tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27690968616143850342024-02-07T22:06:15.269-05:00Wild NewtonA blog about the birds, birders, and conservation lands of Newton Massachusetts.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-65499984065148235102016-05-15T15:26:00.000-04:002016-05-15T15:27:00.778-04:00Spring Warblers at Hall's Pond<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqn1aPeTkXQ/VzjGbSLY5dI/AAAAAAAAALU/nlPXVCTnAXsDicSaUC14fNSBXshIR8lwACLcB/s1600/DSC_1256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqn1aPeTkXQ/VzjGbSLY5dI/AAAAAAAAALU/nlPXVCTnAXsDicSaUC14fNSBXshIR8lwACLcB/s320/DSC_1256.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-and-white Warbler</td></tr>
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After learning that Haynes found a <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cape_May_Warbler/id">Cape May Warbler</a>, along with many others, I decided to finally explore <a href="http://www.brooklinema.gov/1051/Halls-Pond-Sanctuary">Hall's Pond and Amory Woods</a> in Brookline. The fact that I often go right by the park on my way to work and a Cape May Warbler would be a life bird, made this stop earlier this week a no-brainer.<br />
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Before I even left the parking lot I spotted a Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, White-crowned Sparrow, and of course some of the obligate residents like robins. I quickly discovered that this small strip of woods and pond is a fantastic migrant trap, which of course plenty of others already knew.<br />
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Slowly over the course of the morning my foggy bird-song memory started to come back as I was able to become reacquainted with warbler songs and their local dialects. Eventually I was able to add to my warbler list with: N. Waterthrush, N. Parula, Magnolia, Yellow, Black-throated Greens, Black-throated Blues, and Yellow-rumps.<br />
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Despite all the colors and songs, my favorite warbler of the morning was this little <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/id">Black-and-White</a> male. I initially identified him from his repetitive, squeaky, two-noted "wheeza-wheeza-wheeza" <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/sounds">song</a>. But he was singing beyond the fence and in someone's backyard. With some patience and lucky, he eventually took an interest in me and he spent about a minute flying around me trying to figure me out. At one point he stopped on this branch and held stock still allowing for some decent photos even in the shaded undergrowth.<br />
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As he flew off and began singing again, I ran into another birder who had just seen the Cape May. Following directions I headed back to where the bird was seen. I searched in vain for another 30 minutes as no hint of the bird appeared. My conciliatory finding was a ghostly <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Veery/id">Veery</a> silently skulking in deep shadows, always just out of direct line of view. I will have to wait for another day to find a Cape May Warbler.<br />
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A noon-time stroll in <a href="https://www.newcemcorp.org/">Newton Cemetery</a> today was short on warblers but full of singing <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/id">Baltimore Orioles</a>. Given the lateness of the walk most of the birds were the usual suspects, though a E. Kingbird was a pleasant find as was a tree with an entire flock of <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id">Cedar Waxwings</a>!<br />
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<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-29149102085995723842014-12-22T17:44:00.001-05:002014-12-22T17:45:06.611-05:00The Elusive Snowy Owl and the Unexpected Grasshopper Sparrow<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nao21UUXqg/VJielHojU0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/4SmeyAjxkzw/s1600/Grasshopper%2BSparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nao21UUXqg/VJielHojU0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/4SmeyAjxkzw/s1600/Grasshopper%2BSparrow.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grasshopper Sparrow</td></tr>
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On Saturday night I saw an email from the Boston Birds group about a sighting of a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/id">Snowy Owl</a> at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/34millennium.htm">Millennium Park</a>! So I thought it would be fun to try and find it Sunday morning and was able to convince the little one, who kept saying "maybe snowy owl", to join me for the walk. While we were unsuccessful at finding a Snowy Owl (the park is likely too heavily used for a Snowy to stick around. We did however run into Matt Garvey who mentioned that he had just spotted a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Grasshopper_Sparrow/id">Grasshopper Sparrow</a> in with the flock of American Tree Sparrows in front of us. We looked and couldn't find it, but on our way back to the car we passed the same spot and this time were able to find the Grasshopper Sparrow!<br />
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I was pretty excited to add this to my Massachusetts list! I've heard lots of them out in the midwest before and even caught a very short glimpse of one, but here at Millennium Park this bird was feeding out in the open and giving ample opportunity to observe it. I even snapped a picture, but due to the low light and wiggle child on my back, non of the images came out very crisp, but at least its a record shot.<br />
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I hope you all have a great holiday season and a happy New Years!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-71939562352691145532014-09-14T13:55:00.000-04:002014-09-14T13:55:08.899-04:00Nighthawks Over Newton<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JaUrz69i8V4/VBXVbNqw4II/AAAAAAAAAJM/XeXfLIiHNCM/s1600/Nighthawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JaUrz69i8V4/VBXVbNqw4II/AAAAAAAAAJM/XeXfLIiHNCM/s1600/Nighthawk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Nighthawk</td></tr>
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Things have been busy this summer and I haven't had much opportunity to get out for some birding. But so far this summer has been a great one for <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_nighthawk/id">Common Nighthawks</a>. Last year I don't think I found any, but this year has been a different story as I've often heard their "pent" calls from a open window or while walking. In the last month though I've seen quite a few as they fly over the yard (and numerous other Newton locations) at dusk. I'm not sure why, but these Nighthawks always make me really happy. Maybe its because I'm rarely birding when I find them, so they are just an unexpected bonus.<br />
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I took a walk at Mass Audubon's <a href="http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/broadmoor">Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary</a> today, much too late for serious birding (but blue jays were the biggest hit with my hiking companion). The weather was perfect and the scenery was fantastic. Back in the woods I caught a loose warbled song that was likely a Pine Warbler, a not so subtle reminder that Fall migration is here and I aught to get out birding more!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-41811645561715626482014-08-01T16:16:00.001-04:002014-08-01T16:16:44.931-04:00Osprey Over Hammond Pond<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3_K70I2TIU/U9vzvQaaekI/AAAAAAAAAIw/r__gDEOfiiQ/s1600/Osprey+Over+Hammond+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3_K70I2TIU/U9vzvQaaekI/AAAAAAAAAIw/r__gDEOfiiQ/s1600/Osprey+Over+Hammond+Pond.jpg" height="340" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammond Pond</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdhegVLb7kc/U9vz2sxinyI/AAAAAAAAAI4/E36ngODdjHA/s1600/Eastern+Kingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdhegVLb7kc/U9vz2sxinyI/AAAAAAAAAI4/E36ngODdjHA/s1600/Eastern+Kingbird.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Kingbird</td></tr>
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Last weekend while running errands in Chestnut Hill, I decided to check out <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/18webster.htm">Hammond Pond</a> (without my main camera) and see if there were any shorebirds around the pond. I was not disappointed as I quickly found some very vocal and active <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/spotted_sandpiper/id">Spotted Sandpipers</a> chasing each other around. They were the only shorebirds, but it is probably early yet for the handful of others that frequent the pond. Additional highlights included a number of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/green_heron/id">Green Herons</a> that could be seen in the shallows around the pond. Up in the trees an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird/id">Eastern Kingbird</a> was so busy bringing a fledgling food, that they didn't mind me and I received some great views. And as I was leaving an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/id">Osprey</a> made an appearance over the pond. This was only my 2nd sighting of an Osprey at Hammond Pond and 4th record in eBird, so it is always nice to see one. I actually just realized while putting this post together that the Osprey is visible as a small dark speck in the picture of the pond.<br />
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<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-8303491850515700842014-07-10T21:13:00.000-04:002014-07-11T01:02:42.064-04:00Photographing Piping Plovers and Least Terns at Dawn<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYBB9ji5kos/U783ena4TDI/AAAAAAAAAH8/uY4ZZuH469w/s1600/Piping+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYBB9ji5kos/U783ena4TDI/AAAAAAAAAH8/uY4ZZuH469w/s1600/Piping+Plover.jpg" height="291" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piping Plover</td></tr>
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I know its been a while since the last post and this isn't Newton birding, but I<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> hope the images will make up for it.</span> I had a photography class with <a href="http://www.michaelmiliciaphotography.com/">Michael Milicia</a> back in the spring on camera operation and exposure settings and our second class was supposed to be a field session photographing <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/piping_plover/id">Piping Plover</a> chicks and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Least_Tern/id">Least Terns</a> in early June. But instead we <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">spent all of June getting this trip up to the North Shore rained out and rescheduled, so I was excited when</span> we finally caught a break in weather and schedules on July 2nd when it looked to be a great day for weather. But before I go into the details on the trip, I first wanted to offer a little information on the conservation status of these two species.<br>
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Both species are protected in Massachusetts and the Piping Plover is listed as threatened at the federal level. In addition to nesting on the sandy beaches of the East Coast, both birds also nest along sand bars and beaches of the major rivers and great lakes. And these interior population of both birds are listed as endangered. So how did these birds get into such dire straits? Both species are beautiful and their feathers were highly prized in the 19th century as fashion accessories in lady's hats. So we killed them, and lots of them. In Massachusetts, the Least Terns bottomed out at only 250 pairs at the turn of the 20 century. After this both birds ran into the same trouble, their breeding habitat on sandy beaches is also highly prized for development and recreational use. A trip to the beach is the quintessential summer vacation regardless of whether it is a day trip, hotel, or vacation house.<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> This all led to the 1980's when the Piping Plovers hit a low of only 800 breeding pairs for the Atlantic Coast.</span><div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XC7Ns2ljQc/U783dZ3E96I/AAAAAAAAAIY/i5bl4r0iuAs/s1600/Least+Tern+with+chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XC7Ns2ljQc/U783dZ3E96I/AAAAAAAAAIY/i5bl4r0iuAs/s1600/Least+Tern+with+chick.jpg" height="244" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Tern Chick and Adult</td></tr>
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Fortunately, due to the tireless efforts of conservationists and conscientious beach-goers, their populations have rebounded. Here in Massachusetts, we have some of the largest populations of Piping Plovers on the Atlantic Coast, with almost 500 breeding pairs as of 2005. And the Least Terns in the state are back up to 2,500 breeding pairs. But there is still lots of work to do as development and people further encroach upon their habitat and predators (like crows and gulls) decimate eggs and chicks. (Numbers from Wikipedia and Mass.gov)<br>
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My first encounter with a Piping Plover was actually <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html">recounted</a> in this blog, where I found a couple early in the season after they had just migrated. Though Least Tern are often found at Belle Isle Marsh, I've always thought they were much more fun to watch than the Common Terns. So when Michael suggesting these two species as photography subjects I was thrilled.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obyGG8K4vSs/U783dLns9uI/AAAAAAAAAH4/TAok40PmRH0/s1600/Beach+Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obyGG8K4vSs/U783dLns9uI/AAAAAAAAAH4/TAok40PmRH0/s1600/Beach+Sunrise.jpg" height="245" width="530"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the Atlantic</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xifM8wjnZz4/U783fYz1EWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/6hI93BdeFLc/s1600/Willet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xifM8wjnZz4/U783fYz1EWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/6hI93BdeFLc/s1600/Willet.jpg" height="200" width="158"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willet</td></tr>
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Though I was less thrilled at 3am when my alarm went off. The goal was to be down on the beach and set up for sunrise, which offers a warmer gentler light that photographers crave. But standing on the beach at 5am with the smell of salt and the sun just creeping up over the ocean was a sight to behold. And to top it off, we were surrounded by plovers, terns, and Willets! The plovers were harder to see, being so well camouflaged, while the terns were easy to spot as they were flying all over the place.<br>
