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MASSBIRD for Monday, July 6, 2009
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Subject: P'town seabirds - 7/5
From: Blair Nikula <odenews(AT)odenews.org>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 7:36am
Here's the message I meant to send to Massbird last night (instead of
my May reports!):
The shearwater show in Provincetown continued this morning (7/5),
though the birds were much more dispersed with only relatively small
feeding concentrations inshore (a few hundred rather than the many
thousands present Saturday). However, there were shearwaters
everywhere, near and far, and in every direction, both off Race Point
Beach and off Herring Cove. In fact, the best show this morning was
off Herring Cove, where a steady stream of birds was passing, many
close to shore, heading north out of Cape Cod Bay. In the brisk WNW
wind, the birds were engaged in dynamic soaring, carving high arcs on
the horizon and making them visible at great distance (and visibility
was almost unlimited).
Race Point Beach (0600-0625 & 0745 - 0815 hrs.; Clear; WNW wind @10-20mph):
90 Cory's Shearwaters (most feeding inshore)
500 Greater Shearwaters
10 Sooty Shearwaters
1000 large shearwater sp. (moving every which way)
50 Wilson's Storm-Petrels
10 N. Gannets (1 ad.)
1 Lesser Yellowlegs (flyover)
150 Laughing Gulls
275 Herring Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2-1cy., 1-2cy.)
50 Great Black-backed Gulls
35 Least Terns
75 Common Terns
5 Arctic Terns (all 1cy.)
1 Parasitic Jaeger (dark)
2 jaeger sp.
2 Eastern Kingbirds (one headed NW out to sea until it disappeared from view!)
Herring Cove Beach, P'town (0640-0725 & 0835-0915 hrs.):
80 Cory's Shearwaters (many feeding inshore)
1200 Greater Shearwaters (most heading north out of Cape Cod Bay)
100 Sooty Shearwaters
1 Manx Shearwaters
600 large shearwater sp.
200 Wilson's Storm-Petrels
20 N. Gannets (2 ad.; the reappearance of adults this weekend is odd)
2 Black-legged Kittiwakes (sitting at Hatches Harbor)
15 Bonaparte's Gulls (heading north out of Cape Cod Bay)
400 Laughing Gulls
300 Herring Gulls
125 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Roseate Tern (ad.)
500+ Common Terns (most roosting at Hatches Harbor and not very visible)
1 Arctic Tern (1cy.)
1 Long-tailed Jaeger (ad. or near ad., though I could see no tail
streamers; heading north out of Cape Cod Bay)
8 jaeger sp. (all quite distant)
At my house was a singing White-eyed Vireo (a very rare nester on Cape Cod)
Blair Nikula
2 Gilbert Lane
Harwich Port, MA 02646
USA
mailto:odenews(AT)odenews.org
web site: http://www.odenews.org/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: new address
From: "Edwin Neumuth" <eneumuth(AT)berkshire.net>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 8:26am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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E-mail changed to
eneumuth(AT)gmail.com
Ed
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Subject: Re: P'town seabirds - 7/5
From: Fred <fred(AT)cetussoft.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 9:02am
> The shearwater show in Provincetown continued this morning (7/5),
> though the birds were much more dispersed with only relatively small
> feeding concentrations inshore (a few hundred rather than the many
> thousands present Saturday). [snip]
> Race Point Beach (0600-0625 & 0745 - 0815 hrs.; Clear; WNW wind @10-20mph):
> 90 Cory's Shearwaters (most feeding inshore)
> 500 Greater Shearwaters
> 10 Sooty Shearwaters
> 1000 large shearwater sp. (moving every which way)
[snip]
> Herring Cove Beach, P'town (0640-0725 & 0835-0915 hrs.):
> 80 Cory's Shearwaters (many feeding inshore)
> 1200 Greater Shearwaters (most heading north out of Cape Cod Bay)
> 100 Sooty Shearwaters
> 1 Manx Shearwaters
> 600 large shearwater sp.
