Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, April 26, 1918

Five mostly waterproof birders braved the elements for the first of five Thursday Wompatuck walks this spring. Before the gate opened, we walked from the visitor's center all the way to Wildcat Pond and looped back while enjoying the sounds of residents and a few newly arrived migrants singing' in the rain. Distinguishing between pine warblers and chipping sparrows presented our first challenge. Although most of us can usually can tell the difference, we struggled to distinguish one from the other above the loud patter of rain on our umbrellas. The eastern towhees were vocalizing from the path sides, but not until our return loop did we spot one high in a tree far away. A black-and-white warbler and a northern waterthrush were encountered in the same spot, and both eventually seen high in the trees.

Returning to our cars, we drove out to the gate toward Holly Pond, and immediately heard another NOWT calling deep in the woods. Unable to find it, we walked toward the pond listening to the occasional winter wren and watching, with amazement, a pair of phoebes working on a nest well camouflaged in the roots of an upended tree. At the pond side, we encountered a number of warblers working the treetops including yellow, palm, pine, and yellow-rumps. On the way back, most of the group saw the vocalizing red-breasted nuthatch and we all saw a soaring broad-winged hawk. After unsuccessfully chasing a singing winter wren near the pond, we got a brief look at another one along the roadside singing lustily. As we approached the main road, the NOWT was again singing, and this time much closer to the road. With a little searching, it was found with its back to us. The eyestripe was visible but the breast was never seen although we could watch him throw his head back and sing repeatedly.

For a rainy day, the results were quite satisfying. At least it was warm and there was lots of bird song to cheer us along the way!

Sally Avery

Wompatuck SP--Visitor's Center, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
Apr 26, 2018 6:26 AM - 8:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.07 mile(s)
Comments: Pouring rain on mid50’s
18 species

Herring Gull 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Audio only. Clearly heard overhead, but group was unable to locate it in the tree.
American Robin 7
Northern Waterthrush 1 Heard and then located singing from high in a tree above a swamp where they have been historically nesting; Light was poor, but the yellowish, striped breast was visible.
Black-and-white Warbler 1 FOY. Heard singing overhead, near NOWT; eventually located hitching along branches. Black and white striping visible through the rain
Pine Warbler 4
Chipping Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44955344

Hingham: Wompatuck State Park, Holly Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
Apr 26, 2018 8:32 AM - 10:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.4 mile(s)
Comments: Rain stopped but overcast with poor light. All birds seen well.
27 species

Canada Goose 2
Ring-necked Duck 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Herring Gull 3
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Winter Wren 2
American Robin 3
Northern Waterthrush 1 Bird heard deep in woods when we arrived. After walking it was vocalizing near road, and with some searching was found singing high in a tree above a swamp where they have historically nested. This bird was back to, but could be seen singing and the eyestripe was clearly visible.
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1 FOY seen hopping high in tree along with YRWA and PIWA and PAWA. Yellow undercarriage visible in very poor light.
Palm Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Chipping Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
American Goldfinch 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44958242