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In the back of my mind I kept thinking about whether or not my actions were disturbing the birds, or not. Because even before the photography, we wanted to make sure that we didn't cause harm or distress to the birds. One thing I was amazed about was how small and aggressive Least Terns can be. I've always seen them at a distance on their hunting grounds, not near a nesting location. Even when we were walking well away form the roped-off areas with the chicks and nests, they would dive-bomb our heads (I never knew they had partially webbed feet before!). But as soon as we would lay down, they stopped being alarmed and ignored us instead. Adults would even land just a few yards away. Later we saw one of the researchers checking on nests in the roped off area, he was carrying a tall pole to prevent the terns from attacking him. Apparently they attack the tallest point (e.g. you head or pole) and are quite able to draw blood if they think you are too close. But in addition to our own skin, it was important to prevent the parents from being so stressed that they abandon their nest or chicks.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1ysz1kN6bs/U783dtdJL6I/AAAAAAAAAIE/q7zGtFIYejE/s1600/Least+Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1ysz1kN6bs/U783dtdJL6I/AAAAAAAAAIE/q7zGtFIYejE/s1600/Least+Tern.jpg" height="270" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Tern</td></tr>
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The other thing that helped in not stressing the birds was a lens rental. For this event I decided to make <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the most of the trip by abandoning my 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 zoom lens and renting a 300mm f4 and 1.4x teleconverter for the day from </span><a href="https://www.lensprotogo.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lens Pro To Go</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Which had the added benefit of increased focal length (magnification) at 420mm (630mm equivalent due to my 1.5x crop factor sensor) and better image sharpness. So we could stay further away, and get better images.</span></div><div><br>
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I had a blast crawling around in the sand and having a front row seat to the lives of the Piping Plovers and Least Terns. Add to that the challenge of trying to capture all that beauty in the single press of the shutter definitely made it lots of fun, though may have made me less aware of the moment itself focusing on the camera so much.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5NnB7nN2Hs/U783d_pwdaI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-7OsFdMYSCk/s1600/Piping+Plover+Older+Chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5NnB7nN2Hs/U783d_pwdaI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-7OsFdMYSCk/s1600/Piping+Plover+Older+Chick.jpg" height="265" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piping Plover Chick</td></tr>
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The Piping Plovers hunt visually for food, scurrying up and down the sand, looking for small invertebrates to eat as their short beaks aren't good for probing far into the sand. The parents don't even feed their chicks as they are able to forage within hours of hatching. Instead, after hatching the parent's primary role is to protect the chicks from the elements and from predators. The former is easily accomplished by brooding, where all the chicks run up to the parent and get tucked under-wing, helps keep a chick warm and dry. For a great example of brooding, check out the second picture on <a href="http://www.michaelmiliciaphotography.com/">Michael Milicia's website</a>. And for predators, the parents act as a decoy to draw the attention away from the chicks, who's first line defense is actually amazing camouflage against the sand.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7HD3I1t87s/U783eKfdBkI/AAAAAAAAAIA/mRdf4z3yI1k/s1600/Piping+Plover+chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7HD3I1t87s/U783eKfdBkI/AAAAAAAAAIA/mRdf4z3yI1k/s1600/Piping+Plover+chick.jpg" height="200" width="195"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piping Plover Chick</td></tr>
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We actually saw both defense mechanisms at work, with parents drawing our attention away from the chicks and we never had a prayer of finding a chick until it moved. My Piping Plovers pictures turned out much better for the adults, as the chicks are challenging, especially when they aren't brooding and have the safety of a parent nearby. The young chicks look like cotton balls on toothpicks and once we found them, they were busy feeding and never stopped. We found chicks that varied in age from just a few days old, to almost fledged, so it was interesting to see the transition all in one morning.<br>
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After first focusing on the plovers, we turned our attention to the terns. Least Tern chicks share the camouflage against the sand as a defense mechanism. I even saw a couple of chicks "flop" onto their chins and they immediately disappeared against the sand, just another wind swept mound of sand. Once or twice an adult would give a warning note and the chicks would scamper as fast as they could back up the beach towards the nests. Unlike the plovers, the Least Terns need to actively feed their chicks, as they won't be able to fish until they can fly. So several times we witnessed adults flying in with small fish that were passed off to the chicks, who swallowed them whole, even when the fish was the same length as the chick!<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLs9hbevXy4/U783dAwhOYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/UBpGekpNtsg/s1600/Least+Tern+feeding+chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLs9hbevXy4/U783dAwhOYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/UBpGekpNtsg/s1600/Least+Tern+feeding+chick.jpg" height="267" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Tern Feeding a Chick</td></tr>
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While the plovers were spread out, with each pair having staked out an area, the terns are more colony nesters, meaning we got to witness much more interaction between them as the adults would also squabble amongst themselves.<br>
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As the sun rose in the sky making the light harsher, more people began to appear at the beach, though fortunately those walking near the plovers gave the families a wide birth, careful not to disturb them. Eventually, we decided to call it a day around 9am, after more than 4 wonderful hours photographing and watching the birds. In reflection, when birding I often hunt around for more species, but on this day, the goal was to capture a few moments from the lives of the Piping Plovers and Least Terns. So I spent more time with them than I ever would have birding, not to mention laying down on the sand, to see the world from their perspective. And I have some fun photographs to help remember the day.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4-rodSIrIA/U783c-7UjVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/usna2S5APjA/s1600/Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4-rodSIrIA/U783c-7UjVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/usna2S5APjA/s1600/Beach.jpg" height="205" width="530"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area of beach with nesting Piping Plovers and Least Terns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-88904372836582630492014-05-28T16:26:00.000-04:002014-05-29T15:03:29.602-04:00Shorebirds and a Surprise at Belle Isle Marsh<style>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3PQHAtrp374/U4ZEuYdQ2YI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/juPX0Qgv-gU/s1600/Black-bellied+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3PQHAtrp374/U4ZEuYdQ2YI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/juPX0Qgv-gU/s1600/Black-bellied+Plover.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black-bellied Plover</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I
headed out to <a href="http://www.friendsofbelleislemarsh.org/">Belle Isle Marsh</a> in Boston for Memorial Day morning birding. It had
been a while since I had been birding away from Newton and Belle Isle Marsh
offered a change of scenery and habitat with the bonus of shorebirds and terns
that don't frequent our parks. The sky was gray and overcast with a light
drizzle, but I figured the shorebirds wouldn’t be too deterred by a little
rain. (Sorry about the pictures, these birds were way out there.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">One
of the first finds was a female <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_redstart/id">American Redstart</a> who was singing, which I
wasn't expecting. When I got out towards the marsh, the bright white Snowy
Egrets were easy to pick out, but then more movement became evident and
revealed <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-bellied_plover/id">Black-bellied Plovers</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/semipalmated_plover/id">Semipalmated Plovers</a> and some peeps. When
planes flew over Belle Isle for their approach to Logan, the shorebirds would startle
and fly around before resettling. During one of these games of musical
chairs, I was able to find a few <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/short-billed_dowitcher/id">Short-billed Dowitchers</a>. Their burgundy
breasts and long bills made them stick out from the Black-bellied Plovers (notice the black "armpit" on the plovers in flight).
Another airplane and subsequent round of musical chairs revealed a couple of
<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/willet/id">Willets</a>, with large amounts of white in their wings.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
One
of my major reasons for coming were the terns, and both <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Tern/id">Common</a> and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/least_tern/id">Least Terns</a>
</span></span></span>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzTnleRqVmY/U4ZEwFIgsYI/AAAAAAAAAGg/3aazso5rN10/s1600/Shorebirds+in+Flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzTnleRqVmY/U4ZEwFIgsYI/AAAAAAAAAGg/3aazso5rN10/s1600/Shorebirds+in+Flight.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-bellied Plovers and Short-billed Dowitchers</td></tr>
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</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">put on quite a show, hovering and plunge diving into the salt pans to catch
fish. The tide was actually quite high and provided ample water near the paths
so they were relatively close to watch. Unfortunately their small size and fast
flight made a mockery of my photographic attempts. The terns were also joined
in their fishing endeavor by an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/id">Osprey</a>. I usually think of terns as much more
elegant when fishing with their tucked-wing plunge-dives, while Ospreys are the
awkward uncoordinated cousin just haphazardly splashing I to the water. But
yesterday I got to see some elegant fishing from the Osprey who swooped low
over the pans and snatched a fish in flight.
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">While
I was out on the main platform watching the march, it decided to rain in
earnest, so I tucked my camera under my rain jacket and thought it might be
time to head out. As I left the platform an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_kestrel/id">American Kestrel</a> tore off over my
head, she was carrying prey and being mobbed by song birds, but I was still
excited to have my 2nd Kestrel in MA. </span></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-840alyZXcTE/U4ZEwGBQ26I/AAAAAAAAAGk/qKxioAoVKL0/s1600/Short-billed+Dowitchers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-840alyZXcTE/U4ZEwGBQ26I/AAAAAAAAAGk/qKxioAoVKL0/s1600/Short-billed+Dowitchers.jpg" height="151" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Short-billed Dowitchers</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
thought I’d check one last pool on my way back to the parking lot. As I went
down the little path to the small cement overlook, a small bird lifted off from
the reeds. All at once a couple of visual cues impinged upon my brain. Really
small heron shape, buffy / caramel colored body and wings, patches of
greenish-blue on back and wings. Before I had even processed all the individual
pieces, the ID came to the front of my mind. <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/least_bittern/id">Least Bittern</a>! What kind of crazy
luck was that!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
first time I had visited Belle Isle March, I had been informed that it was a
good place to find Least Bitterns. But slowly through subsequent visits I’d all
but given up hope of ever finding one. While they may be relatively common in
suitable habitat, they are notorious for their secretive habits and are hard to
find, let alone actually see. Fortunately we here in Boston have several good
locations for Least Bittern with Belle Isle Marsh, Great Meadows in Concord,
and of course Plum Island. But you never know, in January of 2012 there was a
sighting of a Least Bittern in Newton just south of Nahanton Park. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the Least Bittern I decided birding in the rain wasn’t
so bad and tacked on a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/willow_flycatcher/id">Willow Flycatcher</a>, but my day was already made.</span></span></span></div>
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-26344936230145924052014-05-20T09:41:00.003-04:002014-05-20T09:42:16.315-04:00Houghton Gardens: The Warbler Rest Stop<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dumgyYBfYLU/U3ZFaTj6XTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/fpnwu3vn9Bo/s1600/Northern+Parula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dumgyYBfYLU/U3ZFaTj6XTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/fpnwu3vn9Bo/s1600/Northern+Parula.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Northern Parula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sorry for this late post, things have been busy.<br />
<br />
At the end of last week, I stopped by Houghton Gardens and Hammond Pond. I have always though that Houghton Gardens would be a great place for warblers, so when I read a report from Marygrace that included a Prairie Warbler, I figure this was be a great time to see Houghton Garden’s Potential. <br />
<br />
It really was a good day for warblers. Singing <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blackpoll_Warbler/id">Blackpolls</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Green_Warbler/id">Black-throated Greens</a>, and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Blue_Warbler/id">Black-throated Blues</a>, and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/id">Black-and-whites</a> greeted me. A <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Parula/id">Northern Parula</a> was spotted working a spider web. I couldn't decide if she was looking for bugs caught in the web, <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33UpZUJyttI/U3ZFaSIFCSI/AAAAAAAAAFA/9QtROPQgE5E/s1600/Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33UpZUJyttI/U3ZFaSIFCSI/AAAAAAAAAFA/9QtROPQgE5E/s1600/Frog.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Bullfrog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
