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MASSBIRD for Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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Subject: Cooper's Hawks fledge, Chimark on Martha's
Vineyard
From: "Lanny McDowell" <blkwtrbrk(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 8:18am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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A couple of weeks ago a year 'round Chilmark resident turned me on to a nest
with four young hawks in it. At first sighting it was difficult to say
whether they were Red-taileds or Cooper's. The young were fuzzy white and
staying low in the nest. The parents were not to be seen. Since then I
have kept an eye on them and they are now up and out. Photos of adult and
young:
http://ottgallerymv.com/lannymcdowellavianart/index.php/2009/07/coming-of-ag
e-on-the-vineyard-hawks-in-flight-almost/
Lanny McDowell
West Tisbury, MA blkwtrbrk(AT)comcast.net
Blog, Photos & Artwork: www.LannyMcDowellAvianArt.com
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Purple Martins ~ 1903's & 2009's Weather
From: maryeak(AT)yahoo.com
Date: 7 Jul 2009 12:05pm
I'm still fairly new to the world of Purple Martins but I did want to let Sue
and others know that the pair of martins at one of my colonies here in Mashpee
that lost the 6 young during the storm are attempting to re-nest. I counted 4
eggs in their nest yesterday. I thought they might make another attempt when I
noticed the new, fresh green leaves that they re-lined their nest with.
Knowing of the losses in other states and the loss of 43 young and some adults
at the large colony in Lakeville, MA, I've been rather fortunate with my two
colonies.
Though I have know proof that the supplemental feeding I performed for 3 days
during the storm in June and during the first two days of July when inclement
weather persisted, my own personal thoughts are that the supplemental feeding
saved my colony from losing any more then the 6 young that were lost.
On July 1st & 2nd I watched as many of the adult martins caught the crickets
Ashley and I were flinging in the air. Upon catching the crickets many of them
were immediately entering their nest cavities to feed their young.
My colonies are small with 11 pairs at one site and 2-3 pairs at the other site.
I imagine that supplemental feeding would be quite a chore for large colonies.
It would probably take more then 1 or 2 people and lots of crickets.
Totals from my nest checks yesterday were 10 adults, 27 young, and 18 eggs at
Willowbend. I counted 20 adults on July 3rd.
And at New Seabury there were 5 adults and two nests, 1 nest with 4 eggs and 1
nest with 2 eggs.
Mary Keleher,
Mashpee, MA
--- On Mon, 7/6/09, Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net> wrote:
> From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net>
> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Purple Martins ~ 1903's & 2009's Weather
> To: massbird(AT)theworld.com, plumislandbirds(AT)yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 8:35 PM
> 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: Franklin Park, 7/6-Wood Thrushes
From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 12:46pm
Hi,
I took a walk yesterday in Franklin Park without binoculars.(Actually it was
alternating between walking and halting with a whole lot of psshing going on).
My best find was two Wood Thrushes in approriate nesting habitat in two
different locations. I may have actually also seen a young Wood Thrush also, but
I did not get good enough looks to confirm. Here is my list:
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Canada Geese 100+
Mallard 46(many young)
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 5
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 4(two together on a nesting snag beside golf course)
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 6-singing away
American Crow 5
Blue Jay 4
Barn Swallow 10-together with starling, kingbird, and chimney swift capturing
insects on the wing
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmice 15
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
WOOD THRUSH 2 OR 3
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 10
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 2+
European Starlings
Yellow Warbler 1-singing briefly, and chasing a Downy Woodpecker!
Northern Cardinal 2
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 10
Common Grackle 10
Red-winged Blackbird 10
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrows
FLOWERS:Indian Pipe,Yarrow, Wild Indigo
AMPHIBIAN: Bullfrog
MAMMALS: Eastern Cottontail, Gray Squirrels
INSECT: Crickets singing
Overall, a very enjoyable stroll in this large urban park in Jamaica Plain and
Roxbury and Dorchester designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law
Olmstead.
