Wednesday 11/26: Nothing obvious at the res. School St. had Snow Buntings (191 for the ‘commute’), larks, pipits, and geese. Warner’s didn’t have much.
Thursday 11/27: Tried Weston Reservoir, Pileated, ton of RB Nuthatches, Fox Sparrow, etc. More of the same at the res.
Friday 11/28: Started at Forest Grove in case the White-front had roosted there. It hadn’t and I therefor got to the cemetery just after it left. Checked Crystal Lake quickly, then went to Cold Spring, which was quiet beyond a couple Purple Finches. Did another loop of the ponds, then went to Norumbega and back to Woerd Ave with nothing. Went back to the cemetery and the goose was there, hopefully it sticks until Monday for the commute. Res on the way home had a pile of wigeon among the regulars (which have probably been there but they were in close today).
Saturday 11/29: Finally made a stop at Black Rock Beach in Cohasset. Got my Norfolk Harlequin easily along with most of the usual ducks but other than a gannet and a few loons there wasn’t much else on the water. Stodder’s Neck was next, once I circled to the side out of the wind, the Lark Sparrow was quite cooperative. Also got the very overdue Bald Eagle for Plymouth. Continued to Webb Memorial SP, where it was generally too windy. Did have a catbird for 99 in Norfolk in November but couldn’t find more, so I decided to stop at Great Pond. Found the goldeneye flock immediately, then a few more ducks at Norroway but nothing was new.
Sunday 11/30: Debated Ross’s Goose or Western Tanager and the tanager won on the idea I could drop down for the Snow Goose in Milton or something. On the way to Forest Hills, I had a couple turkeys (at the same rotary I’ve had them previously), so got the 100 in Norfolk without having to actually stop anywhere. Parked at the cemetery, walked about ten feet, and the tanager flew up. That was a bit too easy. The Dickcissel was around too and a ton of finches. Decided to go to Franklin Park instead of the rest of the cemetery. Managed to get a bit lost crossing the street but got there eventually. Ten feet from the car, my phone buzzed about a Limpkin in Scituate. Debated hopping right in, but decided to check here while other people figured out the logistics. Nothing but Mallard on the pond but a ton of geese on the golf course. Walked up a bit to get a good view and count and there was a very obvious Cackling among them.
Decided that the Limpkin was too far for today and too likely to get crazy, so went to Allandale Woods instead. Got up to the pond and heard a call that sounded interesting, so ran down a bit and finally had the Pileated. Only my 12th attempt here, glad I can ignore it outside of spring. Thought about Millennium from here but decided I didn’t feel like that and decided to go scan the Ring-neck flock at Weston Station Pond. Walked up, started a count and noticed a very white flank. Unfortunately with half a tuft and a slightly pale back, making it the hybrid (presumably, it had moved to Fenway and then wasn’t found this morning). Cliff happened to walk up right then, so got him on it and studied it for a bit before heading home.
Monday 12/1: Tried for the Redhead in Wayland, found geese and swans but no ducks. Looped Heard and the res on the way home but too bright and short on time.
Tuesday 12/2: Not much at Cookson, not much along the river. Lot of ducks at Hardy along with a cormorant.