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.
Last week some of us received a shock to our relaxed summer systems with Brian’s use of the M word. I’m going a step further and using the F word! Despite the heat, as 16 of us birded our coast, forests, marshes, meadows and yards, many noted the inevitable march towards fall.
The first indicator of seasonal change was chatter about the impending disappearance of male hummingbirds. I was surprised to hear Keelin ‘jazzed’ about an adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird still at her feeder; they only just arrived, didn’t they?! While wondering how soon our hummingbirds would depart, Linda reported an incidental adult male while David noted that his males usually leave by early September.
Mike and I hadn’t seen large flocks of Tree Swallows until this weekend, when we spotted a group boiling over the salt pond at Demarest Lloyd. Kathy and Pat saw a flock of 100 Tree Swallows in Plymouth County. The birds’ mesmerizing swoops suggest changes to our days ahead….
Black-headed Gull, Brian Vigorito
Glenn, Mary Jo, Brian and Nate reported ‘hundreds’ of shorebirds on Cape Cod and the North Shore, testament to the impending southerly flow of most shorebirds. Nate had an impressive 700 Common Tern and 38+ Whimbrel on Great Island, Welfleet while participating in the International Shorebird Survey. But count those birds quickly, because Brian spotted a Peregrine chasing shorebirds at Lieutenant Island Causeway in Welfleet. Glenn and Kathy were lucky to see Yellow-crowned Night Herons, while Brian watched a striking Black-headed Gull at Race Point.
Many of us shared photos of beneficial native plants. But was Nate experiencing conflicting emotions by posting “It’s that time of year????” and then a ‘thumbs up’ next to a photo of some delicious-looking Black raspberries? (As pie a la mode, anyone?)
Black raspberries, Nate Marchessault
David admired a Sweet Pepperbush and then wondered about a tree leaf, which with Ernie’s assist was narrowed to an Oak, maybe a Swamp Oak. After consulting Sibley’s Guide to Trees, David thought it was more likely a Chestnut Oak (within the White Oak Group).
Pop quiz! David Mehegan
Carol’s pumpkin-colored, upside down Jack-o’-lantern-like Turk’s Cap lily is pollinated by the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
Turk's Cap lily, Carol Molander
It’s no small victory to find a Monarch caterpillar consuming Swamp milkweed leaves, especially in your yard! If these caterpillars survive to become adult butterflies, they may represent the ‘super generation’ that will fly all the way to Mexico’s mountains, you guessed it, this fall.
Monarch caterpillar, Kim Wylie
Wayne identified a photo of a shrub with purple berries as the decidedly un-native, invasive Glossy Buckthorn. Mass Audubon’s website describes this plant as a native of Europe, Central Asia and North Africa that spreads aggressively in Massachusetts wetlands.
Invasive Glossy Buckthorn, David Mehegan
Lastly, birds and humans must adjust to the change of seasons: Sally witnessed a couple of Osprey bringing sticks to a nest on a cell tower. She surmised that since their nest appeared to have failed this year, they were adding reinforcements for more success (hopefully!) next year. After all, spring is just around the corner.
Juvenile Least Tern, Kim Wylie
Other life forms encountered during our walks included Humpback whale, White-tailed deer, Raccoon, Eastern cottontail, Monarch butterfly and Diamondback terrapin.
Happy birding,
Kim
We identified 106 species today:
Species
Canada Goose |
Gadwall |
Mallard |
American Black Duck |
Green-winged Teal (American) |
Common Eider |
White-winged Scoter |
Wild Turkey |
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) |
Mourning Dove |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
American Oystercatcher |
Black-bellied Plover |
Semipalmated Plover |
Piping Plover |
Killdeer |
Whimbrel |
Ruddy Turnstone |
Sanderling |
Dunlin |
Least Sandpiper |
White-rumped Sandpiper |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Short-billed Dowitcher |
Spotted Sandpiper |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Willet |
Lesser Yellowlegs |
Bonaparte's Gull |
Black-headed Gull |
Laughing Gull |
Ring-billed Gull |
Herring Gull |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Great Black-backed Gull |
Least Tern |
Roseate Tern |
Common Tern |
Cory's Shearwater |
Great Shearwater |
Sooty Shearwater |
Manx Shearwater |
Double-crested Cormorant |
Least Bittern |
Great Blue Heron |
Great Egret |
Snowy Egret |
Little Blue Heron |
Green Heron |
Black-crowned Night-Heron |
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron |
Turkey Vulture |
Osprey |
Northern Harrier |
Red-tailed Hawk |
Red-bellied Woodpecker |
Downy Woodpecker |
Hairy Woodpecker |
Northern Flicker |
Peregrine Falcon |
Eastern Wood-Pewee |
Alder Flycatcher |
Willow Flycatcher |
Eastern Phoebe |
Great Crested Flycatcher |
Eastern Kingbird |
Red-eyed Vireo |
Blue Jay |
American Crow |
Black-capped Chickadee |
Tufted Titmouse |
Purple Martin |
Tree Swallow |
Bank Swallow |
Barn Swallow |
Red-breasted Nuthatch |
White-breasted Nuthatch |
House Wren |
Marsh Wren |
Carolina Wren |
European Starling |
Gray Catbird |
Brown Thrasher |
Northern Mockingbird |
American Robin |
Cedar Waxwing |
House Sparrow |
House Finch |
Purple Finch |
American Goldfinch |
Chipping Sparrow |
Field Sparrow |
Saltmarsh Sparrow |
Song Sparrow |
Swamp Sparrow |
Eastern Towhee |
Orchard Oriole |
Baltimore Oriole |
Red-winged Blackbird |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
Common Grackle |
Common Yellowthroat |
Yellow Warbler |
Pine Warbler |
Northern Cardinal |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
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