Wompatuck State Park, May 26, 2022

Adding a fifth week to our early morning Wompatuck romps proved to be a popular idea.  Thirteen people braved the early morning cold in search of any birds, migrant or not, and lots of camaraderie.  Our route today took us around Triphammer Pond.  Along the way we made a couple of detours in search of a Pileated Woodpecker that was both calling and drumming regularly.  Although it always seemed to be just beyond the next tree, we eventually got fleeting glimpses of one from the other side of the pond, where a second PIWO was calling.  Whether a mated pair or a rival in an adjacent territory, we could not be sure without seeing enough of the birds.  Also along the pond were Eastern Kingbirds, Chimney Swifts swooping over the pond and dipping in, singing Scarlet Tanagers, a couple Baltimore Orioles with nest, and a few resident warblers.  

After returning to the parking lot, half the group headed out to pursue their daily routines and the rest of us stood around unwilling to have the morning end.  While there, a succession of raptors flew by including Broad-winged, Cooper's, and Red-shouldered Hawks, and a Turkey Vulture.  A pair of phoebes entertained us near the Visitor's Center. 

Eastern Phoebe

We were still determined to keep birding, so we headed over to the new Gate 11 area (formerly Gate 9) to search for a Worm-eating Warbler. We entered the woods across the street at Gate 10 and soon began to hear the buzzing of the WEWA.  Altering our route to the lower side of the hill, we followed the trilling until David Ludlow found the bird high in an oak tree where most of us got tortured looks.  It turned out to be the variant with the all-cream-colored head (no striping) that has been seen for the last several years in that area.  

Alas, all good things must come to an end and we reluctantly headed our separate ways around 11 AM.  There seemed to be a real joy in gathering as a group to bird after a couple of years of isolation.  Even though migration was never a strong component of this year's walks, seeing some new faces of birds and people seemed to lift everyone's spirits!

Sally Avery

Wompatuck SP--Triphammer Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US

May 26, 2022 6:26 AM - 9:22 AM

Protocol: Traveling

2.7 mile(s)

42 species

Canada Goose  3

Mourning Dove  2

Chimney Swift  3     Skimming low over pond and dipping in for bugs or perhaps water.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1

Common Loon  1     Flyover

Great Egret  1

Turkey Vulture  1

Cooper's Hawk  1

Red-shouldered Hawk  1

Broad-winged Hawk  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Pileated Woodpecker  2

Eastern Wood-Pewee  3

Eastern Phoebe  2

Great Crested Flycatcher  7

Eastern Kingbird  1

Red-eyed Vireo  8

Blue Jay  3

American Crow  4

Black-capped Chickadee  1

Tufted Titmouse  4

Barn Swallow  2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1

House Wren  1

Gray Catbird  12

Veery  2

American Robin  6

Cedar Waxwing  3

American Goldfinch  4

Chipping Sparrow  6

Song Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  1

Baltimore Oriole  2

Red-winged Blackbird  3

Common Grackle  6

Ovenbird  7

Black-and-white Warbler  3

Common Yellowthroat  1

Yellow Warbler  7

Pine Warbler  5

Scarlet Tanager  5

Northern Cardinal  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S111332345

Wompatuck State Park - Gate 10, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US

May 26, 2022 9:58 AM - 11:11 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.039 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:     Sunny warming up to 60’s.

14 species

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Eastern Wood-Pewee  2

Great Crested Flycatcher  3

Black-capped Chickadee  1

Tufted Titmouse  2

White-breasted Nuthatch  1

American Goldfinch  4

Chipping Sparrow  2

Eastern Towhee  2

Ovenbird  2

Worm-eating Warbler  1     Nice look at singing male. No stripes on cream-colored head like a bird ( if not the same male) that has been seen in this area of Wompatuck for last five years.

Blue-winged Warbler  1

Black-and-white Warbler  2

Pine Warbler  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S111332746