Weekend Update

I knew it was going to be a brutal weekend, so went early both days, but apparently not early enough to run into Haynes (see previous entry). I did run into Mary Lou Saturday, and we walked around together.

We saw a couple of Eastern kingbirds in the lower gardens which were my first of the season. Our usuals were out in full force - mourning doves, tree swallows, robins, house wrens, song sparrows etc. There's a yellow warbler nest in the lower gardens I've been keeping an eye on. Mom sits in the deep nest and just the tippy top of her head was showing with her little eye and beak. Also had a nice look at a common yellowthroat male in a shrub near the compost piles.

I love it when the wild roses are blooming. Their deep pink color is so striking against the yellow green foliage. What a feast for the eyes! Since the meadow and it's invasive artemisia is always a topic of discussion, I like to see what wildflowers there might be. Saw some ox eye daisies, purple dames rocket and pink clover.

There's another yellow warbler nest in the upper gardens and I wonder if this couple is new at this. There's is out in plain view and I never see them in the nest. They always seem to be nearby though. I wasn't sure if the warbler at left was a baby flapping it's wings for food or an adult stretching. We saw some titmice, house wrens, catbirds, more swallows, orioles, and a red wing blackbird flying overhead.

Heading down the path through the woods we had a nice look at a red eyed vireo. It either had food or nesting material. We weren't sure which. I think I saw little phoebe heads just barely poking up over the top of their nest. A warbling vireo was calling, but couldn't be seen. I see that Haynes has found it's nest though. I saw a downy fly into a hole in a dead tree across the river. Definitely a nest in there.

We walked through the woods by the JCC. I was looking for lady slippers and Mary Lou was hoping for a scarlet tanager and we found both as well as peewees calling back and forth and several wood thrushes singing. Sadly, we never did get to see the scarlet tanager. It sang for the longest time and we knew it was right above us and yet we just couldn't see it. However, this raccoon resting high in a tree branch was some consolation!

I didn't see any lady slippers where we had seen them last year, but finally, as we got closer to the parking lot, we found a couple that were just barely still in bloom. They probably had bloomed the week before. After the rain and heat, they were a little sad and pale looking, but nonetheless, a magical sight. I see that Matt found some too and has posted beautiful pictures on his blog Wild Newton as well as really interesting information about how lady slippers get pollinated. Check it out!

Back at the parking lot, I saw some cowbirds. Wonder whose nest they have chosen to lay their eggs in… I read somewhere that some yellow warblers are getting wise to them and will toss the eggs.

Sunday was more of the same except I happened upon the red-breasted grosbeak nest in the upper gardens! I just happen to see it in a branch and then it flew to a bush where I saw the nest ass the babies poked their heads up for food. Now that is exciting, eh?

Summertime

Summer's here: all nest building an brooding. I got to the park early, 6:30. I found a Baltimore Oriole nest in a tree in the lower garden. Below the nest, a turtle was laying eggs: 

There's also a Song Sparrow nest in a dense bush at the fence of a garden plot at the east end of the lower garden. At the circle near the soccer field, there's an easily spotted Black-capped Chicadee nest:

The highlight was a brief Cuckoo song, Yellow-billed I believe. Here's a list. I missed Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Great-crested Flycatcher. 

Canada Goose  11     single V
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1     heard at nature center
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3     Nest 2' in small snag at lower traffic circle.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Warbling Vireo  4     Nest 20' up above sign to soccer field at nature center
Blue Jay  3
Tree Swallow  8
Barn Swallow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  5
Wood Thrush  2
American Robin  15
Gray Catbird  6
Common Yellowthroat  2     singing males
Yellow Warbler  7
Song Sparrow  10
Scarlet Tanager  1     first year male, singing
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Common Grackle  7
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
Baltimore Oriole  8     Nest at W edge of small tree in lower garden
American Goldfinch  2
House Sparrow  1     M at empty house at E end of upper garden

Nesting Begins!

