Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Massachusetts Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, March 18 at 05:36 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Purple Gallinule,©Barry Kent Mackay

18 Mar Canvasback [Joe Scott ] 18 Mar Woodcocks Holden [Katharine Mills ] 18 Mar Plucky whooping crane gives wildlife experts hope ["Scott Ricker" ] 18 Mar Red-shouldered Hawk at Memorial Forest in Sudbury! [Gregory Billingham ] 18 Mar Killdeer, Tree Swallows [alice morgan ] 18 Mar Assabet River NWR Eagles (and others) ["Jason St. Sauver" ] 18 Mar North Hill Marsh, Duxbury--3 Fox Sparrows [Evan Dalton ] 18 Mar crow poisoning - NPS site [Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore ] 18 Mar Re: Poisoning crows [Cherrie Corey ] 18 Mar Ducks- Johnson's Pond area, No. Andover ["dana" ] 18 Mar Poisoning crows [john kricher ] 18 Mar Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward [Glenn Williams ] 18 Mar Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward [Christopher Halpin ] 18 Mar Cambridge Fox Sparrow [Jon Damian ] 18 Mar Fox Sparrow-Salisbury 3/18 [Bird Watchers Supply & Gift ] 18 Mar Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward ["Scott Ricker" ] 18 Mar Current status of Massachusetts crow populations [Andrew Joslin ] 18 Mar American Oystercatcher Winthrop 3/18 ["Peter and Fay" ] 18 Mar Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward [Andrew Joslin ] 18 Mar Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward [Joshua Stuart Rose ] 18 Mar Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward [Andrew Joslin ] 18 Mar Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward ["Scott Ricker" ] 18 Mar The future of biodiversity conservation on WICN ["Mark Lynch" ] 18 Mar Duxbury Beach - Tree Swallows [Scott Hecker ] 18 Mar Great Meadows awash (Concord) [Cherrie Corey ] 18 Mar No Subject [bob phillips ] 18 Mar The future of biodiversity conservation on WICN ["Mark Lynch" ] 17 Mar Cape Ann 3/17 Gloucester to Halibut PT ["RMC" ] 17 Mar West Newbury ~ 3/17/10 [Sue McGrath ] 17 Mar Leucistic Red Tailed and Red-Tail copulating [Dale J Martin ] 17 Mar CT Report 03/17/2010 [Roy Harvey ] 17 Mar Re: Directions - rookery in Andover ["dana" ] 17 Mar Scotland Road & Plum Island - 03-17-10 ["David K. Weaver" ] 17 Mar Amherst - Tuesday; Falmouth - Wednesday [] 17 Mar St johns VI [Sherry Leffert ] 17 Mar Directions - rookery in Andover [Allan ] 17 Mar South Boston: Tree Swallow, Scaup [Tim Factor ] 17 Mar Peregrines & eagle, Amherst [Nicholas Barber ] 17 Mar A great birding day ["Douglas Chickering" ] 17 Mar Wayland/Sudbury Tufted Duck relocated on River Road, Wayland, 14 March 2010 [Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore ] 17 Mar Forgot to put in address Sorry ["wildbird" ] 17 Mar Bird walk ["wildbird" ] 17 Mar Nine Acre Corner, Assabet Barrow's Goldeneyes, 3/16 ["Swain, David" ] 16 Mar CT Report 03/16/2010 [Roy Harvey ] 16 Mar Bear Creek walk Sunday March 21 ["Soheil Zendeh" ] 16 Mar My Reply to "Pileated Woodpecker location(s)": Minor Correction ["Walt Webb" ] 17 Mar Re: Pileated Woodpecker location(s) ["Glenn d'Entremont" ] 16 Mar Fw: eBird Report - Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary , 3/16/10 [Paul Peterson ] 17 Mar King eider, eurowidgeon, Cape. Newton cemetery [] 16 Mar Deer Island, Winthrop, Revere: Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gulls [Tim Factor ] 16 Mar Re: Pileated locations [kirk marshall ] 15 Mar Nine Acre Corner, Assabet Goldeneyes, Water Row Sudbury, 3/15 ["Swain, David" ] 15 Mar FYI: 2010 State of the Birds available [] 16 Mar Reply to "Pileated Woodpecker location(s)" ["Walt Webb" ] 16 Mar Great Meadows flooded, Walk rescheduled (Concord) [Cherrie Corey ] 16 Mar 3/16 Duxbury Beach - more re Lesser B-b Gull(s) [Rick Bowes ] 16 Mar Seekonk Tufted Duck 3/16/10 [Ian Davies ] 16 Mar BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - YES ["jamoos AT earthlink.net" ] 16 Mar Fw: eBird Report - Suffolk Downs Oasis , 3/16/10 [Paul Peterson ] 16 Mar Spooner Pond Plymouth Today ["Myer" ] 15 Mar Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 [Bird Watchers Supply & Gift ] 14 Mar CT Report 03/14/2010 [Roy Harvey ] 15 Mar Pileated Woodpecker location(s) [alice morgan ] 15 Mar Birds n' Beers, Tonight [Eric LoPresti ] 15 Mar 3/15 Duxbury Beach - Lesser Black-backed Gull - not so black! [Rick Bowes ] 16 Mar CT Report 03/15/2010 [Roy Harvey ] 16 Mar Mt.Auburn Warbler ["Oakes Spalding" ] 15 Mar Fw: Canvasback [Paul Peterson ] 16 Mar RFI on Cape Ann storm damage/effects ["RMC" ] 15 Mar Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 [Bird Watchers Supply & Gift ] 15 Mar Numbers of waterbirds in Asia are rapidly declining. ["David K. Weaver" ] 15 Mar Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 [Bird Watchers Supply & Gift ] 14 Mar Birds and Beers - Tommorow! [Eric LoPresti ] 14 Mar Re: Harrier feeding on Goldeneye ["Suzanne & John" ] 15 Mar Pileated Woodpecker location(s) [alice morgan ] 14 Mar Re: Harrier feeding on Goldeneye ["Eric" ] Subject: Canvasback From: Joe Scott <joexcski AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:59:18 -0400 Today while birding Great Pond in Randolph with Kathy Rawdon, we found a male Canvasback. It was on its own for awhile and then joined a group of 20+ greater scaup. Elsewhere, the pileated woodpecker was present this morning at 11:30 am at 437 Hillside Street in Milton. It was in a tree close to the road for a few minutes then lifted off to fly to a location out behind the house. Joe Scott Subject: Woodcocks Holden From: Katharine Mills <gkmills AT charter.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:45:59 -0400 Hi, Yesterday morning I had the most unusual yard bird. I live in a suburb of Worcester on a postage stamp lot. At 6:15 am I was putting my two 50 lb dogs out into the pen in my backyard. I had each dog by the collar. It was dark. I heard a peent call. I thought I must still be sleeping. Why was this bird not at the WTAG tower field 1/2 mile from my yard? I waited and heard the call twice more. Yes It was a woodcock! I put the dogs in the pen, but did not have time to get my bins and try to see the bird. Hopefully this bird will travel 1/2 mile to a habitat where it can breed. Kathy Mills Holden, MA gkmills AT charter.net Subject: Plucky whooping crane gives wildlife experts hope From: "Scott Ricker" <ptbagger AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:09:24 -0400 Here is a positive story on a species that has been struggling to recuperate from a major decline in numbers. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKmTkGwrsQ42PAHtuPUTNCgbXu 5gD9EFQSNO0 Scott Ricker Southwick, MA. ptbagger AT verizon.net Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk at Memorial Forest in Sudbury! From: Gregory Billingham <gbil4243 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:02:27 -0400 Just a quick little note here folks! While assisting Sudbury Valley Trustees with installing a bench that sits atop the boardwalk that spans Cranberry Brook, Dan and myself were graced with the presence of a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk! This lovely buteo was soaring overhead, just above the treeline over the marsh area around us. It was flying in tight cirlces, giving its characteristic "kee-yer" call quite often. Sibley and Peterson weren't kidding when they stated that the Red-shouldered is very vocal! A lifer for me, and had great looks at it for about 7 minutes or so. Also, at least 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches were heard calling back and forth to each other. Sadly, I could not get on them amongst all those tall pines there. Happy birding everyone! -- Gregory S. Billingham 83 Hartwell Avenue Littleton, MA 01460-1261 1-(508)-517-4131 Subject: Killdeer, Tree Swallows From: alice morgan <morgan.alice AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:39:01 -0400 Four of the former (at least) and two of the latter seen at the W. Bridgewater model airplane field area. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA Subject: Assabet River NWR Eagles (and others) From: "Jason St. Sauver" <saintjaybob AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:28:03 -0400 While working at Assabet River NWR today... had two Bald Eagles at Puffer Pond. One adult and one juvenile. Could this be the year they decide to claim some Assabet territory?! Also of note, had two Red-breasted nuthatches calling - one off of Otter Alley and one on the south side of Assabet River NWR. Didn't get to count, but other species also present: Eastern Bluebird, Mallard Canada Goose Wood Duck Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Red-winged Blackbird Hairy Woodpecker Black-capped chickadee Tufted Titmouse American Crow Red-tailed hawk and first Painted Turtles of year seen basking in the wetlands. Subject: North Hill Marsh, Duxbury--3 Fox Sparrows From: Evan Dalton <evanndalton AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:23:28 -0400 I stopped by North Hill Marsh in Duxbury on the way home from work today. While I was hoping to encounter Pine Warbler or Wood Duck (I came across neither,) I was pleasantly surprised when I ran into a trio of sparrows in a stand of young white pines along the trail. They were backlit, but large and as I stepped into the shade to get a better angle one teed up on a low bough. It was a beautiful Fox Sparrow. It quickly flew off followed by 2 MORE Fox Sparrows. I could not locate the birds after that. What a treat though! Also the Brown Creepers were singing their heads off today. SIDE NOTE: yesterday at Cumberland Farms I heard my first Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers. Spring is at the door. Cheers, Evan Dalton Kingston, MA Evannndalton AT gmail.com Subject: crow poisoning - NPS site From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620 AT TheWorld.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:47:51 -0400 Thanks to Mark Faherty for providing the following link: http://www.nps.gov/caco/shorebird-management-pilot-program.htm This National Park Service site provides background information. I urge everyone to take a few minutes to read this before making additional posts on this subject. