Field Ornithology Journal 5: Good Birding Spot 2

On May 22, 2020, I went to three locations for birding from 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Throughout the day it was sunny with partially cloudy skies in the high 70 Fºs range with slight northwest winds. My first location was Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Lancaster, MA where I traveled 0.9 miles over 1.3 hours (6:00 AM – 7:20 AM). Bolton Flats WMA is a flooded marshland between the Nashua and Still River consisting of cattail marshes, silver maple swamps, and agricultural fields that act as mudflats. For birding Bolton Flats WMA consists only of a 0.5 mile straightaway cutting through these three habitat types. Starting at 6:00 AM I started with the check-in call listening in and also listening to the marshes for American Bittern. Sadly, I did not hear any American Bittern, yet rather Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, and Canada Geese. Once the call ended I proceed to the straightaway with silver maple swamps to my left and the flooded cattail marsh to my right. Being in a rich nutrient site between the Nashua and Still River there was abundant vegetation limiting me seeing the majority of the birds. One notable mention that I had to rely on for songs was that of the Willow Flycatcher. As part of the empids song is crucial to distinguish these similar-looking species hence I was waiting for “Fee-bee-oh”. Patiently waiting with the noise of Common Yellowthroats and Red-winged Blackbirds I soon heard a not one, but two Willow Flycatchers. Luckily I was able to see the silhouette of one of them. Moving forward I reached a transition spot where the silver maple swamp to my left transitioned to an agricultural site acting as mudflats for some inland shorebirds. Located 400 M away from me I had to peer at the small brown dots of Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, and Killdeer. My biggest challenge was between Killdeer and Semipalmated Plover. It is easy to tell the difference between these species by the number of black bands on the breast, yet for 400 M away I had to make a lot of double checks. Finishing up the rest of the trail on my way back a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was about to land right in front of me. Scared in my presence it immediately took off showcasing its yellow bill and long tail feathers. Overall at Bolton Flats WMA I saw 31 species and 146 individuals.

Moving on I wanted to go to Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) a new location for me located in Harvard, MA. From 7:30 AM – 10: 00 PM over 2.5 miles I observed this cattail wetland and mixed silver maple-oak forest adjacent to the Nashua River. Once leaving the parking lot I was greeted by a singing Red-eyed Vireo. After meeting this lively individual, I continued to the River Side Trail. River Side Trail is a heavily shaded out area by oaks and silver maples making it an ideal habitat for forest interior species such as Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and especially Veery. Along this trail I was following a very social Veery hoping between the trail and the surrounding vegetation. Besides this one special Veery I was able to both hear and see four Veery’s up close. Following the Veery down River Side Trail I made my way to Turnpike Road where the canopy started to open due to this area being more flooded with open water. Being flooded Turnpike Trail is filled with snags and wetlands. One notable resident of this flooded trail was a family of Pileated Woodpeckers. Seen off a bridge over a small stream a snag with an approximately 10-inch diameter cavity held a nesting and parent Pileated Woodpecker. Sadly, I interrupted the parent feeding this lone nesting and flew off giving a loud whinny. To avoid any further disruptions, I took a quick photo and proceeded to reach Tank Road. Unlike the rest of Oxbow NWR Tank Road was an eastern white pine stand with little canopy cover filled with the trillings of Chipping Sparrow. Meeting the end of Tank Road intersecting with River Side Trail I finally met a meadow with grazing Brown-headed Cowbirds and a lively Indigo Bunting. Overall, I saw 41 species and 118 individuals.

