Today was the day that my American Warbler curse finally broke, but more on that later on. The day dawned hot and humid as per usual but with one twist it was actually going to rain. I set about going out in the garden for about half an hour with weather warnings constantly being sent to my phone for the up coming storm with 3 Tornado Warnings, 2 Flood Warnings and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning all in effect at the same time. Whilst I was in the garden I had the usual House Sparrows, 5 American Goldfinch, the 2 Downy Woodpecker, 4 Common Grackle, 4 Mourning Dove, 5 House Finch including a new Juvenile bird which had some rather fluffy ears, 2 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Song Sparrow and 3 Cardinal. Just before I headed in side as the first drops of rain were falling a flock of Chimney Swift flew through being rather oddly pursued by a Red-tailed Hawk. Above: Chipmunk, House Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch Below: Rabbit Above: House Finch Below: Chipmunk Above: Red Cardinal That was the end of any outside activity so we decided to head to Burlington Mall and see Ant Man and the Wasp at an a state of the art cinema with reclining seats. After lunch with the skies clearing my Dad and I decided to head back to Beaver Brook Reservation for another look at the wetland area. Just as we were approaching the Wetlands area I spotted a Juvenile American Robin on the path ahead and a flock of Chickadees were in the tree above. Something in and amongst that flock caught my attention as it had a smaller body and much longer tail. I could then see that is was a sort of Blue Grey colour all over. A female Blue-grey Gnatcatcher And my first of what is an absolutely smashing bird. I watched it for a bit of time until it disappeared into some dense vegetation. Above: American Robin Below: Blue Grey Gnatcatcher Onto the wetland area where my dad had been for quite sometime and he pointed to a spot where he had seen a ‘small’ bird running in and out of cover on the mud. Eventually not just one but five Bobbing Spotted Sandpipers appeared out on the mud where he had pointed to. Not one of them was in summer plumage though which was thoroughly disappointing. Off in the dead trees to the right hand side of the pool 2 Willow Flycatchers were flycatching and eventually not just one, but three Killdeer showed themselves up right at the back of the pools where a Great Blue Heron had been previously. As for the Ducks today there were only 19 Mallard and 3 Wood Duck which was actually somewhat disappointing. Above: Spotted Sandpiper Below: American Wood Duck Above: 3 Killdeer The flies started to get the better of us again so we headed back to where I had the Chickadee Flock. A quick scan through the flock saw 5 Tufted Titmouse joining the day list and then I got the Jackpot. A Warbler. It was a Warbler with a Yellow head and a darker body with wing bars. It was a Female Pine Warbler and finally breaks the deadlock with American Warblers. Just before I left the Pine Warbler showed very well in the canopy above my head. A flock of American Robins then landed in the trees beside me and a taller, slimmer bird with a rather spotty front caught my attention. It was a Brown Thrasher and for some reason was a bird not even on my radar when I started this trip but a very good addition. With the sound of Distant thunder and the sky turning a concerning colour of Black my Dad and I decided to call it a day and headed back to my Uncles house for an oriental dinner. Above: Pine Warbler Below: Brown Thrasher Day 13: A warm Muggy day saw temperatures into the mid 30s and was unpleasant to say the least. The usual species were in my Uncles garden, however I did find a new bird for his garden list in the Grey Catbird that came to visit whilst I was watching the feeders from his kitchen. Above: Grey Catbird We eventually trundled to Shoppers World to get some lunch and to have a play with the tech in Best Buy. Honestly I should just do more car park birding as when we were in the car park at Shoppers World a Northern Mockingbird flew in and sat on a lamppost next to me which was my first of the trip. After lunch My Dad, my Brother and I dropped my mum off at Natick shopping Mall and headed for the Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Reservation. Upon arrival Chimney Swift were all over the place and I was also very impressed with the eco visitor centre although not so with the ‘eco’ toilet. We left the air conditioned visitor centre and made our way round the shady trails. From the first section of Board walk we had a great selection of Dragonflies and also around 15 Basking Terrapins. In fact there were Terrapins literally everywhere and so I am not too surprised that since my last visit the number of species on the water has decreased. Admittedly though the high temperatures did not help with this at all. Above: Not entirely sure but i think it is one of the pond hawks Below: Blue Fronted Dancer Above: Terrapins Moving further on a stunning Male Red Winged Blackbird was up in the trees with 2 females around as well. A Male Eastern Kingbird Sung from the trees as a Northern Rough-winged Swallow flew over. Out on the water a Great Blue Heron fished and a Mourning Dove sat just up and to the right of it in a dead tree. Above: Red-winged Blackbird Below: Great Blue Heron Above: Eastern Kingbird Moving on in to the woodland a large flock of at least 8 Tufted Titmouse were feeding on some berry bushes and it just felt as though that flock should have had something in it, however neither of us could find anything amongst the Tufteds. We then moved on to where another Red-winged Blackbird was and also got a better view of the Great Blue Heron. Above: Tufted Titmouse Below: Red-winged Blackbird Above: Great Blue Heron Below: Terrapin We then moved on and back into the woodland. We found a little water fall which was flowing quite rapidly for the time of year. Upon closer inspection I found four Ebony Jewelwing which are effectively the American Demosille. These Fellas were more hypnotic to watch as they have full black wings that fly in a helicopter pattern it was just truly magical. We moved on and then head out into a clearing in the trees. I had a quick scan here which brought up a new species for both me and the trip a group of at least 4 Tree Swallows were flying just over our heads hawking Insects from the canopy and chattering to one another. Most of the birds seen were juveniles, however there was at least one adult about with them. We then headed into quote a dense area of Pine Woodland and once here the constant ‘Pewee' of a nearby Eastern Wood-pewee could be heard echoing through the trees. I then spotted a Warbler picking insects off the trees right up in the canopy. I have to admit that the photo I have isn’t going to help me with Identification, but from what I could see in the field it was most likely another Pine Warbler. I must have spent about 20 minutes looking at the bird and when I finally stopped looking up at the canopy right in front of my face on a branch which was he must a few meters away from me was an absolutely stunning Eastern Bluebird. It did however fly off very quickly as it wasn’t happy with the fact that I had spotted it. Above: Ebony Jewelwing Below: Grasshopper sp Above: Pine Warbler I then moved on and caught up with the others that had moved on ahead. The next bit of Woodland held two more Eastern Wood-pewee, 2 Flocks of Black-capped Chickadee one of which held a Willow Flycatcher, 2 Tufted Titmouse, and a mixed flock of birds which held 15 or more American Robins, 2 Blue Jays and several Brown Thrasher. Another bird that has been frustrating me this trip is the White-breasted Nuthatch and although I didn’t see one in this section I did hear one calling from the trees which at least proves to me that they haven’t gone extinct. We were nearly back at the visitor centre when an open area of grassland produced the goods. 