tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65980828016448709372024-03-10T23:22:37.221-04:00Looking Out from Central Massachusettsviewpoints on nature, photography and other stuff by Sheila CarrollSheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-68519615587726386892014-09-21T13:31:00.001-04:002014-09-21T13:31:22.655-04:00Art and Nature Combined in Williamstown -- Saturday, September 20thMark and I headed out to Pittsfield State Forest to, hopefully, catch some migrant landbirds and spend time atop Berry Mountain looking for hawks. I absolutely love this place so I can't tell you how disappointed I was to get to the state park and find a sign saying that the road to the top was closed due to recent storm damage. Trying to make the best of the situation we opted to drive up Mt. Greylock and hopefully see some of the same species of migrants there. Driving up the road from Lanesborough things seemed pretty quiet. We pulled over several times but other than finding a Woolly Bear caterpillar and a Milkweed Tussock caterpillar we didn't see much.<br />
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As we got closer to the summit we realized that the low-hanging fog and brisk winds weren't helping either.<br />
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It was about 9:30 at this point, so we decided to bag Greylock for the morning and head down to Williamstown to visit The Clark Museum. It had reopened this past July after going through an amazing renovation to their 140-acre campus. Since there was an abstract painting exhibition on display we figured we could spend some time inside and then hike around the campus on the more than 2 miles of trails they advertised.<br />
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And it was as advertised! We were totally blown away when we got there. Not only was the design of the museum absolutely gorgeous, we arrived on the next-to-last day of an exhibition of ancient bronze castings from the Shanghai Museum. Unfortunately photography wasn't allowed so I can't show you some of the amazing pieces in the exhibit. However, the abstract paintings from the National Gallery in DC was just as fantastic...and they did allow photography.</div>
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Of course they chose a Jackson Pollock (<i>Number 1, 1950 Lavender Mist)</i> as the signature piece when you entered the gallery, which was okay with me since I must admit that I truly enjoy his work. I still remember back in the 80's having a dress that everyone said looked like one of his paintings...and I loved the dress. The dress was quite like the close-up below, with less pink tones.<br />
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There was a Frank Stella....<i>Delta</i> 1958<br />
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a piece by Joan Mitchell - <i>Piano mecanique</i>, 1958<br />
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and this rather odd piece by a Belgian artist, Marcel Broodthaers, <i>Panneau de Moules (</i>Panel of Mussels), 1966...which didn't seem to fit with the other pieces. Although it seemed to grow on Mark the more we went back and looked at it.<br />
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And this one by Yayoi Kusama, <i>Infinity Nets Yellow, </i>1960 which I was drawn too. They did a great job with the exhibition and had the paintings hung by a unifying theme, such as pattern, texture, shape and color field. Definitely worth a trip to the Berkshires if you like abstract paintings from the 50's, 60's and early 70's.<br />
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One of the centerpieces of the new museum is the 1-acre reflecting pool designed by Reed Hilderbrand which really seemed to be a focal point for everybody...maybe it was because the day turned out great and people were outside enjoying the area.</div>
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They had 4 benches by one of my favorite artists, Jenny Holzer. I wish I had copied the quotes carved on the benches, but that will give me an excuse to go back.<br />
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In the photo above you can see the original museum building which houses, for the most part, the permanent museum collection much of which was the private collection of Sterling and Francine Clark (he was heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune.) One of the special exhibits in this area was called Radical Words and included an original 1215 Magna Carta alongside the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WOW!<br />
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By the time we finished three special exhibitions and took a quick tour through many of the other galleries, my head was spinning. Mark was totally blown away by their collection of Winslow Homers, George Inness, Remington....not to mention the French Impressionist and tons of others. Definitely need to go back just to see the permanent collection. Oh, I almost forgot we did go to a separate museum building on the property called the Lunder Center at Stone Hill which had a special sculpture exhibition called Raw Color: The Circles of David Smith...amazing.</div>
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Finally we took a break for lunch and had a picnic overlooking the hills....we walked one of the trials part of way up to another museum building and along the way had four species of butterflies, even though it was very windy. Besides the Clouded Sulphur below we had a few Monarchs, many Cabbage Whites and a few Common Ringlets.</div>
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We also had at least two Praying Mantis, but the windy was so brisk it was almost impossible to get really decent photos.<br />
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We had this little fall wildflower, Herb Robert, as we were returning to the museum reflection pool.<br />
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And we came across this nest of the Mud Dauber wasp in one of the trees.<br />
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They also had a great pond on the property and once the sun warmed things up a bit, we found lots of odonates breeding -- I'm still trying to identify this pair of spreadwing species.<br />
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And of course lots of Autumn Meadowhawks zipping around. And some darners that never put down and I couldn't get a good id on the wing.<br />
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I have to say I was totally impressed with The Clark and will definitely make it a regular stop. It was such a great place to combine art and nature and the surroundings are fantastic.<br />
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-65110343669050842322014-08-11T13:20:00.000-04:002014-08-11T13:20:03.594-04:00Westport and Acoaxet, Sunday August 10thYesterday we decided to get an early start and head to the coast. It was a perfect beach day so we did have some reservations, but figured if we got to Gooseberry Neck before 7am it would probably be okay...and it was. The first thing we noticed was that there were swallows moving...a sure sign that fall migration is just around the corner.<br />
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We hiked out to the end of the neck and found that shorebirds were starting to build up. The lighting wasn't the best but we had a Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone all on the same rock.<br />
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We also had our first Semipalmated Plovers of the season....</div>
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...and some adult Least Sandpipers starting to move through.<br />
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Some of the Rudy Turnstones were really sharp-looking in the early morning light.<br />
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And we started to see groups of Sanderlings all the way out at the end of the neck. Seems like it was just a few short months since we had them heading north to breed...<br />
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..and here they are again on their return trip. <br />
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Some of the birds still had a bit of their breeding plumage left, although many were starting to molt into their winter plumage<br />
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Our major reason for walking out to the point was to get a better look at a rock off the end of Gooseberry Neck that had a number of cormorants on it. Mark had picked out what he thought was a juvenile Great Cormorant and wanted to get a closer look. I managed to get a couple of photos but they were quite a ways out and I could only enlarge them so far without totally losing clarity. You can see how much larger the third bird from the left is compared to the Double-crested Cormorants. In fact at one point we were wondering if we were looking at an immature Booby!<br />
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Both on the way out and on the way back I found two Primrose Moths sleeping in patches of Evening Primrose. I can't believe I never saw them before this year....clearly I wasn't looking for them! Now that I know this is their behavior, I check every patch of Evening Primrose I come across.<br />
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There was a woman hiking out behind us with a camera and I waited for her just so that I could show her the moth. Clearly, she wasn't as excited as I was, but I did notice her checking other Evening Primrose blooms after I pointed the moth out to her.<br />
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Back at the parking lot it was getting filled up with both fishermen and beach goers, so we decided to head off to Allen's Neck before that got crazy too. But not before I took a photo of the Chickory. I know it's just a weed to most folks, but I so love their blue color.<br />
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Full disclosure here.....the next couple of photos were not from yesterday's trip, but were from a trip we made to this area back on July 20th. Since I never did a blog for that trip I thought I would include a couple of the photos here....like this Common Eider with ducklings. There were actually 7 ducklings (3 are hiding on the back side of the rock) when we got to Gooseberry Neck on that trip.<br />
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And while we still had Black Scoters hanging around off the causeway near the big rock, there were so many bicyclists, pedestrians and cars, that I couldn't stop for a photo.<br />
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So I'm including these shots from the July trip as well.<br />
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Our walk out at Allen's Neck was a good one. The tides were very high, so we didn't get good looks at any shorebirds, but we did have big numbers of both Snowy and Great Egrets sitting up in trees at the far side of the pond. We also came across this pair of mating Blue Crabs right at the tidal inlet under the road. We had hoped to find Seaside Dragonlets (a coastal specialty) but didn't see any. We did, however, have a few Wandering Gliders working the fields of the sanctuary....unfortunately no photos were gotten.<br />
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We drove back up Rt. 88 to check the big marshes before heading off to Acoaxet. The traffic was totally non-stop heading south to Horseneck Beach so we didn't really pull off at either the marsh nor the boat launch just south of the bridge. We cut up Drift Road and headed through some back roads to Acoaxet.<br />
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Now for those of you who've read my blog, you know I'm totally fascinated by the big fork in the road just after you enter Acoaxet. And I've posted pictures of the metal fork next to the road sign at least twice before (despite Mark's protests.) Well when we were down here on our last trip (July 20th) there was obviously an event happening nearby and somebody had added a meatball with spaghetti to the fork! I can only assume this was done with the artist's permission, since clearly the meatball was made of a suitable material to adorn the fork. Alas, when we passed the fork yesterday, there was no food of any kind. <br />
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We made our usual stop to check on the status of Zabulon's Skipper and sure enough we found one butterfly moving around in the exact same bushes where we've found him every year for the last six years.<br />
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Usually we see this guy in August and early September, but we also had one flying in June this year.<br />
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We made followed our usual route down Brayton Point Road and found that the huge old redone house that we both would love to own is for sale. How exciting.....I wonder if we could afford it...hahahaha! Unfortunately the asking price is just over $2.8 MILLION.....which is just a wee bit outside of our budget. Oh well maybe in my next life.<br />
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After checking for butterflies and odenates in the fields (had a Black Saddlebag and Common Green Darner (no photos), we did a quick check of Richmond Pond but didn't see any shorebirds. We then decided it was time to start thinking about heading home since there were people everywhere. When we made our last stop at the herring run in Acoaxet, I took this distant photo of the crowds on Horseneck Beach. There's no way I want to be in their traffic at the end of a beautiful summer Sunday at the beach.<br />
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We did have a pair of Green Herons flying back and forth along the inlet and over to Cockeast Pond. Since there were lots of fish running, they couldn't resist the area, even with all the boaters and Mark & I standing there with our scope.<br />
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This Great Egret was wary of us, but she never flew off and we got quite close poking around in the marsh grass looking for odenates.<br />
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We had a number of Big Bluets again...we first had them back in July when we were here.<br />
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And we finally found a female Seaside Dragonlet! These guys are relatively small for a dragonfly and the male is pretty dark. But the female is brightly patterned and reminds us of the coloration on a tiger with all that orange and black. Just stunning!<br />
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Since it was almost noon we decided we really did need to leave so that we could beat the traffic, so we cut over through RI (getting an in-depth look at south New Bedford along the way) and we missed all the heavy traffic and were back in Worcester before 2 having had a great day birding in a beautiful area.<br />
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Enjoy....Sheila<br />
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-4465743878438414642014-08-07T08:19:00.000-04:002014-08-07T10:29:28.189-04:00Sterling Peat, Lancaster & WachusettNow that my crazy July is behind me I'm going to do a bunch of blogs to catch up on trips we've made the last two months. What follows is a series of photos from Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling Peat and Lancaster all within the last few weeks. Hope you enjoy the tour!<br />
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You can't seem to stop anywhere at Wachusett these days without finding a Common Loon. I think it's a bit too early to see migrants, but there are an awful lot of adult birds on the reservoir. Each time we do a morning trip we usually find 5 to 7 adults and sometimes more. BTW, the adult and young bird at Gate 17 (South Bay) continue and the young bird is growing larger every time we stop by.<br />
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Walking out Gate 37 is a new piece we've added several times a week....</div>
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...mostly to check on the breeding Eastern Meadowlarks.<br />
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And they seem to be doing fine. As of this past Monday, they've mowed all the grass, but the birds are still hanging around.<br />
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We've also had Blue-fronted Dancers along the wide pathway just by the end of the forest edge.<br />
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Up on the dike at Gate 39 we finally saw our first immature Bald Eagle this past Monday....I was beginning to wonder since we hadn't seen an adult for months.<br />
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One of the joys for me was trying to photograph Chimney Swifts. They seem to favor the dikes at Gate 36 and 39, flying with the swallows and some coming quite low in search of food.<br />
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Since you never get to see these birds sit still, I always feel great about getting a clear shot of them on the wing.<br />
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There's also been a nice show of Butter-and-eggs at Gate 39. This interesting member of the Snapdragon family has a orange path on the lower lip that leads to nectar and is call a "honey guide" for insects.</div>
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Mark continues to hike out to Scar Hill Bluffs on the east side of the reservoir and I usually poke around the cemetery after I park out on the road. There were a family of crows under the pines and this crow allowed me to add to my "photos of birds of gravestones" collection.<br />
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One of the more interesting sights we've had on two different trips was a swarm of Eastern Cicada Killers.<br />
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I have to admit I normally don't like to get to close to bees, wasps, hornets and the like so when I saw this one VERY LARGE wasp I was a little reluctant to get too close. But I did want a photo since it was quite unusual looking. Suddenly I heard buzzing over the my should and turned around to see 25-30 of these digger wasps moving over a grassy knoll among the gravestones. So I decided I'd wait for Mark to finish his hike and we could do this together.<br />
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It was Mark who immediately identified it as a Cicada Killer and when we researched it back at home we found that colonies of these solitary wasps can number over 100 and they dig their nest hole up to four feet deep. I certainly hope that the cemetery workers don't have any graves to dig in this particular area!<br />
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At Gate 17 the Familiar Bluets were still flying -- always cheery<br />
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A quick run out to check water levels at Bolton Flats, allowed us to check on the land clearing that's been done at that small conversation area at the end of Pine Hill Road in Lancaster. We did have one Vesper Sparrow and it appears that Kestrels bred successfully there. Field Sparrows seems to be doing quite well and we watched this parent still feeding a young bird who seemed perfectly capable of feeding itself.<br />
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We also found a Streaked Tussock Moth, but couldn't tell whether it was dead or alive. We did move it off the road just in case.<br />
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And in the open area we had a few butterflies....including this Viceroy<br />
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and this Eastern Comma.<br />
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We had received a call from fellow birder Bart Kamp that there was a Glossy Ibis out at Sterling Peat, so we decided to check and see if it was still there the next day....and it was. It's always nice to see such a typical coastal species so far inland. We watched it feed for a while at the far end of the marsh and then it flew up into the big dead tree where you often see herons roosting and preened for a few minutes and then tucked his bill over his back and promptly went to sleep.<br />
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There were some shorebirds starting to build (oh, no it's fall migration)! We had several Solitary and Least Sandpipers, along with Spotted and Killdeer...the latter two are likely breeders. We also had a good number of Green Heron fishing in the dwindling pools. And I saw my first Halloween Pennant of the season. These are one of my favorite late summer dragonflies.<br />
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And for the second time this summer, I've managed to find a Primrose Moth sleeping in Evening Primrose. Obviously with a close photo of the flower you can see the moth pretty clearly, but it's amazing how they look like a reddish part of the flower from further away. You can see that in this photo of the flower stem just underneath and to the left of the yellow Evening Primrose.<br />
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Here's a side view so you can get a good sense of what the moth actually looks like as well.<br />
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So even when things start to quiet down a bit during summer, there's always plenty to see...and all so close to us in Central MA.</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-4032260051275357692014-07-14T14:01:00.001-04:002014-07-14T14:29:43.644-04:00Wachusett Reservoir HighlightsRecently, we have been making some short forays into different gates at Wachusett Reservoir, especially when we have just a little bit of time in the morning to do some birding. It's been great to watch the nesting loon at Gate 17A. Last year we watched her for weeks and then the rains came and she lost the nest and the eggs. This year however, she had two eggs; but we've only seen her with one young. We've also had several Spotted Sandpipers in this area, including one we keep flushing out of the grass and finally we found some chicks. Here are some photos of 3 different trips, mostly from Gates 17, 36 and 39.<br />
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We first saw the adult sitting on the nest on May 23rd. We checked on and off for several weeks and first noticed her gone from the nest around the 4th of July. We talked with a woman who had been watching the nest as well and that pretty much coincided with her records. Here's a shot of the parent with the young loon on July 8th.</div>
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When we checked today we didn't see either bird, but they could just be off in a cove somewhere. I believe Kevin Bourinot leading the Forbush Bird Club trip there this weekend had this young as well as another successful nest. There are certainly good numbers of adult Common Loons on the reservoir.</div>
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Here are some shots of the adult male Spotted Sandpiper defending his nest....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFrkMKfa9AqjKrUS3yFqxyUoN6n_g49dexQSFya-JxryAmG855BE0VLZbQdYGPZt8khIN0D4bzT4S7uwwdSBEjFOAlRMhrZRe6qFAbr9KQ9Q3kZcweH_uwvkp53AueQAf4HjglwGQApxC/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+at+nest+Gate+17+Wachusett+7-5-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFrkMKfa9AqjKrUS3yFqxyUoN6n_g49dexQSFya-JxryAmG855BE0VLZbQdYGPZt8khIN0D4bzT4S7uwwdSBEjFOAlRMhrZRe6qFAbr9KQ9Q3kZcweH_uwvkp53AueQAf4HjglwGQApxC/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+at+nest+Gate+17+Wachusett+7-5-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Remember in Spotteds the females leave the males to tend the young.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsNX-ZueWu-RegMn8iTmsrR5uRHhTOVJbaquVlNWEF2JqKouG4m-D7Ru6NCt-mr62ycBkSK_pUH9hTDdAs8bUIP-IlsXJFNDUkgudqomNUNkntRiClUj3WwhD-n3NXRaSE56v05s_fGwx/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+Gate+17+Wachuisett+7-8-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsNX-ZueWu-RegMn8iTmsrR5uRHhTOVJbaquVlNWEF2JqKouG4m-D7Ru6NCt-mr62ycBkSK_pUH9hTDdAs8bUIP-IlsXJFNDUkgudqomNUNkntRiClUj3WwhD-n3NXRaSE56v05s_fGwx/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+Gate+17+Wachuisett+7-8-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are the two chicks we found on July 5th....</div>
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And here's one of them on the 8th....seems to me like he's grown in just 3 days!</div>
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There are usually Great Blues flying around the coves at the southern end of the reservoir, and I worry that they'll see these little chicks and just gobble them up like popcorn.</div>
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After checking on the breeding Eastern Meadowlarks from the dike at Gate 36 today, we decided to walk into Gate 37 which comes out midway down the dike. We had 5 meadowlarks, including some young birds. It's great to see them breeding here and we've let Joan Walsh (at MAS in Lincoln) know so that she can work with DCR to save some of the area and not mow it while the birds are breeding. Seems to have been successful this year. We also had some nice odonates in the area, including this Familiar Bluet. There's also breeding kestral in the area so I know they're getting plenty to eat with all the odes that are flying right now.<br />
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A regular stop is the overlook at Gate 39. It's getting to be that time of the year when we can hope for a Black Tern to pass over.<br />
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Just last week we had this nice American Cooper moving through....<br />
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...and the Calico Pennants are out in full force. This is a brightly-colored male from this morning.<br />
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And it's always nice to catch a dragonfly in flights. Finally, this morning I got my first definitive photo of a Prince Baskettail! Very exciting....although we've seen them a number of other places, this was my first non-blurry photo. It seems these guys never seem to put down...or at least not when we're there.<br />
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Mark did his usual walk out to Scar Hill bluffs where he had a couple of more loons, and I stayed in the cemetery and got some nice shots of this male American Goldfinch.<br />
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If you only have a little bit of time and are looking for some nice stops along the Wachusett Reservoir, maybe this will give you some incentive to get out and enjoy summer....before it's gone.</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-6407598142024727662014-07-03T06:50:00.000-04:002014-07-03T06:50:27.585-04:00Checking on Grassland Birds in Cheshire ~ Sunday, June 29thAs a follow-up to the MAS Breeding Bird Atlas project a few years ago, there has been an increased interest in protecting certain species of grassland birds that could very easily disappear. A special follow-up focus has been placed on re-locating breeding Eastern Meadowlarks in the various atlas blocks. Joan Walsh from MAS (who headed the project) has contacted atlasers and asked them to note specific locations, and if possible re-check the areas to see the status. In addition they are interested in other species including, Bobolinks and Grasshopper Sparrows.<br />
