Author: jason

Wednesday 10/30: 3 Lesser Yellowlegs and the Nashville at Arlington Res.

Thursday 10/31: Pond check turned up nothing.

Friday 11/1: Bald Eagle and a few Rusties at Sudbury GM. Very quickly checked the gardens by Round Hill, Field Sparrow among others there.

Saturday 11/2: Started at Rock Meadow Pond where I couldn’t find the Red-headed Woodpecker but had a pretty good variety of birds, a meadowhawk, and a nice Red Fox. Saw that the Pacific-slope Flycatcher was being seen again, so headed out to Hadley. Lucked out and got on the bird in about 10 seconds, then got pretty good views a couple times over the next hour. Decided not to join the group hunting geese and went to Quabbin instead. Got a message that they had a White-front but I wasn’t about to double all the way back for that. Couple scaup at Winsor Dam and not much else there. Tried Goodnough Dike and was about to say it was a bust but 17 Brant then flew over (calling!). Pileated and a Shadow Darner on the way out. Turek’s Swamp had a few ducks and a Killdeer. Res scan on the way home had a bunch of Bufflehead and Hoodies plus a RN Grebe.

Sunday 11/3: Res had nothing. Joined the BBC trip to Wakefield, highlights were Rusty Blackbirds, a flyover Snow Bunting, and Black Scoters. Arlington Res after had very little.

Monday 11/4: Two BH Vireos and first of fall American Tree Sparrow at BBN. 

Tuesday 11/5: Pond check was quiet after a few other usual at Hardy.

Wednesday 10/23: Pond check turned up 4 Wood Ducks at the res and basically nothing else.

Thursday 10/24: No Grasshopper Sparrow at Kaveski, BH Vireo, 4 species of blackbirds the highlights.

Friday 10/25: Timing of the plumber meant I had to get ready early so went to Westborough. Nothing unusual, lots of common sparrows.

Saturday 10/26: Decided not to run out to Hadley. McClennen had nothing exciting. Late Solitary, Semipalmated Plover, and Nashville at Arlington Res plus a pipit. Late BT Green at Arlington Great Meadows. Very little at Waltham St and Hobbs Brook.

Sunday 10/27: Wasn’t raining early so hit Danehy for a bit. Marsh Wren was about the only thing of interest. Spy Pond in the rain had 150+ cormorants, Mystic Lakes had a flock of Hoodies.

Monday 10/28: Finally got to Farm Pond, which I’d been saying I should do all fall. Started out the causeway and pretty quickly flushed a very pale sparrow that looks good for Ipswich. My first in the county but the second one to be seen here. That took quite a bit of time, so I didn’t get to the north end. Did have a Bufflehead, 2 coots, and a pipit.

Tuesday 10/29: Nothing of note at Great Meadows.

Wednesday 10/16: Lots of the usual sparrows and Yellow-rumps at BBN but little else.

Thursday 10/17: Pond check had nothing but a few gulls at the res. Fortunately they lingered.

Friday 10/18: 3 geese at the res was it. Very late tanager, lots of Yellow-rumps, not a ton else at Forest Grove.

Saturday 10/19: Did a Plymouth county run which wasn’t the best. Elllisville Harbor was fairly good, at least along the marsh and beach. Marsh Wren, Forster’s Tern, tons of gannets, White-rumped Sandpiper, and more. The fields were quiet. Quick stop at Manomet Point had nothing, so went to Tidmarsh. Long walk around had White-crowned and Field Sparrows but still couldn’t get a Savannah. Manomet Point again was even slower, so tried Nelson Field, which also looked quiet. Checked hotspots towards home and tried the Duxbury Bogs. A bunch of Rusties and a few ducks and shorebirds but no sparrows. Buzzed the res on the way home and wasn’t surprised by 2 Black Scoters given the numbers elsewhere today.

Also lots of meadowhawks all over including an immature looking one, plus a late Bronzed(?) Tiger Beetle.

Sunday 10/20: Slight change in plans, instead of West Meadow then Rock Meadow I went straight to Rock Meadow. Also sapsucker and first local juncos of the fall. Then on to Milton. Fowl Meadow had a BT Blue, a really cooperative Red-shoulder, and lots of Yellow-rumps. Quick check of the res had a PB Grebe, Ruddy, and 4 Ring-necks.

Monday 10/21: Towhee was the best thing at Kaveski.

Tuesday 10/22: Nothing exciting at West Meadow, which left enough time to get the kingbird as commute #227.

Wednesday 10/9: Nor’easter didn’t quite materialize (at least the rain) but did a pond check anyway. Nothing on the res, absolutely nothing on Flint’s. Nothing at the bridge on Pelham Island Rd. Started with nothing but cormorants at Heard but eventually picked up a distant Ruddy. Pulled in at the other end to see if it was closer and had about 18 Rough-wings flying around. GW Teal back at the swamp.

Thursday 10/10: Thought it was supposed to be worse out so did a pond loop. Ruddy and a few Rough-wings at Heard the only birds of note (and almost the only birds).

Friday 10/11: Still a drop too nice, Great Meadows was very quiet.

Saturday 10/12: Started at Deer Island hoping for storm birds. Bit foggy/spraying for that but did have a Tree Swallow, 150+ Laughing Gulls, a few Bonaparte’s, a White-crowned Sparrow and see from ebird reports that I didn’t miss that much. Tried Nut Island next. Better visiblity but only a couple Peregrines as anything to note. Pulled in along Wollaston Beach on the way out and found one skimmer remaining. Earhart had police activity and 130+ cormorants lined up. Nothing at Spy Pond, Hobbs Brook, or the res in a quick drive around.

Sunday 10/13: Rusty Blackbird, PB Grebe, Ring-neck about it at Sandy Beach. Nothing exciting at the rest of the lakes or at Meadowbrook. Fresh Pond was quiet but had a decent number of Syrphids, although apparently all ones I’ve had this year. Quick scope of Arlington Res had nothing new and nothing in the open at Hobbs Brook (actually started the day at the res but the sun was too bad).

Monday 10/14: Nothing exciting at a brief stop along the Charles in Watertown and at Waltham St.

Tuesday 10/15: Tennessee or two, Purple Finch, 3+ Field Sparrows at the Wayland Community Gardens.