Thursday, January 21, 2016

Focus on Icy Shore











And a few fluffed up birds...
 House Sparrow (female)

 House Sparrow (male)

Blue Jay

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Sudbury Reservoir and BHCL

It's mid January, and I haven't done much birding or hiking so far this year at all!  I thought I'd work on my bird list a bit, so I wanted to check out Sudbury Reservoir in a couple different places.  I stopped at White Bagley Road, Parkerville Road and Middle Road.  I saw the following birds:

Belted Kingfisher (heard only)
Blue Jay
Canada goose
Common Merganser
Dark-Eyed Junco
Eastern Bluebird
Hooded Merganser
Mallard
Mute Swan
Northern Cardinal
Ring-Necked Duck

Afterwards, the sun came out and I walked at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land, where I also saw:

Northern Mockingbird
Red-Tailed Hawk
Song Sparrow
White-Breasted Nuthatch

 Mute Swan









Northern Mockingbird

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Winter is Here!

Today was beautiful, sunny but a cold 23 when I walked during my lunch break.  It was 7 when my alarm went off this morning, so that was a significant improvement!

Birds were few and far between, but I did see the following:

American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
Dark-Eyed Junco
House Finch
Mourning Dove (at least 18)
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Tailed Hawk (on ride home)
Tufted Titmouse

The light in the grasses was my favorite part of this walk.

 House Finch



 Oriental Bittersweet





 Northern Mockingbird

Sunday, January 3, 2016

A Baker's Dozen

Each January, the bird lists are wiped clean, and every bird species is a "first" again.  Usually I go out on January 1st, but this year, I had company, so today was my first foray out into nature.  I went over to Westboro and checked out several locations.  I didn't manage to see many birds, but it was a start.  The year stretches ahead.  No sense trying to get them all the first weekend!

I did see the following baker's dozen, all typical species of this time of year:
  1. American Coot
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. Black-Capped Chickadee
  6. Canada Goose
  7. Dark-Eyed Junco
  8. European Starling
  9. Mute Swan
  10. Rock Pigeon
  11. Song Sparrow
  12. Tufted Titmouse
  13. White-Breasted Nuthatch
Cedar Swamp

 Black-Capped Chickadee
using its feet to cling to the branch and hold a morsel of food at the same time

 Song Sparrow

Puffed up for warmth.  Winter temps are finally here.

2015 Bird List

Blog Maintenance (storage)

