4:30pm. Weather: bright & sunny but cool, still.
A later afternoon visit to the patch. Usual garden & park species on offer but a relaxing diversion.
Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin.
Herring Gull - over.
Greenfinch - heard.
Crow, Chaffinch, Jay, Ring-Necked Parakeet.
13 species.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Slocum's River, Dartmouth, MA, USA, 19/09/2009
8am. Weather: bright, sunny, warming up from a chill morning.
The last day of a fantastic holiday & my first organised walk with a local conservation group, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) in the hope of seeing some of the migrants coming through the area. There was a good crowd for the walk on a chilly morning & we all set off with a couple of experts at the lead, both called Mike. One Mike was able to mimic a screech owl to amazing affect as it attracted scolding birds from nearby, allowing some fantastic views.
Carpark:
Starling - on overhead wires.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - another couple of tiny, buzzing birds seen for a second or two before buzzing away. Later another couple (or the same ones?) were duelling over a field passed by the path. It will be nice to eventually get my binoculars on some!
Chipping Sparrow - in pines near to carpark, easily pointed out by our guides.
Meadow:
Northern Mockingbird - a couple flying around, perching on fenceposts & treetops.
Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow.
Savannah Sparrow - streaky chest & notched tail, seen in sunlight to confirm my identification earlier in the week from Smith Neck Road.
Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch.
Woodland:
White-Breasted Nuthatch - one of the first of the large group attracted by the screech owl calling from Mike. It approached very close above our heads before moving away.
Black-Capped Chickadee & Tufted Titmouse - also in the attracted group above our heads.
Eastern Towhee - attracted to the lower level shrub, but it remained fairly discreet throughout. It was identified first by its voice & then its impressive plumage which seemed almost out of place in the gloomy understorey.
Carolina Wren (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Bluejay.
Black-Throated Green Warbler - the main point of the screech owl impression was to lure any late summer migrants & we were rewarded when the first warbler was picked up. Another with bright plumage it flitted about the canopy, more wary than the more common birds but still close enough for a good sighting, my first warbler.
Black & White Warbler - another fantastic warbler within the group of mixed woodland birds, like the black-throated this elegant individual was not as prominent but was no less striking for it & it didn't hang around long either.
Glade:
Eastern Peewee - a few fly-catching from posts & branches in the woodland clearing.
Common Yellowthroat - by the waterside, skulking in the undergrowth. I caught a brief glimpse of its distinctive plumage, well camouflaged in the foliage.
Leaving:
Cooper's Hawk - a hawk rattled past, glimpsed through the trees, but it was enough for one of the Mikes to call out as a Cooper's, my first confirmed sighting, but I hope to see one for longer than a few seconds as it rushes by.
Cedar Waxwing - heard by another member of the group.
Turkey Vulture - drifted over nearby fields.
A great walk, very educational & helpful for my American birding skills especially for the troublesome sparrow species. I was also delighted to see my first couple of new world warblers & hope to see many more.
23 species, 6 new species!
The last day of a fantastic holiday & my first organised walk with a local conservation group, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) in the hope of seeing some of the migrants coming through the area. There was a good crowd for the walk on a chilly morning & we all set off with a couple of experts at the lead, both called Mike. One Mike was able to mimic a screech owl to amazing affect as it attracted scolding birds from nearby, allowing some fantastic views.
Carpark:
Starling - on overhead wires.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - another couple of tiny, buzzing birds seen for a second or two before buzzing away. Later another couple (or the same ones?) were duelling over a field passed by the path. It will be nice to eventually get my binoculars on some!
Chipping Sparrow - in pines near to carpark, easily pointed out by our guides.
Meadow:
Northern Mockingbird - a couple flying around, perching on fenceposts & treetops.
Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow.
Savannah Sparrow - streaky chest & notched tail, seen in sunlight to confirm my identification earlier in the week from Smith Neck Road.
Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch.
Woodland:
White-Breasted Nuthatch - one of the first of the large group attracted by the screech owl calling from Mike. It approached very close above our heads before moving away.
Black-Capped Chickadee & Tufted Titmouse - also in the attracted group above our heads.
Eastern Towhee - attracted to the lower level shrub, but it remained fairly discreet throughout. It was identified first by its voice & then its impressive plumage which seemed almost out of place in the gloomy understorey.
