Pine Creek Marshes, Fairfield CT, 16/Feb/2025

Fox Sparrows in wintry conditions at Pine Creek, Fairfield; snow underfoot & worsening icy rain, but worth it for what is my favourite sparrow species. pic.twitter.com/RasqDOJoWO

— Marcus (@aucarius) February 16, 2025

eBird Checklist:

Sunday 16th February, Pine Creek--Ditch Trail, Fairfield CT USA.

Sherwood Island State Park, Fairfield CT, 15/Feb/2025

At Sherwood Island State Park, CT, this morning, among others continuing Merlin & my first American (Buff-bellied) Pipit, my 700th life tick! pic.twitter.com/RMN8gK9GJH

— Marcus (@aucarius) February 15, 2025

eBird Checklist:

Saturday 15th February, Sherwood Island State Park, Fairfield CT USA.

Medical Blvd., Sarasota FL, 03/Jan/2025

Yesterday’s lifer White-faced Ibis at Medical Blvd, Englewood FL.
Unexpected twitch after breakfast so only had my bins & not ‘proper’ camera; phone record shots taken tho.
2025 off to a great start, & last day of a lovely break. pic.twitter.com/KRit2BeSbT

— Marcus (@aucarius) January 4, 2025

eBird Checklist:

Friday 3rd January, Medical Blvd., Sarasota FL USA.

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.

March 2015

Limited outings continued, although I did twitch my first Massachusetts Bohemian Waxing in deep snow along the river in Waltham, along with a load of other birders. On the same day I failed miserably to connect with northern shoveler in Cambridge, as I was lead astray by my phone’s map app.

Saturday 7th, Riverwalk Park, MA, USA.
Saturday 7th, Alewife Reservation, MA, USA.

Monday 16th, FOY Common Grackle arrived at Brookline Village T.

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.

December 2014

Mostly not birding this month, however I did spot an unusually late Black-and-White Warbler in Brookline on Saturday 20th.



On Boxing Day I was in Florida again for family fun which started at the Sarasota Big Cat park where I observed flyover Wood Stork and a big group of 30 Boat-Tailed Grackle in the park’s small trees.

Saturday 27th, Sarasota Big Cat Park, FL, USA.

A family beach day at Siesta Key surprised me with a life-tick NANDAY PARAKEET which was squawking from the wires above the car-park! Later in the day I observed a Magnificent Frigatebird over the sea.

Tuesday 30th, Siesta Key, FL, USA.

Finally a drive out to Gasparilla Island to experience a new part of the area although the regular species were all that I saw.

Wednesday 31st, Gasparilla Island, FL, USA.

March 2014

A couple of Olmsted Park patch visits turned up the regulars who were now beginning to get more vocal, most obvious were a couple of House Finches in Willow Pond Meadow.

Sunday 1st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 1st, Willow Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 1st, Ward's Pond, MA, USA

Mid-month was vacation time in Montego Bay, Jamaica! There were scant few birds around the small Iberostar resort so I hired a taxi to take me to the wonderful garden and forest at Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. I totalled 39 species, 22 life ticks, including 10 endemics! I also saw a few more familiar species on the sewage farm outside Montego Bay on the way back from Rocklands.

Endemics (all life-ticks):
Chestnut-Bellied Cuckoo (Coccyzus pluvialis)
Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula)
Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango)
Red-Billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus)
Jamaican Tody (Todus todus)
Jamaican Woodpecker (Melanerpes radiolatus)
Sad Flycatcher (Myiarchus barbirostris)
White-Chinned Thrush (Turdus aurantius)
White-Eyed Thrush (Turdus jamaicensis)
Orangequit (Euneornis campestris)

If I go again I'll try to go to more birdy part of the island and follow some of the tips in these two posts: part 1, part 2.

Monday 10th, Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, Jamaica
Wednesday 12th, Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, Jamaica
Wednesday 12th, Montego Bay Sewage Ponds, Jamaica

After returning from the Caribbean, the still frozen north felt particularly parsimonious, for birds and warmth. However first of year Common Grackles and Red-Winged Blackbirds at Brookline Village T-stop and Olmsted Park respectively, offered hope that I wasn't living in Narnia or Arendelle.

Wednesday 19th, Brookline Village T-stop, MA, USA
Sunday 23rd, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 23rd, Ward's Pond, MA, USA

February 2014

Three patch visits to Olmsted Park produced some very nice site-ticks: Hooded Merganser and Golden-Crowned Kinglet at Leverett Pond; Rusty Blackbird at Willow Pond, and plentiful numbers of wintering regulars, particularly Northern Cardinals on the east side islands.

Saturday 1st, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Saturday 1st, Willow Pond, MA, USA
Saturday 1st, Ward's Pond, MA, USA

Sunday 9th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 9th, Willow Pond, MA, USA

Sunday 16th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 16th, Willow Pond, MA, USA
Sunday 16th, Ward's Pond, MA, USA

January 2014

Sea ducks and gulls were the primary species for new year's day, with some good winter sea ducks from Wollaston Beach, including Greater Scaup.

Wednesday 1st, Wollaston Beach, MA, USA

At Leverett Pond, more winter ducks including Common Merganser, a site-tick.