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Since we had atlased 3 blocks in the Cheshire and Windsor areas where Meadowlarks had been noted, we decided to head west to re-check those blocks and spend the day birding. We also wanted to check on the Cliff Swallow colonies we follow out there as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG2QDv9JiAvLz3_DqIhpsQmxRyNATKbzjCv4qayCgV5qtIp0XE7R1nY4aZk8E6-Tsa347KpTUziv5nBVxJIKsq-HQu5bDl3DnykxOXLidBR15Zu0fwD3c4ZjXVNYjGKcqnnOpjSyaNr7O/s1600/Cliff+Swallows+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG2QDv9JiAvLz3_DqIhpsQmxRyNATKbzjCv4qayCgV5qtIp0XE7R1nY4aZk8E6-Tsa347KpTUziv5nBVxJIKsq-HQu5bDl3DnykxOXLidBR15Zu0fwD3c4ZjXVNYjGKcqnnOpjSyaNr7O/s1600/Cliff+Swallows+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+(18).JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
As we were coming down Rt. 116 into Adams we hit a detour. I forgot that this area had recently received 4+ inches of rain and it appears that several roads sustained damage. Luckily the detour allowed us to still get access to Ayr Hill Farm, and it was great to see that the swallow colony there was doing well. Mark had remembered that last year they had lost most of their nests during the breeding season due to heavy rains. Not only did we count over 100 nests, we also noticed that there were already fledged Cliff Swallows sitting on some of the power lines near the farm land.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovMbeJ6-amaqviDfx1f6onan2BK6juiYftYeJfMZFSIVlTOAqUkIziEUhAaQgJfKGKGB9vwZUDnWzQe3ERJo2bzyGHMJmeurZchVL8JU7p9gugblqnYuVoYUorlg5MCFLkf9-djMpIzH2/s1600/Cliff+Swallow+imm.+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovMbeJ6-amaqviDfx1f6onan2BK6juiYftYeJfMZFSIVlTOAqUkIziEUhAaQgJfKGKGB9vwZUDnWzQe3ERJo2bzyGHMJmeurZchVL8JU7p9gugblqnYuVoYUorlg5MCFLkf9-djMpIzH2/s1600/Cliff+Swallow+imm.+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%252836%2529.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had several Savannah Sparrows perched up and singing<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc2Kn4xx9FBv94DgDH75h3scy1HbD5G46tM1p5YM9ZKi1kkf48szO0yLrkbrJ5tNtFz4Vuvmj2eI9ApxgP1Wdh_gfp64dHUBdDphJSaaQ6VThcGmf9K3hbfgb0H9ScUvCYT2eIfj8xery/s1600/Savannah+Sparrow+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc2Kn4xx9FBv94DgDH75h3scy1HbD5G46tM1p5YM9ZKi1kkf48szO0yLrkbrJ5tNtFz4Vuvmj2eI9ApxgP1Wdh_gfp64dHUBdDphJSaaQ6VThcGmf9K3hbfgb0H9ScUvCYT2eIfj8xery/s1600/Savannah+Sparrow+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
And the key bird we came to check on, the Eastern Meadowlark, was easily found by it's unique song as well. In fact we had 3 different singing birds on territory.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj64CAelR-vqUwAIjB80FBUtFACrw2zaaES93NHhkTHtLLN07uG-4_nuBtHhB5EgvrazWo3mRbJd3Z1OT-_NX75KKNMya-zqJA-zHuUtO3P0YRv30uZuU6GQHfu64R2RGCxZfzkSxCAMX3/s1600/Eastern+Meadowlark+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj64CAelR-vqUwAIjB80FBUtFACrw2zaaES93NHhkTHtLLN07uG-4_nuBtHhB5EgvrazWo3mRbJd3Z1OT-_NX75KKNMya-zqJA-zHuUtO3P0YRv30uZuU6GQHfu64R2RGCxZfzkSxCAMX3/s1600/Eastern+Meadowlark+Ayr+Hill+Farm+Adams+6-29-14+%25285%2529.JPG" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
We decided to move on to check our second block, but we ran into another washed out road and we unable to easily re-check the area without spending a tremendous amount of time doubling back and trying to find another entry point. We will go back and check again in a few weeks, and hopefully the roads will be repaired. We stopped at a few of our usual places to check on other songbirds, and found this White Admiral with a big chunk of his hindwing missing. I'm always amazed that this fragile little things can keep flying around after they've obviously lost body parts to birds.<br />
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We decided to hike in the Rail Trail in Cheshire and check on the marshes for both birds and, hopefully, see some dragonflies. We parked near Railroad Avenue and hiked north for about a mile and a half. There were Redstarts, Eastern Kingbirds and Cedar Waxwings all along the bike path.<br />
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We had a Green Heron flying from the marsh on the east side into a pond and we had this female Wood Duck swimming around as well. We began to notice that all the vegetation was covered with dried mud and you could see along the edges where the higher water line had been. And we were seeing very few odonates in what should have been perfect habitat. <br />
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As we continued to head north, we kept speculating on the dearth of dragonflies and damselflies. We had the Hoosic River flowing on our east and lots of wet woodland on our right. Could it be that the heavy rains caused all the larvae to be silted over just as they were emerging? I mean it was really odd to not see one single odonate for the first quarter mile.<br />
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We did have some buterflies -- mostly Little Wood Satyrs, like this one which looked like he had been through the war already.<br />
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And we found this colorful caterpillar moving up a grass stalk. When we got home Mark identified it as the caterpillar of the Harris' Checkerspot which is an uncommon and local butterfly of wet meadows. This was a really nice find!<br />
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As we were looking at the caterpillar I finally noticed a couple of damselflies low in the grasses including this brightly-colored red one. Since the male damsels I was seeing all looked like Eastern Forktails with their bright blue tips, I first assumed this was a female. That is until I looked more closely. Then I knew that I was seeing my "life" Eastern Red Damsel!!! WOW, I was excited. This little ode literally stayed in the same patch of grasses so that when we came back past this area 20 minutes later I could re-find her (I think it's a female.) Always fun to get lots of photographs of a new species.<br />
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So finally we started to see some dragonflies....still not many, but I saw several Dot-tailed Whitefaces sitting on lilypads as we returned down the bike path. And lots of damsels; some of which I couldn't id or get a photo.<br />
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Mark had walked ahead to continue birding while I waited to see what other goodies I could find. Suddenly he was waving wildly at me to hurry up. This could only mean one thing: he's found an odonate that he thinks might be something different. Sure enough, when I caught up to him he pointed out a green-eyed dragonfly perched on a bush over the Hoosic. As soon as I saw it through my camera lens I knew it was another snaketail -- only not the Rusty Snaketail we had gotten on the Millers River just days before. So that meant it was going to be another "life" dragonfly (once I got home and identified it hopefully.)<br />
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So even though the bike path didn't have a lot of odonates, it had produced 2 new species for me. I was very happy.<br />
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We drove up Rt. 8 to another overlook of the river and spent a bit of time at the northern part of the bike path, but we had one quick fly by and that was it. We decided to check some other roads out in Cheshire for birds, maybe do an overlook of the big lake (Cheshire Reservoir) and then head on to Windsor to check our last block for Meadowlark. As we were driving up the dirt road from the river, we came across this Wood Thrush out gathering food for its young. I can't quite tell what it has in its mouth, but I prefer to believe it wasn't the dragonfly that flew by us down the road.<br />
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The lake was covered with boaters so we made a cursory check and then moved south to a little dead-end road that would give us an overlook of the southern marshy end of the reservoir.<br />
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As soon as we got there we noticed all the Common Whitetails flying around...<br />
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...and in the grasses close to the road there were several spreadwings...most appeared to be Swamp Spreadwings<br />
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Eastern Forktails seemed to be everywhere as well...<br />
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...and when you look at this female Eastern Forktail you can see why I was cautious at first when I found the Eastern Red Damsel.<br />
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And then there were the bluets...grrr. These little damselflies continue to confuse me, especially the older females which turn dull blue as they age. There are several species that look almost identical. In fact most of the identification guides talk about examining in the hand or under microscopes for valid identification. So I have resigned myself to having a large file called "Bluet species" where I keep these photos.<br />
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As we headed home we decided to stop at Moran WMA in Windsor to see if we could hear Eastern Meadowlark, but it was getting later in the day and the walk up to the top of the hill and beyond seemed better postponed for another day when we could get an earlier start. We did have some wonderful wildflowers in the area and two of my favorites are below.<br />
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The Yellow Rattlebox always fascinates me both for it's visual distinction but also because of the noise it makes when it rustles in the wind....a very dry sound....almost insect-like.<br />
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And of course it's always exciting to see Wide-leaved Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes lucida). This early-flowering orchid is quite rare and only about 4 inches tall so easy to overlook. Luckily an old friend told us where to look for these delicate flowers more than a decade ago and we try to find them every year.<br />
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A great day looking at all the gifts nature has to offer...birds, butterflies, odonates and plants....really who could ask for more?<br />
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Enjoy.......Sheila<br />
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-16673860270789847842014-06-25T07:23:00.000-04:002014-06-25T07:23:59.497-04:00Dragonflies in Wendell ~ Sunday, June 22nd WARNING: If you are not into dragonflies, then you need to close this post right now. As most of you know I've become somewhat obsessed with odonates this past year. Remember in spring when I was whining while waiting for my first sighting? Well, I may have hit my saturation point this past weekend (not really). But of the 33 photos in this posting, 26 are of dragonflies and damselflies!<br />
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This past Sunday we decided to stay somewhat local. We had traveled to the Berkshires on on Friday and done the southeast coast on Saturday, so we thought we would poke around in Wendell, MA which is just slightly northwest of Quabbin. The area is loaded with marshes and swamps and we figured it would be good for dragonflies. We also wanted to explore the Wendell State Forest and then end up at the Millers River in Erving to check on odes there.<br />
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On the way out we stopped at a great little marsh on Moosehorn Road right off of Rt. 202 in New Salem on the way to Wendell (next town to the west). And even though it was just after 7 and a bit cool, we had our first dragonfly -- Frosted Whiteface.<br />
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We also had an unusual sighting of a moth sitting on a lilypad. When we checked the ID in the new Peterson Field Guide to Moths, it turned out to be a Ploymorphic Pondweed Moth -- so maybe having it out in the marsh on a lilypad wasn't all that unusual after all.<br />
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Further along Moosehorn and Jennison Roads in Wendell we checked out other marshes and beaver ponds.<br />
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Along the dirt road we started to see our first butterflies -- this Red-spotted Purple.<br />
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And we had this immature Swamp Spreadwing perched on a leaf overhanging the marsh.<br />
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This female Common Baskettail was also just hanging out....<br />
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...along with this teneral Slaty Skimmer. I remember when the first tenerals started to appear in May. I was so confused by the Four-spotted Skimmer and the Hudsonian Whitefaces I was seeing. Now it's a bit later and those guys aren't as confusing, but the new odes emerge (like this Slaty Skimmer) give me a chance to learn who new families. I feel like a perpetual student. <br />
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As we continued along Jennison Rd. making our way to the state forest, we stopped at a small cemetery (South Cemetery) which had yet another boggy marsh nearby. Although I didn't get a photo we had a couple of Elfin Skimmers in the cemetery, along with this Eastern Pondhawk perched on a low gravestone.</div>
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Even though you can't see the face, this is a female Hudsonian Whiteface. Even though I've seen close to 100 this spring, I still needed help in identifying her and I'm so grateful that I'm on the Facebook page of Northeast Odonata which I can just ask for help...and get it. I do have to admit, though, that it was Mark who made the ID on this one. He's actually gotten great at not only spotting the odes, but rather quickly getting them into the right family based on overall size, shape and proportions.<br />
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As I stepped closer to the little pond across the street from the cemetery, I had lots of Chalk-front Corporals landing on me. This is my first Chalk-fronted selfie!<br />
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At the state forest we drove some of the major dirt roads and our attention re-focused on birds since it was a wonderful mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. We had lots of Red-eyed Vireos, Ovenbirds and Scarlet Tanagers, along with the calling Eastern Wood Pewees. Most of the birds were staying out of sight, but you could hear the Black-throated Blue Warblers everywhere since the place was loaded with Mountain Laurel. At a small pond we stopped to check for dragonflies again, and we weren't disappointed.<br />
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We had several Aurora Damsels, including this mating pair. Plus there were several other species of dragonflies buzzing around the pond.<br />
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At the exact same moment, both Mark and I saw a dragonfly hit the water and not fly back up. We had a similar experience last summer at Otter River where we had to rescue a young ode by throwing enough branches into the water so that he could climb up and dry out. This time the dragonfly was out further than any sticks we could find and certainly further than the net we sometimes use for catching odes.<br />
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Also it didn't seem like this little guy was moving very much, so we thought he might have passed. Suddenly he started to move and we went into high gear with getting branches close to him without swamping him. We weren't sure how much time we had before he would drown or a frog would get him. He finally made it to a small log, and while he could hang on he couldn't quite pull himself. I finally found a very long but skinny branch (about 10') and slowly tried to move the branch closer to shore. I had to make sure that I moved slowly enough to keep him coming in, but not roll the log and swamp him. Mark went and got the net out of the car, but as he got close to the shore he went down for what we thought was the last time.<br />
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I was crushed. It wanted so much for it to have a happy ending. We looked and looked, but couldn't refind him. As we started to focus on the other dragonflies flying around, Mark spotted our little friend very close to shore and scooped him up in the net. He looked totally drowned, but we decided to place him in a sunny spot and see what happened as he dried out. I was able to get some terrific shots with my macro lens and feel pretty certain that this was a Twin-spotted Spiketail -- a new species for us. While we thought he had passed at this point, about 10 minutes later when I went to check on him, he had crawled onto a log and was obviously still alive. At this point I told Mark I wanted to leave before anything else happened and I could just tell myself he recovered and flew away!<br />
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So while that ended happily, unfortunately when I got home and downloaded the photos I inadvertently ERASED all the photos from my camera with the macro lens before downloading them. This is the first time I have ever done that and didn't even realize it until yesterday morning when I was cropping photos and kept going " hey, where are the shots I took of the rescued ode?"....."where's the Fragile Forktail; I know I took a close-up"..."hey, where's the scenery show I took of the rock formation in Wendell SF" and so on and so on. Lesson learned: wait at least a day before erasing what's on the camera.<br />
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After the tension of that rescue, we moved down toward Wickett Pond and took a couple of paths near the pond. It was great to be in an area with so few other people, and even though the pond was quite large we saw only a couple of kayakers and one couple with a toddler in a canoe. And we only ran into two people on mountain bikes and one woman walking a dog. At the pond we did have lots of dragonflies though. BTW, there was a really nice photo of Wickett Pond taken with the other camera, so you'll just have to imagine it for now!</div>
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We had a nice Wood Frog on the trail near the pond, and this White Corporal was a new species I photographed. Even though they are quite common, I had never gotten a photo before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34F63EMDBFYZlsa7ucbzu-_1Zd8uPwAsG70Y4Vd7BlB4Ag4GKPbdsjCpXuXydEKLn3crwR5mGfH-WcB-efUR3cSw85zBor-qzVmxs2mIXOcyJlGi7KrsUUlDFsZwaqYmzG0pJUyRFxrRy/s1600/White+Corporal+male+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34F63EMDBFYZlsa7ucbzu-_1Zd8uPwAsG70Y4Vd7BlB4Ag4GKPbdsjCpXuXydEKLn3crwR5mGfH-WcB-efUR3cSw85zBor-qzVmxs2mIXOcyJlGi7KrsUUlDFsZwaqYmzG0pJUyRFxrRy/s1600/White+Corporal+male+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
At the pond itself we had Lilypad Clubtail.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1XAOCSQAJpNVptR5HAxVEm-h80uel-qwJPMYRWs2gEdI0bCvxCV8XLkDcY9RRUme6Pa5pxmKBagQxOrQblWPszA2Yq0jr21nCM3YaHLyykjTLnm2FSfCrHFI1TddO7gRopoHW7SD0hMQ/s1600/Lilypad+Clubtail+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1XAOCSQAJpNVptR5HAxVEm-h80uel-qwJPMYRWs2gEdI0bCvxCV8XLkDcY9RRUme6Pa5pxmKBagQxOrQblWPszA2Yq0jr21nCM3YaHLyykjTLnm2FSfCrHFI1TddO7gRopoHW7SD0hMQ/s1600/Lilypad+Clubtail+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25283%2529.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
...and Unicorn Clubtail. These two species actually look quite alike, although my photos don't show that, so I keep wondering if I've correctly identified these two species.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPLbscztpoWCEllnBtIFMBSA3usOsavELQcGkHVBVOSDnypg6RbF3QzJlW0YY9xKJFQRX2B1eV1UgD9l3VUBHEOv8XLMQF5bZi_Y_KWhiYib2-vHc6Tk9F4qyycPADP-wsXBnWo4cnzEJ/s1600/Unicorn+Clubtail+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPLbscztpoWCEllnBtIFMBSA3usOsavELQcGkHVBVOSDnypg6RbF3QzJlW0YY9xKJFQRX2B1eV1UgD9l3VUBHEOv8XLMQF5bZi_Y_KWhiYib2-vHc6Tk9F4qyycPADP-wsXBnWo4cnzEJ/s1600/Unicorn+Clubtail+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had a "life" beetle -- an Eyed Click Beetle, which is quite large. Mark had it fly by and thought it was a hummingbird. The adults feed on nectar and plant juice, so it landed on a Mountain Laurel bush and just started to suck on the stems.<br />
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We also had our first of the season Calico Pennants...although this guy looks like he's been through the ringer already when you look at his hind wing. A bird must have caught him when he was a teneral and it just didn't develop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaTxfEPQIpRHrb5ytfnfIjoCN8dQgfIaO_fBc9IqfVbY5GZ-dne7dMFmSfsSaUDmvHWNVm5j8APY_IL91aGe_ztOrdibtMgHFeRu4sMkTFMC1cG8Q1ruVTSVRZ_uFqC4Ue22e-oS72GD3/s1600/Calico+Pennant+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaTxfEPQIpRHrb5ytfnfIjoCN8dQgfIaO_fBc9IqfVbY5GZ-dne7dMFmSfsSaUDmvHWNVm5j8APY_IL91aGe_ztOrdibtMgHFeRu4sMkTFMC1cG8Q1ruVTSVRZ_uFqC4Ue22e-oS72GD3/s1600/Calico+Pennant+Wickett+Pond+Wendell+SF+6-22-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
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After leaving the state forest we headed northwest along Farley Road to get to a bridge across the Millers River. Along Farley Road though we came across a great marsh with an active Great Blue Heron rookery...and lots more odonates.</div>
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We also had this female and 7 young Wood Ducks heading for cover as we pulled off the road.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ds2arnaQzc-S3ZMegFJPJMGtiheGg0yfee4sVDT9FDHj5lkOxqOOFN6WaZT8VWNupfz-73T_MbdL38xaCl4jzpkIbKMyp_epszRQRCXQVrMPqz3swsfirpsxuc4QWD-jqBB-qSb7JLxe/s1600/Wood+Ducklings+Farley+Rd+Wendell+6-22-14+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ds2arnaQzc-S3ZMegFJPJMGtiheGg0yfee4sVDT9FDHj5lkOxqOOFN6WaZT8VWNupfz-73T_MbdL38xaCl4jzpkIbKMyp_epszRQRCXQVrMPqz3swsfirpsxuc4QWD-jqBB-qSb7JLxe/s1600/Wood+Ducklings+Farley+Rd+Wendell+6-22-14+%252811%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Damselfies were everywhere. In fact this is where I got a great shot of mating Fragile Forktails with my macro lens. Grrrr, another of the photos that never made it to my computer. But I did get shots of Familiar Bluet.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1FQE9vebDIHwlZQZ1oI7fbgaoWu35I7udkHCsE-td1dnwNKMOGnhpmIV6f6VJR77TmcyHTTm6Ho0OlMXDMawqfW60hB0iFrhc5TSgmtqVqC8VyPR3Gn8-FE2Sr-VDcx8_Eu0pxAq_PhP/s1600/Familiar+Bluet+Farley+Rd.+Wendell+6-22-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1FQE9vebDIHwlZQZ1oI7fbgaoWu35I7udkHCsE-td1dnwNKMOGnhpmIV6f6VJR77TmcyHTTm6Ho0OlMXDMawqfW60hB0iFrhc5TSgmtqVqC8VyPR3Gn8-FE2Sr-VDcx8_Eu0pxAq_PhP/s1600/Familiar+Bluet+Farley+Rd.+Wendell+6-22-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
...and lots of Northern Bluets. There were probably Boreal Bluets as well, but I'm still learning to ID most of the damselflies.<br />
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For me, one of the easiest dragonflies to learn was Twelve-spotted Skimmer. At first I got confused with the female Common Whitetail, but there's no mistaking a male 12-spotted with the white in the wings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO60Fy4DXbEIcATyPt51SYrLKAwfNl-jGiyAthRDUaoK6rM3WnRUi-XTUq0dqLsoAAtIPBp3sr9LQzs9pXPsOOjx5V9debhzAcSZMYNMYNvjVmlLhNGQwDgdsCpv10CFOSkUdnjZ0-qSwo/s1600/12-Spotted+Skimmer+Farley+Rd.+Wendell+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO60Fy4DXbEIcATyPt51SYrLKAwfNl-jGiyAthRDUaoK6rM3WnRUi-XTUq0dqLsoAAtIPBp3sr9LQzs9pXPsOOjx5V9debhzAcSZMYNMYNvjVmlLhNGQwDgdsCpv10CFOSkUdnjZ0-qSwo/s1600/12-Spotted+Skimmer+Farley+Rd.+Wendell+6-22-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
And Spangled Skimmer is another one that's easy....thanks to the white marks on the wings, which is there is both males and females.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1T8OmIbLhyphenhyphenrKzsTi1PamZ0PcGWrG6VwDGaOVAwfDS3opJYWQpaSG3U-FWTWi7KB2fPgOsjGXXb1maN7YvkNtUJxYcX99axZWM3OLsQTCK72u6-dBijpPnaEGcH0UjzP85xlDHpkVjfvB/s1600/Spangled+Skimmer+Farley+Rd.+marsh+Wendell+6-22-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1T8OmIbLhyphenhyphenrKzsTi1PamZ0PcGWrG6VwDGaOVAwfDS3opJYWQpaSG3U-FWTWi7KB2fPgOsjGXXb1maN7YvkNtUJxYcX99axZWM3OLsQTCK72u6-dBijpPnaEGcH0UjzP85xlDHpkVjfvB/s1600/Spangled+Skimmer+Farley+Rd.+marsh+Wendell+6-22-14.JPG" height="273" width="400" /></a></div>
At the marsh we also had some darners flying around and spent when I say "flying around" I mean zipping by fast and never stopping....well almost never. After about 15-20 minutes we spotted one put down on a small weed in the middle of the pond and I just started snapping photos. When I got home and enlarged it, I found that I had captured a Spatterdock Darner laying eggs on the underside of a lilypad (which is what they do.) This was really exciting for a couple of reasons. First, this is the first Spatterdock we've ever seen, although we looked for them lots of places this spring. Secondly, I love to capture a dragonfly displaying natural behavior in the wild rather than net them and takes shot in the hand. I know that it's sometimes necessary to absolutely ID an ode, but there's something so satisfying when I can ID it without interfering with it. And finally, we watched a bullfrog leap out of the water and try to catch the dragonfly as she finished laying eggs. Luckily, she was too fast for him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKoGV_zgERUEA5tng3IUEqvhAV4S1ksy7ynUGWejOQ9C31EqcrlHG43ct649iDSATTwTm1dLNd8OAuRN2wOXDIVc9kh3IFQRyRG_0qX6bz_bK9nzG-NFX0TQG2_if6uRTdRXrBUuKGuqf/s1600/Spatterdock+Darner+Farley+Rd.+marsh+Wendell+6-22-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKoGV_zgERUEA5tng3IUEqvhAV4S1ksy7ynUGWejOQ9C31EqcrlHG43ct649iDSATTwTm1dLNd8OAuRN2wOXDIVc9kh3IFQRyRG_0qX6bz_bK9nzG-NFX0TQG2_if6uRTdRXrBUuKGuqf/s1600/Spatterdock+Darner+Farley+Rd.+marsh+Wendell+6-22-14.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our last stop of the day was a great stretch of the Millers River in Erving near the wildlife management area. Last year we were excited to find a good number of Powered Dancers here, and we hoped to repeat the experience. The first thing we noticed (and we saw this last year as well) was the amount of <i>exuvia</i> on the rocks in the river...both close to shore and farther out. In the photo below you can see at least two different cast skins left behind as the dragonfly undergoes metamorphosis from a larva living and breathing underwater to an aerial-feeding insect. This transformation is absolutely mind-blowing to me. I would love to see a dragonfly emerging from the last larval stage and fly away....just haven't been lucky enough yet to see it.</div>
