Seven Birders enjoyed their walk through the well maintained Wildlands Trust Property, on this really pleasant morning.
We had hoped for some rarer Flycatchers moving through, but had no luck on those.
Highlight of our walk were two Barred Owls duetting close to the Tower. They were well heard, but never seen over a period of more than 20 minutes.
Amazing were both the visual on one of three Black-billed Cuckoo and the later audio of two Yellow billed Cuckoos. Impossibly difficult to see were the numerous Blue-winged Warblers which are a specialty at this property.
Below is the ebird list, click on the link at the bottom to see the ebird entry with the photos
Willow Brook Farm Preserve, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 27, 2017 8:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling 3 mile(s)
Comments: SSBC Trip, temps starting at 54 F ended at 63 F, overcast with some sun
44 species
Canada Goose 2 audio only
Great Blue Heron 3
Cooper's Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Black-billed Cuckoo 3
Barred Owl 2 audio : duetting at 10:30 am!
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 11
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Veery 8
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 10
Ovenbird 7
Northern Waterthrush 2
Blue-winged Warbler 5
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 7
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 6
Pine Warbler 3
Canada Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 2
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37190270
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
The South Shore Bird Club (SSBC) was founded in 1946 and the first members set out to explore the birds and birding habitats of the South Shore of Massachusetts. We concentrate on field trips for both members and non members. Most trips involve car-pooling with occasional canoe trips or beach hikes. Non-members are always welcome.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Wompatuck State Park, May 25, 2017
A dozen birders braved the pending rainstorm to see what Wompatuck had to offer this morning. Unfortunately, the promised early gate opening did not happen, so we were forced to start the morning near the Visitors Center for the 5th week in a row. Heading toward Triphammer Pond we listened for reported Black-billed cuckoos and an Acadian Flycatcher with no success. We did have one call from a Pileated Woodpecker and saw it flying through the woods briefly, but not well. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was singing and making his sneaker squeak calls near the Pond. Perhaps we saw the same male that a few of us watched guarding a female gathering nesting material in that area on Bird-a-thon day.
Returning to the parking lot, two menfolk thought they heard a Mourning Warbler sing once, but it never repeated its song or showed itself to any of us. We drove to Boundary Pond in the hopes of hearing an Olive-sided Flycatcher reported yesterday. One promising sighting turned out to be a "lichen bird" as seen through a spotting scope.
We then headed on foot toward the Aaron River Reservoir from the transfer station parking lot even though the scattered sprinkles were becoming steadier rain. We found several phoebe nests along the eaves of the building and saw a few individuals sitting on nests or flying nearby. A nice look at a Veery in a swampy area was probably our biggest reward for that trek.
Wompatuck has some stunning scenery and everyone enjoyed the outing even if the bird count was on the low side.
Until next year in the big woods!
Sally Avery
Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 25, 2017 6:29 AM - 9:47 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: A South Shore Bird Club trip. cloudy skies soon turned to rain spatters and steady rain by 9 am.
36 species
Canada Goose 4
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Chimney Swift 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Audio and brief visual
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Veery 4
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
Ovenbird 6
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Mourning Warbler 1 Two people thought they heard song. No one else saw or heard bird.
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37133349
Returning to the parking lot, two menfolk thought they heard a Mourning Warbler sing once, but it never repeated its song or showed itself to any of us. We drove to Boundary Pond in the hopes of hearing an Olive-sided Flycatcher reported yesterday. One promising sighting turned out to be a "lichen bird" as seen through a spotting scope.
We then headed on foot toward the Aaron River Reservoir from the transfer station parking lot even though the scattered sprinkles were becoming steadier rain. We found several phoebe nests along the eaves of the building and saw a few individuals sitting on nests or flying nearby. A nice look at a Veery in a swampy area was probably our biggest reward for that trek.
Wompatuck has some stunning scenery and everyone enjoyed the outing even if the bird count was on the low side.
Until next year in the big woods!
Sally Avery
Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 25, 2017 6:29 AM - 9:47 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: A South Shore Bird Club trip. cloudy skies soon turned to rain spatters and steady rain by 9 am.
36 species
Canada Goose 4
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Chimney Swift 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Audio and brief visual
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Veery 4
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
Ovenbird 6
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Mourning Warbler 1 Two people thought they heard song. No one else saw or heard bird.
American Redstart 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37133349
Wompatuck Blitz, May 21 2017
This is the second year in a row we held this brief survey of Wompatuck SP.