or if she was gathering it for nesting material, though the later seems unlikely. If you look closely in the picture you should be able to see the spider webs. High in the canopy I eventually tracked down two songsters to reveal <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Magnolia_Warbler/id">Magnolia</a> and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-sided_Warbler/id">Chestnut-sided Warblers</a>. I thought I might hear a Blackburnian song, but had trouble tracking it down. If an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Redstart/id">American Redstart</a> wasn't nearby, I would have been more confident of a heard only identification. Though while searching for the singer I startled an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ovenbird/id">Ovenbird</a>. Through in a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Warbler/id">Pine Warbler</a>, a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/id">Yellow-rumped Warbler</a>, and a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/id">Yellow Warbler</a> and you get quite a good density of warblers in the tiny Houghton Gardens. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7LWPvZicvM/U3ZFaRQSaUI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ktg-TFhP3Bg/s1600/Common+Yellowthroat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7LWPvZicvM/U3ZFaRQSaUI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ktg-TFhP3Bg/s1600/Common+Yellowthroat.jpg" height="200" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Yellowthroat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The diversity of plants and dense brush must make Houghton an ideal road-side rest stop on their northward migration. Just across the tracks into Webster Woods behind Hammond Pond and the spacing between trees is great, the understory is more open, and a veritable desert to the warblers. They all seem to have decided that Houghton Gardens was the place to be. Though I was able to add <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id">Cedar Waxwing</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Yellowthroat/id">Common Yellowthroat</a>, and a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/id">Wilson's Warbler</a> to the morning, just so that Hammond Pond could redeem itself.<br />
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-9710188927449595092014-05-11T13:33:00.000-04:002014-05-11T13:33:08.258-04:00Black-billed Cuckoo in Newton Center ....Before today Black-billed Cuckoo had not been reported this year in eastern Massachusetts; today so far four have been reported to ebird. This bird started in the tiny wetland behind our house in Newton Center, and moved around the neighborhood.<br />
<br />Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434139022828800835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-53496035577628829332014-05-05T20:41:00.001-04:002014-07-11T01:12:41.400-04:00Reservoir Redux: For the Warblers and Swallows<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdsjVNK4B0Y/U2fqmqYgljI/AAAAAAAAACg/kdmjB-PJShY/s1600/Prairie+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdsjVNK4B0Y/U2fqmqYgljI/AAAAAAAAACg/kdmjB-PJShY/s1600/Prairie+Warbler.jpg" height="320" width="239"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Warbler</td></tr>
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After having a great day on Saturday with the Caspian Tern at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/9chestnuthill.htm">Chestnut Hill Reservoir</a> (<a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2014/05/caspian-tern-and-warblers-at-reservoir.html">blog post</a>), there were a number of reports on <a href="http://massbird.org/sightings/">Massbird</a> of Prairie Warblers (in the morning from Peter), then reports added Yellow-throated Warbler, and all five of the likely Swallows for New England: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, and Cliff Swallow (reported in the afternoon by a number of the Ryans, Sam, and others). Needless to say, this morning I had to check it out.<br>
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The <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/prairie_warbler/id">Prairie Warbler</a> was fortunately found relatively quickly, though I had trouble picking out his song from all the other warblers present. The <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-throated_Warbler/id">Yellow-throated Warbler</a> took a lot more work and I was aided by other birders. While slightly less exciting since I had already found the <a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2014/04/breaking-news-yellow-throated-warbler.html">Yellow-throated Warbler at </a><a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2014/04/breaking-news-yellow-throated-warbler.html">Nahanton Park</a>, this time I had better views, which was much appreciated. Beyond the rare Yellow-throated and uncommon Prairie, all around the number of warblers was astonishing.<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P3mukqN7BpA/U2fqmh8T5aI/AAAAAAAAACg/NQQQVu--t8s/s1600/Yellow-throated+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P3mukqN7BpA/U2fqmh8T5aI/AAAAAAAAACg/NQQQVu--t8s/s1600/Yellow-throated+Warbler.jpg" height="191" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-throated Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After finding many of the warbler on the hill, I headed over to the peninsula where a number of <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">swallows could be seen flying around. Luck was with me this day, after a couple of Barn Swallows, the next bird I started tracking was a</span> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/cliff_swallow/id">Cliff Swallow</a>, the light patches on the rump and forehead were giveaways. I was eventually able to add the other three Swallows for a full Swallow sweep. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any pictures of the Swallows (I didn't even try), but Ryan did yesterday (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18225089">link</a>). The <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Rough-winged_Swallow/id">Northern Rough-winged Swallows</a>, Cliff Swallow, and Prairie Warbler, were all new birds for me in the state.<br>
<br>
I'll keep the text short today and let the pictures do the work . There is also a short video of the Prairie Wabler below, it doesn't do his <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/prairie_warbler/sounds">song</a> justice though. Here is a <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18233637">link</a> to the full checklist and a big thanks to the other birders I met today and to all who reported their findings.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-3JgvIa6Bs/U2fqmjXwH0I/AAAAAAAAACg/mcFy0BYe-mc/s1600/Black-throated+Green+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-3JgvIa6Bs/U2fqmjXwH0I/AAAAAAAAACg/mcFy0BYe-mc/s1600/Black-throated+Green+Warbler.jpg" height="246" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Green Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18432038737972226982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-58841616220982888542014-05-04T08:39:00.001-04:002014-05-04T10:11:22.912-04:00Caspian Tern and Warblers at the Reservoir<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp6NvBEajnDWpNyYNOlk-_0JRxettesrhSSr9y26kLYBj3R8ES-m029Xs9QogWJApsxJztt1JtpqoRYbfT-Lac4FEM6xPtzvUqv9OudnWl3TAzpL9NpiWLWj1WDcWXnA0ny2phqBp8hWe/s1600/Caspian+Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp6NvBEajnDWpNyYNOlk-_0JRxettesrhSSr9y26kLYBj3R8ES-m029Xs9QogWJApsxJztt1JtpqoRYbfT-Lac4FEM6xPtzvUqv9OudnWl3TAzpL9NpiWLWj1WDcWXnA0ny2phqBp8hWe/s1600/Caspian+Tern.jpg" height="320" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caspian Tern</td></tr>
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Yesterday morning I took a short walk at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/9chestnuthill.htm">Chestnut Hill Reservoir</a> with the little one. As soon as I opened the car door, I could hear lots or warblers up on the hill and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-rumped_warbler/id">Yellow-rumped Warblers</a> were in the trees all around the parking lot. On the grass, several Savanah Sparrows were foraging.<br />
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But before checking out the warblers, I went to scan the water as there had been reports over the last few days of a <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/caspian_tern/id" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Caspian Tern</a>, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #eeeeee;">though I didn't think it was likely I'd find one. Just when I was satisfied that all the birds on the water were gulls and there wasn't a Tern present, I saw a large white bird dive into the reservoir. Gulls don't usually do that! It was quickly obvious that this was the Caspian Tern when I spotted that thick bright orange bill and dark underwing primary feathers. The bird circled for the next 10 minutes as we watched before I lost sight of him. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoZn00QEe2kmSazFRBPitYfENvW2WzbvZibSIKYZ8YriWEmivjSVT5V48X1WVFdnb1KC8UXpy-Yya7-zPa5TqOknvZ6BfZDkBWV28T154KZ7aUKM4CVrYFiMUkuZXq6OA2bFEmGDB-h7J/s1600/Yellow-Rumped+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoZn00QEe2kmSazFRBPitYfENvW2WzbvZibSIKYZ8YriWEmivjSVT5V48X1WVFdnb1KC8UXpy-Yya7-zPa5TqOknvZ6BfZDkBWV28T154KZ7aUKM4CVrYFiMUkuZXq6OA2bFEmGDB-h7J/s1600/Yellow-Rumped+Warbler.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler</td></tr>
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Next I set my sights on the hill and the influx of warblers that it contained. I could hear songs of a Black-throated Green Warbler and a Northern Parula but try as I might all I could find were yellow-rumps, there were just that many up in the trees. Down lower in the under story Palm Warblers flitted about. I would have been impressed by the number of Palm Warblers, but the Yellow-rumps had already taken that prize. Additionally there was a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet and I thought I heard the song of a Dark-eyed Junco, but had a hard time believing it until I was able to see it, it is getting late for juncos to still be here. Especially now that the warblers are arriving. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them again.<br />
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-44695792038372077202014-04-29T15:42:00.001-04:002014-05-01T13:40:12.536-04:00Hooded Warbler at Boston Public Gardens<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbyhlAtMmBES0qjTmRmi3JyrHrJw0kw4U2QSOQYYiXUJlxgaPS6-Od2_ZA49RcnokQqPSH-1HTFFhacde53oNg5pBK_WVxXHkQJwVMRasLfy0SNL7lG2MqLy1QBsYyn1ipXls6P2kOZjo/s1600/Hooded+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbyhlAtMmBES0qjTmRmi3JyrHrJw0kw4U2QSOQYYiXUJlxgaPS6-Od2_ZA49RcnokQqPSH-1HTFFhacde53oNg5pBK_WVxXHkQJwVMRasLfy0SNL7lG2MqLy1QBsYyn1ipXls6P2kOZjo/s1600/Hooded+Warbler.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">Hooded Warbler</td></tr>
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After having success in tracking down the <a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2014/04/breaking-news-yellow-throated-warbler.html">Yellow-throated Warbler at Nahanton</a> my attention was next captured by the reports of a ridiculously tame and easy to find <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Warbler/id">Hooded Warbler</a> at the <a href="https://www.cityofboston.gov/Parks/emerald/public_garden.asp">Boston Public Gardens</a>. Hooded Warblers have been particularly guiling to me, my only previous record was a heard only bird, where I was able to recognize its primary song, but a much more experienced birder could recognize its secondary song.<br />
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Now this is an important point as I every time I have ever heard a Hooded Warbler song in Massachusetts, my hopes have always been dashed when I discovered that the singer was a Yellow Warbler. Much to my chagrin, Yellow Warblers often times sing the Hooded Warbler’s primary song (I’ve also learned that there are a few other pairs of warbler like this, like the Black-throated Blue Warblers who do a dead on Cerulean Warbler Song).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfurF6fI1t2hGd8FH7dczAHFY2aB75itl5YPG5pB7WCVK2Yz-RK4xbB4av7n7cEgv8hEuB3lKjfDB4EBafukIodaf4n_Pho1hQQN9ztAVFcG-B00PCCk3ypVyr433tmE63YSswztG5G0a/s1600/White-crowned+Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfurF6fI1t2hGd8FH7dczAHFY2aB75itl5YPG5pB7WCVK2Yz-RK4xbB4av7n7cEgv8hEuB3lKjfDB4EBafukIodaf4n_Pho1hQQN9ztAVFcG-B00PCCk3ypVyr433tmE63YSswztG5G0a/s1600/White-crowned+Sparrow.jpg" height="200" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">White-throated Sparrow</td></tr>
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So when I kept reading of the scores of people who were able to find this Hooded Warbler I decided to take a shot at it too. Hooded Warblers, like the Yellow-throated tend to be more southern but also like to spend time in low dense cover, so an opportunity like this should be seized if possible. Before I found the Hooded though, I turned up both Kinglets and a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/id">Brown Thrasher</a>, which is another first sighting for me in the state.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDmmsgSZUiVmeF6xBFVXsNiuZwxhU1JBkDjLGn2ulVaWd6hfnlCI8aGqMQw9vr5zi_UkQQa1xX4SX9hlDwa3QsWKzUEA28rVBytHigdHoBEpOHazLkLQjo_Bf-DVD-NBfzaX3PSSN1dUk/s1600/Hooded+Warbler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDmmsgSZUiVmeF6xBFVXsNiuZwxhU1JBkDjLGn2ulVaWd6hfnlCI8aGqMQw9vr5zi_UkQQa1xX4SX9hlDwa3QsWKzUEA28rVBytHigdHoBEpOHazLkLQjo_Bf-DVD-NBfzaX3PSSN1dUk/s1600/Hooded+Warbler+2.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">Hooded Warbler</td></tr>
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The striking contrast of black and brightest yellow was truly stunning to observe and I was a little surprised by the white patches in the tail that he would keep flashing with a flick of his tail. True to his warbler relatives, he was a little ball of energy and always on the move. Dashing and darting on the ground looking for prey or short, fluttering, acrobatic flycatching sorties. He was pretty tame and seemed nearly oblivious to the people that filled the gardens, though to be fair, they passed him by without any notice either. It always amazes me to think about what kind of wonders we all might walk pass, without even knowing about it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UVY4HyW1dr7-q9kSRh2-VucC3W8Vtsgl1fTpZiBYUjO06T-yv_sp1rSKgR2vs0EM571xl0O8Gvi_sBBZ12vu6E170Ehr0F7_hfpTQBMFkvBCY6wXks3JCDH35L9yNyYjZhlMLPa1vOh8/s1600/Brown+Thrasher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UVY4HyW1dr7-q9kSRh2-VucC3W8Vtsgl1fTpZiBYUjO06T-yv_sp1rSKgR2vs0EM571xl0O8Gvi_sBBZ12vu6E170Ehr0F7_hfpTQBMFkvBCY6wXks3JCDH35L9yNyYjZhlMLPa1vOh8/s1600/Brown+Thrasher.jpg" height="178" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">Brown Thrasher</td></tr>
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Though as we worked his way around the pond, he slowly began to approach a young couple on a park bench. While he carried on his energetic antics just feet from the bench, they did not fail to notice him. After he had given us quite a show, I had a nice chat with the couple about the providence of this particular bird. I enjoyed getting a chance to share our amazement that any such thing as beautiful as this Hooded Warbler should ever visit us.<br />
