Red-Breasted Nuthatches

The last official bird sightings of 2012:

Elm Bank Reservation
Wellesley, MA

There were lots of kids sledding on the main hill at the front entrance to the Reservation.  The gardens were quiet with few tracks through the deep snow.  I kept to the paved paths.

The statue on the right looks like she's holding a large ice cream cone!

Red-Breasted Nuthatches made their little squeaking sounds in the tall trees near the buildings.  It was nice to hear them.  I saw at least four.

This American Robin was having an early supper of crabapples.

I stopped at Hopkinton State Park to see if I could catch the sunset, but I was just a few minutes too late.  I was surprised to find quite a few mallards in the water.  There's usually not much in this reservoir.  Don't you like the way the water looks?

Happy New Year!  I hope you enjoy the beauty and peace of your natural world in 2013!

Birding at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

These first three photos were taken this morning.

Tufted Titmouse - backyard

wind-blown Northern Mockingbird - Southboro

Canada geese and Mute Swans - Southboro

The rest of the photos were taken at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick this afternoon.  It was gusting wind and knocking the snow off the trees.  The trails were pretty packed down by snowshoers and there were all cross country ski tracks cut into some of the paths.  I just wore my heavy boots and hoofed it through the snow.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker (I think)

Swirling snow in the meadow

Tufted Titmouse

Black-Capped Chickadee

White-Throated Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Red, White & Blue!

White-Tailed Deer

Today's Birding: Cambridge and Worcester

Morning Stop:  Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA

Song Sparrow

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

European Starlings

Look quick!  Brown Creeper (bottom half only

just disappearing under the curved branch)

 Black-Capped Chickadee

 Song Sparrow

 Northern Cardinal (male)

 Northern Cardinal (male)

 Northern Cardinal (male)

 Northern Cardinal (female)

 Great Blue Heron

doing his best "Christmas Tree Angel" impression

 I think this is a female House Sparrow taking a cold winter's bath.

 and drying off

 Song Sparrow

Slate-Colored Junco

Afternoon Stop:  Worcester Municipal Airport, Worcester, MA

Horned Lark (a life bird!)

I had to squeeze one more new bird onto my 2012 bird list!

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

I saw this Accipiter species just after the playground in Southboro on my way to GM NWR.  I stopped, turned around, parked and walked down the road to snap this shot.   I Brake for Hawks!

The rest of the photos are at Great Meadows NWR in Concord.  It was pretty quiet, except there were a lot of Downy Woodpeckers!

Downy Woodpecker

Pretty!

Song Sparrow

Downy Woodpecker

Canada Geese on the river

White-Breasted Nuthatch

The pond

American Tree Sparrow

Downy Woodpecker

Downy

American Tree Sparrow