  1. American Bittern, 5/21, Lancaster, MA (pumping only)
  2. American Black Duck, 1/20, Duxbury, MA
  3. American Coot, 2/17, Naples, FL
  4. American Crow, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  5. American Goldfinch, 1/6, Ashland, MA
  6. American Kestrel, 4/4, Westboro, MA
  7. American Redstart, 5/3, Westboro, MA
  8. American Robin, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  9. American Tree Sparrow, 1/25, Duxbury, MA
  10. AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN*, 2/15, Sanibel, FL
  11. American Woodcock, 4/2, Southboro, MA
  12. ANHINGA*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  13. Bald Eagle, 2/13, Naples, FL; 4/26, Concord, MA
  14. Baltimore Oriole, 5/6, Boylston, MA
  15. Barn Swallow, 5/7, Southboro, MA
  16. Barred Owl, 4/18, Framingham, MA (call only)
  17. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE*, 1/17, Boston, MA
  18. Belted Kingfisher, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  19. Black-and-White Warbler, 2/13, Naples, FL; 5/9, Boylston, MA
  20. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  21. Black-Billed Cuckoo, 5/24, Sherborn, MA
  22. Black-Capped Chickadee, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  23. Black-Crowned Night Heron, 2/13, Naples, FL
  24. Black-Legged Kittiwake, 2/22, Duxbury, MA
  25. Black-Throated Blue Warbler, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  26. Black-Throated Green Warbler, 5/9, Boylston, MA
  27. BLACK SKIMMER*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  28. Black Guillemot, 7/24, Bar Harbor, ME
  29. Black Scoter, 3/29, Boston, MA
  30. Black Vulture, 2/12, Marco Island, FL
  31. Blackpoll Warbler, 9/12, Westboro, MA
  32. Blue Jay, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  33. Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, 2/11, Naples, FL; 4/17, Westboro, MA
  34. Blue-Headed Vireo, 2/13, Naples, FL; 4/23, Ashland, MA
  35. Blue-Winged Teal,  2/16, Naples, FL
  36. Blue-Winged Warbler, 5/3, Westboro, MA
  37. Boat-Tailed Grackle, 2/10, Naples, FL
  38. Bobolink, 5/7, Southboro, MA
  39. BOHEMIAN WAXWING*, 3/15, Gardner, MA
  40. Brant, 3/29, Boston, MA
  41. Broad-Winged Hawk, 4/15, Ashland, MA
  42. Brown Creeper, 1/2, Ashland, MA
  43. Brown Pelican, 2/10, Naples, FL
  44. Brown Thrasher, 4/17, Westboro, MA
  45. Brown-Headed Cowbird, 2/13, Naples, FL
  46. Bufflehead, 1/3, Revere, MA
  47. BURROWING OWL*, 2/12, Cape Coral, FL
  48. Canada Goose, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  49. CAROLINA CHICKADEE*, 2/15, Naples, FL
  50. Carolina Wren, 1/2, Ashland, MA
  51. CATTLE EGRET*, 2/12, Cape Coral, FL
  52. Cedar Waxwing, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  53. Chestnut-Sided Warbler, 5/16, Millbury, MA
  54. Chipping Sparrow, 4/8, Ashland, MA
  55. Common Eider, 1/10, Rockport, MA
  56. Common Goldeneye, 1/17, Boston, MA
  57. Common Grackle, 2/10, Naples, FL
  58. Common Loon, 3/7, Duxbury, MA
  59. Common Merganser, 3/26, Southboro, MA
  60. Common Murre, 1/10, Rockport, MA
  61. Common Nighthawk, 5/21, Lancaster, MA
  62. Common Raven, 7/5, Woburn, MA
  63. Common Redpoll, 3/10, Ashland, MA
  64. Common Yellowthroat, 2/13, Naples, FL; 5/9, Boylston, MA
  65. Cooper's Hawk, 1/31, Douglas, MA
  66. CORY'S SHEARWATER, 8/7, Gloucester, MA
  67. Dark-Eyed Junco, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  68. DICKCISSEL*, 9/17, Westboro, MA
  69. Double-Crested Cormorant, 2/10, Naples, FL; 4/18, Southboro, MA
  70. Downy Woodpecker, ??, Ashland, MA
  71. Eastern Bluebird, 1/3, Southboro, MA
  72. Eastern Kingbird, 5/2, Bristol, RI; 5/3, Westboro, MA
  73. EASTERN MEADOWLARK*, 5/16, Sutton, MA
  74. Eastern Phoebe, 2/13, Naples, FL, 4/6 Ashland, MA
  75. Eastern Screech Owl, 3/15, Gardner, MA
  76. Eastern Towhee, 5/1, Sherborn, MA
  77. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, 5/21, Lancaster, MA
  78. Eastern Wood Peewee, 5/17, Cambridge, MA
