Tag: weekinreview

Wednesday 5/25: Out to Punkatasset for yesterday’s Hooded Warbler. No luck with that but YB Cuckoo, YT Vireo, and Veery plus a beaver and Spangled Skimmer.

Thursday 5/26: Tanner’s Brook had a woodcock and a few interesting Syrphids plus finally a Pileated for the commute.

Friday 5/27: Broad-wing and some skippers at BBN.

Saturday 5/28: Decided it wasn’t quite rainy enough to do Great Meadows, so went to Millennium. Caught up with the YT Vireo fairly easily, also an egret or 3 and a Virginia Rail. Continued to Stony Brook, which was pretty quiet. Thought about Cutler Park but the lot I wanted was full, so went to Norumbega. Good choice as a Pileated was a long-awaited bird on the Charles. Wish the large swallow gave a better view though.

Sunday 5/29: BBC walk at Great Meadows. No luck with rails or bitterns other than a brief view of a gallinule that took off before I could even say anything. Bunch of hummers, good views of the usual stuff at least. Hobbs Brook was pretty quiet on the way home but a Harlequin Darner was nice. Shade St didn’t have much more, did finally actually see a Red-eyed Vireo.

Monday 5/30: Went out to Westford before meeting people at the Cranberry Bog. Got up to 50 there, Marsh Wrens, Orchard Oriole, Brown Thrasher the best plus Silvery Blue. The bog had lots of odes, Springtime Darner and Marsh Bluet new for me there.

Tuesday 5/31: Weston Station Pond had the usual, couple Pileated the most interesting.

Wednesday 5/18: Cookson was quiet beyond a parula and bunch of Wood Duck. The square had a Least Flycatcher and Canada Warbler (Charles #175!).

Thursday 5/19: Had planned on Mt. Auburn but the drizzle pointed towards Great Meadows (after a check of the empty res). A couple Least Sandpipers were on the path, a Cliff Swallow was around, and 2 Ring-necks were a surprise. Decided that since there was no flow of shorebirds over and I had time to circle around. Alder Flycatcher was calling partway around and while I was waiting for a second round, a thrasher started singing. Surprisingly a new bird for me here and one I didn’t have on my target list. Rest of the walk was fairly quiet.

Friday 5/20: Went to Falzone to look for a reported Summer Tanager. Two days later, so not surprisingly I didn’t find it. A few warblers but not too much else. Did West Meadow too, waterthrush singing was the most interesting there.

Saturday 5/21: Out to Wachusett for the shorebird show. Pretty foggy as I arrived, but a few yellowlegs in close. Walked from gate 39 to 40 where most things had been and waited out the fog a bit. First bird up was a Semipalmated Plover, then a late RB Merganser. Cleared enough to pick out the BB Plovers and Dunlin, then a Black Tern appeared! No luck with the dowitchers, so I eventually worked my way back (thrasher on the way) and then covered some other gates. Very little at 36 and 25, lots of passerines at 8 but too little time to check thoroughly. A few (more?) BB Plovers from there. Also FOY Stream Cruiser and Springtime Darner and a few butterflies.

Sunday 5/22: Went out to Heard. Two YB Cuckoos and 2 Alder Flycatchers about it (well FOY Monarch). Pond had more of the same and a few minutes at Water Row didn’t have a kite.

Monday 5/23: Forest Grove with an idea of Mourning Warbler and thrushes. Decided to start from Comm Ave for a change. Reach the far end of Lyons Field and a Mourning Warbler sings briefly. Good start. Down and around without too much more, but a Swainson’s Thrush popped up behind the tennis court so mission fully accomplished.

Tuesday 5/24: Habitat had another couple Swainson’s Thrushes, a BT Blue, and a few other things of mild interest. Duck pond was still fairly dry but only a Killdeer.

Wednesday 5/11: Lone Tree Hill had a few warblers and what was almost certainly a yellowlegs going over. Checked the duck ponds hoping for that but only had a few Solitary and Killdeer.

Thursday 5/12: BBN added RE Vireo and Wood Thrush for the year but otherwise not much turnover (Prairie Warbler was about it).

