Bare Cove Park, April 19, 2014

Black-capped Chickadee by Steven Whitebread

The South Shore Bird Club's April 19, 2014 walk at Bare Cove Park 

Chipping Sparrow by Steven Whitebread

started out in low  4O degree weather and by late morning felt like high 50's.

  Bare Cove is a 469 acre Sanctuary(and dog walking park which we managed nicely to avoid with different trails along the main path) in Hingham. There were 12 participants.  It yielded 44 species of birds. (Canada Goose not on list but heard by some.) We had  Cardinals and Osprey on their nest  and  DC cormorants carrying nesting material.

One short path yielded visuals of three hermit thrushes, a ruby crowned
kinglet with red crest raised, a brown thrasher and an eastern towhee.

We missed on any warblers but had  two  blue- gray gnatcathers. We had
large numbers of black duck , buffleheads, and DC cormorants with four
great Egrets and four snowy egrets. We had several what we believe were
greater yellow legs. The only sparrows were song, white throated,
chipping and an amazing savannah with bright yellow lores.                  

Steven Whitebread photo of Savannah Sparrow

Kathy Rawdon( SSBC leader of walk)

American Black Duck  15
Mallard  5
Bufflehead  36
Wild Turkey  1
Double-crested Cormorant  65
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  4
Snowy Egret  4
Turkey Vulture  2
Osprey  2
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Greater Yellowlegs  6
Herring Gull  8
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  5
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  12
American Crow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  7
Tufted Titmouse  8
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Hermit Thrush  3
American Robin  4
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  1
Eastern Towhee  1
Chipping Sparrow  14
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Common Grackle  4
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  4

The group as photographed by Linde Eyster

World's End, Hingham - 4/12/2014

Eastern Phoebe

   Due to weather conditions favorable for migration the entire week before the trip, World's End April 2014 stands out as one of the best ever for both total number of species seen. World's End is a fun early spring trip that combines finding first of the year spring migrants and late-wintering waterfowl in one beautiful natural area. Highlights included: Red-throated Loon, breeding plumage Horned Grebe, Glossy Ibis, American Oystercatcher, singing Eastern Bluebirds, American Kestrel and a gorgeous buff-colored Red Fox who snuggled down behind a stone wall after he attracted our attention away from some Tree swallows.Looking back to 2013

   While 2014 had almost double the species of 2013, it is notable what birds were missed this year:
Common loon, Brant, Greater yellowlegs, Bonaparte's gull, Ring-billed Gull (I'm sure there were some on Sara Island), Belted kingfisher
Weather: Fair, Lg. Wind, 60sF.

Total list:
55 species

Canada Goose 6
American Black Duck 6
Mallard 3
Green-winged Teal (American) 1
Greater Scaup 14
Common Eider (Atlantic) 35
Surf Scoter 9
White-winged Scoter 4
Bufflehead 35
Red-throated Loon 10
Horned Grebe 7
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 5 (one was carrying a snake)
American Oystercatcher 2
Herring Gull (American) 35
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 12
American Kestrel 2 (one was carrying a snake)
Eastern Phoebe 9
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 30
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 2
Carolina Wren 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Eastern Bluebird 7
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 55
European Starling 85
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 20
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 4

Helen Harris-Cross

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Turkey Hill, Weir River Farm, Whitney Thayer Woods; April 5, 2014

The day loomed foggy, and birds were in short supply until the air cleared in about an hour.  A quickly seen Fox Sparrow was one of the few birds encountered at the onset of the walk.    A Glaucous Gull  at the top of Turkey Hill called incessantly as it flew overhead showing its pure white wing tips, top and bottom. Although the bill wasn't observed, the grey on the wing tops suggested an adult bird. Our band of six felt spirits soar as the sun made a brief appearance;  later clouds rolled in returning the cooler, damper air.  Of the 29 species seen, the other bird of note was a Northern Shrike seen perched in a tree atop Turkey Hill at the end of the walk when only three of us remained.   This three to four mile loop is usually quite birdy and will certainly bring many surprises as migration begins to heat up.

Sally Avery

Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull  4
Glaucous Gull  1     a large all white-winged gull flew overhead calling.  The bird was seen from top and bottom and there was no black on the wing-tips.  An unusual sighting for Turkey Hill, but it was all white.  An adult bird, not a juvenile.
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  4
Northern Flicker  3
Eastern Phoebe  4
Northern Shrike  1
Blue Jay  5
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  7
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  65
European Starling  12
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  9
White-throated Sparrow  4
Dark-eyed Junco  10
Northern Cardinal  10
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  12
American Goldfinch  3
House Sparrow  8