Late Winter Visitors--2013

Visitors new to me include the Horned Grebe and the Yellow-rumped Warbler and Savannah Sparrow (who knew there were so many varieties and that they hang out together) and the return of Oystercatchers, Godwits and , once hunting season has passed, the Red-breasted Mergansers.  Plenty of loons and our usual feathered friends.

December 31, 2012

A burst of sunshine and dropping wind made this a kayak trip that could squeeze into the year's end.    It was a treat to hear the Loons calling and to get into the shallows to see some peeps-Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, A Blue Heron, Ruddy Turnstone, and many more.  Two fishermen in kayaks and one island walker but otherwise the island to myself.

Last month I was fortunate to see a Peregrine Falcon and  a Piping Plover group.

September 1, 2012

A little windy but worth the kayak trip because I was able to photo a bittern out in the open for the first time in Rachel Carson Reserve.  I think it is an Green Heron, although small and stretching it's neck up among branches to hide and look  I got to see it hide itself totally from view though erect and only 10 yards away.  Sure can stretch that neck out.

Also saw night herons, egrets, tricolored herons, kingfishers, whimbrel, willet, a lot of pelicans, terns, ibis, and fish crow.  Full moon high tide.

June 29, 2012 A hot morning in the mid-80s at 0900 when I began my SEANET bird mortality survey on Bird Shoal. SEANET is a network of volunteer surveyors documenting beached or stranded birds along the east and west coastlines under the co-ordintion of Tufts University. Today the only new bird fatality found was a Greater Shearwater--a bird I had never seen. There was some entertainment from the Skimmers and a Common Loon doing some stretching mane

uvers.

July 14, 2012 It was already hot at 0900 on Birdshoal. A Common Loon was the only new bird mortality on this SEANET survey but what I believe to be a Wilson's plover and chick were just behind the debris line.

May 20th, 2011 Last week, I saw my first Green Heron and first bluebird on the Reserve. Today, my first rabbit near the eastern spoil along with Canadian Geese hanging out around the fresh water. Red-winged Blackbirds, Martins, the usual Ibis, Egrets and peeps. I am still amazed at finding a previously unseen or unidentified waterbird at almost every visit.

May 4th and 5th, 2012 Unseasonably warm with high tides. Last week the marbled godwits and skimmers were here and returning migrants. Strikingly more bird varieties and breeding plumage made me think I had identified a new variety for me only to be the breeding Dunlin. Sunday was a treat since I was able to photograph my first Wilson's Plover, following some close shots of a Common Loon straggler in Taylor's Creek. Pics include the plover and loon and a favorite...a few Whimbrel.