I kept the spring momentum going with a visit to Great Meadows NWR on a lovely summer day. The target species was MARSH WREN of which I saw many and heard more, for a life-tick. I also saw 13 Common Nighthawk flying in some sort of migration or display high above the river. It was quite a sight!
Sunday 1st, Great Meadows--NWR, Concord Unit, MA, USA.
An Olmsted Park patch visit the week after where I noted resident breeding species, although at Willow Pond I spotted a Hairy Woodpecker which does not appear to be a resident breeder.
Saturday 7th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Saturday 7th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
The next day I was down on the south coast with the family and on a walk to Apponagansett Beach, Dartmouth I was surprised to hear and then see a couple of male Prairie Warblers singing enthusiastically.
Sunday 8th, Apponagansett Beach, MA, USA.
A few days after that I was in Chicago on a mini-break and ended up at Lincoln Park Zoo where I enjoyed a nice walk around the south pond, where the most notable species was Green Heron.
Thursday 12th, Lincoln Park, IL, USA.
On returning to Boston, I was able to confirm breeding activity for several species on my local patch.
Sunday 15th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Next I visited Moose Hill and on my way there I spotted my first Massachusetts Fish Crow. Once at Moose Hill I had to wait around for quite a while before my target species eventually appeared, a life-tick DICKCISSEL. Well worth the wait! Other notable species at a lovely site were singing Scarlet Tanager and Bobolink.
Sunday 22nd, Route 9, MA, USA.
Sunday 22nd, Moose Hill, MA, USA.
My final Olmsted Park patch visit for more breeding birds or early movers:
Sunday 29th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 29th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 1 June 2014
May 2014
Spring migration, Magic May! 74 species from 24 checklists.
First of year Chimney Swifts arrived in Brookline, Saturday, 3rd May.
I was also able to make almost daily visits to Boston Public Garden which turned up a wonderful number and variety of species. Most notably on Wednesday 7th I joined a BBC walk, and along with a good selection of warblers, I was fortunate enough to tally two life-ticks in LEAST FLYCATCHER and AMERICAN WOODCOCK which flopped onto the ground right at the end of the walk!
Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.
I then visited the Olmsted Park patch and again got lucky at Willow Pond in the meadow area where a White-Eyed Vireo was lurking along with some Swamp Sparrows, both site-ticks.
Friday 9th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Friday 9th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
My sort of annual pilgrimage to Mount Auburn Cemetery was a soggy affair. It poured down so when I caught up to the BBC walk the group hadn't moved very far or seen too much. It was a good morning but with lower numbers seen that usual because of the rain.
Saturday 10th, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, MA, USA.
Followed by a few good yard birds, 11th and 12th: Magnolia, Yellow and Black-Throated Green Warbler.
Daily visits to Boston Public Gardens as migration entered its peak. Monday morning was particularly stunning with many warblers and other migrants in full voice, including life-tick BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER high in one of the trees, and one of my target species for this migration season. I also was excited to see another one of my target species in the gardens, a life-tick, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, which allowed excellent views.
Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.
First of year Common Nighthawks registered on my yard-list, Saturday 17th May.
Weekend Olmsted Park patch yielded a site-tick Prairie Warbler among the knotweed jungle.
Sunday 18th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 18th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 18th, Ward's Pond, MA, USA.
A couple days later I went on a nearby twitch for a special warbler and was delighted to see life-tick PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, very active along the river at Nahanton Park. I also saw my second Rose-Breasted Grosbeak there after only recently seeing my first.
Tuesday 20th, Nahanton Park, MA, USA.
Next day I visited another new location that I been reading was registering some good birds. I hoped to pick up a mourning warbler but was unsuccessful. However I did see a wide range of spring migrants, notably singing Veery and a few Scarlet Tanager.
Wednesday 21st, McLaughlin Woods, MA, USA.
Black-Throated Blue Warbler was another good yard bird, Friday 23rd.
My final May outing was to Leverett Pond, where breeding now seemed to be in full swing, with many Starling fledglings already, and a site-tick female Brown-Headed Cowbird also maybe in the area looking for hosts.
Saturday 31st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
First of year Chimney Swifts arrived in Brookline, Saturday, 3rd May.
I was also able to make almost daily visits to Boston Public Garden which turned up a wonderful number and variety of species. Most notably on Wednesday 7th I joined a BBC walk, and along with a good selection of warblers, I was fortunate enough to tally two life-ticks in LEAST FLYCATCHER and AMERICAN WOODCOCK which flopped onto the ground right at the end of the walk!
Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.
I then visited the Olmsted Park patch and again got lucky at Willow Pond in the meadow area where a White-Eyed Vireo was lurking along with some Swamp Sparrows, both site-ticks.
Friday 9th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Friday 9th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
My sort of annual pilgrimage to Mount Auburn Cemetery was a soggy affair. It poured down so when I caught up to the BBC walk the group hadn't moved very far or seen too much. It was a good morning but with lower numbers seen that usual because of the rain.
Saturday 10th, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, MA, USA.
Followed by a few good yard birds, 11th and 12th: Magnolia, Yellow and Black-Throated Green Warbler.
Daily visits to Boston Public Gardens as migration entered its peak. Monday morning was particularly stunning with many warblers and other migrants in full voice, including life-tick BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER high in one of the trees, and one of my target species for this migration season. I also was excited to see another one of my target species in the gardens, a life-tick, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, which allowed excellent views.
Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.
First of year Common Nighthawks registered on my yard-list, Saturday 17th May.
Weekend Olmsted Park patch yielded a site-tick Prairie Warbler among the knotweed jungle.
Sunday 18th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 18th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 18th, Ward's Pond, MA, USA.
A couple days later I went on a nearby twitch for a special warbler and was delighted to see life-tick PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, very active along the river at Nahanton Park. I also saw my second Rose-Breasted Grosbeak there after only recently seeing my first.
Tuesday 20th, Nahanton Park, MA, USA.
Next day I visited another new location that I been reading was registering some good birds. I hoped to pick up a mourning warbler but was unsuccessful. However I did see a wide range of spring migrants, notably singing Veery and a few Scarlet Tanager.
Wednesday 21st, McLaughlin Woods, MA, USA.
Black-Throated Blue Warbler was another good yard bird, Friday 23rd.
My final May outing was to Leverett Pond, where breeding now seemed to be in full swing, with many Starling fledglings already, and a site-tick female Brown-Headed Cowbird also maybe in the area looking for hosts.
Saturday 31st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
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