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And we did have lots of Powdered Dancers on both sides of the river.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-7wKWGzh4l_uKfOC_ZW49kTNyfVTfHJPz8XSaoPAXfxC0-HaiBf6aJSuaMV0F0qAhAVTwTWV7b4jNAzDpkSSfhHgijQe50TVWJSX_kXym5K0K7b4l82RA0jCjXsIFVDSXUwZ4OZSRYjc/s1600/Powdered+Dancer+Millers+River+WMA+6-22-14+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-7wKWGzh4l_uKfOC_ZW49kTNyfVTfHJPz8XSaoPAXfxC0-HaiBf6aJSuaMV0F0qAhAVTwTWV7b4jNAzDpkSSfhHgijQe50TVWJSX_kXym5K0K7b4l82RA0jCjXsIFVDSXUwZ4OZSRYjc/s1600/Powdered+Dancer+Millers+River+WMA+6-22-14+%25286%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
...including this immature....possibly a brown form female....well disguised on a tree stump.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PSlISxhJKvvSoBcZ8aBtJG3yYVZK-YpqMZz2FB9jILdjPcHoJEWPcCwvXkez9XGHWYQ0v0OYhb7Dbt-WVbKAT_1uhnWHhftSadTFpN6wdCyAsAEHVarf7y7xYmAuO6PcxAECoG-WO6vi/s1600/Powdered+Dancer+Millers+River+WMA+6-22-14+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PSlISxhJKvvSoBcZ8aBtJG3yYVZK-YpqMZz2FB9jILdjPcHoJEWPcCwvXkez9XGHWYQ0v0OYhb7Dbt-WVbKAT_1uhnWHhftSadTFpN6wdCyAsAEHVarf7y7xYmAuO6PcxAECoG-WO6vi/s1600/Powdered+Dancer+Millers+River+WMA+6-22-14+%252815%2529.JPG" height="273" width="400" /></a></div>
Ebony Jewelwings were everywhere on the river. I love how sometime the males look brilliant green and at other times a deep turquoise. I have to admit though I was hoping for a River Jewelwing which is supposed to be common throughout interior MA.<br />
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We ended the day with my most exciting sighting of the season so far. Mark spotted a dragonfly sitting on a rock and knew immediately it was not something we had seen before. I was able to get some great shots of her before she flew off and made a beeline straight up the river away from us. When I downloaded the photos I was able to immediately identify her as a female Rusty Snaketail. Paulson's <u>Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East</u> states "Female oviposits in straight fast runs upcurrent, perches between brief bouts and extrudes orange-tan egg mass." I obviously captures one of those brief bouts where she was sitting on a rock with the egg mass before zipping off up river to lay her eggs. WOW<br />
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I can't tell you how exciting Sunday was for us....several "life" dragonflies, an amazing rescue and all in a wonderful town in north central MA. I know this was a long post, but I hope you stuck with it....and enjoyed sharing my excitement. Leave a comment and let me know....thanks.<br />
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Enjoy.....SheilaSheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-25464869363854457982014-06-17T07:03:00.002-04:002014-06-17T07:03:51.019-04:00Highlights from the Second Half of MayThis is the first time I'm doing a post with highlights from several different trips. Part of my reasoning is that if I wait until I can <u>absolutely</u> identify every dragonfly from each birding trip we're taking, I will have to give up my blog. As it is, some of these photos go back to May 17th when we were poking around on Bird-a-thon day to see what species we could turn up for our local MAS sanctuary -- Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester. I'll try to keep the photos from each trip together so there's a sense of each place we visited and what we saw. So let's talk about Bird-a-thon....or rather let's not since I've ranted in the past about that event. Actually as long as we stay fairly local and don't run into people who are ridiculously competitive, it can be fun to see how many species we can get on one long day. I was hoping we would get at least 100 and when finished tallying our list it was 118 -- not bad for a spring day in Central MA! <br />
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We started with a quick stop at Lake Quaboag and quickly moved on to Quabbin where we had this pair of Common Mergansers looking very at home just below us at the Administration Building....they're obviously going to be nesting somewhere nearby.</div>
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This Red-eyed Vireo was in full voice as we moved up the hill on the east side of Winsor Dam...<br />
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...and this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was just one of several working the trees below Enfield Lookout.<br />
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We did a walk into Gate 5 on the west side of Quabbin and had our first dragonfly, Beaverpond Baskettail.<br />
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And it was a great area for Pink Ladyslippers.<br />
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We continued up the west side and made stops at the Pelham Overlook as well as the overlook further north on Rt. 202 and watched some folks parachuting into Orange Airport. We also stopped at a marsh on Moosehorn Road looking for other early odonates. As we started heading east on Rt. 122 Mark spotted a Painted Turtle just as a I drove over it! Luckily I didn't hit him and we made a U-turn so Mark could get him off the road before someone did! Needless to say this little turtle was very excited to get across the busy road in one piece and almost flew into the small pond when Mark released her.<br />
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We stopped in the Federated Women's State Forest in Petersham to check for more dragonflies and noticed the first Foamflower blooming.</div>
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Our final big push was to drive one of the major roads in Rutland State Park -- Whitehall Road.</div>
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We had good numbers of dragonflies, including lots of Chalk-fronted Corporals (above) and Hudsonion Whiteface (below). While we had many of both species, we didn't have much variety in terms of kinds of odonates...but then it was mid-May and things have been slow to fly this year.<br />
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We got this great look at an Eastern Wood Pewee along Whitehall Road as well. Normally these birds stay high up in the canopy in the forest, so getting great looks (and a photo) was a real treat. All in all a very pleasant trip around the Quabbin Reservoir.<br />
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On Sunday we had a class trip to the Quaboag area which I've already blogged about. But on Monday, May 19th, Mark and I headed to north Worcester County to Otter River State Park. There are wonderful dirt roads to drive and we planned to check it out before leading a future class trip to the area. We had been here on the 11th so we wanted to see how things were progressing. Unfortunately we did NOT have the singing Mourning Warbler so it most likely was just a very early migrant.</div>
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But we did have some of the same species of butterflies and got better photos of both the Brown Elfin (above) and the less common Henry's Elfin (below). Both start flying pretty early and are gone by about mid-June in our area.<br />
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We also had some nice early wildflowers as well, including this Fringed Polygala (also known as Gaywings). It looks like it belongs in the Orchid family, but it's actually a member of the Milkwort family.<br />
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And we had lots of Painted Trillium along the elevated dirt road near the bogs before you get to Beaver Pond. While I usually see Purple Trillium regularly every spring, I think I've only seen the Painted a few times.<br />
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And the photo below is one of the reasons this blog is so late. I cannot identify this dragonfly! I think it's one of the clubtail species (probably Ashy or Dusky) but I keep finding field marks that contradict my id each time I study the enlarged photos. So for now please enjoy this close photo of a dragonfly which is driving me crazy!</div>
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Probably my best sighting of this trip was coming across a pair of HUGE Snapping Turtles just as they were about to mate. I kept my distance but sat down to get some great close photos of these two.</div>
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It's amazing to look at the scales on the legs of this guy and see how he's attached to his shell...not the sort of close looks you usually get a snappers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmkYvSXM1Q6ZN7j3POubsqJBQLMbKEpnhCPvFF5x8akfJuNnH40MtMOBaJeX-l14v_AAl7Y3Sp3sBT0XNyxPtbUsOJy4JEq9wvpIeQVMSekuh1uRO097TiuYlCruztijhKKslysnfR8R3/s1600/Snapping+Turtles+mating+Otter+River+5-19-14+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmkYvSXM1Q6ZN7j3POubsqJBQLMbKEpnhCPvFF5x8akfJuNnH40MtMOBaJeX-l14v_AAl7Y3Sp3sBT0XNyxPtbUsOJy4JEq9wvpIeQVMSekuh1uRO097TiuYlCruztijhKKslysnfR8R3/s1600/Snapping+Turtles+mating+Otter+River+5-19-14+%25288%2529.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
And at the Beaver Pond we got breeding Spotted Sandpipers. It's always nice to find a breeding shorebird in northern Worcester County. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuRIBu3STB4uoeMBeRTpf003-W9rHfGc9T_H9qpmovwOmhB1vYHSJhAaI0NAqlTw7FL46VHSZGPU_xW5NLOlWFvMK1gM9omc6VcxfOAoU5F7G7aEYbK2j_W0PujJoNJE0YfMvFyGmLIO8/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+Otter+River+5-19-14+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuRIBu3STB4uoeMBeRTpf003-W9rHfGc9T_H9qpmovwOmhB1vYHSJhAaI0NAqlTw7FL46VHSZGPU_xW5NLOlWFvMK1gM9omc6VcxfOAoU5F7G7aEYbK2j_W0PujJoNJE0YfMvFyGmLIO8/s1600/Spotted+Sandpiper+Otter+River+5-19-14+%25286%2529.JPG" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our mid-week quick morning trip (Wednesday, May 21st) was to Oxbow NWR. Obviously still hunting for Ringed Boghaunters...and still coming home empty handed. We did get some nice migrant warblers, along with the local residents like this Yellow Warbler though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIizkvyc05Jp1YVYCpnP_aOZvg8uCUyWaTCAMVPSXFO5Yh6QMNdIe6qv-Yk7Q8dhAQMb87DtWcnsJ-VAXhIm-PCy0wttnnez_s2q30H7OnwvZLI9Hnzqvrp146YY8e-7j-Tjoeg_z9YlfH/s1600/Yellow+Warbler+Oxbow+5-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIizkvyc05Jp1YVYCpnP_aOZvg8uCUyWaTCAMVPSXFO5Yh6QMNdIe6qv-Yk7Q8dhAQMb87DtWcnsJ-VAXhIm-PCy0wttnnez_s2q30H7OnwvZLI9Hnzqvrp146YY8e-7j-Tjoeg_z9YlfH/s1600/Yellow+Warbler+Oxbow+5-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
And in keeping with mating animals, we found these two Banded Watersnakes facing off against each other either just before or just after mating. I stayed quiet and watched for about 15 minutes, but neither snake moved so I decided to just let them have some privacy and moved off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo9Od33H93hLKb-03LMQOnESpfKxH2OUy4zGyqs9vfA7JAdqsy2wEycZ3L5_Ir30bGHpLuNaxBr5xdpkqBtk90liDj0-gFsS1COT5v0qh4Jj7YfUeWIhEf0EMjoTtqLsfRmTL3th5bCzo/s1600/Water+Snakes+ready+to+mate+Oxbow+5-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo9Od33H93hLKb-03LMQOnESpfKxH2OUy4zGyqs9vfA7JAdqsy2wEycZ3L5_Ir30bGHpLuNaxBr5xdpkqBtk90liDj0-gFsS1COT5v0qh4Jj7YfUeWIhEf0EMjoTtqLsfRmTL3th5bCzo/s1600/Water+Snakes+ready+to+mate+Oxbow+5-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since we had a class trip on Saturday locally, we decided to head out to the Berkshires ourselves on Sunday (5-25) to check out Beartown State Forest in Great Barrington and Monterey. If all the roads looked good we would try to lead a migration class trip out there the following weekend. We did and I blogged about that separately already. But here are some of the photos from our pre-class trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkR_ekrcpnFGAW9I9LSieQHGpvct9W0ilBWDRdpN5d_0M8m0aSaQEGqSs1b5JMZf_6GJdUOETg9hBbf8KatElZnedXlr8OTNP7TIRK_kMc-eQPN7Hsp4tixp5CjKCP7rDvxXC_WR4cfKP/s1600/Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkR_ekrcpnFGAW9I9LSieQHGpvct9W0ilBWDRdpN5d_0M8m0aSaQEGqSs1b5JMZf_6GJdUOETg9hBbf8KatElZnedXlr8OTNP7TIRK_kMc-eQPN7Hsp4tixp5CjKCP7rDvxXC_WR4cfKP/s1600/Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
After entering the SP from the east in Lee along Beartown Mountain Road, we took the right fork on Benedict Pond Road and came out to the open marshes along West Brook. There was a Broad-winged Hawk nesting nearby because we could hear it calling. Soon it came out of the forest and sailed across our view. Probably has young in the nest and was out searching for food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI1GKO30AvOPp4BqUv13g8s1nya2vRqG4jX_vYEAlavIJG9EFr_jp2BkuGE-CuGRXC9xQmI92XrKhdA5Uy_igstQHfEJZfnI7pyYm7cYHesYXNQBFZ1PWT4-D1oOiqw9pXWzlyYLBXz-n/s1600/BW+Hawk+Beartown+5-25-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI1GKO30AvOPp4BqUv13g8s1nya2vRqG4jX_vYEAlavIJG9EFr_jp2BkuGE-CuGRXC9xQmI92XrKhdA5Uy_igstQHfEJZfnI7pyYm7cYHesYXNQBFZ1PWT4-D1oOiqw9pXWzlyYLBXz-n/s1600/BW+Hawk+Beartown+5-25-14.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
As soon as it warmed up a bit we started to see teneral damselflies lifting out of the grasses along West Brook and just moving up into the trees. Since young odonates (called tenerals) don't have all the color that most people use as field marks it's hard to find good photos in field guides to help with identification. Just based on size and knowing which damsels fly this early, I'm guessing this is an Eastern Forktail...which is one of the most common damselflies in Massachusetts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kp7Bcs719Tehke0KArq-oSeg9ed5iZfp90-TYNDRMPCSI6hl3c-tz4CkQ8kcIAruqm4RmwIQfIt_H2Myrmug4hjX2L9Dng3gAIzeWmY5eIzm0k0rNY3a2aZcCt15oa4QWxClrMoQql8r/s1600/IMG_8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kp7Bcs719Tehke0KArq-oSeg9ed5iZfp90-TYNDRMPCSI6hl3c-tz4CkQ8kcIAruqm4RmwIQfIt_H2Myrmug4hjX2L9Dng3gAIzeWmY5eIzm0k0rNY3a2aZcCt15oa4QWxClrMoQql8r/s1600/IMG_8249.JPG" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
This young dragonfly, however, still needs more work until I can make a good identification, but I'm pretty sure it's another one of those pesky clubtails that have been driving me crazy all spring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXauOa1FvcFG4V0TbxCvMbblsUzCGXndLGs9AVp9nBjqIWO8yu-y3HG2jeGLvWtOjRWi0c7THNfZEafQuYOQClU7Nmjf0sDiCjZhyphenhyphenexqpu80s1FCZr4bOCvdqKv7frX6J9DsDrQs4fRPkL/s1600/IMG_8299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXauOa1FvcFG4V0TbxCvMbblsUzCGXndLGs9AVp9nBjqIWO8yu-y3HG2jeGLvWtOjRWi0c7THNfZEafQuYOQClU7Nmjf0sDiCjZhyphenhyphenexqpu80s1FCZr4bOCvdqKv7frX6J9DsDrQs4fRPkL/s1600/IMG_8299.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
The nice thing about flowers, though, is they don't move and look pretty much the same when in bloom. And for the most part I can identify them....this is Wild Columbine which grows abundantly along the roads in Beartown. An absolutely gorgeous early spring flower of which I never tire.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eJN5JLtTwdBn-W_jB-HH57ffnJgKSyzn9Sykrg8TZOVoHRI1XPi_xCiuBLJoKn7BhYCEffI8iFmVXHkHfLnvBABTmrA1-Uc-AlCRzM5vuuK1FDdx1Ydb1xJtfmC8XDZJK0POoCmiw-rB/s1600/Columbine+Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eJN5JLtTwdBn-W_jB-HH57ffnJgKSyzn9Sykrg8TZOVoHRI1XPi_xCiuBLJoKn7BhYCEffI8iFmVXHkHfLnvBABTmrA1-Uc-AlCRzM5vuuK1FDdx1Ydb1xJtfmC8XDZJK0POoCmiw-rB/s1600/Columbine+Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had this Pickeral Frog in a small field at the top of Mt. Wilcox. I'm always surprised to find frogs on mountaintops and wonder where the nearest pond is and how/why did he get up here?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoJ_poaV076DbSbtxV6CALbywuDu7ukREmezomrs-Vf8hQ4ulCeFAJXlk6_0_q9PuvAYgTnLUh1j4kaFVMiVpz-RoIFPP17ZE2cF6u2qiDaCWW5swfCWPxk5kiBaegjQbJ67tRMKyPipO/s1600/Pickeral+Frog+Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoJ_poaV076DbSbtxV6CALbywuDu7ukREmezomrs-Vf8hQ4ulCeFAJXlk6_0_q9PuvAYgTnLUh1j4kaFVMiVpz-RoIFPP17ZE2cF6u2qiDaCWW5swfCWPxk5kiBaegjQbJ67tRMKyPipO/s1600/Pickeral+Frog+Beartown+5-25-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">We also came across lots of Red Efts crossing the roads...which is always disconcerting since they are so small and you don't even see them when you're driving the back dirt roads all the time. The unusual thing about this little guy is his tail. It was obviously torn off at some point and has started to grow back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZXXrkgiVQtQjhSGR9vobdI7wWASKMi5nsXn6QsNG9wMXysvNiY4Ah6S12IzExWtAWR76TPfHI-xL1svwnI5TGwzcfWI3kasV5EUy-NQiZ_uhAmwub8ikLSkQHhWg1iwzJ5Hlq9ztoWCo/s1600/Red+Eft+partial+tail+Beartown+5-25-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZXXrkgiVQtQjhSGR9vobdI7wWASKMi5nsXn6QsNG9wMXysvNiY4Ah6S12IzExWtAWR76TPfHI-xL1svwnI5TGwzcfWI3kasV5EUy-NQiZ_uhAmwub8ikLSkQHhWg1iwzJ5Hlq9ztoWCo/s1600/Red+Eft+partial+tail+Beartown+5-25-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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This Juvenal's Duskywing seemed to sit up and pose for this photo...usually they're laying flat on the dirt road and I don't get such good looks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nMlYQ2q0N11vJW1Lq47keNyxLdf0JhU8tdtR8dVqacZyMn0iG8mPDu7cZDwjXJgeHUw7rl7mdxa4TFfz0YPcRZIjnIYwUsQLnycJ10oBIxKEACbnG9KV6IL6cnbCP7hkIgju_-mXu2zM/s1600/Juvenal%2527s+Duskywing+Beartown+5-25-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nMlYQ2q0N11vJW1Lq47keNyxLdf0JhU8tdtR8dVqacZyMn0iG8mPDu7cZDwjXJgeHUw7rl7mdxa4TFfz0YPcRZIjnIYwUsQLnycJ10oBIxKEACbnG9KV6IL6cnbCP7hkIgju_-mXu2zM/s1600/Juvenal%2527s+Duskywing+Beartown+5-25-14.JPG" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
In contrast to the dark skipper above we had some terrific views of this West Virginia White, including capturing him moving from flower to flower.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VEI8N1P3nYGQgJM9qauBY3A-gwF_iahA5SN3CxGCfbQXYunIrMBsxbr6GJJePpFR9WjKvDzE9_Yb9RRcMrjBEySQf40R6uxGNIY_b3hTowiWxZnXZt3qt3sXKURtIAN_Lp7JgFFmeB1A/s1600/West+Virginia+White+Beartown+5-25-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VEI8N1P3nYGQgJM9qauBY3A-gwF_iahA5SN3CxGCfbQXYunIrMBsxbr6GJJePpFR9WjKvDzE9_Yb9RRcMrjBEySQf40R6uxGNIY_b3hTowiWxZnXZt3qt3sXKURtIAN_Lp7JgFFmeB1A/s1600/West+Virginia+White+Beartown+5-25-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
This early spring butterfly is found only in the western parts of Massachusetts and stops flying by early June. We've been fortunate to find them at several places in the Berkshires the past few years. You need to get a definitive look at the pale gray veins in the underwing to clinch the id...and this guy certainly provided that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h0YoSqihaZGxcQQq_kq_N93aCeTpysebaB3kRiiyrY7D_9bh4IZ23WG2efbyaqyn6RVXrNusyKmC0XWhyphenhyphen6pfI208HhIjQ3Who8NmM7VD1MNydI4CPUfJJVdjgAseWqBvmaH9z8K2GhdG/s1600/West+Virginia+White+Beartown+5-25-14+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h0YoSqihaZGxcQQq_kq_N93aCeTpysebaB3kRiiyrY7D_9bh4IZ23WG2efbyaqyn6RVXrNusyKmC0XWhyphenhyphen6pfI208HhIjQ3Who8NmM7VD1MNydI4CPUfJJVdjgAseWqBvmaH9z8K2GhdG/s1600/West+Virginia+White+Beartown+5-25-14+%25286%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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The last trip I want to talk about in this blog was taken on Monday (5/26). But since the day before had been a long one, we decided to keep it fairly local. We planned to stay in the Ware River watershed and focus on the two roads that are outside of Rutland State Park. We started in the north on Gilbert Road, but when we got to the area on Grainger Road, we found the gates closed. So we decided to head out to Barton Cove and check out the Miller's River for dragonflies. On the way back we checked a few places in Erving and then we stopped in Gate 33 at the north end of Quabbin. The weather was on and off showers, but we had a good day despite the weather.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzovqlLv5sAT-thTODDFYgdP-2_PUHh4QfS981rwHOslOrxTf5Y6VBrEjkCK48Nc52QBNwInHkNjgbagxneTyE9OPb0ZCLUI3tWitxk_v4Tm42CTlJiWw_xxBu8VBihmGzRAQtqrMN7U_/s1600/Clintonia+Gilbert+Rd.+Barre+5-26-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzovqlLv5sAT-thTODDFYgdP-2_PUHh4QfS981rwHOslOrxTf5Y6VBrEjkCK48Nc52QBNwInHkNjgbagxneTyE9OPb0ZCLUI3tWitxk_v4Tm42CTlJiWw_xxBu8VBihmGzRAQtqrMN7U_/s1600/Clintonia+Gilbert+Rd.+Barre+5-26-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
Along Gilbert Road we had some nice stands of Yellow Clintonia. This is one of the wildflowers you can really identify both from the flowers in spring, but also from the true-blue color of the fruits later in the year. It's from the fruit that it gets its alternative name....Bluebead Lily.<br />
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While Mark walked in to check the Great Blue Heron rookery along the Mid-State Trail I stayed near a beaver pond to check for some dragonflies. While I didn't get one single ode I did have a pair of beaver busily working on their lodge and their multiple dams. I stayed rather quiet and they didn't seem to mind my being there. Although at one point 3 people came by on horses and one of the beavers took to some very loud tail slapping which frightened one of the horses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFXwnZGiSlPLb78qC4PJjkdViSI4R_wax9IWn2jVPrySu3ThY3Dk4vlQVXTxPthfiYBKQi4vRZI3X3imxH3sz5IUCjxfjGAGrx5ln8VpR7EXbeWjfKAJIQbgYRhvVH2A9inJXUWbTjWjw/s1600/Beaver+Gilbert+Rd.+Barre+5-26-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFXwnZGiSlPLb78qC4PJjkdViSI4R_wax9IWn2jVPrySu3ThY3Dk4vlQVXTxPthfiYBKQi4vRZI3X3imxH3sz5IUCjxfjGAGrx5ln8VpR7EXbeWjfKAJIQbgYRhvVH2A9inJXUWbTjWjw/s1600/Beaver+Gilbert+Rd.+Barre+5-26-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
An exciting find on Grainger Road was this Springtime Darner -- my first of the year. Now I'm sure you're looking at the photo and saying "really?" but it's a fairly large dragonfly and the pattern on the abdomen is quite complex with lots of blue against a brown background and the two white stripes on the thorax set it off nicely. You probably need to click on the photo to enlarge it and see the details. Of course after doing all that you might still say "really?".<br />
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Just before we got to the closed gate on Grainger we came across this female Ruffed Grouse making all sorts of little noises...so it probably had some young grouse nearby, but we never saw them.<br />
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As I said earlier, it was on-and-off showers but the radar map looked clearer to the west so we decided to head out to Barton Cove in Gill/Montague and see if there were any odonates along the Miller River. As we were driving on Rt. 2 in Gill right near the boat launch for Barton Cove I spotted this Pileated Woodpecker on the ground digging for grubs around an old tree trunk. Normally I would have thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime sighting, except that about 4 years ago in Tyingham in the Berkshires I watched one doing the exact same thing in someones' front yard along a well-traveled road.<br />
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We made a U-turn and pulled off and watched the bird for about 15 minutes. Notice the dirt he (it is an adult male) was throwing up in the air as he dug. And in the photo below you can see he was being quite successful. We left the bird with cars zooming past on Rt. 2!<br />
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In Erving we stopped by the Miller's River WMA but it was starting to drizzle again so no dragonflies....but we did have this group of Turkey Vultures on the road. We wanted to see what they were congregating around and when we drove by there was an old fish that someone had left that had attracted the vultures.<br />
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As we headed back Rt. 122 towards Worcester we decided to take a short hike in Gate 33, since the rain had stopped. We had Towhees calling all along the grassy marsh and finally this male put up right in front of us and sang.<br />
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And we had dragonflies....like this adult Four-spotted Skimmer. This is the same species that I yelled at that Yellow Warbler to drop several weeks ago in Rutland SP. Since that was a teneral, it was nice to see the adult so I could really notice all the field marks. A fun way to end the day's trip.<br />
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So that's it...5 little trips (some not so little) to 5 different areas. Other than the Beartown trip, all were within Central MA too. It continues to amaze me with what can be found not too far at all from Worcester!</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-60493214928149135562014-06-12T07:15:00.000-04:002014-06-12T07:15:54.981-04:00Last MAS Class Trip ~ Westport, Saturday, June 7thWith Mark's short MAS class on migration ending, we decided a last trip to the shore was a good choice...and it certainly turned out to be true. We also had the pleasure of a guest participant on the trip...our good friend Kevin Bourinot (sans Becca and the two mini-Bourinots.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our first stop was Gooseberry Neck and you immediately noticed all the Beach Pea in bloom.<br />
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We got there just before 7 and it was relatively empty. Granted this is still early June, but you would have thought it was mid-July with all the beach-goers later in the day.<br />
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We had Common Terns (just a few) flying by us....<br />
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...and Least Terns actively catching food and bringing it home...so nesting was in full progress.<br />
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We walked down the neck and found some nice land birds...like this Yellow Warbler which was obviously nesting in the scrub.</div>
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We also had numbers of Song Sparrow, and we had a Black-billed Cuckoo calling for about 10 minutes non-stop after it flew across the path...unfortunately not everyone got to see it fly so we waited...but it never came back.<br />
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The most obvious shorebird around at this time of the year in this area is Willet.<br />
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When he's just sitting on the ground or in this case a rock just offshore, he's a typical gray, long-legged, rather plain-looking shorebird.....but then he takes off and displays over the territory and you get to see the striking black and white pattern. Usually I'm hoping a bird will sit still long enough for a photograph...but with Willets I'm hoping they fly.<br />
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There were good numbers of Common Eider in the waters off Gooseberry Neck, and we also had a pair of Black Ducks fly out and land in the ocean.</div>
