1.14.18  Private Walk - Bass River - Dennis Salt Marsh
South Yarmouth & West Dennis, MA

When you get to do what you love, it doesn't mean you can't get into a funk sometimes.  It can be frustrating to find the time to enjoy the things that make you happy.  I thought in order to get outside in the freezing cold (21F, but 6F with the wind chill...)  and to be able to fit a bird walk in, I wanted to bring along another bird nerd.  I have had Andrew's photos and artwork featured on my blog here in the past and we were due for another time outside.  He promised to bundle up and he brought his binoculars and his camera, and we were off.  

Winter birdwatching is REALLY AWESOME on Cape Cod!  Why?  We have harbors and bays and estuaries and the ocean shore in general.  Some of the birds that we get to appreciate this time of year are migrant waterfowl.  Most of these migrants spend the "cold" months here, because they breed in the summer in northern Canada, some even close to the arctic circle.  So the temperatures we have in New England this time of year provide them with enough food to survive the winter.  

Some of these photos are mine and some are Andrew's.  I didn't let him know about the grand finale bird I was after and hoping to see while we were out... we saw her... a Snowy Owl.  Foolish me.  I didn't have a camera on Andrew's happy face when he spotted a wild Snowy Owl for the first time in his life.  I hope he remembers the moment as long as I will.

Our List:
Canada Goose
Great Black-backed Gull
Bufflehead
American Black Duck
Common Eider
American Crow
American Robin
Herring Gull
Mute Swan
American Widgeon
Red-breasted Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
SNOWY OWL (!!!)

Checking out birds on Bass River from Wilbur Park

Andrew spotted the Song Sparrow, not easy even in this photo due to camouflage

There was so much activity there, we didn't want to leave. 
We WERE freezing though and needed to warm up in the car in between locations.

Mute Swan family

Mute Swan - Photo Credit: ANDREW

Mute Swan Family - Photo Credit: ANDREW

American Black Ducks & Great Black-backed Gull

Red-breasted Merganser - female

Ring-billed Gull

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Andrew checking out a Mute Swan family

Bird Nerd!

Herring Gull - juvenile Photo Credit: ANDREW

Hooded Merganser pair in flight - Photo Credit: ANDREW

Common Eider flock in the distance - Photo Credit: ANDREW

The white blob next to the blue box on the marsh is indeed
a Snowy Owl!!!

Snowy Owl in the distance and happy young Bird Nerd!

Don't be daunted by the cold if you want to see beautiful birds that you only get to see on Cape Cod in the winter.  Bundle up, bring your binoculars and you're in for a birdy treat for a nerd!  Thanks for doing just THAT Andrew!  
Happy Birding!