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