[snip]
Interesting. On the whale watches I was on yesterday (7/5) (trips
focused just E of the SW Corner of Stellwagen) we did also see fewer
shearwaters than on Saturday. However, the percentage of greaters was
higher - I saw only a handful of sooties and no Cory's at all
yesterday (7/5). It seems as if ~you~ had all the Cory's, "most
feeding inshore" - <g> - I wonder if there is a bit of a
species-specific spatial difference in feeding preference...
Actually, the most interesting "event" yesterday occurred when a
couple of large areas of sand lance "bubbled" to the surface (driven
mostly by striped bass, it seems), and was immediately noticed by all
the shearwaters in the area (nearly all greater) and a nearby
deeper-feeding humpback (Tongs) - just previous to this, there had
been ~very~ little bait at the surface in the area. While Tongs
shifted from deeper feeding to bubble-cloud feeding close to the
surface, the shearwaters (previously just sitting in large rafts) made
repeated take-offs and landings (shallow dives), and, with the light
wind (at that point later in the day), the continuos sound of the
thousands of shearwaters continually in motion - running to get aloft
and then plopping down on bait - was almost DEAFENING !!!
Here's a (cute?) pic of a greater with "flaps down" and (I assume) a
sand lance in sight -
http://www.flukeshots.net/2009/090705/20090705_153750_GRSH_flaps_down.jpg
Fred (Frederick Wasti)
Marshfield, Massachusetts
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation
Area--IBA , 7/6/09
From: "rstymeist(AT)juno.com" <rstymeist@juno.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 3:04pm
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This morning we conducted a survey of all the outer Boston Harbor Island=
s with the focus on Common Eiders. We tallied a total of 606 with a brea=
kdown of 493 females, 77 juvenile males and 36 chicks. Many of the eider=
s with families have also moved closer to shore with many reports from l=
and, the young we saw today ranged from very small to near adult(not 100=
% sure that some of the 493 females may have been young).
We were not as lucky at finding young Oystercatchers- just one flying bi=
rd at Rainsford I. We found 6 adults on Calf I., 1 each on Great & Littl=
e Brewster and 3 on Rainsford.. A Red-breasted Merganser was a surprise =
on Green I. There were 3 Great Cormorants on Graves Light.
The concentration of Wilson's Storm Petrels was in the Harbor off Deer a=
nd the most were between George's and the Brewster's. The sea was like =
glass early in the morning and seeing these petrels from a small boat wa=
s very nice!
Location: Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area--IBA
Observation date: 7/6/09
Notes: Storm-Petrels were all within the Boston Harbor Islands the m=
ajority werebetween Georges and the Brewsters, some very close to Deer I=
sland and some very close to the Gut off Hull
Common Eider 606 (493 female, 77 juv. male, 36 chicks -breakdown fro=
m each island available on ebird- the most from Green(166) & Calf (110)
Mallard 10
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 1
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL 110 Unusual in inner Harbor- left over from sto=
rm last week
Double-crested Cormorant 1000+ (not counted- many fledged young- som=
e still at nest, one adult seen incubating
GREAT CORMORANT 3 imm.
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Herring Gull XX
Great Black-backed Gull XX
Common Tern 6
Least Tern 7
Black-bellied Plover 1
American Oystercatcher 11
Spotted Sandpiper 8
Ruddy Turnstone 4
Barn Swallow 28
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 3
Redwinged Blackbird 3
Common Gracke 1
Bob Stymeist
Arlington
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
____________________________________________________________
Click to get information on owning your own franchise. Great products. =
Low entry cost.
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOnEfnyZRfi8Cj8O2RGe6c=
axIABeaZw0idQCtnVpCt751mtl4nsWU/
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Subject: Re: P'town seabirds - 7/5
From: Fred <fred(AT)cetussoft.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 3:58pm
> Here's a (cute?) pic of a greater with "flaps down" and (I assume) a
> sand lance in sight -
> http://www.flukeshots.net/2009/090705/20090705_153750_GRSH_flaps_down.jpg
Oops - by (dumb mental) mistake, I ~moved~ that file to another
directory when I was trying to ~copy~ it, so, if anyone found that URL
to be a "dud", please try it again. Sorry!
