WIR 6/25-7/1

Wednesday 6/25: Nothing much at Falzone.

Thursday 6/26: Usual at Weston Station Pond.

Friday 6/27: Lots of swallows and an RB Nuthatch at BBN.

Saturday 6/28: Finally got out to Shirley for Grasshopper Sparrows. One or two were singing, although not visible. The field was hopping though, also had a Field Sparrow, a couple Savannahs, a meadowlark, and more. Got Shirley past 50, so moved on to Hudson. Started at Danforth Falls, which was mostly wooded and quiet in the mist. Got 5 of the 6 I needed there, so went to a trail along the Assabet. Parked at the boat launch instead of the school to avoid soccer traffic, figured no one cared with the weather. Got a few more here, so 5 towns to go for the entire county to be over 50. Best thing was a Short-tailed Weasel chasing a chipmunk around several trees. Pretty sure the chipmunk had already gotten away when the weasel saw me, but definitely at that point. Tried to find a spot in Maynard but didn’t see obvious parking, so went home.

Sunday 6/29: After seeing multiple reports of Mississippi Kite at Garden in the Woods over the last few weeks (and last year, and nearby in 2022), decided to conduct a search. Didn’t remember much open sky at the Garden, so decided to try places nearby. Started at Lyons-Cutler. Walked in from the newish Landham Rd trail, which had a nice view but nothing much. Thought I was on to something as soon as I got in the woods but it was a crow. Did the loop but other than GH Owls there wasn’t much of note.

Next up was Raymond Reservation, where the 2022 record was from. Parked (in the shade) at Feeley and walked over. Bushwhacked in to check for gallinules and stuff, but it was just swallows, geese, and blackbirds. Worked around without much more, so backtracked to the paved bit, walked to the end, and started scanning. Wasn’t too long before I had a few Red-tails, which were the first raptors up I had seen for the day. Continuing to scan, I picked up something different way out. Looked interesting shape wise, but it was so far out that I was struggling to get the camera to focus. Eventually got one shot that suggested my initial thought was good, but it was extremely tiny in frame (and once home I found it even smaller in a couple others). Decided I better get the scope, so ran back and gave up the sun to park at the pulloff. Back with the scope, it wasn’t long before I picked up the bird again a bit closer. On it quickly, I got the flash of pale secondaries that I wanted. In a bit of shock that my search actually succeeded, I gave it a few minutes (during which it came close enough for identifiable photos), got it posted, and then spent another half hour waiting for a return. That didn’t happen and it was getting hot, so off I went.

Monday 6/30: Went to Prospect Hill, mostly to check on the tiger beetles. Pretty much the usual birds and not much for butterflies or dragonflies but did have a pair of Red-bellies so a success.

Tuesday 7/1: Had to take the car in, so only had a short bit of time at BBN. Circled the parkway marsh and the hill by the apartments without much of anything. Car only took an hour so I sat at Hardy Pond, also nothing terribly exciting.

WIR 6/18-6/24

Wednesday 6/18: Family of Virginia Rails, Pileated, beaver, FOY Blue Dasher, Hooded Merganser at Great Meadows.

Thursday 6/19: Usual at BBN.

Friday 6/20: Nothing particularly noteworthy at Hobbs Brook (and Cranberry Hill) or Shade St. Not that I could hear much over the wind.

Saturday 6/21: Led the BBC walk to Willard Brook and Watatic. Started with a Luna Moth at the bathrooms, then had a few warblers, flyover crossbills, thrushes, etc. Brook itself was quiet but we had Louisiana Waterthrush immediately so didn’t walk far. Watatic had a few more warblers and a bunch of dragonflies including several emeralds, Martha’s Pennant, and Dragonhunter. Quick check of Fitchburg Res on the way home had an eagle and giant snapping turtle.

Sunday 6/22: Waited out the rain, then went up to some conservation land in Tyngsboro that I had picked out as having Cobra Clubtail potential. No luck with those but a few odes, a bunch of Bank Swallows, and a few butterflies.

Monday 6/23: Nothing exciting at Dunback.

Tuesday 6/24: Nothing east of the square in a very quick visit. Black-and-white was a surprise near the square, otherwise the usual.

WIR 6/11-6/17

Wednesday 6/11: BBN was pretty quiet, RB Grosbeaks near a nest were about it.

Thursday 6/12: Virginia Rail at Arlington Great Meaodws along with FOY Slender Spreadwing, Prince Baskettail, and Eastern Pondhawk.

