* - denotes first species sighting, or "lifer"
December 21, 2007
(1) Winter Wren
(1) Red-bellied Woodpecker
Many chickadees, titmice, juncos, goldfinches, and Blue Jays
At the feeders, Easton, MA
November 2, 2007
(1) Carolina Wren
(1) Hairy WP - Male
(6+) Juncos, including one very pale individual
(1) WB Nuthatch
(1) RB Nuthatch
Countless chickadees, goldfinches and titmice.
At the feeders, Easton, MA
May 26 - 31, 2004
Boat Tailed Grackle - Gulf
* Loggerhead Shrike
* Common Moorhen
* Gren Heron
* Little Blue Heron
* White Ibis
* Cattle Egret
Many of each, wild species seen while visiting Disney World in Orlando, Florida
May 10, 2004
(2) Blue Winged Warbler
(1) Black Throated Green Warbler
(1) Black and White Warbler
(2) Pine Warbler
(3) Song Sparrow
(1) Solitary Sandpiper
Many Eastern Towhees
Even more catbirds!
Bird Street Conservation, Stoughton, MA
April 5, 2004
(30) Lesser Scaup
(4) Buffleheads
(30+) Tree Swallows
(2) Mute Swans
(3) Red-Winged Black Birds
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
April 2, 2004
(13) Tree Swallows
(58) Lesser Scaup
(4) Buffleheads
(1) Hooded Merganser
Also had one Song Sparrow foraging under the feeders.
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
March 26, 2004
(1) Bald Eagle on nest
(3) Great Horned Owls on the roadways from Clinton to Topeka
Lake Clinton and Topeka, KS
2003
November 8, 2003
(2) White Pelican
(2) Downy Woodpecker
(6) Bluebirds
(2) Great Blue Herons
(1) Kingfisher
(2) Red Headed Woodpeckers
(3) Possible Great Cormorants (would be well out of range)
Many red tailed hawks, juncos, flickers, yellow-rumps, meadowlarks, turkeys, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, bluejays.
Kanza Prairie and Manhattan, KS
November 4, 2003
(1) Hooded Merganser (m)
(4) Bufflehead (3m, 1f)
Many Ring-necked Ducks
(4) Mute Swans (2 ad, 2 imm)
Town Pond and Pinewood Lake, Stoughton
October 27, 2003
(87) Ring-necked Ducks
(1) American Coot
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton
June 25, 2003
(2) Yellow Warbler - one adult feeding a fledgling
North Quincy, MA
May 5, 2003
(2) Chipping Sparrows
All the usuals
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
May 4, 2003
(1) Winter Wren - singing endlessly in the tall pine on the south shore of Willow.
(1) Grey-phase Eastern Screech Owl - in some hemlocks near the tower.
(6) Yellow-Rumped Warblers
(2) Northern Parula
(1) Black-Throated Blue Warbler
(3) Flickers
(4) Baltimore Orioles
(1) Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
(1) Black and White Warbler
(1) Chestnut-sided Warbler
(4) White-throated Sparrows
Mt. Auburn, Cambridge, MA
(3) Yellow-Rumped Warblers
(1) Black and White Warbler
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
(9) Eastern Towhee
(1) Song Sparrow
(1) Chipping Sparrow
Bird Street Conservation, Stoughton, MA
March 24, 2003
(3) Turkey Vultures
(2) Red Tail Hawks
Rt. 24/Rt. 128 Connector, Randolph, MA
March 23, 2003
(3) American Woodcock displaying
Bird Street Conservation, Stoughton, MA
March 14, 2003
(1) Long Tailed Duck
(9) Red Breasted Mergansers
(18) Buffleheads
(25) Common Goldeneyes
(4) Great Cormorants
(2) Lesser Scaup
(6) White Winged Scoter
(1) Ring Neck Duck
(1) Chipping Sparrow
(9) Tree Sparrow
(8) Junco
(1) Merlin (at the Pines on Plum)
(2) Northern Harriers
(1) Short Eared Owl
Cashman Park, Ferry Landing, the Chain Bridge, the boat ramp, the pumping station, and Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
March 11, 2003
(3) Bufflehead (2m, 1f)
(3) Turkey Vulture
(4) Red Tailed Hawk
(2) Common Merganser
On the commute to work, Stoughton/Randolph/Quincy
February 16, 2003
(23) Cedar Waxwings
(1) Brown Creeper
(1) Downy Woodpecker
(5) White Breasted Nuthatch
(3) Chickadees
(4) Titmice
At the feeders, Moultonborough, NH
January 30, 2003
(1) White Crowned Sparrow
(1) Carolina Wren
(3) Juncos
An assortment of Blue Jays, Cardinals, Titmice
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
January 1, 2003
(83) Bufflehead (more m than f)
Kayaking Hingham Harbor, Hingham, MA
2002
December 27, 2002
(1) Short Eared Owl
(3) Red Tailed Hawks
(2) Northern Harriers
(1) Horned Grebe
(200+) Common Eiders
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
December 1, 2002
(3) Juncos
(1) Tree Sparrow
Loads of house sparrows and blue jays stocking up before the snow comes!
