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DSA 2012 Day 3

Friday 5/4: Today started at Cheraw State Park, about 40 minutes from the hotel. It was a bit cloudy when we arrived and slow to start. Working the lake shore, we found a few Blue Corporals and I got a quick look at a Banded Pennant.

Further down, there were a few Gomphids. I wandered down the shaded stream a bit and saw some jewelwings but not much else. A few of us wandered down the road and then decided it would be faster to make a full circle instead of turning around. Turns out it was much longer (and other than a Yellow-throated Warbler outside the park there was nothing of interest).

Rejoining everyone, I fished a pair of Cypress Clubtails out of the water. Others had a couple other species that I wanted to see but I never caught up with any. Wandering back, Burgandy and Sandhill Bluets were visible.

We then broke off for lunch, finding a diner nearby. Fairly good and the break was nice.

The next stop was the nearby Cambell Lake. There were a few things along the main shore, although nothing too exciting. Others reported some good things in a clear cut a few feet up the road, so I headed over. It was pretty rough walking (lots of branches and lots of mucky spots) and I had no luck finding the rarer things (the main group of people here were the westerners who were excited by all the common stuff).

We then headed back to the hotel for an hour or two. I ran out to a CVS to get some first aid supplies as the chiggers had found me quite tasty.

We then regrouped and headed to Lynches River County Park for the evening barbecue. Food was good, conversation was good. I arranged a ride back with Dan and stayed for the shadowdragon hunting. Unfortunately we didn’t find many and all the ones caught were still Umber (although one other came in to a blacklight).

WIR 5/30-6/5

Wednesday 5/30: Ruddy Duck still at Hardy Pond. Purgatory Cove had the usual suspects.

Thursday 5/31: Killdeer, 2-3 herons, Tree Swallows, pewee all a bit unexpected at the duck ponds (emphasis on bit).

Friday 6/1: Slope at Prospect Hill had very few birds. However, Silver-spotted and Dusted Skippers, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Prince Baskettail, Painted and Twelve-spotted Skimmers, Black Saddlebags, and Swamp Darner were all first of year bugs. Swamp Darner is also my first recorded one in Mass, although I’ve seen several way up that I haven’t been quite convinced about.

Saturday 6/2: ‘Led’ a BBC/MBC trip to Great Meadows. Since it was pouring, only one person showed up and we scanned for no more than 10 minutes from the tower before bailing.

Sunday 6/3: Tried Great Meadows again. Most of the usual but no luck with Least Bittern and gallinule.

Monday 6/4: Habitat survey in the rain was not exactly fun. One possible creeper. Hardy Pond and Cambridge Res had nothing of note.

Tuesday 6/5: Rock Meadow survey had the usual. Blue-winged Warbler and Willow Flycatcher were new from the previous one. Young Barn Swallows at the duck ponds.

WIR 5/23-5/29

Wednesday 5/23: North end of the Cambridge Res: BT Green, Redstart, Parula, Blackpoll, Spotted Sandpiper, kingfisher, etc. Good number of dragonflies although lots too far to ID.

Thursday 5/24: Habitat survey early had the usual plus a parula and blackpoll. Duck ponds at lunch had first pondhawk and jewelwings of the year.

Friday 5/25: Rock Meadow survey had the usual. Not much at Purgatory Cove or near the landfill.

Saturday 5/26: Lincoln

Sunday 5/27: Ended up being lazy. That turned out to be good when John Hines stopped by to report having a Summer Tanager at Prospect Hill. We ran right over and were able to hear, but not see, the bird. That’s 199 for Waltham! Also Prairie Warbler and Ovenbird.

Monday 5/28: Back to Prospect Hill. Ran into Cliff and then Glenn and Vin and had no luck.

Tuesday 5/29: BBN: first Red-spotted Purples of the year, plus Blue-winged Warblers in possibly a new spot.

Kentucky Down

One of my (unstated) goals for the spring was to find at least one of the four warblers that occur annually in the county that I’ve yet to find on my own: Golden-winged, Kentucky, Yellow-throated, and Prothonotary. For most of the spring, absolutely no luck. I wasn’t even seeing any of the multiple Kentuckies being reported.

Today, I decided to take a walk through Lincoln. My plan was to check Farm Meadow for migrants, then make a quick pass through Lindentree and Mt. Misery before checking on Marj’s Kentucky at the Drumlin Farm offices. On arriving, I decided to start at Drumlin. It was pretty quiet there with a couple Carolina Wrens and crows being about it. On the way out, a turkey walked down the road, saw me, and immediately began to display.

I then decided to walk down Codman Rd (since I was already there) to 126. One bluebird on the way down plus a rooster running into the woods was about it for there. Working down 126 were lots of baskettails and appeared to be a couple other odes but no idea as to what. I crossed over and took the path behind St. Anne’s.