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com Subject: Re: Poisoning crows From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:28:45 -0500 I recalled that someone else proposed this idea a few weeks ago and was hoping it would be raised again. I think it's the kind of brilliant thinking that's needed here. Aggressive wildlife management solutions that are meant to address the result of our own historically aggressive relationship with the environment (development, habitat destruction, etc) rarely, if ever, feel like a wise strategy to me. Crows' intelligence is a very relevant factor when considering how to control their behavior and numbers. I vote for shifting our long and unfortunate management paradigm to a more creative and species appropriate solution! Cherrie Corey Concord, MA At 1:52 PM -0400 3/18/10, john kricher wrote: >There is a possible alternative to lethal poisoning of crows. They >perhaps could be baited with a non-lethal emetic drug applied to >eggs or some other bait that would create an adverse reaction much >like what happens when a monarch butterfly is consumed by a blue >jay. Blue jays, as has been shown, avoid monarchs after such an >experience. Crows are among the most intelligent of birds, arguably >with an intellect roughly equivalent to apes. They learn. It seems >regrettable to kill them in such a cruel manner without a thorough >consideration of alternatives. > >John Kricher >Pocasset, MA -- Cherrie A. Corey Naturalist and photographer Concord, MA 978-760-1933 http://sense-of-place-concord.blogspot.com/ Subject: Ducks- Johnson's Pond area, No. Andover From: "dana" <danafox AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:09:13 -0400 Today Bob and I checked out Johnson's Pond area in Groveland- one cormorant from north side, 7 Ring-necked Ducks along peninsula on south side. The nearby, small "Lower Pond" on Uptack Rd. had 20 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Common Golden-eyes, 4 Bufflehead. Lake Cochichiwick in North Andover seen from Pleasant St. off of Great Pond Rd. had 1 male and 2 female Common Mergansers and a pair of Mallards Dana Duxbury-Fox 44 Old Village Lane No. Andover, MA 01845 978-682-9553 danafox AT comcast.net Subject: Poisoning crows From: john kricher <jkricher59 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:52:33 -0400 There is a possible alternative to lethal poisoning of crows. They perhaps could be baited with a non-lethal emetic drug applied to eggs or some other bait that would create an adverse reaction much like what happens when a monarch butterfly is consumed by a blue jay. Blue jays, as has been shown, avoid monarchs after such an experience. Crows are among the most intelligent of birds, arguably with an intellect roughly equivalent to apes. They learn. It seems regrettable to kill them in such a cruel manner without a thorough consideration of alternatives. John Kricher Pocasset, MA Subject: Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: Glenn Williams <gswilliams9 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:33:48 -0700 (PDT) Does anyone else think that it is funny that the "non-lethal" alternative involves using dead crows?  Sounds like one would have to kill more crows to do this than would be killed with the poison.    Glenn Williams Mystic, CT --- On Thu, 3/18/10, Scott Ricker wrote: From: Scott Ricker Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward To: massbird AT TheWorld.com Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 10:32 AM Mass Birders,   Is it the consensus of the general Massachusetts birding community that this extreme measure is best! Where does the State Ornithologist stand on this action?   http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/plans_to_poison_crows_on_cape.html         Scott Ricker Southwick, MA. ptbagger AT verizon.net     Subject: Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: Christopher Halpin <chalpin98 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:16:33 -0400 I understand your concern but I would argue that it is much more cruel to let a native species continue on its slow but inevitable course towards extinction without taking action. Unfortunately, the onslaught of coastal development and habitat destruction by humans has been aggressive and relentless. Some of the solutions, moving forward, will have to be just as aggressive. Also, it a real stretch to gauge the prospects of success in this program by analyzing the failures of a local farmer using some unnamed poison. If the analysis of wildlife biologists and ecologists suggests that this will not cause extensive indirect problems I would tend to trust their analysis. Chris Halpin Newburyport, MA On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 12:14 PM, Scott Ricker wrote: > Mass Birders, > > > > I recently read an article about two Bald Eagles being killed by lethal > poison used by a farmer to kill intruding wildlife on his farm. I cannot > find the article now, I think it was from NY but could have been else ware. > > > > Killing crows or any species in this way should not be allowed, it is > cruel. > > > > There must be another alternative. > > > > Scott Ricker > > Southwick, MA. > > ptbagger AT verizon.net > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: Cambridge Fox Sparrow From: Jon Damian <jdamian AT berklee.edu> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:53:27 -0400 I was happy to have a beautiful Fox Sparrow, in song, in my Cambridge yard, haven't had one in a couple of years, always a fun visitor. Jon Damian Subject: Fox Sparrow-Salisbury 3/18 From: Bird Watchers Supply & Gift <birdwsg AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:24:01 +0000 (UTC) Doug Chickering called at 12:05pm to report that he and Lois found a FOX SPARROW at the Salisbury Beach State Reservation. It was in the campground, along the road to the boat ramp near Row W and by the sign that says "To the Row W Bath House". Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA USA REPLY TO: BirdWSG AT verizon.net 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com MARCH MADNESS SALE This Week - 15% Off ALL In-Stock Optics Including NEW Swarovski Binoculars! Subject: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: "Scott Ricker" <ptbagger AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:14:09 -0400 Mass Birders, I recently read an article about two Bald Eagles being killed by lethal poison used by a farmer to kill intruding wildlife on his farm. I cannot find the article now, I think it was from NY but could have been else ware. Killing crows or any species in this way should not be allowed, it is cruel. There must be another alternative. Scott Ricker Southwick, MA. ptbagger AT verizon.net Subject: Current status of Massachusetts crow populations From: Andrew Joslin <andrew AT natureclimber.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:52:30 -0400 The thread on the proposed crow poisoning on the Cape brings up the question of what is that current status of Massachusetts American Crow populations? My impression is that historical American Crow numbers in Mass. peaked just before the West Nile Virus avian pandemic. Following WNV local populations crashed as much as 60%, it was a huge wipeout. American Crow is now rebounding in Mass. but I don't believe they've gotten back up to their historical high numbers yet. Interesting though that post WNV Common Raven has moved strongly into eastern Mass. It would be unfortunate if a Common Raven was poisoned as a result of the Cape experiment. Fish Crow populations held strong during the initial WNV event. There has been no mention of what percentage of crows preying on plover nest are Fish Crow. Andrew Joslin Jamaica Plain, MA Subject: American Oystercatcher Winthrop 3/18 From: "Peter and Fay" <peterfay AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:47:13 -0400 Hi, This morning we found one oystercatcher on Snake Island, viewed from Pico Ave., Winthrop. We looked for it unsuccessfully yesterday, so it may have just arrived. Peter and Fay Vale Wakefield, MA peterfay AT comcast.net Subject: Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: Andrew Joslin <andrew AT natureclimber.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:39:41 -0400 I think the island point is key. If local crow numbers are reduced then crows from adjacent "mainland" territories expand in. Gull poisoning was tried already on Cape Cod to protect tern nests at Monomoy and other sites. It failed miserably when the public responded with horror at dead and dying gulls in their front yards etc. I expect that's one reason why the crow poisoning is being done on a limited basis, to avoid similar "fallout" and public reaction. Andrew Joslin Jamaica Plain, MA Joshua Stuart Rose wrote: > This sort of practice has been successfully performed before, and is > one of the main reasons that Monomoy has such healthy tern > populations, and that Atlantic Puffins and other uncommon seabirds > have resumed nesting on islands off Maine. In those cases the poison > was used on gulls, though; have not heard of it used on crows before. > But crows, like gulls, have had their populations artificially swollen > by humans because we provide them with huge supplemental food sources > (mostly from our garbage) and drive off many of their main predators > (hawks, owls, fishers, Bobcat, etc.). Similar poisoning programs have > successfully saved island endemic birds, reptiles, and other species > from extinction by eradicating cats and rodents from islands; there > was a seminar about this at UMass-Amherst last fall sometime. > > If the biologists studying this situation have concluded from the > evidence that poisoning is the best option, it would be hard to argue > against them without evidence to the contrary. (an example of such > contrary evidence would be if one could show that more Piping Plover > nests on the Cape were lost due to disturbance by free-roaming dogs or > off-road vehicles, or to predators targeting the adult birds, than to > egg-eating predators) > > The concern expressed in the article for owls seems misplaced I have > not heard of many instances of owls eating eggs nor scavenging dead > prey, so the only likely threat to an owl would be if it ate several > crows that each consumed a sub-lethal dose of the poison, such that > the owl then accumulated a lethal dose from the crows. Seems > far-fetched, unless they are dosing the eggs with something DDT-like. > On the other hand, if there are any egg-eating mammals of concern in > the area (mink? fox?), they could be at more risk. > > My concern would be that I have only heard of poison programs > succeeding in island locations. In this case they seem to be planning > to use the poison on the mainland. An important question might be, how > many crows do they need to kill in order to reduce plover nest > predation to sustainable levels? How many would be left on the Cape > once they were done? > > Good birding, > > Josh > > -----Original Message----- > From: Scott Ricker > Sent: Mar 18, 2010 10:32 AM > To: massbird AT theworld.com > Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on > Cape Cod moves forward > > Mass Birders, > > > > Is it the consensus of the general Massachusetts birding community > that this extreme measure is best! Where does the State > Ornithologist stand on this action? > > > > http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/plans_to_poison_crows_on_cape.html > > > > Scott Ricker > > Southwick, MA. > > ptbagger AT verizon.net > > Joshua Stuart Rose > opihi AT mindspring.com > Amherst MA > > http://www.facebook.com/opihi > http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 > Subject: Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: Joshua Stuart Rose <opihi AT mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:21:54 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Subject: Re: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: Andrew Joslin <andrew AT natureclimber.