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
November 25, 2002
(7) Red Breasted Mergansers
(7) Buffleheads (3m, 4f)
Neponset River, Quincy, MA
November 23, 2002
(3) Bald Eagles
On the Kaw River, Lawrence, KS
(9) Turkey
(1) Bluebird
(6) Kestrel
(4) Northern Flickers
(5) Junco
(3) Northern Cardinals
(1) Solitary Sandpiper
(3) Great Blue Heron
(5) Eastern Meadowlarks
(1) Eagle Nest (sadly devoid of eagles at the moment I visited)
(2) Beavers working on their den
Lake CLinton, Clinton, KS
(10) Northern Flickers
(3) Chickadee
(4) Goldfinch
(3) Northern Cardinals
(2) Downy Woopeckers
(1) Northern Harrier
(8) BLue Jays
(20+) Red Wing BLack Birds
(1) Tree Sparrows
Baker Wetlands, Lawrence, KS
November 21, 2002
(3) Eastern Bluebirds
(4) Juncos
Topeka, KS
August 17, 2002
* (1) American Avocet
(2) Northern Shovelers
Tens of thousands of Tree Swallows
(40+) Eastern Kingbirds
(5) Cedar Waxwings
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
June 22, 2002
Dozens of Red-Winged Blackbirds
(2) Flycatcher Species un-identified
(1) Eastern Kingbird
(1) Great Blue Heron
(9) Barn Swallow
(1) Common yellowthroat
Paddling the Nemasket River, MA
June 16 - 19, 2002
Oystercatchers - highlight of the trip with dozens of birds and many, many chicks running about
Piping Plover - only 3
Osprey
Common Tern
Least Tern
Forster's Tern
Barn Swallow - 100+
Eastern Kingbird
Semipalmated Plover
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Northern Harrier
Wild Turkey
Song Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Mute Swan
Chickadee
Catbird
Robin
Goldfinch
Grackles
Greater Black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring Billed Gull
Crow
Canada Goose
Various points in Martha's Vineyard, MA
May 22, 2002
* (1) Blackpoll Warbler
* (3) Ruby Throated Hummingbird
* (1) Indigo Bunting (F)
* (1) Bay Breasted Warbler
(1) Black Throated Green Warbler
(4) Common Yellowthroat
(3) Black and White Warbler
(11) Magnolia Warbler
(2) Wilson's Warbler
(1) Yellow Warbler
(3) Canada Warbler
(5) American Redstart
(4) Northern Parula
(2) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(1) Black Throated Blue Warbler
(3) Blue Headed Vireo
(2) Warbling Vireo
(2) Red Eyed Vireo
(1) Eastern Phoebe
(2) Eastern Kingbird
(5) Swainson's Thrush
(4) Wood Thrush (one singing mightily for a delighted crowd)
(1) Barn Swallow
(1) Chimney Swift
(1) Rough Winged Swallow
(1) Cuckoo Sp.
(3) Flicker (two seen at a nest hole)
(5) Baltimore Oriole
(1) Belted Kingfisher
(1) Cedar Waxwing
(1) Song Sparrow
(3) Chipping Sparrow
(1) Killdeer
(1) Double Crested Cormorant
(3) American Goldfinch
(1) White Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Red Winged Blackbird
Dozens of Grackles, Bluejays, Crows and Robins
Mt. Auburn Cemetary, Cambridge, MA
May 21, 2002
(1) Common Tern
(18) Sanderling
(4) Yellow Warbler
(3) Common Yellowthroat
(1) Baltimore Oriole
(2) Great Egret
(1) Snowy Egret
Squantum, MA
May 16, 2002
* (2) Least Flycatcher
* (2) Wilson's Warbler
* (1) Chestnut Sided Warbler
* (1) Rose Breasted Grosbeak (f)
* (4) Magnolia Warbler (including one transitional bird that gave us ID fits!)
* (2) Common Yellow Throat
* (3) Warbling Vireo
* (1) Wood Thrush
* (1) Ovenbird
* (1) Nashville Warbler
* (1) Prarie Warbler
(5) Black Throated Green Warbler
(1) Red Tail Hawk
(8) Black and White Warbler
(12) Baltimore Oriole (many nesting)
(1) Ruby Crowned Kinglet
(2) White Throated Sparrow
(1) Eastern Kingbird
(3) Chipping Sparrow
(6) American Redstart
(8) Northern Parula
(1) Black Crowned Night Heron
(1) Spotted Sandpiper
(3) Eastern Pheobe
(7) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(1) Yellow Warbler
(1) Blue Headed Vireo
(1) Palm Warbler
(2) Rough Winged Swallow
(2) American Goldfinch
(2) White Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Red Winged Blackbird
Dozens of Grackles, Bluejays, Crows and Robins
Mt. Auburn Cemetary, Cambridge, MA
May 8, 2002
(5) Greater Yellow Legs
(4) Barn Swallows
(2) Great Egret
(1) Snowy Egret
(4) Golfinch (m)
Quincy, MA
May 6, 2002
* (1) Orchard Oriole (immature male)
(10) Palm Warbler
(13) Yellow-Rump Warbler
(4) Black and White Warbler
(2) Black-Throated Green Warbler
(2) Northern Parula
(1) Blue-Headed vireo
(6) White-Throated Sparrow
(5) Chipping Sparrow
(2) Song Sparrow
(2) Brown Thrasher
(1) Great Horned Owl
(1) Red Breasted Nuthatch
(3) Goldfinch
(2) Carolina Wren
(6) Chimney Swift
(3) Common Loon (flyovers)
(3) Northern Cardinal
(1) Mallard
(4) Baltimore Oriole
(3) Cowbird
Grackles
Red-Winged Blackbirds
Mt. Auburn Cemetary, Cambridge, MA
May 5, 2002
* (1) Eurasian Kestrel!!!
(4) Bank Swallow
(3) Barn Swallow
(3) Willet
(1) Red-Tail Hawk
Song Sparrows
Red-Winged Black Birds
Cowbirds
Crows
Chatham, MA
May 4, 2002
(3) Green-Winged Teal
(2) Northern Pintail
(27) Greater Yellowlegs
(2) Northern Harrier
(2) Brown-Headed Cowbirds
(3) Great Egrets
(2) Snowy Egrets
(5) Killdeer
(3) Common Mergansers
(12) Brant
(2) Eastern Towhee
(1) White-Crowned Sparrow
(1) Chipping Sparrow
(1) Black-Throated Green Warbler
(2) Goldfinch
(4) Barn Swallow
(1) Kestrel
(1) Song Sparrow
(2) Tree Swallow
(2) Sharp-Shinned Hawk
(1) Savannah Sparrow
(1) White-Throated Sparrow (personally held at the banding station!)