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-70950573805285452642014-04-21T09:12:00.004-04:002014-04-21T20:25:18.664-04:00Early Migrants Around Newton<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ptBTgwTFk5btHOn8v_10veMk8c6WBJqmQ9CMAmYluORqpb7iOGuG-1A98UsYkFdQh9BqpjGZ7nAbNBMZhkkMZNQTX1eS8wXAnrhPtPGFg6V9qKAxPjyYGWZyhRmDtJe1YNCToRe8kg5f/s1600/Green+Heron+1+export.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ptBTgwTFk5btHOn8v_10veMk8c6WBJqmQ9CMAmYluORqpb7iOGuG-1A98UsYkFdQh9BqpjGZ7nAbNBMZhkkMZNQTX1eS8wXAnrhPtPGFg6V9qKAxPjyYGWZyhRmDtJe1YNCToRe8kg5f/s1600/Green+Heron+1+export.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Heron</td></tr>
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On my way to work yesterday I stopped off at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/18webster.htm">Hammond Pond</a> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17975097">checklist</a>), <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/19houghton.htm">Houghton Gardens</a>, <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/25lostpond.htm">Lost Pond</a> / <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/map24kennard.htm">Kennard Park</a>, and finally <a href="http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/it/gis/directions/default.asp">Newton City Hall</a>. When I pulled into a parking spot at the overlook for Hammond Pond, a bird flushed from the grass by the inlet and I was surprised to see a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/green_heron/id">Green Heron</a>. (I later learned this is only the 2nd eBird record for Green Herons in MA this spring!) Usually I think of Green Herons as skittish and shy, but this bird only flew a few feet before landing. I hadn't even gotten out of the car yet and I was busy watching him with my binoculars. When he disappeared from view behind a bush. I slowly opened the door, and using the car for cover, crept around the side. There was no sign of a green heron, so I stopped being careful and approached the water's edge looking at for waterfowl. Just when I had forgotten about the heron, he leapt up from right in front of me, a testament to their camouflage, and landed in the adjacent bush. I immediately crouched and froze, starting a staring contest at a distance of 4 meters.<br />
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He eventually decided I wasn't interesting and began to use slow and calculating movement to make his way to the outer branches that overhung the water. I'd seen this look before, this was a master hunter on the prowl, creeping up on his prey. Eventually he was poised right above the water and leaning so far forward that I thought he must fall over.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB4X-f1JUEsF6Css2mn944VFqIDS2H3tAXfy2hLFatAKzoZEGuJG7WJIIGh74ZZMF9RO9edEqpbg8FVZkj1GpwGClq8IYWnnw4MMyUY8ZWl-JBVdf0AvhPbO_VGsrjEbxw0crLb0MdnUv/s1600/Green+Heron+with+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB4X-f1JUEsF6Css2mn944VFqIDS2H3tAXfy2hLFatAKzoZEGuJG7WJIIGh74ZZMF9RO9edEqpbg8FVZkj1GpwGClq8IYWnnw4MMyUY8ZWl-JBVdf0AvhPbO_VGsrjEbxw0crLb0MdnUv/s1600/Green+Heron+with+fish.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Heron with Fish</td></tr>
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At about this time, the <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-winged_blackbird/id">Red-winged Blackbirds</a> had taken notice of me and were scolding while <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id">Wood Ducks</a> and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Merganser/id">Common Mergansers</a> swam past. Then the familiar <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/sounds">rattle</a> of a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/id">Belted Kingfisher</a> greeted my ears. I glanced up to observe the kingfisher flying towards me, catching sight of me, then turning back around to find another hunting perch, all the while giving her rattling cry.<br />
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Splash! I whipped my head around and the Green Heron was in the water. He had fallen in, as I feared he must, but wait - there was small fish clamped tightly in his bill! He made an awkward leap and returned to the branches, crest raised, to enjoy his meal. Now if only that darn kingfisher hadn't chosen that moment to fly by, I'd have seen the strike. But its hard not to look at a kingfisher. At this point the heron looked up and seemed to notice me as if for the first time and for posterity's sake, decided it was time to wander off into the grass surrounding the pond.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E_g_zD7XWSwlArB-Mwl8l4fqd6SU-1uB4KLB-7z3Vl5bh2FKJ2uODs-ZbVERkTk80hCDlHCKIkJuwFi_L-jR-Jaq_vstMX2O9v_VhyphenhyphenmuSpk4caUo_QDIiVTMJ1lcOf47ME81SYNxToCf/s1600/Ruby-crowned+Kinglet+export.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E_g_zD7XWSwlArB-Mwl8l4fqd6SU-1uB4KLB-7z3Vl5bh2FKJ2uODs-ZbVERkTk80hCDlHCKIkJuwFi_L-jR-Jaq_vstMX2O9v_VhyphenhyphenmuSpk4caUo_QDIiVTMJ1lcOf47ME81SYNxToCf/s1600/Ruby-crowned+Kinglet+export.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby-crowned Kinglet</td></tr>
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What a site to witness. But it was time to see what the rest of the pond had to offer. When I entered the woods, exuberant <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/sounds">Ruby-crowned Kinglet song</a> greeted me. Further along the trail I was pleased to find an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_phoebe/id">Eastern Phoebe</a> and my first warbler of the year with a bright yellow <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Palm_Warbler/id">Palm Warbler</a>. The high wheezy call notes of a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/id">Blue-gray Gnatcatcher</a> guided my eyes to find several of these mini-mockers scattered through the woods. At the back of the woods I was lucky to see a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/id">Hairy Woodpecker</a> chasing a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id">Downy Woodpecker</a>, it was great to compare them side-by-side and see how different their bill shapes are.<br />
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Back in <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/19houghton.htm">Houghton Gardens</a> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17974888">checklist</a>), I found more of the usual, including another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I was hoping that a Pine Warbler might be gracing the gardens, but I did not hear any. I did manage to finally see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet though.<br />
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Next I headed over to <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/25lostpond.htm">Lost Pond</a> and <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/map24kennard.htm">Kennard Park</a> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17977267">checklist</a>) hoping that the larger area of evergreens might hold a Pine Warbler. I really enjoy the Lost Pond area, though it isn't quite as bird-y as other Newton birding locations. This morning the pond held a few <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/id">Mallards</a> and a female <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id">Wood Duck</a>. And while looking for ducks, this Ruby-crowned Kinglet started to sing near by and came even closer so that we had great views of each other (I was really excited to see that this picture turned out so well).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08u8y9bkyyrBZNqRdWD4cHgL57T2LYh4munGf3z6Gz6UvY4cWSHP3Qfyvkn9m6n_DXBc5y0atdsFtj3vGRefhHmPDeLJObYvLVBinCWC1TLLHn08cWGm3-ETtKZQ4SmHhREmE_ZScROo5/s1600/Pine+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08u8y9bkyyrBZNqRdWD4cHgL57T2LYh4munGf3z6Gz6UvY4cWSHP3Qfyvkn9m6n_DXBc5y0atdsFtj3vGRefhHmPDeLJObYvLVBinCWC1TLLHn08cWGm3-ETtKZQ4SmHhREmE_ZScROo5/s1600/Pine+Warbler.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Warbler</td></tr>
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Further down the path there was another Gnatcatcher but once I got into the pines of Kennard Park I started to hear some musical trills. I thought to myself that it was likely a Pine Warbler, but I have a hard time identifying the trills by ear. It took some doing, but eventually I found a songster close to the trail and was able to follow his loud song back to a bright yellow Warbler. Finally a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Warbler/id">Pine Warbler</a>. I sometimes have a hard time with Pine Warblers as they migrate on the early side, aren't as abundant in fall, and true to their name much prefer habitat with pine trees.<br />
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Then at the end of the day, I stopped by <a href="http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/it/gis/directions/default.asp">Newton City Hall</a> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17983016">checklist</a>) and picked up <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/chipping_sparrow/id">Chipping Sparrow</a>, another <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Palm_Warbler/id">Palm Warbler</a>, and a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/id">Yellow-rumped Warbler</a>. Now I had hit the trifecta of the common early Warbler migrants.<br />
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P.S. As a side note, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The Warbler Guide are offering free downloads of warbler quick finder guides that look useful. Just visit <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/">All About Birds</a> and sign up to get the download.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-78457833264053582372014-04-17T14:54:00.001-04:002014-04-20T16:41:39.736-04:00Fieldnotes from St. Louis<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVVcOreCIFfr2KxAYGeJvO-Q279_xleGUVSwxBQ1V4P87u3h4-Sqzxj8uw_99-sO3p7Jb10kqrIgneVN4e2jVUNc_cYvpecnSX_5DgAUP7MiAcHL-auPOWnHh4G39gziNNpu9NUO0vkvN/s1600/American+Kestrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVVcOreCIFfr2KxAYGeJvO-Q279_xleGUVSwxBQ1V4P87u3h4-Sqzxj8uw_99-sO3p7Jb10kqrIgneVN4e2jVUNc_cYvpecnSX_5DgAUP7MiAcHL-auPOWnHh4G39gziNNpu9NUO0vkvN/s1600/American+Kestrel.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Kestrel</td></tr>
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In March I had the opportunity to travel to St. Louis and the surrounding areas in Missouri and Illinois. Even though this area has many familiar birds, the relative abundance is quite different. As our Massachusetts farmland reverts to forest or is developed, grassland birds have been in decline. But the mid-west has lots of farm land, so these species are much more common. I had a blast seeing how common <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_kestrel/id">American Kestrels</a> were in the area. As a kid, this was one of my most desired birds to see, so the chance to see and photograph them perching on wires right outside the hotel was fantastic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmPhL0EJ3g0Db1Uy829sVrCEvcKU_a85m55k5hHBsM5m8pzL4Wd_p68dfvGXIcpAjsov3RCx4u9jBvuys2U-kpVXwinjxyF02h3AFKHYAteQwQ34L-Of6shn3SeOvLqwfaHbH3xBLgrLB/s1600/American+White+Pelican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmPhL0EJ3g0Db1Uy829sVrCEvcKU_a85m55k5hHBsM5m8pzL4Wd_p68dfvGXIcpAjsov3RCx4u9jBvuys2U-kpVXwinjxyF02h3AFKHYAteQwQ34L-Of6shn3SeOvLqwfaHbH3xBLgrLB/s1600/American+White+Pelican.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American White Pelican</td></tr>
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One of the other great features of this area is the Mississippi River. Or more precisely the Mississippi flyway. Nearly forty percent of our waterfowl migrates along the Mississippi and Creve Coeur Lake had tons of ducks, including Canvasbacks and Lesser Scaups<br />
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Back at the river though, kettles of hundreds of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/id">American White Pelicans</a> could be seen slowly wheeling their way north as they followed the river. I was lucky to have a couple of birds fishing on the river and afforded close views. Check out the horn on top of the bill that they grow during breading season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Eagle</td></tr>
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Another major user of the river is of course the <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bald_eagle/id">Bald Eagle</a>. Its been a long time since I saw such a high concentration of Bald Eagles. I love watching them soar and those long straight wings are very distinctive.<br />
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One of my favorites experiences with Bald Eagles occurred on a canoeing trip. There were lots of eagles on the river, but at one point two eagles flew at each other, locked talons, and started plummeting towards the river. Just as they were about to reach the water, they broke apart and when their wings opened, the force of air on wing was so great it made a loud audible snap! And then they flew off. Later I learned that was part of their courtship ritual.<br />
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Okay I take it back, that wasn't one of my favorite experiences with Bald Eagles, it is one of my favorite experiences with the natural world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Tree Sparrow</td></tr>
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I have to apologize for this bad picture of an introduced bird, but no talk of birding and the St. Louis area could be complete without the <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eurasian_Tree_Sparrow/id">Eurasian Tree Sparrow</a>. While I'm more partial to the American Tree Sparrow, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a close relative of the House Sparrow. But unlike its wide-spread relative, the Eurasian Tree sparrow is less aggressive and hasn't spread far from its site of introduction in St. Louis.<br />
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To me they also have a much friendlier appearance, or maybe I was just glad to add this bird to my life list.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadowlark</td></tr>
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This next bird was a mystery for me. I just couldn't place it as an <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_meadowlark/id">Eastern Meadowlark</a> or a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/id">Western Meadowlark</a>. There was a flock of 5-7 birds and heard a Western <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/sounds">song</a> from at least one member of the group, but what about the individual pictured? If you would like to guess don't read on as I discuss the results below.<br />
