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Wednesday 1/28: Cold

Thursday 1/29: Finally made it out. River walk was full of ducks, mostly the usual with a few more mergansers and 3 Lesser Scaup. Also a Swamp Sparrow and some sort of swimming mammal.

Friday 1/30: Cold

Saturday 1/31: Went for the gull show at Revere Beach. Got the six expected species but was enjoying the spectacle more than searching for weirdos. Also Black Scoter but not much else in a quick scan of the water. Stopped at the res briefly on the way home, 6 Greater Scaup in with the usual.

Sunday 2/1: Did a Watertown Square loop, got the two warblers and kinglet plus an eagle and the usual ducks. Did a Nine Acre/School St loop later with zero birds (or stops).

Monday 2/2: Decided the road wasn’t quite wide enough to stop at the Mystic Lakes, ended up at Beaver Brook which had a raven and not much else.

Tuesday 2/3: Raven and GB Heron were the excitement at BBN. Two ravens flying past the yard were nice though.

Wednesday 1/21: Too cold (expect more of that for a bit)

Thursday 1/22: Nothing east of the square, 2 eagles west. Res had the usual ducks and a coyote.

Friday 1/23: Fairly quiet along the river, usual ducks plus a Red-shoulder, no passerines of note.

Saturday 1/24: Cold

Sunday 1/25: Snow

Monday 1/26: Snow

Tuesday 1/27: Snow

Wednesday 1/14: River walk had a few ducks and RC Kinglet. Nothing exciting down to Prospect. Return trip added a raccoon.

Thursday 1/15: Great Meadows was pretty quiet but finally found one of the Great Horneds (211 for GM) and had a couple deer in the woods.

Friday 1/16: Too cold and windy. School St had larks, a crow, and a raven. Nothing at Nine Acre. Deer carcass with coyote at the res, didn’t scope the birds.

Saturday 1/17: Intended to go up to Lowell and Tyngsboro but it was snowing enough that I decided to stay closer. Ell Pond still had the scaup and finally got a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Walked the edge of frozen Spot Pond next, adding creeper and RB Nuthatch for Stoneham. Turned the wrong way for Fellsmere Pond so went straight to Earhart where the usuals were around.

Sunday 1/18: Forecast was still for an early start to the snow, so again skipped Lowell. Started at Pelham Island Rd where there was a GW Teal among the ducks but nothing more exciting. Walked Water Row next, Merlin and 25+ waxwings by the King Philip parking, a Winter Wren across from the pond, and a Red-shoulder and catbird on the way back. It was snowing pretty decently, but continued to the Assabet and Mill Pond in Maynard (nothing of note), School St (larks staying distant), and Nine Acre (400 geese but nothing else). Did a loop of the res a bit later, no carcass and didn’t scope the ducks.

Monday 1/19: Lazy with the snow

Tuesday 1/20: West Meadow boardwalk was pretty quiet. Rusty was still in the same spot at BBN, not much else there beyond a heron in the big marsh.

Wednesday 1/7: Too icy

Thursday 1/8: Dunback had one towhee and a few Purple Finches.

Friday 1/9: Great Meadows was too busy with the gate closed, so went to Meriam’s. Grackle, Horned Lark, and a fox.

Saturday 1/10: Started at Nut Island where the King Eider was right by the pier (actually swam under it while I was at the end. Also Horned Grebe, LT Duck, a few other things. Squantum Point Park next, Yellow-rump calling as I got out of the car but very little after. Walked along the river and around Commander Shea without much of anything. Continued on to Sylvester Baxter, where I had a loon, 2 scaup, a couple coots, and a pile of gulls. Looped around to Earhart. More ducks on the river but very little on land. Found another loon on the way back. Did a res loop later, eagle was on the rocks right where all the birds have been, seemed like most didn’t care.

