Wompatuck State Park, May 10, 2018

On a misty, moisty morning, 15 birders gathered to experience the wonders of Wompatuck in spring. Since the gate was opened unexpectedly, the plan to walk around Triphammer was scuttled in favor of searching the interior of the park.

Wompatuck SP--Visitor's Center, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 10, 2018 6:25 AM - 6:38 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: A SSBC trip; 50 degrees and misty
8 species

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Wood Thrush 1
Ovenbird 1
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45511507

We spent some time around S. Pleasant Street hoping to hear a worm-eating warbler, but had no success as we looped back to the main road.  On the main road we had a potential candidate (possibly the WEWA without a striped-head that has been seen there historically) but the light was impossible and a positive ID could not be made. We continued down the path from Gate 9 and a few of us in the front had the thrill of seeing and hearing a flushed American woodcock.  Continuing along the path toward Wildcat Pond we had brief glimpses of a gaily singing winter wren and a brief look at a rather silent Veery.  The great-crested flycatchers that were singing this morning eluded us entirely. Warbler species were present and singing, but very difficult to see well because of the gray lighting.  One male and one female pine warbler did oblige us by hopping on the ground for a period of time.  One ovenbird also hopped into a tree for a few brief looks.  A northern waterthrush called incessantly from a distance too great to locate.

Wompatuck SP-Gate 9, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 10, 2018 6:42 AM - 9:47 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.858 mile(s)
Comments: A SSBC trip. Started at S. Pleasant St. and looped back to Gate 9; out to Wildcat Pond and back to cars at S. Pleasant.
37 species

Wood Duck 2
American Woodcock 1
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Winter Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Veery 2
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 3
Ovenbird 12
Northern Waterthrush 1
Blue-winged Warbler 4

Black-and-white Warbler 8
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 33
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 9
Scarlet Tanager 4
Northern Cardinal 5
Baltimore Oriole 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45515752

The far end of the park also had a lot of singing birds, but not the Louisiana Waterthrush we were hoping for. We stepped outside the gate to spot a previously located red-shouldered hawk nest which was seen well, alas, with no bird in residence.  A turkey vulture, not surprisingly, was the only raptor seen on this drizzly morning.  Chipping sparrows were abundant in this location along with the occasional woodpecker and other resident birds and a smattering of warblers.

Wompatuck SP--Picture Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 10, 2018 9:51 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.232 mile(s)
Comments: A SSBC trip; From Picture Pond we walked to Boundary Pond and also down to the entrance of the path to Holly Pond.
31 species

Turkey Vulture 1
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
Ovenbird 6
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45518170

Wompatuck State Park, May 3, 2018

The migration prediction maps from Cornell showed the evening of May 2 - 3 being a busy night for northbound breeders and it didn't disappoint! As I drove into the parking lot at the visitor's center, the most prominent vocalization was a lustily singing wood thrush which eventually the entire group of 15 was able to see. Ovenbirds were loudly proclaiming as well as we prepared to walk toward Triphammer Pond until the main gate opened. When we discovered that the gate had been opened early, we quickly changed tactics to bird at Gate 9 and that was a terrific boost for us.

Every few feet we seemed to encounter a new species eventually tallying 11 warbler types, several Baltimore orioles, a pair of scarlet tanagers, and an indigo bunting. Blue-gray gnatcatchers were whining from several areas and a female was found sitting on a lichen-covered nest built atop a branch high in a tree. Great-crested flycatchers were heard vocalizing in a few places but always distant enough that no-one was able to spot them. Two lucky members of our group spotted a pileated woodpecker flying through the trees. We saw several of the ovenbirds and black-and-whites were pretty easy to find. The black-throated blue was a serendipitous find because it did not vocalize at all. Blue-wingeds, the American redstarts, and northern parula took some searching but eventually most, if not all of us, got decent looks at them.

