Turkey Hill/Weir River Farm/Whitney-Thayer Woods, September 28, 2019

The two people who joined me on the fall Turkey Hill walk were treated to some great birds and good looks of a few special ones. By the time we walked from the parking lot on 3A to the top of the path along the field, we had seen 15 species of birds including Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Bluebird, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. A female Black-throated Green Warbler was hopping from tree to tree and showed us her colors occasionally between leaves. The cuckoo, unfortunately, did what cuckoos so often do, arranging itself along a branch behind leaves, so that the others only got a sense of the motion, and not of its rusty wing patch, its long tail, and its yellow lower mandible.

Eastern Bluebirds were plentiful at the peak of the hill, flitting between cedar trees, down to the grass, and posing on farm equipment parked along the hay bales. All these birds, male and female alike, appeared to be in adult plumage.

As a Red-tailed Hawk flew across the field on the farm, we heard the call of a Red-shouldered and so assumed it was a Blue Jay calling. Minutes later, a Red-shouldered Hawk flew over our heads, so perhaps it had been the caller after all, chasing away the Tail.

A flock of blackbirds flew over the crest of Turkey Hill at one point and we identified them as Brown-headed Cowbirds because of the color differentiation within the flock. Later, this large flock of birds was found foraging on the ground around the Belted Galloways, confirming our identification.

Woodpeckers were plentiful and the red head of the Redbellies, the yellow shafts of the Flickers, and the long bills of the Hairy's glistened in the abundant sunlight.

Last week, I walked this exact route at the same time for the Fall Roundup, and the suite of birds was quite different. For example, there were no robins to be seen or heard a week ago, and a week later they were feeding on fruit throughout the woods. The Blue Jays were quiet for the first two hours, but then picked up on their cacophony for the remainder of the morning.

It was a sparkling day, and a great time to be at this location. We saw so many birds at the outset, that we ran out of time to make a trek through the Holly Grove. Perhaps that lower area would have been quiet anyway as we approached the noon hour.

Sally Avery

Turkey Hill/Weir River Farm/WhitneyThayer Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Sep 28, 2019 8:03 AM - 11:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
Comments: Sunny light breeze in 70’s
31 species

Wild Turkey 4
Mourning Dove 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 7
Eastern Phoebe 4
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 13
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 6
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 56
Gray Catbird 3
Eastern Bluebird 9
American Robin 18
House Sparrow 20
House Finch 9
American Goldfinch 1
Chipping Sparrow 5
Eastern Towhee 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 50
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60175788

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)september 28

Wompatuck State Park

The last of the bird club walks in Wompatuck concluded today with 47 species seen or heard by some or all of 12 participants. We walked a loop from the transfer station parking lot toward and along the Aaron River Reservoir. It was a thrush-y kind of a day and we found 5 species. Two different Swainson's Thrushes afforded us reasonable looks and the Hermit Thrushes obliged us with song as well as great looks.  The Wood Thrush was an audio only.

Swainson's Thrush by Brian Vigorito

Many Veery were calling and one was heard singing; the one visual was unusual in that there was a white feather on the left wing - either broken or leucistic.  

A Black-billed Cuckoo was seen well by one, in flight by several, and heard by a few others. One Empid was hotly debated as Least, Willow, Alder, or Acadian; there was no audio to give us the true identify. Eight species of warblers were seen or heard, but were not in plentiful supply compared to other years.

Ovenbird by Brian Vigorito

Eastern Kingbird on nest by Brian Vigorito

Until next year,

Sally Avery

Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 23, 2019 6:26 AM - 10:26 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
Comments: A SSBC trip. Track inadvertently stopped early in trip. Overcast in high 50’s and very breezy
46 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 1
Mallard 1
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Empidonax sp. 1 visual on bird, but no audio with 4
different opinions about whether it was a least, willow, alder, or acadian.
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 7
Eastern Kingbird 4
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 9
Blue Jay 2
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Veery 10
Swainson's Thrush 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 7
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 5
Chipping Sparrow 11
Song Sparrow 7
Eastern Towhee 4
Baltimore Oriole 5
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 7
Common Grackle 4
Ovenbird 18
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 3
Yellow Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56649763