Sunday 1/11: Fresh Pond in the limited light had a Merlin, Yellow-rump, 4 loons, a sapsucker, etc. Continued to Mt. Auburn where I couldn’t find the Swainson’s but did have the Orange-crowned. Decided to go for the ducks at Farm Pond instead of Fenway next. Crowd was on the Redhead (and Iceland), no sign of the Barrow’s. Walked at the other end and didn’t add much.

Monday 1/12: Went back to Mt. Auburn where I had the Swainson’s but mostly while standing on the opposite side of Halcyon. Also got the warbler for the ‘commute’ and a RC Kinglet.

Tuesday 1/13: Weston Station Pond was frozen and there wasn’t much along the bike path. Smaller numbers but the usual ducks still at the res and there were four coyotes on the ice.

Wednesday 12/31: Windier than I expected. Started at Revere Beach where I didn’t see the YT Warbler (apparently it was further down the street the other way) and didn’t spend much time looking at the water. Went to Winthrop Beach and Yirrell where I didn’t see much more (and missed the oystercatchers). More or less gave up at that point and gave Beaver Brook another loop without any luck.

Thursday 1/1: Waited out the snow then went to Earhart, unfortunately not quite ahead of the wind. Pretty quiet, usual ducks, nothing on land. No YT Warbler reports yet, so started back and stopped at the Mystic River. Of course there’s an immediate yes on the warbler but I wasn’t turning around. Got a few more ducks here and at the lakes but not much else.

Friday 1/2: Started the town listing for the year. Lake Q was frozen, so continued into Reading. Didn’t actually look at the Jordan’s marsh but added crow and pigeon while driving around the parking lot. Did a walk through the town forest adding a few common things. Tried Martin’s Pond, which was also frozen so on to Silver Lake. Gulls were dropping in, Iceland was obvious right away but after that it was just Herring that I could find. Thought about the dog park but decided the goldeneye at Horn Pond was more interesting. Got that, plus the thrasher, so probably the right choice. Afternoon loop of Nine Acre and the res didn’t have anything new.

Saturday 1/3: Went out to Wachusett. Started at Gate 25 where I did not find the Barrow’s (or much of any goldeneye). Did have 3 Lesser Scaup though. Walked in from 39 next. Found the geese on the dike and picked out the White-fronted easily, although the angle wasn’t the best. Also more scaup, two eagles, and seven Horned Lark. Had to be in Lincoln around noon, so went to School St from here. Got lots of larks and a Snow Bunting but no longspur. Lot of Canadas at Nine Acre but no Snow or Rough-leg.

Sunday 1/4: Waited out the snow then went for the Yellow-throated Warbler at Revere Beach. Drove down the parkway and found a small group pointing cameras at a pine, so that was easy. Went back to the circle and scoped for a bit. Usual ducks and stuff but no luck with oystercatchers. Went to the greenway/cemetery next. Marsh was very flooded although nothing terribly exciting. Red-shoulder flew over the stump dump, which was nice. Gave the breakers another scan from the parking lot without luck, so went to Winthrop Beach too. Turnstone on one sister, a Purple Sandpiper on another, a few more ducks, and a big flock of Snow Buntings. Checked the river (frozen) and the res (same ducks) on the way home.

Monday 1/5: Rusty and Fox Sparrow at BBN among 30+ species, which was more than I expected in the cold.

Tuesday 1/6: Nothing east of the square, Pine Warbler was the only warbler still around west.

Wednesday 12/24: Found the other towhee at Dunback. Also Winter Wren, Purple Finch, RC Kinglet, not too much else.

Thursday 12/25: Did a quick Kaveski/Meriam’s loop with nothing. Afternoon drive around the res and Nine Acre had more of the same, no luck with the Snow Goose.

Friday 12/26: Went out to Wachusett for the geese. Ross’s were on the water, couldn’t find the GWF though. Too cold for much else, tried for the Barrow’s but the only male goldeneyes were distant flying birds. Should have stopped at Dexter Drumlin, but didn’t. Mill Pond in Maynard on the way home had 2 eagles. Afternoon loop had the Snow Goose at Nine Acre, nothing different looking at the res.