Paul Peterson
petersonpaul63(AT)yahoo.com
Boston
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Photos of Joppa Flats Educ.Ctr trip to Jeffrey's
Ledge
From: hbreder(AT)comcast.net
Date: 7 Jul 2009 3:42pm
I sorted through the 600+ photos I took on the trip and came up with a
selection showing Northern Gannets, Greater and Sooty Shearwaters and
Wilson's Storm-Petrels. The mirror images on the calm flat sea were just
amazing. Photos and report here:
http://onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com
Hilke Breder,
Brattleboro, VT
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Boston to Provincetown Ferry, Hatches Harbor
7/6/09
From: Tim Factor <tef617(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 3:44pm
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Greetings,
I took the "fast" ferry from Boston to Provincetown yesterday, 7/6, then
biked to Hatches Harbor. I wanted to check out at least one of the
Provincetown hotspots while still hot and also to investigate birding via
the ferry.
The fast ferry is true to its name. The trip is ~90 minutes, compared to 3
hours on the "slow" ferry that still runs on Saturdays. That's good for
getting to Provincetown, not so good for birding. The boat goes so fast that
you often don't get more than a brief glimpse of passing birds. It also
means that if you want to stay on the decks with a good view in all
directions you'll be buffeted with gale-force or greater winds, making
steady viewing or even just standing upright problematic. The alternative is
to stay in the cabin in comfort but at the cost of having much reduced field
of view. The seats with a good view weren't left empty for long so to stay
inside meant staying put, not switching positions as conditions warranted.
The boat also takes a route through a part of Mass/Cape Cod bay that doesn't
seem to have much marine (and therefore avian) life. We encountered
essentially no commercial or private fishing boats during the bulk of the
journey which suggests there isn't much out (or down) there. Almost all of
my bird sightings were at the beginnings and ends of the journeys. On the
way over the boat headed for Race Point then veered south to follow the
shore past Hatches Harbor and Herring Cove before turning towards the harbor
and a lot of birds (Shearwaters, Storm-petrels, Jaegers. etc) were seen
during that stretch. On the way back the boat took more of a bee-line and
the birds were much sparser.
Highlights from the boat trips:
Wilson's Storm Petrels - a dozen in Boston Harbor, 3 before even Spectacle
Island as we cleared Castle Island that would have been easily viewed from
shore in South Boston. Otherwise very few scattered until just before
Provincetown where they were in fair numbers - dozens.
Greater Shearwater - dozens mostly near Provincetown
Sooty Shearwater - three near Provincetown shore on first leg
Cory's Shearwater - 2 immediately outside Provincetown Harbor on the return
trip
Northern Gannet - a handful of scattered singleton immatures on both legs
Jaeger - three harassing a small group of Terns and Laughing Gulls off
Provincetown, one adult (or near adult) Parasitic veered off to pace the
boat for a stretch giving fantastic views (and an idea of how fast they can
fly). The others dark immatures, almost undoubtedly Parasitic as well.
The boat lands in Provincetown at 10:30 and the return trip is at 4:00 so if
you're on a bike it doesn't leave much time for getting to the remote
birding spots and back. You'll need to be a faster biker and/or birder than
I am to get to more than one of Hatches Harbor, Race Point, Beech Forest,
for example. I aimed for Hatches.
The trip to the turn-off to Hatches on roads and bike path is pretty flat
and pleasant but lots of bike dragging and pushing is required thereafter as
the road to Hatches turns to sand. I made it across the dike road then
ditched the bike and walked and waded the next half mile or so to the end of
the spit (I was there a little after high tide so I think it's doable in any
tide).
Highlights from Hatches:
6 Tern species
Common Tern - a good 500, overwhelmingly adults. The birds were skittish,
flushing regularly (mostly for no apparent reason) then resettling for a few
minutes then back to the air. A couple of mating pairs.
Roseate Tern - at least four, including two doing a courtship dance - a
Roseate Tango - one holding a sand eel in its beak as they pointed their
bills and tails in the air and walked in slow circles around each other with
their wings spread slightly until one took the fish from the other.
Arctic Tern - one alternate adult seen very well, I admit I have trouble
IDing unequivocally last year's birds vs COTE but at least some of those too
Forster's Tern - one basic adult - black bill and ear patches
Least Tern - a few feeding in the shallows before the open water of the
harbor
Royal Tern - one flying across the spit headed for the sea just as I
arrived. The first of the big terns I'd seen in years and I'd forgotten just
how ponderous and un-tern-like they are. Basic adult with big orange bill
and white forehead.