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:19:04 -0400 The strategy does not address the primary issue of habitat loss and human pressure on piping plover nesting sites. The alternate strategy of placing dead crows at nest sites (mentioned in the article) reminds me of the "crow control expert" that the city of Brookline hired to break up winter roosting sites. He was paid to throw dead crows up into the air at the Brookline roost to deter roosting behavior. Crows are much too smart for that type of strategy to succeed. I suspect that crows are too smart to be defeated by the egg poisoning plan as well. Is there any reason why the mesh opening on a protective "cage" over the nesting site can't be tuned so the parents can easily move in and out but the much larger crow can't? Another option would be to create multiple decoy nest sites with artfully created fake plover eggs in the general vicinity of active nests. Reduce the cost/benefit equation for the crows. If they have to spend all day investigating eggs to find which ones are real they might decide to head over to a dumpster to find more food with less effort. Andrew Joslin Jamaica Plain, MA Scott Ricker wrote: > > Mass Birders, > > > > Is it the consensus of the general Massachusetts birding community > that this extreme measure is best! Where does the State Ornithologist > stand on this action? > > > > http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/plans_to_poison_crows_on_cape.html > > > > > > > > > > Scott Ricker > > Southwick, MA. > > ptbagger AT verizon.net > > > > > Subject: Plans to poison Crows to protect Plovers on Cape Cod moves forward From: "Scott Ricker" <ptbagger AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:32:06 -0400 Mass Birders, Is it the consensus of the general Massachusetts birding community that this extreme measure is best! Where does the State Ornithologist stand on this action? http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/plans_to_poison_crows_on_cape .html Scott Ricker Southwick, MA. ptbagger AT verizon.net Subject: The future of biodiversity conservation on WICN From: "Mark Lynch" <moa.lynch AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:01:35 -0400 It has become obvious to many biologists and conversationalists that preserving wildlife in isolated parks and reserves is just not working. In order to save a representation of the rich biodiversity of the planet we have to think bigger, MUCH bigger. We have to start thinking in terms of what Michael Soulé has called “cores, corridors and carnivores.” Like the huge Yosemite to the Yukon proposed rewilding corridor. Or the vast and contentious “Peace Parks” proposed to link key wildlife areas over several rival countries in southern Africa. Writer and reporter CAROLINE FRASER traveled around the globe to look into the successes and failures these ultimate conservation projects, which may also offer the last best hope we have for the planet in reversing global warming too. Tune in as we talk about Caroline’s very important book on REWILDING THE WORLD: DISPATCHES FROM THE CONSERVATION REVOLUTION. To hear this conversation NOW, or download it to your I-Pod: http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-caroline-fraser Though not about birds, if readers are interested in biodiversity and conservation issues, you may also be interested in the following recent interview: In the late 1980s, at an international conference on herpetology, research scientists began to realize that certain populations of frogs and salamanders were rapidly declining or becoming extinct around the world. Though it had been widely recognized that many species of amphibians were in decline due to habitat destruction caused by human changes, many of these new declines were occurring in pristine environments like the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica, where the stunningly beautiful Golden Frog became extinct in a manner of just a few years. What was happening? Tonight, Inquiry talks with JAMES P. COLLINS, the Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. With Martha L. Crump, he has written EXTINCTION IN OUR TIMES: GLOBAL AMPHIBIAN DECLINE one of the best summaries of how scientists began to discover the complex answers to this alarming trend. Tune in and find out what is now known about the causes of these extinctions, what is being done and what the future looks like for the frogs, toads and salamanders that have been found all around us. This is a critically important story that everyone should know the details of. Attention biology teachers and professors: This is also one of the best books written to date about how science is actually done. To hear this conversation NOW, or download it to your I-Pod: http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-james-collins Mark Lynch WICN moa.lynch AT wicn.org Subject: Duxbury Beach - Tree Swallows From: Scott Hecker <Scott_Hecker AT goldenrod.org> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:39:05 -0400 While looking for Piping Plovers I came across 2 TREE SWALLOWS this morning. Please visit our website about conserving coastal birds: http://www.goldenrod.org/ Scott Hecker, Executive Director Telephone: (781) 934-5500 Goldenrod Foundation Fax: (781)934-0826 33 Railroad Avenue Mobile: (781) 724-0950 Duxbury, MA 02332 ³For if one link in nature¹s chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will vanish by piecemeal.² - Thomas Jefferson Subject: Great Meadows awash (Concord) From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:15:08 -0500 Neighbors, birders, and tourists came streaming down to Great Meadows in Concord late yesterday to find the parking lot and lower drive underwater and the shoreline completely redefined. On my first visit at 9:45 am, geese were swimming across the parking area where waters had risen to 18-26", pushing all the way back to the old railroad birm, isolating the restroom, and submerging the brochures mounted on the main kiosk. The Edge Trail has become just that on both ends of the refuge and the Dike Trail and all of its benches are completely submerged throughout. Muskrats made a feeding platform on the tower's second step and on floating tires, chipmunks looked displaced, and redwings were everywhere. Common goldeneye, buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, and wood ducks could be seen in the distance from the tower. In the afternoon, I went back with Susan Russo from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff to take a closer look. Once waters recede there will be considerable trail damage and many sink holes to repair, benches to retrieve and reinstall, and trash to collect throughout the refuge. Oxbow NWR will need the same and the refuge staff will be seeking volunteers to help their maintenance staff accomplish all of this once the damage is assessed. For those planning a visit, this coming weekend be prepared for parking shortages and hiking limitations. Tall rubber boots or waders are recommended for slightly better access and views. It is a once in a lifetime experience to behold!. For updated photos visit my 2010 Great Meadows album and scroll down: http://picasaweb.google.com/khadro06/GreatMeadowsNWR2010# -- Cherrie A. Corey Naturalist and photographer Concord, MA 978-760-1933 http://sense-of-place-concord.blogspot.com/ Subject: No Subject From: bob phillips <jrobtp AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:11:53 -0700 (PDT) there was an immature golden eagle perched in the dell at mount auburn cemetery yesterday.   bob phillips Subject: The future of biodiversity conservation on WICN From: "Mark Lynch" <moa.lynch AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:01:35 -0400 It has become obvious to many biologists and conversationalists that preserving wildlife in isolated parks and reserves is just not working. In order to save a representation of the rich biodiversity of the planet we have to think bigger, MUCH bigger. We have to start thinking in terms of what Michael Soulé has called “cores, corridors and carnivores.” Like the huge Yosemite to the Yukon proposed rewilding corridor. Or the vast and contentious “Peace Parks” proposed to link key wildlife areas over several rival countries in southern Africa. Writer and reporter CAROLINE FRASER traveled around the globe to look into the successes and failures these ultimate conservation projects, which may also offer the last best hope we have for the planet in reversing global warming too. Tune in as we talk about Caroline’s very important book on REWILDING THE WORLD: DISPATCHES FROM THE CONSERVATION REVOLUTION. To hear this conversation NOW, or download it to your I-Pod: http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-caroline-fraser Though not about birds, if readers are interested in biodiversity and conservation issues, you may also be interested in the following recent interview: In the late 1980s, at an international conference on herpetology, research scientists began to realize that certain populations of frogs and salamanders were rapidly declining or becoming extinct around the world. Though it had been widely recognized that many species of amphibians were in decline due to habitat destruction caused by human changes, many of these new declines were occurring in pristine environments like the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica, where the stunningly beautiful Golden Frog became extinct in a manner of just a few years. What was happening? Tonight, Inquiry talks with JAMES P. COLLINS, the Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. With Martha L. Crump, he has written EXTINCTION IN OUR TIMES: GLOBAL AMPHIBIAN DECLINE one of the best summaries of how scientists began to discover the complex answers to this alarming trend. Tune in and find out what is now known about the causes of these extinctions, what is being done and what the future looks like for the frogs, toads and salamanders that have been found all around us. This is a critically important story that everyone should know the details of. Attention biology teachers and professors: This is also one of the best books written to date about how science is actually done. To hear this conversation NOW, or download it to your I-Pod: http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-james-collins Mark Lynch WICN moa.lynch AT wicn.org Subject: Cape Ann 3/17 Gloucester to Halibut PT From: "RMC" <r.cressman.xyz.1928 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:57:32 -0400 Cape Ann 3/17/2010 Sunny warm, very little wind. The swells were very large so, when crashing over the rocks, huge waves and sprays were created causing lots of foam & suds. Stops: (FP) State Fish Pier, Gloucester (EP) Eastern Point , Gloucester (Lighthouse & Niles Pond [briefly]. (ER) Emerson Rocks, Rockport (North on 127) (above Pigeon Cove) (AP) Andrew's Point, Rockport (North on 127) (HP) Halibut Point State Park, Rockport (North on 127) Common Loon - several (at least) at all stops. One in (or near) breeding plumage at EP Lighthouse Red-Breasted Meganser in various concentrations at all stops. Large numbers by EPLH Harlequin Ducks ER 2; AP 2; HP 28 (they were diving a lot and this was the highest count I got). Long-tailed Ducks ER 2; HP 2 (Winter plumage; spent more time under water than above). Great Cormorants EP Niles Pond 4; AP 4; HP 4 White-Winged Scoters EP (few) & HP 2 Horned Grebe 1 HP Uria sp. 1 most likely Common Murre (might be in beginning state of transition plumage (FP) (Seen at a little distance thanks to a lady with a scope.) Brant 4 EP Lighthouse Purple Sandpipers - about 20 (EP) on rocks behind (to the left of the lighthouse building. (I looked here because in my earlier presence in E. Boston there would be a large group of Great Cormorants on these rocks. But if my memory is