocate the bird. No sign of the Buff-breasted > Sandpiper photographed yesterday evening by Laura Markley, nor the Lesser > Black-backed Gull Soheil and I saw earlier this morning. > > Best, > Sebastian Jones > Jamaica Plain, MA > > Sent from my mobile. >
That is a terrifying climax to your observations. These people are out there taking our tax money, enriching chemical and pesticide companies and killing our fellow creaturess on the planet. And no one is watching except us…
Soheil Zendeh
Lexington, MA 02421
From: <massbird-approval...> [mailto:<massbird-approval...>] On Behalf Of Jude Griffin
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 1:14 PM
To: MassBird
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] EEE spraying
Anvil degrades rapidly under ideal conditions (direct sunlight). Less than ideal conditions means it persists in the environment.
It is fatal to terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. It is diluted, not rendered useless, by rain (more water). Cover your small ponds (like, koi-sized). Some people cover their flowers with cheesecloth-type material to protect sleeping insects.
We have two ponds on our property: one large and open (10 acres), the other small and tree-lined, maybe 1/8 acre. The sunny day after spraying, the large pond had a single dragonfly when it usually had 30+ in just the small area where I stand, the smaller pond had notably more activity. Bumble and hummer numbers were normal, non-native ladybugs totally absent, no sightings again of the two species of ground-dwelling digger wasps, no monarchs, not one butterfly, as before. No swallows. Non-native oleander aphids, as active and numerous as before. Not one firefly: I expected them to survive among the high wet grass.
Other anecdotal reports from Plymouth County mentioned large crashes in dragonfly numbers and diversity.
All anecdotal. To my knowledge, no one is tracking this.
Any one in these spray areas-could you take a notice tomorrow/the next day on the numbers of chickadees you encounter and compare with last week? I expect the number to plummet (OK, lower than last week). I have noticed this anecdotally when spraying in other years. If they drop extrapolate that to all species in the area.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
On September 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM Jonathan Jones <brewbird...> wrote:
Hi folks,
Apparently they are doing more mosquito spraying in new areas starting tonight.
Date: 9/11/19 1:44 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island - 09-11-2019
David Larson and I led today's edition of Wednesday Morning Birding out of Joppa Flats Education Center. With a 10:51 high tide on the river, we headed down to Sandy Point in hopes of roosting shorebirds. We were not disappointed! Skies were partly cloudy; temps, upper70s to low 80s; and winds, SW/10-15 mph.
Our list:
Canada Goose (~ 120) - ~ 100, backside of Stage Island Pool (SIP); ~ 20, Bill Forward Pool (BFP). Gadwall (6) - SIP & BFP. Mallard - common; SIP & BFP. Blue-winged Teal (3) - BFP. Double-crested Cormorant - common; various. Great Blue Heron (3) - 1, marsh n. refuge gate house; 2, North Pool from Hellcat Dike. Great Egret (~ 15) - various. Snowy Egret (9) - SIP water control structure. Turkey Vulture (1) - soaring over lot #1. Osprey (2) - vicinity of BFP. Black-bellied Plover (~ 30) - BFP. Semipalmated Plover - common; mostly Sandy Point. Greater Yellowlegs - common; SIP & BFP. Lesser Yellowlegs (6) - SIP. Sanderling (~ 45) - predominantly juvies; Sandy Point. Semipalmated Sandpiper - common; Sandy Point, SIP, & BFP. Western Sandpiper (3) - Sandy Point, roosting with Sanderlings & Semipal Plovers & Sandpipers. Least Sandpiper (4) - SIP. White-rumped Sandpiper (4) - 2, SIP; 2, BFP. Baird's Sandpiper (2) - 1, SIP; 1, BFP. Pectoral Sandpiper (3) - 1, SIP; 2, BFP. Stilt Sandpiper (11) - 6, SIP; 5, BFP. Short-billed Dowitcher (12) - 2, SIP; 10, BFP. Long-billed Dowitcher (2) - BFP. Ring-billed Gull - Sandy Point. Herring Gull - Sandy Point. Great Black-backed Gull - Sandy Point. Caspian Tern (1) - Sandy Point. Rock Pigeon American Crow (2) Tree Swallow - common. American Robin (2) - roadside. Gray Catbird (3) - roadside. European Starling Cedar Waxwing (6) - roadside, S-curves.
Non-feathered taxon: Ocean Sunfish (/Mola mola/) (1) - Ipswich Bay off Sandy Point.
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 9/11/19 11:55 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] EEE spraying
Just thinking 'out loud' here..... I wonder if the mosquito dunk product (or something similar) could be used as an alternative to aerial spraying? excerpt from Summit site: "Bti is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils. (Bti is short for *Bacillus thuringiensis* subspecies *israelensis*.) It contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat. EPA has registered five different strains of Bti found in 48 pesticide products that are approved for use in residential, commercial and agricultural settings primarily for control of mosquito larvae."
Anvil degrades rapidly under ideal conditions (direct sunlight). Less than
ideal conditions means it persists in the environment.
It is fatal to terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. It is diluted, not
rendered useless, by rain (more water). Cover your small ponds (like,
koi-sized). Some people cover their flowers with cheesecloth-type material
to protect sleeping insects.
We have two ponds on our property: one large and open (10 acres), the other
small and tree-lined, maybe 1/8 acre. The sunny day after spraying, the
large pond had a single dragonfly when it usually had 30+ in just the small
area where I stand, the smaller pond had notably more activity. Bumble and
hummer numbers were normal, non-native ladybugs totally absent, no
sightings again of the two species of ground-dwelling digger wasps, no
monarchs, not one butterfly, as before. No swallows. Non-native oleander
aphids, as active and numerous as before. Not one firefly: I expected them
to survive among the high wet grass.
Other anecdotal reports from Plymouth County mentioned large crashes in
dragonfly numbers and diversity.
All anecdotal. To my knowledge, no one is tracking this.
> The product they are spraying, in Worcester County, is Anvil 10/10. It
> degrades after a day and is rendered useless(?) by rain.
>
> It targets mosquito larvae, however, it will also kill, dragonflies and
> beetles. Dragonflies:
> one of the best mosquito predators.
>
> The Oxford fire department and made an all call to my home instructing me
> to "close windows, cover koi ponds and keep pets indoors".
>
> Monitoring of all species should be required during these events.
>
> Melissa Aldrich
>
> 413-219-2417
>
> On Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 9:12 PM GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>
> wrote:
>
>> Any one in these spray areas-could you take a notice tomorrow/the next
>> day on the numbers of chickadees you encounter and compare with last week?
>> I expect the number to plummet (OK, lower than last week). I have noticed
>> this anecdotally when spraying in other years. If they drop extrapolate
>> that to all species in the area.
>>
>>
>> Glenn
>>
>>
>> Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
>>
>> On September 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM Jonathan Jones <brewbird...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Apparently they are doing more mosquito spraying in new areas starting
>> tonight.
>>
>>
>> https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts#-september-2019-aerial-spraying-information >>
>>
>> They don’t explicitly list Wrentham, but half the town appears in the
>> spray map, including where we live.
>>
>> Do I need to do anything special with regards to bird seed, suet, or
>> hummingbird feeders?
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Jonathan Jones
>> Wrentham, MA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
Date: 9/11/19 3:06 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Sep 10, 2019: some good,shorebirds
Subject: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Sep 10, 2019: some good shorebirds From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:19:26 -0400
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Sep 10, 2019 9:40 AM - 1:50 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: I birded with various folks, notably Bob Murphy and Steve Bennett at the Bill Forward blind (which is as far as I went). 46 species (+1 other taxon)
Canada Goose 1 (!) Gadwall 4 Mallard 75 American Black Duck 11 Green-winged Teal 15 Can't tell the subsp. in eclipse plumage. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 16 at gate Mourning Dove 11 at gate Black-bellied Plover 7 American Golden-Plover 2 adult and juv at BFP Semipalmated Plover 48 Stilt Sandpiper 2 BFP Sanderling 42 lot 1 beach Least Sandpiper 7 White-rumped Sandpiper 8 BFP Semipalmated Sandpiper 135 Western Sandpiper 2 Both had reddish scaps and longer, droopier bills than SESAs. One in main pan, one picked out at BFP by Bob Murphy. Short-billed Dowitcher 31 many juvs Long-billed Dowitcher 4 All seen in direct comparison with short-bills; all 4 were bigger, darker, and longer-billed. Never saw them fly or heard them vocalize. Greater Yellowlegs 60 Lesser Yellowlegs 14 Ring-billed Gull 3 lot 1 beach Herring Gull 25 Great Black-backed Gull 4 Common Loon 1 flyover Double-crested Cormorant 14 Great Egret 6 Snowy Egret 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Osprey 3 At BFP platform. One adult brought a fish to a grown young on the nest. Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 not seen Merlin 1 buzzed the shorebirds at the main salt pan Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 3 Blue Jay 8 Black-capped Chickadee 12 Tree Swallow 800 Gray Catbird 15 American Robin 30 Cedar Waxwing 4 American Goldfinch 6 Song Sparrow 4 Eastern Towhee 6 sparrow sp. 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Susan Williamson, Ted Mara
Visitors: Also on the watch: JoAnne Hart, Karen Turer, Polly Baylies. Thanks for the excellent help and company on this slow day. Visitors were sparse but I had great conversations with Hope Charleston-Gonzales and Ramoan Gonzales who had much to recommend about Puerto Rico. They also figured out what we were doing. Also: Bina Bliskin, who attended our Annual Meeting and is now joining EMHW, made her 1st visit to our hill today! Finally, three folks on my walk down to car asked about hawking and we talked for 10 minutes. Bird lovers are always so pleasant here!
Weather: "Wind" was 0-3mph all thru 2pm then 0-5 til 3:30. Direction was from SE then wobbled between S and SE until 2pm. Final last 1.5 hours wind from SW. Temp slowly crept from 56-62F by 2pm but then dropped rapidly to 57F for last 1.5hrs. Cloud cover = 100% FOG from 8-11am, 99% until noon and 95% thereafter except when a big wave of fog and sprinkles blew by from SW from 2-2:30. Visibility.. well, 75 yards until 11am if you looked in the right direction. Later visibility to 10 miles was available - especially NE to W. Other directions had 10 mi. when fog wasn't blowing through; only the very last 2 birds passed on south side of hill. The TVs tried to show there was some thermal lift when Gardner, Fitchburg and other spots received sunshine. Some birds after noon took their advice but the height was quickly lost when moving on. Most flights were eye-level or lower.
Raptor Observations: 10:30 1 BW, distant N. 12:20 4 BW from NE 12:25 1 UA 12:50 1 BW 1:22 1 BW 2:45 2 BW 3:00 1 PG 3:16 1 PG
Locals: 7 TV, 3 RT.
Non-raptor Observations: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 8 Juncos, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 4 Common Ravens, Towhee. Also: 3 skunks on the down road who took more than a minute to decide which way to run! Final choice: right.
Monarchs: 4
Predictions: Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. (NOT fair! Bob and John just HAD a slow Wednesday... hope you can surprise us. Noted Clarry Hill had 87 raptors with 50 BWs & Cadillac Mtn. had 42 - mostly SS and OS. There is some hope.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
> Any one in these spray areas-could you take a notice tomorrow/the next day
> on the numbers of chickadees you encounter and compare with last week? I
> expect the number to plummet (OK, lower than last week). I have noticed
> this anecdotally when spraying in other years. If they drop extrapolate
> that to all species in the area.
>
>
> Glenn
>
>
> Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
>
> On September 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM Jonathan Jones <brewbird...> wrote:
>
> Hi folks,
>
> Apparently they are doing more mosquito spraying in new areas starting
> tonight.
>
>
> https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts#-september-2019-aerial-spraying-information >
>
> They don’t explicitly list Wrentham, but half the town appears in the
> spray map, including where we live.
>
> Do I need to do anything special with regards to bird seed, suet, or
> hummingbird feeders?
>
> Sincerely,
> Jonathan Jones
> Wrentham, MA
>
>
>
>
Any one in these spray areas-could you take a notice tomorrow/the next day on the numbers of chickadees you encounter and compare with last week? I expect the number to plummet (OK, lower than last week). I have noticed this anecdotally when spraying in other years. If they drop extrapolate that to all species in the area.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On September 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM Jonathan Jones <brewbird...> wrote:
>
> Hi folks,
>
> Apparently they are doing more mosquito spraying in new areas starting tonight.
>
>
> > > https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts#-september-2019-aerial-spraying-information > >
> > > They don’t explicitly list Wrentham, but half the town appears in the spray map, including where we live.
>
> Do I need to do anything special with regards to bird seed, suet, or hummingbird feeders?