Saturday 12/27: Lazy for a change

Sunday 12/28: Concord CBC. Started poorly with Hartwell not plowed, so I circled around to the office park. Walked down Hanscom Drive and had a sapsucker fly towards Ricci. Ricci itself was quiet, but a Pileated flew over as I was leaving. Back through Hartwell without much and down to Tanner’s Brook, which also was very quiet. Took the back trail to Hartwell and walked through to get back to the car, again without much. Only 24 species.

Monday 12/29: Too nasty, didn’t see a thing in the yard beyond squirrels

Tuesday 12/30: Gave Beaver Brook (South) a quick check for Townsend’s Solitaire with no luck. Lot of juncos, not too much else.

Wednesday 12/17: Dunback was pretty quiet, couple Purples and a flock of waxwings. On a second pass before leaving, one of the towhees started calling and briefly showed. Also 6 deer and a shrew.

Thursday 12/18: 5 deer and a Red-shoulder at BBN.

Friday 12/19: Only had time for a quick check of the river in Watertown, no luck with the warblers or anything else (beyond turkeys on the way over). Also did a res/Hardy loop but right after the rain started.

Saturday 12/20: Went down to Squantum to try for the Audubon’s Warbler. Had a slightly possible sighting when I walked in but it moved and I didn’t find it again. A good 8-10 Myrtles, a Hermit Thrush, a Common Merganser, and a few other things along Commander Shea. Went to Nut Island next, usual ducks. Stopped at Wollaston where a cormorant flew over. On to Great Pond where I picked out the Barrow’s eventually and also had a Ruddy and GW Teal, which got me to 80 for December in Norfolk.

Sunday 12/21: Thought about the Ross’s Geese bouncing around Worcester but decided the wind wasn’t going to make that too pleasant. Went to Ell Pond instead (stopping at Spot Pond first, Fish Crow, Ruddy there). Ton of geese to pick through but nothing different. Eventually dug out the shoveler, not much else. Drove by Fellsmere Pond which appeared to only have Mallards, so on to Horn Pond. Ton of geese on the main pond, worked up and down for a while without finding the Cackling. Started to head back down the causeway and saw a message that it was by Sturgis, so picked up the pace. Got most of the way back when 4 Canadas and a small bird flew over. Didn’t get great views but a message that they had left right then was enough to confirm. Ran down to the garden pond in case they had dropped there but they hadn’t. Stopped at Library Park on the way out and it was there. Afternoon pass of the res didn’t have anything, 30+ turkeys at Potter Pond on the way back.

Monday 12/22: Arlington Res was frozen, bunch of geese and not much else. That gave me time to check the Mystic River, which had a DC Cormorant and a bunch of Hoodies.

Tuesday 12/23: Started at Ricci, which was completely dead. Flint’s had minimal water open with no birds. Lot of geese on the river at Nine Acre, so I walked over to count nothing but Canada. Drove around the golf course with more Canada, then finally to Verrill where the Snow Goose was obvious. Tried from the office side, which is now temporarily blocked off, so went back and had lousy views. More or less had time to check the res on the way home, few scaup, a Pintail, a Ruddy, some wigeon, etc among the common stuff.

Wednesday 12/10: Did the river walk partially to CBC scout and partially hoping for more warblers. No luck with the warblers, RC Kinglet was about the most interesting thing. Few mergansers and other ducks but not too much.

Thursday 12/11: Started at Dunback. No luck with the yellowthroat but a flock of Purple Finches dropped in. Walked down to the bridge without anything. On the way back, an odd hawk came over and eventually proved to be a Rough-leg (192 for the ‘commute’!). Circled through the pines but the wind had picked way up and some twigs were falling, so I left. Bob had a Wilson’s at the duck ponds yesterday, gave those a loop without much of anything.

Friday 12/12: Cold, windy, and quiet at Falzone. Res had a lot of ducks, nothing new. Hardy had a GW Teal mixed in with a few Ring-necks.

