I decided to go back for the Mountain Bluebird Saturday. Took the long way, with a stop in Hopkinton for what is likely the first Lesser Yellowlegs in New England away from the coast in January.

Reached Crane, found it almost as windy. Walked out this time and the bird was in the juniper as expected. Got decent scope views thanks to John and Audrey and Bobbie before it flew over our heads. I wandered back after it, but a photographer leaving said it was returning to the juniper every 20 minutes or so, so I went back and waited. Close to 45 minutes later, I gave up and went back to the car. The bird promptly dropped into the depression by the parking lot.

Wednesday 11/18: Race Point at dawn had tons of birds including Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, another(?) Little Gull, and an overdue Common Murre. Pilgrim Heights was birdy but nothing terribly exciting. Checked a couple ponds without anything of note and then ran into too many hunters, so headed to Burrage WMA to try for the Townsend’s Solitaire. Not sure I ever found the right spot and not much around (other than meadowhawks). Raven at the Whitman/Brockton line on the way home was nice.

Guess I can’t complain about not getting a Franklin’s. Nice couple of days.

Wasn’t expecting that on the commute list.

Sandwiched between Brown Creeper and Gadwall on my Suffolk county list: (Embed doesn’t appear to be working, so link)

Well that was a nice start to the year.

Good excuse to spend an hour in the car with the AC cranked yesterday.

Back to the Arlington Res today in equally lousy conditions (sunnier but much colder). Haven’t rushed around like this for a bird in a couple years.

360/285, thanks Bob.

Amazing work by Suzanne Sullivan.

The one standing at the back center does look a bit different but I’m sure 99% of us would have gone right past it.

See here, here, here, here, or here among others for actually identifiable photos.