  79. European Starling, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  80. Field Sparrow, 4/21, Southboro, MA
  81. Fish Crow, 2/14, Naples, FL
  82. FORSTER'S TERN, 2/12, Naples, FL
  83. Gadwall, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  84. Glaucous Gull, 3/29, Boston, MA
  85. Glossy Ibis, 2/15, Naples, FL; 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  86. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW*, 5/21, Lancaster, MA
  87. Gray Catbird, 2/13, Naples, FL; 5/6, Boylston, MA
  88. Great Black-Backed Gull, 1/3, Revere, MA
  89. Great Blue Heron, 1/11, Framingham, MA
  90. Great Cormorant, 1/10, Gloucester, MA
  91. Great Crested Flycatcher, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  92. Great Egret, 2/12, Naples, FL
  93. Great-Horned Owl, 4/14, Ashland, MA; 4/19 Watertown, MA
  94. Greater Yellowlegs, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  95. Green Heron, 5/11, Hopkinton, MA
  96. Green-Winged Teal, 4/4, Westboro, MA
  97. Hairy Woodpecker, 1/27, Ashland, MA
  98. Harlequin Duck, 1/10, Rockport, MA
  99. Hermit Thrush, 4/19, Watertown, MA
  100. Herring Gull, 1/3, Revere, MA
  101. Hooded Merganser, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  102. Horned Grebe, 1/17, Boston, MA
  103. Horned Lark, 3/15, Sutton, MA
  104. House Finch, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  105. House Sparrow, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  106. House Wren, 4/15, Ashland, MA
  107. Indigo Bunting, 5/10, Uxbridge, MA
  108. Killdeer, 4/2, Southboro, MA
  109. Laughing Gull, 2/11, Naples, FL
  110. Least Sandpiper, 5/16, Westboro, MA
  111. LEAST TERN*, 6/14, Duxbury, MA
  112. Lesser Scaup, 2/11, Naples, FL
  113. LIMPKIN*, 2/13, Marco Island, FL
  114. Little Blue Heron, 2/11, Naples, FL
  115. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE*, 2/12, Naples, FL
  116. Long-Tailed Duck, 3/23, York, ME
  117. Magnolia Warbler, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  118. Mallard, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  119. Marsh Wren, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  120. Merlin, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  121. MOTTLED DUCK*, 2/15, Naples, FL
  122. Mourning Dove, 1/9, Ashland, MA
  123. Muscovy Duck, 2/11, Naples, FL
  124. Mute Swan, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  125. Northern Cardinal, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  126. Northern Flicker, 1/15, Ashland, MA
  127. Northern Gannet, 8/7, Gloucester, MA
  128. Northern Harrier, 3/23, Newburyport, MA
  129. Northern Mockingbird, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  130. Northern Parula, 2/13, Naples, FL; 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  131. Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, 4/17, Southboro, MA
  132. Orchard Oriole, 5/10, Uxbridge, MA
  133. Osprey, 2/11, Naples, FL
  134. Ovenbird, 2/13, Naples, FL; 5/1, Sherborn, MA (song only)
  135. PAINTED BUNTING*, 2/13, Naples, FL
  136. Palm Warbler, 2/11, Naples, FL; 4/14, Southboro, MA
  137. Peregrine Falcon, 2/12, Naples, FL
  138. Pied Billed Grebe, 2/14, Naples, FL
  139. Pileated Woodpecker, 2/13, Naples, FL; 4/7, Ashland, MA
  140. Pine Siskin, 1/30, Ashland, MA
  141. Pine Warbler, 2/13, Naples, FL; 4/17, Ashland, MA
  142. PIPING PLOVER, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  143. Prairie Warbler, 5/1, Sherborn, MA (song only)
  144. Purple Finch, 2/26, Ashland, MA
  145. Purple Martin, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  146. RED KNOT*, 2/15, Sanibel FL
  147. REDDISH EGRET*, 2/15, Sanibel, FL
  148. Redhead Duck, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  149. Red-Bellied Woodpecker, 1/2, Ashland, MA
  150. Red-Breasted Merganser, 1/17, Boston, MA
  151. Red-Eyed Vireo, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  152. Red-Headed Woodpecker, 2/16, Naples, FL
  153. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 2/13, Naples, FL
