Sandhills in Saratoga

Two Sandhill Cranes have been frequenting the area of Clamsteam Road in Clifton Park, NY. Notification came courtesy of Larry Main.

Travis and I are headed to Syracuse this weekend and will try to stop in to see these birds. This would be a life bird for me so keep your fingers crossed!

Sandhill Crane (Photo Courtesy of Larry Main)

Sandhill Crane (Photo Courtesy of Larry Main)

Fresh Pond

A few highlights from today at Fresh Pond, Cambridge:

Lesser Scaup -1 Female
Canvasback - 1 Male(with Scaup)
Red-throated Loon - 1
Coopers Hawk-1
Eastern Screech Owl- 1

Checklist Here

Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Warbler Winter

It was an interesting morning at Great Meadows NWR in Concord. Travis and I arrived around 8 and were greeted by a flock of 30+ Common Redpolls feeding on the dike trail.

Later, along the river near the boat launch, we ran into a palm warbler who was hanging out with a pine. Shortly after, Travis located a common yellowthroat on the north side of the eastern pond.

Strange to see all the warblers right now but I like the little reminders of Spring and warmer weather.

Checklist here:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12502001

PS. Everything is frozen except the river so don't count on many waterfowl  unless the weather warms up.

2012 Summary

2012 was the year of the bird for me. After a long hiatus from birding I came back in full force (well almost).  I submitted my first eBird Bird Log on April 15th and since then submitted 172 more. Thats about one checklist every other day. While I fell short of the Massachusetts Top 100 birders of 2012, I have confidence I'll get there(perhaps not next year with a baby on the way). It was a great year. I really enjoyed getting back to a hobby I loved and returning to the outdoors. I got to spend some quality time with my best friends and see some new places I might never have visited.

Below is a summary of my 2012 birding:

Here's to next year. May it be a "Big Year."

2012 Goes out with a Bang

I drove out to Wilmington today and was lucky enough to see 13 Pine Grosbeaks at Jonspin Road. The birds were feeding on a crab-apple as previously reported. What a great way to end 2012. Here's looking forward to 2013!  Happy New Year!

Wrapping up 2012

We've arrived at the last day of the year and I am working on summarizing my yearly birding. I have to work today but am hoping to sneak out a little early to see my last bird of the year. Shooting for a Pine Grosbeak in Wilmington. If anyone is up there this afternoon please let me know if you see them.

I'll post if I locate them.

Deer Island and North Shore

Travis and I hit the North Shore this morning. We started at Crystal Cove and worked our way out Deer Island. The highlight for me at Crystal Cove was a lone Snow Bunting. I have been hunting this bird all year. Travis quipped, "the next snow bunting you see will be in a group of 50." More on that later...

An incredible number of eiders and scoters (black, surf, and white-winged) at Deer Island. We found a razorbill south of the parking area but other than that the highlights were few.  On the north side of the island we struck gold when Travis spotted an incoming flock of crossbills. Lucky for me it contained both male and female whites and reds (reds are a life bird for me). The last highlight before leaving the Island was a Iceland gull. Trav and I noticed this loner with a mixed flock of herrings, ring-bills, and great black-backed gulls. We were a bit unsure about the ID and would still appreciate input.

We did a quick drive up Revere Beach to Nahant and as if the birds gods had heard him, a flock of 50-100 Snow Buntings flew out of the dune grass.  I guess when it rains it does pour...

Checklist for this trip

Iceland Gull

Red Crossbill