April 2016

After a couple non-birding weeks I was back to the patch and was surprised by patch-tick Peregrine Falcon flying over the softball pitch. The Red-Tailed Hawks also continued their courtship in the same area.

Saturday 16th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

A couple days later, with good weather, the migrants were starting to arrive. Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Palm Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Red-Winged Blackbird all in attendance.

I also found a couple of Hermit Thrush at Willow Pond and at Ward’s a site-tick Turkey Vulture drifted overhead.

Monday 18th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Monday 18th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Monday 18th, Ward’s Pond, MA, USA.

Later in the day, on the way back from Ikea I spotted an unmistakable American Kestrel hovering over the grass in a roadside field.

Monday 18th, Route 24, Old Landfill Field, MA, USA.

During the next week’s visits, I found a site-tick Savannah Sparrow on the Brookline side of Leverett Pond, not a species I was really expecting to find here. FOY Double-Crested Cormorant flew in and Northern Rough-Winged Swallow arrived. Yellow-Rumped Warbler reached a peak of 20, minimum.

Wednesday 20th, Thursday 21st & Saturday 23rd, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

Thursday 20th, Ward’s Pond, MA, USA.

The following week was notable for up to 6 Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, plus FOY Warbling Vireo, 2 Blue-Headed Vireo and 2 Black-Crowned Night Heron.

Monday 25th, Wednesday 26th & Thursday 28th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

My only visit to the Boston Public Gardens this month yielded 3 Hermit Thrush and a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet on Wednesday 27th.

The final visit to Leverett Pond this month resulted in 6 Chipping Sparrow on the south of the Brookline side, and FOY Baltimore Oriole. The 2 Red-Tailed Hawk were also noticeable over the softball pitches again where I by now assumed they were nesting in the nearby trees.

Saturday 30th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

March 2016

I again started the month with visits to the public gardens where increasing numbers of up to 20 Common Grackle heralded the spring.

Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Monday 7th & Tuesday 8th, Boston Public Garden, MA, USA.

An Olmsted Park visit in beautiful early spring weather provided the expected mix of winter and early spring migrants.

Sunday 13th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 13th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

The next week on Leverett Pond there was a male Green-Winged Teal that was apparently trying to woo a female Mallard! Also a notable Hairy Woodpecker and two displaying Red-Tailed Hawks over the softball pitch.

I managed two further visits later in the month when regular migrants and residents were recorded.

Sunday 20th, Sunday 26th & Wednesday 30th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

With full spring migration round the corner I decided to make Leverett Pond the main focus of my birding activities. I was really keen to see exactly what the site had to offer during May migration. In previous years I had favoured visiting Boston Public Gardens and chasing at other sites, for example, Mt. Auburn. However I wanted to give Leverett my full attention, see what migrants it attracted and to hopefully elevate my eBird list for the site.

February 2016

Three consecutive daily visits to the public gardens and the Mallards were back in numbers after the deep freeze. I also saw a FOY adult Common Grackle - the promise of spring to come.

Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

At the weekend I tried again, successfully this time, for the BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, which was pretty close to the shore for several minutes. A very handsome drake and a long sought after life-tick, the only disappointment was that I wasn’t able to get any photos because it was diving too frequently.

Sunday 7th, Kennedy Library Seawall, MA, USA.

The next week’s visits to the public gardens, with good numbers of American Robin seen one morning.

Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

Olmsted Park patch visit for a site-tick Lesser Scaup, one of the two that was previously at Willow Pond, where one still remained.

Sunday 21st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 21st, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

The next day I visited the public gardens where all the water had been drained from the pond. There was also a Northern Mockingbird in the 9/11 garden.

Monday 22nd, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

January 2016

A busy month to start the year, and to start the month, a couple of late Common Grackle in Pierce Park on Saturday 2nd.

I then decided to chase a couple of Massachusetts and life-ticks at local reservoirs: Northern Shoveler then REDHEAD and LESSER SCAUP respectively. The latter two were among some good numbers of wildfowl at Cambridge Reservoir, unfortunately though it was not the easiest place to view as there was no off-road parking.

