Early Season Birding in Franklin Park

I went birding in mid-march, hoping to catch the warblers coming through.    Unfortunately, I was too early for the warblers, but there were plenty of other birds filling the air.


First off, the location.   I've become very fond of Franklin Park.  The park is a short walk from the subway.  has an open field, some 'wild' forest.   And a pond.   Scarboro pond is where many of the birds like hanging out - close to ware and meadow, a walk around the pond will find you many birds.

Bridge over Scarboro pond

New growth coming from the shallow end of the pond

New pine tree brings green to the leaf-less forest

Trees aren't the only place to find birds - many forage not he ground, or hang out in brush near the pond and meadow.

Dark-Eyed Junko scavenging in the ground

Song Sparrow among the brush

Red-Bellied Woordpecker

Tifted Titmouse

Nuthatches were everywhere - they're usually rare to see, but they were on half the trees in the forst.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Red-Winged Blackbird, singing a morning song

Black-capped chickadees were always everywhere as well.   The state bird of Massachusetts, these are fun little birds - never resting on a branch (or a feeder) for more than a moment before flying off again.  They have a nice little color scheme, and a nice variety of calls.  

This Chickadee was apparently hollowing out a nest area.  It would scrape out a mouthful then fly off somewhere else to deposit the debris, then come back for more.

The park also had its share of Red-Tailed hawks.   Unfortunately, I was often in the first when they were overhead, and the camera focused on tree branches more than the birds.   Frustrating, as some were great sights - one was circling quite low, while another seemed to be a pair flying off to their nesting area.

When I was in the open I did catch yet another one circling about.   I just raised the camera up and snapped away, not thinking I had caught anything well.  Once I got home and was able to crop and process the photos, turns out I had gotten some amazing shots!







I'll finish up with the bridge again, done in Black & White





Enjoy all my other photos on my Flickr page.

Neighborhood Predator II

A neighborhood predator has finally made his way to my neck of the woods.

Starting in Fall, we've been spotting a Coopers Hawk near the community garden.   We hope he's taking care of the local rabbit problem, but it seems squirrels are also high on the menu.

Hawk in a community garden tree

photo courtesy Sarah Hutt via cell phone camera

All Fall we've been watching in various trees and parks in the area.   I myself witnessed a dinner attempt: As I walked to through the park I saw a white streak out of the corner of my eye.  The hawk had swooped down to catch a squirrel on the ground - but to no avail.   The squirrel scampered up the tree too quick for the hawk, who then flew across the park to lament his next move.

A few weeks late I was on my back porch and noticed something out of place on a building the next block over.   The binoculars showed it to be the hawk hanging out...

A block away - thanks to the birding lens

Having this better photo I finally identified it as a Coopers Hawk.   Birding friends also told me that the lump in the upper chest is apparently 'lunch' being digested.   :)

These occasional sightings were apparently it until early January.   I was surprised there were no birds at the feeder, but as I went to go out I saw on the tree in front of me!!

I snapped a bunch of photos through the door.   When I went out with the camera he flew off to an adjacent tree.    Got a bunch of photos that day, then a few the next when he came back.   Haven't seen him since those two days, but here's hoping he stays in the neighborhood!!!

Enjoy the photos!

See all my photos in my Flickr Photo Stream. 

Neighborhood Predator

I finally got a great view, and plenty of shots of, our neighborhood hawk.

Hawks are nothing new to the neighborhood.   Boston has seen a resurgence of our hawk population over the years.  Two years ago a hawk did a nice job of getting rid of the rabbits in the community garden.   

Lately I've seen a young one flying around the neighborhood (the South End of Boston), including opening my shades in the morning to find him perched on my porch (only to fly away upon seeing the shade go up.

So today on my day off I'm looking out the back door watching the bird feeder.   Usual crowd today;  House and White Throated sparrows and House Finches.   Lots of action.   Then - all at once, they all up and fly to the left.   I'm thinking maybe a Jay or Starling was coming in fast and scaring them off.

To my surprise there it is - the hawk swooping in, coming close to the porch, then sweeping upwards.   Thinking he had to be going to the tree I dashed to the living room, grabbed the SLR, then back onto the porch in my slippers.

