Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday: parked at Trail's End and biked to Great Meadows.  Got a good look at a Common Yellow Throat. 



Sunday: Tried out Rock Meadow in Belmont.  Highlights were a Phoebe and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Woodpecker

Had a slow day at the Acton Arboretum last Sunday.  But in the end, it was redeemed by a long, close look at a Pileated Woodpecker.  He was on the ground bashing a log to bits.  Kind of like this guy.

Oxbow - the beat goes on

Another very good day.

Two indigo buntings.  One on the way in, one on the way out. 



Also bagged a Scarlet Tanager


And we saw a bunch of Orioles and Wrens. 
The female oriole was a standout.



The one we saw had a more mottled head.  She was right next to us collecting nest making items.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler this morning.  Very exciting.  Watched him for 10-15 minutes

Parulas

Uncountable Northern Parulas at the Acton Arboretum today.  The orchard trees were full of them and we could get super close up looks.




Also found a Nashville Warbler



and some winter wrens yapping away.



And an Oriole

Acton Arboretum

Great morning at Acton Arboretum.  This is definitely my new go to spot.

Three blackbrunians, two black and whites, a couple of yellow rumps, and a norther parula.

Mother's Day

Lucy made breakfast.
Lori and I gardened.
And an Oriole moved into our crab-apple tree.

May Flurries

Snow in May.  But birding persists.

Went to the tennis bubble area.  Found two sandpipers of some sort.

And a Green Heron


who flew up into a tree and was then chased away by a hawk of some sort. 

On the way back to the car, saw a single Yellow Rump.

May 2020

First, a note on Birding during a pandemic.  It seems like it is an "in" activity.

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/02/business/ap-us-virus-outbreak-birding-boom.html


The warblers showed up this week.  Last Sunday I caught two palms at Jenks and a black and white at Rolling Meadows. 

The Boxborough Birding email list provides a lot of good tips.  I followed there lead to the Acton Arboretum on Monday and ran into Canute , an expert birder.  He pointed me towards the Warbler action.  Lori and I went back the next day and say a couple of Norther Parulas, a Black and White, and plenty of Yellow Rumps.   Went back Wednesday and could only find the Yellow Rumps.  Friday we switched to Jenks.  One Yellow Rump in the parking lot, and then nothing.

Andy's walks are cancelled.  Mt. Auburn is closed.  We'll see how the rest of May turns out.  We need to get at least one or two big outings.