>
> Sincerely,
> Jonathan Jones
> Wrentham, MA
>
Date: 9/10/19 5:30 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Baird's Sandpiper and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Winthrop
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:16:20 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson<petersonpaul63...> Subject: Baird's Sandpiper and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Winthrop
Hi,
I was surprised to find a YELOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON immature at Fisherman's Bend Park. From the entrance, take the right-hand path. Then take the left. When you get to the four-way intersection, take the right. (open, grassy area with several small salt pans) The bird was perched in a small tree just beyond the new construction that's occurirng off to the right. A Great Egret was also perched in another tree nearby. THE BAIRD'S SANDPIPER juvenile was on Winthrop Beach when I arrived there at dead-low tide at 3:45 p.m. The only other shorebirds there were six Sanderlings. The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was foraging along the shore at first. It then flew much further back from the shore and dropped down in the upper area. Later, (about one-half hour later, I relocated the bird in the dense seaweed wrack line opposite Irwin St. The sightings were all contained within Cutler St. to Irwin St., which is a four block area in front of the middle sister or so. I couldn't find Laura Markley's BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER from yesterday evening.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON 1 SEE ABOVE Great Egret 2 Lewis Lake 1, Fisherman's Bend 1 Snowy Egret 2 Lewis Lake Cooper's Hawk 1 Fisherman's Bend Park Red-tailed Hawk 1 Lewis Lake Semipalmated Plover 1 Killdeer 6 Pico Beach 4, Winthrop Beach 2 Black-bellied Plover 1 Snake Island BAIRD'S SANDPIPER 1 killer looks, including mostly dark tail as it flew; call similar to Pectoral Greater Yellowlegs 10 including eight at Crystal Cove Jetty Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Crystal Cove Jetty Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Crystal Cove Jetty Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lewis Lake American Oystercatcher x Snake Island 4, Crystal Cove Jetty 3, Winthrop Beach 1 Sanderling 6 Winthrop Beach Belted Kingfisher 2 Lewis Lake
LEPIDS:
Common Buckeye 2 Monarch 1 Red Admiral 1 Orange Sulphur 2 Cabbage White 4
Date: 9/10/19 2:16 pm From: Sebastian Jones <sebastianojones...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Baird's Sandpiper, Winthrop Beach
Hi Massbirders,The Baird's found earlier today at Winthrop Beach/Five Sisters by Robert Jilek is still around as of 5 p.m., though a Peregrine just shuffled the deck and I'm attempting to relocate the bird. No sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper photographed yesterday evening by Laura Markley, nor the Lesser Black-backed Gull Soheil and I saw earlier this morning. Best,Sebastian JonesJamaica Plain, MA
Date: 9/10/19 5:11 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Still getting hummingbirds in Medford
just had one at one of my feeders / Newbury
------------------------------------
Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>
On Monday, September 9, 2019, 5:51:11 PM EDT, <lfkramer...> wrote:
Drinking from monarda didyma, (red bee balm), lonicera semperviens (native honeysuckle) and other plants in the yard. Two hummingbird feeders seem unused but not watching all day. Leslie Kramer Barry Burden Medford, MA
Date: 9/10/19 4:12 am From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hummers
Hello,
Not sure what’s happening back in New Salem as we have been in the White Mountains for a few days but just had a hummingbird at the flower gardens (41° F) of the Woodstock Inn in N Woodstock, NH so there more on their way to MA.
Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bill Rasku, Colleen Tank, Dave Brown, Doug Peterson
Visitors: Counter & compiler: Bill Rasku. Observers:Dave Brown, Colleen Tank, Doug Pederson, Meghan Gately, Matt Bollus, Daryl Turek, Christine Restelle, Paul Suihkonen, Paul Sullivan.
Weather: light haze temp 54-65 F, wind NE 2-3 to S 0-2 by afternoon, cloud cover 5 % at 8 am, 50% by 10, to 80% by noon and varied from 50-80% the rest of the day.
time 7:40 am to 4 pm
Raptor Observations: 7:45-8 0. 8-9 OS 1; BW 2; UR 1. 9-10 OS 2; BW 10. 10-11 OS 1: BE 2; SS 1; CH 1; BW 6, AK 1; ML 1; UB 11-12 BW 4. 1-2 OS 1; SS 1; UR 1. 2-3 UR 1. 3-4. 0.
Totals: OS 5,BE 2,SS 2,CH 1,BW 33, AK 1,ML 2,UB 1,UR 4. [Total migrants: 55.]
Locals: TV 17+; 5 BE (adult 3, imm. 2); RT 1: ML 1.
Non-raptor Observations: Monarchs 73.
Towhee, Black-capped Chickadee, Phoebe, Junco, Swift, Blue Jay, RT Hummingbird, Redstart, Titmouse, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Ravens. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/9/19 4:18 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hammond Pond Warblers Today in Newton
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2019 22:53:00 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Hammond Pond Warblers Today in Newton
I spent a long time here in this beautiful place with dramatic Roxbury Puddingstone cliffs. I birded in Hammond Pond Reservation/Webster Conservation Area/Houghton Garden. All three places are contiguous. Most warblers were in Houghton Garden near the Suffolk Road entrance, just a bit beyond the entrance kiosk:
Green Heron 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Wood Duck 14 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Killdeer 2 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Northern Flicker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Northern Parula 1 Pine Warbler 1 warbler sp. 1
Date: 9/9/19 2:52 pm From: <lfkramer...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Still getting hummingbirds in Medford
Drinking from monarda didyma, (red bee balm), lonicera semperviens (native honeysuckle) and other plants in the yard. Two hummingbird feeders seem unused but not watching all day. Leslie Kramer Barry Burden Medford, MA
Began this season with at least 6 hummers(most we've had here in a few years), could have been 8, but saw 6 in one view, with at least two males amongst them. As of Aug.31, both wee guys were gone-earlier then they've ever left here. Now remaining are at least two females although two days ago I spotted 4 in one view, so still hanging here. Lucky to have one feed twice out of my 'finger feeder'-quite neat!Judy Parrot-WillisNorth Andover
On Sunday, September 8, 2019, 4:50:36 PM EDT, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
Date: 9/9/19 9:42 am From: Shilo McDonald <shilocm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brown Pelican, dipped, Salem
MassBirders,I went looking for the Brown Pelican and did not find it. But, then again, I was not drinking at the time. ;-)
All this talk of beer and wine has got me thinking... We’ve all heard of a Pub Crawl, right? So how about how about a Pub Crawl with Birds? Birding and Beer!
We could even add games to the event. Everyone has to drink a shot every time sometime spots a House Sparrow! :-D
I guarantee by the end of the trip, we will ALL have seen a Lifer or two!
:-)
- Shilo McDonald, Lynn, Mass.ShiloCM at Yahoo dot com
Date: 9/8/19 7:15 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Nearing Season's End
Thanks to David Gibson for the following post.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2019 19:12:13 -0400 Subject: Nearing Season's End
Hi MA birders, I just wrapped up and published another photo essay, "Nearing Season's End." Here's the link: https://birdpartner.com/2019/09/08/nearing-seasons-end/. In it, I share some thoughts about the end of the breeding season as well as a few final thoughts about the Green Heron. I share a few bird photography and birdwatching tips, as well. Thanks so much for reading, and as always, I welcome your comments. Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/
Date: 9/8/19 5:01 pm From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] belmont yard nighthawk watch — day #7
gas hawk — 27
common nighthawk — 0
american crow — 3
monarch — 4
e cottontail — 3
--
<frederickbouchard...>
78 farnham st
belmont 02478 ma
617-484-6692
www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com
Burton Balkind reported today via the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert on Facebook with accompanying photo:
not a great pic but we identified a black belly whistling duck on nantucket this am on the west side of hummock pond we scoped it and definitely identified 9-8-19
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Daniel McDermott, Tom Pirro
Visitors: Daniel McDermott, Art McDermott, and many day hikers.
Weather: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps in the 60s, with moderate NW winds all day. Complex and lovely cloud formations made for easy spotting in the skies over the mountain. Air crisp and dry - perfect end of summer day.
Raptor Observations: Singles and doubles gliding over all day, but no significant groups of raptors were spotted. Still, it was a comfortable day to search for action in the sky. The peak window for Broad-wing migration is yet to open.
Non-raptor Observations: 25 Common Raven Other species observed today: Pileated Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Eastern Towhee, American Redstart, Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee. Also observed: a juvenile Ring-necked Snake on the summit. Predictions: Dry and clear, but with no strong winds forecasted. Drop us a line if you visit Watatic this week! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
It’s worth tending your feeders much later than that, if you’re able. While it’s a long-shot for any one of us to hope for this, Ruby-throats have been recorded in Massachusetts as late as mid-*November*; eBird shows a number of records for that month. Even longer a shot, but even more exciting when it happens, every other hummingbird species ever recorded in our state - Rufous, Allen’s, Black-chinned, even Calliope and Broad-billed - has made at least some of its appearances between November 1 and mid-January! The vast majority of such records have been found on the Cape and Islands, but a few around downtown Boston or other coastal areas, and a couple even in the Valley or Berkshires. So, don’t laugh, I generally try to keep mine going until it freezes solid….
> On Sep 8, 2019, at 8:27 AM, Paul Guidetti <guidettipaul...> wrote:
>
> I was curious about this too...I had three Friday morning at my front feeder and at least one yesterday. I checked my records and the last one I saw in my yard last year was October 4! If it’s time to go, I wish them well but I do enjoy these little guys a lot! Keeping my feeders clean and full for now!
>
> Paul Guidetti
> Westford MA
>
> On Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 6:58 AM Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> <mailto:<lynetteleka...>> wrote:
> my local family left last week, but I'm still seeing a single bird every so often at the feeders - migrating, I assume, so we should keep tending the feeders through September
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Lynette Leka
> Newbury, MA 01951
> email: <lynette.leka...> <mailto:<lynette.leka...> >
Date: 9/8/19 5:31 am From: Paul Guidetti <guidettipaul...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Hummers?
I was curious about this too...I had three Friday morning at my front
feeder and at least one yesterday. I checked my records and the last one I
saw in my yard last year was October 4! If it’s time to go, I wish them
well but I do enjoy these little guys a lot! Keeping my feeders clean and
full for now!
Paul Guidetti
Westford MA
On Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 6:58 AM Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> wrote:
> my local family left last week, but I'm still seeing a single bird every
> so often at the feeders - migrating, I assume, so we should keep tending
> the feeders through September
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Lynette Leka
> Newbury, MA 01951
> email: <lynette.leka...>
>
>
> On Saturday, September 7, 2019, 11:06:07 PM EDT, bank1941 <
> <bank1941...> wrote:
>
>
> Mbers, my local hummer family has disappeared. It is a bit early, has
> anyone else noticed theirs gone too?
>
> Joe Paluzzi
>
>
>
>
>
> Joe Paluzzi
> Salem, MA. USA
>
>
> Sent by my Verizon tablet
>
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Chris Eddy, Colleen Tank, Dave Brown, George Russell, Jack Miano, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Seven observers joined me for all or parts of the day: George Russell, Joanne Hart, Dave Brown, Colleen Tank, Chris Eddy, Tom Gottschang, and Jack Miano. Many mountain visitors today and a fair number requested and received details of when and under what weather they could see good flights. One delightful conversation in the 2pm slow hour with Kathy Ellison and Dave Guarnaccia!
Weather: Wind was from north until 1 pm and then drifted NNW to WNW in last 2.5 hrs. Wind speed 8-12 mph with gusts to 20 mph thru 11am; 5-8 mph & gusts to 15 mph until 2 pm; then 8-12 mph which tailed to 0-3 mph in last half hour. Visibility 20 miles before light haze started to obscure the distant hills; haze diminished a little thru the day. Cloud cover of cirrus and cumulus was 90% at start, diminished thru 1 pm to 60% before spiking quickly to 80% and then retreating again to 60% at the end. Temperature 50-52F thru 1 pm and then rose to 59 by 3:30 pm end of shift. Raptor Observations: Most of the birds stayed low (eye level or less) for the first 2 hours; when sunshine cooked up some lift most went higher. Many BWs were single except for a nice batch of 9 found together high in the NW at 1:18 pm. Two other loose groups of 4 also seen. All other birds, except 2 CHs at 10:45, traveled alone.
Non-migrating: TV 7; RT 3; BW 2. Also 5 BE: 3 were up and down all day in the north: 2 imm and a subadult with some white buff on head. The other 2 imms were seen in E and SE before turning back at approx. 12:15.
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: were very sparse today, evidently staying low. Of note: 1 Cormorant stayed up north and one 'Os-gull'... we were thinking distant Osprey until it morphed into a gull.
Monarchs 33 Predictions: Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71. West wind around 8 mph. (Monday and Tuesday look OK also at this point.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
my local family left last week, but I'm still seeing a single bird every so often at the feeders - migrating, I assume, so we should keep tending the feeders through September
------------------------------------
Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>
On Saturday, September 7, 2019, 11:06:07 PM EDT, bank1941 <bank1941...> wrote:
Mbers, my local hummer family has disappeared. It is a bit early, has anyone else noticed theirs gone too? Joe Paluzzi
It is believed that the length of daylight is the most important factor in determining when Hummingbirds migrate. When days get shorter Hummingbirds instinctively eat more nectar and insects in preparation to their exhausting flight back to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. To our tiny winged friends, food is energy and they’ll actually need to almost double their body weight daily to support migration.
So, yes Hummingbirds are making more frequent trips to our nectar feeders. You may also be getting longer views of them as they remain drinking for greater periods of time.
Some Hummingbirds begin to migrate in early August, but most don’t begin their journey until late August or September. Just as male Hummingbirds are the first to migrate north in the spring, they are the first to head south, followed by adult females and then juveniles. Don’t worry, even as the Hummingbirds you have fed all spring and summer depart, birds that nested further north in the United States and southern Canada will appreciate your feeder and visit as they migrate through the area. In fact, the number of Hummers visiting your feeder may increase at times because these migrating birds include immature birds hatched this summer!
Hummingbirds migrate during the day and it is believed that most of their trip is spent at tree height as they continually look for food to refuel. Hummingbird migration may just be getting started, but it will continue through the fall. Birds hatched late in the breeding season depart later than those hatched earlier and they may still be migrating through in late October or even early November. So keep your feeders cleaned and filled!
---------------
Hope this is helpful!
Laurene
> On September 7, 2019 at 11:24 PM Josh <opihi...> wrote:
>
> Joe and Massbirders,
>
> I had one at my feeder this morning, but that is a drop-off. Less than a week ago I had 3+ battling over the same feeder.
>
> I noticed while driving today that there is a TON of Jewelweed in flower, saw several patches loaded with blooms. Seems like I recall that this plant’s blooms are timed to coincide with hummingbird migration, so it’ll get pollinated by hummers tanking up on sugar for the long trip south.
>
> Back on August 29 a Chinese Mantis was perched above the feeder, and even took a swipe at a passing hummer, but didn’t catch anything; the hummers pretty obviously knew that the mantid was present, as more than once one would hover right in front of it, staring straight at it, just out of reach, probably saying the hummingbird equivalent of what Red Sox fans say to Yankee fans…
>
> Good birding,
>
> Josh
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
>
> Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club
> https://hampshirebirdclub.org/ >
> Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
> https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa >
> http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 > https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
>
> > > On Sep 7, 2019, at 11:03 PM, bank1941 < <bank1941...> mailto:<bank1941...> > wrote:
> >
> > Mbers, my local hummer family has disappeared. It is a bit early, has anyone else noticed theirs gone too?