American Toad

52 degrees and sunny around 7:30 a.m.

As I got out of the car, I was greeted by three cowbirds strutting and courting a female.

I headed to the lower gardens where the house wren just can't seem to stop singing! He really loves his house. There were several catbirds, robins and song sparrows. Was surprised when I saw a male house sparrow. We really don't want them to move in to the park. Yellow warblers were singing from all over and are busy building their nests. I happened upon one near the golf course side. The nests are actually a lot larger then I would have thought and they look very cozy. Apparently the nest is mainly made of grasses but then on the outside she will use soft plant fibers, feathers, spiderwebs and dandelion down. Saw some barn swallows - seems they might be nesting somewhere nearby? I got a nice view of a warbling vireo, high up in an oak tree and some goldfinches.

Eventually, I ran into Mary Lou. In the upper gardens we had a nice view of a striking magnolia warbler and the male rose-breasted grosbeak singing from a very high branch in a huge oak tree at the back of the gardens. He was out in the open and his breast was almost glowing in the sun. Also saw some cute titmice.

We cut through the woods where we heard the ovenbird calling. I think Mary Lou saw it, but I missed it. The wood thrush was singing through the woods near the JCC, but we could hear him from across the soccer field. Mrs. Phoebe is sitting in her nest. I'll bet by next weekend, she'll be feeding her babies.

At this point Mary Lou and I split up. I really wanted to back to the upper gardens and she wanted walk

Incognito Woodchuck

through the woods. As I headed back to the soccer field area, I was thrilled to hear the pee o wee of the peewee. They're back! Raspberries starting to bloom. Can't wait to eat some if I can get to them before the birds! The upper gardens were rather uneventful, save for a flicker and this creature that thought I couldn't see him!

Found a note on my car from Mary Lou. She saw a scarlet tanager, a Swainson's thrush and also heard the peewees!

Postscript: Got an email from Donna Cohen. She had a great-crested flycatcher on a post right near her garden!

Mother's Day Bird Walk!

Early arrivals to Mother's Day Bird Walk

It promised to be a rainy day, but it looked like it was holding off as we gathered at the Nahanton Street entrance for a walk with Alison Leary and Haynes Miller.

Considering the dreariness and threat of rain, everyone was a bit surprised when over 18 people showed up!

Female Cowbird

We started down by the river, where we saw a black and white warbler, cardinals, catbirds, a white breasted nuthatch, orioles, mourning doves, downy woodpeckers. We may have seen and definitely heard a warbling vireo, and red-bellied woodpecker. I also saw this female cowbird which I am now noticing in my neighborhood. Have they always been here or are they becoming more urbanized?

The rain came in fits and starts. When it was heavy, we watched from under a large tree. Eventually we headed toward the pond and soccer field. Once down there, we saw red-winged blackbirds, more catbirds, canada geese overhead, grackles, tree swallows, yellow warblers and some goldfinches. Someone saw the female red-breasted grosbeak. Haynes spotted a Northern waterthrush but unfortunately, the rest of us were too late! However, we had a great view of a male common yellowthroat in a nearby shrub. Their black mask could make you think of the lone ranger or Halloween! I love their coloring. We saw one Savannah sparrow and song sparrows. In the lower

House Wren

gardens were several pairs of tree swallows all guarding their houses. I noticed one pair had gotten kicked out and was replaced by one of our bubbly, but aggressive house wrens who was happily singing! Of course there were, orioles, song sparrows, a red-tail hawk, goldfinches, and a wood thrush which I missed.

Sadly, the mulberry tree has been taken down. The city was worried it was getting too dangerous. At least we got an extra year out of it. Our big thrill in the upper gardens was a black-throated blue warbler which we got a really good look at. Saw another common yellow throat and a blue-gray gnatcatcher which is always nice. Seagulls occasionally flew over head. All in all, despite the rain, it was a great walk.

Thanks Alison and Haynes!