Wompatuck State Park

By far the nicest Thursday yet for our WSP walks! The storm system cleared out yesterday and many more warblers were singing and foraging today than had been previously present in the park. The main gate was not opened as promised, but our walking loop to Wildcat Pond, S. Pleasant St. and Gate 9 and back to the Visitor's Center proved to be very birdy for the 12 participants. The most common warblers were Magnolia, Black-and-white, Ovenbird, and Northern Parula. Only one or two folks saw the Blackburnian Warbler and though we walked in the direction in which it flew off, it was never seen or heard again. Woodthrush song filled the air along most of the loop. Surprisingly, Scarlet Tanagers were quiet with the exception of one chip burr of an unseen bird. The chief highlight of the trip was that we encountered so many warblers.

Sally Avery
















Wompatuck SP-Gate 9, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 16, 2019 6:24 AM - 10:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.8 mile(s)
Comments: A SSBC trip. Started in mid 40’s and ended in mid60’s. Sunny to partly cloudy no wind.
46 species

Mallard 1
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 2
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Cooper's Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Veery 3
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 15
American Goldfinch 4
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 9
Baltimore Oriole 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Ovenbird 20
Northern Waterthrush 2
Blue-winged Warbler 4
Black-and-white Warbler 15
Nashville Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 8
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 14
Magnolia Warbler 6
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 5
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56347262

Harrington 100

The Harrington 100 renamed for the long time leader of this trip, H Warren Harrington.

This year's edition, proves the old adage, in the right place at the right time. As we saw two new species for the trip! Had we arrived a minute or so later, we would have missed one of them.

I do not keep counts of how many of each species we have for this trip. But this year, the most prominent bird had to be Blue-headed Vireo. I would say it was in the 35-45 bird range. They just seemed to be everywhere. This fast paced trip, always the first Saturday in May, starts in Boxford (Crooked Pond), passing through Lynnfield, Peabody, Lynn, Nahant, Topsfield, Rowley, The Newburys, Plum Island and ending in Byfield.

Only four birders were in attendance this year, including myself. Unfortunately, we could not fix into one vehicle. As we bring clothing for four seasons, and week's worth of food. I miss the day's of Warren's van which held what seem to be a baseball team's worth of people.

The day (4:30 AM) started out rainy, which tends to keep the dawn chorus somewhat subdued. But just as we stepped passed the gate,however, a Barred Owl called. So our hopes were up, despite the weather. We would later see a Barred Owl, same one(?), as we were heading back to our vehicles. We worked our way along the hillside path, to the point of a former beaver dam, now probably 2-3 feet under water.

We waited for "sun"rise, or any signs of light. Slowly but surely, the birds started calling. Again, we count any birds we see or hear. Most of the time, we can usually all get at least a quick glimpse of a bird. Otherwise, we just have to go with the audible. We spent a little longer at Crooked Pond as there are some species we just can't get typically anywhere else and we wanted to maximize the opportunity.

For most of the day, we were about a half hour behind and 10 or less species behind from our record pace of last year. Which was 139 species. Lynnfield Marsh produced the usual assortment of birds, minus some ducks we like to pick up early. We wound our way through Lynnfield, to Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody. There were a nice assortment of warblers and a yellow-bellied Sapsucker, only the fifth time seen.

From this point, we head over to Lynn beach and start recording all the sea related birds in the area. This brings a good jolt of energy to the group. Heading over to the bay side, we scan and pick up a few more birds. From this point in Lynn, you can see down the coast to at least Revere, maybe further. But this day, David Ludlow looked no further than the Pink Building in Revere and found two Manx Shearwaters. Two more were also seen. We have joked and scanned and joked for years about seeing this species, finally it came to a realization. High Fives all around.

Nahant Stump Dump/Ballfield area did not disappoint. With several warblers, an ovenbird (missed at Crooked Pond), Swainson's Thrush, third or fourth time seen, and a yellow-throated Vireo thrown into the mix with more Blue-headed Vireos. We missed our Great Cormorant.