Friday 6/13: College Pond had 2 otters, a RB Nuthatch, Veery, and not too much else.

Saturday 6/14: Heard Farm had mostly the usual. Sedge Meadow had an Orchard Oriole and lots of wet brush.

Sunday 6/15: Went down to Plymouth for the cicada/kite show. One kite over the car before I had parked, 1-2 more flying around. Cicadas were fairly numerous but not in huge numbers, although I counted 20 in one photo I took of the treetops, so there were probably far more than I realized. Myles Standish next, drop cool for odes but a few bluets that I haven’t seen in a while and a few other things. Pulled in at Nelson but it looked crowded, so just went home.

Monday 6/16: Young Ovenbird and Barred Owls at Estabrook.

Tuesday 6/17: Fairly quiet at Falzone and the West Meadow.

WIR 6/4-6/10

Wednesday 6/4: Farm Meadow had a single Bobolink and a Mourning Warbler, which I was starting to worry about missing. Looped out to 126 and around without much else.

Thursday 6/5: Pretty much nothing at Cookson. Orchard Oriole along the river.

Friday 6/6: Pileated was about it at Great Meadows.

Saturday 6/7: Foggier than I expected, so took a bit of time getting going. Worked my way towards Rumney, first with a stop at Spy Pond (absolutely nothing on the water). Earhart next, Draw Seven was still closed so Everett side it was. Started by walking to the wetland at Gateway. Killdeer there but not much else as expected. A House Wren was singing, which was a new bird for me in the area. Decided to walk down the path that goes behind and found a large snapping turtle laying eggs in the middle, so I didn’t get too far. Turned around to head back and heard a slightly odd call. Like a night heron but a bit raspier. Looked around and sure enough, a Yellow-crowned was flying by. Good looks but dropped too fast for the camera. I headed down hoping to find it in the trees or edge of the river. No sign by the dam, so I continued to the casino side. Other than a constant flow of cormorants and a couple Black-crowns, there wasn’t much going on. Started back and heard the croak again. This time there were two birds! Got some ok photos and watched them continue into Suffolk airspace.

Off to Rumney from here. This time I had muck boots, so I squished around the edge of the marsh. There were 5 ibis in the far corner, all Glossy. Also a few egrets and a ton of blackbirds but that was about it. Walked back to scan the other side and the Clapper Rail called briefly. Gave it a few minutes but no show, so that’s 3 counties now without seeing one. A few more ibis may have come in, but they were even further out, so I gave up and went to Winthrop Beach. Fog hadn’t cleared there, could barely see the sisters. Ton of plovers near the water and the terns weren’t happy when I walked near the fencing so I gave up pretty quickly. Did finally get FOY Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone. Rain started as I was driving and turned much heavier than expected as I was getting home, so timed pretty well.

Sunday 6/8: Minuteman survey was fairly quiet, turkey roosting next to the parking lot, deer intrigued by me, one Veery between points. Decided to run down to Millennium before I crashed and look for flycatchers for my Suffolk year list (which was phoebe, Least, and Yellow-bellied somehow). Willow, Alder, and kingbird all along the river as expected. Another kingbird was hovering in an odd way up above but I continued along the lower level. Debated crossing to Brook Farm for pewee and Great Crested, but a pewee was audible before I got to the bridge. And there was a Least Bittern calling! Gave that a few trying to find a way to view in but eventually gave up and settled for heard only. Debated an alert but decided to wait in case it was known and not wanting attention. Continued to the far end with a close waxwing gathering some plant matter, then went up to the mid-level. 

From way across the soccer field, I thought I was hearing a Bobolink. Sounded more obvious closer, so I went up the path that connects to the playground for a look. Found it pretty quickly and noticed something else in the same spot. A kingbird with a bit of yellow on the belly and a pale head. I panicked for a second but fortunately it moved a little and showed the tail confirming Western. This one got the alert out immediately. Of course, it moved while I was looking at the phone and I wasn’t seeing it. I moved up to the top level where I could look down and eventually it flew again. It turned out to be sitting deep in the weedy stuff, then would flit up and hover off and on before dropping again. If you weren’t on it when it went down, it was really hard to find. It took a good half hour for people to start arriving, with Matt, Reade, and Paul all showing up at once. Of course the bird was hiding, but after jumping at the Bobolink and others, it came back and proceeded to show well for pretty much everyone for the rest of the day and Monday (at least). Eventually made it back to the car and home for a nap.