Fred (Frederick Wasti)
Marshfield, Massachusetts
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Piping plovers at Sandy Point
From: Allan <allan57(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 4:22pm
> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I went looking for chicks yesterday morning after all the rain. I did not
see any there =AD have others seen some lately? I hope so.
Here are a few photos of adults:
http://allanrube.smugmug.com/gallery/8814514_mit53
Allan
Nashua, New Hampshire
allanrube.com
www.nebirds.com=20
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Subject: White-eyed vireo and Northern Parula in Woods
Hole.
From: James Style <jantstyle(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 4:24pm
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I heard a White-eyed Vireo on the Knob this Saturday. I saw in the same
area earlier about month ago-- it looks like excellent breeding habitat.
Also, there has been a Northern Parula singing persistently in the MBL
Devil's lane parking lot (and the environs) for the past month. He is
readily audible and fairly visible. About two weeks ago, I think saw him
and his mate in the Devil's Lane housing area (but I was rushing to work and
didn't have my binoculars). I am fairly new here and don't know the
breeding history of these birds but these guys seems like good potential
breeders.
Take it easy,
James Style
jstyle*at*mbl*edu
Woods Hole
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I heard a White-eyed Vireo on the Knob this Saturday. =A0I saw in the same =
area earlier about month ago-- it looks like excellent breeding habitat. =
=A0Also, there has been a Northern Parula singing persistently in the MBL D=
evil's lane parking lot (and the environs) for the past month. =A0He is=
readily audible and fairly visible. =A0About two weeks ago, I think saw hi=
m and his mate in the Devil's Lane housing area (but I was rushing to w=
ork and didn't have my binoculars). =A0I am fairly new here and don'=
;t know the breeding history of these birds but these guys seems like good =
potential breeders.<div>
<br></div><div>Take it easy, =A0=A0<div><div><br></div><div>James Style</di=
v><div>jstyle*at*mbl*edu</div><div>Woods Hole</div><div><br></div><div><br>=
<div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>
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Subject: American Oystercatchers in Marion
From: "Judy Davis" <jrdavis1(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 4:56pm
I took a quick bike ride this afternoon down to Silvershell Beach here in
Marion and saw two American Oystercatchers together on the far (south) side
of Spragues Cove and two Kildeer in the beach parking lot.
Judy Davis
Marion
jrdavis1 (at) verizon (dot) net
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Subject: osprey, Naushon Island
From: Robert Mussey <mussey.robert(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 5:16pm
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On Naushon Island: On Friday, July 3, I observed 3 nests on nesting poles,
each with a female protecting 2 young and crying loudly for the male to
bring food for them all.
So, 6 total young, but I did not get to all the sites on the island.
Robert Mussey
Milton, Mass.
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On Naushon Island: On Friday, July 3, I observed 3 nests on nesting poles, each
with a female protecting 2 young and crying loudly for the male to bring food
for them all.<br><br>So, 6 total young, but I did not get to all the sites on
the island. <br>
<br>Robert Mussey<br>Milton, Mass. <br>
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Subject: JOPPA FLATS - SEABIRD AND WHALE PROGRAM -
07-06-09
From: "David K Weaver" <cygnus-dkw(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 8:56pm
It was a day to remember! Joppa Flats Education Center's Seabird and Whale
Program done in conjunction with Newburyport Whale Watch on the Prince of
Whales with Captain Billy at the helm was a good one. With beautiful
weather conditions and nearly a calm sea, all on board came away very happy
and somewhat in awe of the wonderful seabird and whale spectacle experienced
en route to and from and in the vicinity of Jeffrey's Ledge -- the captain
navigated us to the south end of the ledge from where we moved 8 miles to
the north along its western edge. I think that most would agree that the
highlight of the trip was two humpback whales holding everyone spellbound as
they performed their bubble-feeding duet within 20 yards of the boat --
several times. Absolutely amazing! And, while the shearwater show was not
up to the measure of what has been reported from the outer Cape, there were,
nonetheless, lots of them to be enjoyed, including Greater, Sooty, and
Cory's Shearwaters. With the flat seas, many birds were seen well both on
the water and in flight around the boat. We felt fortunate to have seen,
though briefly, a single Parasitic Jaeger cross our bow headed for parts
unknown. Rounding out the trip's pelagics were many Wilson's Storm-Petrels
and some Northern Gannets.