Getting out of Lynn is always a challenge driving wise midday, but we lucked out this year, passing through quickly. Beginning last year, instead driving up Rt93 to Scotland road, I changed it up and began driving up Rt1 via the Topsfield Fairgrounds.

It was a good spot last year and this year did not disappoint. Three American Pipits were found (second time seen), along with Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs.

From here, we drove north, cutting over to Rt1A and stopped near one Tendercrop Farm's properties. This are can be good for shorebirds (Phalaropes) and Ibis (Glossy or possibly a white-faced). But not this year. All that were there were a flock of Snowy Egrets. UNTIL, Dennis Peacock found a Little Egret. We all got a quick look in the scope. Shortly thereafter, the bird and two other birds picked up circled and flew over the treeline, not to be seen again.

Picture by Dennis Peacock

We called the bird into the Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift so it could be posted on Massbird.

A quick pass of the harbor, still somewhat full, produced a couple more species. So we headed to Plum Island. What started out with a quick 8 new species, turned into a grind as we hit a wall of little over an hour without seeing anything new. AT the end of the island we picked up a few shorebirds and a few ducks. (No King Eider this year.)

By this time of day, we are starting to drag but we pushed on, getting 8 more species via Scotland Road and Cherry Hill reservoir. The last bird of the day, was found off of Pikes Bridge Road. It was a Least Bittern (only the second time seen.)

Here is the tired, but happy group at day's end!! 132 Species for the day.

Below is a list in the order they were observed. See previous entries for location and rough time seen.

