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

Originally, I was concerned about the chill in the air for our Tuesday Tweets, though I tend to overdress in cold weather.  It's no fun getting chilly on a walk.  Well it turned out to be absolutely perfect weather for an extended Tuesday Tweets!  It seemed there were an equal amount of both familiar faces as well as new-comers, some visiting from Ohio, some visiting from Florida.  The woods and marsh were relatively quiet, and as the bay drew us in, we had a few sightings (and soundings!) along the way.  

I would have to say the highlight this morning was a friendly American Goldfinch who tweeted about her business of pruning her feathers and fluffing up, just as we were walking by a juniper.  She wasn't bothered by us in the least and she allowed for great views and smiles of admiration, as she welcomed us onto Wing Island.  The foliage is changing naturally and even though the colors are generally more muted on Cape Cod than other New England areas, we could see and feel the season changing by observing the color and transformations of the plant life.  

We made it to the bay today and admired the gulls, the cormorants and the plovers... some Sanderlings decided to make an entrance as well and another Tuesday Tweeter noted a small flock of terns resting on a distant sandbar.  Even when the list of species may not be as long as other Tuesday Tweets, the reward of the view, the seabreeze on our faces, the smell of healthy salt air... made it a relaxing and peaceful way to begin a weekday morning. Lo and behold - as we were about to cross the marsh again on our return...there was a female American Goldfinch, seemingly wishing us well on our way.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Northern Cardinal
American Crow
European Starling
Blue Jay
Herring Gull
American Goldfinch
Black-capped Chickadee
Great Black-backed Gull
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Double-crested Cormorant
Terns (Common?  Too far away to confirm)
Ring-billed Gull

American Goldfinch - female

American Goldfinch - female.  Oh so FRIENDLY!

If only we could fly...

Double-crested Cormorants

Tuesday Tweeters 

Great Black-backed Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring Gull

Black-bellied Plover

Not much remaining of this creek 

Some kind of chestnut outer layer

Poison Ivy sporting her autumn shades

A monarch that hasn't migrated yet

Happy Birding!

10.3.16  Birdwatching - Wixon Innovation Middle School
Dennis, MA

Sometimes, when you're outside, a moment happens... actually I need to reword that - Oftentimes, when you're as lucky as I am.  Now the moment we shared at Wixon Innovation Middle School this afternoon oddly enough, did not include a bird.  It included a bug.  A BIG BUG - a praying mantis. As we were headed outdoors, when thankfully the sun had finally decided to make an appearance after a week of clouds and rain on Cape Cod... one of the bird nerds spotted a praying mantis in the flowerbed right next to the building.

I NEVER would have noticed it.  I was too busy working on what I had planned for us for the next 45 minutes outside.  I believe, this is an opportunity, an opportunity to incorporate the sense of touch in order to foster that sense of wonder with nature, and that it is truly every where you turn... you just need to take notice.  I would never force someone to hold or touch something we discover out in nature that they weren't comfortable with.  What is remarkable, is watching people grow... watching them explore, watching them delight in something as simple as an insect who was hanging out innocently on a blade of green, right next to the building... right before your eyes.  So - I told everyone that I was going to pick up this bug and those who wanted to, could also hold her, though now I believe this mantis to have been "he", after researching.  Please do not miss the photos of the smiling faces!  One of the bird nerds asked if it would bite me.  I simply answered, "They've never bitten me."  

Most of these students were curious and excited about the mantis, though one protested saying that we were 'wasting time on a bug'.  Here's how I feel.  Nature sends us surprise gifts. I happen to love surprises!  I know not everyone does.  The value of being able to get these kiddos outdoors, if only for 45 minutes in their day, is a gift for me in that I get to share the birds and whatever natural phenomenons decide to pop up...even interesting insects.  When something, someone shows up - I have to stop and pay attention and share the moment.  Not everyone wanted to hold the praying mantis, but for those who did (including 2 aspiring veterinarians, come to find out!) I like to believe - it's not an experience they'll soon forget.

I'm not a huge bug fan, but I an enamored by the praying mantis.  They LOOK at you, size you up, and this friendly, albeit rightfully startled male, was nothing but a gentleman.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Passing off the praying mantis to an enthusiastic nature lover

She couldn't WAIT to hold him!

Don't miss the joy on her face!!!

She spotted this magic in our afternoon!

Not an easy thing to describe - though hopefully, completely unforgettable.

There's a lot of bravery going on in this photo...

he calmed right down in her hands - like magic.

Here I'm passing the mantis over to a slightly apprehensive 

student - who championed the moment!

I did have a plan for our time together, and after we returned the praying mantis to his safe spot - we did continue to one of the school yards adjacent to the building.  One of the bird nerds spotted a spider and before you know it - thankfully - a BIRD!  An Eastern Bluebird! We only caught brief sight of him before he took off - but a lot of folks get EMOTIONAL upon spotting a bluebird!  I've seen it.  I'm hoping this means we'll get more glimpses of Eastern Bluebirds over the next 4 months... but you never know.  