Carolina Wren (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Bluejay.
Black-Throated Green Warbler - the main point of the screech owl impression was to lure any late summer migrants & we were rewarded when the first warbler was picked up. Another with bright plumage it flitted about the canopy, more wary than the more common birds but still close enough for a good sighting, my first warbler.
Black & White Warbler - another fantastic warbler within the group of mixed woodland birds, like the black-throated this elegant individual was not as prominent but was no less striking for it & it didn't hang around long either.
Glade:
Eastern Peewee - a few fly-catching from posts & branches in the woodland clearing.
Common Yellowthroat - by the waterside, skulking in the undergrowth. I caught a brief glimpse of its distinctive plumage, well camouflaged in the foliage.
Leaving:
Cooper's Hawk - a hawk rattled past, glimpsed through the trees, but it was enough for one of the Mikes to call out as a Cooper's, my first confirmed sighting, but I hope to see one for longer than a few seconds as it rushes by.
Cedar Waxwing - heard by another member of the group.
Turkey Vulture - drifted over nearby fields.
A great walk, very educational & helpful for my American birding skills especially for the troublesome sparrow species. I was also delighted to see my first couple of new world warblers & hope to see many more.
23 species, 6 new species!
Friday, 18 September 2009
Lloyd Centre, Dartmouth, MA, USA, 18/09/2009
5:10pm. Weather: bright, sunny, cool.
The next port of call after Allen's Pond with Dinha. This time to the actual centre & not the state beach. This place has osprey nesting platforms though the fish hawks were long past breeding it had a nice selection of waterside & woodland habitat.
Feeders:
Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch.
Waterside:
Great Egret, Black-Capped Chickadee.
Belted Kingfisher - zipped along the watercourse & behind the dense trees of an inlet, unmistakable especially after seeing one a few days before.
5 species.
The next port of call after Allen's Pond with Dinha. This time to the actual centre & not the state beach. This place has osprey nesting platforms though the fish hawks were long past breeding it had a nice selection of waterside & woodland habitat.
Feeders:
Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch.
Waterside:
Great Egret, Black-Capped Chickadee.
Belted Kingfisher - zipped along the watercourse & behind the dense trees of an inlet, unmistakable especially after seeing one a few days before.
5 species.
Mass Audubon Allen's Pond, Westport, MA, USA, 18/09/2009
3:40pm. Weather: bright, sunny, cool, stiff breeze.
An afternoon visit to a local reserve with Dinha. A brisk walk on a windy beach though not too many species about a nice place with potential.
Beach:
Eider, Double-Crested Cormorant.
Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover - flying along the waves in a small group & one or two plovers on the tide line.
Inland:
Northern Harrier - ringtail, quatering above the marshy vegetation inland between the beach & the pond.
Pond:
Great Back-Backed Gull, Herring Gull.
Great Egret - on the distant far shore within the estuary.
Mute Swan, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Crow.
12 species.
An afternoon visit to a local reserve with Dinha. A brisk walk on a windy beach though not too many species about a nice place with potential.
Beach:
Eider, Double-Crested Cormorant.
Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover - flying along the waves in a small group & one or two plovers on the tide line.
Inland:
Northern Harrier - ringtail, quatering above the marshy vegetation inland between the beach & the pond.
Pond:
Great Back-Backed Gull, Herring Gull.
Great Egret - on the distant far shore within the estuary.
Mute Swan, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Crow.
12 species.
Smith Neck Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA, 18/09/2009
9am. Weather: bright, sunny, cool.
Carolina Wren - I was woken by a loud 'pedalo, pedalo' birdsong I hadn't heard before, but quickly saw that it was coming from a wren perched atop a small tree in the garden. After that it was easy to identify from its distinctive voice. I believe this was the unidentified bird that I saw & heard on 27/10/2008 during an early morning walk.
Carolina Wren - I was woken by a loud 'pedalo, pedalo' birdsong I hadn't heard before, but quickly saw that it was coming from a wren perched atop a small tree in the garden. After that it was easy to identify from its distinctive voice. I believe this was the unidentified bird that I saw & heard on 27/10/2008 during an early morning walk.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Mass. Audubon Wellfleet Bay, Cape Cod, MA, USA, 15/09/2009
3pm-ish. Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
On the way back from P'town & a visit to this reserve was too good an opportunity to miss so we pulled in & I had an hour to get round. I walked through the woods down to the beach & then back, picking up several different species & a desire to go back to thoroughly explore the place.
