July 2016

A hot and quiet month with only two Leverett Pond patch visits.

The first visit caused some mild excitement as I mis-identified a non-breeding/female Green-Winged Teal as a blue-winged teal; the latter being more unusual than the former. A couple local birders visited after my initial report and took much better pictures and picked out more features than I had been able to, good to know for future reference.



The second visit was with a new camera lens, the Canon 100-400mm USM II. Despite its heaviness it was worth carrying around as I managed to get some good photos including a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron.



Wednesday 13th & Tuesday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

June 2016

After the intensity of May I eased off in June and focused on adding a few Suffolk county ticks by visiting Belle Isle Marshes. It's a very good spot, the best in Suffolk according to eBird species logged, but only my second visit. It was later also cast under a cloud after reports of a fatal assault and police warnings about visiting! Nevertheless I was able to add Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Semiplmated Sandpiper, Least and Common Tern, Snowy and Great Egret.

Monday 6th, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, MA, USA.

Towards the end of the month I made a patch visit.

Sunday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

"Magic" May 2016

The first week in “Magic” May began quietly at Olmsted Park, with the continuing Green-Winged Teal, Blue-Headed Vireo and 2 Eastern Phoebe on the 2nd.
I went to Ward’s Pond (3rd) after I saw an eBird report recording lots of migrants there, but I only saw 2 Eastern Phoebe, engaged in what I assumed to be courting/territorial behaviour, nesting Canada Goose and already fledged young Mallard - fast movers! I then went through to Willow Pond, following up on report of a Prairie Warbler which I did see; a site-tick.

Back at Leverett Pond the next day (4th), for excellent numbers of swallows: Tree, Northern Rough-Winged and Barn Swallow all in attendance, the latter a site-tick. There was also a Blue-Headed Vireo again and a singing Orchard Oriole. I was also tipped off that the Red-Tailed Hawks were nesting on one of the softball field’s floodlights and I was able to confirm that they were! It’s a pretty busy spot, especially on the weekend, but these urban hawks seemed completely unperturbed.
The week ended with a Brown Creeper on the 6th.

Monday 2nd, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Tuesday 3rd, Ward’s Pond, MA, USA.
Tuesday 3rd, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Wednesday 4th & Friday 6th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

The weekend was quiet apart from a flyover Osprey, a site-tick. This is a species I assumed that I would see much more regularly on the patch, considering how popular it is with the wildfowl, however it hadn’t turned out that way.

Saturday 7th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

The next week also started quietly, however I did see an excellent site-tick Broad Winged Hawk on Monday, 6th. It flew over towards downtown Boston, hovering in the wind at one point. That day there were several other reports from the area so it seemed it was their day for migration. Also notable were 8 Barn Swallows and an Orchard Oriole in its usual spot.
On Wednesday, 11th, things had picked up. FOY Northern Parula in the yard at home, and more warblers at Leverett Pond too. Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Black-and-White Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Black-Throated Green Warbler all in attendance, as were a couple of Spotted Sandpiper. A Wood Thrush was also heard singing, as was a site-tick Rose-Breasted Grosbeak; the former was not visible in the trees and the latter was mobile from one side of the pond to the other and I didn’t see it either.

Thursday 12th, initially revealed no additional species but as I rounded the south-side of the pond I got a glimpse of another long hoped for site-tick: Belted Kingfisher. It flew low across the water, out of sight, but soon returned to perch on shaded trees quite high above the water. Another species, like the Osprey I had expected to see more of, however on seeing it at the pond it got me thinking. There were lots of people around, and with its size and the lack of dense vegetation around the sides of the pond that it seemed to favour, maybe it’s not such a big surprise that it doesn’t frequent the pond more often. There’s not much space for it to be secluded and fish in peace.
At the weekend I saw a few additional site-tick migrants: Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird and Wilson’s Warbler. The latter two I just heard, the former was high in the trees foraging and occasionally singing/calling. Also notable was a FOY American Redstart.

Monday 9th, Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th & Saturday 14th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

One other notable for the week: on Friday 13th, I saw another Osprey, this time from my home, soaring high over towards the Emerald Necklace. Funny how often you don’t see something for ages then see two or more one after the other!

The new week began with no new arrivals, though Blue-Headed Vireo and Northern Rough-Winged Swallow seemed to be getting late.
However, Tuesday was probably the best day of the whole season. All the previous warblers were in attendance. I was able to linger in the dell where I picked up a site-tick Least Flycatcher in the thick brambles near the concrete blocks. A Swainson’s Thrush was also flushed by someone walking through with a dog. I then heard a different song and as I focussed my attention in that direction, up popped a site-tick Lincoln’s Sparrow! It moved around discreetly in the area and didn’t seem to notice me which allowed me to grab some record shots while admiring its intricate plumage, and I then left, well satisfied. On the way out another Wilson’s Warbler calling but again not seen.

A 40 species day from Leverett, which left me feeling pretty satisfied that I had seen the best of what the site has to offer in spring.

The next day things went back to ‘normal’ though I only had 25 minutes to look.

I returned on Friday, and as if to confirm that I had experienced the best day already, the flycatcher and sparrow were not present. However there was one notable new arrival in Chestnut-Sided Warbler which was singing from the south-side of the pond. New arrivals of a different sort - 4 fledged Wood Duck with their mother were swimming on the pond too.

Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th & Friday 20th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

Also that week, at home in Brookline, FOY Common Nighthawk on Wednesday, 18th.