Saturday 12/13: Started with the Snow Goose that’s been hanging out on the Watertown/Allston line. Peregrine on the bridge as I drove over, big flock of geese right at the parking lot, Snow among them. Walked down to the community gardens without much of anything. Next up, east of Watertown Square. Walked from the square down to the boat club with a few ducks and a lot of doves being about it. Did a short loop at the square (just checking the areas I don’t think people were doing), then the river walk. Probably a different kinglet but not too much else. Pulled in at the field station but decided it was too windy to bother walking around. Afternoon loop didn’t have anything obvious on the res, just mergansers and a goldeneye at Flint’s, and a few geese and turkeys at Nine Acre.

Sunday 12/14: CBC in the snow. Purple Finches at Dunback, lots of robins and White-throats at Falzone, waxwings and both kinglets by the Y, very little along the river, 300 geese at Gore.

Monday 12/15: Nothing obvious at the res. Decent number of mergansers and a close eagle at the Mystic Lakes. More mergansers and a few gulls at Spy Pond.

Tuesday 12/16: Winter Wren, 3 GW Teal, pile of Great Blues at Alewife.

Wednesday 12/3: BBN had 4 Evening Grosbeaks fly over, a few Red-wings, 2 Ring-necks, and not too much else. Quick check of the res and Hardy didn’t have anything obvious worth stopping for.

Thursday 12/4: Bunch of ducks on the res, but in a mob way out. Dunback had a harrier but not much else, no luck with the yellowthroat, any yellow-rumps, etc.

Friday 12/5: Too cold for much. Gave the goose a loop for the commute list but had 2 Hoodies and a Herring Gull and nothing else. Quick check of the Charles had a few Canadas. Res looked busy but everything was packed way out and it was very shimmery besides the cold. Hardy was mostly frozen but had a few Ruddy and Bufflehead and a cormorant was still around, although circling in the air like it was ready to go.

Saturday 12/6: Went out to Fitchburg where it took about 30 minutes for the longspur to show up and about the same for it to move close. Lots of larks and a few Snow Buntings besides but not too much else. Snowing too much to stay out that way, dropped by Mill Pond in Maynard (Mallards and geese), School St (geese and snow), and Flint’s (mergansers) before deciding to walk Waltham St. quickly. Rusty was the only thing of interest.

Sunday 12/7: Quick stop at Spy Pond had 300-400 Common Mergansers. Wandered the Encore grounds for a while hoping for a western warbler but had to ‘settle’ for a chat. Loop of Gateway didn’t find any either. Lot of Bufflehead and RB Mergs on the water. Torbert MacDonald next, quiet other than a ton of geese. Station Landing as much as a way to turn around had a ton of gulls but nothing of interest.

Monday 12/8: West Meadow had a flyover grackle and a few waxwings. Nothing at BBN. Sort of had time for a res loop, 40 turkeys at Potter Pond on the way. Two eagles as I was passing still on 128, ton of ducks but didn’t scope them. On the way home, a Killdeer flew around the Welch’s campus, there’s been a few around but a nice December bird.

Tuesday 12/9: Even though it was cold, followed up on a BT Green report at Watertown Square to make sure it wasn’t anything better (although BT Green was probably better in December). Got out of the car and a Nashville immediately popped up. Eagle flew over, then perched a bit down the path. Exact location came through and I hurried over to the dog spa. Which had no birds, but I could here some titmice across the river so walked over. Eventually heard a chip and a BT Green popped up. Cliff crossed over and we watched it and briefly saw a second bird that I thought was a Pine although Merlin came back Orange-crowned. I started to head off but Cliff started messaging about a very bright yellow bird, so I doubled back. It had disappeared, but we looked at his cell phone photos and leaned towards Yellow. We decided to go back to the dog spa and quickly found a couple birds. One was the BT Green and one was an Orange-crowned. Another bird jumped in, which turned out to be a kinglet. And finally another, which was a Yellow Warbler.