Feeders:
Cardinal, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch.
Chipmunk.
Woodland:
Black-Capped Chickadee, American Crow.
Tree Martin - large numbers congregating over the marshes & passing through.
Shore:
Whimbrel - a lone bird on a nearby creek, a nice close view of a normally elusive migrant in the UK.
Double-Crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron - on the shoreside salt marshes.
Marshes:
Grey Catbird - on my way down to the shore I detected a skulking bird in the low foliage but I couldn't pick it out. On the way back I had more luck because there seemed to be a couple & eventually I got a view of a beautiful subtle grey bird, which I looked up afterwards & identified.
Black-Crowned Night Heron - heading back close to the visitors' centre I passed a couple of people stationary on the path who informed me of these birds standing still on low trees within a few metres of the path. There were 3 juveniles with big eyes & they were completely oblivious to the nearby people, an easy life tick!
Downy Woodpecker - in the trees, as expected.
Centre (another set of feeders):
Red-Winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow.
15 species, 2 new species.
On the way back from P'town & a visit to this reserve was too good an opportunity to miss so we pulled in & I had an hour to get round. I walked through the woods down to the beach & then back, picking up several different species & a desire to go back to thoroughly explore the place.
Feeders:
Cardinal, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch.
Chipmunk.
Woodland:
Black-Capped Chickadee, American Crow.
Tree Martin - large numbers congregating over the marshes & passing through.
Shore:
Whimbrel - a lone bird on a nearby creek, a nice close view of a normally elusive migrant in the UK.
Double-Crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron - on the shoreside salt marshes.
Marshes:
Grey Catbird - on my way down to the shore I detected a skulking bird in the low foliage but I couldn't pick it out. On the way back I had more luck because there seemed to be a couple & eventually I got a view of a beautiful subtle grey bird, which I looked up afterwards & identified.
Black-Crowned Night Heron - heading back close to the visitors' centre I passed a couple of people stationary on the path who informed me of these birds standing still on low trees within a few metres of the path. There were 3 juveniles with big eyes & they were completely oblivious to the nearby people, an easy life tick!
Downy Woodpecker - in the trees, as expected.
Centre (another set of feeders):
Red-Winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow.
15 species, 2 new species.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Provincetown Whale Watching, MA, USA, 14/09/2009
4:30pm. Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
After a drive up the Cape, via a stop-off for lunch at Nauset Light Beach, Kim & I checked into the hotel & were soon out for a walk in P'town. Whale watching was one big thing I wanted to do so we investigated on the dock & found that the last trip of the day was due to disembark. We decided to get on board after popping back to the hotel to don some warmed clothes & to pick up optical equipment. Then we were off on what proved to be a fantastic voyage, an undoubted highlight of the holiday.
Dockside:
Falcon sp. - not sure what it was, smaller than a peregrine but was too quickly through for identification.
Common Grackle, Eider, Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Laughing Gull, Double-Crested Cormorant.
Pelagic:
Common Tern - large numbers diving into the water off-shore of Race Point beach.
Great Shearwater - the first obvious shearwater, first a few individuals then larger groups. Fairly easy to identify from its size & markings - my first shearwater.
Sooty Shearwater - also easy to identify, completely dark. In good numbers but not as numerous as the great shearwaters, though it mixed freely with them.
Red-Necked Phalarope - I spotted a raft of waders & immediately knew they were phalaropes, quickly identified as red-necked. The boat approached quite close before they took flight, but then settled quickly on the waves again. Another fantastic life tick.
Humpback Whale - I was a little skeptical about whether we'd see any whales & if we did how close we'd get but I was proved completely wrong because we saw whales almost as soon as we hit open water, though we were actually still close to the shore. Then the boat was also able to get within a few metres as the magnificent creatures gracefull crested the waves as they swam & then showed the rapt audience on the boat their flukes as they dove beneath the waves. We were even lucky enough to accompany a mother & her calf for a few minutes. An amazing experience.
Minke Whale - pointed out by out guide, I saw it's crescent dorsal fin as it swam rapidly away.