Sunday 19th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA

Castle Island provided good looks across to Logan airport for a couple of Snowy Owls and a possible Roughleg, though the distance and brevity of the looks meant I couldn't tell for certain.

Monday 20th, Castle Island, MA, USA

I ended the month braving the extreme cold at Revere beach while dipping a Glaucous gull, for the third time, which means I now consider it a nemesis bird!

Sunday 26th, Revere Beach, MA, USA

December 2013

Returning back to the freezing north, the ducks on Leverett Pond began to build up, and the dogs outnumbered the birds at Millennium Park, with the special sparrows long-gone.

Sunday 29th, Millennium Park, MA, USA
Monday 30th, Leverett Pond, MA, USA

November 2013

At the start of the month I saw a large flock of grackles getting ready for migration at Riverway as I walked past.

Saturday 2nd, Riverway, Boston, MA, USA

Mid-month I braved the numerous unleashed dogs at Millennium Park for a couple of nice sparrows: Clay-Colored Sparrow and a life-tick FOX SPARROW also notable Hairy Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebirds.

Sunday 17th, Millennium Park, MA, USA

At the end of the month a Thanksgiving trip to Florida provided ample birds as usual. A visit to Siesta Key, for the amazing beach and Snowy Plover at the north end. A drive along Myakka Road to the State Park's north entrance provided a moment of good luck because as I watched Palm Warblers and Sandhill Cranes in someone's large front garden, a CRESTED CARACARA flew over; a very distinctive bird, life-tick and the highlight of the week/month!

Monday 25th, Myakka Road, FL, USA

Myakka SP itself was also awesome, especially the non-bird alligators, my first. I also saw my first CASPIAN TERN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS.

Monday 25th, Myakka River SP, FL, USA

Although I didn't see the scrub-jays at Shamrock Park, on the way back at Bowdoin Road I did see BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, a life-tick.

Wednesday 27th, Bowdoin Road Pond, FL, USA

Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary, Suffolk, MA, USA, 19-Jan-2013

13:50 - 15:00
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)

Comments: With Kim for a Sunday walk around the centre, using our new Audubon membership. A lot of activity was around the feeders but there were some good-sized flocks at a couple of spots in the sanctuary.
Weather: partially cloudy, blustery, cold.

17 species

Mallard X
Wild Turkey 25 approx. walked across the path in front of us, mostly unhurried & unconcerned!
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3 not all seen together, but at various places as we walked.
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Carolina Wren X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird 1
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco 20 + all around the sanctuary.
Northern Cardinal X
American Goldfinch X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13032223

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

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, GB, 27-Dec-2012

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Xmas holiday walk with Kim as we neared the end of our time in Norfolk. We walked to the beach & back.
Weather: overcast, breezy & cold.
32 species

Pink-footed Goose X
Greylag Goose X
Brent Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail 1 male on freshwater marsh.
Eurasian Teal X
Little Grebe X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier X
Common Moorhen X
European Golden-Plover 100 + on freshwater marsh.
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove X
Common Kestrel X
Great Tit X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
Brambling 1 feeding on the feeders at the visitors' centre. It was a stand-out bird, very dapper in its distinct plumage. A really nice & unexpected one to see since my last one was nearly 20+ years ago in Scotland!
European Greenfinch X
Common Linnet 8 approx.
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13623690

Apponagansett Beach & Bay inc. Knowles Beach & Marsh, Bristol, MA, USA, 9-Dec-2012

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Usual walk with Kim around the area during a visit to the in-laws.
Weather: bright, sunny, cold.
15 species

American Black Duck X - at Knowles.
Mallard X
Bufflehead X
Red-breasted Merganser X
Great Blue Heron X
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 perched in a tree in the farm/garden on the corner of W Smith Neck, it flew off towards the bay. Barred tail & smaller size identified.
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 amongst the ring-billed & herring gulls in the parking area at Apponagansett. Yellow legs & slaty back, similar size to herring gull all helped with the id, plus a familiar bird from Europe.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 on the trees at Apponogansett.
Black-capped Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 1 in the same garden as white-throated sparrows on the way back.
American Robin X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X - in a garden on the way back.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13623600

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

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area--IBA, Suffolk, MA, USA, 16-Jan-2012

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
10.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out on a boat with Kim for a Boston Harbor Winter Wildlife Cruise with up to 200 other people who braved the chilly conditions. A good selection of seabirds but unfortunately no snowy owls. Some in group did spot a king eider however by the time I reached that side of the boat it had disappeared.
19 species

Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck X
Mallard X - Long Wharf.
Common Eider X
Surf Scoter X - the commonest bird of the day.
White-winged Scoter X - most seen off Hull.
Long-tailed Duck X - most off Hull.
Bufflehead X - off Hull.
Red-breasted Merganser X - a female initially, then lots more throughout the cruise.
Red-throated Diver X
Great Northern Diver X - off Hull.
Red-necked Grebe 2 with 1 near Long Island allowing good views when it took flight, & another later in the trip.
Great Cormorant X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 in the water of Long Wharf, observed before the boat set off.
Great Black-backed Gull X
Razorbill 2 seen, 1 near to the wharf, then 1 coming back by the airport.
Black Guillemot 1 by Long Island.

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