Birding with Andy: Heald Orchard Edition

Went out to Pepperell Friday with Andy and a small group of birders.  This was a replacement for Andy's yearly Mt. Auburn trip.  Below is his email wrap up. A lot of Nashville and Blue Winged Warblers and a tree full of Cedar Waxwings  were some of the highlights.  

The top spot, though, goes to the Kestral in full hunting mode.

Thank you all for a very nice morning of birding.  The Heald Street Orchard is a truely unique birding destination and worth checking out at different times of the migration - as well as the year round.  It's also nice because there is no neck strain from looking at birds at the top of trees - everything is pretty much at eye level!

We had 45 species including 8 species of warblers - a decent day of birding any day - and that was without some of the birds that will be arriving this week (i.e bobolinks, orioles, field sparrows).

The following is the list as I had it ("o" for overflight and "h" for heard only).:

Heald Orchard, Pepperell - Friday May 7, 2021

 

Great Blue Heron (o)

Turkey Vulture (o)

Canada Goose

Wood Duck (o)

Mallard

Bald Eagle (imm) (o)

Red-shouldered Hawk (o)

American Kestral

Killdeer (h)

Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Red-bellied Woodpecker (h)

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (h)

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven (o)

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch 

House Wren (h)

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Blue-winged Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Northern Parula

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Ovenbird (h)

Common Yellowthroat

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

In addition to the above, we had Mockingbird, Wild Turkey and Red-tailed Hawk on the drive - and don't forget the Peacock calling - always a great bird to get when out in the field!

Until next time - happy birding!

-Andy