There he (she?) was - perched on the tree close to the deck.   He hung out long enough to get a great series of shots...     Seems to be a juvenile Coopers Hawk, based on the chest spotting and rounded tail feathers.

Quite stately.   Always looking like he's about to attack....

Some strange behavior spotted - he kept raising his right leg, fully withdrawing it into his folds.  The web says birds often do this to conserve heat.  Even though it wasn't that cold out perhaps he was taking a moment to warm up.

Hawk, or flamingo?

More first time behavior for me - a few times he would rub his beak on either side of the branch.  Not sure if he was cleaning it.  or, as a juvenile, this is a way of scraping off old skin or sharpening his beak.  Found a blog post that tells a little more about bird beaks...  And I've since learned this is called Feaking.

Tree as napkin?

While snapping, two Blue Jays returned, and expressed their displeasure about our hawk - squawking bloody murder - either trying to drive him off or warning others of his presence.

Jay unhappy the hawk is in the next tree.

Close-up of the watchful

I've been spotted!!  The rounded tail feathers identify Coopers hawk (vs red-tailed)

He ended up being there for about an hour, then was gone.   it looked as if he went to the adjacent park, but I couldn't find him again.    Perhaps to return another day???


Thanks for visiting - see more of my birding photos on flickr here


And check out this blog entry as to why we may be seeing more hawks in the city....

Plum Island

Another summer day trip this year was to Plum Island - a larger barrier island north of Boston.   A nice beach, some nice homes. But I went mostly for the birds.

A friend had taken some great photos of birds on the island.  Given the challenge of birding in the trees during the summer, I thought a nice open area would provide more opportunities.

This area is special as there is a lot of preserved marshland.   Plum Island, while a barrier island, is also home to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.  Plum Island sound is also surrounded by several other preserved wetlands, making the entire area a great habitat for a variety of water foul.

The Marsh on Plum Island - looking west towards the sound

The island itself was a variety of habitats.   I expected mostly marsh and beach, but found the island had a large number of trees, which surprised me.  Driving down the island it wasn't long before I heard Jays, Catbirds and mockingbirds in the trees along the road.   The trees included several Pine groves, which provided eats for Black Capped Chickadees, who spent the day coming through the cones looking for seeds.

Boardwalk connecting the beach (behind me), grassland, small forest, then the road

Chickadee picking seeds out of a pine cone

My first stop showed some of the challenges I would face in birding.    While I didn't have trees in the way, the challenge today was distance.    So many of our feathered friends were far away - my 300mm just wasn't enough. 

Most likely Yellowlegs, zoomed and cropped to the max

However, on occasion a bird would be close enough for a great photo and ID

Greater Yellowlegs, feeding close to shore

For me it was fascinating to see 'true birders' in this area.   I was interesting in getting great shots (Yellowlegs, above), whereas the birders were there with spotting scopes and chairs, staring at the cluster above.   Apparently they were waiting to see markings as there was rumored to be a rare bird amongst the birds.    Right now I'm more interested in getting a great photo than checking birds off a 'seen' list.   (Although I do enjoy seeing a new bird for the first time.

However, the 300mm did work well when birds took off and flew close by. 

Juvenile Herring Gull.   Looks awful hawk-like from this angle

Great Egret   (Snowy Egrets have yellow feet)

Of course, you don't always need the zoom for an amazing photo

Great Egret, foraging in the middle of the marsh

Plum Island itself is one long road form the entrance to the tip of the island, with several parking areas to leave your car and explore.   Some areas are just walks into the marsh. One has a few boardwalks that go throughout the trees and dunes.   And, of course, several are for people going to the beach.   After spending most of the day exploring, it was definitely time to hit the beach.

One of several boardwalks connecting the road to the beach

Beaches are connected to the road via boardwalks.   Not only easy on the feet, the boardwalks are there to preserve the dune habitat.   They're worth a slow stroll to check out the plant and wildlife living in the scrub habitat.

If you drive far enough down the island, the beaches are not very populated.  There were maybe a half dozen people on the beach on this Friday. 

Plum Island meets the Atlantic

Perhaps because I grew up not far form the ocean (sound), but there is nothing like the ocean to bring me to a calm place.  (Yes, I'm one of those strange people that love the smell of 'low tide'.)  After just watching the waves roll in for a while, I couldn't resist and had to take my shoes off and walk in the surf for a while.