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
(1) Bufflehead
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA
May 3, 2002
White Crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White Breasted Nuthatch
Grackles
Mourning Doves
Goldfinch
House Finch
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Chickadees
Mallards
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
May 1, 2002
* (2) Blue Headed Vireo
* (1) Green Heron
(3) Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
(2) Downy Woodpeckers
(1) Catbird
(2) Cowbird
(1) White-Throated Sparrow
(2) Carolina Wren
(2) Red-Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Goldfinch
(38) Brant (off the beach from the causeway)
Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead, MA
April 30, 2002
* (1) Western Grebe
(2) Red-Necked Grebe
(2) Northern Pintail
(1) Northern Harrier
(1) Killdeer
(3) Lesser Yellowlegs
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
April 27, 2002
* (1) Brown Thrasher
(1) Veery
(1) Great Horned Owl
(4) Northern Rough-Winged Swallows
(2) Eastern Phoebe
(4) Northern Flicker
(2) Red-Tailed Hawks
(3) Great Blue Heron
(2) Double Crested Cormorants
(4) Downy Woodpeckers
(7) Ruby-Crowned Kinglets
(4) White-Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Brown-Headed Cowbird
(10) Chipping Sparrow
(8) Song Sparrow
(10) White-Throated Sparrow
(2) Goldfinch
(25) Common Grackle
(3) Red-Winged Blackbird
(1) Carolina Wren
(10) Palm Warbler
(15) Yellow-Rumped Warbler
(19) Mourning Doves
(25) Blue Jays
(11) American Crows
(20) Robins
(5) Northern Mockingbirds
(5) Chickadee
(2) Tufted Titmouse
(2) Northern Cardinal
(5) Mallards
(5) Canada Geese
Mt. Auburn Cemetary, Cambridge, MA
April 20, 2002
(1) Pine Warbler
(3) Palm Warbler
(3) Eastern Towhee
(4) Song Sparrow
(2) Chipping Sparrow
Bird Street Conservation, Stoughton, MA
April 2, 2002
* (1) Great Horned Owl on its nest
(2) Mute Swans
(1) Eastern Phoebe
(7) Chickadee
(5) Eastern Bluebirds
(3) Purple Finch
(2) Red-Winged Blackbirds
(4) Crows
(1) Carolina Wren
(1) Red-Tailed Hawk
(1) Turkey Vulture
(8) Hooded Mergansers
(4) Bufflehead
(1) Common Merganser
(3) Song Sparrow
(1) White-Breasted Nuthatch
World's End, Hingham, MA
March 31, 2002
(1) Pileated Woodpecker
(1) Hairy Woodpecker
(1) Downy Woodpecker
(1) White-Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Junco
Moultonborough, NH
February 22, 2002
(2) Short-Eared Owl
(2) Common Loon
Lots of Common Eider
Salisbury State Park, Salisbury, MA
February 17, 2002
(1) Pileated Woodpecker
On the Frozen Lake, Moultonborough, NH
February 10, 2002
* (11) Red Crossbills (m + f mixed)
* (8) White-winged Crossbills (m + f mixed)
* (1) Snowy Owl
* (1) Gadwall
* (1) Black Scoter
* (2) Red-Necked Grebe
* (1) Black-Legged Kittiwake
(2) Short-Eared Owls
(3) Northern Harriers
(3) Red-Breasted Nuthatch
(5) Brant
(1) Red-Throated Loon
(7) Common Goldeneye
(3) White-Winged Scoter
(2) Common Loon
Large raft of Red-Breasted Mergansers
Large raft of Common Eider
(30+) Sandpiper species (un-id'able)
Tree Sparrows
Song Sparrows
Greater Black-Backed Gulls
Ring-Billed Gulls
Double Crested Cormorants
Morning Doves
Salisbury State Park, Salisbury, MA
(1) Belted Kingfisher
(7) Ring-Necked Ducks
Chain Bridge, Amesbury (?), MA
(1) Bald Eagle
(2) Bufflehead
(2) Common Mergansers
(8) Great Cormorants
(10) Double Crested Cormorants
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport, MA
(3) Boneparte Gulls
(1) Red-Throated Loon
(1) Common Loon
(3) Red-Tailed Hawks
(2) Common Goldeneye
Ferry Marina, Newburyport, MA
(2) Northern Harriers
(2) Great Blue Heron
(12) Boneparte Gulls
(20+) Common Goldeneye
Public Boat Ramp, Newburyport, MA
* (1) Iceland Gull
(2) Long-Tailed Ducks
Among lots of gulls, Sewage Treatment Plant, Newburyport, MA
* (1) Snow Bunting
(1) Rough Legged Hawk
Lot 1, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (PRNWR), Newburyport, MA
(1) Peregrine Falcon
Tree Sparrows
Wardens at PRNWR, Newburyport, MA
(1) Merlin
By the road side past the Pines Trail at PRNWR, Newburyport, MA
(4) Horned Larks
(6) Pintails
(3) Snow Geese
Overlook at PRNWR, Newburyport, MA
Many Common Eider
(2) Horned Larks
(3) Common Loon
(2) Alcid species (not id'ed)
Emerson Rocks at PRNWR, Newburyport, MA
February 8, 2002
* (1) Greater White-Fronted Goose
Westwood Junior High School Athletic Fields, Westwood, MA
(1) Possible Richardson's Race Canada Goose
In the field in from of MEDITECH, exit 12 off 128s, Westwood, MA
January 22, 2002
Among the usual at the feeders, (1) Cooper's Hawk
I photographed this hawk for over an hour as it tried its best to get at the feeder birds. The bird has been coming around pretty regularly
but today offered its best views as it alternately perched on a thistle feeder and a fence post as it waited for an unwary sparrow to make a mistake.
BTW, I have had mallards visiting the feeders lately, but no sign of the "victim" as described below.