Sunday 3rd, Arlington Reservoir, MA, USA.
Sunday 3rd, Cambridge Reservoir, MA, USA.

A Leverett Pond patch visit yielded regular winter species on Monday 18th.

A couple of visits to the public gardens were notable for the fast diminishing open water, though several Mallards tenaciously clung on to what was left.

Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

After winter storm Jonas bustled through the area I visited Leverett Pond again hoping for some different movement...and was rewarded with my first Massachusetts Bald Eagle. It flew from JP to the north of Leverett Pond, and because I was at the south of the pond, I was unfortunately unable to get photos, but this was a species I had been hoping to see for some time. Also notable was a dapper male Northern Pintail.

Sunday 24th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 24th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

A couple more public garden visits confirmed the weekend storm had finally driven the Mallards off the frozen pond. The next day I returned and was rewarded with a site-tick Fox Sparrow, which was foraging on the ground near Washington’s statue.

Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

Another Olmsted Park patch visit: Leverett Pond was notable for good numbers of Wood Duck and a couple of American Crow - not all that common here.

At Willow Pond were two Lesser Scaup, a good site-tick, and much easier and closer views than the ones I had earlier in the month at Cambridge Reservoir.

Wednesday 27th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Wednesday 27th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Wednesday 27th, Ward’s Pond, MA, USA.

I ended the month with another chase. This time a Barrow’s Goldeneye at the Kennedy Library Seawall, but I was unsuccessful. However I did see good numbers of winter sea ducks, enjoyed the walk and was able to experience a hotspot new to me (once I found my way through the construction site onto the actual wall!).

Saturday 30th, Kennedy Library Seawall, MA, USA.

November 2015

I started the month with a regular Boston Public Garden visit but was rewarded with a site-tick Cooper’s Hawk soaring over the city on Wednesday 4th.

A couple of weeks later I was off to Florida again for Thanksgiving with the family. Although on this trip I had less time to spend at some of the fantastic places there, I was still able to get out a few times.
I visited Venice Rookery for an excellent selection of resident and some migrants/over-wintering species, including a flock of very argumentative and noisy Black-Bellied Whistling Duck.

Saturday 21st, Venice Rookery, FL, USA.

A few days a later I went to Shamrock Park and was rewarded with some excellent close views of a favourite of mine: Florida Scrub Jay. A couple were in close attendance of a Loggerhead Shrike on both sides of the inter-coastal water. They were so engrossed they didn’t really seem to notice me at all. Along the waterway I also saw an immature YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON stalking through the mangrove roots, which was a nice life-tick.

Tuesday 24th, Shamrock Park, FL, USA.

On the way home I stopped by a little drainage pond on Bowdoin Road and saw more Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks as well as American Coot and Common Gallinule/Moorhen.

Tuesday 24th, Bowdoin Road, FL, USA.

On Thanksgiving day, as the turkey cooked, I managed to run out to Cedar Point Park, a new place to me. I went on the off-chance of seeing a reddish egret but did not, however it was a good walk and I saw a Bald Eagle nest with apparently recently fledged youngsters still in the area with the parents.

Thursday 26th, Cedar Point Park, FL, USA.

October 2015

I started the month at the Boston Public Gardens which yielded a notable Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker and Blackpoll Warbler on Monday 5th.

A week or so later I tried a new place, West Island, Fairhaven and I saw some good sea and shore birds. The highlight was a small salt-marsh creek that runs adjacent to the beach where 16 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 15 Semipalmated Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper, were all feeding.
After that I called in at another new spot and hoped to see or hear a reported SORA...which I did! As I was walking back out I heard a loud and distinct call from somewhere in the reeds. I conferred with another birder there who confirmed that it was the Sora calling, a life-tick by ear.
Other notables were flyover Red-Shouldered Hawk, Common Yellowthroat and Belted Kingfisher.

Saturday 10th, West Island, MA, USA.
Saturday 10th, Egypt Lane Ponds, MA, USA.

Back at the Boston Public Gardens on Monday 19th, there were some good fall migrants including an excellent White-Crowned Sparrow and a Swamp Sparrow, both with a group of mainly House Sparrows on the Charles Street side, as well as 3 Blackpoll Warbler still.