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And this immature Double-crested Cormorant came flying in and landed right in front of us as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2u-583CJ_gmgYjsWTqn9WNJTdinsGsnT40iUYauSGuUjZiT-92o_-o4pRNjHlzm3C1LSxE-NFGUkuorWaCJfCcUXNxmP-eNniAvBDP-e9gJqeyC_gioLNDEzXxUTcTG6CaReNIcFx4nr/s1600/DC+Cormorant+imm.+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2u-583CJ_gmgYjsWTqn9WNJTdinsGsnT40iUYauSGuUjZiT-92o_-o4pRNjHlzm3C1LSxE-NFGUkuorWaCJfCcUXNxmP-eNniAvBDP-e9gJqeyC_gioLNDEzXxUTcTG6CaReNIcFx4nr/s1600/DC+Cormorant+imm.+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
There were also small numbers of Black Scoters in among the eiders.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFILXChFsSeWmZ-8MtFD39KhQheISa43sNnQldzFZ1lsIWnB5gIaCGxMoSG5kSwxV5E_OV4qca6Wj1EdVHtOAJpUJdkDZkCLjQm-63aC_jPgwA6USAg67EldEZnjkh39HylMx3O7WKr4r/s1600/Black+Scoters+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFILXChFsSeWmZ-8MtFD39KhQheISa43sNnQldzFZ1lsIWnB5gIaCGxMoSG5kSwxV5E_OV4qca6Wj1EdVHtOAJpUJdkDZkCLjQm-63aC_jPgwA6USAg67EldEZnjkh39HylMx3O7WKr4r/s1600/Black+Scoters+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mark was happy to find Fowler's Toads at the end of the neck near the tower, and we all made sure to watch our step as we took the path out to the ocean overlook, since they were in among the rocks along the path.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdbbE5yPjyBXWE445spPzzzfkU0Ca38-X04q5QC7-lnL7rukSx7M8bYxDBuDFkWOalRhEJ6YY8gogiHN77u_CoWX-V2eYGi9VRB_4Q1rFlVlqisVR8q40jbhGc8CW2ayMeV_RaUAbypNA/s1600/Fowler%2527s+Toad+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdbbE5yPjyBXWE445spPzzzfkU0Ca38-X04q5QC7-lnL7rukSx7M8bYxDBuDFkWOalRhEJ6YY8gogiHN77u_CoWX-V2eYGi9VRB_4Q1rFlVlqisVR8q40jbhGc8CW2ayMeV_RaUAbypNA/s1600/Fowler%2527s+Toad+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
Besides the Yellow, the only other breeding warbler in this environment is Common Yellowthroat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwabNyagSUL0qKHnI4lVAU68apo0G9MNbDADWUGzUmejo2EEAjzPESuCPlt_eJk6TUYsGGDVylsZMF7lGpn6z_Imen2x43K-f1DFgqxfvRtqRXH8WgVjIbeC_Kg94BfRcOTB7u-vLSUJk/s1600/Common+Yellowthroat+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwabNyagSUL0qKHnI4lVAU68apo0G9MNbDADWUGzUmejo2EEAjzPESuCPlt_eJk6TUYsGGDVylsZMF7lGpn6z_Imen2x43K-f1DFgqxfvRtqRXH8WgVjIbeC_Kg94BfRcOTB7u-vLSUJk/s1600/Common+Yellowthroat+Gooseberry+Neck+6-7-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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After some time overlooking the ocean (where Kevin found an immature Gannet flying) we headed over to Allen's Pond hoping to find breeding Piping Plovers on the beach. And while there had been lots of Great Egrets in the marsh driving down Rt. 88, we had a nice close Snowy Egret fly over while at Allen's Pond.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-lXb8tiNmMYNs41uo0EqK4g-GeXIbV615LObWphWH1g-ulnS2EZh-SmU8JmLq69CpXPi6fDjNvS2cWK6zh6e3Qo5WAw1IZ1r1wK_00-FJOKjmySv4e3xuyIDgbRCHgMJek28HEAi_lSW/s1600/Snowy+Egret+flying+Westport+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-lXb8tiNmMYNs41uo0EqK4g-GeXIbV615LObWphWH1g-ulnS2EZh-SmU8JmLq69CpXPi6fDjNvS2cWK6zh6e3Qo5WAw1IZ1r1wK_00-FJOKjmySv4e3xuyIDgbRCHgMJek28HEAi_lSW/s1600/Snowy+Egret+flying+Westport+6-7-14.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
And eagle-eye Dan Berard found a nice Piping Plover feeding outside the roped off area on the beach. We could never find any of the birds on the nest...but with their coloration among the rocks, it's a bit like looking for Waldo...and not finding him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqLIQHFQa7tcoFdTy1IM2kAe1Bod0H0s41lFW9WaH0O1cHpwEv1r1WfG_cvFpgNEW0U0uSuf1owXKuPF7CmdutD2kAT9bMi84gxvDFrNR3-8MMSV93x9HDEP41-lBTE_G-LR4Rr3IujvU/s1600/Piping+Plover+Westport+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqLIQHFQa7tcoFdTy1IM2kAe1Bod0H0s41lFW9WaH0O1cHpwEv1r1WfG_cvFpgNEW0U0uSuf1owXKuPF7CmdutD2kAT9bMi84gxvDFrNR3-8MMSV93x9HDEP41-lBTE_G-LR4Rr3IujvU/s1600/Piping+Plover+Westport+6-7-14.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
Everyone in the class got great looks at Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG1M1EYqo6EHbLuIbs3jegx3ytdmarVMiwbpPQ6mOz1xpDnFsqgvBuEBFs0TUOax2Gor-LLlUo5Wo8312MMrFzVOHRzCPYn0Bw-v9GYSLEjMPsmSgXILxKawvgxI4_ScI8-iBEm2Uxy6K/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Sparrow+Westport+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG1M1EYqo6EHbLuIbs3jegx3ytdmarVMiwbpPQ6mOz1xpDnFsqgvBuEBFs0TUOax2Gor-LLlUo5Wo8312MMrFzVOHRzCPYn0Bw-v9GYSLEjMPsmSgXILxKawvgxI4_ScI8-iBEm2Uxy6K/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Sparrow+Westport+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
And there were several occupied Tree Swallow nest boxes right next to the road.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W-MpVwJXsqQs5wGRl7yLppQq8NXtNz-3PPxkRdzyD_cvz53HluYV5e295RSEdiG6kHjvnPzX74W-4JpnJ3ejdY-V7xXHIgMCDMMwbK4XLUYrKBP3TEBzeCXveLj54NGHeaSQrllfY1jx/s1600/Tree+Swallow+Westport+6-7-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W-MpVwJXsqQs5wGRl7yLppQq8NXtNz-3PPxkRdzyD_cvz53HluYV5e295RSEdiG6kHjvnPzX74W-4JpnJ3ejdY-V7xXHIgMCDMMwbK4XLUYrKBP3TEBzeCXveLj54NGHeaSQrllfY1jx/s1600/Tree+Swallow+Westport+6-7-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
Of course, I was happy when I was finally able to get this Painted Skimmer perched....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFPZSMY1DHLYtHsanGkTG6RrKdFN46z3Yc4xkFtqg516lf9PI5WE1t6d2XxbtopjWjDqs1XwbrtSak67tEz0wiB_wKVY_qSKefHYCg6FbLt2_6HW2aH6iBPiOczkM9TjOHhwDypDqx9kA/s1600/Painted+Skimmer+Westport+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFPZSMY1DHLYtHsanGkTG6RrKdFN46z3Yc4xkFtqg516lf9PI5WE1t6d2XxbtopjWjDqs1XwbrtSak67tEz0wiB_wKVY_qSKefHYCg6FbLt2_6HW2aH6iBPiOczkM9TjOHhwDypDqx9kA/s1600/Painted+Skimmer+Westport+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
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...as well as this Zabulon Skipper right along the road! We originally assumed it was a Hobomock Skipper since we've never had a Zab this early. But in preparing for this blog, I questioned the id and Mark did some additional research and found that recently (only since 2008) Zabulon Skippers have been making early appearances in the Westport area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfoVEzCCNBRBUr1hb6Du8DEEFQK7SYjGgt_pgh_jcE3CMRmBKJmBcVgTJkn-qyB-seh1Rr8W8rupR6QYDlN2ByMXi5BAySgHhdgEvbywQu-Srl1WDh2Ji7tk_0ukDngOsKb6lEkAHZSyA/s1600/Hobomock+Skipper+Westport+6-7-14+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfoVEzCCNBRBUr1hb6Du8DEEFQK7SYjGgt_pgh_jcE3CMRmBKJmBcVgTJkn-qyB-seh1Rr8W8rupR6QYDlN2ByMXi5BAySgHhdgEvbywQu-Srl1WDh2Ji7tk_0ukDngOsKb6lEkAHZSyA/s1600/Hobomock+Skipper+Westport+6-7-14+%25283%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
And I was able to get shots of the underwing pattern confirming it was a Zabulon rather than a Hobomock Skipper. This is our earliest record of Zabulon Skipper from the Westport area...very exciting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHWF76zUfd5XvqNob0lpN5g1gv3LlCJ80cFkN7Vtu_lGufgNYqKDi5HNNSOZGgE_dkePrTa9yVqm4RbIz4AzJR6XVTmpEpQ3U4yfUmffW6r2jB6FLqoCgyN-nlEnKsmMleHLyQpsVo-Zs/s1600/Hobomock+Skipper+Westport+6-7-14+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHWF76zUfd5XvqNob0lpN5g1gv3LlCJ80cFkN7Vtu_lGufgNYqKDi5HNNSOZGgE_dkePrTa9yVqm4RbIz4AzJR6XVTmpEpQ3U4yfUmffW6r2jB6FLqoCgyN-nlEnKsmMleHLyQpsVo-Zs/s1600/Hobomock+Skipper+Westport+6-7-14+%25289%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
We traveled over to Acoaxet and pointed out the Chicken Monument to those riding with us before stopping at the first river overlook to check on birds. We were surprised to see that the Osprey platform right in the parking lot next to the river was occupied. For the last 2-3 years it was empty, so this must mean that all the prime real estate was already gone when this pair starting nesting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4GWkaD7jXMArWxpuiUmNM3k5qmOBWT5N2GksQBJucdiSwOLhah1XjFdK1-pPLdWa0NIMvuQ4QVVv0Qylasm_6kLpJvWZX2qNR6QkV5F0abn94wgvG7WKyhe-EsAUuQZK49TdRVLG0Gnq/s1600/Osprey+in+flight+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4GWkaD7jXMArWxpuiUmNM3k5qmOBWT5N2GksQBJucdiSwOLhah1XjFdK1-pPLdWa0NIMvuQ4QVVv0Qylasm_6kLpJvWZX2qNR6QkV5F0abn94wgvG7WKyhe-EsAUuQZK49TdRVLG0Gnq/s1600/Osprey+in+flight+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
Even though the female was already sitting tight on the nest, the male kept bring in sticks to build it up around her. And you can see that the male bird above is tagged.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iHbrwagt17bPGZmQHqv3QE2mEDDhV1SqHthV8aPcUrLUITB5Vtkbu8siE9s3sCtcnz_8B5nQK5tX6F9qYobOU4PecZlISNudge5pQHF8vNcs_OQhaUSF46yiTtJQ3tVCdHlujY2ktp7-/s1600/Osprey+on+nest+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iHbrwagt17bPGZmQHqv3QE2mEDDhV1SqHthV8aPcUrLUITB5Vtkbu8siE9s3sCtcnz_8B5nQK5tX6F9qYobOU4PecZlISNudge5pQHF8vNcs_OQhaUSF46yiTtJQ3tVCdHlujY2ktp7-/s1600/Osprey+on+nest+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Also had what I believe is a pruinose Eastern Forktail. May need to do more work to confirm ID since I think this seems a bit early to have a pruinose female...that's usually in older females.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPqCyGunlM2GrkXZo_S0P8EJtuB-moVVOzsv5iIeSeTGmj2YPr6rIYlavqHlQ2lsLCRolKo906Npm0FV6POzFH2IXuiwHjUZ6WhkXqPLjzOgPpuKpXYG51_c7WKKVfqs7dPmXnelrNktv/s1600/Eastern+Forktail+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPqCyGunlM2GrkXZo_S0P8EJtuB-moVVOzsv5iIeSeTGmj2YPr6rIYlavqHlQ2lsLCRolKo906Npm0FV6POzFH2IXuiwHjUZ6WhkXqPLjzOgPpuKpXYG51_c7WKKVfqs7dPmXnelrNktv/s1600/Eastern+Forktail+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
And everyone was excited to have a pair of Orchard Orioles gathering nesting material at the boat ramp as well. This male kept close watch on the female, who at one point flew up into the bottom part of the Osprey nest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGB3uYIHWx-VD9kkjFk0assOQPWPM_NNXpltN1y1ZDTivbvyTScZ4s3vfOfEBFWXzRcdX_Zeim0JJK6UY1P2vl8ViOBTSmWnfadRyBCBuZvooJHPBvrtH7s3Yq7yQ0KWqI8vHr9w19cbd/s1600/Orchard+Oriole+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGB3uYIHWx-VD9kkjFk0assOQPWPM_NNXpltN1y1ZDTivbvyTScZ4s3vfOfEBFWXzRcdX_Zeim0JJK6UY1P2vl8ViOBTSmWnfadRyBCBuZvooJHPBvrtH7s3Yq7yQ0KWqI8vHr9w19cbd/s1600/Orchard+Oriole+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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Warbler migration still seemed to be going on in Acoaxet. We had 11 species, including good numbers of Ovenbird, Black & White and Redstart, plus the usual suspects. Our surprises were Blackpoll, Northern Parula and Hooded Warblers! Unfortunately, all I managed to get photos of was this Catbird letting me know that I was on his territory.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AFC9KYF_CW1RXMtHR4HgaalalN9jngqnCK4HknLFc3wBiLhT8VqreU7g-iT4lkaxPpL7exRaD1w9YJ1k2pbwzzzI0XNjY7xuVL_NGoZUzpL-IRYJMDQkL_z2aov3ZaJr_69LZ1eq0kqF/s1600/Catbird+Acoaxet+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AFC9KYF_CW1RXMtHR4HgaalalN9jngqnCK4HknLFc3wBiLhT8VqreU7g-iT4lkaxPpL7exRaD1w9YJ1k2pbwzzzI0XNjY7xuVL_NGoZUzpL-IRYJMDQkL_z2aov3ZaJr_69LZ1eq0kqF/s1600/Catbird+Acoaxet+6-7-14.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had this very cool Common Angle moth...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw93SdxNv4nfASxZDYo9Kr6Xn8uLpbnW70_1qovjrOM7txgYfkvb7N_T2ZXep-JlEMlSYAvCTiANSHUo2mPEsWEO4RISwGomd7MQE7Y8kpyldpTWFHmDygns7hQqnzQSfkOmuudbOtNNFq/s1600/Common+Angle+moth+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw93SdxNv4nfASxZDYo9Kr6Xn8uLpbnW70_1qovjrOM7txgYfkvb7N_T2ZXep-JlEMlSYAvCTiANSHUo2mPEsWEO4RISwGomd7MQE7Y8kpyldpTWFHmDygns7hQqnzQSfkOmuudbOtNNFq/s1600/Common+Angle+moth+Acoaxet+6-7-14+%25283%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
..and this fresh-looking Spring Azure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuRZWNIRsBtiqeUjHE_5xfCXP7EwWsWGAJkkqA1YuPi-dTcx4Jtz4x_eGNK03a0nKmy9i2zKZ9-LM_V1fbtdLfRSlHGpNfleTjRobeO11gNMQOc3rghXzarNVe-937qBsm9f9EnME1VcK/s1600/Spring+Azure+Acoaxet+6-7-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuRZWNIRsBtiqeUjHE_5xfCXP7EwWsWGAJkkqA1YuPi-dTcx4Jtz4x_eGNK03a0nKmy9i2zKZ9-LM_V1fbtdLfRSlHGpNfleTjRobeO11gNMQOc3rghXzarNVe-937qBsm9f9EnME1VcK/s1600/Spring+Azure+Acoaxet+6-7-14.JPG" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
This American Lady, however, looked worse for wear....obviously this butterfly had either a rough winter or a rough migration. Just notice the amount of wing wear when you enlarge the photo.<br />
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All in all it was a great last class trip to a wonderful part of Massachusetts. We ended the Westport part of the trip with 86 species of birds, along with a great early butterfly and some good odonates. But we decided that driving back to Worcester we would stop for one last bird....the nesting Grasshopper Sparrows hanging on in Sutton not far off Rt. 146. Even though it was after 2 in the afternoon, this bird was perched up and singing quite close to the road so that we all got good looks.<br />
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A very nice way to end the class.</div>
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And now to get caught up on all the other trips we've been taken.</div>
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Enjoy......Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-4867304813190131752014-06-03T07:27:00.000-04:002014-06-03T08:36:43.305-04:00Class Trip #4 to Beartown SF ~ Saturday, 5/31We ended May with a wonderful class trip to the Berkshires to visit Beartown State Forest. We met at 7 and were back at our cars just after 2, having entered from Lee not far from the Mass Pike and coming back through Tyringham. Most of the park is in Great Barrington and Monterey, and we did a one-way drive through the major road with a very productive side-trip on the Mt. Wilcox loop.<br />
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This area has some fantastic habitat and quite varied too. As we drove in from Lee you're on a narrow mountain road that follows a stream all the way up -- which is where we heard Louisiana Waterthrush. This is Beartown Mountain Road and it eventually branches off to the left and you are on the main road through the park: Benedict Pond Road.<br />
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At this point you level off and you're in a wonderful area where the stream slows down and creates some marshy pools. When Mark & I were here the week before to check out the roads for the class trip we had some great odonates in this area...but we didn't have any this time.<br />
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We did have lots of Least Flycatchers calling and warbler song was still quite good.<br />
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We had great looks at Yellow Warblers chasing each other and setting up nesting territories...</div>
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...but by far the most common warbler of the trip was Chestnut-sided. This gave everyone a great opportunity to really listen (and hopefully learn) their call. It can be quite variable and sometimes sounds can be confused with the Yellow Warbler. Since Mark keeps exact numbers of what we're seeing and hearing, it wasn't surprising to find that when he did the tally we had 85 Chestnut-sideds just in Beartown!<br />
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We also had Common Yellowthroats...but they were overshadowed by the little gal above.<br />
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We stopped several times along Benedict Pond Road to let the class walk the road and check in the marshes for birds. Even at this high altitude we found a Wood Duck, a female Hooded Merganser and a Great Blue Heron.<br />
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And we found this pink form of Tartarian Honeysuckle ready to bloom.<br />
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Probably the most exciting bird for many on the trip was finding an Olive-sided Flycatcher. This bird used to breed in the state but is most often seen in migration only. We spent almost 20 minutes just watching him fly catch and got great looks through the scope so that everyone was able to identify the critical field marks.</div>
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As we started up the Mt. Wilcox loop the habitat changed a bit....more spruces along the forest brooks and we saw some nice wildflowers....like the Foamflower.<br />
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But clearly the dominant wildflower was the Wild Columbine....it was everywhere along the road.<br />
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We also started to get some looks at other breeding warblers...like this Black-throated Green Warbler<br />
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But probably the most impressive is this male Blackburnian Warbler. Everyone was thrilled with the looks they got at this guy, since these birds usually stay high up in the deep spruces and you don't always get looks at them out in sunny deciduous trees.<br />
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And as Mark was leading the class in looking at the birds, I started to find some dragonflies. It was interesting that most of the odes I saw were on the Mt. Wilcox loop road and in some of the higher forest clearings...like this young Chalk-fronted Corporal.</div>
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And I was thrilled to find an American Emerald....you can notice that its left forewing is a bit damaged. That's probably where a bird tried to catch him as he was emerging...or it may just be that when the wings were their softest right after he emerged that he got caught on a twig or something...they are extremely delicate when in the teneral stage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZgtDI5Yvu6i-3k4KzopA50FbIZMfhqqsZaXY9FLWS1tVYU4o2I1GAUqQ70lOYZK4K-F4JeoylbG1t3Zr307YwS0BAMPeHPmgYxa3H-eUMqCrC7nodKqIUJSwwDBYNmnNeoyj-HBldiaw/s1600/American+Emerald+%25231+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZgtDI5Yvu6i-3k4KzopA50FbIZMfhqqsZaXY9FLWS1tVYU4o2I1GAUqQ70lOYZK4K-F4JeoylbG1t3Zr307YwS0BAMPeHPmgYxa3H-eUMqCrC7nodKqIUJSwwDBYNmnNeoyj-HBldiaw/s1600/American+Emerald+%25231+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%252817%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's another American Emerald -- this one seemed like his wings were fully intact.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKKX5h2tN6-fCep2IjSVrBByouemkDjkecOBxjbf7xlNrKVs0JyYknNyYoRSpj7d-nXadD9gsvW4Go9GeLRpgFcKjjB7cADFiGyDERI70p_hDbfG78EC1_T5rWglnOV8HaUenmIHQQRpu/s1600/American+Emerald+%25232+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKKX5h2tN6-fCep2IjSVrBByouemkDjkecOBxjbf7xlNrKVs0JyYknNyYoRSpj7d-nXadD9gsvW4Go9GeLRpgFcKjjB7cADFiGyDERI70p_hDbfG78EC1_T5rWglnOV8HaUenmIHQQRpu/s1600/American+Emerald+%25232+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
I also got two quick shots of this young dragonfly. I've studied all my reference books and the best I can do is identify it to family -- it's a whiteface (even though you can't see the white face). But it will probably have to go down without the exact species...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dgvTcSX6uB2BoMjwIqyg_nH8GFAUSrj80yrcnHM011d4A7Bk3gg17Q8GH50_PzJy5ov7xXMjJlRQ7xV6__6pOBAxF7KG3XnyriY3kR8NDvXCqPOR7JHbuOdgw5nbUNcjb4fMIdlbDd5c/s1600/Possible+Banded+Whiteface+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dgvTcSX6uB2BoMjwIqyg_nH8GFAUSrj80yrcnHM011d4A7Bk3gg17Q8GH50_PzJy5ov7xXMjJlRQ7xV6__6pOBAxF7KG3XnyriY3kR8NDvXCqPOR7JHbuOdgw5nbUNcjb4fMIdlbDd5c/s1600/Possible+Banded+Whiteface+Beartown+SF+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
Unlike this young Dot-tailed Whiteface...where not only can you see the white face, but when I blow up the photography I can just make out the yellow dot on the proper place on the abdomen (the tail).<br />
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We also had some butterflies on the mountain road as well...like this American Lady feasting on the blossoms of an old apple tree.</div>
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At the top of Mt. Wilcox is a fire tower and some microwave relay equipment. It's also a great place to park and grab a bite to eat. This is a place where we've had Mourning Warblers migrating through in past years, but we weren't so lucky this year. We did have the usual suspects....Chestnut-sided and Common Yellowthroat warblers, Rufuous-side Towhees and Scarlet Tanagers..and Dan Berard found us this nesting Least Flycatcher.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwdVCy7IQBoVukyapDqh9w5ZOkxtVOc9Lx7fln25JJuQftq2zLl-AYH0KaukSC8VOfmhmZmoGWz9WjpJBKxXe4LT9KAhCurpjeQCVBATSw_-1-A0Rm_fJEQ4uA5ORsr9_RVPSRrhyZCKN/s1600/Least+Flycatcher+on+nest+Beartown+SF+tower+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwdVCy7IQBoVukyapDqh9w5ZOkxtVOc9Lx7fln25JJuQftq2zLl-AYH0KaukSC8VOfmhmZmoGWz9WjpJBKxXe4LT9KAhCurpjeQCVBATSw_-1-A0Rm_fJEQ4uA5ORsr9_RVPSRrhyZCKN/s1600/Least+Flycatcher+on+nest+Beartown+SF+tower+5-31-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
Now I can't imagine what possessed this little bird to pick a tree with no leaves or protection of any kind right out in the open...but there she was and we were able to put the scope on her and get great looks without getting close enough to disturb her.<br />
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We made a couple of more stops in Beartown as we wended our way out of the park and found this Hermit Thrush out on a dirt road picking up insects. We had seen lots of Veerys throughout the park and certainly heard them, but this was the only Hermit Thrush we managed to get looks at.<br />
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Once out of the park we went into the tiny town of Monterey and took the Tyringham Road back north so that we could check out some of our favorite birding spots in this wonderful valley.<br />
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The Appalachian Trail runs through the Tyringham valley and there's a great place where you can park along a dirt road through some fields and come to the old Town Pond.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hFncgSQY_BgiVk2x6Gg8pKagK2DqGH5I5Df175P2gYpTd_5484_OWNdWXmK_hnMDpC_MBWWAkjmbdS0Aw3KbRZjAs9Cb6o_kzZBWvhLkq-OiUAGkOXbddqk3_Vt2YNHD57GEgor2InyF/s1600/Eastern+Kingbird+Tyringham+5-31-14+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hFncgSQY_BgiVk2x6Gg8pKagK2DqGH5I5Df175P2gYpTd_5484_OWNdWXmK_hnMDpC_MBWWAkjmbdS0Aw3KbRZjAs9Cb6o_kzZBWvhLkq-OiUAGkOXbddqk3_Vt2YNHD57GEgor2InyF/s1600/Eastern+Kingbird+Tyringham+5-31-14+%25282%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Going through the fields we had Eastern Kingbirds and Bobolinks flying around....<br />
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...and the pond itself was alive with tadpoles -- like this teeny Spring Peepers. We didn't have any waterfowl on the pond, but everyone thought Mark would love this upside-down swan since they know just how much he loves finding Mute Swans on ponds...NOT.<br />
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We did have an Eastern Phoebe who was nesting under the dock in the middle of the pond. It was really a dark morph of this species and not one you often see.<br />
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Now no trip to Tyringham is complete until we stop at the cemetery on Church Road near the Cobble. Mark loves to show people the grave of Jean Brown who was a Tyringham resident. Ms. Brown was an avid collector of Surrealist and Dadaist art and counted Marcel Duchamp and other famous artists among her friends. Her grave is a simple granite obelisk with an eyeball metronome at the top....certainly not your usual grave site.<br />
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Our last stop of the trip was at the Wildlife Management Area along Meadow Road where we had a fantastic display of Ragged Robin...<br />
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...and found this very unusual moth!<br />
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It's called a Plain Plume Moth and definitely was odd when it flew and when it perched looking like a 'T'....I have to believe that their appearance is great camouflage since it looked like a piece of dried grass.<br />
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We were back at the car just after 2 and everyone jumped on the Pike and headed home. It's only about 90 minutes from Worcester to Exit 2 in the Berkshires, but it's such a different place to bird. We ended up with 72 species after 7 hours in the field....plus great wild flowers, Red Efts, tadpoles and, our course, dragonflies. Anyone passing through this area, should definitely carve out some time for a drive through Beartown -- it's totally worth a visit.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-61707329549250521832014-05-27T07:06:00.000-04:002014-05-27T16:48:40.896-04:00Class Trip #3 to Ware River Watershed ~ Saturday, May 24thWe had a small but fun class trip to Rutland State Park on Saturday. The weather started out so-so and that's why we decided to do a trip that could focus on migration but also keep us close to our cars just in case we had some rain. Since it was quite overcast we met at 7 (late for Mark & me) and our first stop was the marshy end of Long Pond where we had female Hooded Mergs sitting on the ducks boxes. We were hoping to see some ducklings pop out, but it didn't happen while we were there.<br />
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As we drive Prison Camp Road into the park we could hear Veerys and Ovenbirds at every stop. Interestingly, though, we didn't hear a lot of Red-eyed Vireos. We ended up with 75 species seen or heard for the morning trip. We had some nice examples of birds gathering nesting material, like the female Rose-breasted Grosbeak below....<br />
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....while the male "stood guard" nearby.<br />
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When we got to the marsh near the old prison camp we could hear lots of Least Flycatchers, but we also had a nice look at an Alder Flycatcher calling from the top of a tree. This was as we were listening to an American Bittern pump in the marsh.</div>
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And we got to watch several Bobolinks displaying over the fields there.<br />
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As we continued our trip we continued to hear Overbirds at almost every stop...although some of them were way too difficult to see. And when you could get a glimpse, invariably the bird was partially hidden behind branches.<br />
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We stopped by the pond on Reuben Walker Rd. to look for Bridled Shiners. Almost everyone got at least a fleeting glance at these little fish...which are listed as a species for special concern in MA. And thanks to Ellen Ruell we also got this interesting invertebrate out of the water. This insect is called a Backswimmer (Notonecta undulata) and they use their long back legs for "rowing" on their backs looking for small aquatic invertebrates to eat. Since they overwinter as adults and lay eggs in the spring, this is likely what this Backswimmer was doing out of the water. </div>
