Author: jason

Wednesday 10/15: Started at Ricci. Couple Cooper’s moving around and otherwise lots of common stuff but nothing of note (beyond a possible siskin). Had time for Hobbs Brook too, 4ish Pecs and a Spotted by the overpass, 20+ pipits by the road, 10 GW Teal in between.

Thursday 10/16: Traffic was too much to get to Mt. Auburn, so BBN it was. Three GW Teal on the water, a few Rusties on the edge, lots of Yellow-rumps around. Decided to go to the boardwalk instead of up the hill. Had a Purple Finch or three and a siskin plus more Yellow-rumps but no interesting sparrows. Bushwhacked to Dawes and finished early, so went to the res and Hardy and had nothing at either.

Friday 10/17: No luck with Dickcissel at Horn Pond. White-crowned, RE Vireo, coots, etc.

Saturday 10/18: With no spoonbill news, went to Millennium to b partway in case it turned back up. Started with siskin and flyover Purple Finches. Odd buzzy call had me about to add a Dickcissel to my Suffolk list, but eventually caught it flying off and it was a meadowlark. Circled around the top in case it hung around but no luck. Virginia Rail and BH Vireo on the BH Trail and then a Marsh Wren and Nashville working back to the car. Ended up with 7 Suffolk year birds.

Continued to Allandale Woods, for yet another Pileated dip. Had another vireo and Nashville but not much else beyond a perched Purple Finch. Res on the way home had a loon.

Sunday 10/19: Slightly early start worked out as I got to Belle Isle about 10 minutes before the ibis flew off. Circled around after and wasn’t much beyond lots of sparrows, although a BH Vireo by the parking lot was another new one for me here. Started towards Winthrop Beach but decided to pull in at Lewis Lake. Bobolink was a surprise there but not much else. Looped around at Winthrop Beach and eventually found the lark flock, which proceeded to fly around a lot and get lost in the swallows. They finally landed and the longspur was with them. Also had an interesting sparrow that looks pretty good for Ipswich. Decided to give the cemetery a loop in case the ibis was back. Nothing towards the greenway and not much looking out at Belle Isle. Went through the stump dump and had 2 Field Sparrows on the way back to the car.

Monday 10/20: Arlington Res had a Gadwall among the ducks but nothing else of note. Ruddy, wigeon, etc at Cambridge Res.

Tuesday 10/21: Dunback had tons of White-throats, robins, Yellow-rumps, etc plus 2 Orange-crowns and an interesting Buteo.

Wednesday 10/8: Wasn’t raining so I headed towards Great Meadows, but it started as I was passing Minuteman, so went to Flint’s instead. Nothing there, on to the res. Turned onto Smith St and the deluge started. Went around anyway, but just about impossible to see anything.

Thursday 10/9: Lone Tree Hill had a couple Winter Wrens and lots of common stuff. Rock Meadow had not much in the gardens. Hardy Pond had the leaf truck, so went to the res and had a Black Scoter and 25 Ring-necks.

Friday 10/10: Danehy was on the quiet side, Red-shoulder, 165ish cormorants going over, common sparrows, etc. Bunch of Ruddy at Hardy.

Saturday 10/11: Started at Westborough. Flyover pipit, GH Owl (Worcester bird finally), Nashville, 6 Pecs, an oriole, etc. Bartlett Pond quickly had nothing. Weston Pond had soccer, so went right to the bike trail in Holliston. Took a bit more effort than I expected but got past 50, so just Maynard to go. Nothing much at Heard or the res on the way home.

Sunday 10/12: Waltham St. had coyotes responding to a fire truck, 2 White-crowns, and not too much else. Walked the path around Dilboy and saw next to nothing. Got back to the parking lot and a sharpie flew over, so I went the other way long enough to get a titmouse, for #100 in Somerville (town 28). Alewife had a Rusty, then the rain started, nothing at Spy or the res.

Monday 10/13: Too wet generally but while out and about, there were 11 Wood Ducks along the Charles by Charlesbank and 4 PB Grebes at the res.

Tuesday 10/14: Still kinda lousy, so went for shorebirds at Great Meadows over Clay-colored at Arlington Res. Cambridge Res first didn’t have much. Nothing but snipe (and maybe Pec) for shorebirds but a couple White-crowns and a Clay-colored were nice. Also a presumed longspur going over.