Monday 6/9: Forest Grove loop had the usual stuff, Orchard Oriole being the most interesting.

Tuesday 6/10: Ton of cormorants, Herring Gulls, Osprey, and herons on the Mystic Lakes.

WIR 5/28-6/3

Wednesday 5/28: Went to Brewster’s Woods and heard the Prothonotary. Also RB Nuthatch finally and most of the usual summer stuff.

Thursday 5/29: Couple Blue-wings was about it at Dunback, loon at the res in a quick check.

Friday 5/30: Decided not to bother fighting traffic towards Mt. Auburn and went to Weston Station Pond. Mostly the usual, couple Prairie Warblers the most exciting. Also FOY Dusted Skipper and Red-spotted Purple.

Saturday 5/31: Waited out the rain then worked my way to Belle Isle. Stilt wasn’t visible when I got there but a Purple Martin flew by and I also got FOY Saltmarsh Sparrow. Eventually the stilt came out, ran around a bit, then took a nap before flying in a bit closer. Decent number of other birds but nothing too exciting. Eventually moved to look for the ibis found yesterday and phalaope found today. Pulled over for a scan at Revere Beach and a Manx Shearwater was close and the only bird in sight. The phalarope site had nothing but Chimney Swifts, so I moved on and found another spot to scan Rumney. A bunch of ibis were fairly close, all looked like Glossy. Could see some further out so doubled back for the scope and found them buried in tall grass. Watched for a bit and couldn’t find anything that looked different. Eventually took a walk down to the other end and had a Red-eyed Vireo singing. Returned again and they were even harder to see, so I gave up.

Sunday 6/1: Since I hadn’t added a month bird in two months (had planned on Grasshopper Sparrow yesterday and last weekend but weather and other plans got in the way), went to Horn Pond for the YC Night Heron. Not around and not much else either. Did a loop, then decided I might as well work on other things and went to the Wilmington dog park to get another town past 50. Since I was at 49 and basically hadn’t birded Wilmington in spring or summer, I got there in roughly 30 seconds and added another six in a short walk. Reading was at 36 and next door, so I went to the Maillet Conservation Area, which turned out to be fairly well landscaped and tiny, so not rushing back. Did get five easy ones. Thought about North Reading or even an Essex county Wood Thrush but decided with the wind, just staying close was better. Went to the Town Forest and did a fairly long walk. Swainson’s Thrush was the only mildly interesting bird but I got 13 needed ones, so two towns past 50 today.  Seven left and four are over 40 (and Holliston is 39). Hopefully knocking another couple off next weekend and then I may take a break until the fall. Then the second half of getting everything to 100 begin, which will probably require a bit more of a targeted approach, with repeated visits over the year to a few at a time instead of going scattershot.

Monday 6/2: Wanted to go to Habitat but traffic was backed up going left, so I went right and then decided Minuteman was easier. Walked the area behind the tavern (turkeys, redstart), then down the Battle Road (Magnolia) to Brooks Village (Field Sparrow). Looks like they’ve done away with the vernal pool trail completely, so ended up backtracking and had the odd singing Blue-winged.

Tuesday 6/3: Habitat for a change, nothing particularly of note. Had time for the duck ponds after, nothing there but the Mill Pond was mostly mud, wish I had known that a couple weeks ago.

WIR 5/21-5/27

Wednesday 5/21: Forest Grove, started by walking up to Lyons. BT Blue was somehow new for me in Newton, but otherwise fairly quiet. Cove and Flowed Meadow weren’t much busier. Wanted to stop at the res on the way home but traffic was bad.

Thursday 5/22: Quick stop at Minuteman for Kathy’s possibly interesting warbler had redstarts and not too much else. Continued with my plan of Nine Acre but the wet spot had dried a bit and the rain hadn’t started early enough so there wasn’t much there. Two loons on Flint’s, nothing but swallows at the res, and not much at Hardy.

Friday 5/23: Storm seemed to move on too early. Res was quiet, no birds in the corner at Nine Acre, so on to Great Meadows. Good number of swallows around including a few Cliff and Bank. No luck with the Prothonotary (which was heard by others) but a nighthawk flew over, which was the most overdue ‘commute’ bird I had yet to see (#258!).