The fields were pretty quiet, one bluebird being about it. Scanning the swamp I noticed a bulky nest that looked heronish way off. The path to Lindentree was flooded, so I had to backtrack a bit. Entering Lindentree, I skipped the field for now (allergies were acting up) and went straight to Mt. Misery. Passing the swamp I heard a woodpecker call that I couldn’t decide between flicker and Pileated.

At the pond, I heard a more definite Pileated and eventually found it foraging on a fallen log. It was a bit dark and my photos didn’t come out that well (although I may pull one up as a quiz eventually). Starting back, I bushwhacked down to the edge of the swamp and immediately discovered why I was confused over the call.

There was also a bluebird at the top of the tree but just enough above to not fit. I also confirmed that the nest was a Great Blue and found a second as well.

Back out into the fields, I circled the edge of Lindentree. No birds of note but first of year Calico Pennant and Blue Dasher were good. A spreadwing popped up and I eventually got a photo in focus.

You can just about make out the extra long paraprocts, which make it an Elegant, only the second I’ve seen.

From here, I crossed 126 (stopping to check out a big flock of waxwings) and started down the trail that eventually leads to Farm Meadow. At the edge of the field was a young redstart. A few feet further and I heard an odd two parted song. It sounded like a Kentucky and a quick check on the phone confirmed that impression. Now just to see it.

I walked out through the knee high vegetation but it was still deep in the woods. I took a quick video to get the call and then started wandering along the edge for a view. I eventually found a moderately open spot and after a few more minutes of it taunting me, I managed to coax it in closer. The brief view confirmed Kentucky and I snapped a couple photos before it moved back.

As I hadn’t actually seen any reports of the Drumlin one for a few days I gave Marj a quick call to see if it was still around. She said it was, but moving around more than it had been so it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if had moved here. I decided to walk back down Codman Road and check again and skip Farm Meadow.

Other than a Bobolink (and the rooster crowing), the road was quiet again. Another redstart did cause me to detour for a minute as it sounded a bit like a Blackburnian. No sign of the Kentucky again at Drumlin, even with a bit of trolling with the phone, so good chance it’s the same. Only about 8/10 of a mile as the warbler flies away, but certainly not expected.

WIR 5/16-5/22

Wednesday 5/16: Duck ponds: waterthrush was about it.

Thursday 5/17: Prospect Hill before work. Magnolia and another waterthrush to start. Redstart, Pine, Blackpoll, Parula, Yellowthroat on the hill. Black-and-white at end of Whitney. Indigo Buntings all over. Lots of Red-eyed Vireos on the road (4 in one spot). BBN again at lunch, circled the marsh and found mostly Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Friday 5/18: Tried Lone Tree Hill for a change. Nice selection of butterflies including first of year ringlets but not much else.

Saturday 5/19: Lazy day. Karsten’s Black Vulture report finally got me going early afternoon. Ran to Spy Pond and then though better of it and went to the tower at Mt. Auburn. Eventually picked up a (the?) Bald Eagle way off but no vulture. Two minute drive through Lincoln for Marj’s Kentucky Warbler didn’t turn it up.

Sunday 5/20: Walked to Rock Meadow and back. Mostly residents but first of year Willow Flycatcher and hummingbird plus a few local firsts. Butterflies were better and included 3 Pepper-and-salt Skippers in the West Meadow. Also had a huge snapping turtle on Trapelo.

And caught up to this guy (5/10) with a camera (click through for video).

Monday 5/21: Fairly quiet along the Pine Ledges trail at Prospect Hill. Did have a Stream Cruiser at Big Prospect.

Tuesday 5/22: Hoped for some storm birds on Hardy Pond or the Cambridge Res but found nothing but a cormorant at each.

WIR 5/9-5/15

Wednesday 5/9: Duck ponds had lots of orioles, grosbeaks, and catbirds but no warblers.

Thursday 5/10: Spent most of lunch at BBN chasing down a 4 parted warbler song and finally found it to be from a Blue-winged. Quick run through the rest added Black-and-white and 3 Solitary Sandpipers plus Red Admirals and Question Marks everywhere (3 admirals in the yard as well).

Friday 5/11: Paine was fairly quiet but did have Red-eyed Vireo,Black-throated Blue, Parula, and Indigo Bunting. Also Great Crested Flycatcher walking into work.

Saturday 5/12: MBC Big Day. Reached 100 (plus a Harvester), maybe more later.

Sunday 5/13: BBC at Mt. Auburn: Tennessee, Wilson’s among 15ish warblers plus my first Bobolinks for Mt. Auburn. Parula and Black-and-white at Hardy Pond.

Monday 5/14: Flowed Meadow had a Northern Waterthrush (new for me along the Charles) plus a couple other warblers. Unfortunately it also had a flood by the bridge, so I had to turn around and jog back instead of make a full loop.

