Scusset and Canal area, January 18^th 2015

 

Just 4 of us met on this remarkably warm morning for January – what a contrast to last year on this same trip! We explored the Canal near the Sagamore bridge first and soon spotted a large flock of Eiders. We had heard about two King Eiders among these and decided to walk up the bike path in order to scan the raft of about 400 birds. We finally found one King Eider, who presented a great photo op a little later.

In between we also spotted a Red shouldered Hawk taking off and flying across the canal. As the drizzle turned to rain we returned to the car and drove to the beach area. There we sat through the few minutes of rain while admiring the Horned Larks in their usual spot.

The walk out to the icy Jetty offered another wonderful photo opportunity of a cute and remarkably cooperative Long-tailed Duck. On the way back we had Savannah and Tree Sparrow in the same bush as Yellow-rumped Warblers. The woodlands produced the usual Catbirds, White-throated Sparrows, Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees and Goldfinches.

After a quick Rest stop, three of us continued to Ellisville SP and were rewarded with great looks at Green-winged Teal and a murder of Crows, 130 Fish and American Crows, were active over the marsh and in and out of trees. Most surprisingly we found one lonely Black-bellied Plover among a group of 46 Dunlin!

Thanks to Joe Scott for keeping and submitting the lists, which can be found by following the links below.

Cape Cod Canal, Barnstable, US-MA
Jan 18, 2015 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
20 species

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21412830

Scusset Beach State Reservation, Barnstable, US-MA
Jan 18, 2015 9:25 AM - 11:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
25 species

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21412827

Plymouth: Ellisville Harbor State Park, Plymouth, US-MA
Jan 18, 2015 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Comments: South Shore Bird Club trip
11 species

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21424681

 

Photos and text by Steven and Christine Whitebread.