2 Cedar Waxwings were feeding on insects at the top of a large tree in the middle of the field along with a Redwing Blackbird and what I though was a rather odd locking Monarch Butterfly is actually two. A Red-tailed Hawk also circled miles up and just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better another life literally flew into view and sat next to me for a couple of minutes. It was a Juvenile Brown Headed Cowbird and although not the prettiest of birds they do have that sort of swagger about them that others don't. Above: Brown Thrasher Below: Monarchs Above: Brown-headed Cowbird Below: Red-tailed Hawk After this encounter we headed back towards Natick Mall to Collect my Mum. We hadn’t gone to far when we encountered rural traffic. In this part of the state apparently 9 Wild Turkey crossing the road seems to lead to a bit of a hold up. After collecting my mum we all headed back to my Uncles house where we settled down for the night and I watched as the Song Sparrow brought his youngster into the garden to feed for the first time and also a rather odd increase in Goldfinch numbers to a balmy 11 or more birds. Today was yet another great day and so far this holiday I have managed to add at least one new species per day, however I feel that tomorrow I may not be so lucky as there is a weather alert suggesting that temperatures could teach the 100f mark which I think is around 40c. If this is the case birding will be very limited, but I do have hope for perhaps a warbler or two! Day 14: It was already 25 degrees when my dad and I headed out at just after 8am to go to Prospect Hill Park. There were a couple of target species that I wanted from here. We actually walked up a country lane which is hardly used at all so is perfect for woodland birding. The current drought in this area meant that the Little Stream that we passed was full of birds. There were at least 40 Common Grackle, 4 American Robins and e Northern Flicker all drinking from this stream. The trees surrounding the trees were also full of life and one of my target species was soon spotted by my dad. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was literally just meters away from us and was also on the same trunk as a Downy Woodpecker. The first mixed flock of Titmouse and Chickadee was searched through, but nothing out of the ordinary way picked out. Above: Red-bellied Woodpecker Below: American Robin We then headed up to a trail which was called the dinosaur trial. From here I went a little way down to find another mixed Chickadee and Titmouse flock. This time I found two other species amongst this flock. One was a Chipping Sparrow and the other a ‘Pewee'ing, Eastern Wood-pewee. Above: Black-capped Chickadee We then headed up to the sunset lookout and here we had a few American Robins searching the ground next to us along with 2 Brown Thrasher. I could hear a White-breasted Nuthatch and eventually I picked two out amongst a Titmouse, Chickadee Flock. This flock also held another Downy Woodpecker at quite a close proximity to where we were standing. Above: Brown Thrasher Below: White-breasted Nuthatch Above: Tufted Titmouse Below: Chipmunk We then headed back and kept in the shade as it was now way to hot to stay out in the sun for any length of time. Along the way I re-checked all the flocks that we had found along the way with the Dinosaur Trail one now holding 4 possibly 5 Chipping Sparrow including some Juveniles and a pair of Downy Woodpecker as well. Just as we were approaching the stream section a pair of Blue Jays cannoned out of cover and in doing so flushed a little warbler up into the tree beside me. The Warbler was in fact a Red-eyed Vireo and it was unfortunately way too nimble for my camera (and also I only realised after but I may have also had my camera on the wrong setting). A watched it for a bit of time before moving on. The final flock didn’t told anything unusual in at all which was a shame and so with only one target species seen and Temperatures now into the mid 30s we headed back to my Uncles house. Above: Chipping Sparrow Below: Downy Woodpecker Above: Chipping Sparrow Below: Eastern Wood Pewee Above: Downy Woodpecker After this we headed to a Bowling alley in Burlington where we played three games which I lost, won emphatically (with four strikes) and lost again, which meant that I came second overall. Lunch was then had and just as we were waiting at the traffic lights to head back onto the I95 I spotted what looked like a small Heron flying just of the right hand side of the car. Thankfully it did the correct thing and flew across the road directly in front of the car for everyone to see and confirm my suspicion that it was a Green Heron a species that I had been trying to see all trip. We then headed back to my Uncles house to headed into the world of air conditioning as it was way to hot to be outside with the temperature at around 40 degrees centigrade and just 3 degrees F off the all time record high for this area. Eventually once it had cooled down a little bit at around 6pm i decided to head back to the Beaver Brook Reservation. Along the way I passed a flock of 20 Canada Geese and some very active Chimney Swifts. Once I got into the reservation I got all my equipment out and just as I was heading past the first bit of Reeds I noticed some movement. When I peered in I could see a Brown backed Warbler with a bright yellow throat. It was a Female Common Yellowthroat and adds to my now growing Warbler list. Unfortunately as per most warblers it was way to fast for my camera, but it was still awesome to see. I then continued into the woodland and just before the viewing point for the marsh land I checked the Chickadee, Titmouse flock that had produced the goods the other day. After a while I eventually picked out not one but 7 Blue-grey Gnatcatcher from this one flock which was quite a sight to behold in itself, however all the birds were either Juvenile or females. They kind of remind me of a Long-tailed Tit the way they search for food through the branches and use their long tails to help them balance. A pair of Cedar Waxwings did fly in whilst I was watching the flock but with nothing else I moved into the wetland area. What a difference two days had made to the wetland area for since the rain on Saturday this area had dried up a lot and has now gone back to the puddle and some mud that we saw on the