6 Gull species
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull - one
Bonaparte's Gull - a few
Laughing Gull - a couple hundred in assorted plumages
Black-legged Kittiwake - one in adult basic I think - only a faint smudge
behind the ear. Had a black "nail" on the tip of the yellow bill which
doesn't show up in any of my guides.
Others:
Surf Scoter - male just off the beach, otherwise very little going on
offshore
Piping Plover - two pairs in the flats to the east of the harbor, one pair
vigorously chasing off a Herring Gull
Horned Lark - adult and juvenile
Bobolink - male on the dike road
In the future it might make more sense to take the Saturday fast boat over,
then the later slow boat back at night, yielding a fuller day of birding
with less stress about making it back in time for the only return boat.
Tim Factor
Boston
tef617@gmail
--0015175cdbbc7a8aed046e22d558
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
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Greetings,<br><br>I took the "fast" ferry from Boston to Province=
town yesterday, 7/6, then biked to Hatches Harbor. I wanted to check out at=
least one of the Provincetown hotspots while still hot and also to investi=
gate birding via the ferry.<br>
<br>The fast ferry is true to its name. The trip is ~90 minutes, compared t=
o 3 hours on the "slow" ferry that still runs on Saturdays. That&=
#39;s good for getting to Provincetown, not so good for birding. The boat g=
oes so fast that you often don't get more than a brief glimpse of passi=
ng birds. It also means that if you want to stay on the decks with a good v=
iew in all directions you'll be buffeted with gale-force or greater win=
ds, making steady viewing or even just standing upright problematic. The al=
ternative is to stay in the cabin in comfort but at the cost of having much=
reduced field of view. The seats with a good view weren't left empty f=
or long so to stay inside meant staying put, not switching positions as con=
ditions warranted.<br>
<br>The boat also takes a route through a part of Mass/Cape Cod bay that do=
esn't seem to have much marine (and therefore avian) life. We encounter=
ed essentially no commercial or private fishing boats during the bulk of th=
e journey which suggests there isn't much out (or down) there. Almost a=
ll of my bird sightings were at the beginnings and ends of the journeys. On=
the way over the boat headed for Race Point then veered south to follow th=
e shore past Hatches Harbor and Herring Cove before turning towards the har=
bor and a lot of birds (Shearwaters, Storm-petrels, Jaegers. etc) were seen=
during that stretch. On the way back the boat took more of a bee-line and =
the birds were much sparser.<br>
<br>Highlights from the boat trips:<br>Wilson's Storm Petrels - a dozen=
in Boston Harbor, 3 before even Spectacle Island as we cleared Castle Isla=
nd that would have been easily viewed from shore in South Boston. Otherwise=
very few scattered until just before Provincetown where they were in fair =
numbers - dozens.<br>
Greater Shearwater - dozens mostly near Provincetown<br>Sooty Shearwater - =
three near Provincetown shore on first leg<br>Cory's Shearwater - 2 imm=
ediately outside Provincetown Harbor on the return trip<br>Northern Gannet =
- a handful of scattered singleton immatures on both legs<br>
Jaeger - three harassing a small group of Terns and Laughing Gulls off Prov=
incetown, one adult (or near adult) Parasitic veered off to pace the boat f=
or a stretch giving fantastic views (and an idea of how fast they can fly).=
The others dark immatures, almost undoubtedly Parasitic as well.<br>
<br>The boat lands in Provincetown at 10:30 and the return trip is at 4:00 =
so if you're on a bike it doesn't leave much time for getting to th=
e remote birding spots and back. You'll need to be a faster biker and/o=
r birder than I am to get to more than one of Hatches Harbor, Race Point, B=
eech Forest, for example. I aimed for Hatches.<br>
<br>The trip to the turn-off to Hatches on roads and bike path is pretty fl=
at and pleasant but lots of bike dragging and pushing is required thereafte=
r as the road to Hatches turns to sand. I made it across the dike road then=
ditched the bike and walked and waded the next half mile or so to the end =
of the spit (I was there a little after high tide so I think it's doabl=
