On May 22, 2020, I went to three locations for birding from 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Throughout the day it was sunny with partially cloudy skies in the high 70 Fºs range with slight northwest winds. My first location was Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Lancaster, MA where I traveled 0.9 miles over 1.3 hours (6:00 AM – 7:20 AM). Bolton Flats WMA is a flooded marshland between the Nashua and Still River consisting of cattail marshes, silver maple swamps, and agricultural fields that act as mudflats. For birding Bolton Flats WMA consists only of a 0.5 mile straightaway cutting through these three habitat types. Starting at 6:00 AM I started with the check-in call listening in and also listening to the marshes for American Bittern. Sadly, I did not hear any American Bittern, yet rather Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, and Canada Geese. Once the call ended I proceed to the straightaway with silver maple swamps to my left and the flooded cattail marsh to my right. Being in a rich nutrient site between the Nashua and Still River there was abundant vegetation limiting me seeing the majority of the birds. One notable mention that I had to rely on for songs was that of the Willow Flycatcher. As part of the empids song is crucial to distinguish these similar-looking species hence I was waiting for “Fee-bee-oh”. Patiently waiting with the noise of Common Yellowthroats and Red-winged Blackbirds I soon heard a not one, but two Willow Flycatchers. Luckily I was able to see the silhouette of one of them. Moving forward I reached a transition spot where the silver maple swamp to my left transitioned to an agricultural site acting as mudflats for some inland shorebirds. Located 400 M away from me I had to peer at the small brown dots of Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, and Killdeer. My biggest challenge was between Killdeer and Semipalmated Plover. It is easy to tell the difference between these species by the number of black bands on the breast, yet for 400 M away I had to make a lot of double checks. Finishing up the rest of the trail on my way back a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was about to land right in front of me. Scared in my presence it immediately took off showcasing its yellow bill and long tail feathers. Overall at Bolton Flats WMA I saw 31 species and 146 individuals.
Moving on I wanted to go to Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) a new location for me located in Harvard, MA. From 7:30 AM – 10: 00 PM over 2.5 miles I observed this cattail wetland and mixed silver maple-oak forest adjacent to the Nashua River. Once leaving the parking lot I was greeted by a singing Red-eyed Vireo. After meeting this lively individual, I continued to the River Side Trail. River Side Trail is a heavily shaded out area by oaks and silver maples making it an ideal habitat for forest interior species such as Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and especially Veery. Along this trail I was following a very social Veery hoping between the trail and the surrounding vegetation. Besides this one special Veery I was able to both hear and see four Veery’s up close. Following the Veery down River Side Trail I made my way to Turnpike Road where the canopy started to open due to this area being more flooded with open water. Being flooded Turnpike Trail is filled with snags and wetlands. One notable resident of this flooded trail was a family of Pileated Woodpeckers. Seen off a bridge over a small stream a snag with an approximately 10-inch diameter cavity held a nesting and parent Pileated Woodpecker. Sadly, I interrupted the parent feeding this lone nesting and flew off giving a loud whinny. To avoid any further disruptions, I took a quick photo and proceeded to reach Tank Road. Unlike the rest of Oxbow NWR Tank Road was an eastern white pine stand with little canopy cover filled with the trillings of Chipping Sparrow. Meeting the end of Tank Road intersecting with River Side Trail I finally met a meadow with grazing Brown-headed Cowbirds and a lively Indigo Bunting. Overall, I saw 41 species and 118 individuals.
Starting at 10:30 at Westborough WMA I was at my third spot. Yesterday I went to Westborough WMA and to quickly summarize from yesterday’s journal Westborough WMA is a mosaic of habitats such as open water/wetlands, cornfields, and oak-maple forests. Excited I started down the straightaway with Lake Chauncy to my left and a stretch of flowering red oaks to my right to find Yellow-throated and Warbling Warblers. On the straightaway I was soon stunned by a Pileated Woodpecker flying down the trail in an open exposed area. Honestly, I would never expect a Pileated in such an open space, but it situated itself 2 ft. off the trail on the ground pecking at a tree stump. Thrilled I sat down to take some photos, but soon I was shocked again to see another Pileated flying in the other direction! Most likely this was a mating Pileated Woodpecker pair making through the area. Despite how strange and unlikely this was I very much enjoyed myself and hope these Pileated Woodpeckers breed here as in Oxbow NWR. At the end of the straightaway I went through the oak-maple forest to see an array of migrants such as Scarlet Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Red-eyed Vireo. Leaving the oak-maple forest into the cornfields I saw an Orchard Oriole. Perched in a black oak along the edge of the cornfields I saw a female Orchard Oriole feeding on the oak flowers while below Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles grazing on the field below. By 12 PM I found 37 species and 126 individuals. Overall today was a great day observing new migrants, breeding birds, and exploring biodiversity finding 62 species and 390 individuals. As of writing this journal I have reviewed my checklists during my time in field ornithology to find I have seen 107 species this week (listed below)! I have very much enjoyed this week learning and growing as a birder and cannot wait to continue to explore the avian diversity of the northeast this summer!
Species Observed
Bolton Flats WMA
Oxbow NWR
Westborough WMA
107 Species Seen in Field Ornithology 2020
I know the photo is not good enough for ID but thought I should add it.
I know the photo is not good enough for ID but thought I should add it.
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