> >
> > Joe Paluzzi
> >
> >
> > Joe Paluzzi
> > Salem, MA. USA
> >
> >
> > Sent by my Verizon tablet
> >
> > >
>
I had one at my feeder this morning, but that is a drop-off. Less than a week ago I had 3+ battling over the same feeder.
I noticed while driving today that there is a TON of Jewelweed in flower, saw several patches loaded with blooms. Seems like I recall that this plant’s blooms are timed to coincide with hummingbird migration, so it’ll get pollinated by hummers tanking up on sugar for the long trip south.
Back on August 29 a Chinese Mantis was perched above the feeder, and even took a swipe at a passing hummer, but didn’t catch anything; the hummers pretty obviously knew that the mantid was present, as more than once one would hover right in front of it, staring straight at it, just out of reach, probably saying the hummingbird equivalent of what Red Sox fans say to Yankee fans…
> On Sep 7, 2019, at 11:03 PM, bank1941 <bank1941...> wrote:
>
> Mbers, my local hummer family has disappeared. It is a bit early, has anyone else noticed theirs gone too?
>
> Joe Paluzzi
>
>
> Joe Paluzzi
> Salem, MA. USA
>
>
> Sent by my Verizon tablet
Date: 9/7/19 7:39 pm From: bank1941 <bank1941...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Brown pelican, Salem MA, 643pm, Yes!
Friends, Salem has become a hot spot....nice find friends.
Joe
Joe PaluzziSalem, MA. USA
Sent by my Verizon tablet -------- Original message --------From: linda pivacek <lpivacek...> Date: 9/7/19 8:40 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Laura dlF <anhinga3...>, <massbird...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Brown pelican, Salem MA, 643pm, Yes! wine and pelican - my fav ! actually the last local pelican was a daily performer. Linda P On September 7, 2019 at 5:53 PM Laura dlF <anhinga3...> wrote:
H MassBirders, Linda, Mark, and I are having a glass of wine at The Landing on the Salem Pier off of Blaney Street and the brown pelican just flew by ... Best birding evah! It flew in from the east side of the power plant, flew west over the harbor, and then east again towards Bakers island. An awesome hometown bird for us all! Laura de la Flor Salem MA
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android
Observation start time: 11:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: None
Weather: Early rain was already a distant memory by noon. Partly cloudy but still bright skies, brisk temps in the 60s, and a moderate NW wind all day.
Raptor Observations: Migration continues to warm up! No serious groups of birds moving today but a few seasonal firsts including a Red-shouldered Hawk, American Kestrel, and Merlin. Non-migrants: 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Bald Eagle 15 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: 20 Common Raven
Predictions: Warm, sunny WNW winds. It won't be hard to beat today's numbers with these conditions tomorrow - looking like another great day to be on the mountain. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/7/19 5:44 pm From: linda pivacek <lpivacek...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Brown pelican, Salem MA, 643pm, Yes!
wine and pelican - my fav ! actually the last local pelican was a daily performer.
Linda P
> On September 7, 2019 at 5:53 PM Laura dlF <anhinga3...> wrote: > > H MassBirders, > > Linda, Mark, and I are having a glass of wine at The Landing on the Salem Pier off of Blaney Street and the brown pelican just flew by ... Best birding evah! > > It flew in from the east side of the power plant, flew west over the harbor, and then east again towards Bakers island. An awesome hometown bird for us all! > > Laura de la Flor > Salem MA > > > Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone > Get Outlook for Android https://aka.ms/ghei36 >
Date: 9/7/19 1:07 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] First Encounter Beach Seawatch 9/7
Thanks to Joe Bourget for the following report.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Joseph Bourget <joseph.bourget...> Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2019 14:55:35 -0400 Subject: First Encounter Beach Seawatch 9/7
Hello Massbirders,
This morning, Nick Tepper, Keelin Miller, Sue Finnegan, and myself (and an ever changing number of birders) camped at the First Encounter Beach parking lot and watched for storm-blown birds. We had quite a few Phalarope, terns, gulls, and shorebirds, but nothing too crazy.
The highlights were: 1 Long-tailed Jaeger (immature) 2 Pomarine Jaegers 7 Parasitic Jaegers 2 Pectoral Sandpipers 1 Whimbrel 1 Dunlin 25 Red-necked Phalarope (with 3 actually landing on the beach in front of us, and 12 about 50ft away from the parking lot) 35 Forster's Terns 1 Black Tern 1 Cory's Shearwater 1 Great Shearwater
Date: 9/6/19 10:03 am From: David Williams <dave.williams6...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] tomorrow BBC Shore Birding Walk around Boston - Delayed start
Hi, Tomorrow's Brookline Bird Club trip, "Shore Birding around Boston" will now start at 10:00AM instead of the original 7:30 start. This is due to the impending wind rain forecast for early tomorrow morning. The walk will end by 2:00PM. Please see the BBC web site for more information about the walk. Dave Williams https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/tripevent/shore-birding-around-boston-3/
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Chris Eddy, Dave Brown, Doug Wipf, Ed Norris, George Russell, Greg McGuane, Jack Miano, Jon Jones, Kathy Olson, Matt Bollus, Paul Roberts, Susan Williamson, Ted Mara
Visitors: On the watch: Dave Brown, Greg McGuane, Ed Norris, Paul Roberts, Tom Gottschang, Ted Mara, Doug Wipf, Paul Suihkonen, Jon Jones, Matt Bollus, George Russell, Susan Williamson, Ed Armstrong, Chris Eddy, Kathy Olson Daryl Turek, Marty McNamara. Many visitors wanted to check on the migration watch and even more wanted to know what was going on! Hope all 'got the bug'.
Weather: Wind low at 0-3 mph/0-5 kph with a few gusts in 2nd hour around 8mph/13kph. All morning wind was from the north then variable from NW to SE for the afternoon. Cloud cover rose from 40% at 8am to 90% at 1pm. Visibility OK since the air was cleansed by the night's downpours. A little fog burned off rapidly and air mostly clear at 30 mi/48 km. Many distant features in Vermont and New Hampshire were visible in gray-form. Temperature at 52F/11C didn't rise until 10am and then rose to 64F/18C by our last hour.
Raptor Observations:
Birds passed on both east and west sides fairly evenly today. 4 OS between 8:40-10:40am. 2 BE:imm. at 10:35 from N; another imm. from NW at 2:05 3 CH in midday. PG at 1:30 and the steady trickle of a dozen BWs ran all day. non-migrating: TV 20; CH 1; RT 3; BW 2.
Non-raptor Observations: non-raptors: Common Ravens 16-20 here and there all day; Chimney Swifts 6; Swallows 12; Junco; Cormorant. Monarchs 30.
Predictions:
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 6 to 9 mph. (Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.) With the annual EMHW dinner Friday night ... think I'll pick Saturday and hope Friday's great for Jack Miano and everyone who can join him.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/6/19 7:19 am From: Alan Kneidel <akneidel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] four shearwater sp this morning from Manomet, Plymouth County
Birders,
For those watching the NE winds the next few days. A few minutes of seawatching Cape Cod Bay from Manomet just now produced Sooty (3), Manx (5), Cory's (1), and Great Shearwaters (4). All these birds were flying in a SE to NW flight line. This is after a very stale shearwater season in these waters to this point. Also, Evan Lipton spotted two jaeger sp. flying straight line southeast. Gannets, terns, and gulls abound. Manomet Point would be the best bet for viewing these birds, at least in this area.
Date: 9/5/19 2:04 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Reminder: A New Revolution in Migration Research at the Reading,Public Library on Tuesday Sept 10
Thanks to Linda Ireland for the following announcement.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
>
Subject: Reminder: A New Revolution in Migration Research at the Reading Public Library on Tuesday Sept 10 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 13:48:47 -0400
A New Revolution in Migration Research: The Motus Wildlife Tracking Network Join Carol Foss, NH Audubon Senior Advisor for Science and Policy, for an introduction to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System at the Reading Public Library at 7 pm on Tuesday September 10. This exciting new research initiative is revolutionizing the study of animal migration by tracking the movements of songbirds, bats, and even dragonflies who have been fitted with tiny radio transmitters (nanotags). Carol will discuss how Motus works, what we are learning from it, efforts that are underway to expand the network in the Northeast (including north of Boston), and how you can get involved. Carol Foss has served NH Audubon in a variety of capacities for more than 40 years and currently splits her time between environmental policy and conservation science. Her current projects include long-term research on Rusty Blackbirds in northern New Hampshire and a collaborative effort to expand the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network in New England. This free public event is organized by members of the Lynnfield Marsh Survey Team. For more information and to RSVP please contact Dave Williams dave.williams6 AT gmail.com or Linda Ireland connecttonature00 AT gmail.com.
Date: 9/5/19 1:02 pm From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Purple Martins of Plum Island - 2019 Nesting Season Tally
Birders,
We saw a good number of Purple Martins return to Plum Island in late April through August. The birds are getting accustomed to nesting in the north array.
Lot #1: North Rack - 3rd season at this site: Gourds: 24 Eggs: 26 Fledged Young 22 [2018 - 6 young fledged] Nonviable eggs: 4
Lot #1: South Rack: Gourds: 18 Young Fledged: 34 [2018 - 49 young fledged] Nonviable Eggs: 2
North End Site at the Old PRNWR HQ [Plum Island Lighthouse]:
Gourds: 24 Young Fledged: 28 [2018 - 35 young fledged] Nonviable Eggs: 11 Expired Young: 8
On 76th Street on the Plum Island Basin, the Purple Martins returned & nested. No data available - no landlord present.
In Newbury on private property, Purple Martins nested again this year.
Thank you for your reports & support!
Good birding, Sue
Sue McGrath, Newburyport Lynette Leka, Newbury Jane Sender, Newburyport Volunteer Landlords for Plum Island's Purple Martin Colonies
Date: 9/5/19 12:35 pm From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Kent Island Bridge, Newbury - Complete
Birders,
Back in early May I mentioned that the bridge leading out to Kent's Island was closed. Now, there's newly built bridge off Hay Street in Newbury provides access Kent’s Island Creek Salt Marsh.
This site is an approximately 47 acre salt marsh near the tributaries to the Little and Parker Rivers. The new bridge is now complete with access to Kent’s Island. The wider culvert improves tidal flushing of the upper marsh which will mean more shorebirds, sparrows & wrens...
Date: 9/5/19 8:20 am From: Haynes Miller <hrm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence's Warbler at Nahanton Park, Newton
A very yellow bird, near the bat house at the lower garden. Also a normal Blue-winged Warbler at back of upper garden. These were the only two warblers I saw!
Date: 9/5/19 6:24 am From: Alan Kneidel <akneidel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Kingston/Plymouth/Duxbury gull roost, easily viewable
Hello everyone,
Just thought I would alert everyone to a gull show that has been happening in Kingston, Plymouth County the past few days. Viewable from Grays Beach Park, gulls have been congregating in the late afternoon on the beach itself and adjacent waters. Numbers continue to build until the birds then move out into the center of the bay to form a raft for the night. The birds were accumulating as early as 6:00 yesterday and left the beach at 7:22 to head out onto the water. At this point, there were gulls still pouring in from both Plymouth and Duxbury directions.
Last night, I estimated 1,500 Laughing Gulls and 500 Ring-billed Gulls in this group, though likely additional birds continued to arrive after nightfall. Herring Gulls, although separate for most the evening, also began to join the raft.
So, if anyone is interested in some casual evening gullling, I suggest pulling up a lawn chair an Grays Beach and enjoy the show. Additional details and a poor iphone video in the below checklist:
Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Paul Roberts
Observers: Bob Secatore, Chris Eddy, John Cannizzo
Weather: Warmy, southwesterly winds with heavy cloud cover.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: Clearing from Wednesday night to be followed by weak high pressure system with moderate northerly winds. SHOuldbe better than today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Paul Roberts (<phawk254...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/4/19 4:58 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 9/3 Broad-winged Hawk By My Window in Mission Hill/Longwood Medical,Area
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this post.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 21:43:42 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 9/3 Broad-winged Hawk By My Window in Mission Hill/Longwood Medical Area
Yesterday, as I was looking out one of my windows, a Broad-winged Hawk flew by just a bit above the three-story building I live in. I live on the third floor. Wow!
Date: 9/4/19 2:18 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Joppa Park & Plum Island- 09-04-2019
David Moon and I led today's Wednesday Morning Birding program out of Joppa Flats Education Center, first to Joppa Park and then on to Plum Island. Skies were overcast to partly cloudy; temps in the middle 70s; and winds S-SW/10-15 mph.
Plum Island -- Canada Goose (~ 35) - Bill Forward Pool (BFP). Gadwall (5) - continuing hen with 3 young; 1, North Pool from Hellcat dike. Mallard - many; BFP. Blue-winged Teal (3) - BFP. Green-winged Teal (4) - BFP. Common Eider (2) - Emerson Rocks. Common Loon (1) - seven ocean. Double-crested Cormorant - common. Great Blue Heron (2) - 1, marsh n. Main Panne; 1, North Pool from Hellcat dike. Great Egret (~ 15) - various, throughout marsh. Osprey (3) - 1, Pines Trail pole. Red-tailed Hawk (1) - kiting just east of BFP. [Red-tailed Hawk (1) - atop utility pole, PI Tpk.] American Avocet (1) - BFP. Black-bellied Plover (1) - BFP. Semipalmated Plover - common; BFP. Greater Yellowlegs - common; BFP & North Pool from Hellcat dike. Lesser Yellowlegs (5) - North Pool from Hellcat dike. Sanderling (~ 20) - seven beach. Semipalmated Sandpiper (~ 20) - BFP. White-rumped Sandpiper (1) - BFP. Short-billed Dowitcher (~ 25) - BFP & North Pool from Hellcat dike. Ring-billed Gull (5) - seven beach. Herring Gull (2) - seven beach. Great Black-backed Gull (5) - seven beach. Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove (~ 10) - n. refuge gate house. Eastern Kingbird (1) Tree Swallow (1,000s) Barn Swallow (1) Gray Catbird (3) - roadside. Northern Mockingbird (1) - seven boardwalk. Brown Thrasher (1) - seven boardwalk. European Starling - not the usual numbers. Cedar Waxwing (3) - vicinity of lot #7. Song Sparrow (~ 5) - roadside. House Finch (4) - lot #7.
