Surprise raptor

Not having time to participate in the CBC this year, I decided to make a quick pass through Nahanton Park, which lies outside the Greater Boston circle. Very soon after I arrived, a juvenile Northern Harrier  coursed across the Wildflower Meadow, then up over the tree margin at the river and out of sight. I have seen this species here once before, a long time ago, but very high. This bird was IN the park, not just over it.

In other news, the Towhees seem to have moved on. I think I heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near the circle at the soccer field, but I couldn't find the bird.

Here's a list....

Canada Goose  8
Northern Harrier  1     
gull sp.  1
Mourning Dove  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  1     flyover
Blue Jay  10
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  8
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
American Robin  30
Northern Mockingbird  1     lower garden
American Tree Sparrow  4     corner of lower garden
Song Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  15
Northern Cardinal  6
House Finch  6
American Goldfinch  15