May 2019

First outing this ‘Magic May’ was back to the traditional nightingale haunt at Lee Valley with Isabelle. Unfortunately the satnav took me a different car-park and from there I didn’t know how to get the same spot as last year! However after a longer than usual walk we found our way to the familiar area near Bittern Hide, but we ran out of parking time, and legs, to get to the same place we’d heard nightingales the year before.

Neverthless we heard two Cuckoo and saw one in a tree as we had lunch by one of the creeks. We also saw plenty of Garden Warbler at 70 Acres Lake near the footbridge, a great place for them.
The second and last outing was to RSPB Rainham Marshes for pond-dipping with Isabelle again and after that a walk around about a third of the reserve. We found greater pond beetle, dragonfly nymphs and lots of back-swimmers during the dipping, and on the mini-beast hunt, mosquitoes found us!

Birds heard and seen at the Woodland Discovery Centre, while we were pond-dipping, were Lesser Whitethroat, Song Thrush (I also found a snail anvil with lots of broken snail shells), Chiffchaff and the first of several Cetti’s Warbler (I even saw one later).

On the way back from the pond-dipping, we took a detour through the cordite storage area because of a singing Cuckoo, but we, and others there, did not see it.

During lunch we sat on a bench overlooking the marshes and saw plenty of activity, including Redshank with chicks, a couple of Sand Martin and House Martin, Swift, Kestrel and one or two Water Rail grunting and squealing from nearby reeds.

Friday 24th, Lee Valley Regional Park, Hertfordshire, UK.
Thursday 30th, RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, UK.

May 2018

Only one outing, but for a couple of ‘magical’ May birds.

During my first spell in London (2005-2011) Lee Valley Park was a good place for Nightingales and Cuckoos, amongst others. On returning to London in 2016, I took my eldest daughter during half-term to see if they were still there and we were treated to the amazing song of a nightingale during our lunch. A couple of Kingsfishers were also piping while zipping up and down one of the creeks and a cuckoo called from the other side of the lake.

I also recorded returning Swift from the garden on the 25th.

Saturday 5th, Lee Valley Regional Park (70 Acres Lake), Hertfordshire, UK.

May 2017

Only a couple of outings for this 'magic' May. After a family move back to the UK, birding time was hard to come by. The first of the month I was out to the occasional patch at Tyttenhanger where I saw over 50 species, the most notable being Peregrine Falcon. Also both Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and plenty of warblers including Garden, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, as well as site speciality Tree Sparrow.

Towards the end of the month, during a family outing to a horse sanctuary, I saw a Hobby scaring the Barn Swallows.

Monday 1st, Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire, UK.

Sunday 28th, Redwings Horse Sanctuary -- Ada Cole, Essex, UK.

Olmsted Park--Willow Pond and Meadow, Suffolk, MA, USA, 27-Jul-2013

2:34 PM - 2:56 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
Comments: Second part of patch visit.
And 1536-1546 on the way back.
10 species

Mallard 5 including 3 juveniles.
Downy Woodpecker X
Tufted Titmouse X
American Robin X
Grey Catbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2 males.
Common Grackle 6
American Goldfinch 2 males, seen separately.
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15087816

Shamrock Park, Sarasota, FL, USA, 20-Mar-2013

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: A late small walk with Kim in average weather which caused the beach to be cancelled. Weather: blustery, spots of rain, mild.
14 species

Double-crested Cormorant 1 along intercoastal.
Brown Pelican 1 towards the sea.
Great Blue Heron 2
Snowy Egret 1 along intercoastal.
Laughing Gull X
Royal Tern X - a group of about a dozen flew over the carpark towards the intercoastal as we left.
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 total; one on dead tree at end of firebreak path, another about halfway back up the path, repeatedly coming in to a patch on the ground before flying back to a thick tree branch.
Downy Woodpecker 1 heard then seen.

Florida Scrub-Jay 2 total; first one on the way back up the firebreak path. It was calling from a low shrub which it continued to do for a few minutes, it then flew directly towards where we were standing on the path observing it, coming closer & closer until it alighted on my head for a couple of seconds! It then flew back to another nearby shrub where it continued to call, moving slightly away from the path as we left it. The second was atop a small tree on the way to the visitors' centre. It called for 10 minutes or so before a gust of wind caused it to take wing.