Saturday 5/24: Decided on a coastal run, although it was a bit nicer than I would have liked. Got to Deer Island just after 8. Intended to focus on the water first, but went over the hill and heard a Blackpoll, so I stopped and poked around. Also Least Flycatcher, Wilson’s, Magnolia, redstarts, and a bit more. Went back down instead of across the top. Lots of gulls at the corner, which seemed like an odd spot. Quite a few Bonaparte’s further out. By the tanks, there were more warblers in the bushes along with an oriole. Tip was quiet, lot of terns but way out. Nothing particularly noteworthy on the walk back. Least, Blackpoll, and a Night Heron were all new for me here.

Next stop was Pico to see if the martins were still around. One possible as I walked up but didn’t get on it fast enough and no further sign in 10 minutes. Saw Tim had a pile of warblers on the Winthrop Greenway, so headed there instead of Belle Isle proper. Started at the cemetery but went right for the greenway which had a lot of song. More Magnolias, Wilson’s, and redstarts. Also BT Blue, Ovenbird, a hummingbird, and more. A flycatcher popped up briefly, which looked pretty bright and photos seemed to prove Yellow-bellied. Eventually, it started raining just heavily enough to move on. Walked the lower loop at the cemetery and it stopped, although nothing much. Just before the car there was a very busy tree with Parula, another Wilson’s, 3 Magnolia, a Blackpoll, Black-and-white, and redstarts. Thought about a quick check of Belle Isle from here but it started pouring as I got to Bennington St, so home it was.

Sunday 5/25: Led the Great Meadows BBC walk. Willows all over, Virginia Rail to the left, heard only waterthrush and Wilson’s, brief Least Bittern, Cliff Swallows, gnatcatcher on a nest, a Broad-wing, and more. Unfortunately the wind picked way up as we entered the woods and basically ended the ability to hear anything. Did a loop of Two Rod Rd and the side trails after, nothing much of note.

Monday 5/26: Did an ode trip out west. Before meeting up to carpool from Dunback, I walked Hayden Woods. Green Heron, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Parula, not a ton else. We drove out to Bertozzi and assembled only to find it clouding over. Couple things buzzed by when we reached the river but it was pretty quiet. We walked around a bit, not seeing much, but just as we were ready to give up it started to clear and things came out. A Mustached Clubtail or two, some Springtimer Darners, and a few other things before we started looking at the stuff on the river. I eventually managed enough of a photo to say one was a Uhler’s Sundragon, one of our targets (and a county ode for me). Walking around a bit, one flew past me then perched in the open, which was much nicer than poor flight views. Meanwhile Zack found a nighthawk and a hummingbird nest.

Eventually we moved on to the Elm Circle entrance of the Squannacook WMA. The sand pits had Beaverpond Baskettail and 3 species of tiger beetle. We walked down the trail a bit, but it eventually looked flooded, so we did a loop through the other sandy area adding a mating pair of sundragons, more tiger beetles, and a few other things. Excellent day out.

Tuesday 5/27: Wasn’t up for much of any driving, so went to BBN. Couple warblers up the hill, then an Alder singing at the cemetery. Started to move on and heard a very thin thrush song. Got some recordings, the bird popped up for poor photos and some video, and then double checked that Gray-cheeked seemed right. Sent off a quick message then moved on. Blackburnian on the far side, then Canada near where the trail drops down. Saw Lily heading towards the thrush and I had time to double back, adding Wilson’s and another Blackburnian on the way. No luck for me, but she had it a bit later and got better views than I did.

WIR 5/14-5/20

Wednesday 5/14: Prospect Hill had Blackburnian and Wilson’s, so just about done with expected warblers for the year. Spent a long time tracking down a bird that sounded like a Worm-eating but eventually confirmed it as Chipping. Also lots of tanagers, GC Flycatchers and pewees, the ravens nest was active, flyover GB Heron and cormorant. Stream Cruiser on the return trip.

Thursday 5/15: Raining a bit too much. Same swallows and not much else at the res. Two Wood Duck at Flint’s. A few Least at Nine Acre (although I should have scanned more as Simon had a Dunlin a bit later). Lightened up quite a bit so I headed towards Arlington Res. Traffic was lousy and it picked up again. Water is also way up with no mud. Orchard Oriole was the only thing of note in a couple minutes.

Friday 5/16: No Kentucky or much else at Mt. Auburn. Veery was a FOY, a few warblers and a Black Swallowtail otherwise.