January 11, 2002
At the feeders today were the usual collection of species: Juncos, Red-Breasted and White-Breasted Nuthatch, Downy WP, Goldfinch, etc. A large group of Cedar Waxwings were also eating the crabapples with the starlings early in the morning. The Cooper's Hawk has been lurking for the better part of the week.
Later in the morning we were visited by the local troop of mallards who are daily visitors in the spring and fall but only rarely come to feed in the winter months. I noticed one drake who was not exactly standing and not exactly laying in the grass out in the yard. The other seven ducks (5m, 2f) ate some seed while this one and its presumed mate stayed off to the side. Soon after it began feeding, a male stopped and ran toward the seemingly lame duck and began to vigorously attack its head, throat and neck with its bill. Additionally, the aggressor would use his wings to hit the other about the head. The "victim" was barely putting up a struggle to defend itself, and it never tried to fly or walk away. One by one the other males in the group would join in the beating; at one point four males were
attacking, including two who looked like they were trying to tear the wing feathers from the lame duck. The episode lasted about fifteen minutes and really was troubling to watch.
The victim survived the attack and is now laying in the grass in a pile of feathers with its mate standing guard; and another male -- whom I don't remember participating in the attack -- laying nearby. As gruesome as the attack was, it was also interesting to observe this behavior and ponder why it was happening. Were the other males attempting to rid the group of a sick or lame duck who may threaten their own health or food supply? Were they trying to steal his mate? Were they trying to establish a pecking order (no pun intended) within the social hierarchy? Why didn't its mate attempt to stop the beating? Why is this other male hanging around the pair after the others left, and why didn't it attack the lame bird?
I can only speculate, but it really looked like the group was trying to kill the other duck. That may be a reach, but I can imagine it happens with mallards. Has anyone else observed similar behavior?
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
January 1, 2002
(3) Northern Harriers
(1) Red Tail Hawk
(1) Long Eared Owl (heard)
Daniel Webster MAS, Marshfield, MA
2001
December 29, 2001
(1) Raven
Moultonborough, NH
December 23, 2001
(1) Raven
While Skiing at Mt. Sunapee, Sunapee, NH
December 15, 2001
(1) Red-Breasted Nuthatch
(1) White-Breasted Nuthatch
(6) Goldfinch
(2) Tufted Titmice
(3) Juncos
(2) Chickadees
(1) House Finch
Dozens of House Sparrows
(1) Cooper's Hawk chasing the above!
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
November 11, 2001
(1) Western Kingbird
(50+) Ruddy Duck
(1) Red Tailed Hawk, mobbed by (3) Crows
(2) Bufflehead
(2) Lesser Scaup
(2) Brant
Cherry Hill Res., West Newbury, MA
November 5, 2001
(1) Red-Breasted Nuthatch
(1) White-Breasted Nuthatch
(5) Goldfinch
(2) Tufted Titmice
(1) BLue Jay
(2) Chickadees
Dozens of House Sparrows
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
October 30, 2001
(5) Goldfinch
(3) Tufted Titmice
(3) Juncos
(3) Chickadees
(2) Blue Jays
(1) House Finch
Dozens of House Sparrows
(1) Cooper's Hawk chasing the above!
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
October 27, 2001
* (1) Orange-Crowned Warbler
* (1) Red-Throated Loon
* (1) Pectoral Sandpiper
(6) Long-Billed Dowitchers
(1) Hermit Thrush
(6) Dark-Eyed Juncos
(1) Great Blue Heron
(6) Bufflehead
(15) Snow Geese
(1) Common Merganser
(40+) White-Winged Scoter
(50+) Sanderling
(1) Black-Bellied Plover
(5) Dunlin
(1) Spotted Sandpiper
(2) Northern Harrier
(10) Greater Yellowlegs
Throughout Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
October 15, 2001
(1) Carolina Wren
First at the feeders, Stoughton, MA
September 30, 2001
* (1) Northern Pintail
* (1) Cape May Warbler (f)
* (20) American Pipit
(1) Merlin
(3) Great Egret
(12) Dark-eyed Junco
(5) Mute Swan
(20) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(1) Golden Crowned Kinglet
(1) Black Throated Blue Warbler
(10) Green-winged Teal
(3) Dunlin
(12) LB Dowitcher
(6) Semi-Palmated Plover
(4) Sanderling
(3) Northern Harrier
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
August 25, 2001
* (3) Spotted Sandpipers
Least Sandpipers
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers
Yellowlegs
Snowy Egrets
White Breasted Nuthatch
Chickadees
Great Egrets
Double Creasted Cormorants
Common Yellow Throat +
Chestnut-Sided Warbler +
Possible Whippoorwill (heard)
Kennybunkport, ME
+ Seen at a banding station at the Wells Preserve.
August 11, 2001
* Wilson's Storm Petrels
(2) American Oystercatchers
Yellowlegs
Dowitchers
Semi-Palmated Plovers
Black Bellied Plovers
Double Crested Cormorants
Greater Black Backed Gulls
Common Terns
Least Terns
(3) Northern Harriers
(1) Snowy Egret
(5) Osprey
Dozens of Barnswallows and Goldfinch
Martha's Vinyard, MA
June 8, 2001
* (4) Piping Plover
* Dozens of Least Terns
* (15) Bank Swallow
(2) Dunlin
(2) SB Dowitchers
Crane's Beach, Ipswich, MA
June 8, 2001
* (1) Common Yellow Throat
(3) Yellow Warblers
(2) Eastern Kingbirds
(2) Veery
(1) Red-Eyed Vireo
(5) Cedar Waxwings
(1) Goldfinch
(2) Chimney Swifts
Fowl Meadow, Milton, MA
May 26, 2001
* (1) Spruce Grouse
(5) Common Mergansers
(3) Eastern Kingbirds
Dozens of Tree Swallows
(11) Rough-Winged Swallows
(2) Barn Swallows
(1) White Throated Sparrow
(1) Yellow Warbler
North Hartland Lake, VT
* All Captive Birds *
(1) Raven
(1) Sharp Shinned Hawk
(1) Coopers Hawk
(1) Northern Harrier
(2) Red Tailed Hawk
(1) Kestrel
(2) Merlin
(2) Snowy Owl
(1) Eastern Screech Owl
(2) Barn Owls
(1) Barred Owl
(2) Saw Whet Owls
(2) Short Eared Owls
(1) Long Eared Owl
(1) Golden Eagle
(2) Bald Eagle (1 imm., 1 ad.)