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My first line of thought was location. This area has a greater frequency of Eastern than Western Meadowlarks. Secondly, the song was Western, though the songster was likely a different individual. Then I looked at the malar (area behind the bill) and notice the limited yellow, Eastern birds have less yellow in this area. My forth clue was that the markings on the head have less contrast, more like a Western.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54VwzyW3N4xwldest8_NWV01Is0jZIGc8M7MHTzukykZho0k22g82Sf_vBjzXtXdlGzvzu_n95smYqKOeYpCj-09owY0jUl_NZHCe1EicnF2RxkMOnlHfqhtKpUQL7f-YpXZATmZSPCkb/s1600/Western+Meadowlark+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54VwzyW3N4xwldest8_NWV01Is0jZIGc8M7MHTzukykZho0k22g82Sf_vBjzXtXdlGzvzu_n95smYqKOeYpCj-09owY0jUl_NZHCe1EicnF2RxkMOnlHfqhtKpUQL7f-YpXZATmZSPCkb/s1600/Western+Meadowlark+2.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadowlark</td></tr>
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Finally I looked to google and found this great page from <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/mlarkdiff.htm">Cornell Lab or Ornithology</a> that compares field marks. This lead me to look at the barring on the tail feathers. Which looks Western.<br />
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To make sense of all of this I contacted some local birders who informed me that the thin barring on the tail is the best distinguishing visual feature and the song is really diagnostic. Additionally fresh plumages hide the yellow on the malar, so this feature doesn't appear until the feathers have worn off the buffy tips to reveal the yellow. That was a lot of work to learn that my ears didn't deceive me, this was indeed a less common Western Meadowlark!<br />
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I certainly learned a lot about Meadowlark identification, which I'll have to see if I can practice again soon.<br />
<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-72882292313656648912014-04-01T09:42:00.000-04:002014-04-02T10:25:56.644-04:00A Birding Blitz: Newton and BeyondDuring March 20-22, I ended up having a few days with the little one so the two of us set out on a birding blitz for the last day of winter and first two days of spring. Our rules were that our outings had to be entertaining and fit between naps and meals. So it ended up that most stops were about 30 minutes and I could only bring my binoculars. Sorry, no camera meant no pictures. But we had a blast.<br />
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As birding wasn't happening as heavily as usual I'll keep thing short and with highlights. Also this post is delayed as the <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-northern-pintail-drake-at-chestnut.html">Northern Pintail</a> took precedence for posting. </div>
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<u>Crystal Lake</u> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17666507">checklist</a>)</div>
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While the lake was still frozen a pair of Canada Geese didn't mind as they grazed in someone's yard. I was excited to find a tree with 7-8 <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/fish_crow/id">Fish Crows</a> a couple of blocks away all giving their <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/fish_crow/sounds">nasal calls</a>. I didn't hear the tell-tale "na-uh" but they didn't make any classic <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/sounds">American Crow calls</a> either.<br />
(Update from this morning: The lake is now open and hosting a raft of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_merganser/id">Common Mergansers</a>, both American and Fish Crows were calling too. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17692203">checklist</a>)</div>
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<u>Drumlin Farm</u></div>
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I thought at least I'd catch up with some Eastern Bluebirds here, but alas the bird life was non existant that afternoon. I did enjoy getting to see the hawks and owls in the exhibits up close though. And the newborn lambs were a big hit with the little one. </div>
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<u>Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary</u> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17559026">checklist</a>)</div>
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I'd never visited before and was excited to see how beautiful Broadmoor is. The highlights were <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/id">Eastern Bluebirds</a> (checking out nest boxes already) and a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Winter_Wren/id">Winter Wren</a>. It has been a long time since I've had the pleasure of viewing a Winter Wren. I'll definitely be coming back. </div>
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<u>Charles River by Commonwealth Ave.</u> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17559073">checklist</a>)</div>
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Highlights were definitely the diving ducks with <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-necked_Duck/id">Ring-necked Ducks</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_merganser/id">Common Mergansers</a>, and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead/id">Buffleheads</a>. </div>
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<u>Hemlock Gorge</u></div>
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The only bird life was a faint call note that I couldn't make out, but that didn't detract from the natural beauty of Hemlock Gorge on my first visit. </div>
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<u>Lost Pond</u> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17559048">checklist</a>)</div>
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The pond was still frozen, but singing Juncos and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_finch/id">House Finches</a> were refreshing signs of spring. </div>
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<u>Hammond Pond</u> (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17558986">checklist</a>)</div>
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I was very excited to see that the ice was finally breaking up! Seeing Canada Geese and a pair of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mute_swan/id">Mute Swans</a> in the open water on the far side gave me a ray of hope. Hammond Pond did not disappoint with <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-necked_Duck/id">Ring-necked Ducks</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_merganser/id">Common Mergansers</a>, Mallards, and 6 <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id">Wood Ducks</a>! The little one was so excited by the Ring-billed Gulls wheeling overhead or when the ducks would fly right past us. Just as we were leaving a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/id">Turkey Vulture</a> teetered as he soared over the pond on his dihedral wigs. </div>
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-34489991795353924972014-03-23T17:32:00.002-04:002014-03-23T17:33:07.386-04:00A Northern Pintail Drake at Chestnut Hill Reservoir<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjddk4leowaHJDeoQgRXaedOBUk9aFiuyLMD1tUmBG5dQad5RH4DCCTh9RKdQTQLMVdrFOR_YObTDRFCtagiLbsZZNOtlXvYNuQgCfUCkMF6XIADFSapC7bvMcktIpr4yz9RW45-CSh-W-/s1600/Northern+Pintail+Male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjddk4leowaHJDeoQgRXaedOBUk9aFiuyLMD1tUmBG5dQad5RH4DCCTh9RKdQTQLMVdrFOR_YObTDRFCtagiLbsZZNOtlXvYNuQgCfUCkMF6XIADFSapC7bvMcktIpr4yz9RW45-CSh-W-/s1600/Northern+Pintail+Male.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Pintail</td></tr>
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After a a couple of days of a birding blitz (maybe that is for another post), I knew that the ice on the local ponds was breaking up and had been keeping an eye out on eBird. So when I saw that a Northern Pintail was seen at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/9chestnuthill.htm">Chestnut Hill Reservoir</a> over the past few days I decided to check it out on my way to work this morning. I was fortunate to find my life Northern Pintail as a female at Jamaica Pond back in January, so today I was really hoping for a drake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Duck</td></tr>
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When I turned onto Chestnut Hill Dr. from Beacon, I saw large group of birds on a small patch of open water. My heart skipped a beat as I caught a fleeting glimpse of a drake <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_pintail/id">Northern Pintail</a> in the mix, that color pattern is quite distinctive! After parking I made my way back towards the West side of the reservoir I added <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Merganser/id">Common Mergansers</a>, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id">Hooded Mergansers</a>, and was surprised to see a female <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id">Wood Duck</a> in a flock of Canada Geese. Additionally a Song Sparrow sure new it was spring from his non-stop singing (full checklist <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17560956">here</a>).I saw a flock of ducks take off and was hoping the Pintail wasn't among them, but fortunately he was still in the same place and keeping company with a group of Mallards.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Pintail Preening</td></tr>
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I think that many of our local ducks are quite beautiful (Mallards, Green-winged Teals, Wood Ducks) but none of them holds a candle to a drake Northern Pintail in sheer elegance. The long and slender profile combined with the chocolate brown head with white accents and the textured back make him a pretty dapper sight. I kept thinking that he was dressed in him finest suit and there were no ladies to be impressed. Maybe he'll fine the female that over-wintered between Jamaica and Leveret Ponds. He even flashed his green speculum feathers while preening. I spent maybe 10-15 minutes watching him and taking pictures. Much of the time while I was there he was vocalizing with a soft trilled whistle, much sweeter than a Mallards harsh sounds. But honestly, what else would you expect from a duck dressed like that? He actually sounded similarly to the Eurasian Teal at Newton City Hall. I tried to take a video so as to share his vocalizations but I'm afraid its a little jittery as the post-processing stabilization didn't work at all! But I thought I'd still include it just for the vocalizations, which will probably require that you turn up for volume a fair amount.</div>
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Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-36768448902783946892014-03-03T13:37:00.000-05:002014-03-07T10:04:11.073-05:00Snowy Owl at Boston's Belle Isle Marsh<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw5FBgz7guoIvTQIX80wq-BB13duT3D_RLp3V79gAVDW6SGkNOkFzLO7U7AvnwJl35LfuDB_2z0R_mjEy-fnc6jj_9R0-eX5P21O_ixbnJ_Y1xP3PW0N7GQDdIDz6BzBziAyC35sr73_s/s1600/Snowy+Owl+Belle+Isle+Marsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw5FBgz7guoIvTQIX80wq-BB13duT3D_RLp3V79gAVDW6SGkNOkFzLO7U7AvnwJl35LfuDB_2z0R_mjEy-fnc6jj_9R0-eX5P21O_ixbnJ_Y1xP3PW0N7GQDdIDz6BzBziAyC35sr73_s/s1600/Snowy+Owl+Belle+Isle+Marsh.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Owl</td></tr>
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Two winters ago (the 2011-2012 season) had a great influx of Snowy Owls, so back in December I was amazed to watch an even larger invasion of Snowy Owls occur this winter as reports from all over the state and the rest of the East Coast poured in, this was going to be one of the biggest Snowy Owl seasons recorded. I knew that I would have to go and find at least one of the owls, so when I saw reports on Massbird of reliable <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/lifehistory">Snowy Owls</a> at <a href="http://www.friendsofbelleislemarsh.org/index.htm">Belle Isle Marsh</a> in Boston, I made my plans.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusPb_76twpaMOnWs8zRvDxdntDV6-fyy7EAebSjbij2B_kgNvf05u0R-jhoVu4LiiiWegdBiaFJNm_2MjltcxvBg1dOkUwZ5ECGTiDQm62fKNWNknydPphrFOhY4hFDi8jVauXWxQjdBF/s1600/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusPb_76twpaMOnWs8zRvDxdntDV6-fyy7EAebSjbij2B_kgNvf05u0R-jhoVu4LiiiWegdBiaFJNm_2MjltcxvBg1dOkUwZ5ECGTiDQm62fKNWNknydPphrFOhY4hFDi8jVauXWxQjdBF/s1600/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Hawk</td></tr>
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My first visit at the beginning of February sadly turned up no owls, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a state first <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_meadowlark/id">Eastern Meadowlark</a> out in the marsh. I thought my eyes must be playing tricks on me, but apparently there were other recent sightings of the Meadowlark. This is one of the reasons I love birding at Belle Isle Marsh, it has some fantastic habitat and has given me the opportunity to find many birds without needing to tack on a long drive. Some of my favorites memories from past visits to Belle Isle include watching Least Terns diving into the salt pans, startling Bobolinks from the trails, and hearing Willets calling from the marsh.<br />
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But this winter, the landscape has been drastically altered into a snow and ice scene suitable to the far arctic reaches of this planet. Ice flows lay broken on the marsh as the tide repeatedly lifted and dropped them on higher ground. Only the banks of the channels and few tall marsh grasses escaped the blanket of snow. Fortunately Belle Isle's current resemblance to the arctic tundra has led to a Snowy Owl or two taking up residence this winter. With a total of three visits in February, last weekend was the charm as I finally caught up with this bird that so many people had been reporting. As my friend Greg and I walked out to the boardwalk overlooking the marsh, I was able to spot something that looked suspiciously like a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/lifehistory">Snowy Owl</a> before I even raised my binoculars. Greg works down the hall from me and we've been swapping stories about Snowy Owls since we met, so it was quite a pleasure to finally get a chance to find one together.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAJI-mGTmTVggR7rlOaaTO6pYYVJTGEfMqPRmDxn6QC70EsUVZI6vRBBAJNItR6xjV33DiFWYJTYgkfl1SH3M7I8oxTEr3oYoIeGE8jKcZRDH8ysPBl-F0m57OYCbPN5ww8tMXZcNsp0u/s1600/Belle+Isle+Marsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAJI-mGTmTVggR7rlOaaTO6pYYVJTGEfMqPRmDxn6QC70EsUVZI6vRBBAJNItR6xjV33DiFWYJTYgkfl1SH3M7I8oxTEr3oYoIeGE8jKcZRDH8ysPBl-F0m57OYCbPN5ww8tMXZcNsp0u/s1600/Belle+Isle+Marsh.jpg" height="165" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belle Isle Marsh</td></tr>
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<br />
We must have sat on the edge of the boardwalk in the chilly wind for 20 minutes just watching her rest in the sun. Her head swiveled around to take in her surrounding and would occasionally look directly at us with those huge yellow eyes before resuming her vigil. Snowy Owls can have quite a lot of variation in how much dark brown barring they have in their feathers. As the owls grow older they become whiter and male owl tend to be lighter than females, though there is much overlap in the amount of barring (I found a much whiter Snowy Owl at <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2012/03/tale-of-two-owls-part-2-duxbury.html">Duxbury Beach</a> 2 winters ago). This owl from Belle Isle seems to be slightly on the darker side, but there are definitely still darker individuals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMwaKZqCo-JiJWdnr2UoxEgaRIR7s8mAQB_osKilBc70j3AjwK-2FpnbA2Irb9uM_FK9Mpjj5FHX5RCKhsG4TPPK4HaGiNM6-ORcjI2FaFPtUYaiuGAoflhwXiceO46QrVhqXt9yPjygs/s1600/Mute+Swans+in+Flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMwaKZqCo-JiJWdnr2UoxEgaRIR7s8mAQB_osKilBc70j3AjwK-2FpnbA2Irb9uM_FK9Mpjj5FHX5RCKhsG4TPPK4HaGiNM6-ORcjI2FaFPtUYaiuGAoflhwXiceO46QrVhqXt9yPjygs/s1600/Mute+Swans+in+Flight.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mute Swans</td></tr>
