WIR 8/7-8/13

Wednesday 8/7: No shorebirds in the rain at Great Meadows but an ibis and Bank Swallow were nice. Little Blue was back at Hobbs Brook in a two second pause.

Thursday 8/8: Tried for early warblers at BBN without any luck. Did have Barred Owl, Red-shoulder, and the herons.

Friday 8/9: Lousy morning weather, did a Nine Acre – School St – Flint’s – res – Hardy loop with nothing of note.

Saturday 8/10: Early signs were the storm was a bust, so didn’t head west. Res had nothing, Hobbs Brook had nothing from the road. Lynnfield Marshes had what appeared to be a bit higher water, but 4 Lesser Yellowlegs flew out and a few other things were new for the area. Earhart had nothing but terns. Terns were still at Spy Pond too, including 2 sitting on the water (was a bit surprised when I got the scope on them and saw they weren’t Bonaparte’s). Hobbs Brook had a few shorebirds and the same herons.

Sunday 8/11: Started at Chestnut Hill Res (after a very quick check of Hammond Pond). Got the early arriving Ruddy and Greater Scaup right away. Walked the road back to the rink and had a Black-and-white in the woods there. Decided to go to the coast next, starting at Winthrop Beach. Low tide and very few birds beyond Least Terns around. Had one Semipalmated Plover fly through, then 18 oystercatchers at the southern edge of the sisters. Walking pack, a White-rumped flushed and a Semipalmated Sandpiper dropped in closer. Eventually dug up a Piping Plover and had a Savannah bouncing around too, which got my Suffolk August list to 100. Belle Isle Cemetery next, enough shorebirds to get the scope. While walking back to the car, a Least Flycatcher popped up. Couldn’t find anything in the channel, so went to the main part of Belle Isle. Not too many birds around and they were mostly hiding in the grass. One dowitcher (presuming Short-billed) over plus a few yellowlegs and peep were it.

Monday 8/12: Finally had some early warbler luck with Canada, Parula, Black-and-white, and redstarts at BBN. Herons were all around too. And a Red-banded Hairstreak was a long expected lifer.

Red-banded Hairstreak.

Tuesday 8/13: Cliff’s Olive-sided was still at Dunback. Also a Prairie, redstart, and Least Flycatcher.