Wompatuck SP-Gate 9, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 3, 2018 6:23 AM - 9:05 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.3 mile(s)
Comments: Sunny starting at 60 and rising to high 80's. No winds. started birding in visitor center parking lot, drove .5 mile then walked a loop at gate 9.
39 species

Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5


Wood Thrush 2

American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2

Ovenbird 11


Blue-winged Warbler 5

Black-and-white Warbler 9


Common Yellowthroat 1

American Redstart 2

Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 6
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 1
Baltimore Oriole 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45208722

After leaving Gate 9, we headed to the end of the park with the intention of finding a Louisiana Waterthrush that had been seen the day before on the far side of Picture Pond.  With the heat rising steadily over the morning, the birds seemed to quiet down and nothing new was seen or heard along the way.  A pair of Canada geese at Boundary Pond was the only new addition to our list.  With the lessening bird activity, our over-heated group decided to call it a day, albeit a very fine one indeed!

Wompatuck SP--Picture Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 3, 2018 9:13 AM - 9:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: As it got hotter, bird activity and vocalizations dropped off.
14 species

Canada Goose 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 4


Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Ovenbird 4
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45210247

The SSBC in Rhode Island, April 29 2008

Seven birders followed Evan Lipton's invitation to enjoy some Rhode Island birding. For a 6 AM start on a day which had rain in the forecast, this was a great turnout. We walked just part of the southern end of the trails in Weetamoo Woods. A great new birding place for most of us. Here is a link to the map: http://www.nemba.org/sites/default/files/trail-maps/Weetamoo%20map_0.pdf

While in the parking lot we already heard and saw about a dozen species. Once we started walking we had our first surprise; a flyover Orchard Oriole, unfortunately this was missed by most of the group. We did however get to hear our first of the year Ovenbirds as well as a Wood Thrush.

A lot of fun was had climbing the rocky viewpoint, where we enjoyed the sunshine and some eye  level views of Chipping Sparrows and Pine Warblers.

On the way down we heard several Northern Waterthrush singing, but only caught a brief look of one. After climbing down, the weather went downhill too. After enjoying the boardwalk through the Cedar swamp, we walked back to our cars in slight drizzle.
As it was still not raining too hard we decided to head over to Sapowet Marsh. Here we were delighted to find not only the expected Greater Yellowlegs and Willets, but also a flock of Glossy Ibis. Evan was also nearly knocked out by a hummingbird flying straight at him😉

We ended the trip with a highlight of a flyover Caspian Tern, which everyone got great looks at - unfortunately no photo though!

Thank you Evan for leading the trip, thank you Moe Molander for all the wonderful images!

Christine Whitebread





64 sp

Pardon Gray Preserve and Weetamoo Woods, Newport, Rhode Island, US
Apr 29, 2018 6:02 AM - 8:18 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.203 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC walk
42 species

Wild Turkey  1
Common Loon  1     Presumed flyover calling while in the woods.
Great Egret  1
Osprey (carolinensis)  2
Herring Gull  4
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  5
Veery  1
Wood Thrush  2     *Slightly early; both singing in typical spots.
American Robin  15
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Ovenbird  14     One singing the (generally nocturnal) "flight song" in the same spot one was singing it last year.
Northern Waterthrush  7
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Yellow Warbler  3
Pine Warbler  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  2
Chipping Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  6
Orchard Oriole  1
Red-winged Blackbird  18
Brown-headed Cowbird  8
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45069035

Seapowet Marsh, Newport, Rhode Island, US
Apr 29, 2018 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Comments:     SSBC walk
39 species

Brant (Atlantic)  12
Canada Goose  10
Surf Scoter  4
White-winged Scoter  1
Black Scoter  10
Bufflehead  2
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Wild Turkey  5
Red-throated Loon  2
Common Loon  5
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  8
Glossy Ibis  14
Osprey (carolinensis)  4
Greater Yellowlegs  28
Willet (Eastern)  6
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  15
Great Black-backed Gull  6
Caspian Tern  1     *Rare but regular; northbound flyover heading up the beach. Large tern with very pale wings, huge red bill, black cap.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  3
Eastern Bluebird  1     *Unusual here; male hunting from old corn stalks in the field.
American Robin  10
European Starling  5
White-throated Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  3
Song Sparrow  5
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Common Grackle  30
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  8

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45069052

Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, April 26, 1918

Five mostly waterproof birders braved the elements for the first of five Thursday Wompatuck walks this spring. Before the gate opened, we walked from the visitor's center all the way to Wildcat Pond and looped back while enjoying the sounds of residents and a few newly arrived migrants singing' in the rain. Distinguishing between pine warblers and chipping sparrows presented our first challenge. Although most of us can usually can tell the difference, we struggled to distinguish one from the other above the loud patter of rain on our umbrellas. The eastern towhees were vocalizing from the path sides, but not until our return loop did we spot one high in a tree far away. A black-and-white warbler and a northern waterthrush were encountered in the same spot, and both eventually seen high in the trees.