Saturday 5/17: Did a swing to the southern border towns. Ashland State Park was fairly quiet, couldn’t find much of anything in the way of migrants and some of the expected summering birds were quiet. Did have 2 Barred Owls and 18 others but only got to 45. Waseeka in Hopkinton. Just walked to the water and back, but got 12 (out of 5 needed), so that’s done for the moment. Tried to go to Brentwood in Holliston next but could not find the parking spot. Pulled in at the Adams Street land but there were multiple mountain bikers setting up and limited parking, so I skipped it. Quick buzz of the res had nothing.

Sunday 5/18: Did my walking big day, not the best day for it. Falzone had a Swainson’s Thrush and a few warblers. Another Swainson’s at the West Meadow. BBN had a fair number of warblers but not too much else. Virginia Rail was a nice surprise at Rock Meadow. Since I was barely past 50, I didn’t bother going further. Return trip was pretty quiet, 55 total. Did have some decent bugs including FOY Familiar Bluet, Hobomok Skipper, Monarch, and Little Wood Satyr.

Monday 5/19: Tried Tanner’s Brook for a change. Wind made things hard to hear (and I was expecting to be hit by a branch at any moment). Handful of warblers including 2 Blue-winged, 2 BT Green, several redstart, a couple waxwings, and not too much else. Had time after for a quick stop at Nine Acre (2 Least, 1 plover that may or may not have been a Semi), and the res (mostly Chimney Swifts).

Tuesday 5/20: Couple redstarts at Cookson. Ton of cormorants and Herring Gulls along the river along with an Osprey, not too much else at either.

WIR 5/7-5/13

Wednesday 5/7: Weston Station Pond was pretty busy, topped 60 species (first time on a workday, although the extra half hour helps). FOY Orchard Orioles and Indigo Buntings plus Broad-wing, waterthrush with an ode, 3-4 Osprey, etc.

Thursday 5/8: Fought traffic to Mt. Auburn. Slowish day but 2 Cape May, Magnolia, Blackpoll, a few other warblers. Finally caught up with the Barred Owl too.

Friday 5/9: Loon at the res. Foggy at Great Meadows but northeast winds. Lot of swallows included a Cliff. Also YT Vireo, Marsh Wrens, a few warblers, a Virginia Rail finally, etc.

Saturday 5/10: Swallows at the res by the hundreds. Nothing at Flint’s or Nine Acre. Or Heard. Was thinking about continuing south where the rain may have been stopping but saw the Brant report at Magazine Beach and went that way. No Brant, a few mostly common things before heading to Earhart. Didn’t realize Draw Seven is completely closed, so walked a bit at Sylvester Baxter since I was already parked. Finally a Rough-wing for Somerville, nothing much else. Circled around to the Everett side. Walked down to the new wet spot at Gateway, where there were two Solitary Sandpipers (too much rain lately?). Small flock of warblers on the way back had a BT Blue, couple Parulas, Black-and-white, Yellow-rumps, and Yellow plus a RB Grosbeak, which brings my patch list to 140. Casino side had a loon, a few sparrows, and not too much else (no Willet unsurprisingly).

Sunday 5/11: Had a group outing for dragonflies, which meant we didn’t meet until 11, so I made a stop at the Pinnacle Trail in Tewksbury. Only needed 4 to get that list over 50 and almost could have done it if I was starting from zero. Nothing terribly exciting but a few warblers, FOY Bobolink, a very angry Solitary Sandpiper, and other stuff. An eagle, Broad-wing, and a few other raptors on the drive up to Fremont.

We gathered and began the boghaunter hunt. Springtime Darner got attention for a second, then a Stream Cruiser and a few Lancet Clubtails. We were getting ready to split up when one was found, but it took off before Dennis got the views he wanted. So we split and went down the rail trail. Something small flew past my head and I ran after to find a boghaunter perched fairly high on a tree trunk. Fortunately it stayed and then we found several more on the ground, which meant everyone had the views and photos they wanted. Only problem of the day was the first two ice cream shops were closed, but we eventually found one open.

Monday 5/12: Started at Hobbs Brook. Stayed roadside and had a few warblers, a Wood Thrush, Osprey, and more, ending at 45 species. Continued to Hayden Woods. Still like the boardwalk for boghaunter potential but I’ve been looking long enough to say they’re probably not here. More of the same here, FOY (presumed) Cherry Gaul Azures among them.