I ended the month’s efforts with a patch visit to Leverett Pond to record regular species, on Wednesday 21st.

September 2015

A slight uptick in outings with 3 visits to the public gardens, although the birding was pretty slow with American Redstart (3rd) and Black-Crowned Night Heron (21st) noteworthy among the regulars.

Thursday 3rd, Monday 14th & Monday 21st, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

Leverett Pond was a little more lively, with Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper (2nd and 15th) and Blackpoll Warbler (15th) most noteworthy.

Wednesday 2nd & Tuesday 15th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

August 2015

The dog days of summer only featured a couple visits to the public gardens. On the 25th I heard a flycatcher sing very briefly and not enough to identification.

The week after I observed several Cedar Waxwing and a few Yellow Warbler one of which even going to ground.

Tuesday 25th & Monday 31st, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

May 2015

Magic May again and 25 checklists submitted to eBird!

The first outing of the month was to Leverett Pond where I had a few expected migrants: 3 warblers and a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher.

Saturday 2nd, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

My FOY Chimney Swift arrived to back in Brookline, Saturday, 2nd.

Things then picked up. Returning from a family trip to Dartmouth I took a detour to twitch a Prothonotary Warbler at Willow Pond. Obviously a site-tick and excellent views of a stunning bird.

Sunday 3rd, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

My main focus this year was to leverage regular access to the Boston public gardens to pick-up as many migrating species as I could. Since it was on my way to work and many species have been seen here I wanted to find out what I could see if I concentrated my time here.
This effort began on the 4th with 5 warblers, Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher and a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. On the 5th, overnight and early morning rain had caused a bit of a “fall” and it was probably the best morning I’ve ever had at the gardens. There were 9 species of warbler including another Prothonotary Warbler (not the same one from Willow Pond though), Ovenbird and Northern Parula; also site-tick Wood Thrush, Eastern Towee and Scarlet Tanager.
The next day (6th) could not match that day but the Prothonotary Warbler was still present. My last visit of the week saw things “back-to-normal” and relatively quiet especially for May.

Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

A busy week was concluded with an outing to Mount Auburn Cemetery where I tallied 40 species, including 11 warblers in particular Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-Sided Warbler and life-tick TENNESSEE WARBLER singing loudly from a path-side tree but resolutely staying out of view! Other notables were Great Horned Owl, Blue-Headed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager and Orchard Oriole.

Friday 8th, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MA, USA.

Another weekend visit to Leverett Pond for American Redstart and Blackpoll Warbler among others on Sunday 9th.

Back to the public gardens for the week with usual warbler numbers moving through on Monday. The situation improved on Tuesday with a site-tick Northern Waterthrush among 8 warblers species. Wednesday produced a site-tick Nashville Warbler and a couple more Eastern Towee. Thursday went back to being quiet again.

Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

FOY Common Nighthawk arrived ‘home’ to Brookline, Friday, 25th.

Switching to Olmsted Park at the weekend, a singing Wood Thrush and another Nashville Warbler were present at Leverett.

Sunday 17th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 17th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

I managed three more public garden visits in the remaining weeks of the month, the first of which (21st) produced a fantastic and much wanted life-tick BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. I also saw Nashville Warbler and Wilson’s Warbler, both in the big willow tree next to the water. That morning I also bumped into the chief eBirder of Scotland who was visiting on holiday for the birds. I was able to show him and his wife around and I believe the Wilson's was a life-tick for him, which was great!

The next week’s visit (26th) was much quieter with only American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat representing the warblers. The final visit (28th) saw Black-and-White Warbler replace Yellowthroat alongside the American Redstart.

Thursday 21st, Tuesday 26th & Thursday 28th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

Also on the 26th, I chased but dipped a reported mourning warbler at Leverett Pond, but I did see Northern Rough-Winged Swallow and an Orchard Oriole in its apparent 'usual' spot.

