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Members of the club met at 2:30 p.m. at Madison's Restaurant in Orange to car pool. Even though the day was cool and cloudy, 10 members showed up. The first stop was at South Park in Orange where a pair of American kestrels were shopping for a nesting site. Also found were American robin, northern flicker, red-winged blackbird, European starling, mallard duck and a low flying turkey vulture. Heard there were downy woodpecker and killdeer. (There are no photos available from this field trip.)
The next stop, at Barton's Cove, produced the first of many pairs of common mergansers. Seen here also were Blue jays and large numbers of tree swallows with a rough-winged swallow interloping in the flock. Common grackles, mourning doves and house sparrows were noted also. The bald eagle's nest could be clearly seen from this site and with the telescope the mother could be seen on the nest and her mate sat on a branch about 10 feet away.
From Riverview Street in Gill large numbers of common mergansers and many ring-billed gulls were observed on the Connecticut River. Double-crested cormorants flew by, and at some distance two rare pied-billed grebes were found by Jacob Morris-Siegel as he scanned the vast sheet of water with his telescope. Everyone got a chance then to observe these primitive birds. Many swallows flew low over the water in search of insect prey. Most were tree swallows, but barn and cliff swallows were found too. The spring calls of the song and chipping sparrows and the northern cardinal were heard here also. Some of the group spotted a brown-headed cowbird, notorious for leaving its eggs in other birds' nests.
A rock dove (pigeon) was counted while on the way to the next stop at the fields in Old Deerfield. An eastern phoebe, the first flycatcher to return to our area, was identified at the fields and in a small pond a rare blue-winged teal was found swimming. Many Savannah sparrows were located in the brushy margins of the fields. Canada geese also were observed flying by.
The naturalists then retired to a local restaurant where a restorative meal was enjoyed by all.
While on the way to the planetarium, a red-tailed hawk was discovered perched in a tree and black-capped chickadee and white-breasted nuthatch were the last species to join the trip list. A total of 36 bird species and one (gray squirrel) mammal species were counted.
After supper the group, joined by other members, enjoyed the special program celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Andrews Planetarium. Dr. Megan Donahue of the Space Center Institute showed slides of views taken by the Hubbell Space Telescope. She interpreted the findings and told of future plans that the space agency has for ways to solve the questions that astronomers have about the size, age and nature of the universe. Refreshments were served after the lecture.
On Friday morning, April 28, Jeff Johnstone will lead this year's first walk in our annual series of "Friday mornings in May" walks searching for local migrant birds. Meet at 7 a.m. at the parking lot at 100 Main Street, Athol. For information call Jeff at 978-249-9052.
On April 28, Friday evening there will be a woodcock observation at the home of Linda Mahoney, our club newsletter editor, and Mark Taylor, one of our field trip leaders. A quiet evening potluck supper will be followed by the observation of the mating dance of the upland shorebirds. For details call Mark and Linda at 413-498-4380 or e-mail Linda & Mark.
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