first day. It was still attracting some interesting species though with 12 Wood Duck , 24 Mallard, a Great Blue Heron, and a Spotted Sandpiper. Above: Great Blue Heron Above: Blue Grey Gnatcatcher Below: Wood Ducks Above: Wood Ducks and Mallards Below: Spotted Sandpiper Since it was still unbearably hot and the flies were starting to get the better of me I headed back to the entry road. The last little section of the entry road just before the traffic lights was full of activity. A mass of Dragonflies had defended here and There for attracted a large amount of Chimney Swifts that were feeding on them. One Bush held 7 Grey Catbird which were getting ready to roost while another held several Blue Jay and some American Robins. A Song Sparrow foraged along side some American Goldfinch on the grass verges as well. Just when I was about to put my stuff away and leave two Cedar Waxwings flew into the tree beside me and glowed in the almost perfect light giving off their full Punky Glory, while not one but 4 immature/female Baltimore Oriole flew into a tree above only to be chased away by an American Robin almost as soon as they landed. And so I headed back to my Uncles house for dinner and to pack for our 4am wake up call to head to the airport tomorrow and so I can now look back on what has been an amazing trip with both family and birding and I have started to patch up my North American Birding list. Some of the birds i have seen on this trip have been spectacular and I hope I can revisit these areas again in the hopefully not to distant future! See you tomorrow London. Above: Cedar Waxwing Below: Song Sparrow Day 15: And so at just before 5am we headed off to the airport to catch our flight back to Heathrow. Just before we took off to head back to the UK House Sparrows were seen inside the airport feeding in the food court and American Herring Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants could be seen alongside the runway along with a murmuration of Starlings leaving their overnight roost. And so this ended a wonderful trip with some incredible wildlife encounters such as the Bald Eagle nearly taking our heads off and the plentiful Ospreys. America is a truly special place for me and I hope to return very soon. I will now leave you with some photo's from Landing in a parched England and also the trip list with the amount of lifers and species seen. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who hosted us and it was great to see everyone again!
0 Comments
So a warm sticky day saw us heading to a local Cranberry Bog to learn about how they came about an also just to see one in real life. The tour lasted an hour and we were kept company all the time by the owners dogs. This farm produced organic Cranberries and so that they can keep their organic status they have to go by some very strict rules. It was interesting to learn that in January they flood the boys in the hope that in February the whole place will ice over and they can then spread a layer of sand over the crop by spreading it on top of the ice in an even layer. It was also interesting to note that they were actually called Crane-berries due to the fact that the Cranberry bogs were the most common place to find Sandhill Cranes and also because the flower of the plant Looks like the head of a Crane. Unfortunately in this day and age there are not many Cranes left so we Didn’t see one on our time at the bogs, however we did see 2 Bobolink, 2 Eastern Bluebird, 2 Eastern Kingbird, a Killdeer, a Great Egret and a Double-crested Cormorant flew over. Barn Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow were also hawking Insects above the trees and House Sparrows were literally everywhere. Once we were finished here we headed back to the hotel and then headed out to get some lunch. Above: House Sparrows with grub for their chicks Above: Killdeer Above: Eastern Kingbird Above: Eastern Bluebirds The original plan was to head to Wellfleet for the afternoon however an accident on the 6 meant that wasn’t the best idea. The backup plan was Long pastures reserve however they were shut today so we decided to head to Monomy Wildlife Sanctuary instead. When we arrived Laughing Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, and American Herring Gulls were out and about with the Great Black-backed being the most numerous with a high tide roost of possibly as many as 500 individuals. We headed down to the coast via a foot trail through a private road. And just before we headed out to the dunes an unfamiliar song caught my attention. Eventually the bird showed along with 2 others and they were in fact Vespar Sparrows. Once we reached the shore we could see Common Tern, Roseate Terns and hundreds of Least Terns fishing in the calmer water behind a sand bar. A Sanderling also flew along the coast along with 6 Barn Swallow which were in turn all blown back North by the wind. A Great Cormorant was also seen offshore. Above: Least Tern Above: Probable Great Cormorant although it is a monster rarity here! We then headed along the beach to an area of Salt Marsh which held a colossal roost of both Sanderling and Semipalmated Sandpipers which must have number near 500 birds. A Ruddy Turnstone was picked out amongst them along with a Semipalmated Plover which flew in calling. Above: Ruddy Turnstone Below: Semipalmated Sandpiper Above: Osprey Below: Fish sp Above: Semipalmated Sandpiper Flock Below: Semipalmated Plover Above: Tern sp probably Common We then proceeded further into the salt Marsh and eventually we reached a pond which held a Snowy Egret fishing at the back. Over head the usual mix of gulls was still about along with 6 rather noisy Osprey. Above: Osprey Below: Snowy Egret We then crossed over the main sand dunes and down to the other side of the spit and as we did so we flushed a Ring-tail Northern Harrier. It flew up into the air and stayed motionless for a minute before being blown by the wind North up the coast line tumbling as it went. 2 Great Egret appeared from the North and headed down the Spit and another Snowy Egret came in with what I later identified as a Pale Morph Little Blue Heron which is a state rarity if I have got it correct. Above: Ringtail Northern Harrier Below: Osprey with fish Above: juv Little Blue Heron in flight. I am not entirely sure if there is any other egret/ heron that has a full yellow leg. Below: Above: Osprey in Flight Since we didn’t have too much time left we headed back in land and through the woodland where Fish Crows, House Finch, Blue Jay, and a Male Chipping Sparrow were seen. We then headed back to the car and stopped briefly as 3 Grey Catbirds squabbled on a fence and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird zipped through. Just as we were on the exit road I spotted someone taking a photo of a bobbing wader I just wonder whether that wader was in fact a spotted Sandpiper and if so it would be my first ever, however unless I manage to find the person it’s id will remain unsolved. Above: House Finch Below: Grey Catbird We then headed to our usual Stop & Shop for provisions however this time the only thing of note was a pair of Osprey and a Ring-billed Gull and so we headed back for