Squantum Spring walks part 1: April 30th and May 7th

Squantum Spring walks part 1: April 30^th and May 7^th

 

This is a short report on the first two out of four days exploring the area of Squantum.

April 30th

Cold and drizzle, with hard rain later was in the forecast and kept all but two members home.

The two of us did not linger long, but the hour we braved it out was well worth it. The two locations in Squantum we visited yielded fair looks at a total of 23 species (see link to lists below) Highlights were Green-winged Teal at the Kennedy Center and both Green- and Blue-winged Teal at Squantum Point Park. We also had a mediocre look at the pair of Oystercatchers.

We were glad to get out of the rain and freezing wind and broke off after an hour and a half.

Link to the list at the Kennedy Center: View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18147989

Highlights of the birds seen at Squantum Point Park:

Brant  38
Gadwall  1
Blue-winged Teal  2
Green-winged Teal  2
Bufflehead  8
Common Loon  1
American Oystercatcher  2
Greater Yellowlegs  1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18147994
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

May 7th

What a difference a week makes and how lovely to be out on a gorgeous day. While the Warblers were markedly absent all seven of us had lovely looks at birds; hitting the highlight right at the start: 5 Glossy Ibis at the Kennedy Center together with both species of Egrets, Killdeer and both Yellowlegs

We then went on to Squaw Rock Park and enjoyed the good looks at the Brown Thrashers, Blue gray Gnatcatchers  and Hermit Thrush.

Just five of us continued to the “Lot 23” conservation area off Seaport Drive. This is an area not well known and offers great looks over the back end of the marshes but can be very overgrown with Poison Ivy and other weeds later in the year. We found our only Warbler for the Day a Yellow Warbler and all had wonderful looks of Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows as well as Chimney Swifts.

Many thanks to Liam Waters for the photos!

 

Our list totaled 45 species at the end of the morning. The complete lists can be viewed on e-bird:

 

Moswetuset Hummock:

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18267151

 

Squaw Rock Park:

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18267150

Wilderness area off Seaport Drive 'Lot 23', SSBC Trip
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18267176

Christine Whitebread