Blue Hills Reservation, Norfolk, MA, USA, 16-Jun-2012

10:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out for what turned out to be a long walk around Blue Hills reservation, culminating in an ascent of Chickatawbut Hill, before returning back to my car which was parked just off the Chickatawbut Ro. - Rte 28 intersection.
Weather: sunny, cool; then cloudy.
25 species

Chimney Swift X - a few overhead, visible through the foliage.
Downy Woodpecker 1 female.
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 in total; first two flew up from the Cedar Swamp, then another heard calling later.
Eastern Phoebe 1 attending to a nest within the car-park. It alighted on nearby rocks & branches between regular nest visits.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 atop a tree next to the compound's fence on the top of the hill.
Red-eyed Vireo X - heard.
Tree Swallow X - several using nest boxes placed inside the fence of the (weather station?) compound that is on top of Chickatawbut Hill. I observed them through the fence.
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 4 approx., including juvenile feeding party.
White-breasted Nuthatch X - 3 feeding groups including juveniles.
Eastern Bluebird 3 seen just after the warblers on the hill.
Wood Thrush 3 heard in total. First one heard from the Curve Path then two more on the way back to the car.
American Robin X
Ovenbird X - heard up to 10 in total.
Worm-eating Warbler 2 heard emitting their distinctive song. I heard the first at the first path intersection I came to from the side that has a steep rise from a boggy area. I waited a long time for it to show but it did not, however during that time I heard a second singing from further away but it didn't show either. Life-tick (sort of).
Pine Warbler X - several seen high in tree tops; indistinct yellowish undersides, notched tail.
Prairie Warbler X - heard on Skyline Path to Chickatawbut Hill from the small trees in that area. I heard the distinctive ascending song from what sounded like it was very close by, but I couldn't pick it/them out unfortunately. Life-tick (-ish).
Black-throated Green Warbler X - also heard on the Skyline to Chickatawbut Hill path, just after the prairie warbler, but again I wasn't able to pick it out from the foliage.
Eastern Towhee 4 in total; the first two were a make and female which scolded me as I walked, before I heard a couple more later.
Chipping Sparrow X - several across the area I walked including juvenile feeding parties.

Scarlet Tanager 2 in total; the first was a male flitting about the tree-tops from the Curve Path. It was unmistakable and a species I had hoped to see on the walk, so I was very pleased to see such a beautifully coloured species for the first time. As I finished the walk I saw another close to the carpark as I returned to my car, & after being drawn to it by its song.

Northern Cardinal X - as I neared the carpark.
Common Grackle X - just before reaching Chickatawbut Hill.
House Finch X
American Goldfinch 1 heard.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13320852

Blue Hills Reservoir, Norfolk, MA, USA, 15-Jun -2012

8:35 PM - 9:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Dusky visit to a nearby reservoir after reading on Massbird about the presence of a crepuscular summer specialty. I parked and walked anti-clockwise around the reservoir.
Weather: sunny, cool, dusk then dark.
5 species

Spotted Sandpiper 5 on reservoir-side on the north-side. Allowed close views although the light was fading.

Eastern Whip-poor-will X - first heard at 8:50pm, one at each end of the reservoir. On the northeast-side the call became more distant so I headed back to the car-park along the road, but just before I got there one flew up over the road & landed on the reservoir-side where it called for 2-3 minutes. A 'plane then flew over causing it to fly into the woods next to the reservoir. I was very lucky to see one rather than just hear them, a life-tick!

Tree Swallow X - over water & around nest boxes.
American Robin X
Song Sparrow 2 in reservoir-side reeds.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13203282

Allen's Pond--Quansett Trail, Bristol, MA, USA, 10-Jun-2012

1:30 PM - 4:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Second part of a thorough walkabout at Allens Pond, first part was the beach loop followed by the Quansett Trail all the way out to Reuben's Point, taking in Zylee Brook and the Western Overlook Trail.
Weather: hot & sunny; spectacular!
26 species