Spotting the Eastern Bluebird

Showing the Eastern Bluebird in the Sibley Guide

On to data collection with regard to the nature

surrounding their school

We discussed how vital certain plant life is to birds and their survival

Aspiring veterinarian enjoying her time outdoors

Giant mushroom

I realize these next two photos will be a sort of tease for the bird nerds in this Birdwatching enrichment... We didn't see or hear a lot of birds on this particular day.  The birds are there though.  When I was reorganizing my materials after the students had left for the day, Bluejays showed up and I even saw & heard a Northern Flicker.  It's tough being quiet enough with a group our size, especially at the end of a school day... when the sun shows up after a week long hiatus!  The birds are there... we just need to be quiet & patient enough to allow them to show themselves off to us - like a bold praying mantis.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Happy Birding young bird nerds!

9.27.16 - TUESDAY TWEETS CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Before we know it...we'll start seeing Hooded Mergansers...

Next Opportunity: 10.4.16 9:30 $2Members/$4Non-members
Happy Birding!

9.26.16  Birdwatching - Wixon Innovation Middle School
Dennis, MA

A new school year and new flock of bird nerds!  I'm very happy to be returning to Wixon, where I've spent many a sunny afternoon during the enrichment period of the day for these 4th & 5th graders!  I even have a returning student - which makes the birds especially happy! We began by learning about binoculars today and how to treat them and how not to treat them.  They are a wonderful tool when used properly, and I find them invaluable, though it's fun to test myself when they're not available.  The kids jumped right in and enthusiastically slipped them on, ready to find some birds.  They seem to be a simple tool, but there are some tricks to them, and part of my job here is to make sure everyone is familiar with the techniques to use them a little bit better.

I wish I could report that we saw a bunch of birds, but we only heard them today.  It's a challenge being patient and quiet, particularly at the end of a school day, when you're out in the sun... all you want to do is run & play.  The problem with that is... we won't see a whole lot of birds if we're too loud or moving too fast.  That's OK though... this is a learning process.  One of the greatest aspects we have in our bird-loving group is the wealth of bird stories they each seem to have stocked up in their brains, ready to share.  I LOVE THAT! So we will get to sharing them as we move through these afternoons together.  I always want them to be on the lookout for feathery friends wherever it is they are, because even when you can't necessarily see or hear them... the birds are there.  We're going to have a great time together! (double click photos to enlarge)

Excellent binocular technique!

Nest spotted!  Bird nest, squirrel nest... not quite sure...

Excited to spot some birds!

Acorns from the oak tree - BIRD FOOD!

What happened to these oak leaves?

Happy Birding!

9.23.16  Bird Nerd Moment - Scorton Creek
Sandwich, MA

Learning with the senses...  I really feel this is the best method of understanding a new concept.  I know sometimes it's not wise, sometimes not even safe, to employ every sense when presenting ideas and information to others.  When it IS safe to do so, well, then you can have some of those moments... a magical moment to maybe last a lifetime.

Green Briar Nature Center in Sandwich is a gem of a place, nestled near a cranberry bog and the Smiling Pool, as Thornton Burgess so beautifully named it, just off of Route 6A in East Sandwich, MA.  Years ago I was hired there as a part-time naturalist and I thought that I'd just won the job lottery!  Seriously!  It's not like you're out there in the woods, at the bog, on the salt marsh, sifting through silt looking for gold.  Funny how it shows up though.  What the HECK am I talking about?   I was working for Green Briar on this perfect weather morning, the second day of autumn, with 10 second graders I'd never met. They'd previously had classroom presentations of their field trip to Scorton Creek, and lucky kiddos... here they were in Nature's classroom.  We walked on the dirt road together, toward the marsh and the creek.  We talked about plants, got interrupted by a few birds (Well I did. I always do.) we discussed why the salt marsh is such a vital and fragile ecosystem that deserves reverence.  For some of these kids, it's their backyard.  When you grow up with something so special just there all the time, it's easy to understand why such a place might become taken for granted.  