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Just at the junction of Rueben Walker and Coldbrook Roads we had a nice view of a Blue-winged Warbler, along with singing Indigo Bunting in the field and lots of Chestnut-sided Warblers. We followed the road up to Barre Falls Dam, where we found a Common Raven caching a recently-caught partially-eaten bird...most likely a Robin judging from the size.<br />
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We made several stops as we traveled south on Coldbrook and finally came out to Rt. 122 in Oakham. We decided to take one last hike before heading back to the cars so we parked and hiked into the section of the rail trail behind Muddy Pond. Since it was getting close to noon, we knew that bird song would soon be dropping off, but we managed to get a few Blackpolls still in the area, along with the regulars (Pine Warblers, Ovenbirds, Veerys) At the marsh we had Painted Turtles out on logs...<br />
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...and this Eastern Phoebe was still singing as well.<br />
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One of the more unusual sightings was this beaver completely out of the water and looking like he was preening. When we got home one of Mark's friends suggested he might have been out of the water so that he could re-coat himself with some of the oils secreted to keep himself water-resistant.<br />
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At this same spot we were able to watch a Black-capped Chickadee bringing food to his/her nest hole in a broken off dead stump. This bird was amazingly quiet as he approached the nest.<br />
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We had a nice Great Blue Heron suddenly step out from behind the beaver lodge while we were there as well.<br />
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We also got to watch a female Pine Warbler gathering nesting material. She was do quiet and discreet while the male stayed up in the pine trees on guard.<br />
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We got everyone back to their cars just shortly after 12 and realized that we had driven less than 12 miles to do this entire trip. It's amazing what you can see in a relatively well-defined area with great habitat....and the ears of Mark Lynch!</div>
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After the trip officially ended Mark & I decided to drive down Whitehall Road in the park and give a final look for odonates. We were rewarded with both Hudsonian Whiteface and Chalk-front Corporals. And I managed to get some good shots of the corporals.</div>
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We also had this little Flower Fly on a dandelion....which I could not get down to exact species. But it had a very interesting pattern.<br />
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All in a wonderful few hours in a very nice place close to home....and it didn't pour!</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-58657373170648620762014-05-20T17:47:00.001-04:002014-05-21T04:06:27.884-04:00MAS Class Trip #2 ~ Quaboag IBA, Sunday, May 18thWe had a morning-only trip with a few people from the class this past weekend. And it was a great trip! We met in Spencer at 6 a.m. and headed to Lake Quaboag, then down to Sturbridge to the heron rookery and a great walk in Wells State Park, then up to the Brookfields and back to Spencer.<br />
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At the rookery in Sturbridge we had 26 active nests...most in the early stages. You can just see the little bit of fluff in the nest that is one of the baby Great Blue Herons. We also had the Osprey fly off of the nest atop the microwave tower there. And lots of swallows and Yellow Warblers zipping around.<br />
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Our next stop was hiking the trail along the pond to the power lines in Wells SP, then up the power lines to check on the heron rookery there (we only saw 1 active nest) and then back through the wooded trail to the main road in the park and after a quick check for the Black Rat Snakes (we dipped) we headed back to the cars. It was a great walk and took us through some varied habitat. On the power lines we had our first Ruby-throated Hummingbird zip by and then perch up...</div>
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...plus a singing male Indigo Bunting. Notice how dark (almost black) the bird looks even when you click to enlarge the photo. That's because the amount of blue you see is directly related to how the sun hits the bird's feathers. I'm always amazed when Mark talks about if you were to take this bird in under artificial light that all you would see is a small black bird...no blue at all!<br />
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However, there were lots of other colorful birds to occupy us -- like this female Baltimore Oriole who was out gathering nesting material to weave her nest.<br />
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And this Prairie Warbler perched up and sang right in front of us.<br />
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Taking the trail back through the woods brought us lots of singing Ovenbirds, a Magnolia Warbler and some interesting plants....like this Nodding Trillium. This was the first time I can remember finding this species of plant...and it's beautiful.<br />
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We also had Jack-in-the pulpit which is always an interesting plant to study.<br />
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And while we looked for dragonflies, it was still a bit cool so we didn't have any. Now most of you know that any time I bird the Brookfields, especially in spring, I have to stop by the corrals at the miniature horse farm and see how many foals have been born and how the little ones are getting one. It's become a standing joke about how much Mark hates their cuteness, so I'm happy that Bobolinks are nesting in the field down the road, because I can always use that excuse....especially when leading a class trip!<br />
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However, I did promise to use only one shot from the frolicking foals, but it was really the little one on the left that was causing all the trouble until the older foal essentially told him to back off. In some of the subsequent photos we saw both of them trot off together....friends again.<br />
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Back on the birding trail, we drove to one of the entrances to Richardson's Wildlife Management Area -- this one on Devil's Elbow Road (love the name). The trail takes you through a great forest of white pines where we had Black-throated Green Warbler and a singing Winter Wren. The trail eventually comes out in some overgrown fields bordered by a marsh. It was a little quiet in the marsh, but we had tons of grasshoppers in the field. Every step seemed to put up 3 or 4. Finally on the way back I was able to track one down for a photograph. When I got home I identified it as a Northern Green-striped Grasshopper....thanks to Tom Murray's great guide to Insects of New England & New York. Since these guys overwinter as nymphs, they're out early in the spring and usually gone by mid-summer which is when you start to see other grasshoppers.<br />
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We also had a nice view of a singing Black & White Warbler....<br />
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...and the Ovenbirds were very territorial on the way back.<br />
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As we crossed the little stream in the woods, I finally spotted by first dragonfly of the day and was able to get everyone on the trip on it. It was another Hudsonian Whiteface. This side view lets you actually see the white face!<br />
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Our final stop for the day was a drive-through of the MAS property at Elm Hill where we had this Yellow Warbler building her nest. She flew in and out several times while we were watching, working very diligently on the nest construction. Since it was rather in a visible spot, it'll be interesting to check back in a couple of weeks and see how she's making out.<br />
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We were back at the cars in Spencer just after noon....so this truly was a morning-only trip. I think the 5 of us who went were all still recuperating from having done bird-a-thon the day before. But more about that in another post.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-13598081807627291462014-05-16T03:41:00.003-04:002014-05-16T06:25:49.911-04:00Warbler Fest at Hope Cemetery ~ Wednesday, May 14thSince I had a late-morning appointment, we decided to check out the Worcester cemeteries to see how migration was going. We spent a great 2 hours in Hope Cemetery in the southwest corner of Worcester. We had big movements of warblers, with numbers of Magnolias and Northern Parula leading the pack. But we also had a Wilson's, Northern Waterthrush, a number of Blackpolls and lots of Redstarts as well. Plus Mark thought he heard a Hooded Warbler but didn't count it since he wasn't 100% positive. Oh, and the Killdeer had 3 babies running around and Baltimore Orioles were calling all over. <br />
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But before we even left the house, we noticed a beautiful Indigo Bunting in our backyard. We had just been commenting that we still hadn't seen an Indigo Bunting in all our travels...and there he is in a small backyard in the city of Worcester.<br />
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We had Baltimore Orioles calling high up in the canopy, but this beautiful male was actually flying around fairly low and sat still long enough for me to get a shot.</div>
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With the foliage coming out more every day, I was lucky that this Magnolia Warbler was in one of the oaks; otherwise, I'm not sure I would have gotten a decent shot...they just constantly keep moving at this time of the year.</div>
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And finally a nicely-plumaged spring Blackpoll Warbler. Mark was pointing out that most of my photographs of Blackpolls are in fall plumage which is so drab and different from their spring pattern. I thought I was going to have to go out to Mount Greylock where they breed to find a spring bird to photograph. But with a little patience and luck this guy stopped feeding long enough for me to get a couple of shots.<br />
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And the female warblers were definitely migrating in Wednesday morning...although I think the Yellow Warblers are actually gathering their nesting material already since they've been back for weeks.<br />
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And one of our later spring migrants -- this nice male Wilson's Warbler.<br />
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Really, how can anyone look at warblers and not be impressed with them. All you have to do is look at a Northern Parula with his blue-gray colors and that bright yellow throat with just a little orange going down the breast and you go "WOW"....or at least I do.<br />
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I've been very lucky this spring -- I think I've gotten some of my best photographs of spring warblers this year. Of course this means that when it comes to picking just one photograph for my calendar for next May I'm going to have a very hard time.....</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-70497112736954130692014-05-15T05:29:00.000-04:002014-05-15T05:40:56.049-04:00Rutland State Park ~ Monday, May 12thSpent a great morning birding somewhat close to home....Rutland State Park which is part of the Ware River Watershed. Our route was pretty simple: we drove in Prison Camp Road, did Reuben Walker Road, then up to Barre Falls Dam, including the loop below the dam, and then back down Coldbrook Road to Rt. 122. We then checked a section of the rail trail behind Muddy Pond and finished up with the dirt road that goes in by Muddy Pond and comes out in the park near the beach.<br />
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The first bird we heard was an Ovenbird, but there were so many of them we actually started an experiment to see if there was anywhere we would go where we were out of earshot of one. We also had some great looks. We ended up with a total of 138 Ovenbirds seen or heard Monday morning! Since we there quite early we also had some thrushes calling -- just as we entered the park we had a singing Swainson's Thrush...very nice and we had our first Wood Pewee.<br />
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Near the big marsh at the prison camp site we heard the American Bittern pumping again. It's nice to know this bird is back on breeding territory, as are the Bobolinks. I snapped this photo of two male Bobolinks using this poor Tree Swallow's nest box as their perch for calling and displaying. I can imagine that the Tree Swallow inside was not happy.<br />
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This area was also covered with both Yellow and Chestnut-sided Warblers. And there were good numbers of Least Flycatchers there as well.<br />
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As we drove down Reuben Walker we came across 4 Bluejays in the road. After a few seconds one of the birds flew off with nesting material, then another and the two remaining birds appeared to be gathering nesting material as well. Since these guys don't usually build communal nests, Mark thought it may have been an example of the previous year's young acting as "helpers" around this year's nest. They are so secretive, though, we've never actually seen them at the nest.</div>
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I thought this little Chipmunk just looked cute checking us out as we drove by.<br />
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And the big stand of Purple Trillium on Coldbrook Road was in full bloom when we passed it as well.<br />
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After getting back on Rt. 122 we decided to hike on the rail trail a bit, mainly to check on some of the ponds and bogs looking for dragonflies. We had this very cooperative Gray-cheeked Thrush out catching insects. He would work along the low bushes bordering the ponds and then fly out onto the path to pick up insects and then fly back into the bushes. There was a Common Yellowthroat doing the exact same thing along the trail too. Both birds eventually flew off when some bicyclists came by.<br />
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We also had a number of Pine Elfins along the trail....<br />
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...and another Brown Elfin.<br />
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All the time I'm keeping my eyes peeled for odes. Mark was a bit ahead of me since I was photographing the elfins when he yelled that a dragonfly was coming down the rail trail right towards me. Sure enough this this dragonfly zipped past and kept going. Judging from the shimmery wings it appeared to be a young odonate (teneral) and even though I started running after him, it didn't look like I would see him if he landed.<br />
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Suddenly out of nowhere a Yellow Warbler flew out of the side of the trail and snatched the dragonfly from the air and all I could do was keep running and yell at the warbler to "drop it". Actually I think I added some unprintable expletive in my state of distress. Whatever I did it worked! The startled Yellow Warbler dropped the ode and took off back into the trees from whence he came. Now to see if the odonate was still alive and, hopefully, identify it.<br />
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I took a couple of photographs as some bicyclists were approaching and then we decided that we should try to move him to a safe place off the rail trail so he could recover without getting run over....or having that Gray-cheeked Thrush come out and pick him off.<br />
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Since this was a newly-emerged ode I knew I would have to wait to get home to attempt any id, so I just focused on taking lots of photographs quickly and of as many angles as I could get. We placed the insect on a deciduous tree, hoped for the best and left. And I think I muttered something like "damn warblers" as we walked away. Thanks to my friend, and odonate expert Dave Small, turns out that this little guy is a Four-spotted Skimmer....and my first photograph of this species.<br />
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Feeling quite exhilarated we decided to check one more good boggy pond in hopes of finding more odes so we drove down Whitehall Road back into the park. Within a few minutes of walking the road there Mark found another dragonfly and we were able to get it perched.<br />
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As I photographed it from the side I noticed the white face and hoped it was the Hudsonian Whiteface we had been searching for....flies early in the spring and I don't have a record of having seen one yet.<br />
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Suddenly there was a second one flying but that one perched for only a few seconds before flying off and we lost it. After checking the guides at home I decided it was the Hudsonian Whiteface and I posted the pics on the Northeast Odonata webpage on Facebook and got it confirmed.</div>
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Whew...we are now cooking in this ode season and I couldn't be happier. It'll only get better from here on out as more and more species start flying. Plus I get to enter two new species from Monday into the new Access database I created for keeping track of odonate sightings...Life Is Good! Oh and we had 81 bird species on this morning trip, including 19 species of beautiful (although potential dragonfly-eating) warblers.</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-71551030114879563432014-05-14T04:34:00.000-04:002014-05-14T04:34:48.057-04:00Otter River State Forest ~ Sunday, May 11thSpent a great morning in northern Worcester County at Otter River SF and then came home via Petersham where we made stops at Tom Swamp and the Women's State Forest. Obviously hoping for early odonates, but just as satisfied with some great bird and butterfly sightings. We got to Otter River just before 7 and after driving through the empty parking lot took the left down one of the dead-end dirt roads. We passed the old cemetery and stopped at the two ponds just before the gated road ends. <br />
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Besides a pair of Eastern Kingbirds and our first-of-the-year sighting of Snapping Turtle, we had a nice showing of shorebirds. We had about a dozen Least Sandpipers, several breeding Spotted Sandpipers and quite a few Solitary Sandpipers.<br />
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We then started driving our "normal route" of dirt roads and heard this Mourning Warbler singing. Interestingly, it was exactly in the same spot that we had one last year, but that bird was found in early June not May 11th. This definitely seems to be an early sighting...at least for us. </div>
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It was interesting to note how little the vegetation was out compared to southern Worcester County.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbyXM2tYhyGngpiLoiTgXzf4pgNcnNTTI9sy17pGk9bq7hTg5dTK6A0nAuIZU-wr_YN4gz67LqU65Y0AOt_QaORr95s4BElIf3DLC74YTzgAf7ZrG2BFux6DKK5XWUjPMx7oqAEtheLu5/s1600/Otter+River+SP+5-11-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbyXM2tYhyGngpiLoiTgXzf4pgNcnNTTI9sy17pGk9bq7hTg5dTK6A0nAuIZU-wr_YN4gz67LqU65Y0AOt_QaORr95s4BElIf3DLC74YTzgAf7ZrG2BFux6DKK5XWUjPMx7oqAEtheLu5/s1600/Otter+River+SP+5-11-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
And this female Tree Swallow (there was a male nearby) wasn't even on the nest yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJACz0vffoSqcvvAWy_-bAS_DfpggZ33xmQ9zkLfCQ7QJ5sY_yEnsYrw3saX5tweh8bbmnRU8z4hK7evzXFCL2-fJeCQlSValKEJafGb1rSe5ZKIt4Hb1fqkALx6AQV2Zz_QKEYYEyS4yP/s1600/Tree+Swallow+female+Otter+River+5-11-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJACz0vffoSqcvvAWy_-bAS_DfpggZ33xmQ9zkLfCQ7QJ5sY_yEnsYrw3saX5tweh8bbmnRU8z4hK7evzXFCL2-fJeCQlSValKEJafGb1rSe5ZKIt4Hb1fqkALx6AQV2Zz_QKEYYEyS4yP/s1600/Tree+Swallow+female+Otter+River+5-11-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
We had a huge showing of butterflies. Besides the Spring Azures and a few Mourning Cloaks, we had our first Juvenal's Duskywing....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPpkbxXp-TAdqNEjMz_UgHubMG2gPXE26UoYcrg2JhAEF3LxKWjHZ3l-nfzkAeT_EhA4-O4bsYQ9mzqw-tk9p1xouO4-rmfFxG4mjVGNQ2vqEHnC8vy09UM3rPLMO0vjAyHCsCuDunynG/s1600/Juvenile%2527s+Duskywing+Otter+River+5-11-14+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPpkbxXp-TAdqNEjMz_UgHubMG2gPXE26UoYcrg2JhAEF3LxKWjHZ3l-nfzkAeT_EhA4-O4bsYQ9mzqw-tk9p1xouO4-rmfFxG4mjVGNQ2vqEHnC8vy09UM3rPLMO0vjAyHCsCuDunynG/s1600/Juvenile%2527s+Duskywing+Otter+River+5-11-14+%25284%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
...and lots of Pine Elfins. In fact this year I seem to be seeing this little guys in many more places than I remember for previous years. Although when I got home and checked previous photos, Otter River and Rutland State Park certainly had them in good numbers.<br />
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But this was my first photo (at least with digital) of Brown Elfin...and we had quite a few.<br />
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Although this Henry's Elfin was a "life" butterfly for us. We only saw one and I didn't get the greatest of shots, but the wing pattern with the white at either end of the margin is a definitive field mark.<br />
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Mark was in his element having the opportunity to rescue at least 3 different snakes. Since it was a little cool to start the day we found them out sunning on the dirt roads and it warmed up. Unfortunately, that makes me a total wreck driving, since I'm afraid I will run one over...which I have in the past. Luckily, for both me and the snake, Mark has an uncanny ability to spot these things quite a ways off.</div>
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This young Ribbon Snake was particularly troublesome. When we first came across him, he was sunning himself in the road, and as soon as Mark tried to pick him up he moved off quickly. Since we were on a dead-end side road in the state forest, we came back about 20 minutes later and he was out in almost the exact same spot. This time Mark was able to pick him up so that I could photograph the two of them for Mark's project -- wants to be photographed holding every reptile and amphibian in New England. So this was a new add for that project!<br />
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While we had lots of Painted Turtles, and this nice Bullfrog, at the Beaver Pond, we did not have any of the early odonates. Great habitat for Ringed Boghaunter though.<br />
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We did have this nice Six-spotted Tiger Beetle near the pond and searched for other invertebrates...but no luck,<br />
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After stopping below Birch Hill Dam and getting more Pine Elfins and an Osprey, we headed south to make a stop at Tom Swamp in Petersham...again hoping for butterflies and dragonflies.<br />
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We had several Pine Elfins and lots of Spring Azures. Most of the azures we were seeing were the violacea form. We also had this little moth called the Bluish Spring Moth everywhere. At first we thought we were seeing a really tiny azure, but it was actually a moth. I'm so used to thinking of most moths as being nocturnal, rather than out flying around during the day.<br />
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Even though it was getting towards mid-afternoon, there were still warblers calling. This Common Yellowthroat was definitely on territory, while we still had Ovenbirds, Pine and a Nashville all in the area.<br />
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We decided to check out the Women's Federated State Forest nearby and found this little Ovenbird walking down the road.<br />
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I hear far more than I ever see of this bird, so to find one on the road (acting more like a thrush) was a treat. You sometimes see them walking quietly on the forest floor, but not usually so out in the open.<br />
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We did have a good number of thrushes in the SF as well, including this nice Swainson's Thrush. In fact, we also had a Gray-checked Thrush, but I wasn't able to get a good shot of him. We surmised that there must have been a little thrush movement overnight, since we had 5 species in this one parcel.<br />
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We got home just after 4, having been out since before 6 a.m......it was a long and fun day in a beautiful part of Central Mass. Oh, and when I got home there had been a flower delivery sitting on the front porch (for who knows how long) It was a lovely tulip bouquet from my grandchildren for Mother's Day and they're still making me smile. Really who could ask for more....</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-35066390831489990142014-05-12T13:53:00.000-04:002014-05-12T13:53:20.139-04:00First Class Trip ~ Quabbin, Saturday, May 10thMark is teaching a 4-week class on spring migration for Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook and we had our first class trip yesterday to south Quabbin. There were 10 of us on the trip and even though it was raining when we met at the Administration Building at 7:30 we had a great warbler show. Right from the parking lot we had 14 species of warblers, including a Cerulean. And a group of White-crowned Sparrows. This is exactly the weather Mark had hoped for...rain overnight to put the birds down and then a gray start to the day to keep them down for viewing. Unfortunately, it was quite foggy at the dam, though, so we weren't able to do much looking at the water.<br />
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We made a stop at the spillway to check on the Ravens, and as expected the nest was empty. When we were here a week ago the birds looked like they would be gone from the nest within a day or two tops. One bird was so ready to go that he was sitting on the edge of the nest and flapping his wings....I think he was probably out of there that day.<br />
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As we proceeded up the hill from the spillway we came across more warblers. The rain had let up and the fog was slowly moving up the hill. We were concerned that once it cleared, things would definitely move on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifszmwDYoRM1MxyREdz7vj025SShm_5zEUhVcG1Wsu-VNiP2hnKo2ZiXvH3LwmbtfPcLt_LYCf_zNUnAZ0nw0VgfSBJxzFYYZ1sTiRn7FMtDpCxXkq-jc_WT7Ug0DCP6s8nTrTxjmNi-YB/s1600/Wood+Thrush+South+Quabbin+5-10-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifszmwDYoRM1MxyREdz7vj025SShm_5zEUhVcG1Wsu-VNiP2hnKo2ZiXvH3LwmbtfPcLt_LYCf_zNUnAZ0nw0VgfSBJxzFYYZ1sTiRn7FMtDpCxXkq-jc_WT7Ug0DCP6s8nTrTxjmNi-YB/s1600/Wood+Thrush+South+Quabbin+5-10-14.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