right, there were young with them, so this would probably have been in the fall.) Marsh (?) Wren (AP) This guy was in some shrubbery about 2-3 ft off the ground on the north side of the houses on AP along the shore. It surprised me as I came around the corner so couldn't get a full look at it. It had a very prominent, long white eye stripe and a thin but definite eye ring. The eye stripe probably stood out so prominently because of a contrast with a dark head. The tail was rather short & upright. It dove down into the shrubbery. I compared several Guides and the latest edition of Peterson's Guide shows the eye ring for the Marsh Wren best. (I don't have much experience with the Cistothorus wren, so, if anyone has any comment pro or con, it would be welcome). At EP lighthouse there was a huge number of ducks in the cove on the inward side of the breaker. Searching on the seaward side was difficult because of the large height of the sswells. Cedar Waxwings - 2 gentlemen beginning in birding asked for verification of a flock they had seen. There was no question about their description. Rich Richard Cressman East Boston, MA r.cressman.xyz.1928[at]gmail.com Subject: West Newbury ~ 3/17/10 From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:37:15 -0400 Birders, Pike's Bridge Road: White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Wood Duck [heard], Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Tufted Titmouse, Red-tailed Hawk, Mute Swan Flooded agricultural field on River Road: Killdeer, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, American Crow, Ring-billed Gull, Common Goldeneye, Mallard *Turkey Hill Road: Ring-necked Pheasant, Red-tailed Hawk I saw no diving ducks or Bald Eagles in or along the storm-swollen and turbid Merrimac River between Newburyport and the Rocks Village Bridge. Good birding, Sue Sue McGrath Newburyport Birders Newburyport, MA 01950 newburyportbirders AT comcast.net www.newburyportbirders.com Subject: Leucistic Red Tailed and Red-Tail copulating From: Dale J Martin <dale AT massapoag.org> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:49:32 -0400 Hi folks, This is a photo I captured to today. It might be the first photo of a Leucistic Red Tailed and Red-Tail copulating. This the best I could do at over 2000 feet away, http://massapoag.zenfolio.com/p424721196/h389162b0#h389162b0 Regards, Dale Dale J. Martin Massapoag Pond Photography 1070 Lancaster Ave. Lunenburg, MA 01462 email: dale AT massapoag.org website: http://massapoag.org Phone: 978-582-1049 Cell: 508-849-7730 Subject: CT Report 03/17/2010 From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:45:23 -0400 From Sara Zagorski: 03/17/10 - South Windsor, Station 43 -- Marsh Wren (which I first saw about a week ago and is apparently an early inland date for them) and a FOY Virginia Rail. From Rob Mirer with Ernie Harris: 03/17/10 - South Windsor, Station 43 -- Virginia Rail, 1 male Northern Pintail. Ferry Rd -- Vesper Sparrow teed up and singing away. From Jan Collins: 03/17/10 - South Windsor, Station 43 -- (PM) pair NORTHERN PINTAIL. East Windsor, Broad Brook Mill Pond -- another pair of NORTHERN PINTAIL. From SH Johnston: 03/17/10 - Farmington -- 1 BROWN CREEPER, 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL (Farmington Meadows and nearby flooded wooded areas). From Tina Green: 03/17/10 - Southport, Southport Beach -- 17 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. From John Oshlick : 03/17/10 - Milford, Oyster River -- 37 Bonaparte's Gulls. Hamden, Mix Ave -- 1 Brown Thrasher. From Carole Donagher: 03/17/10 - Farmington yard -- Two BROWN CREEPERS were very active, eating the suet peanut butter mix spread on the trees. From Patrice Favreau: 30/17/10 - South Windsor, Major Donnelly Preserve, West Road fields -- AMERICAN WOODCOCK peenting, flying, twittering. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/ctbird/latest.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Re: Directions - rookery in Andover From: "dana" <danafox AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:35:30 -0400 Directions - rookery in AndoverAllan, Did you mean Andover or North Andover? We just came from the North Andover rookery. Take Rt 495 to the Mass. Ave. exit and turn south. At the second light turn left onto Rts 125 and Rt 133. Continue on until Rt 133 turns right and take the next Rd. Barker Rd. Go down the hill past a farm field on the left and then by some houses and at the top of the next hill, turn right onto Bradford Re. and go down the hill. At this point the road is blocked off but you take a left onto Carter Field Rd and at the bottom of that hill is a parking area with a chain link fence around a playing field. Walk along the fence (there are Green Belt signs to the end of the fence when the trail goes along the edge of the field and then turns right into the woods. Follow the well marked trail to your left and eventually after you have crossed over two sets of boards, turn right down towards the marsh. There is a wonderful viewing platform right at the edge of the marsh. We had 26 Great Blue Herons setting up shop there tonight in the tall dead trees. They were squawking and cavorting around - such fun and what a great viewing area. The other end of Bradford St(off of Rt. 133) is blocked off as part of the road in between Rt. 133 and Carter Field Rd. has washed away. At that end is the Mazarenko Conservation Area parking lot, where I usually go to watch woodcocks displaying at this time of year - and was headed for tonight until we switched from Woodcocks to Great Blue Heron watching!!! Dana Duxbury-Fox ----- Original Message ----- From: Allan To: Mass birds Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:41 PM Subject: [MASSBIRD] Directions - rookery in Andover Can someone send me directions to the rookery in Andover? I would be coming from Nashua, probably 3 to 495 heading towards Lawrence - then what? Allan Nashua, New Hampshire allanrube.com www.nebirds.com Subject: Scotland Road & Plum Island - 03-17-10 From: "David K. Weaver" <cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:21:36 -0400 David Larson and I led a robust group of Wednesday Morning Birders out of Joppa Flats Education Center on a wonderfully beautiful morning. The sky was clear and blue, winds were light out of the west, and temps ranged from 44 to 62 F. -- gorgeous! We visited Scotland Road for a season first and then back-tracked to Plum Island for the balance of the morning. Our list for the morning: Scotland Road (Grinley's Wet Spot and other Essex Greenbelt land) -- Canada Goose American Black Duck (2) Mallard (~ 10) Green-winged Teal (4) (Common Merganser (~ 8) - on wetland south side of Scotland Road just to west of Highfield Rd.) Killdeer (3) Wilson's Snipe (3) - season first. Blue Jay (1) American Crow American Robin Tufted Titmouse (1) Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Plum Island -- Canada Goose Gadwall (~ 65) American Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail (~ 12) Green-winged Teal (2) White-winged Scoter (~ 20) - lot #1. Bufflehead (6) - PI River. Common Goldeneye (2) - PI River. Red-breasted Merganser (~ 12) - PI River. Common Loon (3) Northern Harrier (1) - female. Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove (1) Snowy Owl (1) - Nelson Island nesting platform. Blue Jay (1) American Crow Horned Lark (~ 12) (American Robin - PI Airfield.) European Starling Song Sparrow (2) Dark-eyed Junco (7) - The Wardens. Red-winged Blackbird (~ 8) Common Grackle (5) We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call Bill Gette or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998. Dave Weaver Manchester, MA 01944 cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net Subject: Amherst - Tuesday; Falmouth - Wednesday From: brianrfg AT aol.com Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:57:39 -0400 Hi, Along the bike path in South Amherst yesterday were 2-3 Tree Swallows, 2 Fox Sparrows (one singing), 3 Pileated Woodpeckers, and an adult Bald Eagle. Tom Gagnon and company pointed most of these out. In the early afternoon, we visited Edna Dunbar, the matriarch of western MA birders and butterfliers, on the occasion of her 100th birthday. This afternoon, at Little Pond in Falmouth, there were almost 800 Greater Scaup and a male Redhead among the waterfowl concentration there. Brian Cassie, Foxboro Subject: St johns VI From: Sherry Leffert <sleffert AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:34:37 -0400 Could anyone who¹s gone birding on St. Johns VI contact me off line for birding advice and places they stayed to recommend. Thanks, Sherry Leffert Cambridge Subject: Directions - rookery in Andover From: Allan <allan57 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:41:49 -0400 Can someone send me directions to the rookery in Andover? I would be coming from Nashua, probably 3 to 495 heading towards Lawrence ­ then what? Allan Nashua, New Hampshire allanrube.com www.nebirds.com Subject: South Boston: Tree Swallow, Scaup From: Tim Factor <tef617 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:19:30 -0400 A lone Tree Swallow was winging north on Old Colony Ave in South Boston this afternoon. That's at least two weeks earlier than I've seen one before. Also, 100 to 200 Scaup have been at Old Harbor/Carson Beach for the last couple of weeks or so. The large tight rafts seem to be mostly if not entirely Greaters but some of the smaller flocks and stragglers are Lessers. They've been closest to shore on the north side and with the low light later in the day it's been possible to pick out species only using binoculars. It's a good opportunity for people hoping to hone their Scaup-distinguishing skills. Tim Factor Boston tef617 AT gmail.com Subject: Peregrines & eagle, Amherst From: Nicholas Barber <nabarber AT psis.umass.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:45:02 -0400 At UMass-Amherst today around lunch I heard one of the local Peregrines cackling from atop the library and watched it bolt toward an immature Bald Eagle that was soaring over. It harrassed the eagle, then divebombed a second Peregrine that showed up. The two falcons then soared around and were joined by a third Peregrine. Does anyone know the relationship of these 3 birds? Is one a young bird from last year? -- Nick Barber Dept. of Plant, Soil, & Insect Sciences University of Massachusetts-Amherst nabarber AT psis.umass.edu Subject: A great birding day From: "Douglas Chickering" <dovekie AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:01:23 -0400 Massbirders: Today was a beautiful, almost perfect day to go birding and Lois Cooper and I spent the morning checking places, old and new, looking for spring birds. Technically, and historically it is still winter. There are Junco's at the feeder, and a Snowy Owl out at Plum Island. Recently I have viewed Razorbills at Plum Island and we found Snow Buntings at Salisbury. It may still be winter but today was a reasonable facsimile of spring and a warm day in mid March is right for pushing the season. We listened for Killdeer and searched Scotland Road for Snipe. We looked for Wood Duck at Ash Street and even kept our ears open to the possibility of hearing a Phoebe. I have seen Phoebe in Essex county as early as March 10. We found none of these. Still the day was anything but a disappointment. It was sunny and mild. When we walked along the new Rail Trail at Salisbury we were surprised and delighted when a Pileated Woodpecker flew right over us. At Cherry Hill Reservoir we were able to watch a male Bluebird perched at the top of a small cedar calling softly and luxuriating in the sun. We will still have to wait for true spring, but any day you can stand and watch a male Bluebird in the sun is a good day. And any day that features a Bluebird and a Pileated Woodpecker has got to be characterized as a great birding day. At least in my book. Doug Chickering Groveland dovekie AT comcast.net Subject: Wayland/Sudbury Tufted Duck relocated on River Road, Wayland, 14 March 2010 From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620 AT TheWorld.