e in any tide).<br>
<br>Highlights from Hatches:<br><br>6 Tern species<br>Common Tern - a good =
500, overwhelmingly adults. The birds were skittish, flushing regularly (mo=
stly for no apparent reason) then resettling for a few minutes then back to=
the air. A couple of mating pairs.<br>
Roseate Tern - at least four, including two doing a courtship dance - a Ros=
eate Tango - one holding a sand eel in its beak as they pointed their bills=
and tails in the air and walked in slow circles around each other with the=
ir wings spread slightly until one took the fish from the other.<br>
Arctic Tern - one alternate adult seen very well, I admit I have trouble ID=
ing unequivocally last year's birds vs COTE but at least some of those =
too<br>Forster's Tern - one basic adult - black bill and ear patches<br=
>
Least Tern - a few feeding in the shallows before the open water of the har=
bor<br>Royal Tern - one flying across the spit headed for the sea just as I=
arrived. The first of the big terns I'd seen in years and I'd forg=
otten just how ponderous and un-tern-like they are. Basic adult with big or=
ange bill and white forehead.<br>
<br>6 Gull species<br>Herring Gull<br>Great Black-backed Gull<br>Ring-bille=
d Gull - one<br>Bonaparte's Gull - a few<br>Laughing Gull - a couple hu=
ndred in assorted plumages<br>Black-legged Kittiwake - one in adult basic I=
think - only a faint smudge behind the ear. Had a black "nail" o=
n the tip of the yellow bill which doesn't show up in any of my guides.=
<br>
<br>Others:<br>Surf Scoter - male just off the beach, otherwise very little=
going on offshore<br>Piping Plover - two pairs in the flats to the east of=
the harbor, one pair vigorously chasing off a Herring Gull<br>Horned Lark =
- adult and juvenile<br>
Bobolink - male on the dike road<br><br><br>In the future it might make mor=
e sense to take the Saturday fast boat over, then the later slow boat back =
at night, yielding a fuller day of birding with less stress about making it=
back in time for the only return boat.<br>
<br>Tim Factor<br>Boston<br>tef617@gmail<br>
--0015175cdbbc7a8aed046e22d558--
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Purple Martins ~ 1903's & 2009's Weather
From: "Scott Ricker" <ptbagger(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 4:52pm
Hi Mary,
Your response to the adverse affects that this spring & summer weather has
had on the Purple Martin colonies was very informative and sounds as though
you had some success with the supplemental feeding technique.
My thoughts are, that this technique to try and save Purple Martin broods
can work and local birders should put effort into this like we have for CBCs
or Atlasing for breeding birds or at least give it the time that would be
appropriate. Even soliciting the assistance of local summer camps or local
boys & girls clubs may be a practicle solution.
Just imagine the life lesson and satisfaction of taking part in that type of
activity and the positive impact it would have on our youth and sometimes
innercities kids!
Kudos to yourself for taking the time & effort to do such a simple but
wonderful thing for this important species of Swallow!
Scott Ricker
Southwick, MA.
ptbagger(AT)verizon.net
Mary Keleher wrote;
I'm still fairly new to the world of Purple Martins but I did want to let
Sue and others know that the pair of martins at one of my colonies here in
Mashpee that lost the 6 young during the storm are attempting to re-nest. I
counted 4 eggs in their nest yesterday. I thought they might make another
attempt when I noticed the new, fresh green leaves that they re-lined their
nest with.
Knowing of the losses in other states and the loss of 43 young and some
adults at the large colony in Lakeville, MA, I've been rather fortunate with
my two colonies.
Though I have know proof that the supplemental feeding I performed for 3
days during the storm in June and during the first two days of July when
inclement weather persisted, my own personal thoughts are that the
supplemental feeding saved my colony from losing any more then the 6 young
that were lost.
On July 1st & 2nd I watched as many of the adult martins caught the crickets
Ashley and I were flinging in the air. Upon catching the crickets many of
them were immediately entering their nest cavities to feed their young.