Harbour Seal - heading back as the sun set over a swarm of dogfish, a couple of heads poked above the waves.
11 species, 3 new.
After a drive up the Cape, via a stop-off for lunch at Nauset Light Beach, Kim & I checked into the hotel & were soon out for a walk in P'town. Whale watching was one big thing I wanted to do so we investigated on the dock & found that the last trip of the day was due to disembark. We decided to get on board after popping back to the hotel to don some warmed clothes & to pick up optical equipment. Then we were off on what proved to be a fantastic voyage, an undoubted highlight of the holiday.
Dockside:
Falcon sp. - not sure what it was, smaller than a peregrine but was too quickly through for identification.
Common Grackle, Eider, Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Laughing Gull, Double-Crested Cormorant.
Pelagic:
Common Tern - large numbers diving into the water off-shore of Race Point beach.
Great Shearwater - the first obvious shearwater, first a few individuals then larger groups. Fairly easy to identify from its size & markings - my first shearwater.
Sooty Shearwater - also easy to identify, completely dark. In good numbers but not as numerous as the great shearwaters, though it mixed freely with them.
Red-Necked Phalarope - I spotted a raft of waders & immediately knew they were phalaropes, quickly identified as red-necked. The boat approached quite close before they took flight, but then settled quickly on the waves again. Another fantastic life tick.
Humpback Whale - I was a little skeptical about whether we'd see any whales & if we did how close we'd get but I was proved completely wrong because we saw whales almost as soon as we hit open water, though we were actually still close to the shore. Then the boat was also able to get within a few metres as the magnificent creatures gracefull crested the waves as they swam & then showed the rapt audience on the boat their flukes as they dove beneath the waves. We were even lucky enough to accompany a mother & her calf for a few minutes. An amazing experience.
Minke Whale - pointed out by out guide, I saw it's crescent dorsal fin as it swam rapidly away.
Harbour Seal - heading back as the sun set over a swarm of dogfish, a couple of heads poked above the waves.
11 species, 3 new.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Knowles Reserve Saltmarsh, Dartmouth, MA, USA, 13/09/2009
11:30am. Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
Another drive past.
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Starling.
Another drive past.
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Starling.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Round Hill Beach, MA, USA, 09/09/2009
2:30pm. Weather: sunny, bright & warm, some breeze.
A lovely afternoon on the beach, including a dip in the sea!
Ring-Billed Gull, Herring Gull, Laughing Gull (3) - all amazingly close, the closest ring-billed within a yard or two, as we ate our lunch, they particularly liked our fried scallops. The laughing gulls tended to hang at the back of the crowd.
Semipalmated Plover - on the shoreline.
Semipalmated Sandpiper - also on the shoreline with the plovers; larger than those seen at Lloyd State Beach, with less extensive buff chest but not as pale as sanderling. Identified using the Sibley guide I'd taken with me, though I'd like to see more in the way of 'peeps' to be completely confident.
Mallard - 2 juveniles close in on the water.
Tree Swallow - moving through southwards.
Double-Crested Cormorant, Mourning Dove, Great Black-Backed Gull, Osprey.
11 species, 1 new.
A lovely afternoon on the beach, including a dip in the sea!
Ring-Billed Gull, Herring Gull, Laughing Gull (3) - all amazingly close, the closest ring-billed within a yard or two, as we ate our lunch, they particularly liked our fried scallops. The laughing gulls tended to hang at the back of the crowd.
Semipalmated Plover - on the shoreline.
Semipalmated Sandpiper - also on the shoreline with the plovers; larger than those seen at Lloyd State Beach, with less extensive buff chest but not as pale as sanderling. Identified using the Sibley guide I'd taken with me, though I'd like to see more in the way of 'peeps' to be completely confident.
Mallard - 2 juveniles close in on the water.
Tree Swallow - moving through southwards.
Double-Crested Cormorant, Mourning Dove, Great Black-Backed Gull, Osprey.
11 species, 1 new.
Knowles Reserve Saltmarsh, Dartmouth, MA, USA, 09/09/2009
12pm. Weather: bright & sunny, warm.
Heading to town I asked Kim to pull over for a quick scan of the marsh.
Ring-Billed Gull - beachside.
Belted Kingfisher - perched on a prominent branch on the marsh, a large kingfisher soon identified from its striking appearance & size. It flew strongly to a couple of perching spots where it remained until I left.