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:02:12 -0400 Thanks to John Hines for this update! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com * * * From: John Hines Subject: Wayland/Sudbury Tufted Duck relocated on River Road, Wayland, 14 March 2010 Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:34:16 -0400 After three weeks of negative reports of the Wayland/Sudbury Tufted Duck to MASSBIRD (none since 21 February 2010), and no definitive sightings of my own despite regular searches for waterfowl, I relocated the bird late Sunday afternoon (5:15 PM), 14 March 2010. The drake was back at the original location where I found a Tufted Duck (the same?) almost exactly a year ago on 12 March 2009: on the Sudbury River opposite the sharp bend of River Road, Wayland. Sunday's bird was in the main channel of the river just behind (upstream) USFWS marker #5 in the company of two Lesser Scaup (an ADULT male and a female), less than 100 feet from the road. Both drakes are in immaculate breeding plumage. I watched them for about 10 minutes until they disappeared into a flooded thicket of buttonbush. There were no other ducks in the immediate vicinity although there were scattered flocks of Ring-necked Ducks and other species of waterfowl at other locations up and down the river. Unfortunately, last weekend's nor'easter, following the heavy rain of two weeks ago, has produced a major flood, with the Sudbury River now resembling glacial Lake Sudbury of an earlier epoch. River Road is under water between Route 27 and Water Row, Water Row itself is flooded in four places, and Pelham Island Road is flooded at both ends. Worse still, Route 20 is closed at Wayland Center to eastbound traffic and Route 27 is closed in the vicinity of River Road and Water Row. Needless to say, searching for the Tufted Duck here is problematic at best. The Seekonk bird may be the better option for those still looking for Tufted Duck, at least until the flood recedes. John Hines Framingham, MA Subject: Forgot to put in address Sorry From: "wildbird" <wildbird AT charterinternet.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:29:38 -0400 Free Evening Bird Ramble and Woodcock Walk Thursday March 18, 2010 6:00pm Meet at The Bird Store and More in Sturbridge 508-347-2473 Join us to as we watch the birds settle in for the evening, and the Woodcock begin their nightly spring mating display. Please call to let us know you plan on comming. Free Local Birdwalk Claire Birtz Sanctuary Saturday March 20, 2010 7:30am Meet at the Bird Store and More in Sturbridge 508-347-2473 Join us as we explore Opacum Land Trusts Claire Birtz property in Southbridge. It will be a gorgeous day to get outside! For information on the Claire Birtz Wildlife Sanctuary Please call to let us know you plan on comming. Bill Cormier Sturbridge, MA wildbird AT charterinternet.com Subject: Bird walk From: "wildbird" <wildbird AT charterinternet.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:14:50 -0400 Free Evening Bird Ramble and Woodcock Walk Thursday March 18, 2010 6:00pm Meet at The Bird Store and More in Sturbridge 508-347-2473 Join us to as we watch the birds settle in for the evening, and the Woodcock begin their nightly spring mating display. Please call to let us know you plan on comming. Free Local Birdwalk Claire Birtz Sanctuary Saturday March 20, 2010 7:30am Meet at the Bird Store and More in Sturbridge 508-347-2473 Join us as we explore Opacum Land Trusts Claire Birtz property in Southbridge. It will be a gorgeous day to get outside! For information on the Claire Birtz Wildlife Sanctuary Please call to let us know you plan on comming. Subject: Nine Acre Corner, Assabet Barrow's Goldeneyes, 3/16 From: "Swain, David" <D.Swain AT snhu.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:55:41 -0400 Lovely day and virtually no cars on Rt. 117 due to road closures all around Nine Acre Corner. Nine Acre Corner: flock of Green Winged Teals was gone at 9:30 this morning, with only some ring-billed gulls remaining. No killdeer. Assabet River in Maynard: Barrow's Goldeneye's not visible from spillway at junction of 62 and 117, but were in great view from the White Pond Road bridge, out in the middle about 150 yards downstream of the bridge. Black spur on flanks just visible with binoculars if they turned just right (glass-smooth water helped!). David Swain Concord, MA d.swain at snhu.edu Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: CT Report 03/16/2010 From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:15:47 -0400 From Tina Green: 03/16/10 - Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS(M & F) in the Mill Pond at the entrance, 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 1 WILSON'S SNIPE. Southport, Southport Beach -- 45+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS at about 3PM, feeding, preening, bathing and then flying east. Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- 1 RED-NECKED GREBE. From Frank Mantlik: 03/15/10 - Westport, Compo Beach -- imm. (1st-cycle?) GLAUCOUS GULL on beach and inshore waters with foraging gull flock 1pm. Later (3:15) it was on the islet off off 39 Soundview. Very obvious, large, all creamy-white gull. From Marion Aimesbury via Stacy Hanks: 03/15/10 - Milford, Oyster River from Anderson Ave -- male and female Pintail at about 5 p.m. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/ctbird/latest.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Bear Creek walk Sunday March 21 From: "Soheil Zendeh" <szendeh AT rcn.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:27:01 -0400 Folks, On Sunday, March 21 we'll celebrate Noruz, the Iranian New Year, by taking a bird walk at 9 AM at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus on Salem Turnpike/Route 107. The sanctuary is largely open grassland on reclaimed landfill at the NE corner of Rumney Marsh and is not normally open to the public. The site's owner, Wheelabrator, and caretaker, Peter Young, have graciously invited birders to explore the property this Sunday. We have to sign in, and we have to stay together as a group with the leader, Peter. As guests of Wheelabrator, we have to heed their regs, which is to not wander off alone. The site is somewhat elevated and exposed so dress for wind and cold and we'll be walking a couple of miles on mostly dirt roads so wear appropriate shoes. We'll need to meet ahead of time at the Wheelabrator facility in order to be escorted onto the sanctuary so let me know if you'll be joining us to get particulars. Wheelabrator has stocked up on a small number of binoculars, so if you want to bring a friend who does not own binoculars, we should be able to help with that. If you haven't been there before, here is a map: http://tinyurl.com/c4nd37 If coming from the south or west, take Route 107 northeast from the intersection with Rte 60 in Revere. Wheelabrator is about 1.5 miles on the right. If you get to the Ballard Street bridge, you've gone too far. Turn back. If coming from the north, you can come southwest on Rte 107 and turn left into the Wheelabrator property right after the Ballard Street bridge. Or go south on 1A and turn right on Revere Street to get to Rte 60 and the rotary which leads to Rte 107. Also, Rte 1 intersects Rte 60 about 1 mile to the west of 107. Soheil Zendeh 42 Baker Ave Lexington, MA 02421 home phone 781-863-2392 cell phone 617-763-5637 office phone 617-528-4013 Subject: My Reply to "Pileated Woodpecker location(s)": Minor Correction From: "Walt Webb" <wwebb24 AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:41:11 -0400 In my reply to "Pileated Woodpecker location(s)," I inadvertently reversed the colors of the two eBird map flags. It should read yellow flags for bird sightings seen within the last 30 days and red flags if seen prior to the last 30 days. Sorry about that! Walt Webb Westwood, MA wwebb24 AT verizon.net Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker location(s) From: "Glenn d'Entremont" <gdentremont1 AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:08:12 +0000 (UTC) There is a Pileated working a tree in the front yard of 400 Hillside Street in Milton Hillside goes west from Rt 28 north of Chickatawbut and runs between Rt 28 and Chickatawbut/Unquity Road. This male bird was using another tree in the yard as a drumming tree. The locals now know these birds are in the neighborhood and it seems to be a source of pride. Park on Stonehill as Hillside is narrow there or park farther west on Hillside close to the pond and walk back. Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: gdentremont1 AT comcast.net Stoughton, MA ----- Original Message ----- From: "alice morgan" To: massbird AT TheWorld.com, RIBirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:07:59 PM (GMT-0500) Auto-Detected Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pileated Woodpecker location(s) On behalf of a friend, I am trying to identify a place or places where there is a high likelihood of seeing a Pileated at this time of year. Many thanks for suggestions...Alice Morgan -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary , 3/16/10 From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:37:21 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "do-not-reply AT ebird.org" To: petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com Sent: Tue, March 16, 2010 8:36:45 PM Subject: eBird Report - Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary , 3/16/10 Location:    Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary Observation date:    3/16/10 Notes:    The American Woodcocks started displaying at 7:10p.m. in the large, open field near a large spruce tree. Number of species:    12 Canada Goose    X Mallard    27 American Woodcock    5 Mourning Dove    3 American Crow    3 American Robin    20 Northern Mockingbird    2 Song Sparrow    12 White-throated Sparrow    3 Northern Cardinal    3 Red-winged Blackbird    X Common Grackle    9 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: King eider, eurowidgeon, Cape. Newton cemetery From: maurice.gilmore AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:18:41 +0000 (UTC) Hi Folks, King Eider still present in a flock of about 200 common eider off the route 6, Bournedale parking lot at 10 this AM. (3/16) Eurasian Widgeon in Little Pond. Nothing left in Dutchman's Ditch this AM. Lot of water. Beautiful greater and lesser scaup in terrific light this AM on Little Pond, seen from a pull-off of Maravista. Brant and American Widgeon mixed in. All of this in Falmouth. Later, while visiting graves in Newton Cemetery, a pair of wood ducks in the first pond you hit, and a loudly kreeeing pair of red-tailed hawks in the act atop a pine tree by a friend's grave. The male then called and floated around his mate. Pete Gilmore Newton, MA maurice.gilmore AT comcast.net Subject: Deer Island, Winthrop, Revere: Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gulls From: Tim Factor <tef617 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:04:42 -0400 I headed to coastal Suffolk County this afternoon to survey the damage from this weekend's storms. Lots of sea life littered the beach, including clams, starfish, and on Winthrop Beach, lobsters ranging from finger size to dinner size. Four to five thousand gulls gathered at the shore from Deer Island to Revere to gorge themselves on the wreckage. In addition to the three regular gull species were two first cycle Iceland Gulls at Winthrop Beach and another first cycle Iceland and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the south end of Revere Beach. Tim Factor Boston tef617 AT gmail.com Subject: Re: Pileated locations From: kirk marshall <no6km AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:49:11 -0700 (PDT) I've found the best places to see a pileated are Bald Hill Reservation in Boxford and Ravenswood Park in Gloucester. http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html http://www.ecga.org/properties/baldhill.html   Unfortunately Bald Hill trails around Crooked Pond are half-flooded even at the dry times of year! So Im sure its a reservoir right now! Ravenswood Park should be a better bet dryness-wise but Ive only ever seen one pileated there near the parking lot but alot of people say its a great place to see them!   