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bill Rasku, Daryl Turek, Ed Norris, George Russell, Joe Drega, Jon Jones, Ted Mara
Visitors: More people on the watch than migrating raptors... Ted Mara and Jon Jones joined me at 8am. Paul Suihkonen came for an hour at 9. Joe Drega, Ed Norris, Bill Rasku, George Russell and Daryl Turek joined in the 10am hour. Laurie made return visit with Ray in morning and JoAnne Hart in the afternoon. Newcomers on another visit is always a good sighting! Hikers and others: a steady trickle of very pleasant folks all day made for delightful exchanges.
Weather: Wind at start 0-3 mph (0-4.8 kpm) was the same all day with 1 exception: 10 am hour was 'breathless'. Direction was from NW until noon but then became truly variable, slowly creeping to N-E-S-W and ended back from the NW by last 45 minutes. Temperature steady for 2 hours at 60F/15.5C then rose steadily to 69F/20.6C by closing time. Cloud cover of 1% at start quickly filled in to 70% at noon and 80% at the end. Again the local TV's and our few migrating raptors demonstrated a tremendous amount of lift available for all the birds we didn't get!.. Visibility was ok all day: AM 10 mi/16 km and 20/32 for afternoon when humidity dropped and helped clear the air.
Raptor Observations: 10am hour started with SS high on east side who went to the S side of hill and peeled SW. Minutes later a ML appeared high in the NE and came close to us on N side. Three Common Ravens decided to team up and the ML nonchalantly rebuffed them all. One raven attempted payback from below and above just to our west. We didn't see any feathers fall but raven exited flapping for cover. The magician rose on thermal to SW and winged away without looking back. 11am hour started well with a Peregrine adult who came close in from N to NW and then accelerated S and SW in an awesome display of powered flight. Yes, the next bird was at 12:08 and our 3rd falcon-- the AK appeared on east side and arced around the towers on south side of the deck and off to SW. At 12:50 a SS was high on east side and moved right over us An hour later was our last bird ... Osprey arrived high in the north and came close to us as she was turning to WSW.
non-migrating: TV 15 seen at one time ..maybe more since they were around all day; CH 1: perched on ski slope.
Non-raptor Observations: non-raptors: Ravens a plenty. We had one group of 14 with 3 more scattered elsewhere; they were up most of the day and suspect we had more than 17. Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Chickadee, Blue Jay, Towhee, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler all visited today. Curiously, the normally seen hordes of Juncoes are not showing yet this year. Did see a few in August.
Predictions: Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 9/4/19 12:12 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/31 Broad-winged Hawk and Philadelphia Vireo in Scituate, Etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this post.
Barbara Volkle, Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019, 8:32:46 PM EDT Subject: 8/31 Broad-winged Hawk and Philadelphia Vireo in Scituate, Etc.
I birded in beautiful Scituate from 12:00-6:15. I was quite surprised to see and hear CALLING! a PHILADELPHIA VIREO and an immature Broad-winged Hawk in the woods at A.J. McEachern Memorial Trails diagonally opposite Widows Walk Golf Club along The Driftway. The hawk was perched on a tree branch on one of the trails. The Philadelphia Vireo was up in an oak near marker #4. Unfortunately, "The Spit" was crowded with people due to it being a beautiful Saturday on Labor Day Weekend. Also, the tide was too low for optimal observing.
Great Blue Heron 4 Great Egret 11 Snowy Egret 6 together at dead low tide at The Landing (along The Driftway near Widow's Walk Golf Club) Northern Harrier 1 seen from The Landing; first of season Osprey 2 "The Spit" BALD EAGLE 1 "The Spit" Cooper's Hawk 1 at "The Spit" entrance; caught a bird by hopping on the ground Red-tailed Hawk 1 BROAD-WINGED HAWK 1 buteo sp. 2 way out on an "island"; seen from observation platform at A.J. McEachern Piping Plover 2 Semipalmated Plover 100+ Black-bellied Plover 20 Semipalmated Sandpiper x Least Sandpiper 6 Greater Yellowlegs 6 including five with the Snowy Egrets Spotted Sandpiper 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO 1 SEE ABOVE(A.J. McEachern) COMMON RAVEN 1 or two; heard in same area as last time, i.e. near Dunkin Donuts Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 A.J. McEachern Black and White Warbler 1 A.J. McEachern Baltimore Oriole 1 new dog park; beautiful
LEPIDS:
Eastern Tailed-Blue 1 Black Swallowtail 1 Common Wood-Nymph 1 Orange Sulphur 1 Clouded Sulphur 1 Cabbage White x butterfly sp. 1
Now I know what you're thinking. He's reporting a Hairy Woodpecker? How mundane... But, au contraire!
Because this is my very first time seeing a Hairy Woodpecker in. my. back. yard! :-)
Thanks to a kitchen window being open, I heard her short, sharp and very loud peek call. And instantly knew, that's no Downy Woodpecker...
So I quickly grabbed my Canon D70 with 200mm lens and rushed to my backyard blind (aka the sunroom). Where I was blessed with the sight of a female Hairy Woodpecker on my Squirrel Buster feeder.
eBird Report with Photos:https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59511017
Good Birding,Mr. Shilo McDonald (Lynn, MA)ShiloCM at yahoo dot com
And remember kids, smile:Me, Last Spring: "I thought new birds were visiting my yard when they arrived in new plumage."Me, End of Summer: "I thought new birds were visiting my yard when they arrived in new plumage."
Date: 9/4/19 10:20 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] NH Audubon Pelagic Trip
Hi Birders:
The NH Audubon led a pelagic birding trip on September 3. The trip itinerary into the Gulf of Maine took birders to the Isle of Shoals and then beyond to Jeffreys Ledge. It was a beautiful early-fall day with calm seas and a gentle breeze. The trip departed from Rye Harbor for a nine-hour cruise. Massachusetts birders were well represented on the manifest and much time was spent in Massachusetts as well as New Hampshire and Maine waters.
Though the birds were not as cooperative as expected, a few notable species were seen. The marine mammals, however, were so plentiful, we might suppose they were not only curious, but friendly.
Two highlights of the day were a school of Atlantic White-sided dolphins and another of Common Dolphins. We were assured Common Dolphins are not common and the boat captain reported the large school, estimated at 75 individuals, was the first common dolphins seen this year. Both schools included babies dolphins and these could be seen jumping clear of the water and somersaulting in the waves and wake, chasing schools of bait fish that often cleared the water ahead of the darting dolphins.
The Fin Whales and at least one Humpback Whale made regular appearances as well, as did Mola Mola (Sunfish), and Blue Sharks on the surface.
I hope others will add to this list, yet here is mine (all numbers estimates):
Date: 9/4/19 9:40 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BARRY VAN DUSEN Exhibition in Newburyport - 9/15 - 9/30
Thanks to Barry Van Dusen for the following announcement.
See you there!
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
Over a period of four years, internationally recognized nature artist Barry Van Dusen visited ALL of Mass Audubon’s 60 wildlife sanctuaries, creating drawings and paintings at each location. This exhibition will feature more than two dozen of his original watercolors of birds, plants, landscapes, butterflies, dragonflies and other animals.
Please come and enjoy this celebration of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries across Massachusetts.
Artist’s Reception
(free and open to the public)
Sunday, September 15
2:30 – 4pm at the Joppa Flats Education Center
1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA
Exhibition dates: September 15 thru November 30, 2019
Over a period of four years, internationally recognized nature artist Barry Van Dusen visited ALL of Mass Audubon’s 60 wildlife sanctuaries, creating drawings and paintings at each location. This exhibition will feature more than two dozen of his original watercolors of birds, plants, landscapes, butterflies, dragonflies and other animals.
Please come and enjoy this celebration of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries across Massachusetts.
Artist’s Reception
(free and open to the public)
Sunday, September 15
2:30 – 4pm at the Joppa Flats Education Center
1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA
Exhibition dates: September 15 thru November 30, 2019
Date: 9/4/19 7:33 am From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Presentation on Urban Raptors at Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting Friday, Sept 6, Woburn 7 p.m.
Cheryl Dykstra, Editor-in-Chief of the JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH, will speak on "Urban Raptors: Our Adaptable Wild Neighbors" at the 2019 Eastern Massachusetts Hawk Watch annual meeting Friday September 6. Many raptors species are doing better now than they have for half a century or more by adapting to and exploiting rapidly growing urban environments. Cheryl has been studying urban raptors, including Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Barred Owls, for decades. Recently, with Clint Boal, she co-edited a book, "Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservations of Birds of Prey in Cities (2018)." This program should interest anyone who cares about raptors.
Copies of Cheryl & Clint’s new book will be available for purchase at the meeting, and Cheryl will be happy to autograph copies. Other recent raptor books will be sold at the meeting. We’ll also have a brief presentation on "RATS: Raptors Are The Solution," by Mass RATS Director Gary Mennin, describing the devastating impact the widespread use of rodenticides is having on raptors, and suggesting that raptors are indeed a better solution for rodent control.
The meeting will be held on Friday evening Sept. 6 at a NEW “new” location, the air-conditioned WOBURN AMERICAN LEGION, 194 LEXINGTON STREET, WOBURN, MA (the Four Corners). The meeting is free and open to the general public (donations accepted). A social hour with beverages and finger food starts at 6 pm. At 7 pm we start with a brief business meeting followed by Gary’s presentation and a brief break. Cheryl's presentation will start shortly after 8. We’ll also have our very popular raffle, including many books on raptors and some fantastic photography. Everyone is welcome!
For complete information, including driving directions to the new location in Woburn (plenty of free parking), visit the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch web site at massbird.org/EMHW
Date: 9/4/19 6:50 am From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] MA offshore via cruise-ship: Barolo's White-faced, Brown Booby, Audubon's glut
Thanks to Paul Lehman for sharing this interesting trip.
Steve Mirick Bradford, MA
We are finishing up a two-week Princess cruise-ship round-trip cruise from New York to Greenland and back. Nine of those days were spent traveling offshore, including a fair chunk of August 20 in MA waters going north/eastbound and then again on 3 September returning south/west. The route is along the outer edge of the shelf, some 10-15 nm short of, e.g., the shelf edge at Hydrographer Canyon, alas, but still through interesting waters. On 20 August, there was an Audubon’s Shearwater well south of Martha’s Vineyard, a White-faced Storm Petrel 95 km S of Nantucket, and a Barolo’s Shearwater 126 km SE of Nantucket. (We then had another Barolo’s in Nova Scotia waters, where we also had a Brown Booby; and a Great Skua in Newfoundland waters.) On our return on Sep 3, we had several good things in MA waters, including an adult Brown Booby which circled the boat several times a half-hour apart, as close as 20 feet, some 105-110 km S of Nantucket (photos), and a surprising total of 40 Audubon’s Shearwaters over a long stretch between 41.04, -67.55 and 40.32, -70.05’including single flocks of 6 and 9 birds we flushed up off the water. The water along that entire stretch of the outer shelf was bluish, clear, and with periodic patches of sargassum, so a warm-water eddy of some sort must have been involved. Also in MA waters was a South Polar Skua and 2 juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers.
FYI, there is a five-day round-trip Princess cruise from New York to St John NB and Halifax NS in late October which should be quite good for Great Skua. A fair slug of daylight time is spent in MA waters.
Date: 9/3/19 8:50 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Gulls galore and flying ants
Linda and Massbirders,
The massive ant flights in late summer and early fall are for reproduction and dispersal. The new young queens and drones emerge from pupation with wings and take off in massive numbers, trying to swamp their predators with such overwhelming numbers that at least a few of them are guaranteed to survive. They mate, and the queens wander off and find places to found new colonies. I checked with my favorite ant expert, James Trager of the Missouri Botanical Garden; he said that the ants involved are usually the genus Lasius, commonly known as citronella ants, but the genera Myrmica and Crematogaster also sometimes stage similar flights.
As for the dragonflies, the groups that gather to feed on the emerging ants are usually mixed-species affairs. They are mostly mosaic darners, genus Aeshna, with the most common participants being Shadow, Canada, and Black-tipped. On the early end, late July and early August, a few striped emeralds, genus Somatochlora, often mix in, most often Clamp-tipped and Brush-tipped. Later in the season, migrant dragonfly species like the Green Darner and the species of saddlebags and gliders tend to join in.
> On Aug 29, 2019, at 10:09 PM, Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey62...> wrote:
>
> Linda, thank you for this reminder. We’re usually at our Downeast cabin in Surry, ME in late August. I have witnessed this miraculous annual flight from the base of our ancient black ash tree for some 30 years. All the ants stream toward the morning sun and so many end up in the bay, just down the road, by day’s end. Am missing them this year.
>
> Cherrie Corey
> Marlboro, VT
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 8:10 PM Ted Home <tedgpurcell...> <mailto:<tedgpurcell...>> wrote:
> We see this some years here in Central Mass, but it is nighthawks and dragonflies.
> Ted Purcell
> Rutland MA
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 29, 2019, at 6:16 PM, linda pivacek <lpivacek...> <mailto:<lpivacek...>> wrote:
>
>> This is the day/early evening that the flying ants hatch and hundreds of gulls swirl around to catch them. I see this each year from our house in Little Nahant. And happened to see this awesome sight again at 5:10pm today.
>>
>> It takes me by surprise each year since it just happens for a sudden 1-2 hours then over. Also the gulls are joined by dragon flies predating the ants.
>>
>>
>>
>> Maybe it will be still be going tomorrow.. a special natural event.
>>
>> Perhaps an entomologist would provide info via Massbird.