a dip in the sea. Whilst in the sea Least Tern fished around us and flocks of Sanderling commuted up and down the coast along with a Red-tailed Hawk over head and a few of the regular Gulls on the beach. The water was actually pleasantly warm which is unusual for this part of the Atlantic, however the conditions were quite choppy and thus when we got back to the room we spent the next hour picking sea weed off of ourselves and so this marked another amazing day in America, although one thing I am yet to do with this trip is to get over my American Warbler troubles, hopefully when we are back in Boston I will be able to at Least attempt to redeem myself on that front, we will have to wait and see! Day 11: This morning dawned bright humid and muggy with temperatures already around 30 degrees by 10am. Today is the day that we were driving back to Boston. We decided that we would head to a native butterfly collection in Buzzards Bay. Just before we left the hotel a quick check of the feeders brought about the usual House Sparrows and Common Grackle as well as 2 Song Sparrow. The journey along route 6 was swift and also the way I had 2 Osprey, 2 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Chimney Swift, 2 American Crows and lots of American Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. The Butterfly house was awesome with all the usual species showing really well and it also helped me to identify some species that were seen earlier in the trip such as Pearl Cresent and also Cabbage White which I should have know since they are common in the UK, but I wasn’t sure if it was a different species. Once in the butterfly house we saw:
Above: Question Mark Below: Viceroy Above: Mourning Cloak Below: Red Admiral Above: Common Buckeye Below: Luna Moth Above: Viceroy Below: Common Buckeye Above: I suspect that this is a Spicebush Swallowtail Below: Viceroy Above: Question Mark Below: Mourning Cloak Above: Common Buckeye Below: Viceroy Above: Luna Moth Below: Spicebush Swallowtail Above: Viceroy Below: Pearl Cresent After we had finished here we headed back to the car and continued our journey towards Boston with Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant and Laughing Gulls for company along the first part of the trip along the Route 6. A brief stop in a town called West Bridgewater for lunch was greeted by a Red-tailed Hawk circling the parking lot along with a couple of Chimney Swifts, but with the temperatures now nudging 40 degrees and the threat of some severe thunderstorms it wasn’t the weather for staying out side and so we hit the road again finding ourselves in what felt like a never ending traffic jam. When we arrived in Boston I sat out in my Uncles garden for quite a decent amount of time. At Least Red-tailed Hawk drifted through during that time along with several Chimney Swift over head. 2 Song Sparrow, tonnes of House Sparrow, 5 House Finch, 2 Downy Woodpecker, a Pair of Cardinal, 5 American Goldfinch and 3 Black-capped Chickadee fed on the fresh food that I had put out on my way out along with a common Grackle and a few Mourning Dove feeding on the seed that had been dropped. Above: Common Grackle Below: American Goldfinch Above: American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadd, Downy Woodpecker and House Sparrow Below: Cardinal Above: Red-tailed Hawk Below: American Goldfinch Above: Black-capped Chickadee Below: Red-taild Hawk We then decided to go for a little pre dinner walk to a local reservation called Beaver Brook Reservation. We didn’t stay for long as we were being attacked from every angle by mosquitoes. A group of ducks was out in the middle of a puddle which I presume would normally be filled to the brim with water. The reed beds were therefor virtually bone dry and thus I suspect that if there are any birds that call them home now might be the best time to try and see them. The group of ducks out in the middle of the puddle held at least 8 Wood Duck, 20 Mallard and at least one American Black Duck, however I made a slight mistake of forgetting my binoculars so another visit to here wouldn’t go a miss in the coming days. We then headed back towards the exit and as we were leaving 2 Cedar Waxwings dropped in and showed off their true colours. On the way back we could see the storm clouds brewing in the distance and with the weather forecast showing a 100% chance of a Severe Thunderstorm tomorrow I suspect our nature reserve visit may turn into a chance to see the new Ant Man film. Above: American Wood Duck with a Mallard Below: Mallards Above: American Wood Duck Below: Mallards Above: American Wood Duck Above: Cedar Waxwing
Day 7: A new day dawned and more sunshine and humidity meant that temperatures were already nearing 30 degrees at 11am. I sat in my Uncles garden watching the birds visiting the feeders. The usual were on offer with House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, A pair of Downy Woodpecker, a Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Singing House Finch, and a Black-capped Chickadee. Whilst this was occurring on the feeders above the house at least 5 Chimney Swift were chattering to each other along with a first for my Uncles garden with 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow also above the house. Several Mourning Dove flew over the garden along with American Robins, Starlings and a flock of 4 calling Cedar Waxwings. After this I noticed what I thought was a Hummingbird and for the second time this holiday I wasn’t too far wrong as when I got closer I found out it was a Hummingbird Clear-wing Moth. After this it was time to head for Cape Cod and as a leaving gift a Red-tailed Hawk flew over along with a flock of 20 Canada Geese. Above: Northern Rough-winged Swallow Below: Chimney Swift Above: Male House Finch Below: Hummingbird Clear-wing Above: Common Grackle Below: Downy Woodpecker Above: House Finch The way down was quite interesting as along Highway 3 we had 2 Golden Eagles flying low over the road along with numorous Red-tailed Hawks. As soon as we crossed the main bridge into Cape Cod we had at least 4 Osprey circling the car. We had a bit of time to kill so we headed to South Yarmouth and played a round of Mini Golf. Whilst we were doing this we had 4 Wild Turkey on the fairway at least 10 Osprey Circling us along with lots of American Herring Gull and a Laughing Gull which is a new species for me. I unfortunately lost as per usual but this time I had a very decent excuse and that was the fact that the Ospreys were so low that you could almost touch them and that for me was rather distracting. We then headed to the hotel to unload our stuff and to sort ourselves out before heading for the beach just to have a look at what was about. Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed and Laughing Gulls were very common along the beach with all especially the Laughing Gulls performing well. Least Tern and Double-crested Cormorant flew South along the coast and an Osprey hunted out over the water eventually catching what I think was a Bass. On the shore there was a decent flock of Waders which held a Willet, at least 20 Sanderling and 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper which were a first for me. It was interesting to see the size difference between the two and was great fun to watch them scurrying in and out of the waves catching invisible grub. Another Willet also flew past before we headed back to the hotel and called it a night. Above: Least Tern Below: Willet Above: Sanderling Below Semipalmated Sandpiper Above: Laughing Gull Below: Sanderling and the Willet Above: Least Tern Below: Sanderling Above: Sanderling and Semipalmated Sandpiper Below: Willet Above: Sanderling Below: Sanderling and Semipalmated Sandpiper Above: Double-crested Cormorant One thing that strikes me about this area is the shear amount of Osprey. They are literally everywhere. Majority of the nests are man made and one in particular one that we drove past this evening had five sitting around it presumably from the same family. Imagine if this could occur in the UK...! Perhaps one day it will? Day 8: Another warm day on the cape with wall to wall sunshine was had. Before we left the hotel I had American Herring Gull, Laughing Gulls, Mourning Doves, a Grey Cat bird, and a Song Sparrow in and around the hotel first thing in the morning. Above: Red-tailed Hawk Below: Song Sparrow We drove to the top of the cape to visit Provincetown. We went for a little walk once we arrived through the salt marsh picking up Grey Seals, several Double-crested Cormorant, 2 Semipalmated Plover and 2 Common Tern. Above: My original thought was American HG, but i now suspect it could be a Juv Ring-billed Gull Above: Fish sp Below: Double-crested Cormorant Above: Semipalmated Plover Below: Common Tern Above: Semipalmated Plover Below: Laughing Gull Above: Grey Seal A slight mistake meant that we didn’t stay in the town for long as while looking for the main street we ended up back on the highway. We then headed off in search of food and found a nice little place in Wellfleet to eat. Once we had finished we had a little look around the marina and found an Osprey nest with 5 youngsters which even got a visit from a parent with a fish. Around 10 Fish Crow scattered the town along with American Goldfinch and also 4 Least Terns fishing offshore in the Estuary. As for Gulls we had American Herring Gull and Laughing Gulls again, but that was it. Above: Osprey Below: Fish Crow Above: Laughing Gull Above: Least Tern Below: Osprey We then hit the road back to Dennisport. Along the way we passed two thermalling Turkey Vultures and near the start of the Motorway section of Route 6 a pylon held 2 Osprey nests with Ospreys on and a massive 120+ Double-crested Cormorant! We then stopped of at a Stop & Shop to get some provisions for later. Now if you had of told me that when I came to America my first ever Ring-billed Gull was going to be in the car park then I would have been very surprised. Sure enough when I got out the car a Ring-billed Gull flew low over the car calling loudly as it went along with a few Laughing Gull, and American Herring Gull. We then headed back to the hotel and had a dip in the pool. While we were in the pool House Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove and an Osprey with a massive fish flew over. After dinner a short walk on the beach was interesting with Laughing, Great Black-backed and American Herring Gulls all in abundance and given the time of day flocks of Sanderling possibly numbering more than 100 flew up the coast in dribs and drabs although nothing interesting was picked out among them. Presumably they were heading to roost somewhere locally. A pair of Willet were also about along with a couple of Least Terns of shore. A flock of about 20 quite large birds flew up the coast about a mile off shore, but a combination of the fading light and also the distance means that I can’t get a precise ID and the photo I got doesn’t help at all. So we decided to head back to the hotel room for a games night and to decide what to do tomorrow. Above: Rabbit Below: Sanderling Above and Below: Dodgy Picture time... Guess the species I reckon the below is a flock of either Gannet or Cormorant and the above is interesting as i would have said Least Tern however it seems to have quite broad wings rather than slim... Aove: Willet and Sanderling Day 9: Today the sun had decided to have the day off and it was Overcast, breezy and a little bit on the cool side. We decided that this would be a perfect day to head down to the Bass River and Rent a Kayak for the morning as it was not unbearably hot. When we arrived at the river we were immediately confronted by the local Osprey to the centre. When we were on the river we had 15 Osprey, American Herring Gulls, 2 Ring-billed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Barn Swallow were also about flying low over the river and they are a different subspecies to the ones at home as they are generally darker all over. 2 Willet were with a flock of Sanderling on the mud flats along with 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers. 10 Fish Crow called over head and moved in land while a Snowy Egret was fishing from the salt marsh along with a Great Egret and several fishing Least Tern. We then headed back to the hotel and to get some lunch. To sum up the morning it was one of those that you really want your camera for but it’s just not practical. Low Flying Osprey were definitely a highlight. After lunch we headed back to the hotel. Along the way we passed all the regulars as well as 2 Cedar Waxwings perched on a power line. When we arrived back a flock of around 40 Common Grackle had appeared and were busily feeding at the bird feeders and a Black-capped Chickadee called from the tree above the car. Just before we entered the room 2 Great Egrets flew over heading South at quite a decent height. After lunch we went to the same Stop & Shop as yesterday for provisions. I added yet another Gull species to my trip list with a fine summer plumage Boneparte's Gull sitting alongside 3 Laughing Gull, 5 Ring-billed Gull and a tonne of American Herring Gulls. Not bad for a busy shopping centre car park. A very late evening walk was had in the town near where we were staying and this yielded many Song Sparrows searching for food in the last bit of day light available to them. A brief visit to the beach saw Laughing Gull, American Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls as well as a lone Willet. With the wind picking up and the cloud rolling on shore we headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. Above: Osprey nest
