Tuesday, October 30, 2018

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

Spending time outside is good for you, you know...
You should join us sometime for Tuesday Tweets, if you haven't already, or if you have!  It's a sweet herd of bird nerds who join in, and discovering who is there each time is just as surprising as the bird sightings and the natural discoveries along trail we get to hike.  It's a gift for all I feel.  It also gives you an opportunity to sport your winter fashions!  I can't get through a bird walk without a hat, and with all the gear:binoculars, cameras, scarves, we are hard to miss out there!  

The wind was battling us, so I was happy to seek shelter in the woods.  Wind is a factor that can make bird sightings more challenging as well, particularly when viewing at the shore.  Your hands are shaking, your eyes are tearing, you can't focus.  Wind can be dangerous for the birds too.  They have to gauge when to fly and when not to fly, of course, they don't always have the luxury of choice.  A bird's gotta eat...  

We did see a falcon zoom over the salt marsh, so quickly I could not 100% identify, but I do believe, due to size, it was a Merlin.  In other raptor news, as we were walking along the meadow, a Northern Harrier was conveniently hovering just off the path.  He was easily identifiable due to proximity, as well as his hovering harrier behavior.  The wind was on our side, and his, for those few special minutes of bird admiration. (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:


American Crow
Blue Jay
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Falcon (Merlin?, American Kestrel?) it was moving too fast
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier


American Crow



Blue Jay

John Wing Trail, heading toward Cape Cod Bay

Yellow-rumped Warbler's rump

Yellow-rumped Warbler



Yellow-rumped Warbler





Blue Jay


The meadow in fall hues

You can see across the saltmarsh to Drummer Boy Park

Can you spot the Great Blue Heron's head in the layers of salt marsh grasses?

What an incredible surprise - Northern Harrier!




Northern Harrier


American Crow

Red-tailed Hawk


Silhouettes of foliage are pretty too I think

Bird Nerds excited about the Northern Harrier!




Wooly Bear Caterpillar

Inspecting giant Oak leaves for galls




Poison Ivy with berries... looks very pretty this time of year, just beware!
Next opportunities for Tuesday Tweets: 
Green Briar Nature Center: *11am*   11.6.18    
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History: *9am*  11.13.18  
*note different walk times at different locations
$4Members/$6Non-members
Happy Birding!

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

10.23.18 Tuesday Tweets - Briar Patch Trail - Green Briar Nature Center
East Sandwich, MA

The campus of Green Briar Nature Center lends itself to welcoming wildlife.  Birds seem to know this.  It doesn't hurt that there is a lovely wildflower garden, which blooms for most of the year, miraculously.  That is no accident!  There are volunteers who work tirelessly weeding and caring for this special spot.  The pollinators certainly appreciate their efforts.

As we are feeling and seeing the seasons shift into fall here on Cape Cod, it's impossible not to notice the glorious colors that pop up at every turn while you're walking or driving around.  Trees and shrubs whose leaves change color look like gigantic bouquets!  Those colors are even pretty, for a time, when they fall to the ground.  Leaves in all shapes and colors decorate your pathway at Green Briar Nature Center.  Don't forget to stock up on yummy jam from the jam kitchen when you're visiting! (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List: 
Common Grackle
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Gray Catbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Common Grackle

Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal - male


Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse




Yellow-rumped Warbler
 

Yellow-rumped Warbler


Yellow-rumped Warbler

Peaceful spot

Oriole Nest

Golden-crowned Kinglet


Golden-crowned Kinglet
 
Can you spot the Gray Catbird in this photo?

Gray Catbird


Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Swampy trail to the dock









Golden-crowned Kinglet
 
American Black Ducks

Copper Beech

Wooly Bear Caterpillar


The wildflower garden year round


The reds on this Maple are spectacular

The view from the dock is so pretty this time of year
Red-winged Blackbird - male
Common Grackle

Holly Tree
Northern Cardinal - male

American Goldfinch - male

Blue Jay
Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets:
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History: 9am 10.30.18  $4Members/$6Non-members
Green Briar Nature Center: 11am  11.6.18   $4members/$6Non-members
Happy Birding!