>>
>>
>>
>> Linda Pivacek, Nahant
>>
>> <lpivacek...> <mailto:<lpivacek...> >>
Date: 9/3/19 12:47 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 10/10 - Celebration of Life - Ida Giriunas
Thanks to Carol Grimes, Ida Giriunas's niece, for the following notice.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
On Thursday, October 10 at 2 PM, we will hold a celebration of life for Ida at the Barn at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield. Friends and relatives are most welcome to attend.
Thanks to all of you for your kind support during this time.
Date: 9/3/19 5:33 am From: Mardi Dickinson <mardi1d...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Arthur Singer, American Master - BirdCallsRadio
Birders et al,
I thought many of you would be interested in my next guest Paul Singer, co-author of Arthur Singer, The Wildlife Art of an American Master sits down to talk about his father’s wildlife art. https://bit.ly/2akUsxp
Date: 9/2/19 4:56 pm From: <rbowes...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/31 for Duxbury Beach - possibly a first: a resting Common Nighthawk
Susan Henry, who summers on Gurnet Point (southmost part of Duxbury Beach - actually in Plymouth MA), sent me these photos taken on August 31, 2019. She came out onto her deck and the bird was "just there". It stayed all day in the hot sun and moved very little sparking concerns about its well-being including lack of water. Late afternoon her husband Ray said that he looked at it while on the deck, looked away, and when he looked back it was gone.
While Nighthawks are not rare in MA, they are very uncommon in the coastal parts of the state. Birds of Massachusetts (Veit & Petersen, 1993) says they are rare on the Cape and Islands. Ebird shows a smattering of records but none on the Duxbury Beach/Saquish peninsula prior to this sighting. (eBird Info doesn't indicate % of sightings seated vs in flight.)
Two days earlier a mixed flock of gulls (easily 100, possibly twice that) filled the sky over our yard (within 0.1 mile of the water) swarming nearly silently(!) for 5-10 minutes presumably feeding on newly hatched flying ants (similar to report on MassBird from Linda Privak of Nahant). Most were Laughing Gulls with other species represented (in total maybe 20-30%) As I saw them I reminisced about the flocks of Nighthawks feeding on insects over White River Junction, Vt. in the evening 50+ years ago when I was in college. Maybe our unusual visitor was somehow drawn to whatever the gulls were "hawking" for (perhaps flying ants?)!
Date: 9/2/19 3:32 pm From: Tom Murray <tmurray74...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Dickcissel & shorebirds in Groton 9-2-19
Early this afternoon I walked the fields at Fitch's Bridge for almost 2 hours until the steady rain came. I found a Dickcissel 5-6 Solitary Sandpipers and 4 Least Sandpipers in the puddles around the manure piles. The bird activity is starting to pick up out there and sparrow numbers will be increasing soon.For a complete list and photos here's my Ebird list: https://ebird.org/massaudubon/view/checklist/S59462593 Tom MurrayGroton, Ma.
This showed up on my ebird alerts. Looking at the attached image, does it appear to be not well/oiled? Seems like a real odd report; especially where it was found, well inside a protected cove/harbor. Allowed close approach and seemed not to want to get back into water. Could be not able to fly due to missing wing feathers/possibly bird of year not yet able to fly?
Found a Lark Sparrow today at the Wardens at Plum Island. Bird actively feeding in the grasses in front of and on the side of large north building with several garage doors. Easily seen from parking area during our stay. Just after I said to Ernie with so many LASPs being seen in eastern MA let's find one here. Don't you love it when a plan comes together!
NO flight today. Very few migrants; only summer residents and few number of them.
First flock of migrating cormorants (50).
Other birds of note from Plum (almost all from Bill Forward Pool):
AMERICAN AVOCET 1 male continuing (based on bill structure), constantly following the foraging cormorants which created waves as they followed what ever food with the attendant contingent of Snowy Egrets, and Greater Yellowlegs while dowitchers and stilt sandpipers got out of their way. The process began at the south end of Bill Forward Pool and continued north with the cormorants swimming back to the south and the egrets, yellowlegs and avocet flying south to begin the process all over again.
Western Sandpipers 4 (stage island and 3 @ pans) Constantly moving as cormorants would be hunting below the algae and emerging suddenly causing the shorebirds to flush.
Still sandpiper 5
Long-billed Dowitcher out numbering SBs
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Red Knot 11
Whimbrel 2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1 juv
Northern Shoveler 1
White-rumped Sandpiper 14
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
Some nice species seen at Drumlin Farm this weekend including 27 juv wood ducks on a small pond this morning. Also spotted a male American kestrel. An American redstart was busy chasing other birds out of its tree :)
Pam Sowizral
Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm
Lincoln
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 27
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Herring Gull 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bill Rasku, Darryl Tureq
Visitors: visitors Observers: Bill Rasku, Daryl Turek. Count: Rod Chase.
A Labor Day weekend means loads of hikers, bicyclers, families young and old and 100? beautiful dogs. Folks with questions were cordial and fun so they all got one of us to give the short and/or long answers they wanted. Several took pamphlets and 'will be back'!
Weather: Winds from NW thru 1 pm then WNW for an hour and W for for the last hour. Wind speed 6-12 mph (9.7-19.3 kpm) at the start, 8-15 m (12.9-23.9 k) for 2 hours, then 6-12 m (9.7-19.3 k) til noon and dropping in last two hours to 0-8 mph (0-12.9 kph). Cloud cover (high cirrus) was 40% at start and rose steadily to be 70% by 11 am. At 1 pm a slight decrease to 70% due in part to steadily decreasing humidity and the formation of small cumulus puffs all around. Visibility 15 mi(24 km) for hawking although the haze lessened steadily thru the day. The distant hills and cities were easy for the visitors to find later in the day. Temperature began at 57 F/13.9 C and held until 10am but then rose steadily to 64/18.8 for last hour.
Raptor Observations: Surprise push of 8 BE spread evenly thru the day. Two appeared in NE and went E of side of hill; the rest were found NW-N and found fair lift past our west side heading SW. BW 9. Six birds in 10am hour: solo adult was close and caught an updraft straight up above tower and going SW. Next minute Bill finds 5 BW low and close to W angling NE. Guessing 'local' when when Bill yells"lookup!" There the are! Those thermals are ok but BWs know a carnival-like updraft is such a thrill! They maintained that lift as they sailed west and south. As I packed up to leave a solo imm. rose up to join 3 adults in NW but THEN went straight back down as the 3 peeled to SW. A ML passed close before noon and a male Kestrel also performed at 1:20 pm.
Locals: TV 7; BE 6 (1 imm, 4 adult, 1 unknown); SS 2; CH 2; BW 2.
Non-raptor Observations: Just 1 Raven today,Tree 5 and Barn Swallows 20+, Towhees 8, Chimney Swift, Phoebee, Cedar Waxwing. Monarchs: 4.
Predictions: Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
(I'll try to catch at least the NE part and see what happens after.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
This AM had an imm. Goshawk being harassed by crows and then watched it terrorizing the ducks and Killdeer. Also had 6 Green-winged Teal.
Harvard Pond, Petersham, Worcester, Massachusetts, US
Aug 31, 2019 8:05 AM - 9:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
19 species
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 8
Green-winged Teal 6
Killdeer 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron (Blue form) 2
Northern Goshawk (American) 1 Large imm. accipiter with wide light stripe over eye, Brownish streaking on throat and breast, longish tail with bands and light tip. Observed the bird for a few minutes with a 20-30X scope while it was perched in a dead tree that was on an island approx. 200 yds. away. It was noticeably larger than the two crows that were harassing it. About 15 minutes later watched it hunting the ducks and Killdeer that were farther up the pond. In flight its broad wings and long tail were apparent. After one pass it perched across the pond about 3-400 yds distant and with the scope could see it was the same bird.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2 Harrassing imm Goshawk in dead tree on 1st island
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Gray Catbird 1
American Goldfinch 2
Song Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Brian Rusnica
Observers: Visitors: None
Weather: Perfect late summer Massachusetts weather - low 70s with a dry breeze and abundant sunshine. Winds moderate from the NW/WNW all day.
Raptor Observations: The Fall 2019 season of hawkwatching is underway at Mt. Watatic! Today was nothing too special but it was great to see some Broad-wings getting an early start. Non-migrant Raptors: 5 Bald Eagle 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 14 Turkey Vulture
Non-raptor Observations: Other Species 2 Common Nighthawk 20 Common Raven 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6 Barn Swallow
Predictions: SUN: Similar temps, less wind forecasted as September begins. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Rusnica (<brian_rusnica...>) Mount Watatic information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 8/31/19 1:49 pm From: Haynes Miller <hrm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birdy morning at Nahanton Park, Newton
Good flycatcher show at Nahanton Park, Newton, this morning: Yellow-bellied (photo on ebird), an unidentified empid, and four singing Pewees. Also GCFly and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Dave Brown, George Russell
Visitors: Counter Rod Chase Observers: Dave Brown, George Russell. Assists by Paul Suihkonen, who also kept us laughing for hours, and Daryl Turek. Only 60-70 visitors all day -- a pleasant time for all as we realize school groups and large weekend crowds are on the horizon.
Wind speed low today 0-10 mph/0-16 kph at 8:30 then lowering to 0-5 at 11 am where it remained - with- infrequent "gusts" to 10 mi/16 km - for rest of day. Winds from NW thru 1 pm and NNW after that. Cloud cover 25% due mostly to high altitude cirrus band stretching from NNE to SSW most of the day. It finally receded towards the ocean as myriad cumulus clouds puffed up in all directions. Visibility was a minimum 15 mi./24 km. all day. Temp 59 F/15 C at start crept steadily to 69 F/20.6 C by the last hour.
Raptor Observations: Only 2 migrating today: solo BW's at 1:08 pm (adult) in SE and went high and west' then a 2nd BW at 2:15 up NNE who made the corner SW far west of our hill. Locals: adult BE NW who went down towards NNE at 11:45. TV 10 includes the kettle of 7 who showed us the 1st migrating BW who passed right over them. Also: RT 6, BW 2, CH 1, SS 3.
Non-raptor Observations: Swallows galore, only 1 Common Raven today. A dozen dragonflies feeding locally. Monarchs 1.
Predictions: Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Looking better?.: Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 7 mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 8/30/19 5:00 am From: Phil Brown <ecocmail...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] ECOC Meeting Reminder - Friday, September 06 - 7:45pm - Predators of the Sky: Live Birds of Prey
Friday, Sept. 6, 7:45 pm Predators of the Sky: Live Birds of Prey ECOC meeting 7:30–7:45 pm
Wildlife rehabilitator Tom Ricardi joins us with a diverse group of live raptors from this region and beyond. Learn about these remarkable birds and the great work done by Tom’s organization, the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Facility, which cares for injured raptors and operates a successful captive breeding program. This event is made possible by a generous donation from The Echo Charitable Foundation. Co-sponsored by PEM.
PEM Connect Building, Peabody Essex Museum. Free and open to the public.
-- Phil Brown Essex, MA 01929 <ecocmail...> Webmaster for The Essex County Ornithological Club https://massbird.org/ecoc/
Date: 8/29/19 7:13 pm From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey62...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Gulls galore and flying ants
Linda, thank you for this reminder. We’re usually at our Downeast cabin in
Surry, ME in late August. I have witnessed this miraculous annual flight
from the base of our ancient black ash tree for some 30 years. All the ants
stream toward the morning sun and so many end up in the bay, just down the
road, by day’s end. Am missing them this year.
Cherrie Corey
Marlboro, VT
On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 8:10 PM Ted Home <tedgpurcell...> wrote:
> We see this some years here in Central Mass, but it is nighthawks and
> dragonflies.
> Ted Purcell
> Rutland MA
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 29, 2019, at 6:16 PM, linda pivacek <lpivacek...> wrote:
>
> This is the day/early evening that the flying ants hatch and hundreds of
> gulls swirl around to catch them. I see this each year from our house in
> Little Nahant. And happened to see this awesome sight again at 5:10pm
> today.
>
> It takes me by surprise each year since it just happens for a sudden 1-2
> hours then over. Also the gulls are joined by dragon flies predating the
> ants.
>
>
> Maybe it will be still be going tomorrow.. a special natural event.
>
> Perhaps an entomologist would provide info via Massbird.
>
>
> Linda Pivacek, Nahant
>
> <lpivacek...>
>
>
Date: 8/29/19 5:01 pm From: Ted Home <tedgpurcell...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Gulls galore and flying ants
We see this some years here in Central Mass, but it is nighthawks and dragonflies.
Ted Purcell
Rutland MA
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 29, 2019, at 6:16 PM, linda pivacek <lpivacek...> wrote:
>
> This is the day/early evening that the flying ants hatch and hundreds of gulls swirl around to catch them. I see this each year from our house in Little Nahant. And happened to see this awesome sight again at 5:10pm today.
>
> It takes me by surprise each year since it just happens for a sudden 1-2 hours then over. Also the gulls are joined by dragon flies predating the ants.
>
>
>
> Maybe it will be still be going tomorrow.. a special natural event.
>
> Perhaps an entomologist would provide info via Massbird.
>
>
>
> Linda Pivacek, Nahant
>
> <lpivacek...>
Date: 8/29/19 3:20 pm From: linda pivacek <lpivacek...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gulls galore and flying ants
This is the day/early evening that the flying ants hatch and hundreds of gulls swirl around to catch them. I see this each year from our house in Little Nahant. And happened to see this awesome sight again at 5:10pm today.
It takes me by surprise each year since it just happens for a sudden 1-2 hours then over. Also the gulls are joined by dragon flies predating the ants.
Maybe it will be still be going tomorrow.. a special natural event.
Perhaps an entomologist would provide info via Massbird.
Thank you Jonathan Layman. Had you not originally spotted this bird, I would not have had my *First of Life* Lark Sparrow today! :-)
Seriously. Thank you.
All,The Lark Sparrow continues in the same location previously described. My advice is to do what Chris Floyd did. Park in the Costco lot in the corner adjacent the paved path. Walk the path, heading towards Encore Casino.