Below: Great Black-backed Gull Day 4: This morning was yet another stunning day with glorious sunshine, however with a severe Thunderstorm warning for this afternoon it meant that we had to make the drive to Concord New Hampshire as soon as possible. As we left the hotel two Northern Rough-winged Swallow flew over along with House Sparrows, Starlings and 3 Mourning Dove. All of a sudden the smaller birds started alarm calling as a pair of American Black Vulture drifted low over us. With the car packed we were now ready to hit the road. Along the way we had 6 Turkey Vulture, 6 Red-tailed Hawk, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Blue Jay, an American Black Vultures over the 15, a Common Raven near Hartford, ct, 2 Barn Swallow on the I84 and an American Goldfinch. The journey wasn’t without its interesting events either with a car on Fire near junction 65 of the I84 and as we moved away I could see out the back window the smoke going from white to Black. We then made a quick stop at the next rest area where Common Grackle, House Sparrows and Blue Jays fed on the crumbs that people were leaving and as we re-entered the road we found ourselves being the only people meaning that they must have shut the road behind us! The now unusually quiet I84 was still good on the raptor front with a flock of Vultures circling the road at junction 74 with 5 Turkey Vulture and an American Black Vulture alongside them. Another American Black Vulture was the last bird on the I84 as we turned onto the Mass Pike/I90. Since we crawled along this road for most of the way it provides a great opportunity to have a look in the road side pools. They contained a Wood Duck, 2 Great Blue Herons, an American Herring Gull and 2 Double-crested Cormorant. The I290 had very little but two Monarchs fluttering across the road and another Turkey Vulture were good sightings. The last stretch of the journey was more of the same with good numbers of Turkey Vulture, and Red-tailed Hawk. In the town of Manchester, NH, there were American Herring Gulls and Canada Geese as well in and around the river. The traffic was awful on the I93 , but with not much wildlife to report it was rather dull to say the least. Eventually we arrived at our destination and upon arrival Blue Jays and Grey Squirrels were rather numourus. With a Tornado Warning now in place as well as a weather statement warning of flash flooding we head out. In the garage where the car had been left 2 newly fledged Eastern Kingbirds were about. We then headed out to find some dinner in what felt like monsoonal rains as the roads around us turned into rivers. Thunder and lightning were also constant and a few rather bedraggled looking Chimney Swifts lumbered through over head. Day 5: Another glorious but humid morning saw me head out for a walk with my dad to the Merrimack river which was less than a mile from where we were staying. Along the way we passed Blue Jays, American Robins, a couple of Mourning Dove and 2 Willow Flycatchers. Once we were at the river the scenery was absolutely amazing in the morning light. The water was also crystal clear and therefore it was easy to see the fish that had gathered near the little fishing spot that we were perched at. A Great Blue Heron flew in to where we were and proceed to fish from an over hanging branch. All of a sudden the Heron alarm Called and shot into the air as a Bald Eagle shot through grabbing what I presume as a large Salmon on its way. It the proceeded to fly down stream and eventually landed just out of sight to eat it’s catch. All I can say is thank g-d it didn’t take my head off. The only photo I have of the moment was one that accidently catches the Eagle as I was taking a photograph of the Heron and my dad was photographing me photographing the Heron. This was such an awesome experience for it to have literally just appeared in front of me and one that I will remember for a very long time. After this a few American Goldfinch flew through and an Oriole landed on top of a tree briefly and I am not entirely sure that it was a Baltimore for it was quite large and was completely yellow underneath with a black cap, I think it was an Orchard Oriole still in first spring plumage! Above: The lucky Bald Eagle Shot Below: Great Blue Heron That was the last bird that we saw on the river and so we decided to head back towards an abandoned railway. The state of New Hampshire closed down all their railways about five years ago to both freight and passenger services so now they are hidden over grown gems for wildlife. We decided to head right along the slight more open disused railway line and almost immediately we came across a mixed flock that includes a Grey Cat bird, 5 or 6 Red-eyed Vireo and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with the later two being first for me. It was great to see the kinglet catching insects right in front of me with the Vireos probably being a family flock and thus calling to each other as they went. Above: Grey Catbird Above: Ruby-crowned Kinglet We then emerged at a lake where a Double-crested Cormorant sat and a good mix of Dragonflies were. What was presumably the same Great Blue Heron as earlier in the day flew up from the direction of the river and as it did so an I sorry appeared circling above the trees followed closely by a second Osprey. They both circled for a bit as they headed slowly upstream. A large group of American Robins appeared in the trees around us and there must have been as many as 15 around us. We then headed back past the Vireos to where we were staying. Along the way we past two unidentifiable birds that flew over followed by two dashing male Red-winged Blackbirds that were territorial fighting in the sky above us. Above: Double-crested Cormorant Below: Great Blue Heron Above: Eastern Pondhawk Below: Osprey We then headed into the centre of Concord to visit the Markets. 4 Turkey Vultures and nearly 40 Chimney Swift circled above us. The market in the town was right next to the state capitol building and a memorial for all those service men and women that died during active service. The town is a friendly town and has no more than 42,000 people and the market had all sorts of things including a Garlic stand which was where we ended up spending quite a bit of our time at. Dragonflies zipped through over head and we then headed up to the Canterbury state fair. When we arrived we headed to the bus stop to head to the town since there are no side walks to walk there. When the bus arrived I was surprised to see a yellow school bus transporting us down there. This was my first ever ride on a yellow school bus albeit a bit short. We spent a great hour and a half here with Turkey Vultures over head and American Goldfinch along with two Red-shouldered Hawk calling over the cemetery. Above: Red-shouldered Hawk We then headed back on the bus and headed to the safety of EJ’s house to take shelter from the imminent Severe Thunderstorms. American Red Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Grey Squirrels were everywhere when we got back and we set about bring in side all the vulnerable garden equipment. Then we had to sit and wait whilst for about an hour we had constant Thunder Lightning and Monsoonal rain. The place was water logged very quickly and the road turned into a river for the second time in two days. We were lucky as where we had been in earlier had Golf Ball sized hail and just to our East a Tornado touched down. As soon as the storm past the Blue Jays were back out calling, but little did they know that were where just minutes away from yet another deluge. Due to this we are waiting anxiously to head back to Boston for tomorrow’s Red Sox’s Baseball Game. Above: American Red Squirrel Eventually at a little after 8pm we headed back to Boston with the distant sound of Thunder and Lightning flashing constantly off in the distance and finally the humidity had