The next day I was back in the morning but again dipped the mourning warbler, although the oriole was still there. On reaching Willow Pond I almost immediately saw a flycatcher which was active just off the road under the canopy. I took some pictures and fortunately recorded its song because I wasn’t sure what it was, but assumed "Traill's". After uploading the song to xeno-canto.org I was assured that it was a life-tick ACADIAN FLYCATCHER! A species I did not expect to see here as it’s not commonly reported in Suffolk county. A brilliant way to end another ‘Magic May’.

Tuesday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Wednesday 27th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Wednesday 27th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.



I did manage one more visit to Leverett Pond where everything seemed to be settling down for another breeding season on Saturday 30th.

April 2015

To start the month, a couple of Leverett Pond patch visits, the first of which was to see a site-tick Gadwall (4th), and the second (11th) for early spring migrants including Eastern Phoebe and Tree Swallow.

Saturday 4th & Saturday 11th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

I twitched but dipped a black-backed woodpecker, Sunday 12th, Forest Hills Cemetery, MA, USA.

I managed 3 visits to the public gardens in one week for more migrants, notably 3 Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker and likely Hermit Thrush both on the 13th.

Monday 13th, Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th, Boston Public Gardens, MA, USA.

On the weekend I visited Arnold Arboretum for the first time. I didn’t see an awful lot but enjoyed the walk and putting a place to the name.

Sunday 19th, Arnold Arboretum, MA, USA.

Only one Olmsted Park patch visit where notable migrants were limited to Ruby-Crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper.

Sunday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 26th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 26th, Ward’s Pond, MA, USA.

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.

April 2014

A slow start to the month with regulars at Olmsted Park.

Sunday 6th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 6th, Willow Pond, MA, USA
Saturday 12th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Saturday 12th, Willow Pond, MA, USA

However migration season gave notice with a wonderful HOODED WARBLER in Boston Public Gardens, albeit I had to view it from under an umbrella during an icy downpour!

Wednesday 23rd, Boston Public Garden, MA, USA

At the end of the month I dipped yellow-throated warbler at Nahanton Park but I did see first of year Palm Warbler and Tree Swallow there.

Sunday 27th, Nahanton Park, MA, USA

Boston Public Garden, Suffolk, MA, USA, 17-May-2013

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Visit before work. Mostly the warblers I was looking for were in a few trees near the south-west entrance, next to the water. The trees around the maintenance hut were quiet.
Weather: Bright and sunny, cool with a breeze.
14 species

Mallard X
American Robin X
European Starling X

American Redstart 1 female singing.
Magnolia Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 heard.

Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
Common Grackle X
Baltimore Oriole 2
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14151886

Boston Public Garden, Suffolk, MA, USA, 16-May-2013

5:35 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Quick visit after work.
8 species

Mallard X
Chimney Swift X
Warbling Vireo X - heard.
American Robin X
European Starling X
Common Yellowthroat 1 male near south-west entrance.
Baltimore Oriole 1 on west side of water.
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14140677

Boston Public Garden, Suffolk, MA, USA, 10-May-2013

2:20 PM - 3:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Quick lunch-time visit for any migrants.
Weather: bright and sunny; warm.
14 species

Mute Swan 2 , a pair on a nest, popular with visitors and their cameras.
Mallard X
Herring Gull X
Rock Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Eastern Kingbird 1 perched high on tree at the north-side of the park. It flew off further north out of the park.
Warbling Vireo X
European Starling X

Black-and-white Warbler X - several, male and female.
Northern Parula X
Yellow Warbler 1 high in a willow tree near the maintenance shed.
Yellow-rumped Warbler X

Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14064157

Boston Public Garden, Suffolk, MA, US, 30-Nov-2012

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Downtown after job interviews I met with Kim & tried to locate a new owl species in the gardens after reports on Massbird.
Weather: cold & cloudy.
3 species

Red-tailed Hawk 1 enthusiastically dismembering a pigeon it had just caught, on a low branch, much to onlookers interest & occasional revulsion. Plucked feathers fell from the tree like confetti.

Barred Owl 1 eventually tracked down, high in a willow tree on the eastern side of the pond, north of the foot-bridge. It sat on a branch, bundled against the weather and barely moved, but unmistakably one of the owls reported over the preceding days, part of an influx. Life-tick.

American Robin X - many particularly on a playing field as we made out way out.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13920424