Wompatuck State Park, Hingham - 5/10/2012

Wompatuck State Park, Thursday May 10, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.

The 20 degree warmer weather was an advantage  for today's early morning walk, but then there was the rain.  Evidently no one else thought birding in a downpour would be any fun; since the main gate was open and I was there, I spent the requisite three hours on my own exploring some of Wompatuck's hot spots namely the Picture Pond area, S. Pleasant St., and Gate 9 (N7).  While 37 species is a low total for this time of year, given the conditions I was very pleased with the results including several new warblers on my year list.  The Worm-eating Warbler looked thoroughly drenched, but he sure poured his body and soul into his singing.  Never have I seen such quivering!

37 species total

2	Canada Goose
1	Red-tailed Hawk
5	Herring Gull
1	Mourning Dove
1	Downy Woodpecker
1	Hairy Woodpecker
5	Eastern Phoebe
3	Great Crested Flycatcher
10	Red-eyed Vireo
7	Blue Jay
4	Black-capped Chickadee
9	Tufted Titmouse
1	White-breasted Nuthatch
1	Carolina Wren
6	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2	Veery
4	Wood Thrush
7	American Robin
7	Gray Catbird
18	Ovenbird
1	Worm-eating Warbler
1	Louisiana Waterthrush audio at bridge at Picture Pond
1	Blue-winged Warbler
6	Black-and-white Warbler
1	Common Yellowthroat
2	American Redstart
1	Northern Parula
2	Yellow Warbler
2	Pine Warbler
3	Black-throated Green Warbler
11	Eastern Towhee
5	Chipping Sparrow
1	Scarlet Tanager
2	Northern Cardinal
5	Brown-headed Cowbird
8	Baltimore Oriole
1	American Goldfinch

Sally Avery

Fowl Meadow, Milton 5/6/2012

The Blue Hills Reservation is a big place, covering approximately 7,000 acres. The Fowl Meadow section, in the towns of Milton and Canton, contains the Neponset River and adjacent floodplain swamp and freshwater marsh. Bird diversity in this area is high and May is the ideal month on the calendar to cover it. 11 people enjoyed favorable weather (a mix of sun and clouds, Lgt. NE winds, 50sF).  We quickly realized that Blue-headed Vireos, Warbling Vireos, and Least Flycatchers, although singing regularly, can take a group effort to see! Most of the representative birds of this habitat were here in varying numbers with Yellow Warblers leading the way. The highlights included 4 Least Flycatchers, a Green Heron, & a grunting Virginia Rail. Full list:

Canada Goose  6
Mallard  1
Wild Turkey  1
Common Loon  1    Flyover
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Green Heron  1    Nice looks
Red-shouldered Hawk  2    Together. Most likely a pair.
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Virginia Rail  1
Herring Gull (American)  1
Mourning Dove  1
Chimney Swift  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Least Flycatcher  4    Nice looks by entire group. Evenly spread out along Burma road.
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Blue-headed Vireo  2
Warbling Vireo  3
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  5
Black-capped Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2    *Seems low
Veery  0
Wood Thrush  2
American Robin  10
Gray Catbird  12
European Starling  1
Ovenbird  3
Northern Waterthrush  2
Blue-winged Warbler  2
Black-and-white Warbler  7
Nashville Warbler  2
Common Yellowthroat  9    Very "low key" today. No good looks
Magnolia Warbler  1  
Blackburnian Warbler  1    Heard only
Yellow Warbler  20    rough estimate
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  4
Black-throated Green Warbler  3
Eastern Towhee  1
Song Sparrow  10
Swamp Sparrow  9
White-throated Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  8
Red-winged Blackbird  25    rough estimate
Common Grackle  25    rough estimate
Brown-headed Cowbird  10
Baltimore Oriole  7
American Goldfinch  6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Vin Zollo

Wompatuck State Park, Hingham - 5/3/2012

Wompatuck State Park:  Once again, cool weather augmented by drizzle prevailed during the walk starting this morning at 6:30 a.m.  Nine intrepid birders nevertheless scoured the trees and thickets for signs of migrant birds.  We were rewarded with eight warbler species including newly arrived Blackburnian and Nashville warblers.  While a Worm-eating was reported near Gate 9, it was silent as we passed through.  Across the street, at the S. Pleasant intersection,  we eventually found a Chipping Sparrow trilling a very credible Worm-eating song!  Great-crested Flycatchers were vocalizing in two spots and Gray Catbirds were singing at the bridge.  At the end of the trip, Joe Scott led us to a nesting Cooper's Hawk with only its tail visible.  Our route took us first to Woodpecker Pond where activity was disappointingly minimal.  Once the main gate opened, we walked the loop from Gate 9 to the bridge and back and up over the hill to the S. Pleasant St. intersection. The chilled band of birders called it quits at 10:30 a.m.

1	Mallard
1	Cooper's Hawk
2	Downy Woodpecker
4	Eastern Phoebe
2	Great Crested Flycatcher
2	Blue Jay
1	American Crow
2	Tree Swallow
9	Black-capped Chickadee
15	Tufted Titmouse
1	White-breasted Nuthatch
7	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher including one pair on nest
3	Hermit Thrush
9	American Robin
2	Gray Catbird
12	Ovenbird
5	Black-and-white Warbler
2	Nashville Warbler
1	Blackburnian Warbler
1	Yellow Warbler
3	Pine Warbler
5	Yellow-rumped Warbler
4	Black-throated Green Warbler
19	Eastern Towhee
6	Chipping Sparrow
1	Song Sparrow
16	White-throated Sparrow
10	Northern Cardinal
4	Red-winged Blackbird
8	Brown-headed Cowbird
4	American Goldfinch

31 species total

Sally Avery

Moosehill Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharon - 5/1/2012

Six birders came out for the walk around the Billings Farm Loop at Massadubon's Moosehill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon. We probably were not there due to the nice weather, but more so because the calendar said May 1st! The weather was overcast with light wind, but a raw 44F. Many first of the season birds were here today, including: Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Black-thr. Green Warbler, Black & White Warbler, & Blue-headed Vireo.

Complete List:

Great Blue Heron  1
Mourning Dove  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  1
Tree Swallow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Hermit Thrush  1
Wood Thrush  2
American Robin  3
Ovenbird  2
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  3
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Chipping Sparrow  7
White-throated Sparrow  4
Scarlet Tanager  1    Heard only, near Bluffs Boardwalk
Northern Cardinal  2
Common Grackle  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Baltimore Oriole  1
American Goldfinch  3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

The group then headed down Moosehill St. and walked the powerline cut. New additions for the season included: Gray Catbird and Prairie Warbler. There was clearly a movement of White-throated Sparrows (approx. 15) and a late (for this area) Dark-eyed Junco.

Vin Zollo