The SSBC in Rhode Island, April 29 2008

Seven birders followed Evan Lipton's invitation to enjoy some Rhode Island birding. For a 6 AM start on a day which had rain in the forecast, this was a great turnout. We walked just part of the southern end of the trails in Weetamoo Woods. A great new birding place for most of us. Here is a link to the map: http://www.nemba.org/sites/default/files/trail-maps/Weetamoo%20map_0.pdf

While in the parking lot we already heard and saw about a dozen species. Once we started walking we had our first surprise; a flyover Orchard Oriole, unfortunately this was missed by most of the group. We did however get to hear our first of the year Ovenbirds as well as a Wood Thrush.

A lot of fun was had climbing the rocky viewpoint, where we enjoyed the sunshine and some eye  level views of Chipping Sparrows and Pine Warblers.

On the way down we heard several Northern Waterthrush singing, but only caught a brief look of one. After climbing down, the weather went downhill too. After enjoying the boardwalk through the Cedar swamp, we walked back to our cars in slight drizzle.
As it was still not raining too hard we decided to head over to Sapowet Marsh. Here we were delighted to find not only the expected Greater Yellowlegs and Willets, but also a flock of Glossy Ibis. Evan was also nearly knocked out by a hummingbird flying straight at him😉

We ended the trip with a highlight of a flyover Caspian Tern, which everyone got great looks at - unfortunately no photo though!

Thank you Evan for leading the trip, thank you Moe Molander for all the wonderful images!

Christine Whitebread





64 sp

Pardon Gray Preserve and Weetamoo Woods, Newport, Rhode Island, US
Apr 29, 2018 6:02 AM - 8:18 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.203 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC walk
42 species

Wild Turkey  1
Common Loon  1     Presumed flyover calling while in the woods.
Great Egret  1
Osprey (carolinensis)  2
Herring Gull  4
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  5
Veery  1
Wood Thrush  2     *Slightly early; both singing in typical spots.
American Robin  15
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Ovenbird  14     One singing the (generally nocturnal) "flight song" in the same spot one was singing it last year.
Northern Waterthrush  7
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Yellow Warbler  3
Pine Warbler  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  2
Chipping Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  6
Orchard Oriole  1
Red-winged Blackbird  18
Brown-headed Cowbird  8
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45069035

Seapowet Marsh, Newport, Rhode Island, US
Apr 29, 2018 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC walk
39 species

Brant (Atlantic)  12
Canada Goose  10
Surf Scoter  4
White-winged Scoter  1
Black Scoter  10
Bufflehead  2
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Wild Turkey  5
Red-throated Loon  2
Common Loon  5
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  8
Glossy Ibis  14
Osprey (carolinensis)  4
Greater Yellowlegs  28
Willet (Eastern)  6
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  15
Great Black-backed Gull  6
Caspian Tern  1     *Rare but regular; northbound flyover heading up the beach. Large tern with very pale wings, huge red bill, black cap.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  3
Eastern Bluebird  1     *Unusual here; male hunting from old corn stalks in the field.
American Robin  10
European Starling  5
White-throated Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  3
Song Sparrow  5
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Common Grackle  30
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  8

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45069052