Squantum section of Quincy - 8/17/2014

   Seven people met at the salt pans along East Squantum St. shortly after high tide. The strategy is to be here as the tide becomes full and covers the surrounding mudflats, thereby forcing the shorebirds to these shallow pools in a more concentrated form. I've noticed over the years that the birds here do come in, some staying to feed or roost, others only staying briefly and heading for parts unknown. Greater Yellowlegs (up to 80) and Semipalmated Sandpipers (up to 300) roost here in the greatest numbers. Lesser Yellowlegs are here in good numbers as well. Shallow salt pans are the Lesser's preferred habitat and are usually actively feeding amongst the sleeping masses. Other birds in attendance this morning included a few Killdeer, Short-billed Dowitchers and Semipalmated Sandpipers. A careful scan of the saltmarsh grasses also revealed a couple Saltmarsh Sparrows which briefly 'teed-up' and dove back down into the grasses out of site.

Am. Oystercatcher

   Several other areas around Squantum were checked as the tide started to drop. American Oystercatchers were seen on the rocky/sandy spits that get exposed. Eight were seen at Orchard Beach and another 3 at the spit in front Marina Bay. Squantum is one of the best places to observe this colorful shorebird in the south shore area of Boston.

Semipalmated Sandpipers

   Squaw Rock Park is the place to check for early land bird migration. There was very little activity today in this wooded patch. The lone highlight here, and for day however, was a  young Peregrine Falcon up on the abandoned cement bunker feeding on a Northern Flicker. The only other land bird migrants were in the form of two Blue-winged Warblers at Squantum Point Park.
An enjoyable morning with mostly sunny skies, light wind, and comfortable temperatures (70sF.).

52 species

American Black Duck  12
Mallard  2
Double-crested Cormorant  70
Great Blue Heron  7
Great Egret  5
Snowy Egret  10
Black-crowned Night-Heron  1
Osprey  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Oystercatcher  11    8-Orchard Beach; 3-Marina Bay spit.
Black-bellied Plover  25
Semipalmated Plover  45
Killdeer  4
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Greater Yellowlegs  45
Lesser Yellowlegs  12
Least Sandpiper  3
Semipalmated Sandpiper  300
Short-billed Dowitcher  3
Laughing Gull  60    Estimate, typical number for location and date.
Ring-billed Gull  40
Herring Gull (American)  225
Great Black-backed Gull  6
Common Tern  10
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  8
Mourning Dove  8
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Peregrine Falcon  1    Juvenile. On cement bunker, Squaw Rock feeding on a N. Flicker.
Eastern Phoebe  3
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  3
Tree Swallow  3
Bank Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  4
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  10
Gray Catbird  4
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  300
Cedar Waxwing  8
Blue-winged Warbler  2    Squantum Pt. Park
Yellow Warbler  1
Saltmarsh Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  5
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  6
Common Grackle  20
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  25

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Vin Zollo

Dragonflies at Myles Standish State Forest, Plymouth - 7/27/2014

Eastern Pondhawk

   A surprising and welcome turnout of 13 people for this "Odes" (Dragonfly & Damselfly) walk! Weather plays an important role as one decides to venture out in search these striking insects. Bright sunny skies with warm temperatures and calm/light winds are the ideal conditions to get most these dragons and damsels active. But when does anyone really get these conditions, not often enough, and not today of course! Today's weather was mostly cloudy with a few peeks of sun and moderate wind, then turned to light rain about three hours into the trip. The group was not deterred however, and we made out quite well in finding many of the representative species of the area, no doubt due to all the extra sets of eyes amongst us. Three hours was a nice amount of time as this was most people's first time out.

Calico Pennant

   Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth is a huge swath of pine barren forest which is dotted with several coastal plain ponds that harbor a unique set of plants and animals. Coastal plain ponds are generally shallow with a sandy substrate and have no inlet or outlet. Water levels in these ponds can vary depending on weather. Most of this habitat in Massachusetts is in SE MA and Cape Cod and the Islands. Doctor's and New Grassy Ponds were two of these of ponds we focused on.

Meadowhawk

   Although there were not big numbers, the large, flashy species namely Comet Darner, Golden-winged Skimmer and Carolina Saddlebags put in appearances. These ones can be identified fairly easily as they patrol the shoreline of the ponds. The same cannot be said of many of the others though. With birds, some species can only be separated by voice. Ode identification can have challenges like this as well. Given their relative small size, many of the key characteristics such as shape and structure can only be examined effectively in the hand with magnification. Several small damselflies were netted, and with the aid of some field guides, we were able to "key out" various Spreadwings and Bluets.

Swamp Spreadwing

   Several of the damsels & dragonflies were in their teneral state, meaning that they had very recently emerged from the ponds. Typically the larval(nymph) stage crawls out of the water on nearby vegetation or rocks and then starts the process of breaking through their outer "shell", a process called metamorphosis. Once emerged, odes cannot fly well, as their exoskeleton and wings are soft, making them quite vulnerable to predators. This feature can be noticed in the field because their wings have a glassy/shiny look to them.

Calico Pennant

   During our brief time out in the field, were able to witness, at close range, a female Common Whitetail depositing (ovipositing) her eggs into the water at a particular spot. The female of this species, and several others in the ode family, will hover over the water and quickly dip the end of their  abdomen into the water and release eggs. This motion is repeated in rapid succession making this behavior quite noticeable. Other methods of ovipositing include depositing eggs directly into mud or laying them inside vegetation by slicing into stems of plants.
   All in all, a very enjoyable trip and a great excuse to get out and become better acquainted with a different set of organisms!

Odes:

1 Sweetflag Spreadwing

15 Swamp Spreadwings

25 Atlantic Bluets -common, but mainly tied to this habitat

30 Slender Bluets

1 Azure Bluet (female)

50 Eastern Forktails

2 Common Green Darners

2 Comet Darners (one was on the ground and had just emerged from exuvia, it's wings not straight, but curved at the ends) 

1 Clubtail sp.  

15 Eastern Pondhawks

2 Spangled Skimmers

Spangled Skimmer

4 Common Whitetails (including a female ovipositing)

5 Golden-winged Skimmers

5 Calico Pennants

3 Martha's Pennants (all freshly emerged - teneral)

3 Autumn Meadowhawks

2 Carolina Saddlebags

Incidental bird sightings:
18 species

Canada Goose  8
Wild Turkey  5
Great Blue Heron  1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
American Crow  1
Tree Swallow  20
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  2
Hermit Thrush  2
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  2
Cedar Waxwing  6
Yellow Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  12
Chipping Sparrow  5
Song Sparrow  1
American Goldfinch  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Vin Zollo