Starting at 10:30 at Westborough WMA I was at my third spot. Yesterday I went to Westborough WMA and to quickly summarize from yesterday’s journal Westborough WMA is a mosaic of habitats such as open water/wetlands, cornfields, and oak-maple forests. Excited I started down the straightaway with Lake Chauncy to my left and a stretch of flowering red oaks to my right to find Yellow-throated and Warbling Warblers. On the straightaway I was soon stunned by a Pileated Woodpecker flying down the trail in an open exposed area. Honestly, I would never expect a Pileated in such an open space, but it situated itself 2 ft. off the trail on the ground pecking at a tree stump. Thrilled I sat down to take some photos, but soon I was shocked again to see another Pileated flying in the other direction! Most likely this was a mating Pileated Woodpecker pair making through the area. Despite how strange and unlikely this was I very much enjoyed myself and hope these Pileated Woodpeckers breed here as in Oxbow NWR. At the end of the straightaway I went through the oak-maple forest to see an array of migrants such as Scarlet Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Red-eyed Vireo. Leaving the oak-maple forest into the cornfields I saw an Orchard Oriole. Perched in a black oak along the edge of the cornfields I saw a female Orchard Oriole feeding on the oak flowers while below Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles grazing on the field below. By 12 PM I found 37 species and 126 individuals. Overall today was a great day observing new migrants, breeding birds, and exploring biodiversity finding 62 species and 390 individuals. As of writing this journal I have reviewed my checklists during my time in field ornithology to find I have seen 107 species this week (listed below)! I have very much enjoyed this week learning and growing as a birder and cannot wait to continue to explore the avian diversity of the northeast this summer!

Species Observed

  1. Canada Goose- 25
  2. Wood Duck- 3
  3. Mallard- 5
  4. Mourning Dove- 8
  5. Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 1
  6. Chimney Swift- 6
  7. Ruby-throated Hummingbird- 1
  8. Semipalmated Plover- 3
  9. Killdeer- 2
  10. Least Sandpiper 16
  11. Greater Yellowlegs- 4
  12. Lesser Yellowlegs- 2
  13. Turkey Vulture- 1
  14. Red-shouldered Hawk- 1
  15. Red-bellied Woodpecker- 1
  16. Downy Woodpecker- 5
  17. Pileated Woodpecker- 4
  18. Northern Flicker- 1
  19. Eastern Wood-Pewee- 1
  20. Alder Flycatcher- 1
  21. Willow Flycatcher- 3
  22. Least Flycatcher- 2
  23. Eastern Phoebe- 1
  24. Eastern Kingbird- 3
  25. Yellow-throated Vireo- 2
  26. Warbling Vireo- 7
  27. Red-eyed Vireo- 4
  28. Blue Jay- 4
  29. American Crow- 1
  30. Common Raven-1
  31. Black-capped Chickadee- 6
  32. Tufted Titmouse- 5
  33. Tree Swallow- 9
  34. White-breasted Nuthatch- 4
  35. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 3
  36. House Wren- 1
  37. European Starling- 2
  38. Gray Catbird- 12
  39. Veery- 4
  40. Wood thrush- 1
  41. American Robin- 14
  42. American Goldfinch- 4
  43. Chipping Sparrow- 3
  44. Song Sparrow- 10
  45. Swamp Sparrow- 1
  46. Eastern Towhee- 1
  47. Orchard Oriole- 1
  48. Baltimore Oriole- 4
  49. Red-winged Blackbird- 27
  50. Brown-headed Cowbird- 10
  51. Common Grackle- 24
  52. Ovenbird- 8
  53. Black-and-white Warbler- 4
  54. Common Yellowthroat- 14
  55. American Redstart- 5
  56. Northern Parula- 1
  57. Yellow Warbler- 11
  58. Black-throated Green Warbler- 3
  59. Scarlet Tanager- 2
  60. Northern Cardinal- 2
  61. Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 2
  62. Indigo Bunting- 1

