9/16 - Rutland State Park

I went back to Rutland State Park this afternoon hoping for a better migration day than yesterday. Yesterday was very windy at Oxbow NWR and all I could hear was the typical gun fire from nearby Fort Devens.

Watch this video with the volume up to hear peaceful Oxbow NWR yesterday afternoon.

Today I happened upon a few really nice waves of migrants in Rutland State despite the fact that I started late and the winds had not really died down much since yesterday. One wave included a TENNESSEE WARBLER, but I wasn't carrying my camera at that point. After that first wave I kept my camera ready and was able to shoot some good birds including 3 separate CAPE MAY WARBLERS. Mark and Sheila also had these species yesterday.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

MAGNOLIA WARBLER

PALM WARBLER

OVENBIRD (I rarely see these in the fall)

BLACKPOLL WARBLER - Most of any of the warblers

HOUSE WREN

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH- All over the place.

RED-EYED VIREO

CAPE MAY WARBLER #1

CAPE MAY WARBLER #2

CAPE MAY WARBLER #3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

 I also had a few RED CROSSBILLS fly-over at two different locations.

Complete List:

Turkey Vulture  4
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  16
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Phoebe  24
Warbling Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  9
Blue Jay  13
Black-capped Chickadee  32
Tufted Titmouse  14
Red-breasted Nuthatch  36
White-breasted Nuthatch  6
Brown Creeper  4
House Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
American Robin  2
Gray Catbird  7
Cedar Waxwing  2
Ovenbird  2
Tennessee Warbler  1  

Common Yellowthroat  8
Cape May Warbler  3    

Magnolia Warbler  4
Blackpoll Warbler  23
Palm Warbler  2
Pine Warbler  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Black-throated Green Warbler  12
Eastern Towhee  1
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  4
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Purple Finch  2
Red Crossbill  4    

American Goldfinch  4

-K 

Red Crossbills - Rutland State Park

I counted a flock of 29 RED CROSSBILLS in Rutland this afternoon. They were seen in the swamp off Coldbrook Road about 0.5 miles in from the route 122 entrance and on the left. After a tip from two birders (Dave and....Sorry!), I waited about 20 minutes when the large flock flew in. They seemed to be feeding in the pines and spruces surrounding the swamp and then perching in the dead trees while using the swamp below for drinking. I believe Peter Morlock originally spotted this flock earlier in the day. Not the best lighting or distance for photos, but you can see some color I guess.

K

American Golden Plover in Devens

There was an American Golden Plover at Rogers field in Devens this afternoon. The bird took off when they began mowing the field.

Check out where this bird is headed for the winter (the blue part of the map):

Good week in Devens!

K

Red-Headed Woodpecker in Devens

I found this striking adult Red-headed Woodpecker this afternoon during my lunch break. I first noticed it as it as it flew overhead. I had to run back to my car since I usually don't bring my camera along with me and luckily it was still there when I got back. The location is Birch Circle in Devens, which is a great area for birding. It's a series of paved streets in an old overgrown army neighborhood. Ideal for tick-free birding! Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows and Indigo Buntings are breeders and are found everywhere in here. Park at the dirt pull off on Grant Road. The woodpecker was seen  not too far in from there. I should also note that there were good numbers of Northern Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and both nuthatches in the same area.



 Pine Warblers like this young one were out in numbers also today.

Kevin