Wildlife Tracking at BHCL

I took a Wildlife Tracking walk at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land today.  Our guide was David Brown, and he took 18 of us off the trails, in search of animal holes, scat, food and fur scraps, and a few tracks he had scouted out around the property.  It was fascinating to learn which animals are present at BHCL that we may seldom see.

David Brown

We had just gotten started when I noticed this Northern Mockingbird raising its wings and flashing its white wing bars as it walked on the ground.  It is not known exactly why they do this.   Some theorize it is to scare insects, making them easier to catch.

Sign of skunk digging for grubs

and nearby, someone spotted some skunk scat

Luckily, I have never seen a skunk while out hiking....

I have seen Eastern Coyotes at Breakneck Hill, at least three different times.

While this particular scat was in the meadow, David did tell us that coyote scat is often found at trail intersections, left by a coyote as a way to communicate its presence to other coyotes.

White-Tailed Deer tracks

I have seen White-Tailed Deer, including fawns, does, and bucks, on numerous occasions at Breakneck Hill.

Cottontail scat

I have seen cottontail rabbits at Breakneck Hill many, many times.

80% chance this is bobcat scat

The size of the scat was small for coyote, and the location was at a gap in a stone wall, which David said was a common spot for bobcat scat.  I was not expecting bobcats to be around Southboro!  Even just the possibility is exciting!

I have never seen a bobcat except in photos!

Part of the fun of these guided walks is going off-trail!  I had never seen this copse of birches before.  How pretty!

The way this nut was opened was a sign of a Flying Squirrel, yet another animal I have never seen except in pictures!  It's pretty awesome that they are at BHCL just waiting to be discovered!

Vole trail

An interesting section of an apple tree (also off trail)

The trail is on the opposite end of this pond, so I had to photograph the view from this end in case I never see it again!

Tree trunk/branch with evidence of voles gnawing on it

closeup of the gnaw marks

It would have been fun to have had this walk in snowy conditions and see more tracks, but it was warm and beautiful, and we still learned a lot and saw plenty of wildlife evidence!  

Catching some Light at BHCL

It has been a long time since I have hiked at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land.  It felt a bit like going home.  I missed this land.  It didn't seem to miss me!

As the sun was getting low in the sky, there were puddles of golden light to be found all around.

It felt good to "go home" again!

Focus on Icy Shore

And a few fluffed up birds...

 House Sparrow (female)

 House Sparrow (male)

Blue Jay

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

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

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