Friday, May 29, 2020

SSBC Social Distancing Virtual "Walks", May 24th 2020


Note: To those who are unfamiliar, these social distancing “walks” are not in-person walks but rather a group chat where members share their experiences for the morning and stay connected. South Shore Bird Club is strict about (and very impressed by its members) adhering to social distancing guidelines, which includes avoiding populated areas, large groups, and close social interaction. We fully support members enjoying the healing and mindfulness that nature can provide and want to foster a social environment for those who may feel isolated- these walks are intended to achieve both of these goals with safety at the forefront of our mission.

On May 24th the South Shore Bird Club hosted its 8th installment of our Social Distancing Virtual “walks”.

Pre-dawn Brian made mention duetting Great Horned Owls, an amicable prelude to an upcoming beautiful day. Dawn brought sunny skies and warm weather throughout our area which, as I write this post looking out my window to dense fog, high winds, and intermittent rain, was appreciated and enjoyed greatly by all.

One of the Pembroke Ponds (Great Sandy?) by Brian


Throughout the day we all shared what we were seeing for new birds and some of our nature highlights. A list of the bird species we saw can be found below.

Trillium in Christine's Garden

Chocolate chips by Pete

Hermit Thrush by Brian

Sensitive Fern by author

For these trips we’d like to host guest bloggers, and if anyone is interested in writing a blog for one of our trips please let me know!

Best,

Nate


Species Name Species Count Sample Size
Canada Goose 52 10
Mute Swan 4 2
Mallard 9 5
American Black Duck 2 1
Common Eider 5 3
Surf Scoter 1 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1 1
Ruffed Grouse 1 1
Wild Turkey 4 3
Mourning Dove 40 20
Black-billed Cuckoo 2 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 4
American Oystercatcher 2 2
Black-bellied Plover 92 5
Semipalmated Plover 12 1
Piping Plover 7 3
Killdeer 4 2
Ruddy Turnstone 1 1
Dunlin 4 1
Least Sandpiper 33 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 92 5
American Woodcock 1 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1 1
Greater Yellowlegs 4 2
Willet 15 5
Laughing Gull 51 6
Ring-billed Gull 19 3
Herring Gull 50 7
Great Black-backed Gull 10 5
gull sp. 7 2
Least Tern 41 4
Roseate Tern 1 1
Common Tern 35 3
Common Loon 3 1
Double-crested Cormorant 101 8
Great Blue Heron 8 4
Great Egret 6 3
Snowy Egret 9 2
Tricolored Heron 3 3
Green Heron 1 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 4 2
Turkey Vulture 2 2
Osprey 12 9
Bald Eagle 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 3
Broad-winged Hawk 6 3
Red-tailed Hawk 3 2
hawk sp. 1 1
Great Horned Owl 2 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 1 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 11 8
Downy Woodpecker 11 9
Hairy Woodpecker 10 6
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker 3 1
Northern Flicker 17 10
falcon sp. 1 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 8 5
Alder Flycatcher 1 1
Willow Flycatcher 4 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) 2 1
Least Flycatcher 1 1
Empidonax sp. 1 1
Eastern Phoebe 9 7
Great Crested Flycatcher 31 16
Eastern Kingbird 8 4
White-eyed Vireo 1 1
Blue-headed Vireo 4 2
Warbling Vireo 7 4
Red-eyed Vireo 19 6
Blue Jay 37 18
American Crow 29 15
Fish Crow 8 5
Common Raven 2 1
Black-capped Chickadee 89 22
Tufted Titmouse 59 16
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 2
Tree Swallow 12 6
Bank Swallow 3 1
Barn Swallow 14 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 15 10
Brown Creeper 2 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 2
House Wren 12 9
Winter Wren 4 3
Marsh Wren 1 1
Carolina Wren 10 8
European Starling 5 3
Gray Catbird 111 23
Brown Thrasher 1 1
Northern Mockingbird 4 3
Eastern Bluebird 1 1
Veery 10 4
Hermit Thrush 4 3
Wood Thrush 5 2
American Robin 110 23
Cedar Waxwing 7 3
House Sparrow 3 3
House Finch 7 5
Purple Finch 1 1
American Goldfinch 49 18
Chipping Sparrow 67 14
Field Sparrow 3 2
White-throated Sparrow 3 1
Saltmarsh Sparrow 4 1
Savannah Sparrow 2 1
Song Sparrow 75 21
Swamp Sparrow 25 2
Eastern Towhee 66 14
Bobolink 30 1
Eastern Meadowlark 3 1
Orchard Oriole 5 3
Baltimore Oriole 37 12
Red-winged Blackbird 127 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 36 9
Common Grackle 74 22
Ovenbird 93 17
Northern Waterthrush 3 2
Blue-winged Warbler 14 4
Black-and-white Warbler 9 4
Nashville Warbler 2 1
Common Yellowthroat 100 16
Hooded Warbler 1 1
American Redstart 9 5
Cape May Warbler 1 1
Northern Parula 4 3
Magnolia Warbler 1 1
Yellow Warbler 76 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 2
Blackpoll Warbler 1 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4 2
Pine Warbler 19 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 1
Prairie Warbler 7 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 6 3
Canada Warbler 1 1
Scarlet Tanager 15 6
Northern Cardinal 40 19
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6 4

