Tag: weekinreview

Wednesday 8/28: Nothing unexpected at Gaining Ground/Hanscom.

Thursday 8/29: Finally got a Semipalmated Sandpiper at BBN, otherwise the same plus a fisher or mink running across the parkway. Solitary Sandpiper flew past the yard in the evening.

Friday 8/30: Wayland Community Gardens were pretty dead. Three Osprey at Heard Pond. Finally had a couple nighthawks at home.

Saturday 8/31: A short local loop had a young Field Sparrow at Waltham St and more of the same at BBN. Out to Otis where I eventually wandered off to Colebrook Lake. On the quiet side but a couple Semipalms (both plovers and sandpipers) and 3 Greater Yellowlegs plus a Canada Warbler (GB Heron and Mallard were Berkshire county birds too somehow).

Sunday 9/1: Did the walk to Upper Spectacle before heading out. May have been too early, really dark in the woods most of the way. Ten warblers including Magnolia, 2 Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, 9+ BT Blue plus a probable Red Crossbill.

Monday 9/2: Did a Squantum area run. Squaw Rock park had about 3 migrants but the Wilson’s Warbler and Yellow-billed Cuckoo were ones I needed for Norfolk and the Tennessee was nice too. Not many birds at Passanageset but I got distracted by a large number of Twelve-spotted Tiger Beetles. Back to Squantum where Commander Shea Blvd was pretty slow (one probably Saltmarsh Sparrow and one hole to step in), nothing at Orchard Beach, and just small numbers of the normal sandpipers at the marshes. Traffic wasn’t too bad, so went up to Draw Seven and Earhart on the way home, 2 ravens were the only things of note.

Tuesday 9/3: A few redstarts, a BT Green, a kingbird, and 2 Least Flycatchers at Dunback.

Wednesday 8/21: Absolutely nothing at Forest Grove. Cruised by Heard Pond on the way home in case the rain had dropped something in. Nothing there but noticed the water level was down on the river so stopped for a few seconds and had a snipe, 2 Least, and 2 Solitary before the rain picked up again.

Thursday 8/22: Lesser Yellowlegs finally at BBN, not a whole lot beyond.

Friday 8/23: Solitaries and Least at Pelham Island Rd. Should have skipped that as ran short on time at Heard Farm where there was a Lesser Yellowlegs, Canada and Black-and-white Warblers, a redstart, and a bunch of swallows.

Saturday 8/24: Thought radar looked good overnight but minimal migrants on the ground. Headed to Alewife but they’re doing work so Acorn Park and the first bit of path was inaccessible. Danehy instead had an Indigo Bunting and Least Flycatcher but little else. Thorndike Field was being mowed so nothing there. With no migrants, skipped on trying near Dilboy and went to Torbert MacDonald instead. RB Grosbeak, gnatcatcher, lots of mockingbirds, one interesting shorebird that flew around at a distance. Snowy Egret was visible in front of the casino from Draw Seven but when I went over I couldn’t find it again. Did have 25ish Semipalmated Sandpipers and a Peregrine.

Sunday 8/25: Did the long walk to the duck ponds. Started nicely with a Blue-winged and Yellow Warbler along with Great Crested Flycatcher at Falzone. Nothing else at Lot 1, nothing on the boardwalk, no different sandpipers at BBN (Pec was there yesterday), and nothing on Mackerel. Rock Meadow was quiet. Greater Yellowlegs at the duck ponds appears to be my 150th bird on foot from home (Lesser was #149 earlier). Nothing else at Rock Meadow or BBN on the way back, walked down Trapelo instead of back through the West Meadow. Redstart and 3 Green Heron fledglings at Lot 1 on the way out.

Monday 8/26: One redstart was about it at Prospect Hill.

Tuesday 8/27: More of the same at Nobscot.

Wednesday 8/14: Nothing exciting at Sudbury Great Meadows.

Thursday 8/15: Parula, 15+ Least, family of Cooper’s, and a Broad-wing at BBN.

Friday 8/16: Nothing out of the expected at Meriam’s.

Saturday 8/17: Did a coastal swing. Deer Island was more or less fogged in and didn’t have much for land birds. Lots of Black-bellied Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones at Fisherman’s Bend but not in a good spot to search through. Got the Little Blues at Belle Isle easily but had to climb the tower to find the Whimbrel (Suffolk #214). Still 2 Stilt Sandpipers (Norfolk #176) at Squantum plus a couple Pecs, 2 White-rumps, lots of the common stuff.

Sunday 8/18: Started at Earhart. No egrets today. Still minimal shorebirds, only 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers and a flyby Least. Draw Seven was quiet. Horn Pond was quiet, but while talking to Bob just before I left he picked out the coot hidden on one of the islands and then an eagle flew over. Sandy Beach was pretty quiet beyond what was probably the same eagle. Blair Pond was very quiet.