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With difficulty we tore ourselves away from the Snowy to check out the rest of Bell Isle Marsh. Out in the water American Black Ducks, Mallard, and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead/id">Buffleheads</a> were evident. One of the coolest sightings were two sets of three <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/id">Mute Swans</a> that flew overhead. I momentarily got my hopes up for Tundra Swans, but they were still beautiful to watch as I've rarely seen them fly before. The rest of the bird life included some usual winter residents, though I also saw reports of plenty of raptors, Horned Larks, and Snowy Buntings.<br />
<br />
After telling some of my other co-workers about the owl (who doesn't love a Snowy Owl?), I heard that one of my co-workers thought he saw a Snowy Owl at Newton Center Playground maybe about 8 years ago. Just when I thought we'd never find a Snow Owl in Newton, though it would probably still take some uncommon luck to repeat that feat. So I'll leave you with a link to the <a href="http://blog.aba.org/2013/12/the-2013-snowy-owl-invasion-its-getting-crazier-by-the-minute.html">ABA Blog</a> about crazy places that Snowy Owls have been found during this winters invasion.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-59502439076104063062014-02-18T12:25:00.000-05:002014-03-03T13:38:02.970-05:00A Hooded Merganser StudyI've always thought that <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hooded_merganser/id">Hooded Mergansers</a> were one of the most beautiful birds to be found during the winter. They are usually way out on the water and are a little shy, so getting really good views or pictures of them is always challenging. I lucked out though on December 30th with two pairs of Hoodies in the <a href="http://www.emeraldnecklace.org/">Emerald Necklace</a> in Boston. They didn't seem to much mind me, so I ducked behind some trees to take pictures and was treated to great views of them up close. I would always try to guess where they might resurface after a dive and was often quite surprised! (Click to enlarge the pictures)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEzO49NwSw8Celr4uXoPvFjgiS4qznPmou9XqB33bL1COML0jPtAVRu-OK3TODR49cI0tYOlBAjFYAf-Uy4V3TXgDZlRFu8ISp0FPzTXrHwpiSLN2LmQFvvqqeSHCaZjKi43qR9Zy6AMD/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEzO49NwSw8Celr4uXoPvFjgiS4qznPmou9XqB33bL1COML0jPtAVRu-OK3TODR49cI0tYOlBAjFYAf-Uy4V3TXgDZlRFu8ISp0FPzTXrHwpiSLN2LmQFvvqqeSHCaZjKi43qR9Zy6AMD/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Male.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Merganser (Male)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkguN3ZfYg0bjXwkr4bqwWCVgOQ_MGq075zls55KlaeAdx_kVz-3wmkUhyphenhyphenQvE7U65wLCmTq2mSAJNfG0Bd0W8WsDeGzjpt3Jl23IpzihyqLUj2Ksk1rI2NnePp7YyuROJDK8aE4fMXhwbh/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkguN3ZfYg0bjXwkr4bqwWCVgOQ_MGq075zls55KlaeAdx_kVz-3wmkUhyphenhyphenQvE7U65wLCmTq2mSAJNfG0Bd0W8WsDeGzjpt3Jl23IpzihyqLUj2Ksk1rI2NnePp7YyuROJDK8aE4fMXhwbh/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Female.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Merganser (Female)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEUJj7HPcG5vXc-YtKwlqHCSJhaoYcfmr2Z6DQi1XfYKSsi0AidTslV9jMp7D1U2-ZoQo07IkyR_12w8W8Xqyxn3KdgZBEQ5UOwk3wtz_9SeopdN9l7FUvdUBxNkyyaLOpge5mszxAO9D/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEUJj7HPcG5vXc-YtKwlqHCSJhaoYcfmr2Z6DQi1XfYKSsi0AidTslV9jMp7D1U2-ZoQo07IkyR_12w8W8Xqyxn3KdgZBEQ5UOwk3wtz_9SeopdN9l7FUvdUBxNkyyaLOpge5mszxAO9D/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Splash.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Merganser Landing</td></tr>
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<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-75426593910349509262014-02-03T10:51:00.001-05:002014-03-03T13:37:54.924-05:002013 Recap and Recent Sightings and Thoughts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0K94QW0UHVDMy-U7ReDGUqQwgie2Rq94nyJx7u-zAQdErdQQMH-Rdn8dP-gMxGrVmsKSTiDRk1JBDyV5j1B1Bjh1t5l0-uAHTID3RrYEz_qfRV1OcqqtxPCvGBltUlWq9bXORlgh9DSc/s1600/Mute+Swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0K94QW0UHVDMy-U7ReDGUqQwgie2Rq94nyJx7u-zAQdErdQQMH-Rdn8dP-gMxGrVmsKSTiDRk1JBDyV5j1B1Bjh1t5l0-uAHTID3RrYEz_qfRV1OcqqtxPCvGBltUlWq9bXORlgh9DSc/s1600/Mute+Swans.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mute Swans on the Charles River</td></tr>
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Since 2013 was the first full year of this blog I thought it would make sense to do a 2013 recap. A quick look through my eBird records for Greater Newton, which including immediately adjacent birding area (see <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/p/recent.html">here</a>), give year count of 106 species while my Newton life total stands at 130 species.<br />
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I'll just list some of my favorites for the year:<br />
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<a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-years-day-with-red-tails-and.html">Common Redpolls at Nahanton</a><br />
<a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2013/03/redheads-return-with-spring-to-hammond.html">Redheads at Hammond Pond</a><br />
<a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2013/05/warblers-and-wild-flowers-at-houghton.html">Tennessee Warbler at Houghton Gardens</a><br />
<a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2013/11/searching-for-newtons-eurasian-green.html">Eurasian Green-winged Teal at Newton City Hall </a>(and Bullough's Pond and Cold Spring Park)<br />
<a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2013/10/nahanton-park-delivers.html">Yellow-breasted Chat, Philadelphia Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow and Clay-colored Sparrow</a> of Nahanton<br />
<a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-halloween-raven.html">Common Raven in Newton Center</a><br />
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Oddly I went the whole year without seeing any Ring-necked Ducks. Previously they were easy to find at Hammond Pond in the winter.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvGzIcnAgaSI9WpcMioS13jEYtb9IgagXAxnk4Nei7LznjQeYSaKhXcBip8hvk5WtK8xlgifXjpJmzU9mckWyNZ0CQIYRgFTfipORq6db6p5Vpce4ABoiz04IQlVTFG5-hj-BeEc5ssOp/s1600/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvGzIcnAgaSI9WpcMioS13jEYtb9IgagXAxnk4Nei7LznjQeYSaKhXcBip8hvk5WtK8xlgifXjpJmzU9mckWyNZ0CQIYRgFTfipORq6db6p5Vpce4ABoiz04IQlVTFG5-hj-BeEc5ssOp/s1600/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Hawk After the Hunt</td></tr>
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Okay onto 2014. A few days ago I stopped by Millennium Park (the source of this posts pictures) after making a <a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2014/02/belated-pictures.html">stop at Nahanton</a> in search<br />
of the Northern Shrike. Part of my logic for visiting these places is that a Shrike was seen at Millennium back in Dec. They can have fairly large winter territories and prefer open spaces like fields and marshes. Given the sightings at Millennium and Nahanton this winter, it may not be too much of an assumption thinking that its territory may center on the Charles River and the wetlands at Cutler Park and surrounding areas.<br />
<br />
But alas I did not find the Shrike. I did however get to watch as a Red-tailed Hawk launched himself off a telephone pole and swoop down into the fields and then return with a small mouse like critter. I then got to watch a lesson in mouse anatomy as the hawk ate lunch. The thing that surprised me the most was that he didn't seem to fall onto his prey that quickly, I almost thought he had decided to gently land and then spend time in the grass. It wasn't until he flew back to the light pole with prey in his talons that I knew for sure what had happened. Other than the excitement of witnessing the hunt from beginning to end, only some of the regular birds were around (full checklist <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16735537">here</a>).Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-20162622846311078092014-01-02T14:32:00.002-05:002014-01-03T12:30:22.394-05:00The Starry Sky on New Year's Eve <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDa-NCeXm3i7YKRu6FG_XVTH7IudKeVtxgy7foYPGlTfGd0wxtt183wJMwVFS7r7ED0OvaKrnj1kkj_efLb87hjX_-3pzzrfF8bqhw3bLACW0a_p4tkX7gjzf_ArJaAQzMCJpmQAhYXMj/s1600/Jupiter+in+Gemini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDa-NCeXm3i7YKRu6FG_XVTH7IudKeVtxgy7foYPGlTfGd0wxtt183wJMwVFS7r7ED0OvaKrnj1kkj_efLb87hjX_-3pzzrfF8bqhw3bLACW0a_p4tkX7gjzf_ArJaAQzMCJpmQAhYXMj/s1600/Jupiter+in+Gemini.jpg" height="298" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jupiter in the Night Sky</td></tr>
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December was a busy month with the holidays and lots of things going on. I didn't get to bird very much and when I did there wasn't much to report so I was not inspired to post. Hopefully I'll do a recap some point soon with some pictures. But I decided I needed to do something cool to end the year, even if it wasn't birding.<br />
<br />
So I turned towards the night sky.<br />
<br />
Having received two astronomy apps as gifts, my interest was piqued. I kept observing the stars. On a hike on Christmas Day while visiting family, I learned that the bright star in the west was indeed the Evening Star, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus">Venus</a>, see the <a href="http://nahantonpark.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-towhee-evening-star-and-hunt.html">Nahanton Park blog</a> for more on Venus. (As a birding tangent, my favorite bird of the day was a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/id">Belted Kingfisher</a>.) The next night I went outside later in the evening and the brightest star I could see was actually Jupiter. I raised my binoculars and could make out a couple of pinpricks next to it: moons.<br />
<br />
I have known for a few years that I could see the moons of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter">Jupiter</a> in my binoculars, but now with a new camera and lens, I was wondering if I could catch them in a photograph. On January 5th, Jupiter's and Earth's orbits will be at there closest, so New Year's Eve was going to be a great time to view the planet. And I was going to be awake anyway! So just before 10pm I bundled up, grabbed my camera and tripod, and headed into the back yard (an <a href="http://www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-events/2013/12/see-jupiter-at-its-best">article</a> on viewing Jupiter).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKEQhfwB9vm2v0psmuCPEHF2MV6VWL2foI5VbXUeNn3ubWAUomSZ7HQRxqjknFv5pkEEXSsmyG_dMfFLQi6rn1VKDT_NaeWPVIhQ8pTjo10mrCBu1G_XKcdlGZ4wYdfsoRSDnUS5_0mgq/s1600/Jupiter+and+the+Galilean+Moons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKEQhfwB9vm2v0psmuCPEHF2MV6VWL2foI5VbXUeNn3ubWAUomSZ7HQRxqjknFv5pkEEXSsmyG_dMfFLQi6rn1VKDT_NaeWPVIhQ8pTjo10mrCBu1G_XKcdlGZ4wYdfsoRSDnUS5_0mgq/s1600/Jupiter+and+the+Galilean+Moons.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jupiter and the Galilean Moons:<br />
Ganymede, Io, Europa, and Callisto<br />
(starting near Jupiter in order of increasing distance)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finding Jupiter was the easy part. Getting my camera pointed at it and then finding good settings was the hard part. My fingers went numb. The image at the top is overexposed and uncropped to give a sense of relative size and position. The field of view is so small no major stars are visible, but some of Jupiter's moons can be seen. Also there is an interesting green streak that I'm going to try and figure out.<br />
<br />
I kept trying and finally managed to capture a decent image. But what was most amazing was that I could find all 4 of the Galilean Moons. I could never hold my binoculars steady enough to see all of them before. The Galilean moons are the major moons of Jupiter and are named after Galileo Galilei, who may have first seen them, but was definitely the first person to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilean_moons#Discovery">realize</a> that they were orbiting Jupiter, and not independent stars. This was the first time objects were observed orbiting a body that wasn't the Sun or Earth. This work was done 403 years ago this January.<br />
<br />
The moons orbit Jupiter very quickly, with Io the fastest at 1.7 days and Callisto the slowest at 16.7 days. So every night the moons will be in different locations. (Here is a <a href="http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/3307071.html?page=2&c=y">webpage</a> that gives details on the locations of the moons in relationship to Jupiter.)<br />
<br />