May 28 SSBC Google Group Zoom Chat


After hosting seven socially distanced bird walks (where we chat and share photos while birding on our own), 16 of us took the opportunity (thanks to Zoom) to sit together, share some migration experiences and just catch up on life during the COVID pandemic.  

Almost everyone had a story to tell, especially about Mass Audubon’s May 15-16 Bird-at-home-a-thon (BAT).  To prevent the spread of COVID-19, birders were asked to only walk or bike to find birds for this contest.  Many of us enjoyed these new rules and were happy to take a break from dashing about in cars.  While we missed the group effort, we discovered new patches, visited neglected reserves, and enjoyed spending a stretch of time outdoors.  

Wayne walked to Old Quarry Way in Hingham, and suddenly sensed a presence behind him.  Turning around, he came face-to-face with a Gray Fox.  Nate jumped on his bike and logged 35 miles, encountering cool habitat and birds along the way.  On Cape Cod, Mary Jo found Bay-breasted and Canada Warblers near her home and wondered why she hadn’t visited that spot more often. Plymouth County has so many good birding spots that it’s difficult to hit them all during BAT.  This year, Kathy made it to a neglected yet choice spot-- Bear Cove Park in Hingham-- and found a stunning array of warblers!  Christine and Steven seemed to walk non-stop for 24 hours and collected 97 species in the process! Pete proudly stuck to his yard and saw many species of warblers, beefing up his prior tally of one migrant warbler species in proximity to his house.  Keelin’s biking and walking efforts resulted in a close-up encounter with a Hooded Warbler.  Luck (or is it skill?!) was on Lisa’s side when she flushed two Ruffed Grouse in South Plymouth close to her home. 

We hit the migration jackpot on May 3 and 16 when a variety of warblers appeared, as did colorful Orioles and those confusing but entertaining Empidonax flycatchers.  Good numbers of Lincoln’s and White-Crowned Sparrows were also reported.  

Several non-BAT adventures included Sally’s first Clapper Rail find and recording, Paul’s singing Blue Grosbeak and Eastern Bluebirds at the Crane Wildlife Management Area, Brian’s unexpected but welcome Tricolored Heron at Ellisville Harbor State Park, Connor’s “rainy day rarity” Long-billed Dowitcher and Kim and Mike being charged by two frisky Fishers at Cornell Reserve in Dartmouth. 

The group also discussed the challenging topic of inclusion, equity, race and class in the birding and conservation community.  This came up as a result of an unpleasant incident that occurred recently in New York City’s Central Park Ramble that involved a local (New York) birder.  A link to the story was posted on SSBC’s Google Chat by one of our members and prompted some discussion.  

We agreed to consider reaching out to several local conservation groups (Mass Audubon and its Boston Nature Center, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Wildlands Trust (especially Brockton office) to learn about their efforts to promote inclusion and to see if SSBC members could help to introduce youth to birding and our natural reserves (how to use binoculars, co-host a bird walk, participate in school visits, etc).  Two other groups were mentioned, the Feminist Bird Club, whose mission is to “be an inclusive birdwatching club….” and the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp, profiled in the No. 1, 2020 edition of Massachusetts Wildlife.  These groups may offer partnering or learning opportunities as well.  Nate suggested that those who have expressed exceptional passion and enthusiasm regarding the subject (Connor, Lisa, Pete) could consider forming a SSBC sub-group to pursue this issue and that he and Kim, who live closer to Buzzards Bay Coalition, could possibly approach that group.    

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

SSBC Social Distancing Virtual "Walks" – Mother's Day Edition


Note: To those who are unfamiliar, these social distancing “walks” are not in-person walks but rather a group chat where members share their experiences for the morning and stay connected. South Shore Bird Club is strict about (and very impressed by its members) adhering to social distancing guidelines, which includes avoiding populated areas, large groups, and close social interaction. We fully support members enjoying the healing and mindfulness that nature can provide and want to foster a social environment for those who may feel isolated- these walks are intended to achieve both of these goals with safety at the forefront of our mission.