Carolina Wren 1 heard singing & briefly glimpsed as it flitted down into undergrowth.
Northern Mockingbird X - several around apparently staking out territories?
Palm Warbler 3 individuals flitting low down at intervals along the path, with chestnut heads.
Pine Warbler X - several in the trees throughout.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13472067

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Norfolk, MA, USA, 10-Mar-2013

10:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: With Kim, Christina & Brian for Maple Sugaring event along with several other people in the 2 foot deep snow. The sanctuary put on a nice event & I was even able to see a few species as we wandered the trails although the woods were very quiet, the best activity was on the centre's feeders.
Weather: cloudy then out bright; cold; 2 feet of snow on the ground.
10 species

Downy Woodpecker 1 on the feeders, viewed from the canteen as we ate pancakes with maple syrup.
Blue Jay X - heard.
Common Raven 2 flew over individually as I put my snow boots on in the carpark. Wonderful unmistakable call & large size.
Black-capped Chickadee X - mainly on the feeders but also heard in the woods.
Tufted Titmouse X - feeders.
Red-breasted Nuthatch X - several on the feeders; easy to identify with red breast & black head stripes. Along with the chickadees it was the most numerous bird on the feeders. Life-tick.
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 on a tree in the carpark next to our car.
Dark-eyed Junco X - a few flitting around, mainly under the feeders or within nearby bushes.
Northern Cardinal 2
Pine Siskin X - a few, or maybe even just one, coming in & out to the sunflower seeds. I only saw one at a time so it may have been just one, or a few taking turns.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13380682

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)

Shamrock Park, Sarasota, FL, USA, 20-Nov-2012

1:15 PM - 2:40 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: The final destination hoping to see the Florida endemic I missed out on at Oscar Scherer.
Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
9 species (+1 other taxa)

Brown Pelican X - intercoastal & out to sea.
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey X
Spotted Sandpiper 1 bobbing on intercoastal mud; clean white underparts indicating non-breeding.

peep sp. 1 distantly viewed on intercoastal mud. Pale grey legs, shortish bill, greyish plumage with darker primary extension. Larger than nearby sandpiper.
Mourning Dove X
American Kestrel X

Florida Scrub-Jay 5 approx. seen as we pulled into the carpark! One perched on a fencepost around the small garden at the centre of the carpark. When the car was parked I jumped out to get a closer look with my camera but the main bird had flown off taking the others which I glimpsed at the top of a large tree, before they all disappeared. Unfortunately they did not reappear & despite walking aroung what seemed like the whole of the small reserve we could not relocate them. Nevertheless the quick view was enough to identify the main species I had hoped to see - life-tick.

Pine Warbler X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13645580

Oscar Scherer State Park, Sarasota, FL, USA, 18-Nov-2012

10:50 AM - 2:10 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: First full day on holiday & a visit to a nearby state park looking for scrub-jays with the father-in-law, Mr. Correia. Didn't see them but a good long walk during which 3 Bobcats (1 adult & 2 juveniles) walked across our path, which was amazing!
Weather: hot & sunny.
13 species

Little Blue Heron 1 on water from South Creek Trail.
Black Vulture X - several including two perched on a naked tree branch, like from Jungle Book!
Turkey Vulture X

Bald Eagle X - approx. 6 during the day. The first was an immature; light brown top, dark primaries, cream mottled under prominent head; distinct size & flight. Later adults on a nest were also seen as well as an adult perching on a tree near to black vultures & another 2 soaring in the distance with a buteo sp. Life-tick.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 soaring alongside an eagle. Smaller than red-tailed, tawny on top but distant otherwise. Size, compact shape & distribution points to this species. Life-tick.

Laughing Gull 1 first winter bird over.
Belted Kingfisher 1 flew up creek after we stopped at visitors' centre.
Tree Swallow 2 over.
Grey Catbird 2 heard.
Palm Warbler X
Pine Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow X - in trees near to visitors' centre.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13475553

Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, MA, USA, 16-Sep-2012

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Quick visit after Dunback Meadows to a location I had read lots about. It was hot & I was tired & hungry so I didn't stay long.
Weather: warm, bright & sunny.
5 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose X
Mallard 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 3
peep sp. X - small flying flock up & down from the water foliage.
Grey Catbird 1 at the restrooms.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13333998

Dunback Meadows, Middlesex, MA, USA, 16-Sep-2012

10:40 AM - 2:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out to a nearby migration hotspot that I had been reading about on Massbird.
Weather: bright, sunny & cool.
17 species (+2 other taxa)

Red-tailed Hawk 2 birds soaring together; a juvenile & a worn adult above the houses that abut the far meadow.
Mourning Dove X

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 seen from the intersection of paths after returning from the far meadow. When I got back a couple other birders were lingering looking for warblers, so I joined them. After a while nothing showed so I moved off down the path to the east when a medium-sized bird rapidly flew straight into the top of a tree. I got my binoculars on it & could tell straight-away what it was from it long shape, white-spotted tail and yellow bill. It stayed put long enough for me to get a couple of photos before edging into the foliage & flying off. No-one else saw it but I was able to show them the photos. Life-tick.