After having so much fun with Jupiter and its moons, I was curious what else I could point my camera at. So I chose to look for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_Nebula">Orion Nebula</a>, which is located in the middle of the sword in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(constellation)">Orion Constellation</a>. I'll end with this last image (centered on the Orion Nebula), but needless to say, I had a lot of fun on New Years Eve!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpMQV4f3yQyAif_hSx82fP7ztLylD62NmQKz6QSWxtkNVJJOzTVTL7legdze6stGyk3KzXEQemgOo3mvuySeCi-feuZiZGmVj_FFPuFfVMUT4Ms_uM1V8d3MIC62alFQ3aRaUiO9J_HMC/s1600/Orion+Nebula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpMQV4f3yQyAif_hSx82fP7ztLylD62NmQKz6QSWxtkNVJJOzTVTL7legdze6stGyk3KzXEQemgOo3mvuySeCi-feuZiZGmVj_FFPuFfVMUT4Ms_uM1V8d3MIC62alFQ3aRaUiO9J_HMC/s1600/Orion+Nebula.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orion Nebula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-22347328947082119022013-11-29T22:18:00.003-05:002013-11-29T22:18:43.006-05:00Searching for Newton's Eurasian Green-winged TealAs I mentioned in the last <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2013/11/exotic-duck-chase-mandarin-duck-at_26.html">post</a>, there was an eBird report from Ryan M. from this past Monday indicating that a drake Eurasian Teal was found at <a href="http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/it/gis/directions/default.asp">Newton City Hall</a>. Because <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/green-winged_teal/id">Green-winged Teal (American)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Teal">Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)</a> are clunky names for the purpose of writing, I'll just refer to the later as the Eurasian Teal (known as the Common Teal to the rest of the english speaking world). See the post from last year about the <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2012/12/recurring-eurasian-green-winged-teals.html">recurring Eurasian Teal</a> for background, pictures, and discussion on identifying the different Green-winged Teals.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTdYeLVU9utwn5-7xmA21W5EG_3lkQhd8mLFZNMUmy7vr8VvRKRYffhPeaI7b8II-upXOiE_GwwEVXE2k2TOWLy5JelaXSrA4ZOyvNQ_zdFHQfwzeyw3lzLIuaAjnxb0vQd25s8lFYzc/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Pair+Newton+City+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTdYeLVU9utwn5-7xmA21W5EG_3lkQhd8mLFZNMUmy7vr8VvRKRYffhPeaI7b8II-upXOiE_GwwEVXE2k2TOWLy5JelaXSrA4ZOyvNQ_zdFHQfwzeyw3lzLIuaAjnxb0vQd25s8lFYzc/s1600/Hooded+Merganser+Pair+Newton+City+Hall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Merganser Pair at Newton City Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ok enough with semantics. A Eurasian Teal was seen and I wanted to find it. So in between cooking yesterday, I went to <a href="http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/it/gis/directions/default.asp">Newton City Hall </a>to go searching. I got excited when I saw a pair of Mallards and a pair of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_merganser/id">Hooded Mergansers</a> (phone and binocular pic), but my spirits dropped as I slowly began to realize that there were no teals, nor did Bullough's Pond have any birds on the water in my quick glance. Fortunately, a pair of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet/id">Golden-crowned Kinglets</a> was quite entertaining to watch (full checklist <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15786442">here</a>). I was starting to get really worried that the recent <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x94501822/4-500-tons-of-sediment-removed-from-Newton-City-Hall-ponds?zc_p=1">dredging</a> had turned the marshy, weedy, birdy City Hall ponds into the poor habitat reflecting pools they were intended to be by Fredrick Olmsted (who also designed the Emerald Necklace). Green-winged Teals love marshy habitat that is now absent from City Hall and I was worried that we had improved away the Teals.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DHG6xYx8LocV1posQxwJcekUVyLBj2-8jjLTBC4oBxLiNac81FcQBXZvmNr1AWyD_cv9c_7mVMro9XePf3Fqbhh7iKXn0kFmdQHCjWtkCe-q7j71TGynVD1-o-Fp2rkoGeuEg22i8-Ld/s1600/Hermit+Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DHG6xYx8LocV1posQxwJcekUVyLBj2-8jjLTBC4oBxLiNac81FcQBXZvmNr1AWyD_cv9c_7mVMro9XePf3Fqbhh7iKXn0kFmdQHCjWtkCe-q7j71TGynVD1-o-Fp2rkoGeuEg22i8-Ld/s1600/Hermit+Thrush.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit Thrush in Cold Spring Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On my way home I even drove through <a href="http://www.newcemcorp.org/">Newton Cemetery</a> to scan the ponds, but again just turned up Canada Geese, Mallards, and Hooded Mergansers.<br />
<br />
I couldn't give up yet. So this morning I headed to <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/14coldspring.htm">Cold Spring Park</a> and at 8:45 this morning it was quite cold. And so most of the ponds were frozen. I did manage to track down a flock of 12 Mallards in one of the streams, but no teals were to be found. I did hear a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Creeper/id">Brown Creeper</a> and saw a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/id">Hermit Thrush</a>, but interestingly, there was another thrush, that didn't have as much red on the tail as I was expecting. But given the time of year, that is the most likely option still (let me know if you have any ID thoughts and full checklist <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15802414">here</a>)<br />
<br />
After Cold Spring Park I just couldn't give up on the Eurasian Teal yet. With ice on the ponds, I thought that the ponds at <a href="http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/it/gis/directions/default.asp">Newton City Hall</a> might just have enough current to keep them open. So I headed back there and was so disappointed when the grounds crew had leaf blowers cleaning up the park. No way any duck in their right mind would still be around. I walked up to one of the foot bridges and heard lots of junco call notes while movement on the water caught my eye. Ducks - teals - horizontal white stripe - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Teal">Eurasian Teal</a>! I couldn't tell if his lady friend was an American or Eurasian type, it might be possible to <a href="http://thebirdguide.com/identification/Eurasian_Teal/teal_hybrid.htm">tell females apart</a>, but it is still very challenging. I kept my eyes on the pair before a native Green-winged Teal drake joined them. They all headed to the farthest North pool nearer the leaf blowers before they disappeared. I don't think they flew off, so I wonder if they were hiding in the outflow culvert that leads to Bullough's Pond.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTH10A53OGl1DvHKMb4FKrYzblYchQvctl2AFXdIhPU7xV5DqKFqEZvcqyFBBKkO6Tzh8HALC0HJRpUKLAQbNfuXMd5tkQbiORR7s8i8VN7WzH7nBw3Y0XoXXGxfBqxDtUXIAtIGEMCT2/s1600/Green-winged+Teal+Eurasian+Newton+City+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTH10A53OGl1DvHKMb4FKrYzblYchQvctl2AFXdIhPU7xV5DqKFqEZvcqyFBBKkO6Tzh8HALC0HJRpUKLAQbNfuXMd5tkQbiORR7s8i8VN7WzH7nBw3Y0XoXXGxfBqxDtUXIAtIGEMCT2/s1600/Green-winged+Teal+Eurasian+Newton+City+Hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) at Newton City Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was relieved to think that the pond dredging hadn't completely put off the Eurasian Teal, though I wonder if he will stick around the same amount without the marsh. And I am calling this The Eurasian Teal, because I'm increasingly convinced that all of the sightings within the area are probably the same individual. His primary haunt is Newton, and has been seen every Winter (Nov-March) since he was first sighted in Cold Spring Park in 2009. So this is the 5th consecutive year that there has been a Eurasian teal seen between Concord and Newton with only one year where he wasn't seen in Newton. But at no point in time have there been two Eurasian teal sightings on the same day at different locations. In fact there are times when he disappears from his usual Newton location for a few days and has a brief sighting elsewhere. Here is a quick list of eBird sightings for Eurasian Teals within at 15 mile radius.<br />
<br />
2009 January. A Eurasian Teal sighted at Cold Spring Park.<br />
2009 March 13. A sighting in Sudbury<br />
2009 March 16 - April 4. Repeated sighting at Cold Spring Park. (There were also 5 days were he was absent in March which corresponds with a single sighting at Great Meadows NWR on March 25.) There was also an <a href="http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/newton/2009/03/23/breaking-bird-news-eurasian-green-winged-teal-at-cold-spring-park/#comment-28247">article</a> in the Newton Tab about the bird.<br />
<br />
2010 Jan-Feb: Repeated sightings at Newton City Hall<br />
2010 March. Several sightings at Nine Acre Corner in Concord.<br />
<br />
2011 March: Several sightings at Nine Acre Corner in Concord. If I remember this was a particularly harsh winter and all the local water was frozen, so its not too surprising that he wasn't seen in Newton or earlier in the year.<br />
<br />
2012 Nov-Dec. Repeated sightings at Newton City Hall. (Again there was a stretch of time the bird was absent while a few sightings turned up on the Charles River by Norumbega Park which, if my memory serves, corresponded to a cold snap and ice on local ponds.)<br />
<br />
2013 (so far) Nov. Two Newton City Hall sightings.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsn3odTJE1LI1w9-i2HIhzcEazOR1JnEC-0Y3RBiLMexj1lyAFGxlqIAeuqfLu4iHiCgEiWDUE2PlTCt_eyxEgm60LKJZ6uo1Z06RvLsDj9711Mp9EtKNLyOBQv67ZaUqjkFX5cbHk9Uz/s1600/Green-winged+Teal+Eurasian+and+female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsn3odTJE1LI1w9-i2HIhzcEazOR1JnEC-0Y3RBiLMexj1lyAFGxlqIAeuqfLu4iHiCgEiWDUE2PlTCt_eyxEgm60LKJZ6uo1Z06RvLsDj9711Mp9EtKNLyOBQv67ZaUqjkFX5cbHk9Uz/s1600/Green-winged+Teal+Eurasian+and+female.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-winged Teals (European Drake and unknown female)<br />
Newton City Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that I feel good saying that this is indeed the same individual, The Newton Eurasian Teal. I just looked up <a href="http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anas_crecca/">Green-winged Teal lifespan</a> and see that 20 years is the average lifespan, so it is certainly possible that the Newton Teal could keep returning to us for a while. We will just have to keep looking for him. If he has any breeding success then we should also think about the possibility of <a href="http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/03/distinguishing-green-winged-and-common-teal/">hybrid Teals</a>. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go see him again this winter and we'll be able to find him in the coming years.<br />
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<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-73340881137729886282013-11-26T14:05:00.001-05:002013-11-28T19:04:07.496-05:00Exotic Duck Chase: Mandarin Duck at Leverett Pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMhdk6CnaeDqKfEcClRCPfYHQZAPn3qhw5Prg-CeN0RTJrTRhCl48NNdHc9KpRuXZxh_uzEXhACWVjIE35t3OBIUskqD2rihbiDsxRI5OBOtRllDOlghdTwsg_f8MwdcdsiO92Ao4LU44/s1600/Mandarin+Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMhdk6CnaeDqKfEcClRCPfYHQZAPn3qhw5Prg-CeN0RTJrTRhCl48NNdHc9KpRuXZxh_uzEXhACWVjIE35t3OBIUskqD2rihbiDsxRI5OBOtRllDOlghdTwsg_f8MwdcdsiO92Ao4LU44/s1600/Mandarin+Duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandarin Duck</td></tr>
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Last week on Massbird there was a flurry of posts about a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_Duck">Mandarin Duck</a> drake that was spotted at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmsted_Park">Leverett Pond</a> in Brookline. Mandarin Ducks hail from far Eastern Asia (including Japan, Korea, China, and Russia) and have never been known to grace our continent as a vagrant. Therefore the assumption is that all Mandarin Duck sightings are individuals that have escaped from captivity and indeed there are two known breeding populations in in the states ( North Carolina and California) that have been established from escaped birds. Sadly though their wild populations are greatly reduced as much of their habitat has been developed.<br />
<br />
I have only seen two Mandarin Ducks before, and these birds were in Newton. A pair of Mandarin Ducks were actually housed in a gardening / landscape exhibit in the mall in the Winter of 2010-2011. While not wild, I was struck by how beautiful they are and how similar they are to our native Wood Ducks! The females are remarkably similar and then more and more I was able to see similarities the longer I observed the drake.<br />
<br />
This initial encounter made me quite excited to have the chance to see a Mandarin Duck in a more realistic environment. Not to mention it had been observed in the company of a flock of more than 30 Wood Ducks, which would be a spectacle in and of itself. So, Monday morning with temperatures in the teens, I took the T to Brookline Village in search of this exotic duck.<br />
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When I arrived at the pond, much of the pond had a thin crust of ice. Fortunately the outflow was clear of ice and contained a large number of birds: Mallards, American Black Ducks, Canada Geese, a few Wood Ducks, even a Double-crested Cormorant, and a statuesque Great Blue Heron who tucked her head away trying to stay warm. A small knot of gulls were standing out on the ice, while Red-tailed Hawk flushed a flock of ducks from the center of the pond and they all circled off. I kept working around the pond and found the typical passerines in the trees and brush. Soon I ran into another birder who was saying she had just seen the Mandarin Duck but it just took off a few minutes ago and she pointed North. What luck. I wished I had been able to drag myself out into the cold a little earlier. As we were talking a flock of ducks landed on the pond and so glimmer of hope returned.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gKwAAx36cOyC1nAX8Xt-YiJwfXM1WZmCkaT7KmEihH8Ahg0g-9Mh4GRLL5aVF2yrXooZqmI33Gwr2oPk6Kb5DR5cbHwGnNQ76rVzWAiYvASdnVfWBtH8k_4FcYjyv29cxq4OoPd2RRD8/s1600/Wood+Duck+Raft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gKwAAx36cOyC1nAX8Xt-YiJwfXM1WZmCkaT7KmEihH8Ahg0g-9Mh4GRLL5aVF2yrXooZqmI33Gwr2oPk6Kb5DR5cbHwGnNQ76rVzWAiYvASdnVfWBtH8k_4FcYjyv29cxq4OoPd2RRD8/s1600/Wood+Duck+Raft.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raft of 36 Wood Ducks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I counted 36 Wood Ducks in the center of Leverett Pond but no hint of the Mandarin Duck showed itself. I took a few moments to enjoy the spectacle of the Wood Ducks and decided to head back down the Muddy River, the direction the Mandarin reportedly flew, on my way into the city.<br />
<br />
I peered into every corner of the "river" as I kept walking and turned up Mallards, Canada Geese, Black Ducks, and 3 hooded Mergansers. Firmly in the Riverway section of the Muddy River I checked out an area where I had seen a Wood Duck in the past, but no luck. So I carried on to the foot bridge and peered around the corner, when the water exploded. Three ducks flushed flying away crying "jeet jeet jeet", but one of the ducks had a bright white face and pick bill, it was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_Duck">Mandarin Duck</a>! He had been hanging out with a pair of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wood_duck/id">Wood Ducks</a>. The two males circled off to the South leaving the jittery female still calling in the pool. Not very chivalrous.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoetSCHbAfijsbKxLE_zlt_t7vxYuZUbk9yZu0bqOA3Yv1uiSfj6ZLFcli3WBCAS_0uGlDe4M8NWoi0pO7TD3CbOrW7sOYvAEA9DoR0MK-YMETf9O0o1CfotSxSCk5KQCxIglqT1Y1cbLS/s1600/Mandarin+Duck+and+Wood+Ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoetSCHbAfijsbKxLE_zlt_t7vxYuZUbk9yZu0bqOA3Yv1uiSfj6ZLFcli3WBCAS_0uGlDe4M8NWoi0pO7TD3CbOrW7sOYvAEA9DoR0MK-YMETf9O0o1CfotSxSCk5KQCxIglqT1Y1cbLS/s1600/Mandarin+Duck+and+Wood+Ducks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandarin Duck with Wood Ducks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So I turned around walking South back to Leverett Pond and was finally able to see the Mandarin Duck where he was "supposed" to have been from the start. While he was further away, he also wasn't flying away allowing for great views. He truly was stunning. While the large white facial crescent, orange "beard", and raised orange feathers on his back that make up a "sail", he was much brighter than the Wood Ducks despite the similarities.<br />
<br />
Walking in to work, I was then thinking about how long this Mandarin drake will be here with us. If he makes it to spring if he would pair up with a local Wood Duck. Though any crosses seem unlikely as Mandarin Ducks apparently have a different number of chromosomes despite the fact that Mandarin and Wood Ducks are the only species in the genus (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aix_(genus)">Aix</a>). Maybe he will stick with the local Wood Ducks and he'll be a local fixture for years to come, similar to the Eurasian Teal that frequents Newton in the winters (see last years <a href="http://wildnewton.blogspot.com/2012/12/recurring-eurasian-green-winged-teals.html">post</a>).<br />
<br />
