Wednesday 8/26: Chestnut-sided, few other things at Hanscom.
Thursday 8/27: Couple redstarts, gnatcatcher, pileated at BBN.
Friday 8/28: Same shorebirds plus a Prairie and Field Sparrow at Hobbs Brook. Nothing much at Shade St and more of the same on Old County.
Saturday 8/29: Tried to get Worcester August to 100 (starting at 94). High Ridge first. Walked further down Neighborhood Rd than I have in the past, although didn’t add much there. Did hear a crossbill or two and a Purple Finch for two. On the way back there was a Least Flycatcher for a third, then just before it opens up again a Magnolia. A few Solitaries, Green Herons, and ducks on the water plus several Lance-tipped Darners.
Couldn’t dig up anything else so continued to Watatic. North side was pretty quiet, a Magnolia at the base and another just before the county line were about it. Up at the peak, there was very little beyond people, so after wandering a bit of the woods, I just went out to the hawkwatch hoping for a couple Accipiters. Bit surprised to see Brian up there, so I stayed for 45 minutes or so. Only hawks were Broad-wings and a Red-tail, probably had more hummingbirds than anything. Started down and stopped to look at a towhee and caught some movement above it, which turned out to be a Black-billed Cuckoo. Unfortunately that was about the last bird heading down, so I’m stuck at 99.
Sunday 8/30: Started at Squantum for the knot. Heard it was around but couldn’t find it from the hummock, so relocated to Wollaston where John was on it by the time I caught up to him. Also had a Pec among the Semis but not too much else. Went back to the hummock to hunt for a Western but didn’t dig it or anything else out. Nickerson Rock was dead other than a small tern frenzy that had dissipated by the time I circled around. Orchard Beach had more terns although the interesting ones got away. Gave up from there and gave the res a check (no changes) and Old County (3 egrets and fewer peep).
Monday 8/31: Ended up at a very quiet Estabrook, YT Vireo still singing and a couple RB Nuthatches about it.
Tuesday 9/1: Res had a yellowlegs and four Blue-winged Teal. Continued to Great Meadows but it was pouring by the time I arrived. Saw there was a gap approaching, so sat in the car for half an hour then went out to the platform. Pretty birdy, with a GW Teal, a few shorebirds, a Least Flycatchar, and a Traill’s Flycatcher that was almost certainly a Willow.