Kirk Marshall Malden, MA no6km AT yahoo.com Subject: Nine Acre Corner, Assabet Goldeneyes, Water Row Sudbury, 3/15 From: "Swain, David" <D.Swain AT snhu.edu> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:28:59 -0400 I did a duck tour in the rain this morning to see what was around, and particularly to see if I could locate the Barrow's Goldeneyes on the Assabet in Maynard. Nine Acre Corner: around 40 Green Winged Teals up on the mud, and all that I could see clearly had vertical breast bars. 7 Great Black Backed gulls (5 adult, 2 first winter). No killdeer seen. In fields around Verrill Farm: around 200 Canada Geese, around 80 Ring Billed Gulls; no killdeer seen. Assabet in Maynard: from behind the Millpond Square office complex at the junction of 117 and 62 (opposite the Mobil), two Goldeneyes seen at the back of the bend, diving and drifting upwind toward the White Pond Rd. bridge. From the White Pond bridge, I could see them just over the reeds on the right shore, but very poorly. Returning to the first view, they had drifted around the bend and out of sight. Without a scope I was unable to confirm that these were Barrow's, but they fit the behavior and exact location of earlier reports. Hopefully they will be present when the sun returns. Lincoln Rd, private field: 13 Wild Turkeys, Red Tail circling overhead. Water Row Sudbury (by hunter's lot): 2 pair Hooded Mergansers, singing RWBBs. Road flooded and closed to traffic. David Swain Concord, MA d.swain at snhu.edu Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: FYI: 2010 State of the Birds available From: radanca AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:26 +0000 (UTC) You can see the latest State of the Birds report at http://www.stateofthebirds.org/ >From the site: "In this 2010 State of the Birds report, we consider one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, climate change. How will the impacts of climate change influence our bird populations and their habitats? Accelerated climate change as a result of human activities is altering the natural world as we know it, diminishing the quality of our environment. This report calls attention to the collective efforts needed to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of people and wildlife." The report is a cooperative project of many bird-related organizations, including the American Bird Conservancy, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Klamath Bird Observatory, National Audubon Society, The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Press release and summary at: http://www.stateofthebirds.org/newsroom/2010-news-release Subject: Reply to "Pileated Woodpecker location(s)" From: "Walt Webb" <wwebb24 AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:53:34 -0400 One way to view the history of a specific species in a region is to go to eBird.org. Then: View & Explore Data > Maps > Select Species > (Pileated Woodpecker) > Change Location > Massachusetts > Counties > (select). Zoomable map will appear with flags denoting reported sightings (with dates) within the last 30 days (red) or prior to last 30 days (yellow). Hope this helps. Walter Webb Westwood, MA wwebb24 AT verizon.net Subject: Great Meadows flooded, Walk rescheduled (Concord) From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:26:48 -0500 The swollen Concord River out did itself today, reaching all the way into the refuge to cover the parking lot and most of the trails, and benches were seen bobbing on the currents. The Spring Equinox walk that was scheduled for this coming Saturday has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 27, 9-11 am. It may take 7-10 days for the dike trail to be passable with some wading, so please wear calf to knee-high rubber boots. For more information and photos please visit http://sense-of-place-concord.blogspot.com/. Buffleheads, hooded mergansers, swans, black-backed and ring-billed gulls, and Canada geese were visible or audible from the tower this morning. Cherrie Corey Concord, MA -- Cherrie A. Corey Naturalist and photographer Concord, MA 978-760-1933 http://sense-of-place-concord.blogspot.com/ Subject: 3/16 Duxbury Beach - more re Lesser B-b Gull(s) From: Rick Bowes <rbowes AT bowesweb.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:05:10 -0400 I went out this morning to try for a picture of the light-mantled LBBG I saw yesterday but as anticipated could not locate it. I did find a second, more typically marked bird, in the bay side water swimming with a flock of about 40 Ring-billed Gulls and 8-10 Herrings.(http://www.pbase.com/image/122785699) I have been advised by Jeremiah Trimble that LBBG's seen in the US are essentially all of the "graellsii" subspecies including what I think of as "regular " LBBG's such as the bird at Jenny's Pond or the one I saw this morning . The bird that I wrote about would seem to be well-explained by the following: "There is also a presumed hybrid swarm of 'lighter mantled' LBBGs, called 'Dutch integrades'". So please ignore my speculation about the darker ones being the "intermdius" subspecies. The books weren't much help with this one, and it's good to have such generous experienced birders available via MassBird to help things sort out! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rick Bowes rbowes AT bowesweb.com PO Box 1637, Duxbury, MA 02331 Subject: Seekonk Tufted Duck 3/16/10 From: Ian Davies <goshawk227 AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:22 -0400 Andrew Spencer and I headed down to Seekonk today to try for the Tufted Duck that has so conveniently moved to the Massachusetts side of the reservoir there. Immediately on arrival at the southern viewpoint on Arcade Ave we found the bird with a number of scaup, and watched it at our leisure for 10 minutes. From there we headed down to the Westport area to see if anything was kicking around. Not much, but we managed to dredge out three Eastern Towhees, a Fox Sparrow, and a Brown Creeper from the thickets in Acoaxet. However, other than that, things were pretty dead. Both branches of the Westport River were pretty much duckless, offshore at Horseneck Beach was more of the same, and only six American Wigeon at Allen's Pond for uncommon waterfowl, excepting the Brant, Common Eider, and American Black Ducks. 41 Greater Scaup on Cockeast Pond, but no hoped for Canvasback. List from Arcade Ave below, as well as a link to a photo of the Tufted Duck. Arcade Ave, Seekonk (1055-1105): Ring-necked Duck 12 Tufted Duck 1 **Rare. My state TUDU, after chasing the one in the Wayland area a couple times, and seeing this very individual in RI on multiple occasions, it was nice to finally get it for MA. Photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/4438355957/ Lesser Scaup 21 Common Merganser 14 Ruddy Duck 37 Fish Crow 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good birding, Ian Davies Manomet, MA goshawk227 AT earthlink.net www.pbase.com/daviesphoto http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/ http://picasaweb.google.com/goshawk227 Subject: BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - YES From: "jamoos AT earthlink.net" <jamoos@earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:32:57 -0400 Assabet River, Maynard - 2pm A pair of Barrow's Goldeneye in the center of the river's bend, and best seen from the North end of the White Pond Road bridge. The female had a bright yellow bill - breading plumage. They were near a female Merganser, probably red-breasted, but her head was all tucked in. I have a record of having seen this duck at Delaney, not far away, April, 2001. jamoos AT earthlink.net Jane Moosbruker, Ph.D. Bolton MA 01740 Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Suffolk Downs Oasis , 3/16/10 From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:19:18 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "do-not-reply AT ebird.org" To: petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com Sent: Tue, March 16, 2010 4:12:42 PM Subject: eBird Report - Suffolk Downs Oasis , 3/16/10 Location:    Suffolk Downs Oasis Observation date:    3/16/10 Notes:    It was fun to watch the aerial antics of the Red-tailed Hawks. Wings pulled back and dive bombing each other. As i approached the beautiful Green-winged Teal, they started chirping. Number of species:    11 American Black Duck    2 Mallard    8 Green-winged Teal (American)    6 Bufflehead    5 Red-tailed Hawk    4 Blue Jay    1 American Crow    2 American Robin    1 Song Sparrow    1 Red-winged Blackbird    3 Common Grackle    7 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Spooner Pond Plymouth Today From: "Myer" <mborn AT massmed.org> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:06:33 -0400 Stopped at Spooner pond. The Red-headed Duck was cooperative today and came close to the viewing area. There were also Coots, Mallards, Black Ducks, Gadwalls, Buffleheads, Swans and Ring-billed Gulls Here is the link to pictures of the Red-headed Duck and flight pictures of the swan and the Gulls: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobee1/sets/72157623509074503/ Nice to have sun after all the rain Regards Myer Bornstein Taunton, MA mborn AT massmed.org Subject: Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 From: Bird Watchers Supply & Gift <birdwsg AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:46 +0000 (UTC) Margo Goetschkes and I birded Seekonk and Cumberland Farms amid the rain today: Location: Seekonk Canada Goose 4 greater scaup 18 TUFTED DUCK 1 Ruddy Duck 8 FISH CROW 1 Location: Cumberland Farms--IBA Observation date: 3/14/10 Number of species: 29 Canada Goose X American Black Duck 40 Mallard 50 Northern Pintail 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Northern Harrier 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 1 KILLDEER 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Mourning Dove 6 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 12 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 American Robin 26 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling X Song Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 8 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Common Grackle 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 28 House Finch 3 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA USA REPLY TO: BirdWSG AT verizon.net 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com MARCH MADNESS SALE This Week - 15% Off ALL In-Stock Optics Including NEW Swarovski Binoculars! Subject: CT Report 03/14/2010 From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:06:58 -0400 From John Wagenblatt: 03/14/10 - Norwalk, LI Sound -- 1 Black-legged Kittiwake AT 7:45am about 1/2 south of Greens Ledge Light House outside Norwalk Harbor. From Nick Bonomo with Glenn Williams, Phil Rusch: 03/14/10 - Waterford, Harkness State Park -- 5 COMMON EIDER. 