Wednesday 10/14: Started at the West Meadow which had a pile of sparrows, a Red-shoulder, and a few other things. Got a text about the Barnacle Goose at Meriam’s, so ran back through the neighborhood and headed that way. Goose was obvious and scanning the rest of the flock turned up two Cackling that look interesting.
Thursday 10/15: Fresh Pond had a few Ring-necks, a Tennessee, and a couple other interesting warblers.
Friday 10/16: Went out to Warner’s Pond too late for the goose. Checked School St, but no luck (rain and geese being way, way out didn’t help). Did have a ton of Killdeer and pipits. Drove past the prison fields and Barrett’s Mill without seeing anything. Res didn’t have much either.
Saturday 10/17: Took a chance that the shrike at Belle Isle was just hiding from the weather yesterday. Started to walk around and realized it was reported from the Key, so made the shortest loop I could and drove over. A few people already there without luck (with that or Nelson’s). Stuck around a bit but it wasn’t very nice and there wasn’t much to keep me interested. Went over to the cemetery, which had a couple things of minor interest. Walked to the end of the greenway and had a YB Cuckoo (county bird!).
Decided to go to the Fells and check the spot I had been to earlier in the year for hawks. View wasn’t quite right, good bit way out, but stuff coming straight from the north was tough. Had a few vultures, a few Red-tails, a Cooper’s, probably a harrier, a Merlin, another falcon, a couple Blackpolls, a bit more. Pulled in at Fresh Pond for a minute on the way home and had a Black Scoter.
Sunday 10/18: Ran to Waltham St early, although a flyover Purple Finch was about it. Had stuff late morning, stopped at the res briefly and had a pile of Gadwall.
Monday 10/19: Danehy had an Orange-crowned, a Nashville, a few sparrows, a Hermit Thrush, and not too much else. Stopped at Hardy on the way home and had two Ruddy.
Tuesday 10/20: Ended up giving up on getting through traffic and went to Rock Meadow. Piles of Yellow-rumps but not a whole lot else. Duck Ponds were similar.