NAME                           LOCATION         WHEN SEEN            
Barred Owl                     Crooked Pond     05/04/2019 04:30 AM  
Canada Goose                   
American Robin                   
Wood Duck                        
Swamp Sparrow                    
Song Sparrow                     
Brown Creeper                    
Veery                            
Black-capped Chickadee           
Pine Warbler                     
Mourning Dove                    
Winter Wren                      
American Crow                    
Red-winged Blackbird             
White-breasted Nuthatch          
Marsh Wren                       
Mallard                          
Hairy Woodpecker                 
Chipping Sparrow                 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher            
Yellow-rumped Warbler            
Louisiana Waterthrush            
Eastern Phoebe                   
Pileated Woodpecker              
Northern Waterthrush             
Black-throated Green Warbler     
Hermit Thrush                    
Downy Woodpecker                 
Wood Thrush                      
American Goldfinch               
Blue-headed Vireo                
Tufted Titmouse                Crooked Pond     05/04/2019 07:00 AM  
Great Blue Heron               Route 128        05/04/2019 07:01 AM  
Rock Pigeon                                     05/04/2019 07:04 AM  
Herring Gull                    
Red-tailed Hawk                 
European Starling                               05/04/2019 07:05 AM  
Blue Jay                                        05/04/2019 07:09 AM  
Common Grackle                                  05/04/2019 07:12 AM  
Bufflehead                     Lynnfield Marsh  05/04/2019 07:12 AM  
Northern Flicker                 
Barn Swallow                     
Tree Swallow                    
Virginia Rail                                   05/04/2019 07:18 AM  
Warbling Vireo                                  05/04/2019 07:20 AM  
Spotted Sandpiper              
Double-crested Cormorant       
Savannah Sparrow               
Eastern Kingbird               
Yellow Warbler                 
White-throated Sparrow                          05/04/2019 07:30 AM  
Northern Cardinal              
House Sparrow                                   05/04/2019 07:48 AM  
Northern Rough-winged Swallow    
Cooper's Hawk                                   05/04/2019 07:59 AM  
Cedar Waxwing                  
Peregrine Falcon                                05/04/2019 08:30 AM  
American Kestrel                 
Great Black-backed Gull                         05/04/2019 08:40 AM  
Mute Swan                        
Carolina Wren                  Lynnfield        05/04/2019 08:56 AM  
House Wren                                      05/04/2019 08:58 AM  
House Finch                                     05/04/2019 08:59 AM  
Baltimore Oriole                                05/04/2019 09:10 AM  
Chimney Swift                  Peabody          05/04/2019 09:29 AM  
Black-and-white Warbler          
Belted Kingfisher                
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker         
Rose-breasted Grosbeak           
Red-bellied Woodpecker           
Northern Parula                  
Black-throated Blue Warbler      
Bald Eagle                       
Fish Crow                        
Common Loon                      
Palm Warbler                                    05/04/2019 09:50 AM  
Surf Scoter                    Lynn             05/04/2019 10:28 AM  
Black Scoter                     
White-winged Scoter              
Common Eider                     
Purple Sandpiper                
Red-throated Loon                
Red-necked Grebe                 
Ring-billed Gull                 
Brant                            
Northern Gannet                  
Red-breasted Merganser                          05/04/2019 10:40 AM  
Manx Shearwater
Osprey                        
Greater Scaup                                   05/04/2019 10:53 AM  
Northern Mockingbird                            05/04/2019 10:54 AM  
Ovenbird                       Nahant           05/04/2019 10:59 AM  
Swainson's Thrush               
Least Flycatcher                
Ruby-crowned Kinglet            
Yellow-throated Vireo           
Gray Catbird                                    05/04/2019 11:44 AM  
Nashville Warbler                               05/04/2019 12:00 PM  
Eastern Towhee                                  05/04/2019 12:30 PM  
Common Tern                                     05/04/2019 01:00 PM 
Greater Yellowlegs             Topsfield        05/04/2019 01:40 PM  
Killdeer                        
American Pipit                 
Snowy Egret                    Rowley           05/04/2019 02:00 PM  
Little Egret                                
Common Merganser                            
Great Egret                    Newburyport      05/04/2019 02:10 PM   
Willet                                          05/04/2019 02:11 PM  
Long-tailed Duck                                 
American Black Duck                             05/04/2019 02:24 PM  
Turkey Vulture                                   
Lesser Yellowlegs                                
Bonaparte's Gull                                05/04/2019 02:26 PM  
Purple Martin                  Plum Island      05/04/2019 02:32 PM  
Wild Turkey                                       
Northern Harrier                                05/04/2019 02:32 PM  
Brown Thrasher                                   
Merlin                                          05/04/2019 02:48 PM  
Northern Shoveler                                
Gadwall                                         05/04/2019 02:48 PM  
Green-winged Teal                               05/04/2019 02:50 PM  
Ring-necked Duck                                05/04/2019 04:02 PM  
Blue-winged Teal                                 
Piping Plover                                   05/04/2019 04:10 PM  
Common Goldeneye                                05/04/2019 04:14 PM  
Purple Finch                                    05/04/2019 04:20 PM  
Glossy Ibis                    Newburyport      05/04/2019 05:18 PM  
Bobolink                                        05/04/2019 05:22 PM  
Eastern Bluebird               Newbury          05/04/2019 05:34 PM  
Green Heron                                     05/04/2019 05:36 PM  
Ruddy Duck                                      05/04/2019 05:37 PM  
Least Bittern                                   05/04/2019 06:00 PM   

Until next year....

Mike

Wompatuck State Park

Eleven people set out for a morning's walk around Triphammer Pond on a chilly mid-40's sunny day.  Even though the sun made it difficult to look toward some birds, there was nary a complaint about its presence for the third day in a row in this otherwise gloomy, rainy spring.  The first surprise was a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos feeding near the visitor's center seen and confirmed by all given the very late date. A male American Redstart was a FOY for most of us as it flitted in a tree across from the juncos.  Other warblers were not plentiful but Ovenbirds and Black-and-whites were heard all along the route.  A Northern Parula sang teasingly but was never seen high in the canopy. A Carolina Wren song intrigued us because of its proximity to the area where the similar sounding Kentucky Warbler had been seen and heard two days earlier.  None of us saw the bird before it stopped singing and we had to leave our Carolina Kentucky ID unresolved.

American Redstart

One of two Dark-eyed Juncos

Scarlet Tanagers abounded visually and vocally and the first one seen was almost orange in color compared to the next quite red one.  A female SCTA was eventually located by all.  Baltimore Orioles were also flitting in numerous place, most just singing one or two notes of their sometimes more complex melodies.

