And another one....

Tonight I wanted to again check the Worcester cemeteries for night herons. I also knew that Common Nighthawks are starting to come through and that was also a good location that I have had them in the past. No BCNH tonight but did have 2 CONI's fly over Owen and I for about 3 seconds in horrible light. I was however able to get a photograph for bird number 179 on my quest. I did have a chance at a Red-shouldered Hawk today. I heard a noise outside today that seemed different so I ran out and looked up and saw a hawk high up. Ran in the house to grab binoculars and saw it was a RSHA. Ran inside to get camera and the bird was gone. I have seen a few this year and I have failed EVERYTIME to get a photo!

Common Nighthawk- Worcester- #179

Finally!

It had been slow times recently for birding in the county. Tim Spahr texted me the other day and had my nemesis bird at Westboro WMA, an Olive-sided Flycatcher. and like the 10 plus times I have tried for one it disappeared. He also had Black-crowned Night Herons there. I also didn't find those after search for over an hour and half. Last night I decided to check Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester for night herons. The foliage is very thick and through one crack I noticed white in a dark backround of leaves....I backed up the car and got on it.. Black-crowned Night Heron it was! I was getting worried about finding one this year as I missed them in the spring.

Black-crowned Night Heron- Worcester- #178

photo upgrades

Ring-necked Pheasant 

Cooper's Hawk

Today I went to Milford to find Marsh Wrens. Nick had 2 there the other day and I failed to find any the other day at Bolton Flats. I've really sucked at marsh birds this year. Looking like 2 years in a row that I am going to miss Marsh Wren. I finally did stumble across a photographable Cooper's Hawk being mobbed by an Eastern Kingbird. I really need to step it up this spring!

Cooper's Hawk- Milford #177

Upgrades

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Common Yellowthroat

Common Grackle

Song Sparrow

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