My colonies are small with 11 pairs at one site and 2-3 pairs at the other
site. I imagine that supplemental feeding would be quite a chore for large
colonies. It would probably take more then 1 or 2 people and lots of
crickets.
Totals from my nest checks yesterday were 10 adults, 27 young, and 18 eggs
at Willowbend. I counted 20 adults on July 3rd.
And at New Seabury there were 5 adults and two nests, 1 nest with 4 eggs and
1 nest with 2 eggs.
Mary Keleher,
Mashpee, MA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Deer Island and Winthrop 7/7
From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 5:00pm
Hi,
I had several highlights today:
Deer Island:
2 Peregrine Falcons-tip of Deer I.-out on the water pursuing a Barn Swallow!
WOW!
1 American Oystercatcher-tip of Deer Island, on small jetty
WINTHROP:
11 MANX SHEARWATER-flyby, just north of Yirrell Beach heading south towards Deer
Island
5 American Oystercatchers incl. 3 young, north end of Yirrell Beach(all were
banded)
4 Piping Plover incl. one with no dark collar-Winthrop Beach
6 White-winged Scoter-Winthrop B.
Least Terns-dozens,but too difficult to count
lower half of Harbor Seal carcass-on beach
Paul Peterson
petersonpaul63(AT)yahoo.com
Boston
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Odd looking corvid
From: "Clayton Swanson" <cas-swansong(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 7:02pm
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At the HOME DEPOT in WALTHAM this spring and summer there has been an =
odd looking Corvid .It has a large bill a white neck and ( to me ) looks =
larger than a crow .I have never heard it call and can not find a =
picture of it in any of my feild guides. If anyone can tell me what it =
is I would be very happy .Thebird is seen most often at 6-10;30 in the =
morning .At the right hand side of the store .PLEASE!!!! do not go =
behind the building truck,s and forklifts are operating in this =
location. MY E-MAIL adress is cas-swansong(AT)comcast.net THANK YOU CLAYTON =
A SWANSON .
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Millbury/Worcester RFI; Also Downeast Maine
report
From: William Freedberg <4mrfish(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 7:54pm
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Massbirders,
I am scheduled to lead a group of 6-9th graders (mostly non-birders) on a
bird walk this thursday- pretty normal gig for me, except it's in Millbury,
MA- an area I know nothing about birding during breeding season.
Could anyone who knows the Millbury/Greater Worcester area perhaps recommend
(offlist) some beginner friendly birding sites that would be productive at
this time of year? I'd really appreciate it.
Incidentally, I just got back from a weeklong birding trip to Downeast Maine
(Machiasport)- if anyone wants to see my trip report, I can send it to
them.
Good Birding,
Will Freedberg
Belmont, MA
4mrfish(AT)gmail.com
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<div>Massbirders,</div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div>I am scheduled to lead a group of=A06-9th graders (mostly non-birders)=
on a bird walk this thursday- pretty normal gig for me, except it's in=
Millbury, MA- an area=A0I know nothing about birding during breeding seaso=
n. </div>
<div>Could anyone who knows the Millbury/Greater Worcester area perhaps rec=
ommend (offlist) some beginner friendly birding sites that would be product=
ive at this time of year?=A0 I'd really appreciate it.</div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div>Incidentally, I just got back from a weeklong birding trip to Downeast=
Maine (Machiasport)- if anyone wants to see my trip report, I can send it =
to them.=A0 </div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div>Good Birding,</div>
<div>Will Freedberg</div>
<div>Belmont, MA</div>
<div><a href=3D"mailto:4mrfish(AT)gmail.com">4mrfish(AT)gmail.com</a></div>
--0016364d2b09558c8c046e2656b9--
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: cape cod birding
From: "Joan Chasan" <jec56(AT)rcn.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 7:54pm
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----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
we will be in Chatham area last week in august for a few days during the =
week meeting friends. =20
been yrs since been on the cape with time to do some birding.