Friday 5/13: Next to nothing at Mt. Auburn, should have checked the res instead.

Saturday 5/14: MBC Big Day, pretty slow, maybe 90. Highlight was a Mink at Vine Brook.

Sunday 5/15: Nothing but ravens at the res (which was a miss yesterday). Estabrook had no migrants but several Winter Wrens, 3 Louisiana Waterthrush, etc plus a few forktails, Aurora Damsels, and some whitetails. Nine Acre had less than yesterday but lots of forktails.

Monday 5/16: Finally a decent movement. BBN had 2+ Blackburnians, a Bay-breasted, a few other warblers, a Bobolink, etc.

Tuesday 5/17: Decided to check Nine Acre in case the rain overnight put any shorebirds down, which it didn’t. Couple Spotted and a couple ravens were it for the few seconds I looked. Figured GM HQ was the best spot from there. Fairly quiet there, but a couple Willow Flycatchers were new for the year, plus a Common Baskettail and lots of forktails.

Wednesday 5/4: No shorebirds at Great Meadows but FOY Cliff and Bank Swallows plus a harrier, 2 Osprey, and Hooded Merganser ducklings leaving their boxes.

Thursday 5/5: Vesper Sparrow was still at Upper Vine Brook. Dunback had FOY BT Blue, Ovenbird, Blue-winged, Least Flycatcher, House Wren, and probably more.

Friday 5/6: Went to the Mystic Lakes hoping the Caspian Tern was still around. Started at the south end and had lots of Yellow-rumps, a Least Flycatcher, a few other warblers, etc. Then got the message about the Swainson’s Warbler in the Fells. Ran right over but unfortunately the initial guessed directions were way off. Did have a Louisiana Waterthrush, a Nashville, and a few other things before having to give up and go to work and be taunted the rest of the day.

Saturday 5/7: Stuck around the Fells for a couple hours but no Swainson’s or much else. Swamp Sparrow was new for Winchester, think that’s #70 on all 16 local town lists. Went to Earhart after. Bit too windy but BH Vireo, a few warblers, and 2 Field Sparrows weren’t bad.

Sunday 5/8: Mt. Auburn again, nice manageable group. Couple Prairies, a waterthrush putting on a good show, a Magnolia, and a few others. Hayden Woods after wasn’t too busy but had a few things including a Rusty or two.

Monday 5/9: Finally another in office day, so stopped at Heard Pond on the way over. Felt quiet but still ended up near 50 species including YT Vireo, Sora, 6 Osprey, a couple eagles, 4+ Rusties. Just not a lot of warblers.

Tuesday 5/10: Prospect Hill for the first time in ages, fairly quiet. Res had nothing, and not much at Hardy either.

Wednesday 4/27: Got slightly too nice at Great Meadows as I arrived, although doesn’t look like I missed much. Snipe was about the most interesting, still a Ring-neck and couple teal, plus ‘commute’ year Osprey and Chimney Swift.

Thursday 4/28: FOY Warbling Vireos along the Charles in Watertown, day late and an ibis short though.

Friday 4/29: Usual stuff at Purgatory and Forest Grove.

Saturday 4/30: Started at October Farm. First of spring Black-and-white finally plus a Pileated and a few other things. Brewster’s Woods were about the same (which makes sense since they’re essentially one property). Punkatasset had a pair of Winter Wrens in a brief check. Virginia Rail, couple cormorants, 11 Rusties at Kaveski. No birds at Flint’s on the way home but a bat flew along the edge of the pond.

Sunday 5/1: Did my annual WF Ibis tip (maybe). No obvious birds when I first drove up, so I went to Martin Burns for a loop. FOY RB Grosbeak plus nesting gnatcatcher, azures, Six-spotted Tiger Beetles, and a few others. Went back to the ibis spot and there were a few visible. Nothing but Glossy visible but I noticed a bigger flock off in the distance. Too heat hazy from the road so I walked down the trails a bit and they were super close. Eventually picked out a couple with pink knees, one with a minimal white face, one less so, so 1 hybrid and a White-faced or two hybrids? Also had my first May yard junco before leaving.