We had several Wood Thrush singing and took some time to find one and make sure everyone in the class got a good look. These birds can always be a little tricky to find. We also had a few more White-crowns at the big overlook just below the Tower. Below is a distant shot of one of the birds...they were all adults. I think I went through all of last year seeing only immatures in the fall so this was a treat.<br />
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There were lots of Overbirds calling, but I think the American Redstart was the No. 2 warbler call of the morning. And all we saw were males.<br />
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Of course the Chipping Sparrows were quite obvious as well. We hoped we would have the chance to compare the call of the Chipping with a Worm-eating Warbler, but no luck on that front.<br />
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Thanks to Phyllis Pollack for finding us some blooming Columbine. It definitely seemed to be a bit early to have this flower fully in bloom...but there it was on the rocky hillside just below the Winsor Memorial.<br />
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When we reached the Tower, it was pretty obvious that we weren't going to spend much time birding there....so we treated it as a great bathroom stop. We didn't even have any Prairies singing, which was a bit surprising.<br />
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We did make a side detour to the old apply orchard and the Black-capped Chickadees were definitely favoring Ellen Ruell as a feeding station over the other folks. We were trying to figure out whether it was the brown clothing, the position or whether they really just preferred Ellen.<br />
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We headed south and made stops along the road and at Hank's Meadow and picked up a few more warbler species, but it was clearing fast and as predicted the birds were definitely starting to dwindle. We had a nice sighting of a Blue-winged Warbler just north of the Goodnow Dike and even got the bird in the scope so some of the class got really great looks. Since Mark had advertised this as a "morning only" trip we did break just after noon and some folks had commitments so they departed. There were a few of us who still wanted to check out the fish hatchery and marsh on Rt. 9 so we headed back through Quabbin Park.<br />
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We especially wanted to check out a report that Scott Surner, who was also leading a class trip, had a Hooded Warbler just north of Enfield Lookout. We spent about 15 minutes but the bird didn't reappear, so we headed out to the fish hatchery.<br />
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We had some great looks at both Eastern Kingbird and Pine Warbler at the far end of the hatchery near the aeration ponds.<br />
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We also had an interesting sighting of a mating pair of American Toads moving across the road the separates the two aeration ponds. In fact, there were mating toads in both ponds as well.....and they were all doing their trilling call. On the way back up along the fish sloughs, we noticed a couple of toads that had gotten through the fish netting and were stuck in the cement troughs. In fact the photo below was snapped just before the toad squeezed through a hole and plopped into the water.<br />
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Remember this is a trout hatchery, so the water is going to be quite cold. And with steep cement sides to the trough there really isn't a way for the toads to climb back out once they're in there. Sure enough one of the workers came by with a long-handled net and Mark asked him to fish out the 3 toads we could see. One looked like it might be a little too late, but after a few minutes warming up in Mark's hands he started to move around again. So we had this little toad rescue adventure while we were birding the fish hatchery. Oh and we had a Killdeer near the aeration ponds as well....and as expected.<br />
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Our last official stop of the trip was the marsh on Rt. 9 between the first 2 entrances to Quabbin. We took the little path through the woods and from the east side of the marsh near the beaver dam we had a female Hooded Merganser fly into one of the new duck boxes they've installed. Now when I'm at a marsh like that you know I'm going to be looking for dragonflies....still searching for my first one of this year. And sure enough I found a newly-emerged damselfly perched on a tiny twig. You have to realize that this gal is about the length of my pinky but much more slender. I was able to get a couple of decent shots and when I got home tentatively identified it as a teneral (young) Eastern Forktail female. I posted the photo on the Northeast Odonata website and got the id confirmed. So now I can relax....the dragonflies and damselflies are really going to come out.</div>
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It was a great first trip for the class. We had 83 species of birds, including 19 species of warblers...and of course 1 specie of damselfly!<br />
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Enjoy....Sheila<br />
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-9057630324336694002014-05-10T05:53:00.000-04:002014-05-10T05:53:24.175-04:00Morning Walk in Oxbow ~ Wednesday, May 7thSince we both had work commitments for Wednesday afternoon, we only had time for a short trip so we decided to check out the water levels at Bolton Flats and Oxbow. We wanted to check whether or not you could get into the parking lot at Bolton Flats and also whether you could do the entire loop at Oxbow since we have a class trip coming up to this area. We knew we would spend most of our time at Oxbow since we had two targets -- seeing a Blanding's Turtle and, of course, our first dragonfly of the year.<br />
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We we reached Bolton Flats we were delighted to be able to drive into the parking area on Rt. 117 with no problem. We did have to step through some water just before the flooded fields, but even with regular hiking boots, we just got a bit wet. And the fields were incredibly active -- we had both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Least and Pectoral Sandpipers, Killdeer and Snipe. We also had both Great Egret and Great Blue Heron. And well over a hundred Green-winged teal.<br />
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We also found this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher building a nest right above the path. The pair were constantly flying back and forth bringing in pieces of lichen for the nest. We moved off a bit so that we would disturb the birds as they were being very industrious. There wasn't a huge movement of warblers...<br />
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though we did have two different Northern Waterthrushes making their sharp chip in the tangles where the stream comes through. I really wanted to try to get a photo, so as Mark walked further down the path I stood very quietly and waited.<br />
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Within a few minutes it became apparent what the waterthrush was chipping about...this Long-tailed Weasel came bounding out of the tangle and crossed the road within 10 feet of where I was standing. I think both he and I were surprised at each other's appearance. <br />
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Unfortunately, Mark didn't get to see him so he had to wait til we got home and he could see the photo. To be honest I thought the photo was going to be too blurry to even identify...but another case of being lucky. We decided to move on to Oxbow, but not before we had both American Bittern and Virginia Rail calling.</div>
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At Oxbow we were greeted again by gnatcatchers, but we also had this Veery working the major road and eventually flying up to pose in a nearby tree. And we had a nice chorus of Yellow-rumped and Black & White Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Great Crest Flycatcher and a number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.</div>
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At the first major turn we headed off to the left and followed the Riverside Trail to see if we would be able to get through...and we were. Once we turned back on the Turnpike Trail we knew we would be able to complete the loop without doubling back. There were some nice spring flowers out along this trail, including large patches of Wood Anemones and a few of these plants. They are Wild Oats, but I prefer to use their alternate name -- Sessile Bellwort. It just sounds more official somehow.<br />
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We also started to see butterflies like this Eastern Coma -- our first of the year.<br />
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And while I've seen and photographed lots of Spring Azures this year, it's always nice to be able to catch one showing the upper wings since they usually fold them when they land. <br />
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Since one of our target species was the very uncommon (and state protected) Blanding's Turtle, we stopped to check out every sizable pool, especially those where we had turtles basking as the morning got warmer. Unfortunately, all we were seeing were Painted Turtles.<br />
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Then suddenly right in front of us was a Blanding's Turtle which had come out of the slough on the north side of the trail and was tangled trying to get across to the bigger water on the south side. Mark tried to clear a path but this guy looked exhausted so he picked the turtle out of the tangles and moved him to where he had a clearer path to the water. As you can see, the shape of these turtles is very different than the Painted. Their shell is more like a flat German-type helmet. Also you know this guy has been around for a while by the notches on the back of the shell. We took some close photos of the notches so that we could send them into Natural Heritage, since there the ones who are following this population and will be able to determine exactly which turtle this is by the notch marks they made on the turtle's shell.<br />
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We didn't want to stress this guy out so we moved off and he started to head off to the water...and all 3 of us were very happy with that outcome. Believe it or not, this may be my first-ever photo of a Blanding's Turtle. It certainly is my first digital photograph and I don't think I was ever able to get great slides prior to going digital in 2008.<br />
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We also had our first good looks at Pine Elfins. We had at least 6 different individuals along the Turnpike Trail and when we turned back onto the Tank Trail. As we were studying this guy we saw 3 folks approaching us with nets and since we weren't sure what they were doing (although we thought we knew) we decided to move off and leave the butterfly alone.<br />
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Turns out they were out looking for DRAGONFLIES! And they weren't having great luck. I'm not great at remembering people's names, but the woman (I think it was Sue) was from Natural Heritage and Mark and she spent some time talking about the Blanding's we had just see and getting a sense of the best places to look for odes.</div>
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Unfortunately, time ran out on us and we had to leave.....again without a dragonfly sighting!</div>
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But we did have a great experience with the Blanding's Turtle, so I can't really complain. I know this upcoming weekend will be THE weekend I get my first odenate of the year.</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-38994634786046002262014-05-06T18:48:00.000-04:002014-05-06T20:06:47.827-04:00A Productive Two Hours at the Worcester CemeteriesWe spent about 2 hours this morning birding Hope Cemetery and then popped over to All Faith's Cemetery to check on migration there. Here are some shots I was lucky enough to get...<br />
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Baltimore Orioles were chattering this morning<br />
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This Northern Flicker flew into the tree right in front of us...and he just stayed there frozen. We walked away and he stayed<br />
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American Redstarts were calling from a number of spots in the cemetery. Just saw males; no females back yet.<br />
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Probably the most numerous warbler was Northern Parula. It seemed every tree had one singing. In fact when we got home at about 9:30 there was one singing from a tree in front of our house...these little guys certainly seem comfortable migrating through the city.<br />
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We had a Palm Warbler who flew in from the Middle River and almost hit Mark before he just landed on the ground in front of a gravestone and started to pick for insects.<br />
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A Prairie Warbler feeding in pine trees is not your usual habitat....but that's exactly what this one in Hope Cemetery was doing.<br />
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At All Faith's Cemetery (aka the Swedish Cemetery) I had this Black & White Warbler come in to some spishing. The place was loaded with Yellow-rumped Warblers and many of them were feeding on the ground like sparrows.<br />
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We had a Nashville Warbler as well, but I couldn't get a shot of him as he moved from tree to tree. Along the way, though, I had this Warbling Vireo pop into view....always nice to get an unexpected photograph.<br />
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And of course what would Leesville Pond be without a nesting Mute Swan. The mate of this bird came over to me in defensive posture, but I wash quite far away so he really didn't bother with me.<br />
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Our count of warblers for a brief walk in two city cemeteries totaled 16 species...a very productive outing indeed.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-81943683552804158272014-05-06T06:44:00.000-04:002014-05-06T06:44:52.297-04:00Migration is ON Since this is the first post of May, it's fitting that I can use it to say SPRING HAD ARRIVED! We spent the last 4 days birding several Worcester County spots (never heading to the coast nor further west than south Quabbin,) and I can tell you that migration is definitely happening. On Friday we birded the Ware River IBA (Important Bird Area) which included Rutland State Park and the Barre Falls Dam area. Saturday we poked around Oxbow NWR. Sunday we started out for Quabbin, but got side tracked in Spencer and ended up spending some great time at Howe State Park, Wells SP and Sturbridge. Finally we got out to south Quabbin yesterday and confirmed that warblers were definitely moving through. We had 18 different species of warblers in south Quabbin alone!<br />
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The beaver pond marsh on Longmeadow Brook had Wood Ducks and lots of Grackles setting up their breeding territory.<br />
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Surprisingly, we had a group of 7 Wood Ducks foraging in the road. This is not how we usually see Wood Duck. Yet it was the second time in a week that we had them feeding on land like Canada Geese.<br />
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At the big marsh near the prison camp site, we heard American Bittern calling. I got down pretty close to the marsh, but was never able to get a sighting. I had my first decent look at a Yellow Warbler though.<br />
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And we had an Eastern Kingbird put in near the brook crossing. Since flycatchers migrate during the day rather than at night like other passerines we're not sure if this was going to stay to breed or whether he was just passing through.<br />
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We had a number of Hermit Thrushes moving through as well....some were silent and some were singing their wonderful flute-like song.<br />
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Still looking for our first dragonfly (don't ask!) we stopped by little vernal pools and small ponds. Mark brought along his net to do some ponding and this Red-spotted Newt swan in his net. Looks like a pregnant female, which we immediately released back into her pond.<br />
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We did some hawk-watching at Barre Falls Dam and between 9:30-10 we had a couple of small kettles of Broad-wings along with 2 Ospreys and a handful of Turkey Vultures pass over. We also had the adult Ravens who breed nearby...probably out getting food for the young that must be almost fledged.<br />
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On Gilbert Road we stopped to check on some egg masses we had seen the previous week. As you can see they are quite well-developed and will probably be hatched tadpoles within another week.<br />
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We stopped in one of our favorite Barre cemeteries to check for possible butterflies and odenates. And while we did have a Cabbage White, we didn't get any elfins on the Pussytoes that were blooming all over the cemetery.<br />
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Springs flowers were definitely starting to pop up everywhere though. We had our first Bluets....<br />
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...and a wonderful showing of Bloodroot in Rutland State Park.....<br />
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...along with a few Purple Trillium.<br />
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As we were leaving the park, I got my first photo of the year of a nice male Rose-breasted Grosbeak squeeking high up in a tree. <br />
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On Saturday we headed to Oxbow for the morning. This is such a great place for Blue-gray Gnatchers, and we were greeted by several pairs right along the Tank Road.<br />
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At the pond we surprised a beaver out on land, who immediately dove into the water and started to swim away....<br />
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...but not without giving us the customary tail slap to let us know that we were the trespassers.<br />
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Along with the gnatcatchers, Catbirds had moved back in force as well.<br />
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And we could hear Overbirds singing everywhere. I was bound and determined to track down one of the singing Overbirds, but it was extremely difficult in that these little warblers tend to be some ventriloquial. <br />
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Common Yellowthroats had finally made an appearance as well.<br />
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We had some patches of Bloodroot at Oxbow, and along Rt. 117 near the farm fields adjacent to Bolton Flats we had another early spring wildflower -- Wood Anemone.<br />
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One of my favorites is the Trout Lily....and we found a huge patch along Rt. 117 in Lancaster as well. <br />
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Sunday we planned to head out to Quabbin to see if warblers and other migrants were moving through the valley in force yet. Fortunately, as we were driving out to Spencer we heard several Louisiana Waterthrush signing along some fast-running streams. So we decided to stay really local and bird Spencer and Wells SP in Sturbridge. As soon as we hit Howe Pond we could hear several singing Louisiana Waterthrush. The one below sounded quite close to a path so I decided to try for a photograph. Now if you think Ovenbirds are ventriloquial, these birds are tied. I think the Winter Wren is probably the champ at it though.<br />
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We have two waterthrushes here in MA, and this guy is the earlier arrival. We ended up with a total of 12 birds for the day. This is our best daily count ever of Louisiana Waterthrush. We also had great numbers of Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers moving through....and more Ovenbirds. Our first Baltimore Orioles were chattering high up in the trees along Cranberry Meadow Road. And most birds were feeding and moving through at a good pace.<br />
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Being in Spencer we decided to check out the nesting Ravens to see if the nestlings survived all the torrential rains of the last week. There appeared to be two birds in the nest (there could be a third tucked down low) and one of the parents was sitting nearby making sure I wasn't doing anything untoward. A few quick shots to document the successful nesting and I left these guys along.</div>
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With so much focus on songbirds during migration, it's important to remember that shorebirds are moving back north as well. This Solitary Sandpiper was walking along a beaver dam in a small pond in Spencer. There was another one in the back of the pond, along with a pair of Ring-necked Ducks....probably the last of those birds we'll see this spring.<br />
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With all the fishermen out in boats at both South Pond and Quaboag we didn't have any unusual waterbirds at the bigger bodies of water. We did have this male Eastern Bluebird near Rice Pond in East Brookfield.<br />
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We also had two Painted Turtles trying to cross the road after laying eggs near the same pond. Unfortunately, we found a Banded Watersnake that didn't make it across the road in the same spot...along with a dead turtle. The snake wasn't quite dead so we moved it off the road so it could die in a more natural spot. I don't know why people have to speed along so they can't let these animals make it safely across. We found another dead turtle and a dead Garter Snake in the area as well. All Mark kept muttering was "too many people." Once the wind picked up incredibly we had to call it quits since anything that was in the area was laying low.<br />
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On Monday we headed out early to Quabbin, knowing that the wind was going to be a problem again, and we wanted to see how migration was progressing closer to the Connecticut River as well. As soon as we entered Quabbin Park (south Quabbin) from the easternmost entrance we could hear Ovenbirds calling everywhere. We also had lots of Pine Warblers, but they had been back from a few weeks and this is prime breeding habitat for them.<br />
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At the parking area near the road down to Goodnow Dike we had our first wave. We had Blue-headed Vireo, Magnolia, Black & White, Black-throated Blue, Pine and Nashville Warblers. We also had a number of Northern Parula Warblers feeding so high in the treetops I could never get a shot. We made several stops and found this nice male Blackburniuan Warbler moving through the trees just below Enfield Lookout. Then things got quiet. The wind had started to pick up a bit and from Enfield, up to the Tower and down the western slope things were pretty spotty. We certainly heard Ovenbirds and the occasional Black & White and Yellow-rump.<br />
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At the Winsor Memorial things started to pick up again. I think it was a bit protected from the wind and they birds seemed to be moving crossing the road and moving up slope from the water. There were lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through...<br />
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...and Black & Whites...<br />
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...and we had a number of Black-throated Blue Warblers, including this male bird who put on quite a show for my camera. That is until a male Black & White Warbler chased him up slope.<br />
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Near the area where DCR has cut down the dead red pines, we had this Prairie Warbler moving through. He only sang once but was actively feeding in the small trees left standing near the pine grove.<br />
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All in we ended up with 18 species of warblers in Quabbin Park...not bad for a morning's work.<br />
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At the fish hatchery we had one Killdeer and this Veery who stayed perched on the fence the entire time we were stopped there. He must have migrated in the night before and was just exhausted. In fact when we drove by 20 minutes later after checking out the WMA he was on the ground feeding just a few feet from his fence perch. We had these nice Marsh Marigolds at the stream in the WMA.<br />
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Having the chance to bird 4 different areas over the last four days has been great to see how birds are migrating through on several fronts. Now if only someone would tell the dragonflies that spring is here!<br />
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Enjoy....Sheila<br />
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-30866051265675271072014-04-29T05:38:00.000-04:002014-04-29T05:38:07.497-04:00Petersham and New Salem ~ Friday, April 25thWe headed up to Winchendon to bird Otter River SP and, hopefully, find an early, unusual dragonfly. What a disappointment to find the gates closed and locked! I even saw a patch of snow!!! Anyway, my backup plan was to head down to New Salem and Petersham and hike in Gate 33, do the Women's State Forest and Tom Swamp. Always nice to see actual wild flowers out....this Trailing Arbutus was all along the edge of the road on the marsh side as we walked through the gate.<br />
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At Bassett Pond we had a pair of Hooded Mergansers who were definitely interested in finding a nice nesting hole.<br />
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And just before the power lines there is a path on the left that leads to a small clearing where you can find this structure from the original town of Bassettville that was located here. Looks like some sort of root cellar, but I need to do a bit of research to find out more. Right near this area we had fresh bobcat scat and I wondered if occasionally a bobcat would use this area<br />