any suggestions for that area -Chatham or slightly north or ? on the way =
back off the cape?=20
south beach? off Chatham is not good for us. need a place where can =
have access to car and not walk too far. =20
Please reply off list.=20
thanks
Joan
jec56(AT)rcn.com
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Subject: Stellwagen Bank 7/7/09
From: Ian Davies <goshawk227(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 7:48pm
I headed out on the 9am Captain John Boats whalewatch leaving from
Plymouth this morning, and for the first time thus far there were a
couple birders aboard, namely Scott Hecker and Mike Sylvia. Not all
that many birds were out where we were today, and surprisingly many of
the birds ended up being on the way out, in Plymouth waters. Once out
there we were bound to the whales, staring wistfully at the distant
low clouds of birds on the horizon. If only the whales had been
further north! We spent most of the time right on the SW corner, and
to the north and east there appeared to be some significant bird
action. Some of the more interesting things today seen by me were
decent numbers of Cory's Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater spotted by
Mike. The best bird of the day I missed, which was an immature Long-
tailed Jaeger that Mike had, and he also had another Manx Shearwater
which only he saw. Good stuff!
Shorebirds are starting to appear on the beach, yesterday there were 7
species, including an early Dunlin and six Short-billed Dowitchers.
Two of the dowitchers remained today.
Full lists from today below.
Plymouth Beach (0930-0945/1300-1315):
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 2 Near the Bug Light, moved back closer
into land after not being so close yesterday.
Double-crested Cormorant 15 No Greats present on the Bug Light
today, two yesterday.
Willet (Eastern) 3
peep sp. 4
Short-billed Dowitcher (Atlantic) 2
Laughing Gull 140
Ring-billed Gull 150
Herring Gull (American) 50
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Least Tern 4
Common Tern 900
Sterna sp. 400
En route to Stellwagen: Plymouth Co. (0945-1045/1205-1300):
Cory's Shearwater 14 *Very good count for Plymouth waters
Greater Shearwater 83 *Very good count for Plymouth waters
Sooty Shearwater 24 *Very good count for Plymouth waters
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 15 Far fewer inshore today, although
some were in close again.
Northern Gannet 3
Laughing Gull 4
Herring Gull (American) 10
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Stellwagen Bank -- SW Corner (1045-1205):
Also an additional Manx Shearwater and a Long-tailed Jaeger seen by
Mike Sylvia.
Cory's Shearwater 7 Less than on the way out. Interesting.
Greater Shearwater 88 Low numbers.
Sooty Shearwater 35
Manx Shearwater 1 Thanks to Mike Sylvia
shearwater sp. 200 All out on the horizon, most likely far
more, maybe even in the thousands. Whales did not cooperate in that
direction!
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 65
Northern Gannet 5
Laughing Gull 8
Herring Gull (American) 10
Great Black-backed Gull 15
gull sp. 50
Common Tern 14
Parasitic Jaeger 2 Ganging up on a Laughing Gull, 1lt, 1dk
jaeger sp. 2 One likely Parasitic, one not sure.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Good birding,
Ian Davies
Manomet, MA
goshawk227(AT)earthlink.net
www.pbase.com/daviesphoto
http://picasaweb.google.com/goshawk227
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Subject: helping bank swallows nest
From: Goshawk3(AT)aol.com
Date: 7 Jul 2009 7:44pm
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I read Jim Berry's post about the bank swallow colony in the sandpit. I
remember an awesome bank swallow colony I found in Taunton in about 1995, at a
soon to be active subdivision site on the shore of Black Pond (I think).
The site sloped down toward the Pond, a site shown on the NHESP maps as
endangered species habitat. About 250 feet from the pond was a large loam pile,
halfway cut, with grass and weeds growing on top. It looked like a
miniature "Half-Dome". The flat side was filled with bank swallow nest holes,
and
bank swallows were streaming back and forth between the pile and the pond,
because the landowners had removed most of the large trees near the pond (a
violation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, but clearly
beneficial to the swallows in this case). While I do not advocate vegetation
removal near wetlands, nor stripping land, it should be relatively easy to
build a similar nesting bank if anyone has the land, the time, and the soil.
Artificial fabric stabilization would allow a loam pile to be stabilized
immediately after construction, until plants could cover it. These are such
wonderful birds, it would be nice if we could support their populations the
way we can barn and tree swallows, and purple martins.