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret - also on the marshes.
Mourning Dove - on the overhead wires.
'Peep' - flew quickly through, out to the shore, to quick to identify.
Turkey Vulture, Osprey - both over.
Heading to town I asked Kim to pull over for a quick scan of the marsh.
Ring-Billed Gull - beachside.
Belted Kingfisher - perched on a prominent branch on the marsh, a large kingfisher soon identified from its striking appearance & size. It flew strongly to a couple of perching spots where it remained until I left.
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret - also on the marshes.
Mourning Dove - on the overhead wires.
'Peep' - flew quickly through, out to the shore, to quick to identify.
Turkey Vulture, Osprey - both over.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Martha's Vineyard, MA, USA, 08/09/2009
Arrived 11:30am, until nightfall.
Weather: warm but some cloud, hazy sunshine.
All day visit to the famous island for some sight-seeing which also meant a few species were spotted throughout the day.
Padanaram to Wood's Hole:
Great White Egret, Mourning Dove.
Wood's Hole Ferry Crossing:
Osprey - sitting on a nesting platform on the quay, unbothered by the ferry pulling out.
Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull.
Vineyard Haven:
Red-Tailed Hawk, House Sparrow - as we had lunch in the quayside pagoda.
North Tisbury:
American Goldfinch - feeding in a garden, surprisingly the first time I'd seen one.
Starling.
The Lagoon:
Double-Crested Cormorant & American Crow - on an area of water next to the town whilst we waited for the tour bus.
Northern Mockingbird - a couple flying about squabbling which allowed a good view, showing their striking grey & white plumage, so I subsequently had no problem identifying another new species.
Green Heron - a juvenile flew to the top of tall tree next to the lagoon where it perched for a while trying to blend in which it was fairly successful at. The relative close-up & time it stayed allowed me to have a good look which allowed me to retrospectively identify the one I'd seen at Padanaram a few days earlier, especially when it flew off back to the waterside.
Oak Bluffs:
Osprey - 3 soaring & calling over the town.
Aquinnah:
Seal, Eider - on the sea off the cliffs.
Black Scoter - also in the sea, a black bird with a bright yellow 'knob'; although a distant view a easy one to identify.
Skunk - unbelievably confident (there are no predators on the island) it strolled through the picnic area across the little main street & into another picnic area, where it threatened to raise its tail to a curious dog before the dog was lifted up by its owner who ran away along with everyone else, me included! The skunk then nonchalantly carried on its way into the undergrowth.
Canada Goose.
Edgartown:
Double-Crested Cormorant - approx 100 around the bay.
18 species, 3 new.
Weather: warm but some cloud, hazy sunshine.
All day visit to the famous island for some sight-seeing which also meant a few species were spotted throughout the day.
Padanaram to Wood's Hole:
Great White Egret, Mourning Dove.
Wood's Hole Ferry Crossing:
Osprey - sitting on a nesting platform on the quay, unbothered by the ferry pulling out.
Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull.
Vineyard Haven:
Red-Tailed Hawk, House Sparrow - as we had lunch in the quayside pagoda.
North Tisbury:
American Goldfinch - feeding in a garden, surprisingly the first time I'd seen one.
Starling.
The Lagoon:
Double-Crested Cormorant & American Crow - on an area of water next to the town whilst we waited for the tour bus.
Northern Mockingbird - a couple flying about squabbling which allowed a good view, showing their striking grey & white plumage, so I subsequently had no problem identifying another new species.
Green Heron - a juvenile flew to the top of tall tree next to the lagoon where it perched for a while trying to blend in which it was fairly successful at. The relative close-up & time it stayed allowed me to have a good look which allowed me to retrospectively identify the one I'd seen at Padanaram a few days earlier, especially when it flew off back to the waterside.
Oak Bluffs:
Osprey - 3 soaring & calling over the town.
Aquinnah:
Seal, Eider - on the sea off the cliffs.
Black Scoter - also in the sea, a black bird with a bright yellow 'knob'; although a distant view a easy one to identify.
Skunk - unbelievably confident (there are no predators on the island) it strolled through the picnic area across the little main street & into another picnic area, where it threatened to raise its tail to a curious dog before the dog was lifted up by its owner who ran away along with everyone else, me included! The skunk then nonchalantly carried on its way into the undergrowth.
