Even later fall ...

November 29 was a good day too. This Hermit Thrush was in the thicket behind the lower garden bat-house 

The Chat was still around - and was being seen by many till on Dec 8! ...

And this Red-shouldered Hawk obligingly paused for a moment in the woods between the lower garden and Duane's Lawn.

 

Late fall roundup

Not so many migrant sparrows this fall, as observed at Nahanton Park and elsewhere in Eastern Massachusetts. An exception: a good showing by Field Sparrows. But there were some good birds around anyway.  Several Orange-crowned Warblers were around (Oct 10, continuing for Linda's BBC walk on Oct 14, and much later, Nov 23), and also on Nov 23 I caught a glimpse of a very late Blue-winged Warbler at the back of the upper garden. 

On Nov 4 a very late flock of 4 Chipping Sparrows appeared on Duane's lawn. 

Eastern Bluebirds were around the upper garden from Nov 19 till today at least, when there were three.

And today there was a Yellow-breasted Chat near the bat-house at the lower garden! - the first I've seen here since 2015, and by far the latest in the fall.  

Bee Hives at Nahanton

Beekeeper Vasyl replacing food source for bees

One of Nahanton Parks excellent photographers Barbara S. was at the park a few weeks ago and was able to meet and photograph beekeeper Vasyl as he tended to his hives.

The honey was extracted in August but Vasyl needs to replace the bees food source that he took, so at intervals he inserts a sugary liquid to keep them happy through the cold seasons.

So next time you are at the park, check out the hives. The gardens are mutually beneficial to the gardeners and the bees!

Honey Bee

Another point of interest is that Katherine Howard and Jon Regosin from the Newton Conservators are working on a de-thatching project in Woodcock meadow on the east side in order to encourage germination of other species plant species who cannot grow because the thatch layer of little bluestem is too thick. They are creating 3 small test plots to see how the "scraping" method works before a potential larger project later on. The little bluestem will not be killed in the process as they have deep roots.
 

Please consider becoming a member of the Friends of Nahanton Park.

http://www.nahantonpark.org/

More fall warblers

Bumpy overcast giving way to scattered clouds this morning, and cool. Warbler in the upper garden turned out to be an Orange-crowned --

I met up with Paul McPartland and we refound the OCWA. The Juncos are back in force, and there was a Field Sparrow and Indigo Bunting in the upper garden. Common Yellowthroat and Nashville in lower, and a reclusive and quite late Magnolia in the trees at Wayne's Lawn. 

.. and a Pine Warbler in the upper field....

 

Cool breeze

Beautiful fresh morning at Nahanton Park, with Barbara and Suzette. A Bald Eagle flew over, and there were some warblers -- Common Yellowthroat, Nashville, and a late Magnolia.

End of September

 Just a few shots from late September ...

At least five very late Chimney Swifts

Is this really a Common Yellowthroat?

Philadelphia Vireo!

Palm Warbler

I took this to be a Pine Warbler, but the photo shows a Blackpoll.

After the storm

 I was curious about what tropical storm near miss Lee brought to Nahanton Park, so I spent a couple of hours there this morning. 37 spp, including the first of the year Indigo Bunting and 10 warbler species, including this beautiful Mourning Warbler -- 

September is a good month at NP

 A couple of hours this morning turned up 9 warbler species. Some photos - 

Between the showers

I spent a couple of hours this morning at Nahanton Park, joined for some of that time by Suzette. There were several little mixed flocks, including Nashville, B&W, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat. Modest variety was compensated by numbers - 6 AMRE, 5 COYE, 3 BTGW, 2 CSWA. ... There was also a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in a small tree near the lower garden, and a Hermit Thrush in the woods. A House Wren was trapped in one of the garden plots with an illegal roof net. Here are a couple of photos. 

 

Early Fall Fallout

September 1 was still and sunny, after a northerly overnight breeze. I thought this might bring in some interesting birds. Here are a few photographs.

Blackburnian Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Another Chipping Sparrow

Green Heron (from Aug 29 actually)

Least Flycatcher

Nashville Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Tennessee Warbler