VINS Raptor Rehab Center, Woodstock, VT
I attended the Raptor Appreciation Day at VINS. The Raptor Center is a unique place that takes in injured birds (not just raptors, btw) and attempts to rehabilitate them for release. While the injured birds may not be viewed while rehibilitating, the above listed raptors are permanent residents since injuries keep them from being released.
These raptors are kept in beautiful enclosures; easily the best I have seen. The Appreciation Day events included the release of two rehabilitated Red Tail Hawks, which was spectacular to witness. Kestrel flights were also demonstrated and also exciting! I can easily recommend a visit to VINS. Check out their website at www.vinsweb.org.
May 19, 2001
Seen
* (1) Wilson's Warbler
* (1) Northern Parula
* (3) Magnolia Warbler (2m, 1f)
* (1) Tenessee Warbler
* (2) Black Throated Blue Warbler
* (1) American Redstart
* (1) Scarlet Tanager
* (1) Red Eyed Vireo
* (4) Chimney Swifts
* (1) Swainson's Thrush
* (1) Gray Cheeked Thrush
* (1) Solitary Sandpiper
(1) Spotted Sandpiper
(1) Black Throated Green Warbler
(9) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(2) Chipping Sparrow
(3) Eastern Kingbird
(1) Red Tailed Hawk (being chased by (3) Crows)
(9) Catbird
(2) Great Blue Herons (flovers too)
(3) Double Crested Cormorants (flyovers)
(11) Baltimore Orioles
(1) Downy Woodpecker (f)
(12) Grackle
(2) Chickadee
(3) Blue Jay
Lots of Crows and Robins
Heard
(1) Blue Winged Warbler
(1) Red Bellied Woodpecker
Others Had
(1) Canada Warbler
(1) Indigo Bunting
(1) Veery
(1) Black and White Warbler
All at Mt. Auburn Cemetary, Cambridge, MA
May 9, 2001
* (1) Sora
(1) Snipe
(3) Eastern Kingbirds
(5) Wood Ducks
(7) Savanna Sparrows
(2) Baltimore Orioles
(6) Yellow Warblers
(2) Killdeer, one of which was circling territorially
(3) Greater Yellow Legs
(1) Carolina Wren
(2) Great Blue Heron
Lots of Tree Swallows, 3 actively nesting in a snag.
Lots of Red Winged Black Birds
(1) Least Sandpiper
Great Meadows NWR, Concord Impoundments, Concord, MA
May 5, 2001
(2) White Crowned Sparrows
(1) Grackle
(2) Titmice
(1) Robin
(3) Mourning Dove
(1) Chipping Sparrow
(5) Gold Finch
(2) House Finch
At the Feeders, Stoughton, MA
May 4, 2001
(1) Pine Warbler (F)
(1) Yellow Warbler (M)
(1) Baltimore Oriole (M)
(3) White Throated Sparrows
(2) House Finch
Lots of: Red Wing Black Bird, Catbirds, Mourning Doves
(1) Muskrat
(1) Bunny
Neponset River, North Quincy, MA
(2) Yellow Rumped Warblers
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
May 3, 2001
(2) Baltimore Orioles (f)
(2) Grackle
(1) Pine Warbler
(1) Yellow Warbler
(10) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(1) Catbird
(1) Wood Duck
(7) Canada Geese with (5) Goslings
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
May 1, 2001
(5 - 6) Tufted Titmice
(1) Imm. Coopers Hawk
(1) Great Blue Heron, on the nest
(2) Hermit Thrush
(1) Sharp Shinned Hawk
(1) Northern Harrier, soaring over the nature center
Lots of Cabbage Whites
1 Possible Spring Azure
Lots of Tree Frogs
My son and I set out early this morning (for us anyway) to hike the Moose Hill Sanctuary. We decided to take the Vernal Pond Loop since we had not been back there in some time. Not fifty yards into the trail we heard some frantic chirping and followed the sound to a Titmouse pair that was busily feeding some very new looking babies (the hatchlings were pinkish with eyes closed)! After watching this cavity nest for some time a pattern developed: one adult would approach the nest with a tasty morsel; the second adult, hiding in the cavity, would come out and greet the other with a swirling, squeaking display; the morsel would be passed and only then would the babies pop their heads out and beg for the food. I counted three for sure but thought there might be another fighting for "face-time".
A few steps down the trail we startled an immature Coopers Hawk from the ground (or rather it startled us). The bird flew up to a nearby perch and displayed a neat behavior. It found a mossy spot on the branch it was perched on and alternately ran both sides of its bill back and forth over this spot. The bird did this three different times, each time for about 10 seconds. The best illustration I can relate this to is that of a chef sharpening her knife. Has anyone else seen this?
Finally, and most amazing to me, we saw a Great Blue Heron sitting on a nest! This sight may not seen all that unusual until you consider the habitat at Moose Hill, which I wouldn't think is particularly heron-friendly. The nest is in a snag, only about ten yards off the trail. I did not see any other nests in the area. I only noticed this bird after it gave me two very menacing warning calls.