Canada Goose.
Edgartown:
Double-Crested Cormorant - approx 100 around the bay.
18 species, 3 new.
Gooseberry Island, Westport, MA, USA, 07-Sep-2009
1:30pm. Weather: sunny & warm; shirtsleeves.
Another nearby venue that holds good species especially during migration season. The weather was lovely & the sea was blue & clear, & looked very tempting, almost too nice to continue birding, however we walked the lengthy path to the end of the 'island', looped round & came back.
Another nearby venue that holds good species especially during migration season. The weather was lovely & the sea was blue & clear, & looked very tempting, almost too nice to continue birding, however we walked the lengthy path to the end of the 'island', looped round & came back.
Double-Crested Cormorant - many on the rocky shoreline.
Tree Swallow - as previously there were many of these on migration, constantly passing overhead. It may have been that a couple of bank swallows were also in some of the small flocks I observed but it was very difficult to pick one out because they were so fast moving.
CEDAR WAXWING - a couple birds alighted on a tall shrub along the path & with the sun behind them I had to get quite close before I could make the ID. I later confirmed it from photos I took, an unexpected life-tick because I associate waxwings (the bohemian species) birds with winter in Europe!
Northern Harrier - a lone ring-tail was quartering over the southern tip of the island & was visible throughout our walk in that section. One of my favourites & fortunately apparently much easier to see in the US than is its persecuted UK counterpart.
Osprey - overhead with a sizeable fish in its claws.
Barn Swallow - I endeavoured to concentrate on any swallows that continued to flow over the island & was rewarded with a different species amongst the majority of tree swallows, one that is familar from the UK.
Herring Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - as we neared the carpark I noticed what looked like an oversize insect buzzing around, but quickly realised that it was a hummingbird. Too large & fast for an insect but too small to be any other bird. Unfortunately it was soon good & I didn't get a clear look but unmistakably a hummingbird, my first, & ruby-throated is the only species around in the area at this time of year.
10 species, 2 new.
Later on Smith Neck Road: Peregrine - flew up the road towards Apponagansett.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Demarest Lloyd State Beach, MA, USA, 07/09/2009
12:00pm. Weather: sunny, bright & warm.
The Lloyd Centre & Park are nearby sanctuararies that I'd been hoping to check out for a while so I went to the State Beach with Kim's father. However we assumed, wrongly, that it was the same place as the Lloyd Centre but we had a nice walk with some good species.
Carpark:
Double-crested Cormorant - flying about the beach.
Eastern Wood Pewee - I spotted it in a small tree across the carpark, fairly drab but it characteristically darted back & forth in search of insects before flitting away.
Beach:
Semipalmated Plover - we were tipped off by other walkers that these confiding birds were on the beach just off the path so we diverted to take a look & were rewarded with some close views as at least half a dozen scuttled about the surf.
Eider - on the inshore waters.
Loop Walk:
Osprey - overhead as we walked the path approaching the pond.
Tree Swallow - all over the park on what seemed to be a steady migration, another new species to me.
George's Pond:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron & more cormorant, plus my first mosquito of the day.
Beach:
Herring Gull, Ring-Billed Gull.
Saltmarsh:
Snowy Egret - elegantly feeding in the muddy run-off from a small area of saltmarsh at the northeast of the park.
Least Sandpiper - a couple of waders were also picked up feeding around the egret but it took a while for me to be happy with the identification of my first 'peep'. These were smaller than the semipalmated plovers I'd seen earlier, plus photos I took showed a lack of semipalmated toes, & slightly lighter legs than black (though still dark, not yellow, presumably from the mud), plus a slightly down-curved bill & generally more streaking on the breast.
Kildeer - within yards of the sandpipers & a much easier bird to identify!
Leaving the park:
Starling, Mourning Dove.
16 species, 3 new.
The Lloyd Centre & Park are nearby sanctuararies that I'd been hoping to check out for a while so I went to the State Beach with Kim's father. However we assumed, wrongly, that it was the same place as the Lloyd Centre but we had a nice walk with some good species.
Carpark:
Double-crested Cormorant - flying about the beach.
Eastern Wood Pewee - I spotted it in a small tree across the carpark, fairly drab but it characteristically darted back & forth in search of insects before flitting away.
