Birding for the GBBC (OWT)

 Stirling Street Bog 2-18-12

All weekend I have been counting birds around Massachusetts for the Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and is done every year for the 4 days over President’s Day weekend. It is a citizen science project that helps get people involved with nature and helps track bird populations during the winter time. The GBBC, as it is fondly called, was my springboard to becoming a birder, instead of just a bird watcher. So, besides counting birds in my own backyard, I walked down to the Stirling Street bog every day so far and counted birds.

 Male Belted Kingfisher 2-18-12

On Saturday I saw this First Of The Year (FOTY) male Belted Kingfisher at the bog.

 Revere Beach 2-18-12

Later in the day Gus and I drove down to Revere Beach and…

 while Gus walked the sidewalk…

 

 I headed for the water’s edge…

 

 where I saw patterns in the sand,

 

 Herring Gull at Revere Beach 2-18-12

and gulls,

 gulls,

 

 and more gulls!

 

Sunday

On Sunday I decided to see if I could find any birds at West Parish Cemetery.

 

 West Parish Cemetery in Andover 2-19-12

While the cemetery seemed like it would be a perfect place to count birds I did not see  or hear a single one, even though I was there for a half an hour. It was such a beautiful day and so peaceful that I did not mind. I entered a bird count of zero for this location, because the scientists need to know where the birds aren’t as well as where they are.

Baker’s Meadow 

 Ring-necked Ducks 2-19-12

From West Parish Cemetery I headed for Baker’s Meadow, an AVIS property, where I found Mallards, Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks.

 Mute Swan at Baker’s Meadow 2-19-12

I also found a pair of of Mute Swans.

Sacred Heart Park in Andover

 American Robins at the park 2-19-12

My final stop for the day was a Sacred Heart Park in Andover where robins ruled as I counted over 50 of them in the woodland eating bittersweet berries. I walked down along the river where I counted a few Canada Geese and a couple of mallards. As I headed back to my car the shadows were growing longer and the robins had landed in the soccer field dotting the lawn with their bright red breasts.

 Cooper’s Hawk in my backyard 2-19-12

Back Home again the Cooper’s Hawk was still hanging around the backyard keeping all my small birds away. It was here yesterday and has been here all afternoon. Earlier it was perched in a tree, but now it was down on the brush pile where all the sparrows like to hang out. None of them dared show its face, but a little red squirrel came out and scolded the hawk, then darted back into the brush. Today is the last day of the GBBC. I wonder what birds I will see today!

Our World Tuesday!

Sundog seen at Revere Beach on Saturday

Back to Baker’s Meadow WBW

Mute Swan 12-4-11

With such warm weather on Sunday it was too nice to stay inside, so Gus and I headed over to Baker’s Meadow, an AVIS property in Andover, MA. I had just recently discovered this place and I wanted to show it to Gus. We parked in the cul de sac on Meadow Lane and headed down through the fenced trail between the houses to the pond.

Once in the forest the pond opens up before us. I am mesmerized by the black glassy water and the reflections of trees and sky. It is so calm and quiet here today. This time Gus and I hike north along the west side of the pond.

We hike past a cove with a tree down in it. The trail leads us through a bit of black mud and we cross a wooden bridge to the peninsula beyond. So far I have only heard the distant call of an American Crow, but now I am hearing the sharp “pik!’ of a Hairy Woodpecker.

In the dark corner of the next cove over the ring-necked ducks try to hide.

 

On the forested peninsula I find a bench for bird watching.

 

Nearby the sun speckles the forest floor with glorious light.

 

Across the pond in the sunlight the Canada Geese are napping.

 

While in the dark cove a juvenile Mute Swan floats by serenely.

Though we have been here almost an hour, I have not seen or heard any small birds. As we head back up the hill towards the fenced trail between the houses I suddenly hear small zeets and cheeps and wonder if there are juncos nearby. I think of juncos as flying shadows with their dark gray bodies which blend so well with the shade. Gus continues up ahead of me, but I pause and wait and search the trees, straining my eyes for any color or motion. Suddenly I see something move and I focus in with my bins. OH my! It is not a junco after all!

It is a Golden-crowned Kinglet moving through the forest with 3 chickadees!

 

As I watch from the shadows below, the tiny bird tips its head, revealing its gold crown. The birds are moving from east to west through pines and oaks at the edge of the forest and yards. Soon they are gone and as I start up the path to the waiting car, which Gus has kindly warmed up for us, I can’t help but wonder if…

…it was all a forest dream.

I’m sure you can find more birds if you click on the link for…

World Bird Wednesday!

