May 18, 2007

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

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

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

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

May 13, 2007

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

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.