Tuesday 5/15: BBN: Indigo Bunting, couple redstarts, first Whitetail and Little Wood Satyrs of the year.

WIR 5/2-5/8

Full report soonish, but

5/2: Various river spots near Conway, SC with nice dragonflies, Zebra Swallowtail, and Mississippi Kite.

5/3: More river spots with more of the same.

5/4: Cheraw State Park and Campbell Lake. More Gomphids and bluets.

5/5: Indoors all day.

5/6: Lee County Natural Area and Woods Bay State Park for more of the same.

5/7: Carolina Sandhills NWR on way home. Lots of Elfin Skimmers, etc. Birds included heard only Swainson’s Warbler and Bachman’s Sparrow plus Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

5/8: Hardy Pond was fairly quiet (although the arrivals of the last week were all good to catch up with).

WIR 4/25-5/1

Wednesday 4/25: Went to Beaver Brook before work, very little (had time to wander the marsh edges as well). Nothing at the duck ponds at lunch.

Thursday 4/26: Good butterfly show at BBN.

Friday 4/27: Back side of Prospect Hill. Windy and they were blasting on the Polaroid side, saw next to nothing.

Saturday 4/28: Led the BBC walk at Mt. Auburn. Too cold when we started, only a few warblers and 1 House Wren for highlights.

Sunday 4/29: Arlington Res: Bank Swallows, GW Teal, first Baltimore Oriole and Yellow Warbler of the year.

Joined the butterfly club walk to Arlington Great Meadows where we had Henry’s Elfin and then on to Fort Pond Brook where we added more Henry’s and some Frosted Elfins. Also lots of Springtime Darners, and a few Lancet Clubtails, a Beaverpond Baskettail, and a Dot-tailed Whiteface.

Monday 4/30: BBN: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Henry’s Elfin.

Tuesday 5/1: En route to DSA meeting, more eventually.

WIR 4/18-4/24

Wednesday 4/18: Flowed Meadow didn’t have a whole lot different.

Thursday 4/19: Nine species of butterfly at BBN, not much for birds.

Friday 4/20: Savannah Sparrow along the river walk.

Saturday 4/21: Mt. Auburn in the morning: Prairie Warbler, BH Vireo. Stopped at the duck ponds and added House Wren. Got home and saw a report of a Bonaparte’s Gull at Great Meadows. Ran over even though it was obviously long gone. Did finally get the raven and heard an interesting rail call. Also first Pearl Crescents of the year.

Sunday 4/22: Added a county and city bird among other things.

Monday 4/23: 1 Bonaparte’s still(?) at the res, plus 2 Common Loons.

Tuesday 4/24: Not much at Prospect Hill (1 call from a towhee). Gate still closed…

277/198

I missed a Bonaparte’s Gull at Great Meadows yesterday (see WIR eventually). However, one of the eBird comments mentioned something about it possibly having been around for a few days, so I figured I’d head over this morning before the rain started.

I decided to bird my way over, checking the Cambridge Res and Flint’s Pond on the way. The southern end of the Cambridge Res was busy (although I initially drove by and decided to double back) with a couple Common Mergansers and some Wood Ducks. Rounding the bend, I pulled over to scan in the usual spot and saw enough to get out the scope (it had starting spitting a bit, so I did hesitate). First thing in the scope were four birds together. Three were quite dark and one showed some white. The odd one out stopped rolling over and looked like the rest. Yellowy ‘horns’ were also visible, a group of Horned Grebe! This is among the high counts for Middlesex county (ties the highest in eBird).

Panning around, things got much better when two small gulls came into view. An adult and a young Bonaparte’s! Much better to find my own. Called home, sent out a quick email, and then spent 10 minutes attempting to get photos. They were too far out, but this video is almost passable (believe you have to click through to play):

Note that they all lined up. My parents pulled up and the birds all drifted off to the right, which made for a tense minute or two before I refound them.

On to Flint’s where a Common Loon was among the swallows (and almost nothing else).

Walking in at Great Meadows, I ran into Linda Ferraresso who immediately said that there was a Bonaparte’s Gull on one of the boxes. Third of the day, not bad for a county bird. Also not the one seen the day before (which was an immature).

Not exactly a high quality photo, but you do better with a phone in the rain.

I walked down to the river and heard a couple rails. Being patient, I waited around until one actually stepped into the open (if I figure out how to trim video I may post eventually). On the way back, my first Warbling Vireo of the year was singing.

From here, I headed off for a quick run through some of the other local ponds. Red-necked Grebe continued at Horn Pond but no fallout birds there or at the Mystic Lakes, Spy Pond, or Hardy Pond. And Arlington Res was as dead as I’ve seen it, not even a swallow flock.