Denise Cabral
Walnut St., West Bridgewater
goshawk3 AT aol.com
**************Looking for love this summer? Find it now on AOL Personals.
(http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000003)
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Subject: P'town - 7/7/09
From: Blair Nikula <odenews(AT)odenews.org>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 9:02pm
I spent the morning in Provincetown, joined by Rick Heil about
8:00. Rick ending up spending the day, and will fatten some of these
totals considerably, but my totals were as follows.
Race Point Beach (0555 - 0625, 0710 - 0800, & 0810 - 0915
hrs. Partly Cloudy, Wind SSE@10-15mph; Visibility mostly
good. There was a good movement of westbound shearwaters between
about 0700 - 0800, tapering off over the next hour):
17 Common Eider
1 Black Scoter
1 Common Loon
600+ Cory's Shearwaters (most heading west and many close to shore)
900+ Greater Shearwaters (most heading west)
100+ Sooty Shearwaters
3000+ large shearwater sp. (most heading west)
75 Wilson's Storm-Petrels
15 N. Gannets (1 ad.)
6 Bonaparte's Gulls
200 Laughing Gulls
400 Herring Gulls
75 Great Black-backed Gulls
125 Common Terns
7 Arctic Terns (all 1cy.)
1 Pomarine Jaeger (ad. w/full tail extension; presumably the same
bird seen earlier at Herring Cove - see below)
4 Parasitic Jaegers (1-1cy, 1 sub-ad., 1 dark)
1 Long-tailed Jaeger (2cy)
2 jaeger sp. (1 probable Pomarine)
Herring Cove (0635 - 0650 hrs.):
4 Cory's Shearwaters
10 large shearwater sp.
150 Wilson's Storm-Petrels
5 N. Gannets
1 LITTLE GULL (1cy?)
8 Bonaparte's Gulls
150 Laughing Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (1cy.)
1 Pomarine Jaeger (ad w/full tail extension; initially sitting on the
beach but took off as soon as I spotted it and headed north right up the beach)
1 jaeger sp.
Later on, I walked out to Hatches Harbor with Rick, but I'll leave
those total to him.
Blair Nikula
2 Gilbert Lane
Harwich Port, MA 02646
USA
mailto:odenews(AT)odenews.org
web site: http://www.odenews.org/
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Subject: fulmar at stellwagen banks July 6
From: fredatwood(AT)yahoo.com
Date: 7 Jul 2009 9:36pm
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Among the amazing humpback whale show with 20 humpbacks lunge-feeding and b=
ubble-feeding on dense schools of sand eels with larger fishes jumping out =
of the water to eat the sand lance too, there were hundreds of shearwaters,=
gulls,=A0=A0and wilson's storm petrels. I was so captivated by the whales,=
that I did not look as closely at the birds as I wanted, but did see gobs =
of greater and sooty shearwaters as well as many Cory's.=A0=A0 I did not se=
e any Manx shearwaters or jaegers (my goal was long-tailed jaeger) but did =
have a really good views (and a poor but identifiable photo) of a pale morp=
h FULMAR circling the boat just before the whale show began. As I returned =
near sunset, hundreds of shearwaters had also gathered near Race Point rest=
ing on the water.
Fred Atwood, Chatham
and
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675=20
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
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Subject: Golden Plover and other finds in Chatham etc
From: fredatwood(AT)yahoo.com
Date: 7 Jul 2009 9:55pm
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Here are some recent highlights from my birding in Chatham and Harwich over=
the past week or so.=A0 Sorry for the delay. I tried to post these on the =
Cape Cod group but they didn't seem to post so I resubscribed to Massbird.
