Brewster, MA
It's always a great Tuesday for me when I start the day with Tuesday Tweets! We were looking forward to reaching Cape Cod Bay, because you really cannot beat the view... not to mention the feeling. As we began on our walk, we immediately encountered a Northern Cardinal female...I'm pretty sure she was a juvenile, because she was a little puffed out in the feathers. This time of year there are so many juvenile birds everywhere and with all of the lovely leaves still on the trees, we don't always get to SEE the birds we hear. What a gift to begin our walk with a sighting.
It turned out to be quite the American Goldfinch Show almost everywhere we paused! There was even a moment where a young male was singing away, at the edge of the dunes and a Gray Catbird seemed very intrigued with the sight and sound. We were watching a bird, birdwatch! There was more action on the beach as well, when we noticed that a young Ring-billed Gull started imitating a Greater Yellowlegs behavior as s/he became successful in the mudflats on the beach, enjoying a great breakfast. (see photo below)
As usual... I didn't want to leave the beach. It was a perfect visit, with so many sounds to take in and a sweet summer ocean breeze. We are so often rewarded towards the end of our walks, today included. We saw a Northern Harrier, a pair of Snowy Egrets made a graceful presence and at the tail end... a Belted Kingfisher flying and calling over the marsh. You just can't beat it. (double click photos to enlarge)
Our List:
Northern Cardinal
Laughing Gull
American Crow
Gray Catbird
American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Baltimore Oriole
Song Sparrow
Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Common Tern
Northern Harrier
Snowy Egret
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Cardinal - female |
Northern Cardinal - female |
American Goldfinch - male |
Baltimore Oriole - female |
Found feathers - Northern Flicker's probably |
Honey Bees |
Song Sparrow |
Song Sparrow |
Tuesday Tweets |
Song Sparrow |
American Goldfinch - male |
Gray Catbird (lower right) checking out an American Goldfinch |
Bird Nerds |
Great Black-backed Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Laughing Gulls |
Black-bellied Plovers (immature on left & right, mature in middle) |
Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover (below) |
Semipalmated Plover |
I LOVE this photo. The four major gulls are hanging here, coexisting... Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Laughing Gull & Ring-billed Gull |
Black-bellied Plover - immature |
Black-bellied Plover - immature |
Black-bellied Plover |
Semipalmated Sandpipers |
Semipalmated Plovers |
Black-bellied Plovers & Semipalmated Plover |
Laughing Gulls & Herring Gulls |
Semipalmated Plover |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Semipalmated Sandpiper (above), Semipalmated Plover (below) |
Semipalmated Plovers |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Ring-billed Gull imitating the Greater Yellowlegs' fishing technique |
Semipalmated Plover & Ring-billed Gull |
Snowy Egret, check out those fancy yellow feet! |
Snowy Egret |
Laughing Gull & Common Tern |
Snowy Egret |
Northern Cardinal - male |
Osprey |
Mud Fiddler Crab |
Happy Birding!