Updatessss

Just some more catching up to do. Water is still high on the farm field at Bolton Flats. Only shorebirds were Wilson's Snipe, Killdeers, and 2 Greater Yellowlegs which was new on the year! I tried looking for a Blue-winged Teal to no avail. There were 3 Northern Pintails there as well. I always love seeing those! I checked Purgatory in Sutton for Blue-headed Vireo but they still aren't back yet. I was able to get a Hermit Thrush there as an added bonus. I usually get them there though. I have to get these swallows out of the way. Shouldn't be hard except for Cliff. I went back to Upton SF to see if I could find the Louisiana Waterthrush again. Today I found 2 and was able to get a photograph. Still waiting on a Sandhill Crane to pop in..................

Greater Yellowlegs- Bolton #99

 Hermit Thrush- Sutton #100

Horned Grebe- Westborough #101

Louisiana Waterthrush- Upton #102

Additional Photos

Osprey

humph

Some new updates from the past couple days. Yellow-rumped Warblers have shown up finally. Was able to to photograph one along with a Red-necked Grebe and a pair of Double-crested Cormorants. The Northern Shoveler is still present at Westborough WMA. Purgatory Chasm is still missing its resident Blue-headed Vireo....any day now. I did see a cool partially leucistic American Robin. oh and please don't mind my Red-necked Grebe digiscoped shot....he was a mile out there. its going to be a tough week for me to get out and bird with some issues I have going on right now. ;/

Red-necked Grebe- Westborough #96

Yellow-rumped Warbler- Westborough #97

Double-crested Cormorants- Sutton #98

Additional Photos

Northern Shoveler

 partially leucistic American Robin

Trillers

Today I went out to try and photograph Chipping Sparrows and Pine Warblers. I was successful in both. The Louisiana Waterthrush is back at Upton SF. I heard him singing but he just wouldnt come into view. I also upgraded my Tree Swallow photo. I misses out on a Great Egret that was spotted yesterday in Grafton.

Tonight is bday celebrations at Foxwoods! Time to party!!

Chipping Sparrow- Upton #94

Pine Warbler- Sutton #95

Upgrades

Tree Swallow

New Birds

This morning I went back to Westborough WMA to try and find the Glaucous Gull that Tim Spahr found yesterday while I was stuck at work. No Glaucous Gull was there this morning. Boooooo.  I was able to upgrade my Fox Sparrow photo and a couple others. There were at least 7 Fox Sparrows today! Also I was able to photograph new for the year a Swamp Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

After being out in the peaceful woods I had to sit in the Worcester RMV for hours. Miserable.

Golden-crowned Kinglet- Westborough #91

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-Westborough #92

Swamp Sparrow- Westborough #93

Upgrades

Fox Sparrow

Black-capped Chickadee

American Robin

Brown-headed Cowbird

Mute Swan

Super Day!

This day started off with grocery shopping. Didn't plan on doing much else. Went a road over and refound the Fox Sparrow. While I was listening to the Fox Sparrow singing I seen a Worcester Needs Alert email from ebird pop up. Quite a few birds that I needed. One that mainly stuck out was a Northern Shovelor found by Tim Spahr. I started texting him for more details and flew over to Westborough WMA. As soon as I showed up I spotted the bird. Pretty easy. I continued hiking further in to the pond. When I was near Little Chauncey I could hear a couple Fox Sparrows but couldn't snap a pic. On the pond were a couple Greater Scaup. Had them in January but a mile away so today I was able to get a photo. Walking back towards my car I noticed an American Bittern walking across the path to another section of marsh. I hear them every year but I've only seen one at Plum island a couple years back. This was a bird I did not expect to photograph. I was also able to knock down Tree Swallow and Palm Warbler. I did see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with the Palm Warblers but I couldn't get a photo of him either.  I did photograph another Fox Sparrow hanging with the Palms but nothing special. Bring on shorebirds!!

Northern Shoveler- Westborough #86

Tree Swallow- Westborough #87

Greater Scaup- Westborough #88

American Bittern- Westborough  #89

Palm Warbler- Westborough #90

Upgrade of Photos Day

I headed out today in search of Black-crowned Night Herons at Institute Park. Still unable to find one. It's possible the bird has moved on. Next stop was to check for shorebirds and newly arrived ducks at Bolton Flats and Sterling Peat. Both places were virtually dead. I was however able to upgrade my Osprey, American Crow, Pied-billed Grebe, and Glossy Ibis photo. The Glossy Ibis wee continuing on the Monty Tech High School fields. I love those birds. I did get a new first of the year bird today while working. Chipping Sparrow. 

List of Birds that I'd like to be notified about as they are a little "tougher". If you happen to come across them please drop me a line! Justindlawson@gmail.com

Canvasback 

Cattle Egret 

Sandhill Crane 

Little Blue Heron 

Brant 

Blue-winged Teal 

Red-breasted Merganser 

Barrow's Goldeneye 

Northern Goshawk 

Long-eared Owl 

Rough-legged Hawk 

Olive-sided Flycatcher 

Evening Grosbreak

Photo Upgrades

Pied-billed Grebe

Osprey

American Crow

Glossy Ibis

Unexpected

So I thought for sure that I had lost out on a Greater White-fronted Goose for the year (or till maybe next winter) but, I was wrong. I had to work the morning shift. I got out at 145pm. Saw a missed call from Bob Abbott with a voice-mail saying he was looking at the goose at Dexter Drumlin in Lancaster! I didnt have my camera or a scope. I asked him if he could stay on the bird till I got there and he obliged! I arrived fairly quickly and the bird stuck. It was tough to get a decent picture as he stayed tucked for most of the time at a very long distance. But, still was able to get a pic.

When my son got out of school we went for a walk in Sutton at Purgatory Chasm to find a Pine Warbler. We did find some however the photo opportunity didn't present itself. We did get 3 Pine Siskins as well. It was nice to see them NOT at a feeder and in pines!

Greater White-fronted Goose Lancaster #85