Nesting has begun!

Daffodils

Arrived 7:30 a.m., 45 degrees

Today, the sun shone and it sure was a welcome sight after all that rain   (that we desperately needed)!

The daffodils are out in full force! A little droopy from the heavy snow that fell on them Friday, but still, they are such a cheerful sign of spring.

A Carolina wren called from the distance as I headed to the lower gardens. Heard some titmice in the background. A bright red cardinal sat atop a tree bursting with color in the sun alongside a male goldfinch in his bright yellow summer suit. The tree swallows are back in good numbers along with robins and blue jays. A Blue heron flew overhead.

Chickadee

Calling in the upper gardens were several white-throated sparrows, although I never ended up seeing one! A red-bellied woodpecker called from the woods and a robin was busy building its nest and trying it out. A pair of chickadees were very engaged in the catkins on a willow tree. A few juncos are still around.

The soccer field had its usual robins in the field and no duck sightings in the vernal pool or the river, although a beautiful red-winged blackbird was making sure everyone knew where its territory was. The river added a nuthatch and another robin building a nest on a branch overhanging the Charles. Hope the babies don't fall out when they hatch and get bigger! Saw an Eastern Phoebe couple near the path that takes one through the JCC to the Winchester St. parking lot.

Ran into Ian who mentioned that Haynes has heard pine warblers near the JCC and Ian saw a palm warbler today along Florrie's path.

Who will turn up?

7:30 a.m. 50 degrees and cloudy.

It turned out to feel a little cooler than I imagined, but still, it was so nice to be at the park.

The leaves aren't out yet, so still easy to spot any birds hanging out in the trees.  The lower gardens had robins, a few tree swallows, white-throated sparrows, chickadees and blue jays. There was a lovely hermit thrush flitting about along one of the paths.

The soccer field had several robins and a flicker poking around. Down by the vernal pool was an Eastern phoebe, red-winged blackbirds, cardinals and white-throated sparrows. The bloodroot colony there is alive and well with buds that will open when the sun comes out. A Carolina wren sang from the trees nearby.

The river hosted many of the same but also included song sparrows, another hermit thrush, juncos, a hairy woodpecker male, downies, cardinals and mourning doves. A red-bellied woodpecker purred from across the river.

I have to say, in all the years I have been going to the park, I have never seen so many trees and branches down. I'm sure these more frequent "wind events" that we never used to have, are a big contributor. The water level of the river is way down and the areas that normally fill up with water in the spring are dry as a bone. We have not had the kind of snow and rain that is normal for this area.

However, it is a very special place, and especially during this year of COVID, it is a great respite from all of the world's problems. Nature just keeps on going and is a pleasure to take part in.

Early March

Just a few birds from recent visits to the Park.... a beautiful pair of Hooded Megansers on the river ...

... a Song Sparrow sounding like spring ...

... and a new bird for the Park for me, Ring-necked Duck: four of them that I caught just as they rounded the corner under the bridge....

 

Winter birds

 The winter weather has discouraged visits to Nahanton Park. But I passed through it several times in past month. Duane's house is no more! Here are some birds.....

On January 17, I missed the flock of Common Redpolls reported by Liane, but did note a big homogeneous flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds paused briefly in a tree at the lower garden ...

When I tried for the redpolls the next day, a Common Raven greeted me ...

And yesterday, I took advantage of the brief episode of sunshine, and found this Fox Sparrow at one of it's usual haunts, the far end of Woodcock Field. 

A few more birds

Just a few more photos. Here's a Swamp Sparrow tee-ed up in the lower garden, where a pair of Lincoln Sparrows were also hanging out.

This is a Palm Warbler, of the gray western race, a stray here in the east. 

And here's one of the many Savannah Sparrows in the upper garden this morning.

And finally there were at least three Indigo Buntings around as well.

 

Early fall catch all

 A few birds from the past week at Nahanton Park ...

Fall warmup

I spent time at the park on both mornings this weekend. A high point was a nice mixed flock at the warm back of the upper garden on Saturday: Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireo, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Parula, and Blackpoll Warbler, accompanied by Chickadees and Titmouses. 

The upper garden was again the place to be on Sunday: Lincoln's Sparrow!

Late report: Last Saturday there appeared on the soccer field an enormous flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds: 370 by my count! Marylou, David, and Ian were also witnesses. Here's a little segment of the flock.