Brown Thrasher

It's another gray, cold New England Spring day with a high of only 46 degrees.  Let's not forget to add in cold rain too.  Brrr.

Just prior to leaving for lunch today, I had a nice Pine Warbler in the tree out front.  It didn't stay long....

After receiving a tip from a birding friend, I headed out to attempt to add an American Kestrel to my bird list.  Success!  I saw a pair of them quite close, but before I was even out of the car, they flew off and perched on distant trees.   Still, I had good looks with my binoculars and also got to watch them in flight several times.  The light was terrible for photos, and it was sprinkling rain most of the time, so forgive the poor photos.

American Kestrel (male)

In the meantime, I saw and heard another life bird, a Brown Thrasher.  It was singing and squeaking and making a variety of noises that reminded me of a Northern Mockingbird.  I guessed it to be a Brown Thrasher and was able to confirm it in my bird guide once home again.

Brown Thrasher

I walked a bit across the field and noticed about 8-10 Savannah Sparrows foraging in dried grassy areas.  Most of them flew off, but one was bold and stayed for a photo shoot.

Savannah Sparrow

On the way home, I spotted some Cedar Waxwings eating the remaining fruit on what I assume to be a crabapple tree.  I can't believe that last year's fruit is still edible!  Again, the light is terrible, but they are one of my favorite birds, so I just had to stop!  I was actually able to get quite close, but these trees are right next to a very busy intersection, and a noisy truck came through and flushed them.

 Cedar Waxwings

Birds seen:

American Kestrel
American Robin
Blue Jay
Brown Thrasher
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing
Eastern Bluebird
Mute Swan
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Rock Pigeon
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Color on a Gray Day

Here's how I add color to my gray, rainy days:

Red - Sudbury Reservoir Trail (at Parkerville Road), Southboro

Northern Cardinal

 American Red Squirrel

Red-Tailed Hawk

Blue - Rural Cemetery and Breakneck Hill Conservation Land, Southboro

I had a very neat sighting of 45 Double-Crested Cormorants flying by when I was checking out the cemetery.  I also had 2 fly-by Great Blue Herons.  (I am counting these both as blue, because Double-Crested Cormorants have beautiful turquoise eyes.  Hey~~I make the rules!)  The Bluebird was at BHCL.

Double-Crested Cormorants

Eastern Bluebird

Yellow - Breakneck Hill Conservation Land, Southboro

American Goldfinch

As you can see, it was pretty slim pickings today, as far as nature hikes go.  I sure wish this weather would clear up!

Tree Swallows at Wildwood Cemetery

Today I found at least one breeding pair of Tree Swallows had returned to Wildwood Cemetery.  They were battling with House Sparrows over the available bird houses.  Usually the aggressive House Sparrows win, but I have seen them in houses in the past....   Time will tell.

Also seen:

Wild Turkey (but not "Tom")

House Sparrow

American Goldfinch
(doing his best leaf bud impression)

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow pair (left)
male House Sparrow (right)

Blue Jay

Chipping Sparrow

(doing his best pine cone impression)

Killdeer

At lunchtime, I hiked at Cowassock Woods and Ashland Town Forest again, thinking that the power line portion may host some spring butterflies.  There wasn't much of anything going on in that section, with minimal trails broken through the scrub.  I ended up in the woods for the majority of the hike with chipmunks being the most common sighting.

(click to enlarge)

Birds seen:

American Robin

Black-Capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Song Sparrow

Tufted Titmouse

I did see two Mourning Cloaks and one Cabbage White butterfly on the way out.

Mourning Cloak

Sunset at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land

Fog on the meadows and clouds underlit by the setting sun.  A beautiful way to end the day.

April Showers

I hope these rainy days bring some May flowers!

George and I were just getting in the car to go to Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary when I saw both Broad-Winged Hawks near the driveway.  One flew off, but the other one appeared to be eating something.  I sneaked up the walk and attempted to get a picture of whatever it was having for breakfast.

We managed to get 2.5 miles in at Broadmoor without any rain spoiling it.  Species seen:

American Goldfinch
American Robin
Black-Capped Chickadee
Canada goose
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Phoebe
Mallard
Northern Cardinal
Osprey
Red-Winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White-Throated Sparrow
Wood Duck

 Osprey

Canada goose

A Canada goose nested in this exact spot last year, too, and I don't think it was successful.  Don't know why they like it so much....it is a very exposed location.

Black-Capped Chickadee

Song Sparrow

American Robin w/ nesting materials

I picked up my first tick of the year on this hike, but I did have to go off-trail a bit where a tree was blocking the path.  At least it wasn't embedded....

Meanwhile, back at home, I must give you a status on our Eastern Bluebird nesting box.  In the crazy wind gusts we had last week, the box got turned around and was now facing some shrubs.  It didn't take 24 hours before some Black-Capped Chickadees took it over.

It's a cute bird, but it's no bluebird!

In the late afternoon, the sun started popping out for short periods between really dark clouds.  Showers were predicted, but I hoped I could squeeze another walk in without getting soaked.  I wanted to check the forest where the fire happened and see if any wildflowers might have popped up.  Nothing noticeable at this time.  Ferns were starting to push their way through the leaf litter, though.

Species seen:

American Robin

Common Grackle

Downy Woodpecker

Great Blue Heron

Mallard

Osprey

Tufted Titmouse

In case you were wondering, two rain showers passed through while I hiked and the sun was out in between.  Strange day!

Spring Wildflowers at Garden in the Woods

I hadn't been to Garden in the Woods in a long time.  I thought my membership had expired, but I decided that today was the day to pay the piper and renew.  When I checked in, I discovered my membership was good until February!  That was a nice surprise!

It was lightly raining and only in the 40s, but with proper protection (food storage bag), I still was able to use my camera.  I really enjoyed the blooms and the short walk in spite of the weather.

I didn't catch all of the names, but I have included the ones I could.  Here are the highlights:

Corydalis Solid

Pachysandra Procumbens

 Dutchmen's Breeches

 Trout Lily

Wild Bleeding Heart

Blood Root

Anemone Meadow Rue

(love this one!)

Interrupted Fern

Yellow Woodland Thimbleweed

Oconee Bells

Shoaf's Double Pink 

Anemone Meadow Rue

May Apples

 Dutchmen's Breeches

Trillium

Whip-Poor-Will Flower