  154. Red-Tailed Hawk, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  155. Red-Winged Blackbird, 3/15, Princeton, MA
  156. Ring-Billed Gull, 1/17, Sudbury, MA
  157. Ring-Necked Duck, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  158. Rock Pigeon, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  159. Rose-Breasted Grosbreak, 5/11, Concord, MA
  160. ROYAL TERN*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  161. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, 4/13, Ashland, MA
  162. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, 5/1, Ashland, MA
  163. Ruddy Duck, 4/17, Westboro, MA
  164. RUDDY TURNSTONE*, 2/16, Naples, FL
  165. Sanderling, 2/11, Naples, FL
  166. Savannah Sparrow, 4/17, Southboro, MA
  167. Scarlet Tanager, 5/9, Boylston, MA
  168. SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER*, 2/15, Sanibel, FL
  169. Semi-Palmated Sandpiper, 9/7, Wells, ME
  170. Solitary Sandpiper, 2/13, Naples, FL
  171. Snow Bunting, 11/26, Rye, NH
  172. Snow Goose, 12/26, Essex, MA
  173. Snowy Egret, 2/11, Naples, FL; 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  174. Snowy Owl, 1/25, Duxbury, MA
  175. Solitary Sandpiper, 9/7, Ogunquit, ME
  176. Song Sparrow, 1/1, Uxbridge, MA
  177. Spotted Sandpiper, 5/15, Hopkinton, MA
  178. Surf Scoter, 1/17, Boston, MA
  179. Swainson's Thrush, 5/6, Boylston, MA
  180. Swamp Sparrow, 5/21, Lancaster, MA
  181. Tree Swallow, 2/15, Naples, FL; 4/2/15, Southboro, MA
  182. TRI-COLORED HERON*, 2/12, Naples, FL
  183. Tufted Titmouse, 1/1, Ashland, MA
  184. Turkey Vulture, 1/31, Blackstone, MA
  185. Veery, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  186. Vesper Sparrow, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  187. Virginia Rail, 5/21, Lancaster, MA (call only)
  188. Warbling Vireo, 5/3, Westboro, MA
  189. WHITE IBIS*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  190. White-Breasted Nuthatch, 1/2, Ashland, MA
  191. White-Crowned Sparrow, 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  192. WHITE-EYED VIREO*, 2/13, Naples, FL
  193. White-Throated Sparrow, 1/6, Ashland, MA
  194. White-Winged Scoter, 1/3, Revere, MA
  195. Wild Turkey, 1/2, Southboro, MA
  196. Willet, 2/11, Naples, FL; 5/9, Newburyport, MA
  197. Willow Flycatcher, 5/21, Westboro, MA
  198. Winter Wren, 1/4, Concord, MA
  199. Wood Duck, 4/2, Hopkinton, MA
  200. WOOD STORK*, 2/13, Marco Island, FL
  201. Wood Thrush, 5/5, Ashland, MA
  202. Yellow Warbler, 5/3, Westboro, MA
  203. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, 2/13, Naples, FL
  204. Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, 10/11, Hopkinton, MA
  205. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON*, 2/11, Naples, FL
  206. Yellow-Rumped Warbler, 4/15, Hopkinton, MA
  207. Yellow-Throated Vireo, 9/12, Westboro, MA
  208. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER*, 2/13, Naples, FL
Yard List:
  1. American Crow
  2. American Robin
  3. American Tree Sparrow
  4. American Goldfinch
  5. Barred Owl (calling in the night)
  6. Black-Capped Chickadee
  7. Blue Jay
  8. Blue-Headed Vireo
  9. Broad-Winged Hawk
  10. Brown Creeper
  11. Brown-Headed Cowbird
  12. Canada Goose (flyover)
  13. Carolina Wren
  14. Chipping Sparrow
  15. Common Redpoll
  16. Cooper's Hawk
  17. Dark-Eyed Junco
  18. Downy Woodpecker
  19. Eastern Bluebird (breeding)
  20. Eastern Phoebe (breeding)
  21. European Starling
  22. Gray Catbird
  23. Great Blue Heron (flyby)
  24. Great-Horned Owl
  25. Hairy Woodpecker
  26. House Finch
  27. House Wren
  28. Mourning Dove
  29. Northern Cardinal (breeding)
  30. Northern Flicker
  31. Pileated Woodpecker
  32. Pine Siskin
  33. Pine Warbler
  34. Purple Finch
  35. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
  36. Red-Tailed Hawk
  37. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
  38. Scarlet Tanager
  39. Song Sparrow
  40. Tufted Titmouse
  41. Turkey Vulture
  42. White-Breasted Nuthatch
  43. White-Throated Sparrow
  44. Wild Turkey
  45. Wood Thrush

