Sachuest Point NWR, Newport, RI, USA, 25-Mar-2011

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Drive out to RI to a great place to visit in winter for a speciality duck.
Weather: bright & sunny, cold, breezy (SE).
27 species

Brent Goose 27 total; 4 then 23.
Greater Scaup 8 approx.
Common Eider 20 +
Harlequin Duck 11 great ducks, one of the main reasons to come, initially on the rocks, then 5 on the Ocean Path.
Surf Scoter 10
White-winged Scoter 6 approx.
Black Scoter 20 +
Bufflehead 3
Common Goldeneye X - pair.
Red-breasted Merganser 4
Great Northern Diver X - Ocean Path.
Slavonian Grebe X
Northern Gannet 2 out over the sea.
Great Cormorant 2
Northern Harrier 1 ringtail.
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Sanderling 30 approx., also on the rocks.
Purple Sandpiper 7 on the rocks near the harlequins.
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
American Crow X
Carolina Wren X
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 1 singing on bushes.
Rusty Blackbird 1 singing from a shrub; distinctive bubbling song. A life-tick.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Smith Neck Road Creek & Backwoods, Bristol, MA, USA, 24-Mar-2011

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A walk around the woods & some time spent in the gardens in the area.
Weather: cold, cloudy, snow showers, some brightness, breezy.
12 species

Canada Goose X
Herring Gull X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Chipping Sparrow 1 with russet head, white throat.
Dark-eyed Junco 6 +
Northern Cardinal X
Common Grackle X over.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Apponagansett Beach & Bay inc. Knowles Beach & Marsh, Bristol, MA, USA, 20-Mar-2011

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A walk around the bay with Kim including a walk through the salt-marsh.
Weather: bright, sunny; chilly, cold wind.
15 species

Canada Goose 6 approx., couple of flocks.
American Black Duck 6
Greater Scaup 2
Common Eider 2
Bufflehead 20 + in small groups.
Red-breasted Merganser 20 small groups.
Red-throated Diver 1
Great Northern Diver 1
Slavonian Grebe 1
Turkey Vulture 1 distantly.
Ring-billed Gull 7 around & about, on Apponagansett beach & Smith Neck Road.
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 1 off Apponagansett beach.
American Crow 2 over the water.
American Robin 1 in trees along the trail.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk, UK, 12-Mar-2011

10:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: A trip to try for hawfinch although I was leaving it late. No hawfinches in the end but as I returned I took some time to walk along a small creek off to the side of the main arboretum which took me past a small damp hollow where there was some great activity & I picked up some nice woodland species. Past the hollow I passed an area of large dense bushes where a gentleman birder informed me he'd often seen firecrest. Although I didn't see any there I probably saw one in the hollow. Overall the day was a lovely early spring day with the birdlife responding with signs of exuberance for the beginning of the breeding season.
Weather: bright, cloudy, chilly, still.
30 species

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Common Pheasant X
Common Kestrel X
Common Moorhen X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 1 possible. Near a small creek to the side of the main arboretum, I heard drumming that sounded softer & more prolonged than great spotted woodpecker, but only heard it a couple times so couldn't nail it down. Further doubt was thrown on my thoughts after I spotted the GSW just afterwards, however this location is a good bet for LSW at this time of year.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Green Woodpecker 1 heard.
Eurasian Jay X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Carrion Crow X
Marsh Tit 1
Coal Tit X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Nuthatch X
Eurasian Treecreeper 2
Eurasian Wren X
Goldcrest 2 seen flitting about, after initially hearing one singing.
Firecrest 1 maybe; flitting in & out from the low shrubs around a small water hole near to a creek just off the main arboretum area. I glimpsed a dark eye-stripe on a tiny bird but frustratingly it didn't show itself again to confirm the sighting for definite.
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
Redwing 1
Song Thrush 1
Dunnock X
Common Chaffinch X
Eurasian Siskin 1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)