SSBC members met at the main parking lot at 6 AM, we split into 4 teams (ideally we would have 6 teams to cover the park). We invited the BBC - Club who also had a walk at the same time to join us but they declined.
After 4 hours of birding in designated sections we all met up for coffee and cake and to create a list.
Everyone agreed it was a fairly slow morning - to our surprise we ended up with 7 more species than last year - where we covered more areas with 5 teams!
Thanks to all who participated in this effort to gather data and have fun
Christine Whitebread
Here are the combined results for the two years:
SSBC members met at the main parking lot at 6 AM, we split into 4 teams (ideally we would have 6 teams to cover the park). We invited the BBC - Club who also had a walk at the same time to join us but they declined.
After 4 hours of birding in designated sections we all met up for coffee and cake and to create a list.
Everyone agreed it was a fairly slow morning - to our surprise we ended up with 7 more species than last year - where we covered more areas with 5 teams!
Thanks to all who participated in this effort to gather data and have fun
Christine Whitebread
Here are the combined results for the two years:
| Date Range | May 21, 2016 - May 27, 2016 | May 21, 2017 - May 27, 2017 | |||
| Locations | Wompatuck SP | Wompatuck SP | |||
| Total Number of Species | 80 | 87 | |||
| Total Number of Checklists | 5 | 4 | |||
| 21-May | 21-May | ||||
| Number of Species | 80 | 87 | |||
| Number of Individuals | 1,104 | 893 | |||
| Number of Checklists | 5 | 4 | |||
| 2016 | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | ||
| 21-May | 21-May | 21-May | 21-May | ||
| Species Name | Species Count | Sample Size | Species Count | Sample Size | |
| Canada Goose | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Wood Duck | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mallard | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wild Turkey | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Great Blue Heron | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Green Heron | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Great Egret | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Snowy Egret | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Green Heron | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Herring Gull | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Rock Pigeon | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Mourning Dove | 3 | 2 | 12 | 3 | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 13 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Chimney Swift | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 9 | 5 | 13 | 4 | |
| Downy Woodpecker | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Northern Flicker | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| woodpecker sp. | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Acadian Flycatcher | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Least Flycatcher | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Eastern Phoebe | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | 35 | 5 | 29 | 4 | |
| Eastern Kingbird | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Warbling Vireo | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 24 | 5 | 27 | 4 | |
| Blue Jay | 20 | 5 | 21 | 4 | |
| American Crow | 11 | 3 | 14 | 2 | |
| Fish Crow | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tree Swallow | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Barn Swallow | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 42 | 5 | 47 | 4 | |
| Tufted Titmouse | 30 | 5 | 36 | 4 | |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 12 | 5 | 9 | 4 | |
| Brown Creeper | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| House Wren | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Winter Wren | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 17 | 4 | 14 | 3 | |
| Veery | 54 | 5 | 22 | 4 | |
| Swainson's Thrush | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| Hermit Thrush | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Wood Thrush | 24 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
| American Robin | 34 | 5 | 14 | 4 | |
| Gray Catbird | 49 | 5 | 37 | 4 | |
| European Starling | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Cedar Waxwing | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
| Ovenbird | 164 | 5 | 95 | 4 | |
| Worm-eating Warbler | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Northern Waterthrush | 9 | 4 | 12 | 4 | |
| Blue-winged Warbler | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 57 | 5 | 29 | 3 | |
| Common Yellowthroat | 17 | 5 | 24 | 4 | |
| American Redstart | 40 | 5 | 24 | 3 | |
| Cape May Warbler | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northern Parula | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
| Magnolia Warbler | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | |
| Blackburnian Warbler | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Yellow Warbler | 14 | 4 | 24 | 4 | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Blackpoll Warbler | 2 | 2 | 10 | 3 | |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pine Warbler | 27 | 5 | 15 | 4 | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Canada Warbler | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| Wilson's Warbler | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Chipping Sparrow | 38 | 5 | 40 | 4 | |
| Savannah Sparrow | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Song Sparrow | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Swamp Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Eastern Towhee | 32 | 5 | 21 | 4 | |
| Scarlet Tanager | 31 | 4 | 9 | 3 | |
| Northern Cardinal | 40 | 5 | 13 | 4 | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Indigo Bunting | 8 | 3 | 8 | 1 | |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 32 | 4 | 20 | 3 | |
| Common Grackle | 14 | 5 | 17 | 3 | |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 36 | 5 | 9 | 4 | |
| Orchard Oriole | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Baltimore Oriole | 20 | 5 | 15 | 4 | |
| House Finch | 1 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
| Purple Finch | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| American Goldfinch | 10 | 4 | 16 | 4 |
Walk for Wildlife and Family Day, May 20 2017
In collaboration with South Shore Sanctuaries the SSBC hosted an early morning walk and a day filled with birdy activities at Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary.