Bolton Flats WMA

  1. Canada Goose- 3
  2. Mallard- 1
  3. Mourning Dove- 3
  4. Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 1
  5. Chimney Swift- 3
  6. Semipalmated Plover- 3
  7. Killdeer- 2
  8. Least Sandpiper 16
  9. Greater Yellowlegs- 4
  10. Lesser Yellowlegs- 2
  11. Turkey Vulture- 1
  12. Downy Woodpecker- 1
  13. Willow Flycatcher- 2
  14. Eastern Phoebe- 1
  15. Eastern Kingbird- 2
  16. Warbling Vireo- 1
  17. Tree Swallow- 5
  18. White-breasted Nuthatch- 1
  19. Gray Catbird- 2
  20. American Robin- 2
  21. American Goldfinch- 1
  22. Song Sparrow- 8
  23. Swamp Sparrow- 3
  24. Eastern Towhee- 1
  25. Baltimore Oriole- 2
  26. Red-winged Blackbird- 28
  27. Brown-headed Cowbird- 1
  28. Common Grackle- 32
  29. Common Yellowthroat- 8
  30. Yellow Warbler- 4
  31. Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 2

Oxbow NWR

  1. Canada Goose- 4
  2. Wood Duck- 3
  3. Mallard- 4
  4. Mourning Dove- 1
  5. Ruby-throated Hummingbird- 1
  6. Red-shouldered Hawk- 1
  7. Downy Woodpecker- 2
  8. Pileated Woodpecker- 2
  9. Northern Flicker- 1
  10. Eastern Wood-Pewee- 1
  11. Alder Flycatcher- 1
  12. Least Flycatcher- 2
  13. Eastern Kingbird- 1
  14. Warbling Vireo- 3
  15. Red-eyed Vireo- 2
  16. Blue Jay- 3
  17. Common Raven-1
  18. Black-capped Chickadee- 3
  19. Tufted Titmouse- 3
  20. Tree Swallow- 1
  21. White-breasted Nuthatch- 2
  22. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 1
  23. Gray Catbird- 5
  24. Veery- 4
  25. Wood thrush- 1
  26. American Robin- 6
  27. Chipping Sparrow- 1
  28. Song Sparrow- 4
  29. Baltimore Oriole- 1
  30. Red-winged Blackbird- 9
  31. Brown-headed Cowbird- 8
  32. Common Grackle- 10
  33. Ovenbird- 5
  34. Black-and-white Warbler- 2
  35. Common Yellowthroat- 7
  36. American Redstart- 2
  37. Northern Parula- 1
  38. Yellow Warbler- 4
  39. Black-throated Green Warbler- 3
  40. Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 1
  41. Indigo Bunting- 1

Westborough WMA

  1. Canada Goose- 18
  2. Mourning Dove- 4
  3. Chimney Swift- 3
  4. Red-bellied Woodpecker- 1
  5. Downy Woodpecker- 2
  6. Pileated Woodpecker- 2
  7. Willow Flycatcher- 1
  8. Eastern Kingbird- 2
  9. Yellow-throated Vireo- 2
  10. Warbling Vireo- 7
  11. Red-eyed Vireo- 4
  12. Blue Jay- 3
  13. American Crow- 1
  14. Black-capped Chickadee- 3
  15. Tufted Titmouse- 2
  16. Tree Swallow- 3
  17. White-breasted Nuthatch- 1
  18. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 2
  19. House Wren- 1
  20. European Starling- 2
  21. Gray Catbird- 4
  22. American Robin- 6
  23. American Goldfinch- 3
  24. Chipping Sparrow- 2
  25. Song Sparrow- 4
  26. Orchard Oriole- 1
  27. Baltimore Oriole- 2
  28. Red-winged Blackbird- 16
  29. Brown-headed Cowbird- 1
  30. Common Grackle- 8
  31. Ovenbird- 3
  32. Black-and-white Warbler- 2
  33. Common Yellowthroat- 4
  34. American Redstart- 3
  35. Yellow Warbler- 5
  36. Scarlet Tanager- 2
  37. Northern Cardinal- 2

