Tuesday, May 22, 2018


5.22.18  Tuesday Tweets - John Wing Trail - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

If you ever ask Nature for a favor, sometimes she does reward you for asking nicely!  It was two years ago, the third week of May when I remember learning a new bird call on Tuesday Tweets - the Prairie Warbler.  The best way I can describe the sound with words (not my favorite way to share learning a call) is that it is an upwards spiral sound.  One of the bird nerds had a much fancier way of putting it.  She said it sounds like the "sound of grass growing" if that had a sound.  Love it.  Thanks Fran, I think that's perfect!
So I was hopeful.  

We had a few glimpses of Barn Swallows along the marsh and as we continued along the trail, there were multiple calls and songs, though not always with a perfect viewing of each particular bird.  A Common Yellowthroat definitely made his presence known, but was awfully sneaky hiding in the thicket as we passed.  It didn't seem to matter how patient we were, he was being camera/binocular shy.  Oh well...

The bonus area on this day was the meadow!  I had heard the Prairie Warbler several times along our walk, but it was a distant call along the way, and if you're not familiar with the sound, it pretty much blends into the avian symphony of a Cape Cod morning this time of year.  Fortunately, we seemed to be surrounded by several warblers and there was even a few minutes of a yellow battle!  Breeding season is high time for arguing and challenging over territory, and we were able to witness very up close and personal, an American Goldfinch, a Yellow Warbler and a Prairie Warbler having an Oak Tree discussion.  It definitely did not seem to be a friendly communication they were passing among themselves, but man did we get a show!   Even better, at least from my point of view... every bird nerd who joined in on this Tuesday Tweets, now KNOWS the Prairie Warbler call!  What a unique spring morning gift!  Thanks Nature! (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Black-capped Chickadee
Gray Catbird
Northern Cardinal
Song Sparrow
Osprey
Common Grackle
European Starling
American Crow
House Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
American Black Duck
Blue Jay
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Herring Gull
Eastern Bluebird
Prairie Warbler
Eastern Towhee
American Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
Willet
American Robin
Great Black-backed Gull

Osprey

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Bird Nerds on the saltmarsh

Song Sparrow
Blueberries in bloom

Blue Jay



Eastern Bluebird - male


Eastern Bluebird - male 

Yellow Warbler - male

Yellow Warbler - male

Eastern Bluebird - male

Yellow Warbler - male

Praire Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Great Black-backed Gull


Osprey

Silhouette of an Eastern Towhee - male

It is FUN learning bird calls & songs!


Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler - I know it's not a great photo,
but I just love seeing those beautiful tiny wings take flight.

American Robin

Barn Swallow

Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets - Brewster: 6.5.18 at 9am  4Members/$6Non-members
Happy Birding!

Sunday, May 13, 2018

5.13.18 Bird Nerd Moment - Mother's Day - Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Wellfleet, MA 

What do moms want for Mother's Day?  Clearly it depends on the mom, but I believe many of us are thrilled with the opportunity to get to do what we love to do, with the people we love the most.  My family knows how to take care of me as they agreed to go for a birdwatching hike on spectacular trails that were loaded with birds!  Birds know where they are welcome!  I didn't keep a running list, because I was very happily working on capturing each species we encountered in a photo, so I will let the photos provide the list.

So many images to capture! ... including the surprise stars of the show, a marsh FULL of Fiddler Crabs!  They were INCREDIBLE to watch and to listen to!  Of course, to hear the sounds they made as they traveled across the sand, sneaking in and out of their sandy spaces, challenging each other... you had to be quiet.  Quiet is one of the best Mother's Day gifts worth giving.  Thank you family for the quiet love... (double click photos to enlarge)


Baltimore Oriole - male

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Canada Geese and an American Crow, foraging on the salt marsh

Painted Turtles soaking up Vitamin D

Baltimore Oriole - male

Red-winged Blackbird - male

Red-winged Blackbird - male

Red-winged Blackbird - male

Cedar-Apple Rust Gall

Cool kids


American Copper Butterfly




Fiddler Crab - male





The Fiddler Crabs were really fun to observe

American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Willet



Willet




Willet


Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Add caption

Singing!

Cottontail camouflage

Great Egret


Great Egret in flight



Red-winged Blackbird - female

Red-winged Blackbird - female

Red-winged Blackbird - female

Baltimore Oriole - male
Hairy Woodpecker - female



Canada Goose

Waiting for me...

Osprey

Meadow Vole

Meadow Vole, about to cross the path

Eastern Bluebird - male

Eastern Bluebird - male

Eastern Bluebird - male
Happy Birding!