Downy Woodpecker X - heard first then one seen on the back to the intersection.
Empidonax sp. 1 in the low shrubs alongside the path leading out to the houses on the far meadow. Didn't get long enough looks or good enough photos for a positive id.
Eastern Kingbird 2 seen in the trees alongside the Bowman Elementary school field. Distinctive & easy to identify.
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X - heard.
White-breasted Nuthatch X - heard.
Veery 1 light spotted on high chest, white all under, brown-grey, 'narrow' head, longish tail. It was high in a tall tree but flitted around quite a lot; took me a while to narrow it down to a thrush species, & the lack of any strong spots on its chest took me to veery.
American Robin X
Grey Catbird X
Pine Warbler 1 from path intersection on the way back. White vent, bright yellow.

warbler sp. 1 in the shrubs along the side of the east path. It had yellow underparts & chest, with a faint eye-ring (not a clear eye-ring), a cocked tail & a 'good' size. I thought it may have been the reported Connecticut warbler or a yellowthroat, but because it was so active I was unable to get a good long view or photos, before it flew off into deeper foliage & didn't return.

Song Sparrow 2 in low bushes near from the east intersection path.
Northern Cardinal 4 in total, the first was with the goldfinches.
House Finch 1 female or juvenile flew onto the top of a bush along the east path.
American Goldfinch 6 in the same shrubs as the flycatcher sp.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13333863

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

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

Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, MA, USA, 20-May-2012

6:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another early morning BBC walk with a decent-sized group, although the cemetery was quieter than the last visit. After the end of the official walk I had not had enough so I doubled-back & spent more time in the Dell & finally left along Indian Ridge.
Weather: bright, sunny, cool.
32 species

Mallard 1 male on Auburn Lake.
Wild Turkey 1 after the Dell from Walnut Avenue amongst headstones about 100m away.
Great Northern Diver 1 over, seen by the group from the top of Tower hill.
Great Blue Heron 1 on Auburn Lake.
Red-tailed Hawk X - the first one was seen on Indian Ridge with a squirrel it had just killed in its claws. Later two juveniles were flying around back & forth amongst the trees, often coming quite close.
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker 3 in total, one after the Dell, then 2 from Indian Ridge as I walked out. The two appeared to be coming back & forth to a specific tree, perhaps to a nest.
Eastern Phoebe X - again also at Auburn Pond.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 heard as I made my way out along Indian Ridge. I wasn't sure what it was at first but then I saw it & was able to fairly easily identify this distinctive bird. It foraged amongst a few tree close to the path allowing some good views in the now strong sunlight showing its crest & pale yellow breast. A satisfying life-tick to end the morning.
Warbling Vireo X - again at Auburn Pond still rearing the nest seen last time.
Red-eyed Vireo 2 heard, one from Indian Ridge, one in the Dell. Life-tick.
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X - Dell.
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Wood Thrush 2 seen in total. The first was heard singing faintly, but after I went back to the Dell after the end of the main walk, I saw one hopping along the path before seeing another singing from a bough of a tree in the Dell. It then also flew to a path & made its way along it before walkers caused to fly off into the pathside foliage. I also observed one at the end of the Dell's pond, foraging in the mud. Life-tick.
American Robin X - including a nest with nestlings in it which I spotted at the end of the walk near to the carpark.
Grey Catbird 1 in a low pine from the Tower hill.
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 2 at the top of a tree next to Auburn Lake.
American Redstart 1 male also seen from the Tower hill.
Black-throated Blue Warbler X - also one or two from the Tower hill.
Black-throated Green Warbler X - one or two heard & seen, first as we approached the Tower, then from the top.
Chipping Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Orchard Oriole X - one or two about.
House Finch 1 male singing near to entrance.
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11876819

Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, MA, USA 12-May-2012

6:00 AM - 9:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Up bright & early for a walk with Brookline Bird Club for spring migrants including many of my first New World warblers.
Weather: bright, clear, cold; warmed up later on.
37 species