The rather cool morningheld no promise for warbler activity at DWWS, so we moved over for some birding at Ferry hill Thicket and just like the previous 2 days we were not disappointed with the activity there:
Ferry Hill Thicket, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 20, 2017 6:20 AM - 7:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling, )
Comments: SSBC Trip, moved from DWWS to Ferry Hill in hopes of more warblers and prev. reported Gray-cheeked Thrush
29 species
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 4
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 continuing, overall darker and no buffy throat compared to nearby SWTH, VEER size but no warm/rusty back.
Swainson's Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 4
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 4
Magnolia Warbler 6
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Baltimore Oriole 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37131407
The rest of the day the 13 SSBC members and their families who helped (THANK YOU AGAIN) were kept moderately busy by the 110 visitors to the sanctuary on the walk for wildlife day.
We staffed a station named WINGS, where we talked about migration - Bobolinks, Tree- and Barn Swallows. We had scopes set up on Fox Hill and looked at the Osprey nest and the boxes with Starlings and Kestrels. Lastly we talked about feathers and colors at a table with watercolors, crayons and lots of drawing paper. We all enjoyed this beautiful day and the interactions with a good number of visitor. The entrance held a lot of our materials - we hope to grow through activities such as these.
The date in peak migration time was great, we were able to "bird" a bit all through the day. Here is the SSBC combined checklist, highlights were looks at copulating BBCU and a Lincoln's Sparrow found after cleanup.
Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 20, 2017 11:14 AM - 5:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling, 3.2 mile(s)
Comments: Walk for wildlife - birds seen while interacting with trail walkers.
57 species
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Wild Turkey 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Mourning Dove 2
Black-billed Cuckoo 5 seen copulating 2x, by seperate observers. 2 pairs and a single bird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Willow Flycatcher 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 10
Tree Swallow 103
Barn Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 8
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 6
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Seen well at 3.30pm next to boardwalk through red maple swamp between back meadow and loop trail
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 100 A modest count for all the birds breeding on property. number is 99 percent male.
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 4
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 10
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37072414
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Christine Whitebread
The rather cool morningheld no promise for warbler activity at DWWS, so we moved over for some birding at Ferry hill Thicket and just like the previous 2 days we were not disappointed with the activity there:
Ferry Hill Thicket, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 20, 2017 6:20 AM - 7:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling, )
Comments: SSBC Trip, moved from DWWS to Ferry Hill in hopes of more warblers and prev. reported Gray-cheeked Thrush
29 species
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 4
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 continuing, overall darker and no buffy throat compared to nearby SWTH, VEER size but no warm/rusty back.
Swainson's Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 4
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 4
Magnolia Warbler 6
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Baltimore Oriole 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37131407
The rest of the day the 13 SSBC members and their families who helped (THANK YOU AGAIN) were kept moderately busy by the 110 visitors to the sanctuary on the walk for wildlife day.
We staffed a station named WINGS, where we talked about migration - Bobolinks, Tree- and Barn Swallows. We had scopes set up on Fox Hill and looked at the Osprey nest and the boxes with Starlings and Kestrels. Lastly we talked about feathers and colors at a table with watercolors, crayons and lots of drawing paper. We all enjoyed this beautiful day and the interactions with a good number of visitor. The entrance held a lot of our materials - we hope to grow through activities such as these.
The date in peak migration time was great, we were able to "bird" a bit all through the day. Here is the SSBC combined checklist, highlights were looks at copulating BBCU and a Lincoln's Sparrow found after cleanup.
Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 20, 2017 11:14 AM - 5:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling, 3.2 mile(s)
Comments: Walk for wildlife - birds seen while interacting with trail walkers.
57 species
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Wild Turkey 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Mourning Dove 2
Black-billed Cuckoo 5 seen copulating 2x, by seperate observers. 2 pairs and a single bird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Willow Flycatcher 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 10
Tree Swallow 103
Barn Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 8
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 6
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Seen well at 3.30pm next to boardwalk through red maple swamp between back meadow and loop trail
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 100 A modest count for all the birds breeding on property. number is 99 percent male.
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 4
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 10
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37072414
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Christine Whitebread
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