Southeastern Massachusetts Birds

August 1, 2007

2007-08-02T21:20:00.000-04:00

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

June 20, 2007

2007-06-20T16:03:00.000-04:00

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.

June 15, 2007

2007-06-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

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?

June 6, 2007

2007-06-06T08:58:00.000-04:00

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.

May 30 to June 1, 2007

2007-06-01T21:27:00.001-04:00

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.

May 29

2007-05-29T20:19:00.000-04:00

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.

May 20, 2007

2007-05-20T13:18:00.000-04:00

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.

May 18, 2007

2007-05-18T14:03:00.000-04:00

Pouring rain and cold. Went to Long Road (Fhv) at lunch not expecting to see much. At the far end of the "pond" something moved in the tree. I thought it was the Green Heron from a couple days ago, but when I got a good look saw that it was a Black-crowned Night Heron. Of course since it was pouring I didn't have my camera, but it was a great birthday bird anyway.
Brings my Long Road list to 91 species.

May 17, 2007

2007-05-17T05:19:00.000-04:00

Red-eyed vireos and Great crested flycatchers have arrived. Early in the morning, I watched a female yellow warbler by the pond, and there is a pair of wood ducks that seem to be calling that area home. I don't think they used the nest box, but they are always in the little pond area when I visit.

May 16, 2007

2007-05-16T09:48:00.000-04:00

Long Road (Fairhaven) -- heard an unfamiliar call and then saw a dull unfamiliar bird with slight streaking on each side of breast. Trudged back for my book and when I returned, saw a strange large chickadee chasing the first bird. Turned out to be a pair of Blackpoll Warblers.
A Green Heron was very obliging posing for me. See his photos.
The usual crowd was there: Crows, Titmice, real Chickadees, Yellow Warblers, nesting B. Orioles and RW Blackbirds. Broken Robin's egg at nice new nest. Pair of Canada Geese, lots of Catbirds. N. Parula. Lots of sounds I couldn't id.
[Note: recorded a bird in the marsh and later identified it as Black-billed Cuckoo]

May 14 & 15

2007-05-15T21:25:00.000-04:00

May 14--
Long Road (Fairhaven) early. Perfect weather. Cowbirds and Goldfinch. Goldies are very busy with the dandelions gone to seed.
Lunchtime at Mill Road (Fairhaven). Pair of nesting Mute Swans. Yellow Warbler pair going crazy...must have a nest.
Hummingbird at home (Acushnet).

May 15--
Cool, cloudy, breezy.
Long Road (Fairhaven) early a.m. -- saw Orioles and RW Blackbirds building nests. Barn and Rough-winged Swallows swooping over pond and fighting. Saw two fighting Great Crested Flycatchers. One Eastern Kingbird. Heard the Blue-winged Warbler again plus several Wood Thrush.

BBA

2007-05-14T20:41:00.000-04:00

May 13, 2007

2007-05-13T18:03:00.001-04:00

Long Road -- Lots of courting Catbirds. Yellow Warbler adding to a nest (but too early to add to Breeding Bird Atlas). Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Heard several Blue-winged Warblers. Lots of battling Common Yellow-throats. Lots of Wood Thrush.

Winsegansett -- Flocks of Least Sandpiper, Terns I couldn't i.d., Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, small group of Brant. Two pairs of Oystercatchers who were oddly silent....may have eggs around there. A Willet who was NOT silent. Ruddy Turnstones and Dunlin in breeding finery. Ospreys on platform nest. Heard a Killdeer near the road.

May 10, 2007

2007-05-10T06:16:00.000-04:00

Several catbirds are coming to the suet feeders now, including one that apparently wants to be a wood thrush. The song is note perfect, but in different order. If I hadn't seen the bird sing, I wouldn't have believed it! There are many yellow warblers and black and whites in the woods, and I surprised a pair of wood ducks the other evening. Hope they use the nest box next year.

May 8, 2007

2007-05-08T19:12:00.000-04:00

Pat and I were invited to the Hathaways to observe an "unusual" hummmer. we did see it several times but too far away to get absoluute ID . We think maybe Black chinnned? Would be nice. Also saw yellow warblers and goldfinches plus catbirds, cardinals chickadees, downy . Time well spent.

May 6, 2007

2007-05-07T20:32:00.000-04:00

MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY
Pat drove Mike, Kay and Carolyn and we were met by Pam who showed us around the place.