107 Species Seen in Field Ornithology 2020

  1. Canada Goose
  2. Mute Swan
  3. Wood Duck
  4. Mallard
  5. Hooded Merganser
  6. Wild Turkey
  7. Mourning Dove
  8. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
  9. Chimney Swift
  10. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  11. Virginia Rail
  12. Semipalmated Plover
  13. Killdeer
  14. Least Sandpiper
  15. Semipalmated Sandpiper
  16. Spotted Sandpiper
  17. Solitary Sandpiper
  18. Greater Yellowlegs
  19. Lesser Yellowlegs
  20. Double-crested Cormorant
  21. Great Blue Heron
  22. Turkey Vulture
  23. Osprey
  24. Cooper's Hawk
  25. Red-shouldered Hawk
  26. Red-tailed Hawk
  27. Belted Kingfisher
  28. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  29. Downy Woodpecker
  30. Hairy Woodpecker
  31. Pileated Woodpecker
  32. Northern Flicker
  33. American Kestrel
  34. Eastern Wood-Pewee
  35. Alder Flycatcher
  36. Willow Flycatcher
  37. Least Flycatcher
  38. Eastern Phoebe
  39. Great Crested Flycatcher
  40. Eastern Kingbird
  41. Yellow-throated Vireo
  42. Blue-headed Vireo
  43. Warbling Vireo
  44. Red-eyed Vireo
  45. Blue Jay
  46. American Crow
  47. Common Raven
  48. Black-capped Chickadee
  49. Tufted Titmouse
  50. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
  51. Tree Swallow
  52. Barn Swallow
  53. White-breasted Nuthatch
  54. Brown Creeper
  55. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  56. House Wren
  57. Marsh Wren
  58. Carolina Wren
  59. European Starling
  60. Gray Catbird
  61. Brown Thrasher
  62. Northern Mockingbird
  63. Eastern Bluebird
  64. Veery
  65. Hermit Thrush
  66. Wood Thrush
  67. American Robin
  68. Cedar Waxwing
  69. House Sparrow
  70. House Finch
  71. American Goldfinch
  72. Grasshopper Sparrow
  73. Chipping Sparrow
  74. Field Sparrow
  75. Vesper Sparrow
  76. Savannah Sparrow
  77. Song Sparrow
  78. Swamp Sparrow
  79. Eastern Towhee
  80. Bobolink
  81. Orchard Oriole
  82. Baltimore Oriole
  83. Red-winged Blackbird
  84. Brown-headed Cowbird
  85. Common Grackle
  86. Ovenbird
  87. Northern Waterthrush
  88. Blue-winged Warbler (plus Lawrence Warbler)
  89. Black-and-white Warbler
  90. Nashville Warbler
  91. Common Yellowthroat
  92. American Redstart
  93. Northern Parula
  94. Bay-breasted Warbler
  95. Yellow Warbler
  96. Chestnut-sided Warbler
  97. Blackpoll Warbler
  98. Black-throated Blue Warbler
  99. Pine Warbler
  100. Yellow-rumped Warbler
  101. Prairie Warbler
  102. Black-throated Green Warbler
  103. Wilson's Warbler
  104. Scarlet Tanager
  105. Northern Cardinal
  106. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  107. Indigo Bunting
Posted on May 22, 2020 11:42 PM by cliazos cliazos

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:13 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:22 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:30 AM EDT

Description

I know the photo is not good enough for ID but thought I should add it.

Photos / Sounds

What

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:47 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:50 AM EDT

Description

I know the photo is not good enough for ID but thought I should add it.

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:56 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:05 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:59 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:10 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:19 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:02 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:16 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 01:18 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:45 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:30 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 06:09 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:34 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:41 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:42 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:45 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 07:54 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 08:00 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:06 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 2020

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 08:25 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 08:39 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 08:48 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:07 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:12 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:17 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:26 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:19 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 08:26 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:07 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 09:26 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:27 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:24 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:45 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:42 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:36 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:40 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:52 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:17 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:34 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:34 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:35 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:37 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:46 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:47 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:48 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:50 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 22, 2020 11:27 AM EDT

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