Mute Swan 2 adults plus chicks on Zylee Brook.
Gadwall 2 males, with white wing blocks on Zylee Brook.
Mallard 3 males on Allens Pond.
Green-winged Teal 2 , a pair on fresh Pond.
Willet 2 mating!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 female.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 heard.
Willow Flycatcher 1 in the small meadow just before Reuben's Point. It had two neat white wingbars & a V on its chest. Gave a 2-tone call note not far off but not quite 'peewee'. I checked the call & was able to identify - a life-tick.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 in & out to a nest box on Zylee Brook.
Red-eyed Vireo X - heard first but a brief glimpse later on. Later still, I couldn't miss a vireo sp. on a low branch along the trail with clean underparts, buff uppers, darker crown, ear coverts, eye stripe not beyond its eye, notched tail, dark eye with 'wheedh' call note. Field marks all identifying a juvenile red-eyed which was being fed by its parent.
Blue Jay 1 juvenile on the way back down the trail. It was being mobbed by a red-eyed vireo & a yellow warbler.
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee X - at Fresh Pond.
Tufted Titmouse X - heard.
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Veery 1 heard first, coming towards where I was standing on the path, then it flew through the clearing. My first (very brief) view of one.
Wood Thrush 2 just after the ovenbird, one showed itself then another. Small, raised crown.
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 4 atop the tall shrubs as I came to the end of the trail near the carpark, i.e., the last species seen.
Ovenbird X - a few heard at first, then at one point along the trail, thick in the woods, one popped up onto a fairly high branch, looked at me & flew off. It confused me at first because it wasn't on the ground but I soon clicked & realised what it was. A first sighting although I had already heard them many times before.
Common Yellowthroat 1 heard giving its distinctive repeating call.
American Redstart 1 male quickly moved through the canopy.
Yellow Warbler X - including one male that came very close as I stood taking photos of it.
Saltmarsh Sparrow 2 seen on separate occasions, one on way out, the other on the way back. Both low in the short marsh-grass on Allens Pond. I had the best look at the first one: good size, longish bill, small tail, yellowish lores(?). The second one looked smaller & greyer but I think it was more to do with the light & distance. Photos helped to identify them later on - life-tick.
Northern Cardinal 1 heard.
American Goldfinch 1 male.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13231033

Allen's Pond--Beach Loop, Bristol, MA, USA, 10-Jun-2012

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out almost all day roving around the Allen's pond reserve, mainly hoping to see seaside sparrows. I walked the beach loop then the Quansett trail out to Zylee Brook - to be covered in a separate submission.
A long walk with camera, no 'scope.
Weather: hot & sunny; spectacular!
25 species

Canada Goose 5 including a chick.
American Black Duck 1 female.
Common Eider X - at sea, all females.
Double-crested Cormorant X - on sea rocks.
Green Heron 1 in small reedbed next to carpark. Rusty head, steely body/wings, bright orange feet.
Turkey Vulture X - outside reserve boundaries.
Osprey 1 over marshes outside reserve boundaries.
Piping Plover X - a chick seen on the beach first, later, adults as well.
Killdeer X - the first of a few seen was doing its broken wing distraction display.
Willet X - first seen over the pond with distinctive white wing patches; later very noisy disputes were heard & I had better views as I walked along the path next to the pond. An easy life-tick.
Herring Gull X - over.
Least Tern X - several overhead making their way along the shore to a nesting colony, easy to identify due to their size. Life-tick.
Common Tern X - over.
Mourning Dove X
Tree Swallow X
American Robin X
Grey Catbird X - first seen next to thrasher.
Northern Mockingbird X - heard distantly first then a later flyby in the carpark.
Brown Thrasher 1 singing in bushes alongside the pond-side path. Very distinctive bird, it sang from atop a bush before heading into the undergrowth where it continued to sing. A mockingbird also started to sing followed by a catbird, all in a row, allowing a nice comparison of all their similar but different song styles!
Yellow Warbler 4 seen in total; first one was on bushes next to the beach, later I saw 3 flitting about the grass in the meadow next to the carpark. Easily identified, through distinctive, jewel-like all-yellow colour; a life-tick.
Song Sparrow X
Bobolink 1 male, flying from a wall along the meadow. Very distinctive plumage and song. I listened to its great voice for a wall, trying to get photos as it sallied back & forth over the meadow. Life-tick.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13221583

Smith Neck Road Creek & Backwoods, Bristol, MA, USA, 9-Jun-2012

4:00 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: First at 4pm then more at 8pm. Standing on the path & near the shed, getting nibbled by mozzies.
Weather: bright & sunny, warm.
11 species

Carolina Wren X
Veery 1 heard (the same as wood thrush) singing its distinctive song from deep in the woods - wonderful song! Life-tick.
Wood Thrush 1 heard singing its distinctive song from the woods.
American Robin X
Cedar Waxwing 2 atop trees in the front garden.
Common Yellowthroat X - heard singing in the woods. Not seen.
Yellow Warbler X - heard singing in the woods. Not seen.
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 1 male.
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch 1 male.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13031280