Here's our list of highlights for the day (the larger numbers estimates):
*Birds*
Cory's Shearwater - 8
Greater Shearwater - 900
Sooty Shearwater - 650
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 4,580
Northern Gannet - 225 (2 adults)
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Laughing Gull - 1
Roseate Tern - 1
*Mammals*
Harbor Seal - 1
Finback Whale - 2
Minke Whale - 6
Humpback Whale - 9 (many flukes seen!)
It truly was a fun time. Please consider joining us for our next trip to
Jeffrey's Ledge scheduled for Sunday, July 26, departing the wharf aboard
the Prince of Whales at 0830 to return about 5 hours later. If you are
interested, register for this program by calling Newburyport Whale Watch at
1-800-848-1111 or register online at
http://newburyport.rezgo.com/tour/1781/Bird-watching-and-whale-watch.
Please tell them that you are with the Joppa Flats Education Center.
Dave Weaver
Manchester, MA 01944
cygnus-dkw(AT)verizon.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Purple Martins ~ 1903's & 2009's Weather
From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 10:18pm
Birders,
On Thursday afternoon, July 2nd, while watching the weakened Purple
Martins on Plum Island, I thought about the June 1903, prolonged,
severe, wet storm with cool temperatures and its effect on the martins
of eastern Massachusetts and other areas of New England. Many martins
expired due to exposure and starvation in 1903 [see the Purple Martin
article in "Bird Observer", April, 2007]. Since martins are aerial
insectivores ~ meaning they catch all of their food in flight ~ they are
extremely vulnerable to weather conditions that eliminate or diminish
insect flight. Prolonged bad weather such as rain with cool
temperatures and heavy winds diminish or eliminate insect flight. If
poor weather persists continuously for more than 4 or 5 days, martins
die of starvation and exposure. Andy Troyer of Pennsylvania, a Purple
Martin landlord, monitors one of the largest colonies there; he has
reported the loss of 483 martins due to the weather in June of 2009.
June, 2009 was the wettest June recorded since 1903; the weather event
was similar, making it a challenging month for the martins. After
June's weather, July began wet as well, and Thursday's rain was
especially difficult for some adults and the newly hatched young due to
the wind out of the northeast, gusting to 12mph. The mean temperature
was in the low 50's with maximum humidity.
Two, subsequent rounds of nest checks revealed wet nests holding cold
clutches. Only the females will incubate, and they will not incubate
and expend energy brooding when they are stressed and unable to feed.
Sadly, when I opened one nest cavity, I discovered a nest with an
expired female and her cold clutch of white, smooth, non-glossy,
unmarked, oval eggs. A lot for energy was expended by her for no gain.
The energy and output of time ~ migrating, nestbuilding, mating, egg
laying and incubating ~ were all for not for this female. Another,
relatively fresh nest housed an expired adult, one that took refuge in
the cavity for shelter from the elements, and due to its weakened
condition and inability to find food, it perished. These adult birds
that succumbed were not banded.
Under certain environmental conditions, blackflies, blowflies, nest
mites and fleas become so numerous in martins' nests that they weaken
and kill their hosts. Occasionally, martin houses get so overrun with
nest mites that parenting martins refuse to enter their compartments to
feed their young. Complete reproductive failure can result with entire
colony sites being abandoned. At Plum Island, the martin landlord has
easy-to-lower, martin systems which are dropped for weekly nest checks,
allowing the monitoring of nest parasites.