We had a check list of plants and animals and birds and isopods... we were doing well on the list, especially once we got to the creek and the kids could wade in if they wanted and use nets and buckets to get a closer look at whatever they discovered.  I'm not used to kids who are dirt shy.  When I'm at the Museum of Natural History, KidSummer kids expect and want to trash up their brand new white museum logo T-shirt with mud and sand and dirt. These kiddos were on a field trip from school - way to start the year Forestdale second graders!  Some of them were less than enthused about the clay-like sand & mud in the creek bed though.  No biggie.  I'm not there to make anyone do anything they really don't want to do.  The kids that did jump right in, literally, discovered some sea lettuce and some empty clam shells and 1 little green crab.  So we got right up close and I held the crab and we talked about how it felt when the crab walked over our hands... could he bite us, yes, but his claws were tiny.
Mostly - we all agreed, it tickled as he crept across the palms of our hands.  Then, a bit of magic happened, though not everyone noticed.  One of the more shy kids, who was not comfortable getting her feet muddy, who didn't want to wade or even step near the creek, who hung back so far until this moment... asked, "Can I hold the crab?"
"OF COURSE!", said I!  I was SO delighted and PROUD OF HER!  I'd just met this youngster not an hour before, and here she was, growing right in front of me!  This photo below is her, bravely & happily holding a young green crab in her hands.  Don't miss the fading blue nail polish...

It was a magical nature moment.  When the crab was in her hands, man-o-man did she break out into the most beautiful missing a few baby teeth smile!  It was wonderful.  Then another girl, who had also hung back away from the messy fun we'd been having, stepped up and asked the very same question.  I was blown away!  This is what the heck I'm talking about.  Teaching with the senses.  There is NOTHING like it.  They could see the landscape, they could hear the breeze and the birds, they could smell the stinky sulfur of the healthy marsh, they could taste the salt from the brackish water on their hands, and they could feel the crab creeping gently across their hands...

All sorts of discovery going on

Pointing out Glasswort "sea pickle"

Courageously holding a skate egg case "mermaid's purse"

This student stepped WAY out of his comfort zone to hold this for my photo.

That's my hand next to his, letting him know that he would be fine.

Found feathers

Deer tracks!

Oak branches that dip into the water at high tide

Note the salt hay and grasses that dangle from the lower branches

I realize, this particular entry was not about birds, though we did see and hear: American Crow, Herring Gull, Song Sparrow & Belted Kingfisher;  I felt like sharing this experience I had with these students.  The 90 minutes I spent on the salt marsh with these 7 year olds, who I'll probably never see again (though I sure hope I do!) made my morning.  I hope they visit Scorton Creek with their families, while walking the family dog and show them all they learned, in such a short time, in such a special spot, with Cape Cod magic all around them.

Happy Birding, and crabbing!

9.14.16 Birdwalk for Cotuit Bird & Garden Club - John Wing Trail - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

Today, I got to lead the Cotuit Bird & Garden Club along the John Wing Trail, north of the museum.  I was surprised to discover that MOST of these club members had NEVER been on this particular trail!  I was so happy to introduce them to it and to answer their questions and to see and hear some birds with them along the way.  Determined to make it to the shore, especially because yesterday we had seen the large flock of Tree Swallows,  I was really hoping we'd get to experience the same sight two days in a row... you just never know...

I also felt that I should at least point out the plant species that I am familiar with along the trail.  Much of it I've learned not only through my own curiosity, but also from both observing and asking questions of Nancy Wigley, my go-to Botanist.  I tell you, I could listen to Nancy speak about poison ivy for 15 minutes and hang on every word.  Her book, Trailside Treasures Plants of Cape Cod, is a tribute to this very trail we're walking.  It includes photography by Susan W. Carr and gives a narrative about where exactly you can find particular species of plants and ALL ABOUT THEM, right here in Brewster.  We were fortunate to run into Nancy after our walk, after I'd been raving about her!  You can purchase the book at the fabulous gift shop inside the museum.

What a perfect beach day, which can be a tease... I mean, we were there for the birds...and the plants, and the view, and the sun, and the sand and this amazing Cape we all live on, in, around... it's hard not to jump on in!  It was such a nice bunch of curious caring bird and plant lovers.  I do hope we get to spend time together again, surrounded by bird and/or leaves of some of their favorite plants.  I have been known to say, "If it doesn't poop... I'm not always sure..."  I do so respect the plant life we have here on the Cape especially.   We are surrounded by a lot of blue...but the green makes it an extra healthy place to call home. (double click photos to enlarge)  

Our List:
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
White-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Tree Swallow
Red-tailed Hawk
American Crow
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Egret
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Common Tern
Semi-palmated Plover

Salt Reed Grass/Big Cord Grass "GOOD" (native)

Phragmites/Common Reed "BAD" (invasive/introduced)

Cotuit Bird & Garden Club on their bird walk

Glasswort AKA: Sea Pickle

Solar Calendar

Poison Ivy

Leaves covered in galls, produced by mites

Asters

Looking Northwest toward Cape Cod Bay...

with Crowes Pasture, Dennis in the distance on the left

Ring-billed Gulls resting on the mudflats

Great Black-backed Gull

Cotuit Bird & Garden Club

Great Black-backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorants

Herring Gull, juvenile & Least Sandpipers

Thanks Cotuit Bird & Garden Club!

Happy Birding!