Baker’s Meadow WBW

 Canada Geese 11-9-11 Baker’s Meadow

We have had such lovely weather here in New England that I just cannot stay inside! So, on November 9th I decided to go exploring at one of the Andover Village Improvement Society or AVIS Sites that I had read about on the internet. The webpage claims that over 145 species of birds have been observed at Baker’s Meadow. I figured it was time for me to check this out for myself!

 Pathway between the houses

From the directions on the internet and by using my GPS I finally found Meadow View Lane and parked in the cul de sac. From there I followed this path down between the houses to the trail surrounding the pond.

 View of the pond

The large pond opens out before me through the tall pines, maples and oak trees. I observe a lone fisherman casting from the bank. He and I are both content with the quiet and we each engage in our separate activities without a word. I find a spot along the edge of the pond and gaze out over the water. While I can see birds along the far shore I know I need to get closer in order to identify some of them, though the geese are quite easy from this distance with my binoculars. After evaluating my options I turn to the right and follow the trail though the woods…

 Baker’s Meadow Brook

…and over the brook with its spillway..

 Baker’s Meadow Spillway

“Bridge” across the spillway

…and a makeshift bridge!

 Quiet Waters

Quiet waters gather in the cove by the spillway but on the other side the water tumbles with noisy abandon. Late autumn sun still warms the air around me. the path beneath my feet is soft with pine needles a rotting leaves. I step gingerly over tree roots and wind my way around tree trunks where moss grows green and vibrant along the ground. I make my way off the path through the underbrush to the pond’s edge where I can get a better view of the open water and the birds.

 Autumn splendor at the pond 11-9-11

I soon find myself close enough to photograph a pair of Canada Geese. They watch me warily trying to decide if it is safe for them to stay or if they should take flight. But I move slowly and keep my distance and soon they relax while keeping one eye on me.

 Mute Swan 11-9-11 Baker’s Meadow Pond

As I am watching the geese a Mute Swan comes paddling by around the bend of the next cove. With the autumn colors reflecting in the water affording me a perfect view. I am starting to feel the magic of this place. I am reveling in the quiet.

 Baker’s Meadow Pond

The swan was one of 3 I saw on the pond this day, but far across the water other birds gather. I can tell they are diving ducks by their behavior and am soon able to make out the black heads and necks of Ring-necked ducks with their black backs and the white spur onto their shoulders which helps in identifying them from a distance. A few mallards float nearby, the males with their glossy green heads and necks, the females drab but subtle in their beauty. In front of the ring-necks a lone Pied-billed grebe floats, then dives. While I can see there are a few shorebirds of some sort on the spit of mud the geese are gathered on, they are too far away from me. With the low angle of the sunlight reflecting off of their bodies it makes it difficult to see any kind of field marks. I try photographing them and enlarging the shots but they are little more than white blurs on the screen.

 Forest Surrounding the pond

While I do not hear or see many woodland birds beyond a Downy Woodpecker and a chickadee, this was certainly worth the trip to Baker’s Meadow for me. The Ring-necked Ducks and the pied-billed grebe were first my sightings of these species in Massachusetts.

 Looking up!

 Looking down!

 Forest Reflection

I probably would have lingered here longer but soon other hikers came along, almost all of them with dogs off leashes with almost all of them rushing up to smell me. Some of them were barking and one was even growling. Golden Retrievers must be the official dog of Andover because I swear everyone had one. I met one group of women with 4 or 5 of them romping around! Yes, all off leash. I like dogs, but not when I am birding! I think I counted more golden retrievers than bird species in the woods on this day! (15 dogs, 9 species of birds!)

 Sunset through the pines

Still, this is such a pretty place. I will come back again (I hope!) and see if I can find more of the 145 species purported to be here!

 Path back up to Meadow View Lane in Andover, MA

WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY

Birds Seen at Baker’s Meadow November 9, 2011:

1. Canada Goose
2. Mute Swan
3. Ring-necked duck
4. Mallard
5. Pied-billed Grebe
6. Downy woodpecker
7. American Crow
8. Black-capped chickadee
9. peeps

114 Species in Connecticut!

Sanderling at Harkness Memorial SP 3-17-11

Ever since I moved back east last fall I have been trying to up my list of species seen in Connecticut. In previous posts I have explained my obsession with surpassing the number of species I have seen in West Virginia ( a state I haven’t lived in) which stands at 106 species seen in a one week period during which I attended the New River Birding and Nature Festival. The Festival is coming up in a couple of weeks and some members of the flock will be re-gathering there once again. I am unable to attend this year and will miss all my birding buddies and all the fun but you can rest assured, I will be busy birding up here in New England! And, as you can see, I have already started!