* Life Bird

2015 Butterfly List

Blog Maintenance

  1. ACADIAN HAIRSTREAK*, 7/5, Woburn, MA
  2. American Copper, 5/10, Uxbridge, MA
  3. American Lady, 6/4, Concord, MA
  4. Baltimore Checkerspot, 6/23, Hopkinton, MA
  5. Banded Hairstreak, Southboro, MA
  6. Black Swallowtail, Southboro, MA
  7. Broad-Winged Skipper, 7/9, Westboro, MA
  8. Bronze Copper, 9/19, Ipswich, MA
  9. BROWN ELFIN*,  5/24, Sherborn, MA
  10. Cabbage White, 4/25, Ashland, MA
  11. CASSIUS BLUE* Butterfly, Naples, FL
  12. Clouded Sulphur, 5/3, Sherborn, MA
  13. Common Ringlet, 5/25, Westboro, MA
  14. Common Sootywing, 8/29, Concord, MA
  15. Common Wood Nymph, 7/1, Southboro, MA
  16. Coral Hairstreak, 7/5, Woburn, MA
  17. Dreamy Duskywing, 5/30, Southboro, MA
  18. Dun Skipper, 8/8/15, Worcester, MA
  19. Dusted Skipper, 5/30, Southboro, MA
  20. Eastern Comma, 4/12, Boylston, MA
  21. Eastern Pine Elfin, 5/1, Sherborn, MA
  22. Eastern Tailed-Blue, 5/16, Sutton, MA
  23. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, 5/16, Millbury, MA
  24. Edwards Hairstreak, 6/27, Woburn, MA
  25. European Skipper, Southboro, MA
  26. Frosted Elfin, 6/7, Concord, NH
  27. Gray Hairstreak, 7/10, Sherborn, MA
  28. Great Spangled Fritillary, 6/14, Southboro, MA
  29. GULF FRITILLARY* Naples, FL
  30. HENRY'S ELFIN*, Lexington, MA
  31. Hobomok Skipper, 6/10, Southboro, MA
  32. INDIAN SKIPPER*, Concord, NH
  33. Juvenal's Duskywing, 5/13, Westboro, MA
  34. Karner Blue, Concord, NH
  35. Least Skipper, 8/1, Southboro, MA
  36. Little Glassywing, 6/24, Southboro, MA
  37. Little Wood Satyr, 5/26, Southboro, MA
  38. Long Dash, 7/26, Bar Harbor, ME
  39. Monarch, 6/14, Southboro, MA
  40. Mourning Cloak, Ashland, MA, 4/6
  41. Northern Cloudywing, 6/10, Southboro, MA
  42. Northern Pearly-Eye, 7/12, Princeton, MA
  43. ORANGE BARRED SULPHUR*, Naples, FL
  44. Orange Sulphur
  45. Painted Lady, 8/7, Southboro, MA
  46. Pearl Crescent, 5/15, Hopkinton, MA
  47. Peck's Skipper, 5/27, Southboro, MA
  48. Question Mark, 6/17, Southboro, MA
  49. Red Admiral, 6/10, Southboro, MA
  50. RED-BANDED HAIRSTREAK*, 9/5, Westport, MA
  51. Red-Spotted Admiral, 6/7, Amherst, NH
  52. Sachem, Naples, FL
  53. Silver-Bordered Fritillary, 6/13, Ipswich, MA
  54. Silver-Spotted Skipper, Framingham, MA
  55. Silvery Blue, Southboro, MA
  56. SOUTHERN CLOUDYWING*, Sherborn, MA
  57. Spring Azure, Ashland, MA
  58. Striped Hairstreak, 6/30, Ware, MA
  59. Summer Azure, 7/4, Southboro, MA
  60. Viceroy, 5/24, Sherborn, MA
  61. White Admiral, 7/22, Southwest Harbor, ME
  62. WHITE PEACOCK*, Naples, FL
  63. Wild Indigo Duskywing, 7/10, Sherborn, MA
  64. Zabulon Skipper, Ashland, MA
  65. Zebra Longwing, Naples, FL

Yard List
  1. Cabbage White 5/5
  2. Banded Hairstreak 6/25
  3. Eastern Comma, 7/6
  4. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
  5. Gray Hairstreak, 8/26
  6. Great Spangled Fritillary, 8/26
  7. Mourning Cloak, 4/6
  8. Pearl Crescent, 9/2
  9. Peck's Skipper, 8/10
  10. Red Spotted Purple, 9/2
  11. Spring Azure, 4/22
  12. Zabulon Skipper, 8/21