Eleven people set out for a morning's walk around Triphammer Pond on a chilly mid-40's sunny day. Even though the sun made it difficult to look toward some birds, there was nary a complaint about its presence for the third day in a row in this otherwise gloomy, rainy spring. The first surprise was a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos feeding near the visitor's center seen and confirmed by all given the very late date. A male American Redstart was a FOY for most of us as it flitted in a tree across from the juncos. Other warblers were not plentiful but Ovenbirds and Black-and-whites were heard all along the route. A Northern Parula sang teasingly but was never seen high in the canopy. A Carolina Wren song intrigued us because of its proximity to the area where the similar sounding Kentucky Warbler had been seen and heard two days earlier. None of us saw the bird before it stopped singing and we had to leave our Carolina Kentucky ID unresolved.
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| American Redstart |
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| One of two Dark-eyed Juncos |
Scarlet Tanagers abounded visually and vocally and the first one seen was almost orange in color compared to the next quite red one. A female SCTA was eventually located by all. Baltimore Orioles were also flitting in numerous place, most just singing one or two notes of their sometimes more complex melodies.
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| Scarlet Tanager |
One Veery crossed our path along the pond affording good looks as he called from the brushy swamp. A few minutes later, two Wood Thrushes appeared along the trail, posing long enough to give most of us a terrific look. These birds were not vocalizing and had to be located by their movement. Towhee's were plentiful and presented themselves numerous times for inspection.
Wompatuck SP, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 9, 2019 6:23 AM - 9:33 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.247 mile(s)
Comments: A south shore bird club trip. Mid-40’s early on rising to mid-50’s. Sunny with light wind picking up as the morning went on. This portion of the trip took us around Triphammer Pond.
47 species
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 4
Mourning Dove 4
Common Loon 1 Flyover
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
House Wren 2
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 6
American Goldfinch 8
Chipping Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 2 Ten shocked people watched two dark- eyed juncos foraging on the ground not far from the parking lot. The pink bills stood out from their charcoal gray bodies with white bellies. No one expected to see these birds this late in the season.
White-throated Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 11
Baltimore Oriole 6
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 7
Common Grackle 2
Ovenbird 13
Black-and-white Warbler 9
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 1
Pine Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 6
Northern Cardinal 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56043339
Six of us stayed on to walk toward Picture Pond in hopes of netting a waterthrush or two. In fact, as we parked, both a Northern and a Louisiana could be heard. We headed toward the Louisiana sound because that can be the harder waterthrush to find, especially as the month progresses. The bird called constantly as we walked up the road seemingly right in front of us but just out of view. He seemed to be calling from on high, and after several near misses, I finally spotted it high in a deciduous tree along the stream. My view was of the ventral portion only, but was enough to confirm the pinkish tinge to the breast and sides and the characteristic bobbing. Before anyone else could get on it, he flew upstream and was seen only once more as he dropped down and away.
A brilliant Magnolia Warbler was another find during our long waterthrush search and this bird was seen well by all. A pileated called just once as we walked along and was never seen. Other audios included Brown Creeper, Easter Phoebe, and Winter Wren.
A brilliant Magnolia Warbler was another find during our long waterthrush search and this bird was seen well by all. A pileated called just once as we walked along and was never seen. Other audios included Brown Creeper, Easter Phoebe, and Winter Wren.
Sally Avery
Hingham: Wompatuck State Park, Holly Pond, Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
May 9, 2019 9:50 AM - 11:29 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.207 mile(s)
Comments: A walk toward Holly Pond in search of waterthrushes.
30 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
falcon sp. 1 Distant flyover so too far to establish any field marks.
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Blue Jay 2
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Brown Creeper 1
Winter Wren 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 2
American Goldfinch 2
Chipping Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 4
Baltimore Oriole 2
Common Grackle 3
Ovenbird 4
Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Heard repeatedly making it’s sharp introductory notes and lame finish as it moved high in the trees along the creek. I finally spied it high on a branch to see the pinkish wash on its underparts and the bobbing behavior. The bird flew yet again before anyone else could get on it.
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 4
Common Yellowthroat 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56043143