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While I was expecting to run into some fishermen, I did not anticipate running into a group of high school students. They were taking a class on "tracks" at The Winchendon School, which is a private boarding school in Winchendon....they, too, must have come to Quabbin since Otter River was closed!<br />
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One of the more numerous birds of the trip was the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker...we heard their distinctive drumming everywhere. While we've always had these woodpeckers breeding in Quabbin, this year it seems like there are more than every...or maybe we're just out more and at the right time to hear them.<br />
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On the way out we stopped again at Bassett Pond and since it had warmed a bit we did have Painted Turtles out sunning themselves on the logs.<br />
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And we started to get butterflies as well. While I had one Mourning Cloak fly by, there were at least 6-8 Spring Azures. The family of butterflies is rather complex, with several known color forms and subspecies.<br />
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I think I talked about it in my last blog entry. The color form above is 'lucia' known by it's brown splotch in the middle of the hindwing and the darker wing margin. The form below is 'margenta' which just has the darker wing margin....but no splotch.<br />
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After leaving Gate 33, we made a quick stop in the Women's State Forest. The road is still signed as being closed to vehicular traffic due to logging operations...but the sign also says that it is expected to re-open at the end of March so not sure it it's open and they just haven't taken the sign down or if there are just that late. In any event we decided to move on to Tom Swamp and enter from the north since we weren't sure what condition the road leading in from the west would be in. Surprisingly the causeway was fairly dry, although the big puddle at the eastern end looks to be problematic still. In fact Mark got a bit stuck in the mud when he tried to cross on the northern side. He eventually made it and wandered down the road looking for dragonflies.<br />
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While we continue to dip on those damn insects, we did have some nice salamander tracks in several of the muddy spots on the road. Given that the area is one big boggy marsh, we were wondering if these could have been made by the Four-toed Salamander....although the tracks didn't provide us with enough detail to make that sort of call. Still a nice photo I can add to my catalog of "tracks".....although I wonder if that class from the Winchendon School would have found these as interesting as the moose and bobcat tracks they were finding.<br />
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Rather than re-trace our route from the north, we were able to drive the road out to the east and Rt. 32 in Petersham. Along the way we had a number of Hermit Thrushes, which were very quiet as they foraged through the understory. It was much quieter than we had hoped, with only one Blue-headed Vireo, a few gnatchatchers and a smattering of Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers.<br />
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We then did a small hike into Petersham's North Common Meadows, which is a wonderful place for butterflies in summer. There's a small pond where we've had dragonflies as well....but that, too, was in late summer. A short walk through the woods brings you to a bench overlooking this memorial stone which pretty much describes how people in Petersham feel about their home town. And it is pretty special...<br />
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At the East Street Cemetery we had a good number of Yellow-rumped Warblers working the trees at the back of the cemetery by the pond.</div>
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We also had a small group of female Common Mergansers (below) and female Hooded Mergansers in the pond. Seems like a good area for both these species to nest, but I doubt that all seven females would find suitable nesting habitat. In fact it looks most appropriate for the Hoodies rather than the Commons.<br />
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We took Quaker Road back out to Rt. 122 so we could check along Brook's Woodland Preserve for dragonflies...and it was along this road that we had our first Coltsfoot of the spring.<br />
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This member of the sunflower family has a reputation of being a cure for coughs. And an extract of fresh leaves can be used for making cough drops...who knew.<br />
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As we headed back to Worcester from this wonderful area, we found that the major gates into Rutland State Park had been opened. Since it was already past prime birding time, we did a quick drive through to check on the roads, with a stop at a side marsh to look for Bridled Shiner (which were there.) Depending on weather we hope to get back to the park for some serious birding soon.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-41289232584016550162014-04-26T07:46:00.001-04:002014-04-26T07:46:44.609-04:00South Quabbin and Monson ~ Monday, April 21st<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Took last Monday off to do some birding....starting to love this semi-retirement thing. We started our day out at South Quabbin, worked out way down to Monson and ended up at Wells SP in Sturbridge. We had a beaver at the Rt. 9 marsh near Quabbin and boy did he give us crap for being near "his" pond. A few good slaps of the tail and then he disappeared.<br />
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We hiked down to the water at the old artillery range next to Hank's Meadow....<br />
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we didn't have any birds, but the water was incredibly clear. This photo was taken through at least a foot of water.<br />
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At the Enfield Lookout we had a couple of Turkey Vultures flying, but no eagles. We did have this perky Chipping Sparrow. It's so nice to have them back everywhere.<br />
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At the Quabbin Tower we had fours TVs put up. They must have been roosting right near the tower since they literally flew up from the ground. These two kept together the whole time and I'm thinking they could be a mated pair.</div>
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We also had Raven come zooming over....very quietly. It could be one of the birds from the breeding pair near the spillway.<br />
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And even though it reminds me of winter, we did have a couple of Juncos as well. Although I've come to really like these guys on their breeding ground out in the Berkshires.</div>
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On our way down we stopped at the orchard to see if there were any birds hanging out in there. As soon as we got to the orchard we came across two White-tailed Deer....they were very used to humans. They didn't run away and actually looked at us like we might have some food for them -- which we did NOT.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RpNkHScde7IyWHNbZ33BWLuAFDH5899NeI2qb7p9GUDsN2eosxrRbuGSv1sEW8iNaap7RT5HiR-H5NcrzBEroQozlTOP3nS0xJFDKauq1V2DUPwq7q-05yYnaHuh8bqKCcHDZMmF0jX1/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+Quabbin+orchard+4-21-14+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RpNkHScde7IyWHNbZ33BWLuAFDH5899NeI2qb7p9GUDsN2eosxrRbuGSv1sEW8iNaap7RT5HiR-H5NcrzBEroQozlTOP3nS0xJFDKauq1V2DUPwq7q-05yYnaHuh8bqKCcHDZMmF0jX1/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+Quabbin+orchard+4-21-14+(4).JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Of course we did have a few seeds in our pocket for the chickadees. They are very bold and quite demanding. Someone must have spent quite a bit of time getting them comfortable being hand fed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDE_GU_RBjN8fudNWUq7fLKhKAIwYZwFeMp7kShOsPJ_HpezmusG4xNUkYY7-E4pqUaAj737ssIHcq0JE_nEoQ77sdauoGuE6OZWwfMnhF9VcRWaSK0mb8HJ8DrMDzraHCet_Ol64exk4/s1600/BC+Chickadee+Quabbin+orchard+4-21-14+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDE_GU_RBjN8fudNWUq7fLKhKAIwYZwFeMp7kShOsPJ_HpezmusG4xNUkYY7-E4pqUaAj737ssIHcq0JE_nEoQ77sdauoGuE6OZWwfMnhF9VcRWaSK0mb8HJ8DrMDzraHCet_Ol64exk4/s1600/BC+Chickadee+Quabbin+orchard+4-21-14+(1).JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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While I took the photo of Mark above with my regular Canon camera, I couldn't manage that when the chickadee flew into my hand....using my I-phone I took my first chickadee "selfie".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-uhnUkVrBWlzspspREq_KU0GgA3ZZAgXF4Fh3fnu-QK5MWoJcHCKIf-ONfPHyPsMJ_6czBPHf286PHnJq9AJinzezAQIQCbn9wP7Y0KWmvo0-LuJiGDZG-zRjtKzMrF2ZAy32UTNJ5l/s1600/Chickadee+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-uhnUkVrBWlzspspREq_KU0GgA3ZZAgXF4Fh3fnu-QK5MWoJcHCKIf-ONfPHyPsMJ_6czBPHf286PHnJq9AJinzezAQIQCbn9wP7Y0KWmvo0-LuJiGDZG-zRjtKzMrF2ZAy32UTNJ5l/s1600/Chickadee+selfie.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
Near the spillway we had this Eastern Phoebe checking out all the crevices in the rock formation looking either for food or a suitable nesting site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAWzG6ADvlQIW-3ILncO0lriO-a-HmbOVamX7Uc4lbjgkQZet749hJlfOWBbSSl4X5-oVaXOMPMKYT8mTA0xwiVm7tWilCDP0LxYj2zeKuSstCYI9OcByTqaddg9FTHF7J5cvzxJSI60m/s1600/Phoebe+South+Quabbin+4-21-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAWzG6ADvlQIW-3ILncO0lriO-a-HmbOVamX7Uc4lbjgkQZet749hJlfOWBbSSl4X5-oVaXOMPMKYT8mTA0xwiVm7tWilCDP0LxYj2zeKuSstCYI9OcByTqaddg9FTHF7J5cvzxJSI60m/s1600/Phoebe+South+Quabbin+4-21-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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After leaving Quabbin we followed the Swift River south towards Palmer and stopped at various points to check the river. At one of the stops along Bondsville Road we found our first Brown Thrasher of the year. He was going through his entire repertoire for our benefit, since there wasn't another bird around. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmdrdpwaYd6QaS006aOPNImOiLAK9-AIsDwjVcxNE1RYsYlhHE-R1lovuN6TGMVparzeptlZs7NHt1G4qByeXN4fO5wSEp7iX_Hntbp-xiNBkjB9HMvfDb5aChVyUVt2pLYfCZk5MP5_O/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+Swift+River+WMA+Ware+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmdrdpwaYd6QaS006aOPNImOiLAK9-AIsDwjVcxNE1RYsYlhHE-R1lovuN6TGMVparzeptlZs7NHt1G4qByeXN4fO5wSEp7iX_Hntbp-xiNBkjB9HMvfDb5aChVyUVt2pLYfCZk5MP5_O/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+Swift+River+WMA+Ware+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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In Monson we walked in one of the trails at the end of East Hill Rd. below Conant Brook Reservoir. We had a number of dragonflies in this area last year, so we were hoping to find an early spring ode here. While we dipped on that, we did have some nice looks at Rufous-sided Towehee and Pine Warblers all the way down the trail. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYQqEDTrVaPfzPkyWz7pCy9VIGQLKfg0dPbAKRvb5QolCQLwk-XIWnmJGyEbp5o5vcUitJ9blfwVfPVg6elqwhwS5EuAA_pxv96IkCgXj8Jg0vlCygjtqTgXLw7o555kggkOQvLM0tcUa/s1600/RS+Towhee+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYQqEDTrVaPfzPkyWz7pCy9VIGQLKfg0dPbAKRvb5QolCQLwk-XIWnmJGyEbp5o5vcUitJ9blfwVfPVg6elqwhwS5EuAA_pxv96IkCgXj8Jg0vlCygjtqTgXLw7o555kggkOQvLM0tcUa/s1600/RS+Towhee+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Since we were primed for odenates, every time something that wasn't a bird flew, we were on it. Most of them were bees or flies, but I did get a shot of this Bee Fly perched on the trail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3XMXStEOdYbwJTT9ASXfpDt_0cuXhZkuEZ8aK440FqzpUIo2ZAYeD5ehef1GuTmw9xJ11xItV3e5xOQ1q5nplMynLY4HGYLd8_iZnc6qXWZZamxqbI2qc0sYZLNZudeTTBCk04Ps9H1m/s1600/Bee+Fly+species+Brimfield+SF+Wales+4-21-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3XMXStEOdYbwJTT9ASXfpDt_0cuXhZkuEZ8aK440FqzpUIo2ZAYeD5ehef1GuTmw9xJ11xItV3e5xOQ1q5nplMynLY4HGYLd8_iZnc6qXWZZamxqbI2qc0sYZLNZudeTTBCk04Ps9H1m/s1600/Bee+Fly+species+Brimfield+SF+Wales+4-21-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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And we had a fair number of Mourning Cloaks. From the side this guys looked like he was in great shape....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjClcz5yMEgx4ChOp_kiOb7bXkjA48veol043CoI2PFq6QyLbnee-Xw0-XysjmfrgVG_MKpo-RTgB-feDNvs1E9zqp__-0VfiptWkphzNU7x5j6P-m_q7dJUD_3E_-TBMBHXf0FGnlCaQd/s1600/Mourning+Cloak+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjClcz5yMEgx4ChOp_kiOb7bXkjA48veol043CoI2PFq6QyLbnee-Xw0-XysjmfrgVG_MKpo-RTgB-feDNvs1E9zqp__-0VfiptWkphzNU7x5j6P-m_q7dJUD_3E_-TBMBHXf0FGnlCaQd/s1600/Mourning+Cloak+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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...but we she opened her wings, it was clear that someone had taken a chunk out of her hindwing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbfhVSAT0Ul8mQvT1UxVKhegIOpIa9zyoIu86JK705UAObFK0Rxwv-3A-6jvMR1-OAmd2a0hpFy_R9yDWUgVUytRXQ7uxOuO5Ila55XMCfFPvC2izpwjyuk0Ku2QV3HtbrLvhOlXTLqi3/s1600/Mourning+Cloak+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbfhVSAT0Ul8mQvT1UxVKhegIOpIa9zyoIu86JK705UAObFK0Rxwv-3A-6jvMR1-OAmd2a0hpFy_R9yDWUgVUytRXQ7uxOuO5Ila55XMCfFPvC2izpwjyuk0Ku2QV3HtbrLvhOlXTLqi3/s1600/Mourning+Cloak+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+(2).JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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We did have our first grasshopper when we got to the marshy area at the bottom, and when we got home we were able to identify it with the help of Tom Murray's wonderful book <u>Insects of New England & New York</u>. Turns out that this is an Awl-shaped Pygmy Grasshopper. It's found in damp sandy areas around marshes...which is exactly where we were. Adults appear early in the spring and can be found every month until a hard frost!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoweJT9PitA0GeSkQl2wFqCke8yewPHUgX6CLdsV1zEdm5ohxpC4ayt7GD_W5gTIrZjnfGrMf28x0Xq2SdtaHanhyphenhyphen6PNu0YkitsjwhENkVsLJ4GBBeDvSlNznnKBGm1NyoVKrkl4QNB88q/s1600/Awl-shaped+Pygmy+Grasshopper+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoweJT9PitA0GeSkQl2wFqCke8yewPHUgX6CLdsV1zEdm5ohxpC4ayt7GD_W5gTIrZjnfGrMf28x0Xq2SdtaHanhyphenhyphen6PNu0YkitsjwhENkVsLJ4GBBeDvSlNznnKBGm1NyoVKrkl4QNB88q/s1600/Awl-shaped+Pygmy+Grasshopper+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25281%2529.JPG" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had a good number of Spring Azures. This is an interesting butterfly because it has a number of different "forms" and subspecies. In fact the whole azure complex is still being defined. With that said, there are 3 color forms generally accepted these days, and the photos below depict two of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu8QLv1wghibWoCcHhNeUOY5cs8d77EtmXpk0N9Qs0-bn1cz_cRhzlUvtTZYXF4AnkCeix0A4dLZJflsWLo7R_IxX4tSuFox3OkinxGIMZxtaRliJ-lTE2iFLjNZ2-Q2CksT-EK-mCHqy/s1600/Spring+Azure+%25231+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu8QLv1wghibWoCcHhNeUOY5cs8d77EtmXpk0N9Qs0-bn1cz_cRhzlUvtTZYXF4AnkCeix0A4dLZJflsWLo7R_IxX4tSuFox3OkinxGIMZxtaRliJ-lTE2iFLjNZ2-Q2CksT-EK-mCHqy/s1600/Spring+Azure+%25231+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14+%25283%2529.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
The "lucia" form above has a dark splotch in the middle of the hindwing when seen from below and a dark brownish margin to the wings. The "violacea" form below is much paler underneath and lack both those fieldmarks. The third form "marginata" is similar to the "lucia" but without the splotch. Wish I had gotten photos of all 3 to show the differences.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasJn38I-RyCoLrLozfd7TBVqN1ZP8NhIUwfnDoAvxJpizERUcGPXLevt25EKaX3So1a5rDcj6e7_ogSrHn9cuAEvJlE8uIW8MrNPPuMef7m6DPd3KwGrIIR8ft3MeTZliM3jGO8r-22L4/s1600/Spring+Azure+%25232+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasJn38I-RyCoLrLozfd7TBVqN1ZP8NhIUwfnDoAvxJpizERUcGPXLevt25EKaX3So1a5rDcj6e7_ogSrHn9cuAEvJlE8uIW8MrNPPuMef7m6DPd3KwGrIIR8ft3MeTZliM3jGO8r-22L4/s1600/Spring+Azure+%25232+Conant+Brook+Res+Monson+4-21-14.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
Just over the line from Monson there's a road that goes into the Brimfield State Forest. Tiderman Rd. runs through some property owned by Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary and we found a vernal pool right on the road which had a number of frog eggs. We also found a large number of Blacknose Dace in this pool...we were hoping to find some salamander eggs, but didn't see any.<br />
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We drove back through Monson and spent some time checking out a small heron rookery before heading north past the Partridge Hollow Campground, driving through the heart of the tornado damage from June '11 and taking Rt. 20 through Sturbridge to make one last stop at Wells State park. Again, hoping to find a dragonfly but also to check on the Spotted Turtles. We dipped on both species today. But we did have this Field Sparrow foraging in the marsh grasses...which was a bit unusual.<br />
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We visited some great areas, hiked some great trails and saw some wonderful early spring migrants and butterflies....so not a bad day. But the search continues for my first dragonfly sighting of 2014.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
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<br />Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-48136896214490529652014-04-25T05:14:00.000-04:002014-04-25T05:14:43.983-04:00Ware River IBA ~ Sunday, April 20thStill searching for dragonflies (and early spring migrants) we poked all around Rutland State Park and Barre Falls Dam on Sunday. The main roads through the park are still closed, so we could only do the periphery. We did take a nice hike along a bit of the rail trail right off Rt. 122 and another into a hidden marsh with a small Great Blue Heron rookery and had two occupied nests. And we also tried to do a bit of hawk watching from the dam. Since it was Easter there weren't quite as many people playing disc golf as usual....which was definitely a plus.<br />
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Walking along the rail trail behind Muddy Pond we had a a nice chorus of Pine Warblers, with quite a few Pines and some Yellow-rumps thrown in for good measure.<br />
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We also had the too-be-expected breeding ducks, include a few pairs of Canada Geese already on the nest along with both Hooded Mergansers and Wood Ducks still looking like there were searching for an appropriate hole in a tree in which to set up housekeeping. Hopefully these two pairs will settle in different parts of the ponds and marshes so that we don't have to worry about the Wood Ducks egg-dumping in the nests of the Hoodeds.<br />
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We also had a nice pair of Ring-necked Ducks, although they don't breed in this area.<br />
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The Swamp Sparrows were all back on territory as well, and this little fellow was signing his heart out in his little portion of the marsh.<br />
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We stopped by the Barre landfill to see if there were any vultures in the area. A few years back we had quite a few Black Vultures hanging around with an even larger number of Turkey Vultures. But today all we had was a few TVs.....and these 3 seemed to be enjoying warming up to the early spring sun. We also had a pair of Ravens in the area, but I couldn't get a photograph of either bird.<br />
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Off of Rt. 62 that runs along the northern edge of RSP, there are two dirt roads that are open seasonally (especially Gilbert road to the north). They run parallel to a snowmobile trail and eventually both lead through the park. However, there are houses along the southern road (Grainger) so we knew we could do some birding along the road before you get to any gates. We had lots of Pine Warblers calling and a few Phoebes near the houses.<br />
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Just past the last house (there are only 3 right on the road) there's a rough road down to a river crossing. This is a great area for fishing and we often run into people some of whom have kayaked up from Rt. 122. As you cross the snowmobile trail there is an old cemetery on your right called Riverview Cemetery. Last year we ran into someone who told us a story about a woman who murdered her 6 children in the early 1900s and they were buried in this cemetery. So we decided to stop and check out this gravestone which seemed to have a long story to tell, as well as lots of toys piled all around.<br />
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Sure enough it was the grave site of the Naramore children....and you have to enlarge the photo to read the full story. Whether it's the actual grave site or not I don't know, since the stone was erected by the town in 2002 as a memorial.<br />
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The front side of the stone just lists the names and ages of the six children. Very eerie....<br />
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A much more pleasant sighting along this dirt road was finding more Mourning Cloaks. Just as the temps start to approach 50 degrees, these butterflies seem to pop up as long as we're in the right habitat.<br />
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On Gilbert Road we talked for a bit and found some nice Palm Warblers moving through.<br />
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And we visited the rookery and got some nice shots of the two Great Blues that were nesting there. Last year we had 4 of the 5 nests filled, so it may be there's more to come. We certainly had a number of Great Blues flying overhead at various points in the morning, so there might be another small rookery in the actual park itself.<br />
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We didn't have much of a hawk show at Barre Falls Dam, but we did hear a Raven so I'm making the assumption that the birds are back nesting under the bridge where they have nested each year for the past 7 or so years.</div>
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Oh, just to be clear.....still no dragonflies!</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-53713872755528590272014-04-22T14:47:00.001-04:002014-04-22T14:47:23.130-04:00Westport and Acoaxet ~ Saturday, April 19thWe did a wonderful trip to Westport again to check on migration. We had Greater Yellowlegs in the marshes across from Horseneck Beach<br />
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And the few Horned Grebes we saw were pretty much going into breeding plumage.<br />
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Luckily on this visit to the south shore I didn't run into any people trespassing in the Piping Plover area. Unfortunately, I didn't see any of the nesting plovers either.<br />
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When you look at the area which is roped off you can there are so many places where these little birds can hide though. Once the chicks hatch and start running around, the parents will become a bit more obvious.<br />
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We explored the Herb Haddad Conversation Area on Cornell Road and found a number of Mourning Cloak butterflies. This one certainly looked worse for wear.<br />
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We searched in vain for early dragonflies and didn't find any. We did, however, find this nice early Mayfly. When you study the structure of this insect you can see why fishermen use them as lures.<br />
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In checking some of the brooks I found this pair of mating water striders.<br />
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As we explored the Westport farms we came across several fields literally covered with these purple flowers among the cut-down corn stalks. When I did some research I narrowed them down to either Henbit or Purple Deadnettle...both considered to be weeds. I settled on the Deadnettle. But it was everywhere and the color was just amazing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUI2_zWpqrfwYiYow5uL31Qs-fo3DH-g3U-C3uT5hwH_idaZJ8gSUZKqCkxwNbifYjtABFY2vYllz83K2otN8jbZVl1T2o1Cx9rrElLGl1lpMyr1S9AEVVN1sxYct3rIYnax4mnEQvukD/s1600/Purple+Deadnettle+Westport+4-19-14+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUI2_zWpqrfwYiYow5uL31Qs-fo3DH-g3U-C3uT5hwH_idaZJ8gSUZKqCkxwNbifYjtABFY2vYllz83K2otN8jbZVl1T2o1Cx9rrElLGl1lpMyr1S9AEVVN1sxYct3rIYnax4mnEQvukD/s1600/Purple+Deadnettle+Westport+4-19-14+(1).JPG" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
We also had lots of Tree Swallows starting to set up nesting territory....<br />
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...and the highlight was finding this Great Horned Owl nestling. Now to be honest someone told us where to look, so we didn't really "find" the nest. But we were very careful not to let anyone see us photographing the bird...and we were literally standing next to the car when we took the photo. I've come across young Barred Owls before, but not Great Horneds very often.<br />
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Also the Ospreys were everywhere along both branches of the Westport River. In fact, it looked like there were more birds than there were nesting platforms. It was totally surprising to find this pair roosting on an island with gulls. Normally other birds do not tolerate raptors nearby, let alone sitting among them.<br />
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This pair (further north on River Road in Acoaxet) were perched in a tree overlooking a nesting platform...almost like they were trying to decide whether or not to rebuild the nest.<br />
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On the way home we stopped again in Rehoboth to check on the Purple Martin colony at the Crestwood Country Club. Sure enough, we had about 5 or 6 birds flying around the middle martin house.</div>
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Delightful birding....just still anticipating those dragonflies though.</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-16973403250642765032014-04-15T12:14:00.000-04:002014-04-15T12:43:46.993-04:00Early Spring in Worcester County....finallyDuring the past week we spent several mornings and full days out and about fairly close to home. The farthest we ventured was to south Quabbin on the 10th. We visited the Brookfields and the "Boro" ponds several times to check on waterfowl, ventured out to Delaney WMA when it was raining on one of our trips to Bolton Flats and Oxbow and walked into Gate 41 and the power lines at Gate 39 at the end of Dugway Road in Petersham. Probably our best day, though, was yesterday in Wells State Park and poking around Warren and the Brookfields again. Highlights for me included a number of "firsts" for the year:<br />