For those who want to see this nest, note that the trail is moderately hilly; I would guess about a mile long and mostly dry. Park in the main lot at Moose Hill and walk to the end of the lot, going away from the nature center. The Vernal Pool Loop starts with a fairly steep stone staircase down. Take the trail up and down several small hills. You will pass a small pool on your right, and a slightly larger pool immediately after on the left. You will arrive at the largest pool a short time later. The trail takes a right turn around the pool (assuming you are coming from the main lot). Continue on for a hundred yards or so. The nest is on the right side of the trail about ten yards off the trail. The snag is the largest tree around and stands out because the top has been stripped clean. I placed a long 3 inch diameter branch on the side of the trail pointing to the tree. Note that if you walk over a buried stone wall just before a sharp left hand turn in the trail you have just passed the tree. Turn around, look up to your left and you can't miss it. I plan on visiting this tree often to check on its progress.
MAS Moose Hill Sanctuary, Sharon, MA
April 23, 2001
(3) Hermit Thrush
* (1) Palm Warbler (fly catching the latest insect hatch like a champ)
(3) Pine Warbler
(1) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(2) Flicker
(1) Downy WP (F)
(1) Carolina Wren
Lots and lots of RWBB, Blue Jays, Titmice, Chickadee, Cardinals.
MAS Visual Arts Center, Canton, MA
April 22, 2001
(3) Flicker
(1) Carolina Wren
(7) Tree Swallow
(2) Turkey Vultures
(1) Unidentified Warbler
Lots and lots of Titmice, Chickadees, Cardinals
MAS Visual Arts Center, Canton, MA
April 21, 2001
* (1) Tundra Swan
(4) Green Wing Teal
(2) Blue Wing Teal
(3) Greater Yellow Legs
(11) Snipe
(1) Goldfinch
(1) Carolina Wren
(1) White Throated Sparrow
(100+) Mallards
(1) Bunny Rabbit
Scotland Road, West Bridgewater, MA
April 14, 2001
* (4) Rough Winged Swallow
* (2) Hermit Thrush
* (2) Greater Scaup
(1) Northern Flicker (yellow shafted)
(18) Tree Swallow (migrating)
(1) Hairy Woodpecker
(2) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(2) Downy Woodpeckers
(1) Common Grackle
(1) Ruby Crowned Kinglet
(1) Cowbird
(6) Double Crested Cormorants
(7) Ring Neck Duck
(1) Great Black Gull
Pond Meadow Park, Braintree, MA
(4) Black Crowned Night Heron
Sunset Lake, Braintree, MA
* (4) Lesser Scaup
* (1) Great Cormorant
(2) Greater Scaup
(12) Bufflehead
(10) Common Merganser
(2) Red Breasted Merganser
(2)Ring Neck Duck
(1) Goldfinch
Great Pond, Braintree/Randolph, MA
April 13, 2001
* (11) Bonaparte's Gulls
* (1) Lesser Black Backed Gull
(3) Lesser Yellow Legs
(38) Oldsquaw (aka. Long Tail Ducks)
(20) Bufflehead
(11) Double Crested Cormorants
(6) Common Mergansers
(45) Brant
Boat Ramp, Newburyport, MA
(3) Grackle
(1) Goldfinch
(3) Black Duck
(2) Song Sparrow
(2) Red Wing Blackbirds
Plum Island Entrance to Salt Pannes, Newburyport, MA
(2) Ring Neck Duck
(1) Great Blue Heron
(2) Great Egret
North Pool Overlook, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
April 10, 2001
(18) Cedar Waxwings
Erin Road, Stoughton, MA
* (4) Singing Carolina Wrens
* (1) White Crowned Sparrow
(2) Downy Woodpeckers (f)
(34) Titmice
(26) Chickadees
MAS Visual Arts Center, Canton, MA
(12) Common Merganser
(4) Bufflehead
Reservoir Pond, Canton, MA
(4) Turkey Vultures
RT 128, Randolph, MA
* (3) American Oystercatchers
* (300+) Brant
* (1) Golden Crowned Kinglet
(56) Bufflehead
(3) Horned Grebe
(2) Common Eider
(50+) Common Merganser
(3) Sanderling (at the Community Center)
Squantum Area, MA
March 5, 2001
* (1) Imm. Cooper's Hawk
(2) White Throated Sparrow
(7) Junco
(4) Cardinal
(24) House Sparrow
At the feeders, Stoughton, MA
March 3, 2001
* (3) Red-Shafted Northern Flicker
* (2) Graylag Geese
* (84) Goldeneye (Male and Female)
* (3) Kestrel
(39) Turkeys
(6) Meadowlarks
(200+) Snow Geese
(14) Bald Eagles (1 on a nest)
(100+) Red Winged Black Birds
(28) Common Merganser (Male and Female)
(2) Northern Harrier
(14) Red Tail Hawks
Manhattan, Perry, and Clinton, KS
February 28, 2001
(1) Bald Eagle
(2) Nothern Harrier
(14) Red Tail Hawks
Route 70 between Kansas City, MO to Lawrence, KS
February 24, 2001
* (1) Bald Eagle
* (2) Ruby Crowned Kinglet
* (2) Raven
* (1) Pileated Woodpecker
(1) Turkey
(2) White Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Downy Woodpecker (M)
(1) Hairy Woodpecker (F)
(48) Goldfinch
(3) Junco
* (1) Porcupine
Athol, MA
February 21, 2001
(2) Turkey Vultures (soaring over Route 93 in Randolph)
(1) Red Tailed Hawk
(3) Red Wing Black Birds
(6) Chickadees
(1) Cardinal
(2) Rough Legged Hawks
(1) Goshawk
(3) Mockingbirds
(1) Greater Black Backed Gull
(13) Canada Geese
(8) Mallards
Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Marshfield, MA
February 14, 2001
(17) Cedar Waxwing
(2) DE Juncos
(1) Turkey Vulture
(1) Unidentified Accipiter Hawk
Stoughton and Randolph, MA
January 18, 2001
* (1) Common Merganser
(4) Bufflehead in two pairs
(7) Red Breasted Mergansers -- one female surrounded by six males in frantic display.