Monday 8/19: Nothing much at Dunback, probable Blue-winged the most interesting (a better view would have been nice, especially after a Lawrence’s turned up Tuesday). Hummingbird near the yard in the afternoon.

Tuesday 8/20: BT Green, 2 Redstarts, and a bunch of kingbirds at Nobscot.

Wednesday 8/7: Great Egret and the usual at Wayland Community Gardens.

Thursday 8/8: Rain overnight flooded the parkway marsh again, so only 2 Solitaries and not much else. Did have an eagle over the highway on the way to work.

Friday 8/9: Nothing different at Rock Meadow. Another eagle over 128 on the way to work and an Osprey on the way home.

Saturday 8/10: Parkway marsh was still too wet in a quick check. Nothing exciting at Fawn Lake. Final ode walk of the year at the Cranberry Bog was pretty slow, too windy? Osprey was a Carlisle bird for me finally.

Sunday 8/11: Did the ABNC trip on the Miller’s with Alan and Soheil. Checked Knox Trail quickly before I met them, nothing of note. Rubyspot, Dragonhunter, and some Stylurus (Zebra and apparently Arrow) Clubtails on the river. We continued to Lake Rohunta and had a single Banded Pennant, then a quiet Branch Bridge Rd. Quick walk along the edge of the School St fields didn’t turn up a Savannah on the way home.

Monday 8/12: Water level was down at BBN but nothing exciting there beyond 3 Green Herons and 6-7 Solitary Sandpipers.

Tuesday 8/13: Nothing at Prospect Hill.

Wednesday 7/31: Big flock of House Finches at Meriam’s was as exciting as it got.

Thursday 8/1: Eagle and not too much else at Forest Grove.

Friday 8/2: Red-shoulder was making a racket at College Pond. All the usuals, not much else.

Saturday 8/3: Decided to do the coastal loop today as the chance of showers inland was higher. Started with a scan of the marsh at BBN, which had more of the usual. Next stop Earhart. Walked the new path to the casino and had 9(!) Snowy Egrets but no terns or shorebirds. Continued to Belle Isle, which was quiet. Lots of peep and Semipalmated Plovers at the Key and even more at Winthrop Beach along with a few Black-bellied.

Sunday 8/4: Did the western swing finally. Hotter than forecast… Started at Fitchburg Res which had a BT Blue but no obvious loons. Alder still singing on Bennett Rd. Surprised at Watatic to find a bunch of Martha’s Pennants, think that’s #108 for the county. Also 4 Aeshna, a Louisiana Waterthrush (that plus the Alder singing on the road in were both my first in August), etc. Went to Rocky Hill after. No luck with Kirk’s Scarlet Bluet but did add Osprey, Field Sparrow, YB Cuckoo, and Pileated to my Groton list.

Monday 8/5: Nice visible Virginia Rails at Great Meadows but that was about it.

Tuesday 8/6: No sign of the Little Blue Will found yesterday at Elm Brook so continued to Gainging Ground and Hanscom. Field Sparrow was a needed commute bird, a couple Blue-wings, a Black-and-white, and a Redstart among other things. Pulled in at Elm Brook again and the bird was right in the open.

Wednesday 7/24: Started for BBN but noticed a tire was flat. Poked around the edge of the field at Lot 1 until AAA arrived, nothing of note.

Thursday 7/25: Water level was way up at BBN so minimal shorebirds, not too much else. Saw Nick Tepper’s Striped Saddlebags report from the office and somehow that was only a couple mile detour on the way to the DSA meeting, so gave it 40 minutes or so. No saddlebags but lots of common odes and birds. Continued from there to Vermont.

Friday 7/26-Sunday 7/28: DSA NE

Monday 7/29: Usual at Heard Farm.

Tuesday 7/30: Early check of BBN had about the same.

Wednesday 7/17: Took a short walk along Pelham Island Rd without much of interest. Had time after to scan Heard Pond. Quiet until a loon dropped in right through my field of view.

Thursday 7/18: Couple Least Sandpipers at BBN.

Friday 7/19: Nothing of note at Great Meadows.

Saturday 7/20: Went to Squantum before the heat got too bad. Got the 3 expected birds I needed for Norfolk (ibis, BC Night-Heron, Saltmarsh Sparrow) and a decent number of peeps plus a few dowitchers. Lots of Seaside Dragonlets too. Continued to Nut Island, where the breeze was nice but there weren’t enough birds to make it worth staying. Stopped at the res on the way home. Alan had found good dragonflies in the pond by Healthpoint, so I spent a few minutes there and had 2-3 Comet Darners and a Carolina Saddlebags.

Sunday 7/21: Did a short loop at BBN early. Ended up scoping the parkway marsh for a good hour, 40ish species almost all from the one spot including Least, Solitary, and Spotted Sandpipers, 13+ Killdeer, and waxwings flying all over. Did a short drive around elsewhere after, only thing of note was a loon on Flint’s.

