Thursday, August 2, 2007

August 1, 2007

Little Bay in Fairhaven
Mike and Carolyn
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Cormorant(sp)
Yellowlegs (sp)
Tern (sp)
Hawk (sp)
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (chasing catbird)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo (nice views)
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

June 20, 2007

Many babies in the yard now. Red-bellied parents are both busy feeding peanuts to their young. Phoebe young are following their parents about. There are several Downy woodpecker chicks, and may be more than one family group. I watched a very aggressive female chase off young that were being fed by a male. She even chased one into the bushes! She then took some suet off in another direction toward peeping youngsters.
I found a perfect Luna moth by the side of the road this week, and of course, brought it home.

Friday, June 15, 2007

June 15, 2007

Saw a Great Egret at Long Road (FHV).
Rumors of Bobolinks at Shaw Road and female Yellow-headed Blackbird at Nelson Ave (FHV), but couldn't find them.
Still lots of Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Hacker Street. Still looking for the Nelson's.

Last week in the Azores saw tons of Common Canary, European Goldfinch, Azores Chaffinch, Azores Goldcrest (like golden-crowned kinglet), Blackbird (a thrush that looked like a black Robin and sang like a Wood Thrush), Blackcap (the only warbler there), European Robin (not related to ours), Azores Grey Wagtail. There was an American Wood Duck that they think got there on its own. Couple of Canada Geese (of course). Went to Nordeste, but didn't see the endemic Azorean Bullfinch. Better luck next time. But I did see some House Martins near the cliffs .. they are not unknown there but are rare.
Will also bring my big camera next time instead of the dinky one I brought. What was I thinking?

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

June 6, 2007

6:00a.m. Matt. Town Landfill. Hoping for Indigo bunting, saw female, no male. Cedar waxwings, hummers, catbirds, Kingbirds, great crested flycatchers. baby phoebe (so cute) mom and dad not too far away, song sparrow, chippers, gold finches, baltimore and orchard orioles. Pat, Kay and I agreed we saw a Hermit thrush. Also feeding pair of Titmice. Heard nestlings. Kay almost added a dead baby ring neck snake to growing collection of creatures.

Friday, June 1, 2007

May 30 to June 1, 2007

Lunchtime obsession with the Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the marsh at Hacker Street (fhv). Had to go to work early to open up so took extra time at lunch.

Got lots of good looks at Saltmarsh Sharp-tails and even saw one singing. Saw two chasing a third way off.

June 1, I got brave and set off into one of the creeks (either Boys or Girls). Had to watch my step for the muck and also the depth (had on my rubber boots).
The sparrows flew out left and right. The best reward was a little Nelson's with a short bill and orange breast with no streaks. I watched it so long, I only noticed I was sinking into the muck in the nick of time. It was kind of a dangerous trek all alone.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

May 29

On Friday May 25, Joe and I went to River St. Acushnet to check on the orioles. Glad to report that Pat missed the obvious. Oriole's nest was completed but hidden in the new leaves.

Today I was visiting my friend in Dartmouth off of Reed road and am pretty sure I saw a Black chinned Hummer. He wouldn't turn to "flash" but it was not a Ruby.

Pat reports chickadees nesting in her backyard.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

May 20, 2007

Rain off and on.
Long Road 7 to 11.
Not much unusual. Got some stuff for BBA. Catbirds with nesting material and a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers building a nest in a hole in a tree on the side of the road.
Lots of fighting. RW Blackbirds locked in battle fluttered into the pond, but flew back out. Flock of Cedar Waxwings very noisy. Some pairs feeding each other.
Young male Orchard Oriole and a female kept coming back to the tree I was sitting under and making scolding noises. The male sang very nicely a few times.
Saw a raccoon on the other side of the pond investigating trash. He went back into the woods and a few minutes later there was some ungodly screaming from the marsh....he may have found a nest.