SE Bioreserve - Freetown / Fall River State Forest, June 26th 2016

Our leader Lynn Abbey really knows this large area like the back of her hand. Just to give us first time or rare visitors an overview, she showed us a map at the meeting point. We then headed off to some of her favorite spots - or places where she recently had luck with sights or sounds of some of the rarer birds.
Lynn said she had had no luck so far with the Hooded Warbler this year - but our group was in luck! We clearly heard Hooded Warbler singing not far from the "usual" spot. That particular area was very birdy; with 4 species of Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird and loads of Chickadees (they seem to be done breeding for now). Later stops produced among many others Canada and Prairie Warblers, Redstart, Brown Creeper and a gorgeous male Purple Finch feeding a recently fledged young (and not a cowbird!).

The last stop of the day was at the latest addition to the South Eastern Bioreserve: Mill Brook WMA.
This "Mini-Burrage" has a lot of promise. Among others we saw tons of Savannah Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, two Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and observed Prairie Warblers male and female feeding a recently fledged chick. A wonderful way to end a great morning!

Birders at Mill Brook WMA

 

Below are the lists for Freetown State Forest and Mill Brook WMA.

Again  many thanks to Lynn for leading this trip and keeping the list!

 

Christine Whitebread

Freetown State Forest & Southeastern MA Bioreserve, Bristol, Massachusetts, US
Jun 26, 2016 6:32 AM - 9:32 AM
Protocol: Traveling, 3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC trip led by Lynn Abbey.  Focus on Freetown section incl. Payne Rd, Makepeace, Cedar Swamp trail and Edmund House trail.  Sunny, high 50s to mid 60s. <br />Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.5 Build 44
40 species

Green Heron  2     Flyover at meeting spot route79
Osprey  2     Nesting Cell tower across from meeting spot
Mourning Dove  3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  2
Chimney Swift  3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  3
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  1
Blue Jay  2
Black-capped Chickadee  14
Tufted Titmouse  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  5
Brown Creeper  1
House Wren  2
Carolina Wren  1
Veery  5
Hermit Thrush  2
Wood Thrush  3
American Robin  2
Gray Catbird  5
Cedar Waxwing  1
Ovenbird  8
Northern Waterthrush  3
Black-and-white Warbler  2
Common Yellowthroat  6
Hooded Warbler  1     Heard only
American Redstart  1
Pine Warbler  6
Prairie Warbler  5
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Canada Warbler  1     Heard only
Chipping Sparrow  8
Eastern Towhee  12
Scarlet Tanager  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Purple Finch  4     M&f and 1 fledgling being fed by dad, another male.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30411971


Mill Brook WMA, Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts, US
Jun 26, 2016 10:08 AM - 11:38 AM
Protocol: Traveling, 1.5 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC trip led by Lynn Abbey.  Former cranberry bogs.  Sunny, 70s. <br />Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.5 Build 44
25 species

Turkey Vulture  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Killdeer  3
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Mourning Dove  5
Chimney Swift  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Kingbird  6
Tree Swallow  16     6 young being feed as loafing on tree tops
Barn Swallow  4
Veery  1
Hermit Thrush  1
Gray Catbird  3
Common Yellowthroat  3
Yellow Warbler  1
Prairie Warbler  3     Observed pair feeding chick
Chipping Sparrow  3
Field Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow  8     On territory
Song Sparrow  2
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  17
Common Grackle  3
American Goldfinch  2

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30411969