Nothing like a few birds to shake off the rainy blues

Despite the gloomy morning weather, Mary Lou Kaufman, Suzette Barbier and I had a nice morning at Nahanton Park today. Here's a list. Lots of summer residents are back. We also found a bee swarm, like this one, which I found there on May 3 --

Canada Goose 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Ring-billed Gull 8
Mourning Dove 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 6
House Wren 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 dull female
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 12
Ovenbird 2
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
American Redstart 1 f
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 15
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 12
White-throated Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Baltimore Oriole 15
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 8

Warblers Arriving!

47 degrees and sunny at 7:30 a.m. As I was gathering my camera and binoculars, Haynes pulled up.

The yellow warblers are back! There's nothing like the spring excitement of seeing new arrivals each week. A house wren sang prolifically in the upper gardens - the first of the season. Haynes saw a yellow rump in the lower gardens, which sadly, I missed. However, all was redeemed when we saw a whole flock of them down near the pond. They were spectacularly colorful with their bright black, white and yellow markings. We saw several blue-gray gnatcatchers in the back of the upper gardens.

As we stood on the dock with two fishermen, we heard a warbling vireo from across the river. A bird, on it's way down the flyway squawked loudly as we realized it was a kingfisher!

Come to Pete Gilmore's Bird Walk at Cold Spring Park this Saturday, May 4 at 8:00 a.m. Enter the park at the Beacon Street entrance. Turn left, and go to the far end of the parking lot to meet group. Hope to see you there!

Here's the official Haynes Report:

Canada Goose  4
Mallard  2
Mourning Dove  2
Belted Kingfisher  1     m
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Eastern Phoebe  4
Warbling Vireo  1
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  1
Tree Swallow  12
Barn Swallow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
House Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3     together, behind the upper garden
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  15
Yellow Warbler  4
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  8     incl flock of 6 near pond
Song Sparrow  10     quieter today
White-throated Sparrow  3     nature center
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  12
Common Grackle  4
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
American Goldfinch  8

Weekend Update

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

8:00 a.m. Sunny and cold at 37 degrees!

The swallows were already fighting over the new boxes that Brian put up Saturday! Real estate is a hot commodity this time of year.

Ruby Crown Visible

The lower gardens were filled with robins, cardinals, song sparrows and a mourning dove basking in the sun while perched on a tree branch. Saturday, Brian clued me in to a chorus of frogs singing down near the pond and today I heard them singing near the golf course. Two bright yellow and rufous palm warblers were turning over leaf litter in the scrub on the golf course side of the gardens. The warblers are arriving!  I wasn't there long when Ian and Jonathan turned up. Ian spotted a ruby crowned kinglet and it wasn't long before a second one appeared. A red tailed hawk soared overhead. Three cowbirds were hanging out in a tree.

Of course we were greeted immediately in the upper gardens by the tree swallows who always reserve the left-hand nest box at the top of the meadow. And while we stood there, the male bluebird appeared

Daffies

looking ever so blue! There's something about them that just makes one feel so happy. We saw chickadees and titmice, seagulls flew overhead. Ian saw a lone junco. Between last weekend and this weekend, most of them seem to have left. Saturday, Mary Lou had pointed out a blue-gray gnatcatcher to Brian and myself at the back of the upper gardens, but unfortunately it was not to be seen today.

We took the path through the woods down to the soccer field. As we walked along the path, there were two tiny little birds high up in the trees. Turned out to be a couple of golden-crowned kinglets. How nice to see rubies and goldens in one day!

Phoebe

The little bloodroot colony was starting to bloom and we heard a red-bellied woodpecker calling. Down by the river we saw a goldfinch and Jonathan finally found the woodpecker we had been hearing. The phoebe's nest is all built so I was surprised when we couldn't find the male or female. Finally it was spotted on a branch near the nature center posing for the camera.

The daffies are the first blooming flowers at the park. Trees are starting to bloom as well. Looking forward to what next weekend will bring!