gone and it was a very comfortable 20 degrees centigrade. But what a difference it made when we finally reached Boston as it was still around 30 degrees and well lets just say that it was a tad on the humid side. Day 6: A hot sticky day in Boston gave me the chance to head into my Uncles garden early to look at what was about. House Sparrows, Common Grackle, Cardinal and a Song Sparrow were around and were soon joined by 2 House Finch, 2 Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinches, Starlings, a Black-capped Chickadee and a Double-crested Cormorant which circled the house for a few minutes. In the front garden Mounting Dove, Blue Jays, and American Robins were feeding on the law along with a lone Chimney Swift circling the house. Above: Song Sparrow Below: House Sparrow with House Finch (bottom left) Above: Downy Woodpecker Below: Juv Starling Above: American Goldfinch Below: Spicebush Swallowtail, subspecies: Papilio troilus troilus We went for a brief walk before the Baseball which yielded more American Robins, Chimney Swift, and a couple of Mallards at the local pond. The song Sparrow was still in the garden when we got back and have much better views. Above: Mallards Below: Painted Turtle (i think) Above: Rabbit Below: Common Grackle Above: Interesting Fly sp Below: House Sparrow Above: Mourning Dove and House Sparrow Below: Song Sparrow The Red Sox s game took up the middle of the day and we watched as they beat Minnesota 3 nothing with an extraordinary catch in the 3rd and some good home runs in the second. The rest of the match was pretty dull, but was a good experience for us all. We had a bit of spare time before heading out for my Uncles birthday dinner so My Dad, My Brother and i headed to the Charles River. House Sparrow, Canada Geese, and Starlings were the most common birds seen. With American Herring Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants and Song Sparrow also around. A flock of Waders also flew up stream hover they could have been literally anything ad they flew silently into the sun making conditions poor for any sort of Id. My best guess is that they were either Dunlin or Sanderling, but there are other possibilities that are virtually impossible to rule out as well. Dinner was had at an Italian Restaurant in the centre of Boston and then we arrived back in two cars to find that the car that had arrived back first didn’t have a key to get in. So since it was my car I decided to see if anything was roosting in the sense tree cover at the back of the garden. Around about 20 American Robins were getting ready to sleep for the night along with 7 small punks that appeared at the top of the bushes. They were no other than 7 Cedar Waxwings calling to each other in the twilight and this continues my good run with this species in this country despite my dreadful form with the British equivalent. Once the other car load of people arrived we unlocked and we called it a night.
On Tuesday we set off for Heathrow Airport at just after 7am ready for a two week trip to see family in the states. Although this isn’t meant to be a birding trip I wasn’t going to let this opportunity to go to waste and I was going to make sure that I got at least some lifers. The flight arrived on time and security was easier than usual as most of it is done using self service machines. We then got straight on a bus to the hire car and after a bit of trouble looking for the car we had ordered we hit the road to head to Waltham, Ma. By this time I had already clocked up two species for my trip list; the ever present American Herring Gull, and the House Sparrow. The journey along the I90 was slow and rather long , however I only managed to add a flock of 5 Canada Geese to the trip list. As we moved off the interstate and headed through the suburbs I managed to find an American Robin collecting insects in its beak to presumably feed awaiting young. Once we had arrived at my Uncles house in Waltham I set about scanning the garden for birds. A flock of 40 House Sparrow was ever present along with 2 Cardinal, 3 American Goldfinch, a House Finch, a Downy Woodpecker, 2 Mourning Dove and a Black-capped Chickadee. I then spotted out of the corner of my eye something flutter behind a Bush. When it emerged on the other side I was lucky enough to find out it was a Monarch Butterfly. I then headed out into the garden when a Red-railed Hawk flew over clutching a Rabbit as prey in its claws and passed it onto a second bird that appeared. Then all of a sudden a squadron of Chimney Swift flew through with their short stubby tails and long pointy wings and although I haven’t seen this species before it has got to be one of my favourite species in the US! Above: Downy Woodpecker Below: American Goldfinch Above: House Finch Below: House Sparrow We then headed into the centre of Waltham for dinner and as it sits on the Charles River it was going to be interesting sitting outside eating dinner. Flocks of Canada Geese moved up River while a raft of Mallard sat out on the calm water. An American Herring Gull flew down river and about 40 Common Grackle flew high up and heading NW. While all this time Feral pigeons, Starling, House Sparrow and Chimney Swift zipped through over head. And so this brought to an end a great first day with 16 species of birds seen so far. Day 2: The day dawned dull and muggy as it looked as though it had rained overnight. The usual House Sparrows were on the feeders in my Uncles garden along side several Common Grackle, 2 Cardinal, 4 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 American Goldfinch, an American Robin and a female Red-winged Blackbird. The Downy Woodpecker eventually joined the party along with both Rabbit, Mourning Dove and Chipmunk. We went for a little walk round the local area to see what we could find. American Robins were in most people’s gardens along with Mourning Dove, Chipmunks and Grey Squirrels. All this time the local Chimney Swifts flew silently above our heads. As we approached our uncles house the Red-tailed Hawk could be seen in the distance along with a Chipping Sparrow on the neighbours lawn and a Double-created Cormorant flying over our heads. I decided that whilst I was waiting for the others to get ready for our long drive South to White Plains, NY, I would sit in the garden. Whilst I was out there a flock of around 30 Eurasian Starlings landed in the trees at the back while 2 Male Red-brested Grosbeak flew through in some sort of territorial dispute. A flock of 5 House Finch came in to feed on the feeders before it was time to head to the car for our journey. Above: Female Red-winged Blackbird Below: Common Grackle Above: Chipmunk Below: Downy woodpecker with Black-capped Chickadee Above: Cardinals Below: Cardinal alongside House Finch Above: Chipmunk Below: House Finch Above: American Robin Below: Mourning Dove Above: American Goldfinch and House Sparrow Below: Black-capped Chickadee The journey ended up taking near 4 hours due to the traffic however I did see from the car 20+ Canada Geese, 20 American Crow, 2 Red-tailed Hawk and yet more Chimney Swift. We briefly stopped for lunch at Hampden Connecticut with a large flock of Chimney Swift over head. I honestly can’t remember ever seeing them before on my previous visits, but they are so numourus that it seems impossible to not see them. Upon arrival at the hotel in Tarrytown, NY I decided to have a bit of a bird watch out of the room window as it over looked a tiny bit of Reed bed between the I84 and the hotel. In this time I saw 3 Grey Catbird, 2 Blue Jay and a superb Northern Flicker resting on a dead tree. A Large Butterfly flew past the window and could be identified as an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and must have literally been the size of my hand if not bigger. 