Wednesday 10/1: Birdy at Rock Meadow although nothing too exciting. First juncos of the fall, a probable Bay-breast, tanager, etc.

Thursday 10/2: Stayed in

Friday 10/3: Got frustrated by the Western Tanager at Mt. Auburn. Had a Scarlet and a second tanager very high up in a hickory, fairly sure I got a hint of wing bars, but nothing more. Also Blackpoll, redstart, FOF Golden-crowned Kinglet, BH Vireo, etc.

Saturday 10/4: Down to Plymouth. Also lot of knot and other shorebirds, etc.

Sunday 10/5: Wayland Community Gardens had 2 sapsuckers, 4 Lincoln’s, a Nashville, etc. Water Row had Rusties. Dickcissel at Waltham St. Wigeon at the res early, Ring-necks in the afternoon.

Monday 10/6: Got the Pecs and pipits at Arlington Res, nothing much else of note there.

Tuesday 10/7: Blackpolls, FOF RC Kinglet, and a RE Vireo at Cookson, more Blackpolls at the square.

Wednesday 9/24: Lousy conditions, so perfect for Great Meadows. Started with about 45 minutes on the platform and had a couple harriers and Palm Warblers but not much else. Walked to the river without much, then came back and had 2 plovers circle over.

Thursday 9/25: Pond loop had nothing.

Friday 9/26: Rock Meadow had a few warblers (including a probable Connecticut to go with the 2 Lily had next door), a sapsucker, etc. PB Grebe on the res.

Saturday 9/27: Started at Deer Island. First bird was a sapsucker flying over, then a BT Blue, which meant I got here way too late. Few more warblers around the close hill, a Lincoln’s, and not too much else. At least two Sachems were nice too and somehow the titmice that buzzed by were new for me here.

Winthrop Beach next was a waste of time (although a titmouse calling across the street was new here too). Fisherman’s Bend also added titmouse plus a few Black-bellied Plovers, a White-rump, a few Semis (both), and two oystercatchers. Earhart on the way home had a handful of warblers.

Sunday 9/28: Went up to North Reading to try to get that to 50. Started at a corner of Harold Parker State Forest that was just over the line. Picked up a decent bit, nothing terribly exciting (if the Rusty singing was closer to feel confident however…). Continued to Ipswich River Park which added Red-tail and phoebe. Drove over to Martin’s Pond and saw nothing, but the shopping plaza had starlings and pigeons to get to the mark. Brief stop at the Lynnfield Marshes didn’t have too much.

Monday 9/29: No luck with Connecticuts at BBN but did have FOF Yellow-rumps plus turkeys, a Winter Wren, and a few other things.

Tuesday 9/30: Went to Ricci. Looped the front field and immediately had a Connecticut. Texted Cliff, then looped the rest (BT Green, Black-and-white, BH Vireo, Indigo, not too much else). Got back to the front just as he arrived, we walked the edge without much. I split off to check the further corner, he ducked in and had nothing. Got back and the bird immediately popped up. Also a parula, RE Vireo, Cooper’s here..

Wednesday 9/17: Kaveski/Meriam’s had first of fall White-throat and Lincoln’s but not much else. Drove past Flint’s on the way back, saw something big so stopped. Dove funny and I couldn’t place it at all so walked to a better opening and eventually realized it was an otter and not a bird. Res had a Spotted Sandpiper and not much else.

Thursday 9/18: Slightly nicer than I hoped at Great Meadows, no flyover shorebirds. Five Killdeer, a snipe, 2 GW Teal, a bit more.

Friday 9/19: GH Owl, Pileated, waterthrush, Lincoln’s at Dunback.

Saturday 9/20: Out to Watatic. Nothing in a very quick Fitchburg Res check. Hike up was quiet other than a harrier in the WMA field by the parking area. First couple hours were slow, then things got a bit crazy as close to 2000 Broad-wings went through in a couple hours around noon. Good numbers of Osprey and kestrels too. Walk down had next to nothing. Loon was on Flint’s on the way home.