 Mallards in Pasture, Salem, CT 3-15-11

When I first arrived in New England last September my Connecticut eBird Life List was 93 species. Most of these were from old records or birds recorded on summer visits once I started eBirding in 2007. Though I now currently live in Andover, MA, I often go to visit my mother in Colchester and while I am there, I go out counting birds. Last fall and early winter I was able to add 13 species to the list bringing my total to 106 species of birds seen in CT and tying with West Virginia. And though I have been to CT a few times this year I had not seen any new species or added to my count until March.

Song Sparrow at Cohen Meadows, Colchester 3-15-11

After my trip to new York with my brother I stopped in Connecticut for a few days and counted birds. Every day that I was there I counted birds. I counted them in my Mom’s yard and my sister’s yard, and all over town. I drove the back roads, visited lakes and finally drove down to the ocean with my Mom. I added species 107. Pileated Woodpecker, and 108. Barred Owl, when I took A Walk in the CT Woods on March 15th. My only frustration was that I only heard these birds, I did not see them, and I wanted to see them to make it official. Still, I did add them to my eBird count for that location.

 Wild Turkeys on Lake Hayward Road, Colchester 3-16-11

The next day I drove down to Lake Hayward to see what I could see there. On the road down I found a huge flock of wild turkeys on someone’s front lawn as they feed beneath their bird feeders!

 Hooded Mergansers on Lake Hayward 3-16-11

At Lake Hayward I found a great blue heron and hooded mergansers along with other birds but I was especially pleased when I spotted a pair of Pileated woodpeckers in the woods around the lake. I tried to get their picture but there were too many trees and they were too shy. Each time I though I was going to get into a good position, they flew off!

 Canada Goose at Lion’s Pond on Halls Hill Road 3-16-11

One of my favorite places to stop when I am in Colchester is the Lion’s Pond on halls Hill road. while it is a small pond right across from one of the school’s it often has good birds hanging around or stopping by. Tonight there was a lone Canada goose and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in the trees. (There is more to the story of the hawks, but that is another post!) I have seen belted kingfishers here before as well as solitary sandpipers, so it is definitely worth checking out, but no new bird species tonight!

 Savin Lake Colchester, CT 3-17-11

My last day in CT I did a marathon of birding. I drove out to my sister’s house past Savin Lake looking for the Bald Eagles that she always seems to see there but I never do! Today was no exception. While I spotted a few ducks far across the lake, there were no Bald Eagles again! The trees along the shore were mostly silent though I did hear a Blue Jay or two.

 House Finches on my Mom’s feeders 3-17-11

I counted the birds at my mother’s house each day I was there.

American Goldfinch molting to breeding plumage 3-17-11

White-breasted Nuthatch 3-17-11

 Mute Swan at Harkness Memorial State Park 3-17-11

However, it was this trip to Harkness Memorial Park that really upped my Connecticut eBird Life List Total to 114 species! Take THAT West Virginia! Species 109. Mute Swan was seen in this cove as we first entered the park.

Species 110. American Widgeon, was also seen here, along with species 111. Red-breasted Merganser!

Harkness memorial State Park Beach 3-17-11

after birding the cove we drove into the main part of the park and parked our car, then walked down to the beach area. Though sunny and bright a chill wind blew sometimes gusting across the sand. Mom stayed by the boardwalk but I headed out across the sand with gloves on my hands and my coat zipped up tightly around me. I headed for a rocky area I could see hoping to find a purple sandpiper, which would be a life bird for me.

Sanderling 3-17-11

After passing a few gulls I found first 1, then more sanderlings feeding on the beach. That made Sanderling species 112. on my CT Life List! But I was not done yet! Down in the surf I spotted 113. Common Goldeneye, and then, among the rocks and pounding waves…

Species 114. Brant!

This was only my third ever sighting of Brant. I first added them to my Life List in April of 2003 when I saw 1 in Provincetown, MA. I had never seen one again until my recent weekend in New York City where I saw three in the East River near Brooklyn. Now, here I was seeing them again in Connecticut! I counted 16 Brant at Harkness Memorial State Park! What a way to end my visit!

Mom waits for me on the beach 3-17-11

As I head back to the boardwalk I see my Mom waiting patiently for me to come back. She wanted to come with me on this birding expedition and I know that she is just fine sitting there. My mother is a person who enjoys her solitude. I think she has passed that trait onto all of her kids. While we all like other people and like to be with them, we also all treasure our solitude, our time alone. Whether we are thinking or praying or sorting out our lives, or just enjoying the stillness, it is something we all need. Mom greets me with a smile and asks what I have seen. she is patient with my enthusiasm as I chatter away. I am so excited about al the birds I have seen, but I do not know until I enter the data just how successful this trip has been!

Crocus in Mom’s front yard 3-17-11

Though it is still winter as I drive away from Mom’s house I am delighted to see the crocuses in bloom on her front lawn. I Have Been Waiting for the Crocuses, and now they are here!