Replacement nests are constructed with 1" - 2" beds of thoroughly dried
grass clippings, dried pine needles or wood shavings. Many martins
received replacement nests of fresh, dry materials last week in hopes of
increasing fledging success, but the perilous, cold and relentless rains
were hard on the altricial, pink-fleshed nestlings. Their gapes were
pale yellow, and some had feather papillae and feather follicles with
newly emerging feather sheaths on their backs with hues of blue to
black. The great losses due to Thursday afternoon's rain and colder
temperatures have greatly hampered this year's breeding season ~
presently there are no nestlings. Martins are single brooders. There
are references in the literature stating that they may possibly double
brood [re-nest] ~ I've not witnessed such through the years but remain
hopeful.
I will be implementing an Adopt-a-Gourd program for the 2010 nesting
season. The gourds are more weather-proof, the nests in gourds are
cleaner and freer of nest fauna and the clutches are larger than those
in the 6 inch square, wooden, T-8 boxes. If you would like to adopt one
of the Purple Martin gourds for the 2010 season and learn more about the
program, please contact me off line.
Best regards,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA 01950 USA
978-462-4785
REPLY TO: newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net
www.newburyportbirders.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Methuen, 7/6/09
From: "Jim Berry" <jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 6 Jul 2009 11:12pm
> Location: Methuen and a bit of Andover
> Observation date: 7/6/09, 0650-1250
> Notes: Final primary visit to atlas block Lawrence 2 in Methuen and
> Andover. I covered the Methuen section and a little of the Merrimack
> riverbank on the Andover side in the Deer Jump Res. The block now has 54
> species with 33 confirmed.
> Number of species: 41
>
> Wild Turkey 4 all adults
> Great Blue Heron 1
> Rock Pigeon 2
> Mourning Dove 12
> Chimney Swift 1
> Downy Woodpecker 3 FL
> Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 6 FL
> Eastern Wood-Pewee 2m
> Eastern Phoebe 3 FL
> Great Crested Flycatcher 1
> Eastern Kingbird 3
> Warbling Vireo 1
> Red-eyed Vireo 2m
> Blue Jay 13 fledgling being fed (FY)
> American Crow 9
> Tree Swallow 1
> Bank Swallow 100+/- Two colonies in one atlas block! One was
> small, only a few pairs, in a cemetery dirt pile; the other had 55-60
> burrows in a vertical cliff face in a nominally active but seriously
> overgrown sand pit with an est. 100 adults flying around. Large young were
> visible in several nests. The owners kindly gave me permission to bird the
> pit and told me I was likely to find "sand swallows." Little did they
> know of the variety of birds in that place.
> Black-capped Chickadee 19 Adults fed young in nest in an
> atypically large cavity; probably a 2nd brood.
> Tufted Titmouse 21 many young still begging from their parents
> (FL)
> White-breasted Nuthatch 9 FL
> Carolina Wren 1
> House Wren 5 FL
> Hermit Thrush 2 presumed pair; one bird was agitated (A) at my
> presence (or some other predator's) while a male sang close by
> American Robin X many young (FL)
> Gray Catbird 8 CF
> European Starling X
> Cedar Waxwing 10 pairs, but none seen carrying nest material or
> food
> Pine Warbler 5m
> Prairie Warbler 1m in sand pit; could not get anything more on it
> as it sang only once and was seen only once
> Scarlet Tanager 3 CF in sand pit, of all places (birches were
> fairly tall and large oaks were nearby)
> Eastern Towhee 1
> Chipping Sparrow 11 many young (FL)
> Song Sparrow 7
> Northern Cardinal 10 FL
> Indigo Bunting 3m territorial behavior (T) in sand pit
> Red-winged Blackbird X
> Common Grackle X
> Brown-headed Cowbird 12 FL
> Baltimore Oriole 4
> House Finch 2
> American Goldfinch 8 same comment as for waxwings
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Jim Berry
Ipswich, Mass.
jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net
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