Sunday 9/21: Millennium didn’t have much, Sharpie and kingfisher were Suffolk year birds. Walked to Brook Farm and had almost nothing. Hobbs Brook next, lot of Killdeer, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 peep, 1 Solitary, maybe a yellowlegs. Finished at Waltham St, which was very quiet (both sections).

Monday 9/22: Managed to miss Pec at Arlington Res but did get a Swainson’s Thrush at the farm.

Tuesday 9/23: BBN was pretty quiet, although after telling that to Debbie I found a small flock with a Cape May and a few other things. Also GW Teal on the pond.

Wednesday 9/10: Fresh Pond was pretty quiet. One pocket of migrants with a few redstarts, a Yellow, and a Parula. Almost nothing on the water.

Thursday 9/11: Great Meadows had a Savannah, a few snipe, a Bank Swallow, and a lot of the usual stuff.

Friday 9/12: Started at Danehy. Bikers were setting up an obstacle course in the field and sprinklers were running along the hill and marsh (one of which fired off as I walked up to it, missed me but got the bush with some sparrows. Also wasn’t seeing anything, so ran to BBN to see the Gadwall found yesterday. Got that, then made it down to the cemetery corner where I had a Parula and Bay-breasted before running out of time.

Saturday 9/13: Decided that south winds weren’t good for Watatic and went to Squantum. Squantum Point Park was very quiet. Sandbar side of the marshes had a Black-bellied Plover and bunch of Common Terns but nothing better. Word came through that the godwits were back, so off to Caddy (did check the first panne very quickly but water was up). They were the closest birds and the Little Blue was in and out behind them. Quick check of Nickerson Rock for Caspian Terns didn’t find any, 2 Surf Scoters about it.

Sunday 9/14: Decided to be a bit lazy and work on my Maynard list instead of something further afield. Started at the Assabet River Trail by White Pond Road. Nothing of note but about 30 species, most of which were new. Mill Pond had nothing but there was a vulture flying around. Had scouted out some soccer fields so drove that way. They were gated (could climb through with a little trouble) but there was conservation land in several spots along the road. Towhee was the most interesting thing here, but I passed 40 (and think completed six in every town). Stops at Warner’s Pond and Nine Acre didn’t have much on the way home.

Monday 9/15: No luck with the Clay-colored at Rock Meadow. Parula was about it for interest. Ran over to BBN to look for Lily’s Connecticut, also without luck.

Tuesday 9/16: Blackpoll and 2 RE Vireos, probably more at Cookson, nothing much at the square.

Wednesday 9/3: Arlington Res has finally been drained a bit, usual shorebirds so far plus GW Teal. Did have the same injured Least I had at BBN the other day. Bobolink was about it at the farm. Checked the duck ponds on the way home and had 2 Solitary and a Broad-wing.

Thursday 9/4: Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, raccoon, woodchuck at BBN.

Friday 9/5: No gallinule at Horn Pond and not too much else. Bunch of Least, 1 Yellow, 3 hummers, 2 GC Flycatchers.

Saturday 9/6: Ashland State Park had basically zero migrants. Got six fairly common things to pass 50 for town #51 at least. Soccer game at Weston Pond in Holliston so skipped that and went to the bike trail. Had to park way down, so added a bunch of walking that wasn’t in much habitat. Eventually made it to the swampy section but it was pretty quiet. Managed six here as well plus FOY Spotted Spreadwing. Decided to give the pond another pass and there was no one left. Gave it a quick walk and saw all the same birds I had at the last stop (plus Wood Duck and Canada Goose), so finished five short of 50.

Sunday 9/7: Nothing in the rain at the res, Flint’s, or Hardy.

Monday 9/8: Baird’s was still at Hobbs Brook, usual shorebirds otherwise. Walked up to Shade St and had very little on a loop but doubled back down the fire road and found a small flock of warblers including a Nashville and Magnolia.

Tuesday 9/9: Rock Meadow had a pile of waxwings, a couple Purple Finches, a few warblers (mostly redstarts), and a kingbird. Quick check of the duck ponds didn’t have much (but if I had a few more minutes, there was some activity going down the hill).