Saw:

Gray Catbird
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Blue Jay
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Goldfinch
Hooded Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Ovenbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Parula
Prairie Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Palm Warbler
Mallard
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Great-crested Flycatcher
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Mourning Dove
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Chimney Swift
Eastern Kingbird
Double-crested Cormorant (flying)
Baltimore Oriole
Red-tailed Hawk (flying)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (flying)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Great Blue Heron (flying with nesting material)

May 5, 2007

2007-05-05T15:50:00.000-04:00

Perfect weather. Went with Kay to Long Road. Saw Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Northern Parula, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Catbird, some kind of Egret with yellow feet flying, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Canada Geese, pair of Cooper's Hawks chased by Red-winged Blackbird, Grackle, very brightly colored Savannah Sparrows, very dark White-throated Sparrow (and bright ones too), Mallard, Virginia Rail, Rough-winged Swallow, Titmice, Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, Robins building a nest, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, and of course, Goldfinch.

Later went back and saw Dan Z. who pointed out the Parula and a Black-and-white Warbler, Hummingbird.

Went to Little Bay in the afternoon and saw a Loon come up with a huge fish and gulp it down...truly amazing. A little kid on a bike saw the binoculars and said he saw an eagle back down the road...riiiiiight. I did go and check though.

May 3, 2007

2007-05-03T18:59:00.000-04:00

Beautiful day. Sunny, breezy, mild. Went to Shaw Road to find Cattle Egret. Couldn't see it till Mike Mauer drove by and spotted it. Went down Shaw's Cove Road and took pics. Lots of Yellowlegs there. The bird was still there at 5 after work. Also saw Barn Swallows, Oriole, House Wren, lots of blackbirds and cowbirds.

At lunch there was one Willet at Hacker Street.

May 2, 2007

2007-05-02T20:21:00.000-04:00

Long Road early drizzle. Lots of Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers with Cowbirds mating like crazy.
Lunchtime at Fort Phoenix. Yellow Warbler putting on a show with a Hermit Thrush sneaking around in the undergrowth.
Damn! Intended to go to Shaw Road after work, but changed my mind at the last minute and missed the Cattle Egret.

May 2, 2007

2007-05-02T19:50:00.000-04:00

A common snipe was in the yard today, a startling and startled visitor. Yellow-rumped warblers continue to sing and allow me to see them often. Black and white warblers, yellow warblers and ovenbirds sang today. The chimney swifts and barn swallows were overhead, and tree swallows in back at the pond. I swear I heard a broad-winged hawk high overhead today too.

May 1, 2007

2007-05-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

Long Road 7am-- Kingfisher, Cormorant, Mallard. Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black and White Warblers. Another Nashville--the one I saw the other day had an enormous white eye-ring, today's had a large one but not as startling. Lurking near the warblers was a female Cowbird. Saw Cowbirds mating near my car. Song Sparrows, Goldfinches, Flickers, Robins, etc.

April 30, 2007

2007-04-30T19:13:00.000-04:00

Long Road early a.m. The usual birds plus one very cooperative Yellow-rumped Warbler. See his pictures.

Lunch time-- Fort Phoenix. Seal on the rocks. In the woods were singing Cardinals, Carolina Wren, Towhee. Silent Catbird.

Evening - Acushnet Cemetery. Chipping Sparrows.

April 29, 2007

2007-04-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

Early morning at Long Road. Saw Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped Warblers. A small yellow bird with the boldest white eye-ring--Nashville Warbler. Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Mallards, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Crows mobbing something, Cardinals, Flickers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Downy Woodpecker, Robins, Song Saprrows with nesting material a couple days too early for the Bird Atlas. Red-winged Blackbirds, Chickdees and Titmice. Goldfinches. House Finches. Starlings.

Afternoon - North side of West Island for SEANET. No dead birds. Live ones include large flock of about 16 Greater Yellowlegs, a pair of Oystercatchers, Snowy and Great Egrets, Dc Cormorants, RB mergansers, Towhee singing in the marsh. Flicker, RW Blackbirds.

April 28, 2007

2007-04-28T17:37:00.000-04:00

The first ruby-throated hummer of the year chattered at us this afternoon. Always a highlight of spring. This is one day earlier than last year.

April 25, 2007

2007-04-26T21:14:00.001-04:00

Kay and I went to several spots in Acushnet, all very nice. Lantern Lane, Nestles Lane, Pope Park and Kay's yard.
Saw some healthy large squabbling Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as the usual suspects. There seemed to be lots of Pine Warblers around.
More investigation necessary!

The day before I went to Long Road and added a new bird to my Long Road list-- #79 Double-crested Cormorant.
http://clongworth.smugmug.com/gallery/2757597#146660087

2007-04-20T16:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I went to Plymouth and saw the black-crowned night herons. Such elegant plumes on such squat birds. There was a double-crested cormorant about 20 feet in front of us, close enough to get a good view of the crest. Today I watched a pair of chickadees gather dog hair off the porch for their nest, and a Carolina wren gathering roots and fibers. The titmice are noisy from dawn to dusk, but it's a nice noise.

