Ring-necked Pheasant

this is a bird I figured I would have already but apparently the stars didn't align. My mother in Charlton had a female pheasant in their yard a month or so ago. At the time I couldn't make it over to photograph. Yesterday however I found her when I was driving down their street. I snapped a record shot with my cellphone. I rushed to my parents quickly to grab my camera but she retreated into the woods. Wonder what bird is in store next....

Ring-necked Pheasant - Charlton- #176

The most unexpected breeding bird of the year photographed

While looking at the species list for Worcester County while preparing for this year I checked off some species that most likely/definitely I wouldn't be able to photograph. Among them...Golden Eagle, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, and definitely not an Eastern Whip-poor-will. I am still surprised that I have never come across one roosting while birding. Granted I have never truly looked for them. Last night during a break from work I headed to Pine Hill Grasslands in Lancaster so I could hopefully at least add Eastern Whip-poor will to my year list as I've been slacking lately because of lots of issues going on at home. Within 10 min of arriving I had a bird singing. So I started to leave and then I heard one right next to my car. Then another one came flying in as to find that calling bird. I couldn't ever imagine that I would have this species so close to me. It wasn't even dark yet and I was getting great close looks at these birds. I didn't have my camera with me because I was working. I did have one land in a tree next to me and I got a horrible but identifiable photo of one! I cannot believe it!

Eastern Whip-poor-will- Lancaster- #175

Alder Flycatcher..finally

So another bird that I ran into earlier in the year but didn't photography because at that point the bugs were eating me alive was an Alder Flycatcher in Uxbridge. I took for granted that I would run into another one easily...that didn't happen. Finally today I had one calling and it posed horribly for a record shot. I was getting worried that I might not add that one. My next common bird that I haven't gotten because I haven't tried yet is Common Nighthawk.  I'm sure I will photograph one sometime...
I had some decent birding today in Westborough. I was there specifically for a Brewster's Warbler that Steve Arena had found (2 years in a row). I was unable to find any winged warblers. But did have both cuckoo species, orchard orioles and some other fun birds doing fun things!



Alder Flycatcher- Westborough- #174

I was losing hope....

My birding confidence has been shot. I have not had a new species in awhile. Its frustrating that I still haven't photographed Cooper's Hawk or Red-shouldered Hawk. However,  a few days ago someone reported a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Riverbend Farm. So I went there. After a about 20 minutes I heard one singing in some trees that bordered a meadow. Problem was I couldn't even get a record shot. That's when a second cuckoo came in and they started chasing each other a they flew over my head. I was able to catch a record shot! I only need 7 more species to hit my original goal of 180 birds photographed. I am having serious doubts about hitting 200 photos of birds. But who knows! Maybe a few hurricanes will come............


Yellow-billed Cuckoo- Millbury #173