I found the bird at 1 PM (while birding alone) and then again around 3:30 PM (with Sebastian Jones and Ted Bradford). Keep your eyes (and ears) pointed towards the thickets, bushes and trees along the bend of the path, where it curves back towards Costco.
There are an unreasonable amount of House Sparrows there. Thankfully, the Lark Sparrow stays clear of them. Listen for a high pitched Psip, which sounds a lot like a Northern Cardinal’s high pitched Psit. Only, it’s a little different. Because it ends in P instead of T. :-P
It’ll take me a day or two to get my Checklist posted. I took 317 photos! And I recorded 27 minutes of audio! (Lots of data to review.)
To summarize, I saw lots of gulls, including a few who were Laughing. And not because of my bad jokes. Lots of Cormorants, none that were Great though. (Shhh... Don’t tell them I said that.) At least 7 genuinely Great Blue Herons. 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron. A couple Cedar Waxwings. Oh AND a very regal looking Belted Kingfisher too.
Happy Birding!Mr. Shilo McDonald, Lynn, MAShiloCM at Yahoo dot com
”Never doubt that a small thoughtful group of committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Date: 8/29/19 6:07 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cape Cod Purple Martins 2019
It's come to my attention that this may not have gone out to everyone, so I'm reposting.
Thanks to Mary Keleher and the tremendous work she's done!
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
From: <maryeak...>
[MASSBIRD] Cape Cod Purple Martins 2019
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:08:55 +0000 (UTC)
Despite having a few intense storms on the Cape at the end of July, the Cape Cod area Purple Martins had a very successful season and managed to ride out the storms with no major issues.
This is my 12th year working with Purple Martins and each years the population continues to increase on Cape Cod.
In Mashpee there were 48 pairs, 253 eggs, 216 hatched and 214 young fledged. All 214 young were banded plus 2 ASY males.
At Mass Audubon Long Pasture Sanctuary in Barnstable there were 22 pairs, 116 eggs, 97 hatched and 90 young fledged
Thanks to the Falmouth 300 Committee for installing a second gourd rack at the Falmouth County Club this spring and monitoring this colony. This year there were 19 pairs, 103 eggs, 86 hatched and 84 young fledged. The 300 Committee has also been in contact with The Cape Club in Falmouth were there has been a 12 gourd rack for a number of years but no one has monitored this site. The system and gourds need updating so hopefully something can be worked out where the 300 Committee can be involved with this site. There was one active nest with 5 young.
At Mass Aububon Wellfleet. Bay Wildlife Sanctuary there were 7 pairs that fledged 29 young. All 29 young were banded.
Thanks to Keelin Miller for helping me with the two Mashpee colonies, keeping records and martin sitting while I was away! Thanks to Master Bander Mike Maurer for organizing the banding of these two colonies.
If anyone or any groups or organizations in the Cape Cod area as well as Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are interested in establishing and monitoring (monitoring is the important part) a Purple Martin colony feel free to contact me at <maryeak...>
Date: 8/28/19 3:09 pm From: Linda <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow Encore 1:30 pm
The Lark Sparrow previously reported by Jonathan Layman was refound in the same general area after a long search. The bird is very illusive and favors the area along the low black fabric barrier esp on the weedy side. Patience is required.
Date: 8/28/19 1:10 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island - 08-28-2019
Donna Cooper and I had a great day leading Joppa Flats' Wednesday Morning Birding program on Plum Island. We beat feet down to Sandy Point and then made our way back up the island to Stage Island Pool, Bill Forward Pool blind, and Hellcat. Our high-tide hopes of roosting shorebirds on Sandy Point bore fruit and aside from missing Doug's and MaryMargaret's Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the blind, we had some pretty "good" birds. Skies were partly cloudy to cloudy; temps in the low 70s; and winds SE/5-10 mph.
Our list:
Canada Goose (~ 40) - various. Gadwall (4) - hen & 3 young; Bill Forward Pool (BFP). Mallard (~ 30) - Stage Island Pool (SIP) & BFP. Common Eider (1) - Sandy Point. Double-crested Cormorant - common. Least Bittern (1) - North Pool from Hellcat dike. Great Blue Heron (2) - SIP. Great Egret (~ 5) - various. Snowy Egret (~ 30) - most all immature; SIP. Osprey (2) - 1, Pines platform; 1, flyover n. lot #2. Cooper's Hawk (1) - SIP. Red-tailed Hawk (1) - n. end refuge. American Avocet (1) - BFP. Semipalmated Plover (~ 500) - roosting on Sandy Point. Greater Yellowlegs (~ 50) - major share, SIP; balance, BFP/North Pool from Hellcat dike. Lesser Yellowlegs (~ 15) - some, SIP; most, North Pool from Hellcat dike. Sanderling (~ 10) - roosting on Sandy Point among Semipal Plovers. Semipalmated Sandpiper (~ 300) - ~ 100 roosting on Sandy Point among Semipal Plovers; ~ 200, algae mat, main panne (unfortunately ran out of time to search for Least & Western Sandpipers). Short-billed Dowitcher (4) - North Pool from Hellcat dike. Long-billed Dowitcher (3) - North Pool from Hellcat dike (thanks, Bob Murphy!). Ring-billed Gull - Sandy Point. Herring Gull - Sandy Point. Great Black-backed Gull (1) - Sandy Point. Least Tern (4) - 2 juvs, 2 ads; Sandy Point. Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Eastern Kingbird (2) - juvs; lot #7. Tree Swallow (5,000+) - spectacular scene! American Robin (1) Gray Catbird (3) European Starling - common. Eastern Towhee (1) - Sandy Point parking lot vicinity. Song Sparrow (1) - Sandy Point.
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 8/28/19 12:39 pm From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Presentation on Urban Raptors at Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting Friday, Sept 6, 7 p.m.
Cheryl Dykstra, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Raptor Research, will speak on "Urban Raptors: Our Adaptable Wild Neighbors" at the 2019 Eastern Massachusetts Hawk Watch annual meeting Friday September 6. Many raptors species are doing better now than they have for half a century or more by adapting to and exploiting rapidly growing urban environments. Cheryl has been studying urban raptors, including Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Barred Owls, for decades. Recently, with Clint Boal, she co-edited a book, "Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservations of Birds of Prey in Cities (2018)." This program should interest anyone who cares about raptors. Copies of Cheryl & Clint’s new book will be available for purchase at the meeting, and Cheryl will be happy to autograph copies. Other recent raptor books will be sold at the meeting. We’ll also have a brief presentation on "RATS: Raptors Are The Solution," by Mass RATS Director Gary Mennin, describing the devastating impact the widespread use of rodenticides is having on raptors, and suggesting that raptors are indeed a better solution for rodent control. The meeting will be held on Friday evening Sept. 6 at a NEW “new” location, the air-conditioned WOBURN AMERICAN LEGION, 194 LEXINGTON STREET, WOBURN, MA (the Four Corners). The meeting is free and open to the general public (donations accepted). A social hour with beverages and finger food starts at 6 pm. At 7 pm we start with a brief business meeting followed by Gary’s presentation and a brief break. Cheryl's presentation will start shortly after 8. We’ll also have our very popular raffle, including many books on raptors and some fantastic photography. Everyone is welcome! For complete information, including driving directions to the new location in Woburn (plenty of free parking), visit the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch web site at massbird.org/EMHW
Date: 8/28/19 8:13 am From: Andy Sanford <asanford2000...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow, Everett
Sorry, forgot my signature line:
-Andy Sanford, Marblehead MA
> On Aug 28, 2019, at 9:21 AM, Andy Sanford <asanford2000...> wrote: > > Lark sparrow continuing as of a 9:10am or so on the same path, in the grassy corner area by the water and train bridge just by where the path meets the encore property entrance (where brick walkway turns to tar). > > First seen from the path in the pines inside encore fence, then re-found in grassy area described above. Last seen when train flushed bird and he flew back to pines. > >>
Date: 8/28/19 6:56 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Update from Parker River National Wildlife Refuge - Swamp loop at Hellcat
Here's an update from Parker River National Wildlife Refuge:
Important, GREAT Announcement: The refuge has just reopened the marsh "loop" section of the Hellcat Boardwalk! Formerly a loop, that section is now an "out and back" trail. There's a brand-spanking-new section of boardwalk out there - following a design that will eventually be used to replace the entire boardwalk system. See it for yourself, first by taking a look at the (very fine, and brief) video link here:
Date: 8/28/19 6:27 am From: Andy Sanford <asanford2000...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lark Sparrow, Everett
Lark sparrow continuing as of a 9:10am or so on the same path, in the grassy corner area by the water and train bridge just by where the path meets the encore property entrance (where brick walkway turns to tar).
First seen from the path in the pines inside encore fence, then re-found in grassy area described above. Last seen when train flushed bird and he flew back to pines.
> On Aug 27, 2019, at 1:43 PM, Jonathan Layman <jono.layman...> wrote: > > Birders, > > At 1:30 I encountered a LARK SPARROW in Everett. The bird was seen from the start of public footpath connecting Mystic View Road with the Encore casino. The bird was initially in cottonwoods along the rail tracks, before flying to the weedy edge behind Costco and then into the thickets along the creek drainage to the south of the foot path, where I lost it. > > Good Birding, > > Jonathan Layman > > Medford, MA > > Sent from my iPhone
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Bill Rasku
Visitors: Observer: Bill Rasku 8-2 (Daryl Turek 9:30-2 and Marty McNamara 1:30-2 assisted.) [Data entry; Rod Chase]
Weather: Watch was 8 am-2 pm (360 minutes) by Bill Rasku (thanks!)
Temp: 58 F -70 F [14.5-21 C] Visibility 20 mi [32 Km] Hazy but mountains and Boston quite visible. Sunny. [Cloud cover:] 5% cirrus at 8 am to 50% cloudy with possible rain clouds in the distance S and W at 2 pm. Wind WSW 2-5 mph Raptor Observations: 9:06 SS 9:46 BW 10:03 Merlin 10:09 BW 10:11 BW 10:18 BW 10:20 CH imm 10:48 SS (dive bombed by 10 tree swallows) 11:06 BE Mature 12:42 SS and CH Migrants all from the NE.
Local raptors: 20+ TV flying all day with one kettle of 13, 1 RT, 4 mature BE, 1 ML, 1 CH
Non-raptor Observations: Towhee, Catbird, Chickadee, Chimney Swift, Cedar Waxwing, plus hundreds of swallows all day (approx 30+ Tree Swallows early in the day and 250+ Barn Swallows in migration all day ...this is a very low estimation?)
Predictions: (Tonight) Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow A chance of showers, mainly after 4 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30% ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 8/27/19 10:21 am From: <mresch8702...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Moving to North Carolina, Thanks for the Memories
After 26 years in New England I’m retiring to the mountains of western North Carolina. I’ve had a great time birding throughout the region, and greatly appreciate all the help provided by Massachusetts birders. Some of my fondest memories in MA include –
Birding nearly the entire state from east to west – from Race Point and the Yellow-billed Loon on 3/7/16 (with 4 loon species in the same binocular field), to Great Barrington and the Allen’s Hummingbird on 11/7/12, accumulating 415 species along the way
White-tailed Tropicbird and Sooty Tern at Quabbin Reservoir on 8/28/11 after the passage of Hurricane Irene
Adult Ivory Gull at Gloucester on 1/18/09 right after a snowstorm – the Gull was whiter than the new-fallen snow
Red-footed Falcon on 8/14/04 on Martha’s Vineyard with hundreds of other birders
And a Pepperell yard list of 143 species featuring rarities like Summer Tanager, Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Wheatear.
Now I’m looking forward to learning more about the birds of the mountains of NC and beyond. Afterall, just like New England, there are a lot of states nearby - SC and TN are just short drives away. One species I’m especially looking forward to learning about is the Swainson’s Warbler that breeds in the mountainous rhododendron thickets – I’ve never seen them in that habitat.
Also now that I’m retired from my 9-to-5 job, I’m starting a bird guiding company - 50 States Birding. I’m putting my knowledge of birding in all 50 states to use in providing two guiding options:
1. Traditional guiding services where I accompany birders in the field to help find target species or in general bird an area that is new to them.
2. A unique research-based service where I provide birders with customized information to help them bird an area on their own. In this lower-cost option I use on-line research supplemented with my own personal knowledge of the area to identify birding sites that best meet the client’s objectives. Then for each site I provide a downloadable PDF including maps, lists of expected species, tips to find key species, and general suggestions on how to bird each site.
(sorry for the commercial)
If your travels take you to the mountains of western NC, or places nearby, send me an e-mail – perhaps we could bird together (Swainson’s Warbler anyone?) Plus I can catch up on all those rarities I’ve missed back in New England.
Mike Resch <reschmike1...> www.statebirding.blogspot.com Hendersonville, NC
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Ted Mara
Visitors: Ted Mara was a welcome observer Daryl Turik stopped by twice. The visitors were a trickle but a larger than normal number of people who either knew what we were doing and wanted updates or found out about our site and will, I'msure, join us again in September. Also there was a friend of Tom Pirro whose name, I admit, was lost in my head before I got back to pen and paper...Apology rendered but thanks for your camping stories, etc.!
Weather: Watch was 8am-3pm EST 420 minutes Wind at start was from NE at 5 mph (8 kph) with a few light gusts to 12(19). Then thru noon a 3-8 mph (5-13 kph) breeze, also NE, which lessened after noon to 0-5(0-8) and gradually shifted to NNE and E by end of the watch. Final 2 hours wind barely 3mph (5 kph). Temps started at 50F (10C) and gradually peaked by 1pm at 60F(15.6C) and tailed slightly in last hour to 57(14). Cloud cover less than 1% slowly increased to 10% at 1pm and tailed to 5% in last hour. High cumulus only. Visibility of 15 miles (25km) was constant, as was the barometric pressure (30.26). Humidity was 62% and slowly dropped to 49% by closing time.