Monday 7/22: Dunback had a woodcock, an Indigo Bunting, and hundreds of robins.

Tuesday 7/23: Busy getting ready for the next DSA trip but stopped at the res on the way home to see nothing.

Wednesday 7/3: Kaveski/Meriam’s. Fairly quiet in the initial loop, but Pileated flew down Shadyside as I was walking back, then an American Bittern (commute #224) went over.

Thursday 7/4: Long walk around BBN had the expected stuff but nothing beyond that. FOY Amberwings at least.

Friday 7/5: Didn’t hear the Chestnut-sided at Hobbs Brook although I didn’t climb through the thorns to get closer either. Checked Winter Pond after but didn’t find the Ruddy. Stopped at Sandy Beach on the way back. Was happy with the Orchard Oriole but scanning the Upper Lake and noticed a loon-like shape. Ran back for the scope and found it had a red throat! Second inland July record that I can find. Evening trip to Cambridge Res failed to confirm Neurocordulia but I got a patch tick woodcock.

Saturday 7/6: Walden BioBlitz. Scanned Hobbs Brook and Flint’s briefly (waiting on some opinions of exuviae but otherwise not much) then ended up joining Simon’s group at Pine Hill. Brutally hot but we had most of what was expected. After lunch, Jay and I tried the sand pits. Didn’t have much luck with tiger beetles but I had a couple Mocha Emeralds and a Swift River Cruiser and Jay caught an Edward’s Hairstreak.

Sunday 7/7: Fawn Lake had the usual odes (FOY Autumn Meadowhawk). Ode walk at the Cranberry Bog had nothing out of the ordinary.

Monday 7/8: Mostly prepping for travel, but did take a quick run along the Charles in Watertown, nothing of note.

Tuesday 7/9: Prospect Hill, was able to confirm the Red-bellied Tiger Beetles are still there, nothing much else.

Wednesday 7/10 – Tuesday 7/16: DSA meeting in Austin, report later.

Wednesday 6/26: Dunback had the usual.

Thursday 6/27: More of less the usual at Heard Farm, did finally get hummingbird for the SRV commute list.

Friday 6/28: Probable Purple Finch at Nobscot but not too much else.

Saturday 6/29: Canceled my Ashby walk because of thunderstorms, although it probably would have been ok by the time we got out there. Did a quick West Meadow and duck pond loop without much of interest, 2 perched Green Herons at the meadow the most interesting.

Sunday 6/30: Checked the Stony Brook Reservation in West Roxbury for a couple holes in my Suffolk list. Got the RE Vireo and GC Flycatcher very easily and then also found 3 new odes for Suffolk: Lilypad Forktail, Slender Bluet, and Unicorn Clubtail. Thought about looking for more odes at Millennium but it was clouding over so I ran to Draw Seven for a few and then gave up.

Monday 7/1: Made my annual Hamlen Reservation visit. One waterthrush and an eagle about it.

Tuesday 7/2: Finally got a commute Least Bittern at Great Meadows, plus Pileated.

Wednesday 6/19: Finally got the commute SRV Indigo Bunting at Sedge Meadow but not much else.

Thursday 6/20: Was pretty quiet at Forest Grove but as I was getting back to the car, lots of birds (Wood Thrush, nuthatch, couple chickadees, several robins, grackles, etc) were going nuts. Finally tracked it down to be a screech-owl, a nice overdue patch bird.

Friday 6/21: Ended up checking Knox Trail (no Ring-neck) and School St (Savannah I needed for second half of June).

Saturday 6/22: Pileated and not too much else at Prospect Hill. Got Jeff’s Ruddy at Winter Pond then a quick check of the Mystic Lakes and Meadowbrook without much.

Sunday 6/23: Did a speculative dragonfly trip combined with some town listing. Started in Dracut, where I had about 20 species (increasing that list from 1). Continued to the Lowell-Tyngsborough-Dracut State Forest, which was pretty nice. Nothing too exciting but most of the expected birds beyond thrushes and a few odes. Then did the speculative search for Cobra Clubtails along the Merrimack. No luck with that but a Common Buckeye at Sheehy Park and a few other things elsewhere. Worked towards Tyngsborough but didn’t find any river access there, so took 4 south. Had a Broad-wing fly over the Billerica Great Meadows unit, then stopped at Fawn Lake. Lots of bluets but the big bug was a bright red darner that buzzed across the pond then went up and out. Had to be a Comet but I really wish I had longer views.

Monday 6/24: BBN had a BB Cuckoo and a Red-shoulder plus FOY meadowhawk and spinylegs.

Tuesday 6/25: Nothing too exciting at Meriam’s Corner. Spotted Sandpiper, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager were new for me there but fully expected.