Tuesday 5/13: Supposed to be a big night so BBN was the plan. A few warblers were singing right at the parking lot, so I hustled down to the trails along the edge of Mackerel (stopping for a Solitary in the small roadside wetland). Wasn’t too busy here but I had 2 Pileated, a hummingbird, and a few more warblers including decent numbers of Blue-wings. A Bay-breasted heading downhill was nice. Went around the big marsh and there was an Alder Flycatcher singing and calling on the back side along with a Canada Warbler, then a pewee a bit further along.

WIR 4/30-5/6

Wednesday 4/30: Gnatcatcher, raven, bunch of Yellow-rumps at Cookson. Nothing particularly exciting along the river.

Thursday 5/1: Decent variety at Estabrook including both waterthrushes, BT Blues, RB Grosbeaks, and more. Also 2 Osprey over Hobbs Brook and a grosbeak flying over Meriam’s on the way over.

Friday 5/2: Decided to check the res after overnight showers and found basically nothing. Rt. 2 looked a bit traffic-y and since it was overcast, went for Arlington Res instead of Mt. Auburn. A few shorebirds including FOY Spotted and Least, usual swallows, barely any warblers, no ducks. Finished quickly so went to McClennen, which had a raven, couple Savannahs, and a Green Heron. Another Spotted and nothing else at Hardy.

Saturday 5/3: Went to Belle Isle and vicinity for the first time in a while. Greenway/cemetery had a handful of warblers, Ovenbirds and a Blackpoll the most interesting. Also FOY Common Tern and a bunch of American Ladies. Winthrop Beach next, had the plovers, oystercatcher, Least Terns, etc that I was hoping for along with all 3 scoters, both loons, and a few other things. Back to Belle Isle proper, which was fairly dead beyond the shovelers and some Lesser Yellowlegs. Detoured to Pine Banks Park in Malden on the way home and got 14 Malden birds (12 plus goose and swan on Fellsmere Pond on the way by) including hummingbird, waterthrush, and a few other warblers.

Sunday 5/4: Led the Mt. Auburn trip. Other than everything flying off as people started to get on things, not bad.Yellow-rumps, Black-and-white, and Parulas everywhere plus Cape May, Magnolia, tanager, Least Flycatcher. After the walk ended, I wandered Alewife Brook by Dilboy Field, which was a pretty big disappointment. Given that I was at 96 for Somerville and needed all but 3 warblers plus a bunch of other common things, I only added BT Green and had basically nothing of interest otherwise. Did Meadowbrook too, BT Blue and a Night Heron were about it. Checked the res on the way home, 5 Ruddy still (and a Wood Duck with them).

Monday 5/5: Raining too hard for much. Ton of swallows at the res, too far out to see without getting the scope out. Eagle landed along Old County as I was going by. Nothing at Flint’s or Nine Acre. Cormorants and Herring Gulls at the Mystic Lakes, nothing at Spy Pond. More swallows including at least one Bank at Hardy.

Tuesday 5/6: Only had time for a quick walk around Hardy and Graverson. Black-and-white and Savannah were about it, pond was fogged almost completely in.

WIR 4/23-4/29

Wednesday 4/23: Lot of Savannahs, nesting Cooper’s, a few Hermit Thrushes, three turkeys, a Mourning Cloak, and not much else at Dunback.

Thursday 4/24: Bunch of arrivals at Forest Grove including BH Vireo, catbird, Black-and-white, Nashville, and Chimney Swifts. Lot of other birds but they were mostly Yellow-rumps.

Friday 4/25: Started towards College Pond but it was unexpectedly pouring and didn’t appear to be a passing shower, so I went to Heard Pond. Solitary, eagle, Osprey, Rusty, few other things. Did let up enough to walk but almost everything was visible or audible from the car. Snipe flew by while I was scanning the marsh on the way out. Had time for the res, which had a loon and 2 Bufflehead.

Saturday 4/26: Did a quick run around the res and Nine Acre before the rain got too bad. Two loons on the res, ibis flying at Nine Acre, and that was about it.

Sunday 4/27: Town listing plus lots of swifts and swallows at the res on the way home.

Monday 4/28: Hanscom and Gaining Ground had FOY Great Crested, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged, and Yellow Warbler plus House Wren, thrasher, 4 kestrels, 2 Black-and-whites, and more. Also Eastern Pine Elfin, azures, a duskywing, Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, and Common Green Darner.

Tuesday 4/29: Little quieter than hoped for at BBN. FOY Parula and oriole plus BT Green, Blue-winged, kingbird, more of the same insects, etc.