Returning to our cars, we drove out to the gate toward Holly Pond, and immediately heard another NOWT calling deep in the woods. Unable to find it, we walked toward the pond listening to the occasional winter wren and watching, with amazement, a pair of phoebes working on a nest well camouflaged in the roots of an upended tree. At the pond side, we encountered a number of warblers working the treetops including yellow, palm, pine, and yellow-rumps. On the way back, most of the group saw the vocalizing red-breasted nuthatch and we all saw a soaring broad-winged hawk. After unsuccessfully chasing a singing winter wren near the pond, we got a brief look at another one along the roadside singing lustily. As we approached the main road, the NOWT was again singing, and this time much closer to the road. With a little searching, it was found with its back to us. The eyestripe was visible but the breast was never seen although we could watch him throw his head back and sing repeatedly.

For a rainy day, the results were quite satisfying. At least it was warm and there was lots of bird song to cheer us along the way!

Sally Avery

Wompatuck SP--Visitor's Center, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
Apr 26, 2018 6:26 AM - 8:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.07 mile(s)
Comments: Pouring rain on mid50’s
18 species

Herring Gull 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Audio only. Clearly heard overhead, but group was unable to locate it in the tree.
American Robin 7
Northern Waterthrush 1 Heard and then located singing from high in a tree above a swamp where they have been historically nesting; Light was poor, but the yellowish, striped breast was visible.
Black-and-white Warbler 1 FOY. Heard singing overhead, near NOWT; eventually located hitching along branches. Black and white striping visible through the rain
Pine Warbler 4
Chipping Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44955344

Hingham: Wompatuck State Park, Holly Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
Apr 26, 2018 8:32 AM - 10:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.4 mile(s)
Comments: Rain stopped but overcast with poor light. All birds seen well.
27 species

Canada Goose 2
Ring-necked Duck 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Herring Gull 3
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Winter Wren 2
American Robin 3
Northern Waterthrush 1 Bird heard deep in woods when we arrived. After walking it was vocalizing near road, and with some searching was found singing high in a tree above a swamp where they have historically nested. This bird was back to, but could be seen singing and the eyestripe was clearly visible.
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1 FOY seen hopping high in tree along with YRWA and PIWA and PAWA. Yellow undercarriage visible in very poor light.
Palm Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Chipping Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
American Goldfinch 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44958242

Turkey Hill/iWeir River Farm/Whitney-Thayer Woods, Hingham; April 21, 2018

As temperatures moderated slightly from the previous few days, a group of seven of us explored the woods and fields of the three named properties in search of early migrants. Expecting to see a number of palm, pine, and yellow-rumped warblers we were surprised to see none and heard only a single pine warbler. Other locations in the past week seemed to be well-populated with those warblers. The most exciting sightings included a couple of cooper's hawks, a peregrine falcon soaring over the hill, and an American kestrel perched on a post. Ruby-crowned kinglets were singing and flitting through the woods in a few places and one gave us a great look at his beautiful red crown. One female bluebird sat stationery on a branch in the trees near the river. Two Savannah Sparrows perched on the wires of a farm field and afforded us excellent looks at the exquisite yellow patterning on their heads. Three phoebes engaged in a territorial dispute at one location, and it seems that I undercounted them, because we saw a few singles in other various locations. Trying to elude us, two Carolina wrens skulked through the underbrush but not before we caught several glimpses of them. It was a sparkling morning to be afield even though expected migrants were few and far between.

Sally Avery

Turkey Hill/Weir River Farm/WhitneyThayer Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Apr 21, 2018 7:54 AM - 11:32 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.832 mile(s)
Comments: Warming to 50's from low 40's; sunny and light winds. A South Shore Bird Club Trip
34 species


Canada Goose 9
Wild Turkey 1
Double-crested Cormorant 16
Turkey Vulture 1
Cooper's Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 32
European Starling 4
Pine Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 20

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44781090

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