=A0
July 5 South Beach near Chatham Light
1 Golden Plover flying with 6 Black-bellied Plovers on the sand/mud flats.
5 Black Scoter
1 Surf Scoter (there were 2 a couple days before)
1 Harrier (there were 2 a couple days before)
3 Horned Lark
12 Willet
2 Piping Plover
several Least Terns attempting to renest
=A0
July 4 Hardings Beach
1 white-winged scoter
8 piping plovers (4 fledglings)
9 singing savannah sparrows
=A03 singing horned larks
lots of common and least terns feeding just offshore
=A0
July 5 Ridgevale Beach, CHatham
some Least Terns attempting a renesting
4 Piping plovers
3=A0snowy egrets
3 great egrets
1 green heron
4=A0great blue heron
3 oystercatchers
14 willets
27 common eiders
1 bobwhite singing
4 singing yellow warblers
1 cooper's hawk
=A0
July 5 Goose Pond, CHatham
first Spotted Sandpiper of the season here
also Bobwhite singing
adult and immature cooper's hawks at different times riling up the redwings=
and grackles
=A0
July 4 Goose Pond Chatham
common loon in near breeding plumage all day
=A0
July 4 Bells Neck COnservation area, Harwich
1 spotted sandpiper
12 singing marsh wrens
6 singing yellow warblers and one with food for young
26 singing common yellowthroats
2 ruby-throated hummingbirds, one gathering nesting material (spider webs)
a blue jay rubbing a hairy caterpillar (gypsy moth?) on a branch to remove =
haird before swallowing it
July 1 (I think) Hawksnest State Park Harwich
just after sunset
8 singing hermit thrush (wonderful!)
also 5 ovenbirds singing
stayed until after dark hoping for whip-poor-wills, but no luck.
=A0
June 30 Outermost Harbor, CHatham
Brant, with injured wing on shore
=A0
Ridgevale Beach, Chatham today July 7
=A09 short-billed dowitchers
Frederick D. Atwood Chatham
and
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675=20
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
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Subject: Race Pt July 6, in AM
From: Frederick Atwood <fredatwood(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 10:00pm
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Yesterday I was at Race Pt just off the parking area from about 6:45 to 8:15 and
found the following highlights.
3 parasitic jaeger
3000 (ish) greater shearwater
600 Sooty shearwater
350 cory's shearwater
1 manx shearwater
300-400 wilson's storm petrels
4 lesser black-backed gulls
65 gannets
2 horned lark
2 cedar waxwings
Frederick D. Atwood, Chatham
and
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
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Subject: Ward Reservation, Andover, 7/7/09
From: "Jim Berry" <jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 7 Jul 2009 10:36pm
> Location: Ward Res., Andover
> Observation date: 7/7/09, 0800-1130
> Notes: After the rain stopped, Bob Watts and I walked the northwest
> section of this 700-acre TTOR reservation (block Lawrence 9), covering
> Mars Swamp and Rubbish Meadow, two large beaver swamps with lots of
> standing dead timber but no great blue heron nests despite the presence of
> numerous herons. (There is probably a colony nearby.) The hooded merganser
> raised my hopes for a rare county confirmation, but our vigil revealed no
> young mergansers.
> Number of species: 39
>
> Canada Goose 9 no young seen
> Wood Duck 16 5 half-grown ducklings together without parent
> Mallard 15 estimated number; adults with large young, probably at
> least two families
> Hooded Merganser 1 alas, a hen with no young in evidence
> Great Blue Heron 8
> Great Egret 2
> Green Heron 4 no obvious young seen
> Mourning Dove 6
> Great Horned Owl 1 distant; looked like a young of the year
> Belted Kingfisher 1
> Downy Woodpecker 4 one juv. seen
> Hairy Woodpecker 5 family group
> Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
> Eastern Wood-Pewee 3m
> Eastern Phoebe 4
> Great Crested Flycatcher 1
> Eastern Kingbird 2
> Blue Jay 3
> American Crow 7
> Tree Swallow 10 estimated number
> Black-capped Chickadee 11
> Tufted Titmouse 9
> White-breasted Nuthatch 10
> Eastern Bluebird 3
> Veery 5
> Hermit Thrush 1m sang for long period in late morning
> Wood Thrush 1m
> American Robin X
> Gray Catbird 5
> European Starling 0
> Cedar Waxwing 0
> Pine Warbler 3m
> Ovenbird 4
> Common Yellowthroat 0
> Scarlet Tanager 1m
> Eastern Towhee 3 female of a pair carried food (CF)
> Chipping Sparrow 1m
> Song Sparrow 1m
> Northern Cardinal 3
> Red-winged Blackbird X
> Common Grackle X
> American Goldfinch 2
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Jim Berry
Ipswich, Mass.
jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net
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