Monday 5/2: Expected a good arrival at BBN but other than orioles and a catbird, there wasn’t much. Lots of Yellow-rumps, 1 Yellow, and a Solitary Sandpiper, plus the merganser ‘flock’ was about it.

Tuesday 5/3: FOY kingbird and Spotted Sandpiper at Arlington Res plus first of commute Rough-winged Swallow (finally). More swallows at Hardy Pond.

Wednesday 4/20: Debated the tern at Great Meadows but figured that was long gone (maybe), so went for the Hooded Warbler at Brooks instead. Took half an hour but it flew out eventually. Not too much else beyond kinglets around, but I didn’t have time for more than the pond, lounge, and stump dump.

Thursday 4/21: Hanscom had 9+ kestrels, a bunch of towhees, a thrasher, etc.

Friday 4/22: Got nicer than I expected at Arlington Res so no swallow show. No shorebirds beyond Killdeer either. Did finally get a ‘commute’ Savannah and a few Palms and Yellow-rumps plus Bufflehead and GW Teal. Not much at Hardy or the res either.

Saturday 4/23: No Louisiana Waterthrush at Nobscot but did get FOY BH Vireo plus a few others for the valley. Hop Brook finally had a Pileated and another couple valley year birds. Nothing much in the few feet of the Desert. Pine Elfin and Spring Azure at Assabet plus RB Nuthatch. Stopped at Water Row for a few, Chimney Swift, a few TVs and other raptors, 2 GW Teal, etc.

Sunday 4/24: Mt. Auburn trip was pretty quiet, not helped by a shower and by breaking my key in the gate. Stopped at Fresh Pond after, Greater Scaup and a loon about it. Blair Pond had some work going on behind and nothing.

Monday 4/25: College Pond had FOY Yellow Warbler plus BH Vireo (‘commute’ #100 for the year), gnatcatchers, 2 singing Winter Wrens, and a few others.

Tuesday 4/26: Four Common Mergansers on the res, parula and a bunch of Savannahs at BBN right on the parkway, then next to nothing from there.

Wednesday 4/13: Lots of the expected stuff at BBN but nothing new for the year. Possible integrade teal possibly still present.

Thursday 4/14: Busy but had FOY Barn Swallow in a brief check of Heard.

Friday 4/15: Poked around the lower end of the Mystic Lakes looking for the early Yellow Warbler seen yesterday. No luck (probably heard it fly off), but a few Palms, a Yellow-rump, lots of kinglets, 2 eagles, 2 kingfishers, etc.

Saturday 4/16: Started at Squantum Point Park, which was pretty busy with common stuff, double digit Hermit Thrushes among others. Both teal down in the flooded spot plus a couple snipe and a few other things around. Squaw Rock was very quiet. Went to Millennium from there for Blue Grosbeak and Vesper Sparrow. Grosbeak wasn’t seen while I was around but I got the sparrows and a meadowlark, which was nice enough to fly across the river so I added it for Norfolk too. Also a good raptor show including a couple Osprey, a harrier, and a kestrel harassing a Cooper’s.

Sunday 4/17: Two sleeping scaup at Horn Pond were awake on the way out and proved to be Lesser. The Cooper’s Hawks and Barred Owls were having a fight and the Green Heron was still by the gardens but fairly quiet otherwise. South end of the Mystic Lakes was very quiet and there wasn’t too much at Sandy Beach either. Raven over the yard later was only my second here, although I’ve heard an occasional croak that was presumably one but never called again to be sure.

Monday 4/18: Caspian Tern was at Bolton Flats and I finally got Worcester county BW Teal too (swimming directly behind the tern). Lots of Green-winged, a couple Greater Yellowlegs, a few Rusties, etc. Continued to Pine Hill where there were kestrels fighting with a Merlin but might have been a bit too cool for insects.

Tuesday 4/19: Quiet post storm check. Common Merganser was the only non goose/mallard on the res, nothing at Flint’s or Nine Acre or French Meadow. Great Meadows had a Field Sparrow, BW Teal, and goldeneye but not much else (later in the day however…).