Scarlet Tanager

One Veery crossed our path along the pond affording good looks as he called from the brushy swamp.  A few minutes later, two Wood Thrushes appeared along the trail, posing long enough to give most of us a terrific look.  These birds were not vocalizing and had to be located by their movement. Towhee's were plentiful and presented themselves numerous times for inspection.

Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US

May 9, 2019 6:23 AM - 9:33 AM

Protocol: Traveling

2.247 mile(s)

Comments:     A south shore bird club trip. Mid-40’s early on rising to mid-50’s. Sunny with light wind picking up as the morning went on. This portion of the trip took us around Triphammer Pond. 

47 species

Canada Goose  2

Wood Duck  4

Mourning Dove  4

Common Loon  1     Flyover

Double-crested Cormorant  3

Turkey Vulture  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Downy Woodpecker  1

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker  1

Great Crested Flycatcher  4

Eastern Kingbird  1

Blue Jay  6

American Crow  2

Tree Swallow  3

Black-capped Chickadee  2

Tufted Titmouse  6

Red-breasted Nuthatch  1

White-breasted Nuthatch  3

House Wren  2

Winter Wren  1

Carolina Wren  1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  4

Veery  1

Wood Thrush  2

American Robin  5

Gray Catbird  6

American Goldfinch  8

Chipping Sparrow  6

Dark-eyed Junco  2     Ten shocked people watched two dark- eyed juncos foraging on the ground not far from the parking lot. The pink bills stood out from their charcoal gray bodies with white bellies. No one expected to see these birds this late in the season. 

White-throated Sparrow  6

Song Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  11

Baltimore Oriole  6

Red-winged Blackbird  8

Brown-headed Cowbird  7

Common Grackle  2

Ovenbird  13

Black-and-white Warbler  9

Common Yellowthroat  2

American Redstart  1

Northern Parula  1

Pine Warbler  5

Yellow-rumped Warbler  1

Black-throated Green Warbler  2

Scarlet Tanager  6

Northern Cardinal  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56043339

Six of us stayed on to walk toward Picture Pond in hopes of netting a waterthrush or two.  In fact, as we parked, both a Northern and a Louisiana could be heard.  We headed toward the Louisiana sound because that can be the harder waterthrush to find, especially as the month progresses.  The bird called constantly as we walked up the road seemingly right in front of us but just out of view.  He seemed to be calling from on high, and after several near misses, I finally spotted it high in a deciduous tree along the stream.  My view was of the ventral portion only, but was enough to confirm the pinkish tinge to the breast and sides and the characteristic bobbing.  Before anyone else could get on it, he flew upstream and was seen only once more as he dropped down and away.

A brilliant Magnolia Warbler was another find during our long waterthrush search and this bird was seen well by all.  A pileated called just once as we walked along and was never seen. Other audios included Brown Creeper, Easter Phoebe, and Winter Wren.

Sally Avery 

Hingham: Wompatuck State Park, Holly Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US

May 9, 2019 9:50 AM - 11:29 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.207 mile(s)

Comments:     A walk toward Holly Pond in search of waterthrushes. 

30 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  1

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Belted Kingfisher  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Pileated Woodpecker  1

falcon sp.  1     Distant flyover so too far to establish any field marks. 

Eastern Phoebe  1

Great Crested Flycatcher  3

Blue Jay  2

Barn Swallow  2

Black-capped Chickadee  1

Brown Creeper  1

Winter Wren  1

American Robin  1

Gray Catbird  2

American Goldfinch  2

Chipping Sparrow  8

White-throated Sparrow  6

Song Sparrow  4

Baltimore Oriole  2

Common Grackle  3

Ovenbird  4

Louisiana Waterthrush  1     Heard repeatedly making it’s sharp introductory notes and lame finish as it moved high in the trees along the creek. I finally spied it high on a branch to see the pinkish wash on its underparts and the bobbing behavior. The bird flew yet again before anyone else could get on it. 

Northern Waterthrush  1

Black-and-white Warbler  4

Common Yellowthroat  2

Magnolia Warbler  1

Yellow Warbler  2

Pine Warbler  1

Scarlet Tanager  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56043143