Our seventh social distancing event was held on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10th. Although today was a little slow compared to last week (and a lot colder early in the morning!), there’s no such thing as a bad day of birding in May.

With migration in full swing, a number of new species were added to our list this week. Pete had a Yellow-throated Vireo at the Hockomock Swamp. Sally had a Worm-eating Warbler in Wompatuck State Park. Kim and Mike had a Black-billed Cuckoo at East Over Reservation and Keelin found 3 Red Knots in Chatham.

Blue-headed Vireo by Beth Vacchino

At mid-morning, Vin pointed out to the group that the weather conditions were good for observing swallows flying low over ponds. Vin, Glenn, and Nate all managed to find Cliff Swallows today.

Black Vulture by Kim Wylie

My best sighting of the day was an American Woodcock out in broad daylight in Pembroke. As I was driving to Great Sandy Bottom Pond, I spotted one crossing the road in front of me, doing its strange back-and-forth bobbing walk. I was only able to get one quick photo before another car came by and spooked it. For those who have never seen a Woodcock out walking around, here’s a video from the Macaulay Library.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/476611

American Woodcock by Brian Vigorito


We had a total of 50 checklists submitted today with 128 species. The full species list is below.


Species Name
Species Count
Brant
56
Canada Goose
94
Mute Swan
1
Wood Duck
39
Mallard
36
American Black Duck
3
Common Eider
25
Bufflehead
3
Ring-necked Pheasant
1
Ruffed Grouse
2
Wild Turkey
4
Rock Pigeon
1
Mourning Dove
31
Black-billed Cuckoo
1
Chimney Swift
101
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
4
Virginia Rail
5
Sora
1
Sandhill Crane
2
American Oystercatcher
3
Black-bellied Plover
78
Killdeer
2
Ruddy Turnstone
2
Red Knot
3
Dunlin
162
American Woodcock
1
Spotted Sandpiper
4
Solitary Sandpiper
2
Greater Yellowlegs
9
Willet
35
Laughing Gull
3
Herring Gull
131
Great Black-backed Gull
27
gull sp.
209
Least Tern
4
Common Loon
1
Northern Gannet
1
Double-crested Cormorant
255
cormorant sp.
1
Great Blue Heron
27
Great Egret
25
Snowy Egret
8
Black-crowned Night-Heron
5
Black Vulture
2
Turkey Vulture
10
Osprey
19
Red-shouldered Hawk
4
Broad-winged Hawk
2
Red-tailed Hawk
9
Buteo sp.
1
hawk sp.
1
Barred Owl
3
Belted Kingfisher
3
Red-bellied Woodpecker
33
Downy Woodpecker
44
Hairy Woodpecker
12
Northern Flicker
15
American Kestrel
3
Least Flycatcher
1
Eastern Phoebe
13
Great Crested Flycatcher
17
Eastern Kingbird
9
Yellow-throated Vireo
2
Blue-headed Vireo
4
Warbling Vireo
5
Blue Jay
119
American Crow
33
Fish Crow
11
Common Raven
1
Black-capped Chickadee
127
Tufted Titmouse
86
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
21
Purple Martin
1
Tree Swallow
142
Bank Swallow
5
Barn Swallow
125
Cliff Swallow
4
Red-breasted Nuthatch
2
White-breasted Nuthatch
36
Brown Creeper
4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
36
House Wren
15
Winter Wren
5
Carolina Wren
26
European Starling
23
Gray Catbird
129
Brown Thrasher
1
Northern Mockingbird
2
Veery
3
Hermit Thrush
3
Wood Thrush
3
American Robin
137
Cedar Waxwing
6
House Sparrow
28
House Finch
11
American Goldfinch
63
Chipping Sparrow
44
Field Sparrow
1
White-throated Sparrow
16
Savannah Sparrow
24
Song Sparrow
78
Swamp Sparrow
35
Eastern Towhee
80
Eastern Meadowlark
1
Orchard Oriole
3
Baltimore Oriole
41
Red-winged Blackbird
312
Brown-headed Cowbird
33
Rusty Blackbird
1
Common Grackle
159
Ovenbird
140
Worm-eating Warbler
1
Northern Waterthrush
7
Blue-winged Warbler
18
Black-and-white Warbler
53
Common Yellowthroat
71
American Redstart
4
Northern Parula
14
Yellow Warbler
152
Black-throated Blue Warbler
1
Palm Warbler
7
Pine Warbler
50
Yellow-rumped Warbler
78
Prairie Warbler
1
Black-throated Green Warbler
7
Scarlet Tanager
1
Northern Cardinal
78
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
8