2007-04-06T15:14:00.000-04:00

The pine warbler has been to the suet feeders several times. I've seen the chipping sparrow. Tree sparrows are still here, later than I've had them for the last several years. Today a second male red-bellied woodpecker tried to compete with the "resident" male, and there was much loud squawking and flying back and forth. Chickadees are investigating each knot of the tree for a suitable house. A pair os swans were sleeping at Tinkham Pond this afternoon.

2007-04-04T20:51:00.002-04:00

April 4, 2007

Cold, 30s', drizzly. Had the day off and went to all my spots.
Long Road--Pine Warbler having a territory skirmish with Yellow-Rumped Warbler.
Nothing at Shaw Road.
YMCA bridge -- Several Osprey fishing, group of all ages of Great Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons.
Winsegansett -- Heard a big Oystercatcher racket going on. There were two pairs of them doing their piping tournament thing, squawking and flying in unison.
Thought I saw Snowy Owl, but turned out to be Great Egret. Lots of Dunlin, but no more Horned Larks.

Lots of goldfinches and house finches on the feeders today because of the rain. YELLOW

2007-04-04T20:51:00.001-04:00

April 1, 2007

Sunny and nice. At Long Road, heard lots of Pine Warblers but they were too fast for pictures.
At Shaw Road lots of snipe and killdeer.

2007-04-04T20:50:00.000-04:00

March 31, 2007

Merlin at Shaw Road on bike path. Lots of snipe in the fields. Went back the next day to check them out.

2007-03-28T16:36:00.000-04:00

A pair of red-bellied woodpeckers have been calling around the yard all day. The red-shouldered hawk was present , and a yellow-rumped warbler stopped briefly in the yard. The first phoebe of the year made an appearance this morning.

Kay

2007-03-28T06:14:00.000-04:00

A brown creeper was here on Sunday. It's been a phantom bird; I knew I heard it but where? The peepers make a joyous sound.

Kay

March 25, 2007

2007-03-26T19:38:00.000-04:00

Saw an Oystercatcher at Hoppy's Landing in the morning and a Turkey Vulture at Hacker Street at dusk

March 25, 2007

2007-03-25T08:21:00.000-04:00

Spring peepers were out, but if they're smart are back to sleep for a few days. A wood frog hopped across the road in front of me Friday. A lovely male house finch, very bright color, sang at the top of the sassafras on Friday, and a Cooper's hawk flew through the yard.
Kay

March 24, 2007

2007-03-24T17:35:00.000-04:00

After work went to Shaw Road. In the field at the curve, there were Canada Geese, noisy Killdeer, Robins, RW Blackbirds and a small flock of Snipe.

March 19

2007-03-19T15:23:00.000-04:00

A sign of spring: many ducks in Tinkham Pond. Two pairs of green-winged teal, two of hooded mergansers, three male ring-necked ducks, at least six buffleheads, male and female, a pair of mallards and two black ducks. A busy spot this noontime!

I didn't spot any wood ducks in the swamp pond, but they are shy and I was too chilly to sit and wait.

Kay

March 18, 2007

2007-03-18T21:19:00.001-04:00

Temps in the 20s, sunny, very windy.

Winsegansett--tide too high to hike...saw 2 AMOY napping near the pond in front of Lou's house....almost joined to the sea.

TONS of robins in every yard and field. Some lawns so flooded they got Mallards.

Walked rail trail from Shaw Road to YMCA. Lots of Golden-crowned Kinglets, at the bridge saw Hooded and RB Mergansers, Grebes, startled a Great Blue Heron.

Mill Road--just Mallards and one Mute Swan.

In the evening went to Shaw Road. Saw Greater White-fronted Goose at the bend with the Canadas. Lots of Woodcock displaying in the big yards near the bike path. Heard a Killdeer

March 3

2007-03-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

Owl Prowl
Well, the Owl Prowl was a success! Clear starry night, full moon, and an absolute still night/morning! We started at Nasketucket at 4:25 a.m. and had a Barred Owl call around 5:00a.m. from a distance away, but in the same area as we sighted a Barred Owl On a previous walk for the Land Trust(Holly Trail). We called back to the Owl and it stopped calling, however as we were leaving the Owl called again only much closer and was very vocal and co-operative! A nice experience for those in attendance. We then went to Munn property to look for Screech owl but we had a singing Winter Wren instead! All in all a nice walk.