And my walk was rewarded.   Not only did the camera not get wet, there were several gulls and Sanderlings on the shore who didn't mind getting their photo taken.    Sanderlings are the birds that feed right where the ware meets the ocean, and 'run away' when a wave comes in, then run back out was the water recedes to find bites to eat right under the wet sand.

Sanderlings, rushing in as the waves go out

Hanging out on the beach was a perfect way for me to end my day.

I will definitely visit Plum Island another day.   I found they do open at 5am, so potential for sunrise photos one day (you never know).  A longer lens would be nice, but I've also found several web sites that list what kind of birds are seen where, so maybe do a little research to see what can be seen on the island.    And if I visit in August again, maybe leave the camera in the car and bring swim trunks - the water was super warm.

Please visit my Flickr Plum Island album to see some more photos.

Thanks for visiting, and maybe see you on the Island one day....

UNW: Stony Brook Reservation

My latest monthly nature walk group went to Stony Brook Reservation.  One of 5 large "Reservation" parks in the Boston area.   Stony Brook itself used to be a larger waterway, flowing all the way to the Charles, providing power (and water) to many breweries throughout the JP area.  (That's where Stony Brook orange line stop got it's name).  Most of the brook now runs in culverts under ground, and most of the breweries are now condos.

As with many parks I explored this summer, it doesn't take long for the city to disappear and the forest to engulf you.   This was the path into the woods.   I'm all of 10 feet from the main road (Washington St, Dedham) and the bus stop.

Lawrence Path

It's a good thing I decided to take this path.   There's a main road through the park - Enneking parkway.   While it goes right through the reservation, it isn't very park friendly.  No sidewalks, and barely enough room on one side of the road to walk if you had to.   Cars speed by faster than the speed limit, so walking close the road is a bit dangerous.  Taking a path into the park is definitely preferred.   Stangely enough, if you drive it's allowable to park on the side of the road to visit the park.  No clue how accidents don't happen all the time.

Turtle Pond is the main body of water on the north side of the park.   Its still the source of Stony Brook, although the brook goes underground after running through the park.  The pond is supposed to be for fishing only, but the dock makes a convenient swimming hold for the locals (a few were swimming while we were there).    While nice, the dock itself needs some TLC.   Not sure how much upkeep the DCR does in the park.   We did see evidence of tree maintenance, but the dock, well.

Southern Dock at Turtle Pond

Under this dock is some marshy area, where we spotted some wildlife.   Nothing exciting, but I'm a city boy, and we don't see much.   :)

Bullfrog

Painted Turtle

After investigating the dock, we walked the path around the pond.  A nice walk, but with the drought in Mass, there wasn't a lot going on.  Less wildlife than usual.  Much of the marsh area was little more than wet mud.  Most of the trees and bushes looked a bit distressed.

Much beauty around the pond

Unfortunately, not everyone respects nature 

The monthly walks give me a chance to go exploring with a different group of folks - some I know from previous walks, and always a few new faces.  This trip we had an entomologist and a lepidopterist.  How often do you see people come to a nature walk with a butterfly net?

On this walk, looking for wildlife meant turning over leaves and rocks to see what we could see.  Again, the dry weather meant fewer insects, but we did make a few interesting finds.

Orgyia leucostigma

While I did help find bugs and caterpillars, I'll always enjoy the trees and solitude of a forest.  Stony Brook Reservation provides a nice mix.  Lots of trails (well used and well marked).   Some forest was very walkable off-trail, while other area had so much ground cover it can barely see through it.   Plus, I'm terrible at identifying poison ivy.  It never seems to look like the photos.

Always remember to look up...

This month was a last minute walk, concentrating around the Turtle Pond area of the reservation (North End of the reservation).  The park itself was very nice, and only a short bud ride from the end of the subway.  But I feel I only scratched the surface of the Reservation.  I definitely want to head back when I have more time, and its not blazingly hot outside.  There are plenty of trails and forest there left to explore.

See all the photos from this walk on my Flickr album.

Visit (and join?) the Boston Urban nature Walk facebook page.