3 Black duck
78 Canada Geese
Neponset River, Quincy, MA
2000
December 3, 2000
All reported at Plum Island unless otherwise noted.
* (1) Gyrfalcon (Grey Phase)!
* (6) Horned Larks
(1) Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker
(1) Yellow Rumped Warbler
(4) Bufflehead
(8) Black Ducks
Between Pines Trail and Stage Island
* (4) Snow Geese
* (100+) White Winged Scoter
* (1) Common Loon
* (2) Oldsquaw (Long Tailed Ducks)
(3) Common Eider
(1) Great Black Backed Gull
(1) Harbor Seal
Emerson Rocks
* (3) Common Snipe
* (60+) Dunlin
(100+) Snow Geese
(500+) Canada Geese (Flying in; sounded like all were calling at once!)
(8) Green Winged Teal
(1) Hybrid Canada (mix with white-fronted?)
(100+) Black Ducks
Joppa Flats, Newburyport, MA
November 17, 2000
* (1) Tropical Kingbird!!!! - New State Record
(7) Eastern Kingbird
World's End, Hingham, MA
November 12, 2000
* (4) American Wigeon
(14) Ring Necked Duck
(2) American Coot
(2) Mute Swan
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
(1) Breeding Male Bufflehead
(1) Male Common Merganser (coming into breeding)
Lake Massapoag, Sharon
October 21, 2000
* (17) Ruddy Duck
Reservoir Pond, Canton, MA
(2) American Coot
Pinewood Lake, Stoughton, MA
October 7, 2000
* (20+) Yellow Rumped Warbler
* (1) Brown Creeper
(1) Downy Woodpecker (F)
(1) Belted Kingfisher (M)
(2) Double Crested Cormorants
(6) Lesser Yellow Legs
(5) Semipalmated Plovers
(1) Snowy Egret
(4) Great Blue Heron
(1) Great Black-Backed Gull
Kennebunkport, ME
September 23, 2000
(50+) Sanderling
Hundreds of Great Black-Backed Gulls
Hundreds of Herring Gulls
(300-400) Double Crested Cormorants
(6) Mallards
Pebbly Beach, MA
* (2) Black and White Warblers
* (1) Black Throated Warblers
* (1) Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker
* (1) Red Bellied Woodpecker (M)
(1) Downy Woodpecker (F)
(1) White Breasted Nuthatch
(5) Catbird
(8) Robin
(1) Mockingbird
(1) Chickadee
(1) Blue Jay
(1) Cardinal
(1) Titmouse
(heard 1) Carolina Wren
John Kieran Trail, Rockport, MA
* (1) White Throated Sparrow
* (1) Field Sparrow
* (1) Belted Kingfisher (M)
(1) Song Sparrow
(3) Snowy Egret
Island Road, Ipswich, MA
* (3) Dunlin
(12) Black Bellied Plover
(3) Short Billed Dowitcher
Great Neck, MA
* (1) Long Billed Dowitcher
(1) American Goldfinch
(3) Short Billed Dowitcher
(4) Great Black Backed Gulls
(3) Great Egret
(3 Streams of 200+ each) Migrating Double Creasted Cormorants
Little Neck, MA
* (1) Greater Yellow Legs
(1000+) Tree Swallows
(1) Snowy Egret
(3) Great Egret
Salt Pannes, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
* (1) Savanna Sparrow
(100 - 200+) Short Billed Dowitchers
(2) Glossy Ibis
(50+) Lesser Yellow Legs
(1) Whimbrel
(20+) Black Ducks
(1) Snowy Egret
(2) Great Egret
(1) Semipalmated Sandpiper
Hellcat, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
(5) Wood Duck (2M, 3F) - Unusual for Plum Island
* (1) Spotted Sandpiper
* (1) Semipalmated Sandpiper
* (15) Green Winged Teal
* (3) Gadwal
(1) Northern Harrier
Stage Island Pool, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
September 9, 2000
* (1) Whimbrel
(1) Red Tail Hawk
(6) Sanderling
Crane's Beach, Ipswich, MA
August 25 - 26, 2000
West Pond:
* (3) Black Skimmer
(2) Cedar Waxwing
(13) Glossy Ibis
* (200+)Laughing Gull
(4) Great Blue Heron
* (5 Imm. and 4 Ad.) Yellow Crowned Night Heron
(300+) Common Tern
(1) Osprey
(500+) DC Cormorant
(30) Snowy Egret
(18) Great Egret
* (5) Black Crowned Night Heron
(200+) Semi Palmated Plover
(300+) Semi Palmated Sandpipers
(6) Lesser Yellowlegs
(100+) Blue Wing Teal
* (1) Tricolored Heron
East Pond, mostly from the North End of the Pool:
(1) Peregrine Falcon
(40+) Semi Palmated Plover
(80+) Semi Palmated Sandpipers
(4) Lesser Yellowlegs
(34) SB Dowitcher
* (43) Least Sandpiper
* (80+) Black Bellied Plover
* (1) Marbled Godwit
* (6) Forster s Tern
(100+) Common Tern
(400+) Mute Swan
(73) Canada Goose
Jamaica Bay WR, Queens, NY
August 17, 2000
(1) Common Tern
(1) Osprey
(32) Semipalmated Sandpipers
* Ring Billed Gull
(400 - 500) Tree Swallow
(2) Cedar Waxwing
(3) American Goldfinch (M)
(100+) Red Wing Blackbird
Double Crested Cormorant
(2) Turkey (1 Ad. and 1 Juv.)
* (1) Peregrine Falcon
(1) Barn Swallow
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
July 29, 2000
(no counts made - too many birds!)
* (2) Glossy Ibis
Short billed Dowitchers
Semipalmated Plovers
Semipalmated Sandpipers
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Lesser Yellow Legs
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
July 22, 2000
* (1) Chipping Sparrow
(2) Cedar Waxwing
(2) American Goldfinch (1M) (1F)
Stoughton, MA
July 20, 2000
(no counts made - too many birds!)