Wednesday 8/27: BBN had a bunch of warblers to start including first of fall Nashville and Magnolia. Red-shoulder was by the pond and a few shorebirds although nothing new. Up hill had another pile of warblers including a Cape May, Canada, and Chestnut-sided. Looped down and had BT Green and parula before basically running out of time (would have been nice to have better views of what was probably a Bay-breasted). Surprisingly my first ‘commute’ over 50 for August.

Thursday 8/28: Gave Danehy a shot. Was pretty much a waste of time. Had to loop around to the Sherman entrance, walked the edge with nothing, worked around to Sparrow Hill and had a redstart. Gave the edge another loop and got a text from Alan about an Olive-sided at Dunback, so bailed and headed that way. Bit of traffic to fight through but got there with enough time to run down, see the flycatcher and then run over to the bridge and see not much.

Friday 8/29: Lot of peep at Hobbs Brook including more Semis than there had been last week. Cliff drove by and that’s what I told him. Cooper’s started scattering things around (including a lengthy chase with a kingfisher). A flock came in with a bigger looking bird, lost it, but found it again right as Cliff walked up.  Nice Baird’s and posing nicely. ‘Commute’ #261 too (and 175 for the year). Nothing else new in the remaining time.

Saturday 8/30: Wanted to get Norfolk over 100 for August, so went down to Moose Hill Farm. Got towhee and bluebird off the bat, then it was pretty quiet for a while other than a couple ravens at the power lines. Eventually found a small mixed flock and added parula, RE Vireo, and Black-and-white. Had some nice bugs along the power lines, then had another mixed flock with 2 BT Green, a Prairie, 3+ redstart, a Chestnut-sided, and another Black-and-white, which got me to 103.

Happy with that, I decided to make a loop at Great Pond. Started with more bugs and an Ovenbird, but not much on the water (and there was water not shorebird habitat). Made it around and found the Snowy Egret, then a few BW Teal and a couple sandpipers at Norroway. Decided not to try the path back and just walked the streets back.

Sunday 8/31: Inland Boston warbler day. Started at McLaughlin. Yellow, couple redstart, RE Vireo, Black-and-white, Least Flycatcher, and a turkey. Chestnut Hill Res had more of those plus BT Green, Magnolia, and a RB Nuthatch. Allandale Woods had more redstarts but not much else (maybe depending on whether I was hearing hawks or jays). A few shorebirds at Millennium but nothing else at midday.

Monday 9/1: Walking day. Falzone had a Nashville, West Meadow had not much, BBN had a parula, most of the shorebirds/ducks/herons, and a Red-shoulder. Rock Meadow was fairly quiet but got me to 50, which was not enough to bother going to the ponds. Return trip was a bit of a social at the parkway marsh but mostly the same there. Tennessee at Falzone was nice (missed them this spring). Total of 57, not too bad considering I didn’t hit any pockets of more than a couple migrants.

Tuesday 9/2: Couple redstarts and a Chestnut-sided were about it at Dunback.

Wednesday 8/20: Hobbs Brook had a pile of Least and Killdeer plus a few Solitary and Spotted off road. Caught something more interesting along the road just before the rain started, which proved to be a Stilt Sandpiper. Spent some time attempting to document it but the rain eventually won out. Quick check of Hardy and the res had nothing.

Thursday 8/21: Nothing at Spy Pond, cormorants flying over the Mystic Lakes and presumably one of the young eagles were it there. Nothing much at the res or Hardy.

Friday 8/22: Prospect Hill was on the slow side but a Blackburnian was quite nice. Also Black-and-white, couple redstarts, and a deer.

Saturday 8/23: Ode trip out west. Bog in Ashburnham had a pile of darners including a Mottled, several Martha’s Pennants, and a few other things. We walked a bit of a bike trail after, not finding much. A side trail led to a little stream which had Fawn Darners, a Black-tipped, and an emerald flying around, so worth it in the end.

Sunday 8/24: Did a good bit of Cutler Park. Green Heron over the boardwalk, a Chestnut-sided, a few shorebirds not easily viewed, and an Osprey with a fish to start. Relocated to Kendrick and had a few more shorebirds but little else.

Monday 8/25: Chestnut-sided but no Little Blue (or early Ring-neck) at Fresh Pond.

Tuesday 8/26: Nothing exciting around Watertown Square.