6/22/14 Summer Birding

Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while. I was really busy with school, but my bird list has gone up a ton.

Today I went to Succotash Marsh, Moonstone Beach, and Trustom Pond NWR.

Map of today's birding

SPECIES SEEN/HEARD TODAY:

Great Black-backed Gull

Least Tern

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Piping Plover

Herring Gull

American Crow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Tree Swallow

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Mute Swan

GADWALL

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

American Redstart

Eastern Towhee

Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

First we went to Succotash Marsh. There was a continuing Wilson's Phalarope there, but we did not see it. All we saw were Least Terns, Great Black-backed Gulls, and an unidentified shorebird.

Next we went to Moonstone Beach. On the beach I saw Least Terns, a Piping Plover, gulls, and Canada Geese. At the marsh by the beach I got Marsh Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, blackbirds and grackles, and a deer tick (safely removed, no Lyme Disease). There were two birders who said they saw a Least Bittern fly in and they pointed to where it flew in. I did not find it in the reeds.

Next we went to Trustom Pond NWR. This was the big part of the day. First we looked at the feeders and found the usual suspects. Cardinals, Song and House sparrows, nuthatches, etc...... Next on the trail we went to the field where we saw sparrows (probably song) flying away. After that there was this very small marsh where there were blackbirds and grackles, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat. On Otter Point Trail we went through a more forest part of Trustom there were Yellow Warblers, and a couple of American Redstarts calling. At Otter Point there was NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only two Mute Swans. After that we went on Red Maple Swamp Trail. On there we saw and heard lots of catbirds, Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Cedar Waxwings, and a fledgling cardinal. Here is a lousy attempt at trying to photograph a redstart. Those things are really fast.

American Redstart

    We got to the intersection with Osprey Point Trail. The intersection itself was very active with redstarts and Yellow Warblers singing everywhere along with an abundance of Cedar Waxwings and catbirds. Along Osprey Point Trail at a small cove in Trustom Pond there was the continuing pair of GADWALL. Not really a goal bird, but it was a rarity for the time of year. Also along the trail along with the chorus of Yellow Warblers, redstarts, catbirds, and Cedar Waxwings. A House Wren also made a quick appearance.

House Wren

Finally at Osprey Point we took a little break and so did this Least Tern we observed from the point.

Least Tern

We also saw an Osprey go fishing from the point. After that we headed back on Osprey Point Trail. In the same cove as the Gadwall were there was a family of Wood Ducks and 2 Eastern Kingbirds.

Wood Ducks

We passed the intersection to Red Maple Swamp Trail, but decided to keep going on Osprey point trail after that it started to get quiet except for a couple distant Eastern Towhees calling. After the period of quietness a Great-crested Flycatcher started calling, but didn't show itself. After that more quietness we were back at the feeders where we started and a very tame Song Sparrow posed for me.

Song Sparrow

After that we were done and went to Moonstone to see if the bittern had shown itself, but did not. 

That's the end of this birding trip.