2 Small Blue Butterflies were also around and these were called Eastern Tailed-blue along with a bright blue Dragonfly called a Blue Dancer. Above: Northern Flicker Below: Grey Catbird Above: Blue Dasher Day 3: The Day dawned bright and humid which made a change from yesterday. After breakfast we decided to head to a local nature reserve called Tea Town Lakes. Along the way Starlings, Red-tailed Hawk and a Mourning Dove were encountered. Once we arrived having driven along the scenic parkways. We got out of the car to the sound of a Song Sparrow singing from the top of a nearby tree and an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Above: Not too sure this is a Song Sparrow anymore...! I reckon it might be either Chipping or American Tree Sparrow After a brief stop in the centre we head out to the Northern edges of the Lake. Out on the Lake 2 Great Blue Herons were fishing from the Lilly's, a Double-crested Cormorant sat on an Island next to 6 sleeping Wood Duck. Moving slightly further on we found 2 Willow Flycatchers flycatching from the trees bordering the Lake and as we got closer they didn’t move a muscle providing some great views as they dived to the edge of the water to catch their lunch. Just after this 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow came low over the water drinking as they went. Above: Double-crested Cormorant and Wood Duck Below: Great Blue Heron Above: Willow Flycatcher The trails were muddy and rather slippery after yesterday’s storms. We climbed right up to the top of a hill and whilst heading down the other side we were given great views of a pair of Eastern Wood-pewee. Above: Moth sp Below: Cabbage White Once we reached the bottom of the hill we headed along a swollen stream towards a clearing under the power lines. In this clear Goldfinches drank from a pond that looked as though it had been created by Beavers. 2 Cardinal, Eastern Wood-pewee, a Blue Jay and 2 Willow Flycatcher were in the trees around us and a Carolina Wren was in the trees above the small Damned pool. 2 Turkey Vultures then flew onto the power lines above us and we were kept company by them until we reached the end of our walk which I have to admit at times was quite scary. Also in this opening was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, a Viceroy Butterfly, Eastern Pondhawks and an Orange Meadowhawk. There was also a massive Cicada which sat up beside us in the tree. Above: Eastern Wood-pewee Below: female Eastern Pondhawk Above: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Below: Turkey Vulture Above: Cicada Below: Orange Meadowhawk Above: Widow Skimmer Below: Bathing American Goldfinch and the Frog Above: Pond Skater sp Below: Willow Flycatcher Above: Frog sp We then moved on and reclimbed the hill before heading along the power line opening. We experienced a large amount of Species that unfortunately weren’t birds. A large Monarch patrolled the flowers while these humongous Grasshoppers erupted out from under our feet with flashes of black and white wings as they went. I thought I had a hummingbird at one stage however unfortunately I had fallen into the trap of an insect which is called a Hummingbird Clear-wing. Above: I think this is a Blue Fronted Dancer Above: Turkey Vulture Above: Pearl Cresent We then head down to the Western side of the Lake and took the wibbly wobbly bridge took us across Damselfly and Dargonfly haven. The species list was as so... Blue Dasher, Eastern Pond Hawk, Great Blue Skimmer, Widow Skimmer, Rambur's Forktail, Roseate Skimmer, and a few Blue Fronted Dancers. Above: Male Eastern Pondhawk Below: Female Eastern Pondhawk Above: Blue Dasher Below: Male Eastern Pondhawk Above: Male Widow Skimmer Below: Pearl Cresent Out on the water a Great Blue Heron was fishing and a.few Wood Duck wee loafing around and the Double-crested Cormorant was still sitting in what I can only presume was its favourite spot. A flock of 4 Tufted Titmouse were in the trees and a Blue Jay also briefly perched up. Above: Wood Duck Below: Great Blue Heron Above: Blue Jay Below: Double-crested Cormorant We then headed back to the centre where a Red-tailed Hawk was circling and a House Wren was singing. A new Butterfly for the trip was also seen just before we left and it was another giant in the form of a Red-spotted Purple. Above: Red-spotted Purple Butterfly Below: House Wren We then headed back to the hotel for lunch and when we got out of the car 4 Sandhill Cranes flew over high up along with a flock of 20 Chimney Swift, and a Red-tailed Hawk.
I decided to have a look out the window at the reed bed between the hotel and the interstate which today was solid in both directions. As I opened the curtains a small bird flew past the window glistening in the sun, a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. A Grey Cat bird 2as also around feeding on some berries along with two American crows and a Hairy Woodpecker flew through. As for Butterflies 2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and 4 Eastern Tailed Blue were about along with a Blue Dasher in the same spot as yesterday. We then went to dinner at a local diner and when we came out there was a noticeable steady stream of birds heading southwest with over 40 Common Grackle, a Mourning Dove, and 6 Rough-winged Swallow. My guess is that it might be migration rather than heading to roost as Common Grackle back in Boston were doing the same thing at the same time of day heading South West as well and the mix of Species I think backs up my guess. Would be interesting to see if tomorrow in New Hampshire there is a similar movement in the fading light. Upon arrival at the hotel a House Finch welcomed us back and we settled down for a good nights sleep. So far 36 species of bird have been seen on the trip with several new ones. Hopefully we will get to see more in the coming week including hopefully one of my American Boggy Birds. Well. I shouldn’t have written my blog before I looked out the window when we got back. The reed bed was full of Common Grackle and American Robins having now quite obviously come into roost and bearing in mind that there is only a small strip of reeds it looked quite a tight squeeze. It was an amazing sight and I have now learnt my lesson to not write my blog too soon. |
AuthorI have been a birder since I was 8 however only really started to be able to go out to places by myself in Summer 2016 (Blame the parents) My blogs will be from all over the place, but mainly from RSPB Rainham Marshes and Totteridge Valley! Photography done by Samuel Levy aged 18. ArchivesCategories |