Wompatuck State Park, May 4, 2017

Fourteen eager birders showed up for our early morning Wompatuck romp. An early sighting was a most cooperative Broad-winged Hawk that perched on two different poles to afford us front and back views.  We started toward Triphammer Pond when a group of bicyclists whizzed by saying there was a large owl about 20 yards beyond the closed entry gate.  As a group, we about-faced and proceeded to search for the supposedly obvious bird.  One of the group thought she saw a large-winged bird disappear into the woods, but there was no further sighting at that point.  Another member had to leave the group before the walk ended and later sent me three photos of said owl at the entrance gate.  At least 
one person went home pleased to have seen a Barred Owl!



Since we had proceeded in the opposite direction from Triphammer, the group continued on toward Gate 9.  We stopped at N9 to listen and look for the Pronthonotary Warbler spotted there a few days ago but had no luck finding it.  At Gate 8, we did have some reasonable looks at a Worm-eating Warbler which was vocalizing at the same time.  A Baltimore Oriole put on a show at the top of a red maple and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet serenaded us from the opposite of the path.  The walk from Gate 9 looping around to the visitor's center was somewhat quiet, although we picked up lots of Black-and-white Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. It was an 11 warbler day, but most of them required a bit of searching to locate.  The hoped for Veery did not materialize and the Winter Wren sang so far in the distance that we had no chance of finding it.

After returning to our cars, we drove to the far end of the park, stopping at Boundary Pond long enough to note that the water was exceedingly high and that no shorebirds were hopping on non-existent mud flats.  As we walked toward Picture Pond, a Purple Finch was singing and we chased the sound for a while but came up with a Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting atop a tree instead.  Lots of Yellow rumps flitted along the path, but some other warblers were heard but not seen.  A nice pair of Yellow Warblers entertained us at the pond.

We were surprised at the absence of Blue-headed Vireos.  One sang for a brief moment, but otherwise none were detected.  The park is a beautiful spot and offers so many areas to explore.  We anticipate many surprises in the next three weeks.

Sally Avery



Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 4, 2017 6:29 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.8 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC trip. Low 40's to start rising. To mid-50's and sunny with light wind. 
42 species

Mallard  1
Common Loon  3     Flyovers
Great Blue Heron  3
Turkey Vulture  2
Broad-winged Hawk  1
Herring Gull  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  3
Eastern Phoebe  3     Audio only
Great Crested Flycatcher  5     Audio only but heard in several different locations
Blue-headed Vireo  1     Audio only
Blue Jay  2
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
Winter Wren  1     Audio only at a distance
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1     Heard and seen
American Robin  6
Gray Catbird  6
Ovenbird  12     Heard throughout park. Two seen well.
Worm-eating Warbler  1     Flirting and trilling around Gate 8
Blue-winged Warbler  3     One seen well. One singing alternate song
Black-and-white Warbler  15
Northern Parula  1     Heard but not seen
Yellow Warbler  4
Black-throated Blue Warbler  3
Palm Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  7
Black-throated Green Warbler  2
Chipping Sparrow  9
White-throated Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow  3
Eastern Towhee  7
Northern Cardinal  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Baltimore Oriole  6     Several good looks
Purple Finch  1     Heard only by 8 sets of ears. On a search we found a RTHU instead!
American Goldfinch  5

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36536074