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

Unexpected Warbler and a couple new additions!

This past week I had tried for Worm-eating Warbler about 5x I'm Uxbridge. A couple weeks ago I heard one but couldn't get a photo. Today I was able to find two. The first one was not having it.  He sang a could you times and flew off. I was having trouble with my camera and the focus wasn't working fast enough. But further down the trail I came across another one that wasn't shy. The gem of the week was a Hooded Warbler. Kevin Bourinot messaged me that he had found the bird about a mile in the woods in Lancaster. I was able to go a couple hours later. After finally getting on the right trail and not being murdered by bugs I was able to hear him singing. I took three photos and had to run out of there because of the bugs. It's a great unexpected bird. What's next?!?

Blackpoll Warbler- Millbury #169

 Hooded Warbler-Lancaster #170

Eastern Wood-Pewee- Uxbridge #171

Worm-eating Warbler- Uxbridge #172

"Upgrades"

Great Crested Flycatcher

Ovenbird

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Wilson's Warbler Redemption!

Headed out again to Westborough WMA. Today I only birded the Ballfields entrance. First thing I heard was a Willow Flycatcher. I had this "same" last year a day later. Flagged as early on eBird. I recorded the audio and obviously took its picture. My main goal today was obviously Wilson's Warbler.  Last year on this date (Westborough WMA- Last Year 5/13/14 Checklist) I had a Wilson'sWarbler here. Today would be no different. I made up for yesterday's blunder of not getting the picture of one. This is probably the worst possible shot I could ever get of a bird. Very blurry but clearly shows a Wilson's Warbler, so it works for me! In this one apple tree (thanks Alan for teaching me about the tree) I had over 15 species of birds in a couple of hours. The highlights of the tree was Brown Thrasher, Magnolia, Wilson's, and 2 Canada Warblers. Today's checklist ( Checklist). I still get joy in finding Canada's in migration. I still have yet to come across a fallout of warblers. I am still in need of the following if you come across them: (thanks Tom Pirro for the Cliff Swallow tip)

Least Bittern
Cattle Egret
Brant
Northern Goshawk (maybe a nest)
Ruffed Grouse (consistently)
Long-eared Owl
Whip-poor-will (daytime)
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Cliff Swallow (they must nest in this county somewhere!!!!)
Evening Grosbeak
Yellow-breasted Chat
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Mourning Warbler
White-eyed Vireo

Willow Flycatcher- Westborough #167

Wilson's Warbler- Westborough #168

Additional Photos and Upgrades

Canada Warbler

Canada Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

 Common Grackle

Still adding species!

This morning I decided to head back to Rutland State Park and Ware River IBA. I was looking for a Nashville Warbler which breeds on Whitehall Rd. I was walking down a path and the bird was already singing. The first photo I took for a record shot ended up being the best one.In the 10 min walk around that path I pulled off 21 ticks. 14 being Deer Ticks. eww. I drove over to the the Whitehall Pond bridge to follow up on an old tip from Josh Gahagan about Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge a few years back. I didn't see any evidence of that this year. While doing that a Veery popper up right along the road. Easy photo. I then went back to Uxbridge's Rice City Pond to see if I could photograph a Worm-eating Warbler. I did find him but unfortunately I was unable to get a photo. I am just glad that he returned! Ill get him! I did walk the trail to the sand pits. Lots of Prairie Warblers and I was able to add Indigo Bunting and Black-billed Cuckoo photos! I love the cuckoos! I finished the day at Broad Meadow Brook hoping for a Cape May Warbler that everyone and their moms are finding there...no luck. I did however find an Eastern Screech Owl thanks to some Blue Jays that were going crazy about it. 16 species of warbler today.

Nashville Warbler- Oakham #163

Veery- Rutland #164

Black-billed Cuckoo- Northbridge #165

Indigo Bunting- Northbridge #166