Wompatuck State Park, May 19, 2016

All set to head out to walk the loop to Holly Pond having been reassured that the gate would be open early on May 19th, the frustrated leader had to resort to plan B and walk the road toward the entrance gate until opening time.  As a result we had nice looks at a Scarlet Tanager pair, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, a flying Great Blue Heron, several warblers, including Tennessee, and we heard our only Wood Thrush and Eastern Wood Pewee of the day.  

Once we arrived at the Holly Pond loop, a few of us got a fleeting glimpse of a loudly calling Northern Waterthrush.  Along the path we saw a Magnolia Warbler, and were entranced to watch 2, if not 3, Ovenbirds chasing each other along the path for at least 10 minutes.  While that chase was going on, a Brown Creeper put in an appearance and eventually led us to his nest in bark that had pulled away from the trunk of a tree.  Creepers were singing in that area and several other areas throughout the loop.  Numerous Veery's were seen and many more were calling and/or singing along the trail.  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo called several times, but backtracking closer to where we thought he might be was not rewarded with a sighting.  Later another cuckoo was heard at Boundary Pond, but also was not seen.  A singing Red-breasted Nuthatch was elusive as well.

For a few of us who stayed on to walk to Picture Pond and scope Boundary Pond, a pair of Spotted Sandpipers entertained us as well as a pair of departing Wood Ducks, a Great Egret, and an Eastern Kingbird.

E-bird flagged several of my numbers, but in all cases the numbers were most likely on the low side.

Sally Avery

Wompatuck State Park, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 19, 2016 6:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.5 mile(s)
Comments:     A SSBC trip; partly cloudy, low 50's; no breeze
54 species

Canada Goose  2
Wood Duck  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  1
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Mourning Dove  2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  5
Eastern Kingbird  2
Warbling Vireo  3
Red-eyed Vireo  6
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  6     Brown creepers were singing throughout the loop around and beyond Holly Pond.  Three were seen well; two were heard calling across the path from each other in another spot. A bird was seen going to  its nest under loose bark.  Six is probably a modest number considering the number of singing birds heard.
Winter Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  5
Veery  18     The 4 mile Holly Pond loop is prime Veery habitat and these birds were heard singing and/or calling throughout the loop and also on the way to Picture Pond. At least a half dozen were seen well.
Wood Thrush  1
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird  15
Ovenbird  40     Wompatuck is chock full of ovenbirds and many were seen hopping on the paths in front of us and several could be heard calling from any given spot.  My count is less than that of others in the group.
Birds were counted from the visitors center, all along the main road and along the 5.5 miles of walking trails that we covered.
Northern Waterthrush  3
Blue-winged Warbler  2
Black-and-white Warbler  13
Tennessee Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  8
American Redstart  2
Northern Parula  2
Magnolia Warbler  2
Yellow Warbler  9
Pine Warbler  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  4
Chipping Sparrow  12
Song Sparrow  3
Eastern Towhee  4
Scarlet Tanager  10     At least three pairs of tanagers were seen at both ends of the park as well as additional birds heard singing from the woods.
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  6
Baltimore Oriole  11
American Goldfinch  6