Squantum Point Park May 15th 2013

Squantum Point Park May 15^th 2013

10 eager birders met for this last walk in the series to Squantum this spring. We all enjoyed the still ocean, the sunny but crisp early morning and the stunning views of the city as we walked along the oceanfront. The morning yielded 50 species - not bad for only 4 hours of very leisurely birding!

While the point park was still a little bit disappointing for the number of warbler species, we were amply rewarded  by a wonderful look at a Chestnut-sided Warbler after we moved over to Squaw Rock Park. This turned out to be a very “birdy” place this morning! We also had wonderful looks at Baltimore Oriole, Northern Parula, many Yellow-rumped Warblers and two species of Swallows as well as a brief but close look at a House Wren. Of note were the numerous Savannah Sparrows we saw today.

 

 

Again we ended the morning behind the Kennedy Center where we caught up with the remarkably much bigger Killdeer chicks (seen first a week ago) and where we also confirmed the presence of a Pectoral Sandpiper, which had been spotted yesterday.

Many thanks to Wayne Horridge for the wonderful photos!

Below are the full checklists:

Quincy: Squantum Point Park, Norfolk, US-MA
May 15, 2013 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
Comments:     sunny, calm cold start 42 F to 50 + F.  receding tide
South Shore Bird Club trip
25 species

American Black Duck  1
Mallard  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Oystercatcher  2     flyover.
Mourning Dove  5
Blue Jay  14     flyover.
American Crow  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  14
Gray Catbird  5
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  7
Common Yellowthroat  4     Heard.
Northern Parula  2
Yellow Warbler  9
Savannah Sparrow  7
Song Sparrow  5
Northern Cardinal  7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1     Heard.
Red-winged Blackbird  11
Common Grackle  16
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Baltimore Oriole  2
American Goldfinch  10
House Sparrow  6
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14125721

Quincy: Squantum, Squaw Rock Park, Norfolk, US-MA
May 15, 2013 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.6 mile(s)
Comments:     sunny 60F
36 species

Brant  2
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  2
Double-crested Cormorant  5
Great Egret  2
Osprey  1
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Common Tern  2
Eastern Phoebe  1     Heard.
Blue Jay  9
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  3
Barn Swallow  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  1     Heard.
Wood Thrush  1     Heard. Same location as on previous visit
American Robin  7
Gray Catbird  6
Brown Thrasher  2
European Starling  8
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  1     Heard.
Northern Parula  3
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  7
Black-throated Green Warbler  2     Heard.
Field Sparrow  1     very brief look, pink bill seen.
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  8
Common Grackle  3
Baltimore Oriole  2
House Sparrow  3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14125720

Quincy: Squantum Salt Pannes, Norfolk, US-MA
May 15, 2013 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:     sunny, low 60 F
South Shore Bird Club trip
10 species

American Black Duck  12     FOY Black Duck ducklings.  1 Adult, 11 Juveniles.
Osprey  1
Killdeer  3     saw adult bird and two chicks, which were remarkably bigger than a week ago.
Least Sandpiper  6
Pectoral Sandpiper  1
Tree Swallow  3
Barn Swallow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  7
House Finch  1
House Sparrow  3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14125719

 Christine Whitebread