9/18/05
Inland Shorebirds and Fall Migrants" Trip
Mark Taylor led small group of Athol Bird and Nature Club members
through the East Meadows in Northampton this morning and with the exception of a 1st winter Dickcissel in the weedy field, after the four corners on the
right ( aka "Trumpeter Swan Field"), bird movement was hard to come by.
We then moved on to the West Meadows to check out the "Ibis Pool" area.
As soon as we stepped out of our vehicles a Sedge Wren called from a
thin strip of weeds on the opposite side of the road. The wren hunkered
down and became silent but eventually flushed giving us a good look,
albeit brief, of its smaller size and light colored upperparts, when
compared to Marsh Wren. Its first several calls were diagnostic and
were as 'Sibley' describes as being more like a Common Yellowthroat's
rattle. While tying to get better views of the wren on the "Ibis Pool"
side to where it flew, a Lincoln's Sparrow and 2 Palm Warblers were all
that showed up after that. We then moved down through Arcadia and on to
River St. near a marina and were surprised to hear and see an
Olive-sided Flycatcher in the trees overhanging the water. Good numbers
of Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, and Chipping Sparrows here along
with one female American Redstart. Even slow days in the field can have
their rewards.
We had a few good birds, although not great looks at any of ones in caps. In fact, I'm the only one who saw the Dickcissel. I told Rinky that if I was starting out today for the first time I would have given birding up. Here's the list for posterity. Also we ran into Bob Bieda and Ed Nemuth so we chatted for a bit.
Mallard (10)
American Kestrel
Killdeer (4)
Herring Gull (2)
Rock Pigeon (6)
Mourning Dove (5)
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (2)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
Eastern Phoebe (10)
Blue Jay (4)
American Crow (20)
House Wren
SEDGE WREN
Eastern Bluebird (12)
American Robin (2)
Gray Catbird (8)
European Starling (100)
Cedar Waxwing
American Redstart
Chipping Sparrow (40)
Savannah Sparrow (32)
Song Sparrow (4)
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (2)
Indigo Bunting
DICKCISSEL
Bobolink (12)
Red-winged Blackbird (65)
American Goldfinch (35)
House Sparrow (22)
33 Species
Butterflies:
Cabbage White
Orange Sulfur
American Copper
Eastern Tailed Blue
Pearl Crescent
Eastern Comma
Monarch
Mark (VTL)
If you wish to volunteer to lead a trip please contact
Dave Small or
Events Coordinator Sue Cloutier 978-544-7500
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