Wild Turkey X - heard first then seen at the top of the Dell.
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 1 perched on the top a small tree, bathed in sunlight.
Red-tailed Hawk X - a couple flying around near the entrance where there was also a nest.
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker 1 over, heard calling later.
Eastern Phoebe 1 flying very close-by under the bridge over Auburn Lake, nesting low-down in some lakeside shrubs.
Warbling Vireo 2 seen from the bridge over Auburn Lake. Paul Peterson pointed out a nest in the branches of a tree over the pond where two birds came back & forth attending it.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X - one over at first. Later, 2 seen much closer at Willow Pond, where 3 or 4 flew back & forth. Life-tick.
Black-capped Chickadee X - heard.
White-breasted Nuthatch X
American Robin X
Grey Catbird X - heard then seen.
European Starling X - over.
Ovenbird X - heard. The group left Indian Ridge in attempt to find it but we were unsuccessful.
Black-and-white Warbler X - one or two amongst the tree-tops along Indian Ridge.
Nashville Warbler 1 male. It was pointed out by one of the many birders in the cemetery immediately after others had pointed out two indigo buntings. It sang from about mid-way up a tree in the sunlight, allowing nice prolonged views. Another life-tick.
Common Yellowthroat X - first seen near the Nashville warbler, then another on the way out which flew quickly across the path next to Auburn Pond.
American Redstart 1 male seen, near the Cape May & Magnolia warblers. It was singing fairly high up a tree & moving around quickly. Despite its bright colours it was difficult to pick out but eventually I did. Life-tick.
Cape May Warbler 1 male seen. Identified by a member of the group who found it on another tree to the one most people were looking at. It flew around a few trees, high up, but offered nice views for the whole group in the sunshine as it foraged. Life-tick.
Northern Parula X - a few in the treetops along Indian Ridge. Identified at first by their distinctive call, I then noticed their yellow bill & active behaviour. I saw a few more of these charismatic birds later & they were the stars of the day for me, a great life-tick.
Magnolia Warbler 1 male seen. Near to the Cape May warbler. A bright & distinctive species it was active & vocal. Life-tick.
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 male. It was heard first in the Dell then spotted singing from a bough at about eye-level from the path up the side. Another brightly coloured warbler & another life-tick.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X - a few in the treetops along Indian Ridge. Later, also I probably seen near the Nashville, but not clearly seen. It was black-streaked, with a yellow rump, white otherwise although apparently with off-yellow/reddish sides. I decided that the orange could have been an effect of the sunlight as the other fieldmarks pointed to this species.
Black-throated Green Warbler X - one or two through the morning, first briefly seen near the Nashville & later seen in the Dell at the top of some very tall trees.
Wilson's Warbler 1 male seen on the way out after the BBC walk had petered out. It was pointed out by a member of another group of birders. Bright yellow, it sang out in the sunshine briefly before disappearing into the foliage. Bright yellow but I didn't see the black crest amongst the background of shadows. Life-tick.
Chipping Sparrow X - several heard before one seen close-up from the top of a pine tree in the sunlight.
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 3 seen in total. One seen at the top of a tall tree next to Auburn Lake, at first not easily identifiable until two more were seen later, which identified the first as a female. One of the later two was a spectacular male. Life-tick.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 over amongst the grackles.
Baltimore Oriole X
House Finch 1 male on the grass next to Wilow Pond just after the swallows, pointed out by Paul Peterson.
House Sparrow X - many in amongst the foliage, like warblers!

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10967371

Olmsted Park--Ward's Pond, Suffolk, MA, USA, 6-May-2012

5:20 PM - 6:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)

Comments: Second part of patch outing with Kim.
Weather: warm, sunny, bright; cooler as it got later.

8 species

Mallard 2 males.
Chimney Swift X - over.
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 on trees at top of tree before Ward's.
Grey Catbird 3
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X - heard at the bottom of the hill before Ward's.
Northern Cardinal 1 male.
Baltimore Oriole 1 male seen, several more heard. At first it was hard to find but once picked out it was unmistakeable & it even proceeded to come very close to us in trees just above the path. Life-tick.

Olmsted Park--Leverett Pond, Suffolk, MA, USA, 6-May-2012

5:20 PM - 6:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)

Comments: Out to show the patch to Kim.
Weather: warm, sunny, bright; cooler as it got later.

10 species

Canada Goose X
Great Blue Heron X
Spotted Sandpiper 1 flew away to the east-side of the reservoir. I had a brief view of low flickering flight & immediately thought of common sandpiper, but that doesn't occur in the US which identifies this as spotted - a life-tick.
Mourning Dove X
Warbling Vireo 1 singing initially but soon found it for a look at a common summer visitor, but nonetheless another life-tick.
American Robin X
European Starling X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

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

Olmsted Park, Suffolk, MA, USA, 21-Apr-2012

4:40 PM - 6:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)

Comments: Escaped the house with another walk on the local patch.
Weather: warm & sunny; t-shirt weather.

13 species

Canada Goose X
Red-tailed Hawk 1 without a red-tail, a juvenile.
Blue Jay 3
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

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