Snow Tracks

Today was about 30 degrees at 7:30 a.m. 

The park was unbelievably quiet. I went for a long walk all around the gardens, the river and the pond. Not a peep or sighting of any birds. Since the snow was fresh, there was only one thing to do… Look for animal tracks.

I saw some rabbit and squirrel prints and plenty of things that I wasn't sure of, but I saw the prints pictured above and thought it was possible they were fox prints. There were no snow boot prints in the fresh snow which is why I didn't think they were from a dog.

Eventually, I took a path near the Winchester St. entrance that leads behind the little brick house. It's usually filled with briars and pretty much impassable, but today it didn't look so bad. It's here that many birds were hanging out - at least our chickadees, juncos and titmice. The titmice were busy pecking at tree bark looking for bugs and rummaging in the snow. At right is a photo of one of them as it poked it's head up after it had been rooting around in the snow looking for something good to eat.

As I took the shortcut into the lower gardens, I ran into Ian! We did the gardens together and saw very little except a partially eaten robin which was sad. Guess the hawks or something had to eat.

Fog's Rolled In!

7:15 a.m and it feels pretty warm - high 40's/low 50's.

The park is as foggy as I've ever seen it! Can hardly see ahead of you. Very atmospheric. Pretty quiet too.

The lower gardens had a crow, mockingbird, cardinal, juncos and tree sparrows. Didn't see much else.

The rest of my travels only yielded a very vocal blue jay, some chickadees performing some of their amazing gymnastics and 25 geese flying overhead.

Day After Christmas

White Throated Sparrow

It was 28 degrees this morning at about 7:15 when I went to the park.

I decided to go for a walk before the "threatened" snowstorm arrives, but it was already coming down lightly and gently - a beautiful morning for a walk.

I walked all around the park and found it extremely quiet and wondered where everyone was hiding. I'm sure they know a storm is coming!

From the upper gardens I went on the path that goes through the woods to the river. Nothing. When I arrived at the dock at the Nahanton Street entrance, I finally heard some little noises. First I saw some chickadees, then some titmice, then some juncos, and then a nuthatch. It was cute how they were all hanging out together - the brave crowd ready to tough out the snow. As I stood and watched, I finally realized that some kind person had thrown some sort of food for them on the ground and that was why they were all congregating there.

Before I knew it, several blue jays had appeared, some mourning doves, a pair of downies, a red-bellied woodpecker and the white throated sparrow pictured above.

Still no sign of the barred owl...

Oh, Nahanton Christmas Tree...

O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

Christmas Bird Count Today

Today was the bird count and though it was a little chilly, the weather cooperated - no snowstorms, wind or rain which made for much easier hiking than last year.

After some delicious coffee cake and hot drinks, we broke up into about five groups. Haynes was the leader for the Kennard Park, Brown and Oak Hill areas. He has the final list and tallies, so I will do my best to recall some of the birds we saw today, though nothing unusual was spotted.

Between the two areas, we saw many juncos, robins, starlings, some crows, seagulls, geese and ducks. There were carolina wrens, chickadees, titmice, song sparrows, a red-bellied woodpecker, nuthatches, a red-tailed hawk, downies, cardinals and blue jays.

As we were leaving, Haynes spotted some unusual shaped, freshly made holes in a healthy pine tree near the entrance to the Kennard, that he felt could be serious evidence of a pileated woodpecker. That would be quite exciting! May go back to investigate.

Christmas Bird Count Tomorrow!

Please join us for The Annual Christmas Bird Count - tomorrow morning, Sunday, December 19th.

Meet at Cris Crisatello's house at 2 Raeburn Terrace, Newton Highlands at 7:00 a.m. Several groups will be formed to cover the Newton area. Those who'd like to search for owls should plan to come at 5:00 a.m. Coffee, cocoa and coffee cake will be available.

The count should be finished by 2:00 p.m. at the latest. Most groups finish well before that time.   

If you have any questions, call Cris at 617.244.6397 or Alison Leary at 617.821.5619.

Red Tail Again!

Red-Tailed Hawk

38 degrees at 7:15. Very quiet at the park. A few joggers etc. Birds were very quiet in the upper gardens. I think this is the same hawk I saw a few weeks ago and it may be a young one. It flew from the back of the upper gardens to the mulberry tree in the middle and hung out there for quite some time.

I decided I was going to try out the video feature on my camera but spent so much time trying to figure out how to turn it on that when I aimed my camera up to try it out, the hawk was gone! And I never heard a thing.

The lower garden area was a little more active with chickadees, juncos, robins, blue jays, goldfinches, song sparrows and American tree sparrows.