<ul>
<li>miniature horse foal in West Brookfield</li>
<li>Mourning Cloak butterfly in Petersham</li>
<li>Palm Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Wells SP</li>
<li>Spotted Turtles at Wells</li>
<li>Banded Watersnake in North Brookfield</li>
</ul>
My big disappointment -- no dragonflies yet! But it's still early....I didn't get my first photo of a dragonfly until 4/28 last year. Of course I would like to beat that early date if at all possible.<br />
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So here are a range of photos that should give you a good sense of what we've been up to this past week. And let's start with the totally adorable first.<br />
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Every year for the past 9 or 10 years I look forward to stopping by Sawmill River Farm in West Brookfield and see the miniature horses, especially early in spring when they foal. This is the first foal I've seen this year, but a visit to their FB page tells me they are expecting 8 foals this spring...can't wait.<br />
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Best moment on a class trip several years ago was stopping by the farm just as a mare decided to give birth. We all stood there in silence while she delivered a new foal. Would so love to repeat that experience.<br />
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We stopped Quaboag Lake a few times this past week to check on migrating waterfowl...<br />
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On one of the trip we had several Common Loons...probably starting to head back north to breed.<br />
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And while we haven't seen an adult Bald Eagle at Quaboag yet, just this past weekend we had this very young bird hanging around Lake Wickabog. From the amount of while on the bird when it flew in, I would guess it's a bird born last year.<br />
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There certainly are still Ring-necked Ducks around....<br />
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...we had this pair on a little marshy pond where Brickyard Road branches off East Brookfield Rd.<br />
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On our trip to the east, we found our first inland Osprey at Suasco, along with a good number of Mute Swans.<br />
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And the Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorant colonies seemed to be in full swing on the pine island in the Sudbury Reservoir right on Rt. 9. We find the best place to set up a scope and view the birds coming and going is along Winter Street. As you can see from the photo though, you're still quite far away.<br />
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We also had a few Ring-necked Duck in the reservoir but even more at Bartlett Pond in Northborough.<br />
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On our trip out to South Quabbin we found the Ravens nesting again at the spillway..<br />
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...where we had our first Rough-winged Swallows of the year.<br />
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And, of course, the ever-present Eastern Phoebe....they seem to have come back all at once over the past 2 weeks. You can hear their little chip note almost everywhere you go. I have 2 friends who have them nesting on their front porches already....one in Petersham and one in Belchertown.<br />
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There didn't seem to be much in the way of waterfowl on Quabbin though. I poked around the woods while Mark walked down to overlook the water at Hank's Meadow. We did have several Turkey Vultures flying low over the area though.<br />
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And there was a Red-tailed Hawk who flew up into a tree and did not want to leave the area. He must have seen something in the grass and was going to wait it out. So I took a couple of shots and then we left him to hopefully catch a meal.<br />
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At the marsh on Rt. 9 between the eastern and middle entrance to Quabbin we had several pairs of Hooded Mergs. They've erected some new duck boxes so it will be interesting to see if the Hoodies take over one of the boxes.<br />
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Probably our most unusual sighting of this trip was to find a Pied-billed Grebe sitting on a little mud island in the marsh.<br />
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This is the first time I've ever seen one out of the water. Remember, unlike ducks, loons and grebes are not built to walk on land....their legs are too far back on their bodies.<br />
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We watched him for a while and he certainly seemed okay, but really strange to see him sit up and flap his wings before settling back down on the mudflat.<br />
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On our trip to Petersham on Saturday we had a nice American Kestral hunting the farm fields along Maple Lane off East Street. This looks like such a good area for them to nest, but I've never seen any Kestral boxes erected in the area.<br />
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At the marsh at the back of the East Street Cemetery we had several Tree Swallows checking out the natural nesting cavities in several tree stumps.<br />
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Finally we came across a group of Hermit Thrushes on the road down to Gate 37. They were being pretty quiet but definitely came out when we whistled a screech owl call.<br />
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And at the power lines we had several Chipping Sparrows. It seems like the Chipping Sparrows all came in together. Since we had them in a number of places...<br />
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...and we had our first singing Field Sparrow at the power lines as well. And we found both species at the power lines at Gate 39 at the end of Dugway Road too.<br />
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We finally had our first Mourning Cloak butterflies along Dugway Road too. Some of them looked to be in pretty rough shape after sleeping under the leaf litter this past winter. But as we walked into Gate 41 we found a tree that a beaver had started chewing and the sap was running....<br />
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Sure enough we had a beautiful Mourning Cloak there, obviously attracted to the running sap.<br />
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We watched him for a while and noticed a lot of bees coming into the sap as well. I haven't identified this little guy yet, but he certainly seemed to be enjoying the early spring feast. This is a good thing since there aren't a lot of flowers blooming yet. We did have Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks and Common Mergansers in Gate 41 as well.<br />
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As we headed back to Worcester we took a side trip to check out the wet area in Glen Valley cemetery in Barre. Again, hoping for a dragonfly. We didn't have one, but did have a Wood Frog and a fresh batch of frogs eggs. Since this was this past Saturday, they've probably hatched already.<br />
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On Sunday we headed out to check Wachusett Reservoir again and Bolton Flats and Oxbow. But who could drive by the manatee family in West Boylston dressed for Easter? I really like the way they made the baby manatee look like a marshmallow peep!<br />
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Bolton Flats was still under water so we didn't walk in, but at the entrance by the red barn on Rt. 110 we found this unusual nest in a bush. Mark did some research when we got home, and it appears to be the home of a White-footed Mouse. It seems they often take over old bird's nest and top them off. First I've ever seen. However, that probably just one of the places we picked up the dreaded Black-legged Ticks! </div>
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At the reservoir we had a flock of Double-crested Cormorants....probably a migrating flock. </div>
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And walking out Scar Hill bluff Mark found an adult White-winged Scoter. I stayed behind in the cemetery and photographed the Chipping Sparrows which had arrived in the last two days. We had showers on and off for the rest of the morning and finally decided to give up and head home.<br />
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On Monday we decided to get our early since it was predicted to get very windy in the afternoon. And we really wanted to put a big push on for early butterflies and dragonflies. In Warren we found two Great Egrets hanging out with some Great Blue Herons in the marsh along Brook Road. While the photo below is pretty bad, it's at least documentation of this spring record.</div>
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We spent most of our time walking in to the power lines in Wells State Park though. After we found an Osprey in Warren, we figured the one nesting in Sturbridge was back as well...it was. We had a pair of Belt Kingfishers in the trees along the marshy area under the power lines. At least we thought they were a pair until another bird appeared and the female flew off with him.<br />
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We did have a pair of Mallards though.<br />
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And all along the trail we had Ruby-crowned Kinglets calling.<br />
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While we've heard Pine Warblers for several days back on territory, this was the first one I was able to photograph and it was a female picking up spiderwebs for her nest.<br />
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Also, our first Palm Warblers were along this same trail....and we had quite a few moving through. It was like a mini warble wave. We also had 3-4 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers back on territory as well.<br />
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While we were looking for butterflies and odes near the parking area, I spotted this colorful moth. Turns out it's an early spring moth called "The Infant". Had never seen one before...but then I've just started paying attention to moths.<br />
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Wells SP also had lots of Painted Turtles out on logs sunning themselves.<br />
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But the big surprise was finding 5 Spotted Turtles there as well.<br />
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And much to Mark's joy we got two snake sightings driving home through the Brookfields. We had a Ribbon Snake that moved quickly across the road and into the brush and this sluggish Banded Watersnake. We would certainly have run this one over if we didn't stop. And while he/she just sat there as soon as Mark picked him up, he became quite feisty. Not only did he give Mark a good bite, he exuded that horribly smelly substance all over him. In fact I threatened to make Mark walk home the smell was that bad.<br />
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Of course Mark was in 7th heaven...his first snake save of the year!</div>
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What a great day...and the days leading up to it were fun as well. Oh I forgot, we had two different Louisiana Waterthrush yesterday as well. Just because I didn't photograph them doesn't me I shouldn't mention them!</div>
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Now if only the odenates would begin flying.....</div>
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Enjoy....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-32643142907824225492014-04-07T17:55:00.001-04:002014-04-07T17:55:59.885-04:00Fairhaven: The Bad and the Good ~ Saturday April 5thWe traveled to Fairhaven this past Saturday to see how spring was progressing in southeastern MA. This is always a fun area to bird...seeing what birds are at Fort Phoenix, checking out Angelica Rock for early breeding and visiting West Island (my favorite.) <br />
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We had a nice flock of Greater Scaup in the harbor south of Rt. 6 and we kept seeing small flocks throughout the morning....although it's clear that a lot of the birds we had just 2 weeks ago are starting to move back north.<br />
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From the hurricane barrier at Fort Phoenix you could see the harbor was busy as they are getting the ferries ready for service from New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard and also to Cuttyhunk...<br />
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...and fishing boats were coming and going.<br />
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There were lots of flocks of Horned Grebes in the waters and we even had this Red-necked Grebe fairly close in. If you enlarge the photo you can see he was starting to go into breeding plumage with the red starting to fill in on his neck.<br />
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We drove down Sconticut Neck we decided to stop and check for ducks in Little Bay and Nasketucket Bay. At the end of Edgewater we had our first American Oystercatchers of the season. We had a pair calling and doing a display flight right off the end of the boat ramp.<br />
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Our big surprise (and this was a good one) was a young Snowy Owl right in the bushes of the parking lot. It was actually perched on a rock and as out car pulled into the parking area flew a few feet and just stared at us. We shut off the car immediately.<br />
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There were two crows dive bombing him the entire time we were there, so we didn't dare get out of the car.<br />
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The owl flew off a bit (to get away from the crows)....<br />
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...and after a few more passes the crows quieted down and left the owl along. Based on the dark pattern this bird is likely a juvenile born last year and is just now starting to head back to the arctic.<br />
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When we left the area (after about 15 minutes) the bird was still there but it's likely he would move off soon since this is a fairly area. We continued down Sconticut Neck to our favorite overlook of Angelica Rock. While we had 1 or 2 Great Cormorants, the Double-crested were back and it looked like some of them were already on the nest. And while we didn't see any Great Egrets yet, it appeared as if some of the gulls had set up their nesting territories as well.<br />
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On to West Island and a chance to check on the Piping Plovers at West Island Beach. These birds are early spring migrants; some coming back in March. Sure enough when we parked and walked out to the beach you could see that Fish and Wildlife had already roped off their nesting area and there were signs posted. They usually wait until the first pair appears before roping the area off since you don't know for sure if they will come back to the exact spot. As many folks know, the Piping Plover is a federally-endangered bird and there have been some fairly public disagreements between people who want to keep the beach totally open and the law which requires they close off that part of the beach where the birds nest. The area on West Island is pretty close to the dunes at the point so this roped off area helps protect the sensitive dune grasses as well.<br />
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Since it's pretty early in the season, there were only two others cars in the parking lot and we didn't see anyone when we walked out to the beach. Unfortunately as I walked down the beach to get some photos (totally from the area far outside the patch which was roped off) 3 large dogs came tearing out of the dune grass and ran right through the nesting area headed for me. Let's just say that the string of expletives that came out of my mouth could have been heard for quite a distance. Sure enough there were two young women running their dogs (which there are signs when you enter the parking lot that tells you to keep your pets leashed and pick up after them.) Needless to say the two women weren't paying attention to any of the signs posted. I immediately headed back down the beach so that I could tell Mark and we could get back to the parking lot to try to get their license plate numbers and report them.<br />
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One of the women was already leaving the lot and didn't even make eye contact. But I did get her license plate.<br />
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The other young woman wasn't too far behind and decided to give me a salute and then the finger as she drove off.<br />
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But I also got her license plate. I wanted to follow them but Mark wouldn't let me so I just hope if we send the pictures of their car and license to Fish and Wildlife they track them down and give them a ticket. I have to admit that even as I write this (2 days later) I still get so angry.....I know the dogs can't read and don't know what they're doing is wrong, but their owners should know better....and I think they just don't care. JERKS!!!<br />
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Anyway, we did do a bit more birding on West Island before we headed north. We had an adult Northern Gannet flying around when we drove to the north part of the island. It seemed unusual and I can't remember if we've ever had one from this location before. These birds are usually pretty far out to sea at this time.<br />
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And we had another Oystercatcher. This one seemed to be alone and I got a chance to snap some photos before he took off. I'm always amazed by the color of their bill.</div>
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Instead of going right home we decided to head up to Rochester to check on the Purple Martins we had found when we did the breeding bird atlas work. We had some nice looks at Tree Swallows, but I don't think the martins were back yet....at least we didn't have any. We did, however, have a Peregrine Falcon come bombing through with a Killdeer in his talons. In fact I think it was the Killdeer Mark had just counted less than 5 minutes earlier.</div>
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On the way home we checked on the Purple Martin colony and Rehoboth, but didn't see any birds there either. We heard reports of them in Lakeville, so it should be any day now that they're back in both these locations.</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6598082801644870937.post-35660505884999502552014-04-05T19:54:00.000-04:002014-04-05T20:01:05.209-04:00Vultures in the Berkshires -- Wednesday, April 2nd We juggled schedules around this week so that we could take a leisurely trip to the southern Berkshires. We started out in Sandisfield, moved on to New Marlborough, then to Sheffield with a final stop in Egrement. At this point I should let you know there is one very graphic photo from Sheffield. It is pretty gross and if I had a rating on this blog, I would give it at least PG-14. But let's get back to the beginning of the trip first.....<br />
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Unfortunately the southern end of the Farmington River (really over the border in CT) was frozen. The road along the river in Sandisfield had not yet been opened in the MA section, so we really didn't spend much time there. </div>
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Our next stop was to check for Sandhill Crane in New Marlborough. But our luck really wasn't good and one of the key roads we needed to check was closed due to flooding. As we were trying to figure where to go next Mark spotted a Turkey Vulture climbing out of a ruined shed. This is exactly the type of habitat in which they love to nest....so we will have to go back and check it out.<br />
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We decided to cut our losses and head over to Sheffield. We drove the southern route through Canaan, CT and arrived in Sheffield around 10:30. We hoped there were enough thermals to see Black Vultures up in the air. This view from the pull off on Rannapo Road just south of Bartholomew's Cobble is the traditional spot from which to see Black Vultures. If they're not up in the air though it's a good idea to drive through the little village of Ashley Falls and head to the CT border. Just after crossing the river take your first right on Valley View and go right to the state line.<br />
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From this vantage point you can check what we call "the gut pile" to look for vultures that are feeding on the carcasses of dead cows. As previously warned, this is the rather gross photo of several Black Vultures (and 1 or 2 Turkey Vultures) feeding on the carcasses of two dead cows. Let's remember folks this is what vultures do. They are the garbage collectors of the animal world....cleaning up road kills and picking the bones clean at those places where farmers dump their dead livestock. <br />
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We did also have a few flying around....and while this is a great photo to point out many of the field marks of the Black Vulture, it doesn't quite give the full picture.<br />
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We also had numbers of Black Vultures on the ground among the live cows at the back of the farm. In fact some of the cows were actually chasing the vultures and causing them to fly up into the trees. It's like the cows were getting freaked out by having so many vultures just hanging around....really, who wouldn't<br />
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Our final tally of Black Vultures from this one area ended up being 47! And most were on the grounds with the cows. </div>
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Oh, as I mentioned we did also have a few Turkey Vultures....like the one above. </div>
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Back at the pull off on Rannapo we had a pair of Lesser Scaup, lots of geese, about 25 Green-winged Teal in the wet areas among the corn stubble and even one lone female Bufflehead.<br />
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There were mixed flocks of Grackles, Cowbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds along the river...and we had our first female Red-winged Blackbird in one of the flocks just off Rt. 7A where the detour for the bridge work is going on.<br />
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One of the key birds we were hoping to find was the Tundra Swan that had been recently reported. We got good directions from the folks at the cobble, but unfortunately we struck out again. <br />
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We stopped at the covered bridge in Sheffield to scan the fields and the river, but we didn't have any luck. <br />
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We did have a nice Fox Sparrow working the edge of the dirt road and flying from bush to bush before he took off across the wet field and disappeared.<br />
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From this point you can often see large numbers of geese in the surrounding farm fields, but they were pretty empty this day. I really liked this plaque on a large boulder in the parking area at the covered bridge, but I haven't done any research to see what it's actually referring to....<br />
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After driving some other back roads around Sheffield and checking out as many geese flocks as we could (and we ended having more than 3,000 geese in all the fields along Hewins Road) we decided the Tundra Swan just wasn't going to put in an appearance for us today. So we headed over to Egremont for our last stop of the day before heading home on the Pike.<br />
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While Mill Pond was still partially frozen, we had good numbers of geese, about 30 Ring-Necked Ducks, 7 Common Mergs and our first Pied-billed Grebe this spring.<br />
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Even though we missed a lot of our "target" birds for the day, we had a great time poking around Sheffield and realizing that as we headed back to Worcester we were actually returning to a little less snow than we had in the Berkshires....now that's a nice change.<br />
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After we got home, around dinner time we got a text from our friend Kevin that someone had reported a Greater White-front Goose on Mushopauge Road in Rutland. We decided to get up early on Thursday and run out to see if we could re-find the bird. Sure enough this beautiful goose was in the fields with about 50 Canada's.<br />
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We spent some time studying him and also the shorebirds that were hanging out in the wet spots around the corn stubble. We had 4 Snipe and 3 Pectoral Sandpipers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwLv2ZyJ9WkkczPcI7wtPsbVQW_aGYraPVN6DIG_YCaka-4P8_P2sVhkkAuZSB8CozTOAOBQwhaZbuRvQdIlnZrzArmlq47RsZdxuYpUnhgbw2KSOS7Mfl9CX9WXpx_DiGweyA6dg5r0_/s1600/Greater+White-fronted+Goose+Muschapoag+Rd+Rutland+4-3-14+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwLv2ZyJ9WkkczPcI7wtPsbVQW_aGYraPVN6DIG_YCaka-4P8_P2sVhkkAuZSB8CozTOAOBQwhaZbuRvQdIlnZrzArmlq47RsZdxuYpUnhgbw2KSOS7Mfl9CX9WXpx_DiGweyA6dg5r0_/s1600/Greater+White-fronted+Goose+Muschapoag+Rd+Rutland+4-3-14+(12).JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Literally as we pulled into the driveway I got a call from Lisa Hennin who was out in Holden looking at a female Barrow's Goldeneye in Chaffin Pond. So we turned around and headed out there as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KbLSDnpCeJEFujsgRCExWiAoZfuVIXVFMnVxUQouAri6PvYMtHJm0KgGZRwqiFKADi5URGTCmW8COCP60GrDN1aU-XQRdPD9ELk6T8pXAFFaKDhpJFX7Jc2bMBLUkKenT7mrg42gIIXl/s1600/Female+Barrow%2527s+Chaffin+Pond+Holden+4-3-14+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KbLSDnpCeJEFujsgRCExWiAoZfuVIXVFMnVxUQouAri6PvYMtHJm0KgGZRwqiFKADi5URGTCmW8COCP60GrDN1aU-XQRdPD9ELk6T8pXAFFaKDhpJFX7Jc2bMBLUkKenT7mrg42gIIXl/s1600/Female+Barrow%2527s+Chaffin+Pond+Holden+4-3-14+%25283%2529.JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes there are great things right in your own backyard!</div>
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Enjoy.....Sheila</div>
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Sheila Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05764581032115740431noreply@blogger.com0