11:00am ferry from New London to Orient Point -- a single LARGE ALCID SPECIES (likely Razorbill) in CT waters. From SH Johnston: 03/14/10 - Farmington, Meadow Road, Farmington Meadows -- 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL (m,f,). FYI, the Harlequin Duck has not been seen for the past 2 weeks; I expect he has flown north at last. I check the area most days and will report any positive sightings. From Gene Leganza: 03/14/10 - Wilton, Allen's Meadow -- 7:05pm, American Woodcock near garden area. Began peenting at 7:15. From Steve Mayo: 03/14/10 - Bethany -- 9 Black Vultures soaring South. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/ctbird/latest.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Pileated Woodpecker location(s) From: alice morgan <morgan.alice AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:07:59 -0400 On behalf of a friend, I am trying to identify a place or places where there is a high likelihood of seeing a Pileated at this time of year. Many thanks for suggestions...Alice Morgan -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA Subject: Birds n' Beers, Tonight From: Eric LoPresti <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:43:46 -0400 This didn't appear to get posted yesterday... Hey guys, Since I am sure everyone was upset about missing a weekend of birds; (except for those who braved the weather - hats off to you guys) but there will be an opportunity to talk birds/drown your sorrows over lost birds tonight (Monday 3/15) night at 7ish at Doherty's East Ave Pub in Pawtucket, RI, right near the Attleboro, MA line and just a couple hundred yards off 95 for all coming from the North. Last time we had a great showing and alot of fun. The Tufted Duck and the Eurasian Widgeon are still around for those interested, and daylight savings time just took effect, so plenty of afternoon/evening light... then a really quick ride up to the pub. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI/Wrentham, MA Subject: 3/15 Duxbury Beach - Lesser Black-backed Gull - not so black! From: Rick Bowes <rbowes AT bowesweb.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:28:10 -0400 I made a cursory drive down to Gurnet and back about 4:30-5:15 in a steady rain birding only from the car. The east wind was strong enough that car itself was moving in the gusts making scoping unsteady much of the time when not in the lee of Plum Hills or High Pines. . The flat peat plain that is the Gurnet marsh right now (until the grasses start growing again) resembles a fairly broad tableland with a few shallow puddles scattered about. A number of small groups of gulls dotted the plateau as they rested from the really strong winds on the ocean side. Some would rise up, determinedly buck the strong winds as they headed out to the ocean and then swoop back riding the wind at high speed, and make a sharp turn back into the east wind and alight with the others to rest awhile before making its next sortie. The wind was still strong on the marsh, but not like it was on the ocean side. These gulls were nearly all Herrings and Great Black-backs in a ratio of about 3 to 1. There were a very few Ring-bills here; many more were concentrated in and around High Pines and points north. I went through the groups systematically hoping to find one of the white-winged gulls, but no luck with that quest. However, when I noticed what I first thought was an unusually dark mantled Herring Gull, I grabbed my scope and gave it a more careful look. I was surprised to see very yellow legs! I was thrown off at first because the Jenny's Pond LBB gull has a dark slaty back looking every bit like a small version of the Great Black-backed (http://www.pbase.com/rickbowes/image/122421380/large). This bird was notably lighter than that - more or less 1/2 way between the typical Herrings and GBB's that it was standing with. I was unaware of any subspecies variation and resolved to check my books. On doing so, I learned that there is, indeed, a lighter subspecies (graellsii) and a darker one (intermedius) both of which can be found here. I didn't have my camera with me so was unable to capture today's individual for comparison. If I get out later in the week I'll try to get a shot of it but the odds are long. The difference can be nicely seen in Plate 52 (pg 369) of Gulls of North America, Europe, and Asia by Olsen & Larsson. I will look more carefully at dark Herring Gulls in the future! Rick Bowes Duxbury, MA rbowes(at)bowesweb.com Subject: CT Report 03/15/2010 From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:56:50 -0400 ***** Reminder!!! ***** Saturday, March 20, 2010 ***** 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM ***** COA Annual Meeting ***** Chapman Hall ***** Middlesex Community College ***** Middletown, CT ***** ***** http://www.ctbirding.org/2010docs/2010COA_AnnualMtg.pdf ***** This is the major event of the year fo the Connecticut Ornithological Association, which brings you these daily reports as well as the CTBirds open discussion list. From Barbara de Rienzo: 03/15/10 - Branford, near Kelsey Island -- One Eurasion Wigeon (male) noted amongst  a group of American Wigeon. From John Anderson: 03/14/10 - Norfolk, Aton Forest -- at dusk, a lone Woodcock singing from the fields. From Jack Barclay: 03/12/10 - Westford -- 6:05 to 6:08 p.m., I heard one male woodcock peent for 3 minutes, then quit, with no flights on or off site, nor any display flights. The developing storm and rain were obvious deterrents to display, but this appears to have been the first courtship display effort of the year on a customary site by my house. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/ctbird/latest.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Mt.Auburn Warbler From: "Oakes Spalding" <ospalding AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:32:43 -0400 I caught a glimpse of a dingy-yellow breasted warbler at Mt.Auburn Cemetery this morning,west of Willow Pond,in the vicinity of Pansy Path,but across Story Road from it. It was probably an Orange-crowned,but possibly a Pine. I hung around for a half hour but could not relocate the bird. Oakes Spalding Cambridge ospalding AT comcast.net Subject: Fw: Canvasback From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:56:32 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Paul Peterson To: erickneipfer AT yahoo.com Sent: Mon, March 15, 2010 2:50:29 PM Subject: Canvasback Hi, It was on the left side of the dike, directly in line with the brick building that has the blue water tower next to it. It wasn't to far out initially, but then it moved further out, probably because of my arrival. It remained visible the whole time however. Subject: RFI on Cape Ann storm damage/effects From: "RMC" <r.cressman.xyz.1928 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:14:42 -0400 I am planning a trip to Cape Ann tomorrow : Eastern Point - Andrew's Point - Halibut Point - & ?? If anyone is aware of any storm damage which might interfere with road conditions, access, etc. I would be interesting in knowing about it. Also any specialties that might be residual from the storm. Rich Richard Cressman East Boston, MA r.cressman.xyz.1928[at]gmail.com Subject: Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 From: Bird Watchers Supply & Gift <birdwsg AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:46 +0000 (UTC) Margo Goetschkes and I birded Seekonk and Cumberland Farms amid the rain today: Location: Seekonk Canada Goose 4 greater scaup 18 TUFTED DUCK 1 Ruddy Duck 8 FISH CROW 1 Location: Cumberland Farms--IBA Observation date: 3/14/10 Number of species: 29 Canada Goose X American Black Duck 40 Mallard 50 Northern Pintail 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Northern Harrier 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 1 KILLDEER 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Mourning Dove 6 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 12 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 American Robin 26 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling X Song Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 8 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Common Grackle 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 28 House Finch 3 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA USA REPLY TO: BirdWSG AT verizon.net 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com MARCH MADNESS SALE This Week - 15% Off ALL In-Stock Optics Including NEW Swarovski Binoculars! Subject: Numbers of waterbirds in Asia are rapidly declining. From: "David K. Weaver" <cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:52:13 -0400 Hello, Massbirders -- This sent along with the blessing of the moderator. I had to do a bit of editing to make it acceptable -- I hope that nothing was lost in translation. 