The next week, I went out twice on the Thursday because I heard a lot of birdsong during a brief morning walk and wanted to return with more time to convert the potential into sightings. At Leverett Pond in the morning, I saw 2 Chestnut-Sided Warbler, both singing, as were Black-Throated Green Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Yellow Warbler.
When I returned in the afternoon, I visited the 3 main parts on my patch - Leverett, Willow and Ward’s - and decided to log them all under Olmsted Park. The birdsong activity had died down somewhat but notable were a FOY Blackpoll Warbler. In contrast to last year these were scarce this year, with only one or two recorded.

Thursday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Thursday 26th, Olmsted Park, MA, USA.

At the weekend I joined a BBC walk around Plymouth Airport, which was my second visit after a trip in July 2015. This trip was much better because of the earlier time of year and for being allowed to walk beyond the fence with the group. All target grassland species were seen: Eastern Meadowlark, UPLAND SANDPIPER, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and Vesper Sparrow. Also notable were BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and 2 flyover Peregrines.

Sunday 29th, Plymouth Airport, MA, USA.

The last outing of the month to the patch and I found an Eastern Wood Peewee in the dell, another site-tick, as well as a “Traill’s Flycatcher” on one of the Brookline-side islands.

Tuesday 31st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

I was very satisfied that my plan to really work Leverett had paid-off. From the broad-winged hawk to the peewee I saw a lot of great migrant site-ticks and felt that my understanding of the site and its potential species had been expanded. I ended with 101 eBird species logged there, second on the all-time list.

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.

December 2015

After returning north I had a quiet month, though I did twitch a life-tick YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in downtown Boston.

Wednesday 9th, P.O. Square, Boston, MA, USA.



I only managed one Olmsted Park patch visit. Usual winter species were in attendance, but there was a surprise flock of approx. 20 Common Grackle in one of the nearby gardens.

Sunday 20th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 20th, Willow Pond, MA, 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.

June 2015

A post migration slow-down with only a single Leverett Pond patch visit, though it brought me a site-tick Great Black-Backed Gull on Saturday 20th.

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.

February 2015

Only one patch visit in this month, the snowiest Boston February on record!

Sunday 1st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 1st, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

January 2015

Happy New Year!

I was lucky enough to start my new year on Manasota Beach where I saw an impressive flock of 30 American White Pelican soaring in the thermals like vultures. 2 Magnificent Frigatebird were also seen later in the day.

Even later in the day I hit the Venice Rookery for a good selection of species including a hooting Great Horned Owl. On the way back I called in at Bowdoin Road Pond.

Thursday 1st, Manasota Beach, FL, USA.
Thursday 1st, Venice Rookery, FL, USA.
Thursday 1st, Bowdoin Road Pond, FL, USA.

On Friday 3rd, the day of departure, 4 Sandhill Crane and an American Kestrel were in the area close to the house where we took a walk before departing for the airport.

Back up north I visited Leverett Pond for a site-tick Northern Pintail on Sunday 11th.

On the 26th a big snow-storm pushed up to 12 Dark-Eyed Junco onto the small yard feeder as well as 6 other common species.



On the 29th I saw a late/wintering Northern Mockingbird at Pierce Playground, Brookline.

November 2014

Just one patch visit to Leverett Pond but still some summer species present although the winter ducks were also arriving. There were 57 Wood Duck, a high count for me at this location!

Sunday 16th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA. 

Later in that month, I bizarrely saw a Common Raven outside Trader Joe’s in Brookline! It’s one of those sightings that I don’t believe after the bird has gone, but it was definitely there.

Sunday 23rd, BoA/TJ's Parking Lot, Coolidge Corner, MA, USA.

A couple days later I was afforded a full day out on Plum Island/Parker River NWR. To start the day, I had crippling views of a couple Snowy Owls, including one that sat on the Lot 2 Dunes for ages, after jousted with another right in front of me! While I watched a flock of Shore Lark also moved around the dunes.
At the salt pannes, a male American Wigeon and 15 Northern Pintail, followed by Northern Harrier at North Pool.
At Bill Forward Pool more ducks but most numerous again were 49 Northern Pintail.
From Lot 6 Dunes a good selection of seabirds including a Red-Necked Grebe.
Stage Island Pool had a half dozen Bufflehead, a Red-Throated Loon/Diver.
Finally as the light faded, Emerson Rocks hosted Greater Scaup and Long-Tailed Duck among others.

Tuesday 25th, Parker River NWT, MA, USA:
Lot 2 Dunes,
Salt Pannes,
North Pool Overlook,
Bill Forward Pool,
Lot 6 Dunes,
Stage Island Pool,
Emerson Rocks.

October 2014

Things picked up a little from previous months with a first visit to Cumberland Farms. The BBC walk didn’t show up so I went around with someone else who had expected to join it. Most notable were 20 Bobolink, but we dipped on a lincoln’s sparrow.

Sunday 12th, Cumberland Farms, MA, USA.

A couple of Olmsted Park patch visits revealed some fall migrants. On the 12th, Golden-Crowned Kinglet and a flyover site-tick Turkey Vulture. On the 26th, a site-tick Nashville Warbler as well as 2 Hairy Woodpecker and 53 Wood Duck!

Sunday 12th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 12th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.

Sunday 26th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.

At home I observed a Yellow-Rumped Warbler on the 25th.

August 2014

Another slower one but at home in Brookline I again recorded Common Nighthawk activity throughout the month, as well as hearing an Eastern Screech-Owl (10th) and Carolina Wren (23rd). 

I managed 2 Olmsted Park patch visits, 2nd and 24th, the latter providing Cooper’s Hawk and Willow Flycatcher, both Leverett Pond site-ticks.

Saturday 2nd, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 24th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 24th, Willow Pond, MA, USA.
Sunday 24th, Ward's Pond, MA, USA.

June 2014

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.

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.