Raptor Observations: Only 1 migrating raptor today... but at least it was a pleasure to have an immature BE appear in north at 10:40. The bird glided straight towards the hill, went low under the treeline and immediately rode the updraft on east side of our hill RIGHT in front of us. Our best guess was 'subadult I' with patchy white blotches on both top and bottom of the wings and a dark throat and cheek. Also, the trailing edges of wings were quite uneven with new and old feathers competing for space. We did have many good looks as eagle circled up to great height, drifted thru the sun and then set out in a long, straight line until disappearing far in the SW. Second day in a row that a solo raptor went 'thru-the -sun'. Would appreciate if they would cut that out or, even better, if they started coming in groups! Locals: Adult BE rose up to our north for a few minutes and then dropped straight down. TV 4; RT only 2.
Non-raptor Observations: Raven 1; Cedar Waxwing perched in The Snag (you know!) Sparrows feeding in distance -- maybe 8.
Predictions: Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
I don't know the exact year I met Ida safe to say it was over 35 years ago. Whenever she met someone new the first question usually was do you belong to the BBC and if you said yes that was good. When she learned in our conversations that my wife was Greek that sealed our friendship and whenever we met I would always greet her in Greek warning her that was my limit of the language. Many kind words and stories have already been posted and it was evident that she touched a lot of people, I always enjoyed her keen wit. When she had to she could be tough in the kindest of ways but you knew the message was delivered. When the Ivory Gull was visiting the Cape back in January of 1987 behind the Horizon Restaurant it enjoyed a roasted chicken courtesy of Ida. As I was running into the area I did not notice the ice and literally slid right past the bird. Ida came over and asked if I was okay then told me she was glad I did not scare the bird. It is quite ironic that I was on the pelagic trip when she slipped but was not okay. Birders in Massachusetts should know that there have been many pioneers that have made birding something very special. Ida was one of those pioneers and I know she would say " It is our responsibility to make it better for all those who are yet to come."
"Borei to pnevma tis na ypsonetai se eirini pano apo tous okeanous"
"May her spirit soar in peace over the oceans"
Gerry Cooperman Cape Cod
Date: 8/26/19 9:25 am From: Fran Perler <franpix15...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ida Giriunas
I had the honor of assisting Ida on the last BBC trip she led to Machias Seal Island, July 2019. She reminisced about doing Machias trips for over 40 years! Her passion for birding never wained. Illness slowed her down, but she maintained her enthusiasm and laser focus. We spent hours planning every detail despite how easily she tired. Ida prepared her famous multi-page instructions and expected the participants to absorb every detail. Machias Seal Island was perfect in any ways - extremely calm waters, sun and overwhelming numbers of active Puffins, Murres, Razorbills and even a Northern Gannet. She birded on as best as she could, undaunted by her challenges. How happy I am to have been able to ensure that she enjoyed the experience.
I first met Ida as a new birder on a BBC trip 10 years ago. My memories of her will always include how kind she was to us newbies, never giving up until we got the bird, and her memorable descriptions of field marks - I can’t look at an American Wigeon without smiling about the white handkerchief in its pocket. Then there was her classic iPod broadcasting bird calls, especially her cacophony track that always produced the birds.
Maggie Peretto said it best, ‘Soar free Ida. It was my pleasure to have shared some birding experiences with you.’
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Darryl Tureq, Susan Williamson
Visitors: The 1100-1200 visitors (Ranger's estimate) were, except for hikers, frequently chilled but still happy with the views. All raptor-related questions were answered. One man from California asked which raptor kept attacking him back home. Said I could only guess it might be a Northern Goshawk? "I have lots of pictures on my phone" he responded. Yup, he had lots of photos of Mr. & Mrs. NG!
Weather: Watch was 9:30am-3:30pm (EST, not DST!) 360 minutes Winds from NE all day with a few momentary swings to ENE. Wind speed was basically 3-10 mph/5-16 kph all day; gusts to 20m/32k in first and last half hours. The bummer: all but one of the migrating raptors appeared before Susan arrived or just after she left. One good thing: she spotted the SS at 11:23am! Cloud cover was 50% until 1pm then spiked to 65% before dropping in last 1.5 hours to 15%. Like yesterday the cumulus clouds were high above us and didn't impact the good thermal lift. No birds (except occasional local TVs) took advantage of updrafts from our hill. Visibility great: 15 mi./24 km. all day. Thru haze you could still find Boston & Mt. Greylock.
Raptor Observations: BW 6: 1 ad., 1 imm. at 9:43 from NE passed close to summit on north side before the left turn SW. Four more wings followed same route at 10:12 except not as close to me. RT 1. A straight-line trip from Gap Mt. (NNE) to the SW at a very quick pace. It's only August but feel that all protocols were certainly met. Bye-bye at 9:52. SS 1 ("Ss, Susan's sharpie) found to SE and came much closer and flew "thru the sun" before passing on the south side while moving west, then made the turn SW at 11:23. OS 3 at 3:25 followed similar route, though not quite as close. Appeared to be 1 adult female tailed by 2 immature birds.
Local raptors: TV 8; RT 3; Ch 1, SS 1.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Ravens 7; Hummingbirds: 3 together put on a great show 'playing tag'in their brief 45 seconds appearance. Dragonfly 1, feeding. Monarch 1 in the 1 o'clock hr.
Predictions: (Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind 6 to 11 mph.) Monday: Sunny, with a high near 72. NE wind 6-9 mph.
Yeah .. I'll give that a shot! (Temp will not be 72 on above the treeline, though.) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 8/25/19 2:39 pm From: Cliff Cook <ccook13...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Delaney WMA: Pied Billed Grebe, Great Egret, Green Winged Teal
I led a BBC trip with 4 other birders this morning at Delaney Wildlife Management Area in Stow & Bolton. Highlights included several flocks of Green Winged Teal that flew across the pond right after we arrived, a distant Pied Billed Grebe and three Great Egrets that dropped in shortly before the end of the trip. Also notable were the large number of Kingbirds (a flock of 11!) and Phoebes and the relative absence of woodpeckers and raptors. We parked at the boat ramp on Harvard Road then walked around the pond in the woods and fields. We then drove down the Garner Road overlook over the marsh.
Cliff Cook Watertown
Delaney WMA, Worcester, Massachusetts, US Aug 25, 2019 7:04 AM - 12:19 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.5 mile(s) 52 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 7 Mute Swan 4 Wood Duck 25 Careful count. Group of at least 12 in back marsh. Mallard 18 Green-winged Teal 25 Several flocks flecw across the main pond as seen from the boat ramp. Small ducks. Green speculum. Lacked head pattern of Wood Duck and smaller than Mallard. Several later relocated at back marsh off Garner Road entrance Pied-billed Grebe 1 Obvious Grebe by shape and behavior. Distinctive profile. Seen in main pond from boat ramp. Mourning Dove 4 Chimney Swift 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 Killdeer 4 Least Sandpiper 11 In marshes off Garner Road entrance. peep sp. 6 Probably all Least Sandpiper but unsure Double-crested Cormorant 7 Great Blue Heron 5 Great Egret 3 Unexpected. At boat ramp. Turkey Vulture 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Eastern Phoebe 14 Eastern Kingbird 21 Careful count. Staging for migration. 11 in one flock. Blue Jay 10 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 16 Tufted Titmouse 12 Tree Swallow 7 Barn Swallow 45 minimum White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 2 House Wren 8 Carolina Wren 4 European Starling 11 Gray Catbird 16 Eastern Bluebird 2 American Robin 29 Cedar Waxwing 18 American Goldfinch 31 Chipping Sparrow 28 Song Sparrow 10 Swamp Sparrow 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 5 Common Grackle 2 Common Yellowthroat 7 American Redstart 2 Northern Cardinal 3 Indigo Bunting 1
Exit 3 off of Rt 6 is Quaker Meeting House Road. It appears to actually take this road north to Rt 6A. Cross over 6A to Spring Hill Road for less than 1/2 mile and turn right onto Foster Road and then follow the instructions on the original post.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On August 25, 2019 at 11:38 AM Peter Crosson <capecodbirder...> wrote: > > > MBers, > > I had a juvenile Baird�~@~Ys sandpiper today at Stouffer�~@~Ys Puddle in Sandwich. For those unfamiliar with this area, it is a large pool that forms in the salt marsh at certain tides, ringed by mud flats and surrounded by higher ground. It resembles a miniature version of the Powder Hole on South Monomoy. Optimal tide is a lowish high tide, > around 9 feet on the Barnstable tide chart. Tomorrow morning around 8 AM should again be optimal conditions, if anyone is interested in chasing this bird. > > To get to the area, take Foster Road off of exit 3, and turn left at its end onto Saltmarsh Road. Follow this almost to the end, where there is a small sand parking lot on the left with a rope going across the trail. Just walk in the trail to the puddle, about a 10 minute walk. > > Good birding, > Peter Crosson > West Barnstable, MA > Sent from my iPhone
Date: 8/25/19 12:16 pm From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] A photo essay about the Green Heron and a memorial tribute to Ida Giriunas
Hi MA birders, Here's my final Green Heron blog: http://birdpartner.com/2019/08/25/the-green-heron-final-thoughts/. It's a photo essay about Green Herons, but it's also about birds in general, the nesting cycle, interesting bird behavior, birds' bodies, birds' communication strategies, etc. At the end, there's a memorial tribute a woman who touched many of our lives, Ida Giriunas. Thank you for reading, and as always, I welcome your comments. Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/
Date: 8/25/19 11:31 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 8/24 - Quabog Pond
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is still at the town line and loops north over the river. East Brookfield in the vicinity of the boating parking lot and bridge over the river..
According to Joe Bourget, it's currently being seen in the marsh area directly north of the bridge.
An image of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher captured in the East Brookfield River, off Quaboag Pond (evening 8/23/2019) by Adolfo Cuadra and shared to the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert facebook page.
Thanks to Adolfo and Joe Bourget for getting the word out.
Date: 8/25/19 9:44 am From: Peter Crosson <capecodbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Baird’s sandpiper - Sandwich
MBers,
I had a juvenile Baird~@~Ys sandpiper today at Stouffer~@~Ys Puddle in Sandwich. For those unfamiliar with this area, it is a large pool that forms in the salt marsh at certain tides, ringed by mud flats and surrounded by higher ground. It resembles a miniature version of the Powder Hole on South Monomoy. Optimal tide is a lowish high tide, around 9 feet on the Barnstable tide chart. Tomorrow morning around 8 AM should again be optimal conditions, if anyone is interested in chasing this bird.
To get to the area, take Foster Road off of exit 3, and turn left at its end onto Saltmarsh Road. Follow this almost to the end, where there is a small sand parking lot on the left with a rope going across the trail. Just walk in the trail to the puddle, about a 10 minute walk.
Good birding, Peter Crosson West Barnstable, MA Sent from my iPhone
Date: 8/25/19 3:26 am From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hudsonian Godwit, Saturday August 24 Sandy Pt., Plum Island
PIYesterday morning Julie and I briefly had an adult Hudsonian Godwit on Sandy Point, far southwest shore, around 9 a.m. It lofted and headed south towards Cape Ann, going high and fast. Two hours after morning high tide had:
Black-bellied Plover 13
Semipalmated Plover ~300+
Piping Plover 18
Hudsonian Godwit 1
Sanderling 9
Semipalmated Sandpiper 9
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gulls. 2 jus
At Hellcat many of the shorebirds had departed for the harbor but sightings included:
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: George Russell
Visitors: Observer George Russell arrived shortly before me and stayed to the end -- hope for a late flight was never mentioned ... but we've both seen them! Also assisting was Daryl Turik. As expected the hill was covered with hikers, dogs and an afternoon wave of others who all were thinking how beautiful a day to be looking across most of our state.
Weather: Watch was 8am-2:30pm (EST, not DST!) 390 minutes * Nearly an ideal day if this was mid-September.* Winds N at start at 3-8 mph/4.8-12.9 kph with a few gusts 10-12 mph/16-19 kph in the first hour. Wind speed was the same, minus the gusts, for rest of the day. Direction shifted slightly hour by hour: NE,ENE, NE, N at noon then NE from 1-2:30. Barometric pressure crept from 30.16-30.12 during the day. Humidity, however, started at 62-63% for 2 hrs. before dropping rapidly to 51% from 10am-11am and then remained there until I left at 2:30 EST.The drop was in the 1 hr. with ENE winds but I've no knowledge about why! Visibility was best I've seen so far this August at 40 mi./64 km. all day. The cloud cover advanced from 5% at start thru 11am then picked up pace from 40% at noon to 80% at 2pm. The morning saw rows of tiny cumulus clouds, high in altitude, mostly far west and north.In the afternoon some larger cumulus rolled in from the east and south. Altitude, though, remained high and thermal lift was not diminished... like I said, if only we could have some September days like this!
Raptor Observations: Another Zero in the migration tally. Hawks just need a little more time to get here. The GOOD NEWS?: Clarry Hill did counts yesterday and today totaling 108 migrants with 66 BW's! Even Cadillac Mtn. found 10 BW's in today's tally of 44 migrating birds!
Local raptors: TV 10, RT 9. Yup, that's it. The local Cooper's hawks and Bald Eagles were no-shows today.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Raven 4; Cedar Waxwing 6 spotted by ski lift. Many (100?) swallows remained distant but were successfully bug-hunting all day. Dragonfly 1; Monarch 0.
Predictions: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. I might skip the 1st hour or 2 tomorrow -- just to give those Clarry Hill birds time to reach us. If you join, bring extra clothing. It was 'coolish' today above the treeline and we didn't have 22 mph gusts! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
Date: 8/24/19 7:18 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] August 22, 2019 Rock Meadow, Belmont
Hi All,
I took a nice trip to Rock Meadow on Thursday; I forgot to send it through. I love it there this time of year, you can close your eyes in the fields and feel like you're a thousand miles from any big city. When I'm there I think the world was never meant to stray so far from nature; that we were all meant as individuals to tend our own gardens and walk the trails and fields among the animals we live with. Anyway, before I start rambling, I didn't have a long time to spend there, but still managed to rustle up a blue-gray gnatcatcher, marsh wren, and ruby-throated hummingbird as highlights.