'Tis a rather sobering message. Is there ever any good news these days relative to the birds of the world?? Dave Weaver Manchester, MA 01944 cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net ----- Original Message ----- From: John O Albertsen Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:12 AM Subject: Fwd: Numbers of waterbirds in Asia are rapidly declining ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: 2010/3/15 Subject: Numbers of waterbirds in Asia are rapidly declining To: swanspecialistgroup AT gmail.com Dear John O Albertsen, See below our latest - alarming news based on many years of waterbird monitoring in Asia. Best, Alex Kaat 12-Mar-2010 Waterbirds in Asia are in trouble. Rapid and poorly-planned human development leading to a lack of adequate official conservation of their important wetland sites are key reasons for their declining numbers. These are the conclusions of the newly published report by Wetlands International, covering over 6,700 wetland sites in 27 Asian countries. Every year, millions of waterbirds migrate up and down between Australia, South and Southeast Asia towards Russia, China and Alaska. These waterbirds depend on networks of productive wetland sites in all the countries. They need these chains of wetlands to rest, feed and breed during their incredibly long and exhausting annual migrations and to help them survive the severe winters in more northern latitudes. Unfortunately, a critical gap exists in designation and proper management of many important wetland sites, together with a lack of international measures leaving them vulnerable to human development pressures. Wetland reclamation is the most destructive cumulative threat to the wetlands and their use by waterbirds. Others include over-fishing, agriculture, hunting, excessive cattle grazing, pollution of wetlands through pesticides, fertilizers, and sewage. Yellow Sea wetlands For example, new industries, urban development and pollution along the Yellow Sea are reducing habitats of critical importance to millions of waterbirds. Tidal flats are being reclaimed to create port facilities, agricultural land and other purposes. This happens so quickly that existing field monitoring capacity is being challenged to keep track of the impacts on biodiversity, or on the livelihoods of the human communities who depend on the many natural services these productive coastal regions provide. Counts of shorebirds around the coast of the Yellow Sea between China, Korea and Japan have revealed that this enormous wetland complex is a vital link in the lifecycles of at least 20 species of these waterbirds. It is home to the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), the endangered Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis), and vulnerable Relict Gull (Larus relictus), amongst others. The degradation of Yellow Sea’s wetlands will push these species further towards extinction. Impact mitigation The impacts of economic development on the wetlands can be mitigated by carefully planned and enforced national wetland conservation and management measures of the remaining important sites. One example is to designate a specific wetland site to the Ramsar List of Internationally Important Wetlands and to manage it properly. This and other protection measures contribute to the reversing of significant declines in waterbird species. Therefore, Wetlands International urges governments in the region to improve the management and conservation status of these wetlands. New waterbird publication Wetlands International has gathered the results of twenty years of waterbird monitoring in Asia in the new publication entitled Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007. For the first time using rigorous statistical methods, the publication indicates that four of the eight most numerous dabbling duck species in East Asia are declining, with habitat loss identified as the principal cause. The species which is identified to be in strongest decline in East Asia is the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, decreasing by around 10% per year over the past ten years. Furthermore, example trend graphs indicate that Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Common Teal Anas crecca and Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha decreased around 1% per year between 1998 and 2007. The news is not all bad. The Baikal teal (Anas Formosa) and Black-faced Spoonbill (Latalia minor) in East Asia have increased over the monitored period. Wetland sites The results of the analysis in Status of Waterbirds in Asia include information on waterbird numbers at a large variety of sites designated under various international and national instruments including: 116 Ramsar sites, nine World Heritage sites, eight Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage sites, nine Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserves, 502 Important Bird Areas, 55 East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network sites and 417 nationally protected areas. This means that out of 6,700 wetland sites in Asia covered by the report only 1116 have some form of protected status. The publication highlights the value of long term monitoring of waterbirds and wetlands, and the need for strengthening national networks of thousands of volunteers who collect the necessary data. To order a copy online: http://www.nhbs.com:80/status_of_waterbirds_in_asia_tefno_174342.html. For further information: www.wetlands.org/awc www.wetlands.org/flyways www.wetlands.org/iwc www.wetlands.org:80/WatchRead/tabid/56/mod/1570/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2181/Invisible-Connections.aspx Contact: Taej Mundkur Programme Manager Flyways Wetlands International Taej.mundkur AT wetlands.org Tel. +31 (0) 318 660 940 or: Alex Kaat Wetlands International Alex.kaat AT wetlands.org Tel.+31 (0) 6 50 60 1917 Notes: Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007 The publication covers 349 waterbird species and 74 wetland-dependent species recorded during this period by the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) (http://www.wetlands.org/Whatwedo/Biodiversitywaterbirds/InternationalWaterbirdCensusIWC/AsianWaterbirdCensus/tabid/928/Default.aspx). It provides species status accounts, accompanied by 328 maps, for 396 species, including 52 Globally Threatened species and 24 Near Threatened species. The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was initiated in 1987 and runs in parallel with other internationally coordinated waterbird censuses carried out in Africa, Europe, Central and West Asia and Latin America under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which is organised by Wetlands International. The IWC is the largest and longest-running internationally coordinated faunal monitoring programme in the world. The AWC started on the Indian subcontinent in January 1987 and has grown rapidly to cover the rest of Asia, Australasia and eastern Russia. The AWC is conducted annually, during mid January, and is carried out by thousands of volunteers interested in collecting information on waterbirds and wetlands to promote their conservation. The AWC has been extremely successful in achieving its primary objectives of: providing the basis for estimates of waterbird populations; monitoring changes in waterbird numbers and distribution by regular, standardised counts of representative wetlands; improving knowledge of little-known waterbird species and wetland sites; increasing awareness of the importance of waterbirds and their wetland habitats at local, national and international levels. The AWC has also built and strengthened national networks of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers and facilitated their training as an integral part of achieving its objectives. As a result of their increased awareness, local people and governments are now setting about the conservation of important sites in most of the countries covered by the census. However, coverage and conservation efforts vary considerably, and the increasing pressure on wetlands and their biodiversity highlights the need to strengthen the programme to tackle ever-growing challenges. These include global climate change and its far-reaching impacts on changes in distribution and types of wetlands, as well as seasonal variations linked to probable changes in the carrying capacities of the wetlands used by the waterbirds for feeding, nesting and roosting. The Asian Waterbird Census programme has produced a wide range of publications, reports and reviews that are available online on the Wetlands International website. The full reference to latest publication is: Li, Z.W.D., Bloem, A., Delany S., Martakis G. and Quintero J. O. 2009. Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ISBN: 978-90-5882-012-9 (http://www.wetlands.org:80/WatchRead/tabid/56/mod/1570/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2458/Status-of-Waterbirds-in-Asia.aspx) The publication is available from the Natural History Book Service and can be downloaded from the Wetlands International website www.wetlands.org/awc More... -- John O. Albertsen Swan Specialist Group Coordinator swanspecialistgroup AT gmail.com Subject: Seekonk, Cumbies, 3/14 From: Bird Watchers Supply & Gift <birdwsg AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:46 +0000 (UTC) Margo Goetschkes and I birded Seekonk and Cumberland Farms amid the rain today: Location: Seekonk Canada Goose 4 greater scaup 18 TUFTED DUCK 1 Ruddy Duck 8 FISH CROW 1 Location: Cumberland Farms--IBA Observation date: 3/14/10 Number of species: 29 Canada Goose X American Black Duck 40 Mallard 50 Northern Pintail 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Northern Harrier 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 1 KILLDEER 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Mourning Dove 6 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 12 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 American Robin 26 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling X Song Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 8 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Common Grackle 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 28 House Finch 3 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA USA REPLY TO: BirdWSG AT verizon.net 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com MARCH MADNESS SALE This Week - 15% Off ALL In-Stock Optics Including NEW Swarovski Binoculars! Subject: Birds and Beers - Tommorow! From: Eric LoPresti <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:44:53 -0400 Hey guys, Since I am sure everyone was upset about missing a weekend of birds; (except for those who braved the weather - hats off to you guys) but there will be an opportunity to talk birds/drown your sorrows over lost birds tomorrow (Monday 3/15) night at 7ish at Doherty's East Ave Pub in Pawtucket, RI, right near the Attleboro, MA line and just a couple hundred yards off 95 for all coming from the North. Last time we had a great showing and alot of fun. The Tufted Duck and the Eurasian Widgeon are still around for those interested, and daylight savings time just took effect, so plenty of afternoon/evening light... then a really quick ride up to the pub. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI/Wrentham, MA Subject: Re: Harrier feeding on Goldeneye From: "Suzanne & John" <kestrel2009 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:08:58 -0400 Suzanne saw the same sick or injured Common Goldeneye last Sunday (a week ago) in the same location. Today we witnessed its carcass being picked over by two adult, and later one first-winter, Great Black-backed Gulls. John Keeley Stoneham, MA kestrel2009 AT gmail.com Subject: Pileated Woodpecker location(s) From: alice morgan <morgan.alice AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:07:59 -0400 On behalf of a friend, I am trying to identify a place or places where there is a high likelihood of seeing a Pileated at this time of year. Many thanks for suggestions...Alice Morgan -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA Subject: Re: Harrier feeding on Goldeneye From: "Eric" <elabato AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:18:00 -0400 Recently on Plum Island I observed a male Common Goldeneye resting on the shore in that little pond that's in the field just south of the Wardens. It wasn't moving at all and I thought that was an unusual spot for a Goldeneye. I think it is possible that Goldeneye was sick or injured and the Harrier spotted it and took advantage of the opportunity for an easy meal. Eric Labato Malden, MA elabato AT verizon.net