Beach:
Semipalmated Plover - we were tipped off by other walkers that these confiding birds were on the beach just off the path so we diverted to take a look & were rewarded with some close views as at least half a dozen scuttled about the surf.
Eider - on the inshore waters.
Loop Walk:
Osprey - overhead as we walked the path approaching the pond.
Tree Swallow - all over the park on what seemed to be a steady migration, another new species to me.
George's Pond:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron & more cormorant, plus my first mosquito of the day.
Beach:
Herring Gull, Ring-Billed Gull.
Saltmarsh:
Snowy Egret - elegantly feeding in the muddy run-off from a small area of saltmarsh at the northeast of the park.
Least Sandpiper - a couple of waders were also picked up feeding around the egret but it took a while for me to be happy with the identification of my first 'peep'. These were smaller than the semipalmated plovers I'd seen earlier, plus photos I took showed a lack of semipalmated toes, & slightly lighter legs than black (though still dark, not yellow, presumably from the mud), plus a slightly down-curved bill & generally more streaking on the breast.
Kildeer - within yards of the sandpipers & a much easier bird to identify!
Leaving the park:
Starling, Mourning Dove.
16 species, 3 new.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Apponagansett Bay & Smith Neck Road, South Dartmouth, MA, USA, 06/09/2009
5:45pm. Weather: bright & sunny, cool; dusky.
The start of a two week holiday/vacation in New England where I hope to see some late summer migrants in the locations I'm set to visit. A nice walk to Apponagansett helped with the jetlag & as always there were a few nice species about.
Quayside:
American Herring Gull, Mallard, Great Black-Backed Gull, Ring-Billed Gull.
Knowles Reserve Saltmarsh:
Mourning Dove - perched on overhead wires at the edge of the marsh.
Green Heron - seen from afar it rose above the vegetation & quickly disappeared into it, but it had a distinctive small heron look & wing-shape so that I was later able to narrow down the species, which was also a life-tick.
Apponagansett Beach:
Osprey - at fist I thought it was a gull but soon realised it was one of those late summer migrants I was hoping to see. It soared across the bay & then flew low over the water apparently dragging its feet in the water, before it later perched atop a boat's mast for a while. It was the first of many I saw on the holiday.
Path to Smith Neck Road:
Black-Capped Chickadee, Bluejay - as usual amongst the trees.
Savannah Sparrow - a small feeding party was picked up in some of the lower vegetation that ran alongside the path as it adjoined a horse's field. They were quite lively & afforded some decent views in the fading light especially as a couple perched on some cables overhead. However it took me a while to nail the ID from photos I had taken which showed a streaked breast & forked tail, rather bunting-like, but another life-tick at the start of the trip.
Smith Neck Road:
Northern Cardinal, American Robin - amongst the gardens along the road.
12 species, 2 new.
The start of a two week holiday/vacation in New England where I hope to see some late summer migrants in the locations I'm set to visit. A nice walk to Apponagansett helped with the jetlag & as always there were a few nice species about.
Quayside:
American Herring Gull, Mallard, Great Black-Backed Gull, Ring-Billed Gull.
Knowles Reserve Saltmarsh:
Mourning Dove - perched on overhead wires at the edge of the marsh.
Green Heron - seen from afar it rose above the vegetation & quickly disappeared into it, but it had a distinctive small heron look & wing-shape so that I was later able to narrow down the species, which was also a life-tick.
Apponagansett Beach:
Osprey - at fist I thought it was a gull but soon realised it was one of those late summer migrants I was hoping to see. It soared across the bay & then flew low over the water apparently dragging its feet in the water, before it later perched atop a boat's mast for a while. It was the first of many I saw on the holiday.
Path to Smith Neck Road:
Black-Capped Chickadee, Bluejay - as usual amongst the trees.
Savannah Sparrow - a small feeding party was picked up in some of the lower vegetation that ran alongside the path as it adjoined a horse's field. They were quite lively & afforded some decent views in the fading light especially as a couple perched on some cables overhead. However it took me a while to nail the ID from photos I had taken which showed a streaked breast & forked tail, rather bunting-like, but another life-tick at the start of the trip.
Smith Neck Road:
Northern Cardinal, American Robin - amongst the gardens along the road.
12 species, 2 new.
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