Semipalmated Plovers
Short billed Dowitchers
Least Sandpipers
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Lesser Yellowlegs
Double Crested Cormorants
Marina Bay, North Quincy, MA
July 19, 2000
* (11) Semipalmated Plovers
* (9) Short billed Dowitchers
* (23) Least Sandpipers
(2) Great Blue Heron
(3) Snowy Egret
(2) Lesser Yellowlegs
(4) Double Crested Cormorants
(2) Greater Black Backed Gulls
(13) Red Wing Blackbirds
Barn Swallow
Marina Bay, North Quincy, MA
July 18, 2000
(5) Great Egret
(4) Snowy Egret
Marina Bay, North Quincy, MA
June 20, 2000
* (2) Cedar Waxwing
* Lesser Yellowlegs
(5) Killdeer
(1) Golfinch (M)
(30+) Red Wing Blackbirds
(100+) Herring Gulls
(1) Snowy Egret
(2) Great Egret
Marina Bay, North Quincy, MA
June 19, 2000
(7) Snowy Egret
(2) Common Tern
(3) Greater Black Backed Gulls
(2) Kildeer
(2) Great Egret
King or Clapper Rail - Saw it for just a second before it ducked (no pun intended!) back into the brush. Based on coloration it makes me think a King, but I can't be sure.
Marina Bay, North Quincy, MA
June 15, 2000
*(1) Eastern Kingbird
(7) Great Egret
(4) Great Blue Heron
(3) Snowy Egret
(3) Song Sparrow (M)
(2) Tree Swallow
(12) Red Wing Blackbird
(3) Mallards (2F) (1M)
(3) Double Created Cormorants
North River Wildlife Refuge, Scituate, MA
June 12, 2000
(2) Snowy Egret
Catbirds
Robins
Neponset River, North Quincy, MA
June 9, 2000
*(1) Yellow Warbler (M)
(1) Baltimore Oriole
(12) Catbirds
(1) Grackle
(4) Mourning Doves
(2) Great Egret
(2) Unidentified Swallows
A Mystery Bird: 6-7 inches tall, uniform olive color from head to wings to tail, a lighter olive color starting at its "chin" contining to its "waist" getting lighter as it went lower, black eyes, grass-level insect eater, and most noticable was it's complete lack of any baring, stipes, specks, dots, lines -- nadda! Any ideas? E-mail stnoonan@yahoo.com
A "herd" of 10-12 Northern Moon Snails
Neponset River, North Quincy, MA
May 18, 2000
* (200+) Cliff Swallow
* (3) Eastern Meadowlark
* (1) Red Headed Woodpecker
* (3) Scissor Tailed Flycatcher
* (2) Western Kingbird
(19) Turkey Vultures
(1) Eastern Bluebird
(11) Red Wing Blackbirds
(1) Hairy Woodpecker (F)
(1) Barn swallow
(1) Turkey (F)
(5) Great Blue Heron
(3) Mallards (M)
(2) Killdeer
(1) Baltimore Oriole
Topeka, Clinton, and Calhoun's Bluff, Kansas
May 17, 2000
* (13) Turkey Vulture
Topeka, Kansas
March 26, 2000
* (10) Ring Necked Duck (7M) (3F)
* (7) Cooper's Hawk - Possible Migration
* (1) Eastern Pheobe
* (1) Red Breasted Nuthatch
* (1) Song Sparrow
(2) Tree Swallow
(2) Tufted Titmice
(2) White Breated Nuthatch
(2) Eastern Kingbird (1M) (1F)
(2) Downy Woodpeckers
(8) Bufflehead (4M) (4F)
(2) Wood duck (1M) (1F)
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA
March 23, 2000
(no counts made)
Black Capped Chickadee
White Breasted Nuthatch
Red Wing Blackbirds
Tufted Titmice
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA
March 20, 2000
(5) Hairy Woodpeckers (3M) (2F)
(5) Downy Woodpeckers (2M) (3F)
(2) Dark Eyed Junco
(2) Tufted Titmice
(5) Northern Cardinal (2 Adult Male, 1 Imm) (2F)
(2) Malards
(12) Black Capped Chickadee
(4) Canada Geese
(30) Red Wing Blackbirds
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA
March 4, 2000
* (2) Long Eared Owl (+1 other possible)
* (3) Short Eared Owl
* (1) Northern Harrier
(30+) Canada Geese
(2) Red Wing Blackbirds
Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Marshfield, MA
March 1, 2000
(8) Possible Great Cormorants (light was low, but had long looks)
Pigeon Cove, Rockport, MA
Feb. 28, 2000
(8) Red Breasted Mergansers (7M) (1F)
Neponset River, North Quincy, MA
Feb. 27, 2000
* (2) Ring Necked Pheasant
(1) Rough Legged Hawk
(1) Red Tail Hawk
(1) Northern Shrike
(30+) Canada Geese
(2) Tufted Titmice
(3) Northern Cardinals (M)
Dunback Meadows, Lexington, MA
Feb. 25, 2000
(5) Red Breasted Mergansers (4M) (1F)
Neponset River, North Quincy, MA
Feb. 24, 2000
(1) Rough Legged Hawk
Hundreds of Black Ducks
Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
Feb. 23, 2000
* Saw Whet Owl
* Northern Shrike
* Rough Legged Hawk
* (2) Hairy Woodpeckers (F)
(1) White Breasted Nuthatch
(1) Red Tail Hawk
Many Black Capped Chickadees
Northern Cardinal (M)
(1) Blue Jay (F)
(4) Ravens
(4) Mourning Doves
Dunback Meadows in Lexington, MA
Feb. 12, 2000
(1) Red Phase Eastern Screech Owl
Essex, MA
Feb. 5, 2000
(1) Red Phase Eastern Screech Owl
Essex, MA
Jan. 31, 2000
*(1) Red Phase Eastern Screech Owl
Essex, MA
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