Wednesday 4/6: Nothing unexpected at Arlington Res.

Thursday 4/7: More of the same at Forest Grove, eagle or two and a kingfisher the best.

Friday 4/8: Nothing really came down in the rain, 2 Ring-necks at the res, nothing at Nine Acre or School St, PB Grebe at Hardy.

Saturday 4/9: Started at Station Landing, Savannah was probably the most interesting although a Fish Crow going over was a patch bird. Over to Earhart, not too much down near the casino (other than a hoped for Blue-winged Teal flyby). Good to catch up with Bob at the other end, no birds to see though. Continued to Revere Beach where one Manx put on a reasonable show before it started raining. Took a quick look for the Dickcissel nearby but it was pouring. Rain stopped by the time I got to the Mystic Lakes so pulled in briefly, nothing much there. Afternoon check of the res right after another set of showers had the first cormorants there for the year but not much else.

Sunday 4/10: Chased a waterthrush along the Charles but only found FOY Palm. Continued to Chandler Pond (FOY RC Kinglet and Rough-winged Swallow) and Chestnut Hill Res (couple Hermit Thrush). Quick stops at Newton City Hall and the duck ponds didn’t have anything. A few Ring-necks on the res in the afternoon.

Monday 4/11: Couple RC Kinglets and a Pine Warbler at Falzone, Palm at West Meadow.

Tuesday 4/12: Lot of waxwings and a kingfisher at Cookson, ten night-herons and another kingfisher at the square.

Wednesday 3/30: Rail was vocal at Forest Grove, not too much else.

Thursday 3/31: Nothing really of interest at BBN.

Friday 4/1: 3 Ruddy at the res. Got absolutely soaked at Farm Pond and a goldeneye was the only thing of interest.

Saturday 4/2: Figured it would be too windy for a lot of things, so tried a Water Row vigil. A pair of PB Grebes in close, an eagle, and not too much else in a little over an hour. Walked the other end a bit without much. FOY Osprey finally at GM HQ, then it or another at Nine Acre plus a kestrel.

Sunday 4/3: Loon on the res. White-crowned before I even parked at Millennium, not much else in a quick circuit. Moose Hill Farm had a kestrel and RB Nuthatch but quiet otherwise, still no luck with turkey or Pileated in Norfolk.

Monday 4/4: Finally a singing Pine Warbler plus 2 Lesser Scaup and a DC Cormorant at Weston Station Pond.

Tuesday 4/5: Finally caught up with Blue-winged Teal at Great Meadows. Otherwise, rest of the usual dabblers and a flyover cormorant were about it.

Wednesday 3/23: Rusty at Gaining Ground on the way to Hanscom, Field Sparrow was the only thing of note there. Did make it a quick trip so I had time to pull over and take a quick look at the Snow Geese at Meriam’s.

Thursday 3/24: Raining so pond loop, nothing of note.

Friday 3/25: Great Meadows had a PB Grebe, a Rusty, a ton of Tree Swallows, and the 3 Snow Geese flew through(?) just as I was leaving.

Saturday 3/26: Did a Suffolk trip. Started at Deer Island. Fish Crow over was nice, then a Gadwall flew out, which is apparently a first for the site. FOY DC Cormorant at the tip, then an egret and 3 Turkey Vultures flew in on the way back. Winthrop Beach next, couple Piping Plovers were near the edge. Pico had a couple oystercatchers in a quick stop. No Manx at Revere Beach. Another cormorant at Draw Seven on the way back but no scoters or anything else of interest.

Sunday 3/27: Kaveski/Meriam’s loop was fairly quiet. Snow Geese were still around and one pintail was obvious with them but the sun made scanning the rest of the ducks a pain. Quick check of Hardy and the res after had nothing.

Monday 3/28: Dunback was quiet and cold (and slightly snowy even with nothing at home). Hardy had a Ruddy, which got me to 100 for the year in county, earliest I’ve done so.

Tuesday 3/29: Quick Hobbs Brook check finally had a Fox Sparrow (res patch #184). Kingfisher was the only other thing of any note.