Matt S. Newton, MA Accipiter22 (a) Gmail.com
Rock Meadow, Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Aug 22, 2019 10:29 AM - 11:07 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.91 mile(s) 23 species
Date: 8/24/19 7:17 pm From: Linda Ireland <connecttonature00...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] A New Revolution in Migration Research: The Motus Wildlife Tracking Network
With permission of the moderator:
Carol Foss, NH Audubon Senior Advisor for Science and Policy, will present an introduction to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System on Tuesday, Sept 10, at 7 pm at the Reading Public Library. This exciting new research initiative is revolutionizing the study of animal migration by tracking the movements of songbirds, bats, and even dragonflies who have been fitted with tiny radio transmitters (nanotags). Carol will discuss how Motus works, what we are learning from it, efforts that are underway to expand the network in the Northeast (including north of Boston), and how you can get involved.
Carol Foss is a New Hampshire native who has served on the staff of NH Audubon in a variety of capacities for more than 40 years and currently splits her time between environmental policy and conservation science. Her current projects include long-term research on Rusty Blackbirds in Coos County and adjacent Maine and a collaborative effort to expand the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network in New England.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP please contact Dave Williams dave.williams6 at gmail.com or Linda Ireland connecttonature00 at gmail.com.
On Sat, Aug 24, 2019 at 6:48 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> An image of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher captured in the East
> Brookfield River, off Quaboag Pond (evening 8/23/2019) by
> Adolfo Cuadra and shared to the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert
> facebook page.
>
> Thanks to Adolfo and Joe Bourget for getting the word out.
>
> Let us know if you see it!
>
>
> Barbara Volkle
>
> Northborough, MA
>
> <barb620...>
>
>
> --
Justin Lawson Southbridge, Ma
An image of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher captured in the East Brookfield River, off Quaboag Pond (evening 8/23/2019) by Adolfo Cuadra and shared to the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert facebook page.
Thanks to Adolfo and Joe Bourget for getting the word out.
Date: 8/24/19 10:37 am From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Birding Pleasant Bay
Massbirders,
Numbers were again impressive on the bay flats, Chatham, Four of us spent 3 hours on the flats and marsh edge of this expansive very birdy area. A short walk over to the outer beach provided views of terns and northern gannets, bet the sheer expanse and thousands of birds make this a memorable trip. This area has produced marbled godwit, golden plovers and buff breasts in late August and September. Please consider joining us on Tuesday mornings.
Todays list is below.
Peter Trull
Brewster
<petrull...>
www.petertrull.org
Nauset Beach--South End, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
Aug 24, 2019 8:20 AM - 11:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.75 mile(s)
Comments: Birding Pleasant Bay, PBCB
23 species
Black-bellied Plover 600
Semipalmated Plover 350
Piping Plover 3
Whimbrel 1
Ruddy Turnstone 14
Red Knot 9
Sanderling 24
Least Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 65
Short-billed Dowitcher 18
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull 60
Herring Gull 200
Great Black-backed Gull 90
Least Tern 2
Roseate Tern 250
Common Tern 3000
Northern Gannet 4
Double-crested Cormorant 225
Horned Lark 7
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Saltmarsh Sparrow 1
Date: 8/24/19 4:28 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Common Ringed Plover - Sandy Point - 8/23
I'm sharing this from ebird, and hope Suzanne Sullivan can provide more details. Thanks for reporting, Suzanne!
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) (1) - Reported Aug 23, 2019 06:30 by Suzanne Sullivan - Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts - Map:http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.7639008,-70.8022995&ll=42.7639008,-70.8022995 - Checklist:https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59211834 - Media: 10 Photos - Comments: "Putting this in as such with the understanding how tricky this id is without audio. That being said, I feel pretty confident. I studied in the scope for a while. I did not have digiscoping lens with me so had to creep up and it was not easy in the flats. Photos are cropped well. Overtime I got close it would fly and I would have to remind it, no easy task. Bird was observed at falling tide at Sandy point at the bluffs. Supercillium stood out, extended well behind eye. Shape of bird different that SEPL’s, head more steep, bill longer with a more even structure, noticeably different than SEPL’s. Assumed female. Toes appear good, little to no webbing on inner toes slight webbing on outer. No noticeable eye ring, mostly dark slight grayish color, typical. White patch pinches away from eye corner creating the dark solid lores that extend down past gape. Open wing shots show the more extensive white in wings than SEPL’s."
Date: 8/24/19 2:51 am From: <lfkramer...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Thanks, Ida.
From Barry Burden:
Those of us who have been in the birding community for some time have our own “Ida story.” Here’s mine.
A few years back (2014?), a Barnacle Goose showed up in a semi-frozen farm field in Mendon, MA. For a couple of days it seemed that everyone showed up for a look. Leslie Kramer and I made the journey out and saw the bird. We were heading back to the car when we noticed Ida pulling up in her car, getting out and heading our way. By now, the path down to the back fence by the barn was treacherous at best. With all the foot traffic and the snow on the ground, it was icy, pot-holed, and uneven. For those not burdened with compromised mobility, it was not easily traversed. I quickly headed back to Ida to help her negotiate this path and was met with a snappy, “Don’t need your help. Just show me the bird.” Like a good soldier I did what I was told, and watched as she marched down the gauntlet, cane in hand, and made it to the fence. She breathed a sigh of relief and pride, and proceeded to tell everyone there of her past encounters with this elusive bird. She then turned, looked at me, and said, “Thank you for offering me your help, but I can make it by myself.” Back she went, inch by inch, till she made it to her car, and off she went to see another bird.
As I struggle with my own battle with cancer and chronic pain, I can’t help but think back on this day. Ida’s sheer grit, stubbornness, determination, and never-quit attitude was a lesson for us all. Sometimes you just have to look at a seemingly difficult objective and just take it on head first, just do it and not make a big deal out of it. As I thought about writing this tonight, one of Ida’s favorite birds showed up at the window and whinnied just once. Nothing like Screech Owl and a distant train whistle to set a mood. Thanks, Ida. You were one of a kind and will be missed. Good night.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers: Nora Hanke
Visitors: Counter Rod Chase, Observer: nice assist from and conversations with Nora Hanke from 9am-2pm. Marty MacIntyre stopped by with friend for an hour in early afternoon.
Also abundant and informative chats with a few dozen visitors who came by in a slow flow all day.
Weather: Low winds at 0-3 mph/0-4.8 kph only crept to 0-5/0-8 from 9 am-Noon and dropped back to 0-3 mph/0-4.8 kph thereafter. Direction was NW thru noon then crept to N for rest of the watch. Despite forecast the cloud cover was 80% at the start and increased to 95% thru the day. Morning clouds, esp. to the north were thin and allowed enough thermal lift to get a glider and the raptors (local...) to get fair height. In the afternoon thicker clouds cancelled that. Down on earth visibility was 25 mi./40 km everywhere except E to SSW which was fogged to less than half of that distance until last two hours. Temp: 64 F/17.8 C rose slowly to 65/18.3 by 10am before sliding back to starting temps for rest of the day. No precipitation.
Raptor Observations: Low note = no migrants today...
High note = a local American Kestrel who swooped in very close to then land on N tower so she could snack [Cricket Alert] on the two crickets in her talons. AK rested for 2 minutes and then swooped into the low oaks and wasn't seen again :-( other Local raptors: TV 8 (they showed how low the morning thermals had less and less height all day); CH 5; RT's 6.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Ravens 3, Eastern Kingbird 1, Cedar Waxwings 2. Zero Monarchs. Predictions: Saturday Increasing clouds, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Coin flip so I'll try both days. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
I recorded the following this evening at my Grafton High School Nighthawk Watch spot. (The actual spot is adjacent to the Municipal Center, but overlooks the high school. Prior to the building of the new high school, there was no separation of the two.)
Canada Goose - 1 Mourning Dove - 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWK - 44 (including a group of 26 heading south over Grafton Center, and 16 heading south over the Quinsigamond River two minutes later) Chimney Swift - 32 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Blue Jay - 1 American Crow - 1 Barn Swallow - 3 European Starling Eastern Bluebird - 8 House Sparrow American Goldfinch - 3 Chipping Sparrow - 2 Common Grackle - 1
-- ------------------------- John Liller Mathematics Department Goalkeeper Coach, Girls Varsity Soccer 81 Providence St. Worcester, MA 01604 Phone 508-754-5302 Fax 508-754-6571 <john.liller...>
WORCESTER ACADEMY is a co-ed day and boarding school for grades 6 to 12 and postgraduates. Our urban setting, diverse community, and challenging curriculum provide students with a solid, real-world education. Information at www.worcesteracademy.org.
Date: 8/23/19 2:02 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ida Giriunas
I got an email from Peter Bruni, Ida's nephew, 3 days ago informing me that Ida died that day (Tuesday). I'm surprised that I have not seen any notice on Massbird yet. Today I saw Peter at Marini Farm and he told me that there would be a service of some kind at IRWS in Topsfield around Oct. 12, but I'm not sure of the date. We'll have plenty of notice soon, I suspect. I'm sorry not to have any more information, but wanted to get the word out. -- Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. <jim.berry3...>
So sad to hear about Ida's death. I loved this wonderful woman - such an inspiration!! Don and I were on her Machias trip over 25 years ago and every time I have seen her in the past year or two I always wondered how she kept up her energy and her spark. Still leading pelagic trips and walks, still going after rarities! Her love for birds and birding is what has kept her going. I remember going to a retirement party for Janet Haywood of Mt Auburn Cemetery many years ago and hearing that Ida couldn't be there because she'd been diagnosed with leukemia. I never thought that I would see her again but time after time she recovered from her various illnesses and accidents. I remember a few years ago running into her and her friend Molly in Rowley where I went to photograph the large flock of glossy ibis that had been reported. She was of course asking me if I had picked out the White-faced Ibis there. She had recently been ill, which I was aware of, and I was so glad to see her ! there that I gave her a big hug. Of course my enthusiasm almost knocked her down but fortunately I quickly realized I needed to be more careful!! Luckily she had her canes for added support!
I will miss Ida very much as we all will!! There will never be anyone else like her!! By the way, she has a plank on the lot 1 boardwalk with her name on it. I was there yesterday to watch the tree swallows soaring and saw it again and was thinking about her and wondering how she was. I hadn't seen the posts yet so didn't know the sad news of her passing. But another plank with a message about her love of birds might be nice!
Date: 8/23/19 10:02 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Giriunas Antarctica
Thanks to George Gove for the following post.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
<barb620...>
*
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 08:50:18 -0400
From: <gwgove...>
Subject: Ida Giriunas Antarctica
One of the things I remember about Ida is from an excerpt of the book "End of the Earth: Voyages to Antarctica" by Peter Matthiessen. This book recounts a Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) trip from Hobart Tasmania to Antarctica in which Ida participated. I used to have the excerpt but I cannot find it; however, I shall recount what I remember of it.
The first stop on the trip was at MacQuarrie Island. The procedure for the stops on these trips was for the ship to anchor offshore and participants would descend a ladder over the side to a platform at the water's edge and then board a Zodiac for the trip to land.
In Ida's enthusiasm, she was the first to go down the ladder and be on the platform. At that moment, the ship rolled toward the platform, submerging it and Ida at least to her waist. The rest of the participants looked on in horror and when Ida came up, all asked if she was OK. Although Ida was wet, this had not dampened her spirits or her enthusiasm.
Date: 8/23/19 8:18 am From: Riley, Sean M (DCR) <sean.m.riley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Adult Little Blue & 2 Whimbrel Belle Isle 9am
Sean Riley
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation - Supervisor
Department of Conservation & Recreation
Eliot House - 1 Eliot Circle, Revere
Work Phone: 1-617-312-0971
Date: 8/23/19 8:13 am From: Bob Crowley <crbob...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ida
Sometime it is the littlest things you remember about a person. On the last day of December, 1999 while birding with a BBC group at the Salisbury State Park Ida told the group always check the Birch Trees for Redpolls feeding on the catkins. Within minutes at the first Birch we came to we had Redpolls feeding on the catkins. Whenever I see a Redpoll I think of that day with Ida. A remarkable lady
Date: 8/23/19 7:30 am From: Mollie Taylor <mbird49...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ida
To the many friends of Ida Giriunas Ida's family is planning a memorial service for her in the fall.. When the plans are finalized, it willbe reported on massbird and you are all invited to attend. Mollie TaylorDanvers
Date: 8/23/19 5:21 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fw: Ida's passing and two thoughts
I'm forwarding this email to the MassBird community for input, but have removed the photos that were attached...
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Lynette Leka
Newbury, MA 01951
email: <lynette.leka...>
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...>To: "<lynetteleka...>" <lynetteleka...>Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019, 8:52:11 PM EDTSubject: Ida's passing and two thoughts
Hi Lynette,
I'm saddened to hear of Ida's passing.
I'm a birder from Washington State who journeyed to Massachusetts to attend the Hydrographer Canyon (HC) BBC trip last August. I got the chance to meet Ida with whom I had e-mailed many times over the last several years leading up to the trip. I really enjoyed speaking with her and could see that she was a vastly admired member of the Massachusetts (and New England) birding community. A friend of mine was to be on this weekend's BBC HC trip and let me know of Ida's passing. I have been reading all the tributes to Ida and saw your message with a thought about how to memorialize her.
Several years ago when I was President of the Washington Ornithological Society, we were able to work with a group of birders and amend a bench that had been placed at a popular birding location in coastal Washington to memorialize a mother and son birding team who had a great impact on the Washington birding community. Attached is a photo of the plaque that is on their memorial bench.
This may be a way to memorialize Ida so that people can still learn about Ida's impact on the birding community.
I'm also attaching a photo of a plaque dedicated to my father at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR in southern New Jersey. The East Pool of that refuge was renamed the John Danzenbaker Pool in his honor. We had a ceremonial at the unveiling of that plaque. That's another idea of how to honor Ida's memory.
Just my two thoughts.
Thanks for your e-ear.
Jim--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-702-9395
<jdanzenbaker...>