Speaking of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Teal">Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)</a> that has spent the last few winters in Newton.... he is back! I just saw an ebird report from Newton City Hall. I am looking forward to going to find him again. Maybe that will be my next post...<br />
<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-43178614601403425622013-11-03T16:12:00.001-05:002013-11-04T12:19:41.646-05:00White-winged Scooters at Chestnut Hill Reservoir. I stopped at <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/18webster.htm">Hammond Pond</a> and <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/9chestnuthill.htm">Chestnut Hill Reservoir</a> on my way to work mid-day. My first stop at Hammond pond I was excited to find the first <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_merganser/id">Hooded Mergansers</a> of the season. Two crisp males and a female were working the far shore. I was also hoping for some Ring-necked Ducks, but I didn't see any. There were plenty of Mallards though and a Great Blue Heron. Among the gulls, one appeared to be different that the others, but they all flew off before I had a chance to turn my attention their way. The full list of birds from Hammond Pond can be found <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15553299">here</a>.<br />
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8_q6_clxEsvH4YkUPbdfaenjJytFuO41xo41RMbshvZr07R96PjbCE0xKIEgk-GzUYyGSvrKOEX61G94YZFkUznc6AHk_P7BnSTbPglvftaWrCtKW1RdGa2etMnfDZEiMoBbWQSBIMiQ/s1600/Pied-billed+Grebe+Coot+Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8_q6_clxEsvH4YkUPbdfaenjJytFuO41xo41RMbshvZr07R96PjbCE0xKIEgk-GzUYyGSvrKOEX61G94YZFkUznc6AHk_P7BnSTbPglvftaWrCtKW1RdGa2etMnfDZEiMoBbWQSBIMiQ/s320/Pied-billed+Grebe+Coot+Cormorant.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied-billed Grebes, American Coot, Double-crested Cormorant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My next stop was Chestnut Hill Reservoir. I was excited to see that the water was littered with birds. Mostly they were more than a hundred <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruddy_Duck/id">Ruddy Ducks</a> in small rafts. And there were quite a few gulls, including Ring-billed, Herring, and Greater Black-backed. Also it was fun to see a number of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id">American Coots</a> that have returned as well, while <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pied-billed_Grebe/id">Pied-billed Grebes</a> and <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/id">Double-crested Cormorants</a> were present (how many species can I fit in a picture...). When I got to the tip of the peninsula I found Mallards and a single American Black Duck, but out on the far side were 3 dark ducks that I couldn't make out. I even tried to take a picture to enlarge on my camera, but still no luck. When I got to work though I loaded the pictures on to the computer and was surprised that one of them had a small white spot in the center of the head (bird on left, click to enlarge picture), they must have been <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Scoter/id">White-winged Scooters</a>! Not a common bird around here, they have been seen once before at the Reservoir and twice migrating over Millennium Park. Fortunately I saw that two other birders had also seen the White-winged Scooters before I was there, making me feel more confident on the ID. I also saw that I missed a female Green-winged Teal (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15552455">eBird list</a> with pictures of scooters and teal). But the White-winged Scooters were quite a treat. The full list of birds from Chestnut Hill Reservoir can be found <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15554552">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAKmkUm0m9hPQ5Q6qn36RSxAOc6XuyQd9i9wKhrEbcX4luZ2IDhfzHxAUfEvq5v8Fo1mmrLdwgjCS-0DnVcwP2zGW7Ue00fX0tFYJ6egUmeVd3HebXURZG1mgOugnx0sXiyEE_ybpvC__/s1600/White-winged+Scooters+at+Chestnut+Hill+Reservoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAKmkUm0m9hPQ5Q6qn36RSxAOc6XuyQd9i9wKhrEbcX4luZ2IDhfzHxAUfEvq5v8Fo1mmrLdwgjCS-0DnVcwP2zGW7Ue00fX0tFYJ6egUmeVd3HebXURZG1mgOugnx0sXiyEE_ybpvC__/s400/White-winged+Scooters+at+Chestnut+Hill+Reservoir.jpg" height="125" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged Scooters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-89544493406367719852013-10-31T23:14:00.001-04:002013-11-02T11:23:36.033-04:00A Halloween Raven<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdDXRLb4GoEYtpE_Y6CKdVe_XU5B9LV2HtXItKb7lj5NZRdrOTBPP1cf50djMdT66MDRiGsY_7B__nNFCMDdSYzD6zyA2cyCIg5rFdSrCgK1125R14-qgsz6g4JQmZRCJvZC4H2Vb4Tb8/s1600/Common+Ravens+Virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdDXRLb4GoEYtpE_Y6CKdVe_XU5B9LV2HtXItKb7lj5NZRdrOTBPP1cf50djMdT66MDRiGsY_7B__nNFCMDdSYzD6zyA2cyCIg5rFdSrCgK1125R14-qgsz6g4JQmZRCJvZC4H2Vb4Tb8/s1600/Common+Ravens+Virginia.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Ravens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning I was waiting for the T in Newton Centre when a strange croak made me look up from my reading. I think my brain had already figured out who was producing the low raspy throaty "kraa kraa kraa" but I almost couldn't believe it. Flying low, down the middle of the tracks came the large black corvid, thinking fast I tried to remember what else I could look for to confirm the ID and remembered the tail. American Crows tail feathers are all similar lengths, so the tail appears rounded when fanned out. But this bird's outer tail feathers were distinctly shorter than the center tail feathers, clinching the ID of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_raven/id">Common Raven</a>. And then he was past, heading down the line into Boston, still calling. (Audio recording can be found at <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_raven/sounds">All About Birds</a> along with downloadable ID guide for Crows and Ravens). I've had a few birds at Millennium Park that I thought could be Ravens, but was just never sure enough. I later realized that today was Halloween, a fitting time to find my first Massachusetts Raven. Poe would be proud.<br />
<br />
This picture is obviously not Newton, I took it on a mountain peak in Virginia several years ago, but thought its always nice to have picture if possible. Also, as demonstrated in the picture, Ravens will soar and glide on thermals more like hawks, which crows don't do, so observing flight patterns can help with the identification.<br />
<br />
On a side note, I took a walk in the very light drizzle in <a href="http://www.newtonconservators.org/14coldspring.htm">Cold Spring Park</a> this afternoon before the trick-or-treaters were out. The highlights were a large loose flock of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-rumped_warbler/id">Yellow-rumped Warblers</a>, 2 <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Thrush/id">Hermit Thrushes</a>, and 2 <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/brown_creeper/id">Brown Creepers</a>. I'll have to come back during a better season so see what the park has to offer.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-14622506019370297652013-10-21T11:12:00.001-04:002013-10-29T12:09:01.552-04:00Orange-crowned Warbler at Fenway<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE7WFNktFqBDaIMLtApEx0ozow_anJ8RRjF9rocd_2h3mYAzPZOl_SI6pQJx5Q3HGnHYwyOP2-E9d3gdE3dnsx4idQiEDRJ_NnIRvyzO3EGDEbea378pqtEZvjUkr-rE8e90ihp4Jta59/s1600/Orange+crowned+warbler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE7WFNktFqBDaIMLtApEx0ozow_anJ8RRjF9rocd_2h3mYAzPZOl_SI6pQJx5Q3HGnHYwyOP2-E9d3gdE3dnsx4idQiEDRJ_NnIRvyzO3EGDEbea378pqtEZvjUkr-rE8e90ihp4Jta59/s1600/Orange+crowned+warbler+2.jpg" height="305" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-Crowned Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last week I stopped by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Bay_Fens">Back Bay Fens</a> and the Victory Gardens for a
spot of birding. There had been a massbird post that mentioned a Chat,
Orange-crowned warbler, Clay-colored sparrow and White-crowned sparrow just to
mention a few. I was enticed and decided that Fenway would make a nice start to the day. I started at the Victory Gardens, initially
encountering a large flock of house sparrows, which I carefully combed through
hoping for something a little bit more native and fun. But no sparrows other
than Song and White-throated Sparrows would turn up that morning. Several Great Blue
Herons rose up from the Muddy River heading upstream and giving their loud
harsh croaking calls.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog7B3S_19XXLYCrhEe-AWZvmf5w5zlwQyCjSRE9hLDZmBOjSQQ2APy7-CSbimwtVCEFYtxFQ9_LBAgZ4U_JBtfhW25kPOhu6jBjIz44cacQb8iBhmPAMWZcUkIoWv3B5PQXCW5vWtlw7r/s1600/Yellow+bellied+Sapsuckers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog7B3S_19XXLYCrhEe-AWZvmf5w5zlwQyCjSRE9hLDZmBOjSQQ2APy7-CSbimwtVCEFYtxFQ9_LBAgZ4U_JBtfhW25kPOhu6jBjIz44cacQb8iBhmPAMWZcUkIoWv3B5PQXCW5vWtlw7r/s1600/Yellow+bellied+Sapsuckers.jpg" height="320" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did manage to find two young <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-bellied_sapsucker/id">Yellow-bellied</a></div>
<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-bellied_sapsucker/id">Sapsuckers</a>
chasing each other around the gardens. My first for the state, so they were extra exciting. Slowly some of the warblers seemed to
appear, at first just a couple of Blackpolls, then a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and
a Common Yellowthroat rounded out the usual suspects for warblers. At this point I ran into Mary Luo and she went in search of the sapsuckers. I carried on and several rows later a little movement caught my eye, so I focused on the bird hiding under
the leaves in a raised bed of one of the garden plots. As the bird hopped about my excitement grew, the plain
gray face with white eye arcs and the dusky yellow breast with faint gray
streaks gave away this bird as the <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/id">Orange-crowned Warbler</a>! Fortunately it
cooperated for just a minute and allowed me to take a couple of pictures and to admire some of her brighter green patches before disappearing into the
foliage again. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47yYVJg5WMRN_qMRyOMapBW8kxQqEF5c6i9LIuhY4Gtmhaf8t1HM-OMuN9mvf8cqD3Bm4fzZp-bO7-UxjeK4Mlb2MOtg0tjNpqyutUTGA5pVDqm_82YR9sMPmwvlWfDJ3qNsAKfPiGhII/s1600/Orange+crowned+warbler+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47yYVJg5WMRN_qMRyOMapBW8kxQqEF5c6i9LIuhY4Gtmhaf8t1HM-OMuN9mvf8cqD3Bm4fzZp-bO7-UxjeK4Mlb2MOtg0tjNpqyutUTGA5pVDqm_82YR9sMPmwvlWfDJ3qNsAKfPiGhII/s1600/Orange+crowned+warbler+1.jpg" height="190" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-Crowned Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this time I saw Mary Luo again who had gone to find the
sapsuckers, I tried to wave her over to see the Orange-crowned too. But by this
time the bird had disappeared into the undergrowth, with Chat-like skulking and
stealth skills. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We kept searching the gardens and found many of the usual residents. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> also stopped by the area by the war memorial as that has been a good spot in the past and turned up a couple more Blackpolls. I saw later that the Chat was seen elsewhere in the Fens, not by the Victory Gardens, but the Sapsuckers and Oranger-crowned Warbler already made a great day. </span></div>
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769096861614385034.post-21007142258392358442013-10-13T23:30:00.000-04:002013-10-14T12:14:15.222-04:00Autumn at Hammond Pond<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6AP3CYhbBEEK2l-jMyYDNbR9X6i8wRc78e-GtZ2wF61Fh9nafQM4E98AqrOc7mutdCq7y2SQ19MHjDT_NIn4nmfqiu0SdFs8rH2QqveQskwFYa-l_FA-sPimjBw-AmLbfccRcuY_brXV/s1600/Wood+Duck+in+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6AP3CYhbBEEK2l-jMyYDNbR9X6i8wRc78e-GtZ2wF61Fh9nafQM4E98AqrOc7mutdCq7y2SQ19MHjDT_NIn4nmfqiu0SdFs8rH2QqveQskwFYa-l_FA-sPimjBw-AmLbfccRcuY_brXV/s1600/Wood+Duck+in+flight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a little bit of time each day of this weekend in the afternoon to stop by Hammond Pond to see what might be around. Wish I had been able to make it at a better time for birds as it felt slow. I had a small list, but still had a great time enjoying the birds and autumn foliage. The highlights were getting great views of a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id">Pied-billed Grebe</a> and numerous <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id">Wood Ducks</a> that cooperated. Additionally a fearless <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/id">Ruby-crowned Kinglet</a> came right up to investigate me (I wish I had my camera that day, but he was so close I wouldn't have been able to focus anyway). It was enjoyable just to admire him and not worry about taking a picture. I also found a <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blackpoll_Warbler/id">Blackpoll</a> and two <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/id">Yellow-rumped Wablers</a>. The Yellow-rumps were back by the vernal pool, or at least what used to be the vernal pool. It has had so little water this year that it's turned into more of a field. I kept hearing more birds hiding in the 5 foot tall brush, but they seemed disinclined to reveal themselves. All the other birds were around the edge of the pond.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq-KKu7QrSWZDxK2HhlxkmANVrQcAOeYbymSC81Pg3-6kAEWfPLzzyJJ2NtyGdbfb51n9UniOnwj9-slE95uGD_yY6X-ZYKdzWzWT8mIfRPNgs0uWiLs_LX_c8HxJNQAlAB2SaexHuC1K/s1600/Pied-billed+Grebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq-KKu7QrSWZDxK2HhlxkmANVrQcAOeYbymSC81Pg3-6kAEWfPLzzyJJ2NtyGdbfb51n9UniOnwj9-slE95uGD_yY6X-ZYKdzWzWT8mIfRPNgs0uWiLs_LX_c8HxJNQAlAB2SaexHuC1K/s1600/Pied-billed+Grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied-billed Grebe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Full list:<br />
<br />
Wood Ducks<br />
Mallards<br />
Pied-billed Grebe<br />
Great Blue Heron<br />
Gulls sp.<br />
Blue Jays<br />
Chickadees<br />
Titmice<br />
White-breasted Nuthatch<br />
Buteo sp.<br />
Blackpoll Warbler<br />
Yellow-rumped Wablers<br />
Cardinals<br />
House Sparrows<br />
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PcJqDg2Q_28tUK-y8qbAOHCVnu3YsUsDH-M1wUaR-u8JB1rlh-X8gFxE5fkOW4S65zaG2KZshElrC8rmRFhTBbloqYuGsqApB8WDdoQhqkjVboN_-E6-haqOEqsHDXC8E6iE27cZlQO8/s1600/Fall+Foliage+Hammond+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PcJqDg2Q_28tUK-y8qbAOHCVnu3YsUsDH-M1wUaR-u8JB1rlh-X8gFxE5fkOW4S65zaG2KZshElrC8rmRFhTBbloqYuGsqApB8WDdoQhqkjVboN_-E6-haqOEqsHDXC8E6iE27cZlQO8/s400/Fall+Foliage+Hammond+Pond.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div>
P.S. Ok, while not at Hammond Pond this news is still cool. This afternoon I was really surprised to find a Clay-colored Sparrow in the yard associating with the neighborhood flock of house sparrows! She was an obvious 'odd duck' in the flock being much smaller and brighter buff colored. Fortunately having seen the one at Nahanton Park recently made me confident with my identification. But it is certainly a reminder to check out those yard birds too!</div>
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300149061733191992noreply@blogger.com1