Field Notes
Walks on LPS Land
To contribute, send email to Linda Kollett (lkollett@mac.com) and include your name, and the date and location of your walk, the time and the weather.
October 10, 2004
A note from Jean Shea
Just thought you might want a quick update on the happenings here in and
around the Medeiros Wildlife Preserve. First the hummingbirds officially
left here for their winter homes on September 10th. But as of October 1st I
was still hearing the Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling from behind my house. I
have not heard it since though. Just yesterday, October 10th, I was happy to
hear the Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Also I took a quick walk over the powerlines
and found that the White -throated Sparrows have also returned for the
winter. I also heard a Catbird.
Back a few weeks ago, I was able to add yet another new bird my list. A
Winter Wren. I was so excited to see it flitting around near the ground in
one of my perennial beds. I got a great look at it and it was no doubt about
it.
July 6, 2004
A note from Jean Shea
I thought you might want a little update on the happenings here at the
Medeiros Wildlife Preserve. This observation is from my backyard, however
since my backyard is surrounded by the Medeiros property, I would say this
would count.
Last Thursday morning I spent 2 hours working in my garden in the back
of my house. It was summy,warm and humid. As I was weeding and planting and
enjoying the sounds of the woods, I started taking note of all the birds I
was hearing. In those 2 hours I heard:
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rufus-sided Towee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Veery
Wood Thrush
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Bluebird
Yellow warbler
Chestnut-sided warbler
Common yellowthroat
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Chickadee
Warbling Vireo
Red eyed Vireo
Pewee
Robin
Hummingbird
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Goldfinch
Hooded Warbler
Carolina Wren
Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Chipping Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
Phoebe
Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Catbird
Scarlet Tanager
Tree Swallow
Indigo Bunting
I thing that's it!!
I was also visited by a Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Spicebush
Swallowtail and an American Painted Lady. Oh, and I can't forget the Gartersnake that lives in the stone wall that surrounds my garden and loves to sun himself next to a Purple Coneflower.
I took a brief walk over at the power lines this weekend and there are flowering things everywhere and lots and lots of butterflies.
I have to add that this year I have been able to add several more birds to
the list. One I think I told you about, a Blackpole Warbler. But in late May
I also heard and got a great look at a Hooded Warbler. I also heard, but did
not get the best look at a Cerulean Warbler. I am 90% sure it is a Cerulean
Warbler because I have heard it many more times since. It seems to spend
a lot of time up in the tree tops and the only look I got of it was its
belly.
(edited by LK)
May 14, 2004
A note from Jean Shea
I thought you might want an update on what has been happening on and aroundthe Mederios Wildlife Preserve. On Friday night May 14th I spent 3 hoursbirding with my friend Corey. We were participating in Bird-a-thon for Mass.Audubon which took place on May 14th and 15th. The weather was warm andbeautiful. It was an awesome evening, we saw, first a Golden-winged Warbler, which is endangered in Massachusetts!!!!! I have now seen and heard it here for the past 4 years. We were so excited and we got the best look at itever, and the song was a classic Golden-winged Warbler song. We also saw:
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern King Bird
Marsh Wren
Redwing Blackbird
Flicker
Northern Parula
Red-eyed Vireo
Great Blue Heron
Prairie Warbler
Field Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
Great Crested flycatcher
PeeWee
Barn Swallow
Killdeer
Woodcock
Veery
Wood Thrush
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
I also found out that the tadpoles in the puddles that we all saw the last
time you were here are American Toads. I found this out because on Sunday Itook a friend of mine who is an 8th grade Science Teacher and who formerlyworked for Mass. Audubon on a bird walk. I showed her the tadpoles and sherecognized them and said that they were almost ready to move out of thepuddles onto land.
(Edited by LK)
April 20, 2004
Jean Shea (from edited email to L Kollett)
Tuesday evening about at about 5, just a we sat down to eat dinner, I heard the wonderful, sound of Warbling Vireos in the yard. They spend the summer in the area, I hear them all the time. I also saw and heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the afternoon. It should stick around as well. So fareveryone is on schedule.....nature is so wonderful. By the middle of next week the Yellow warblers should return along with Wood Thrush. I put up my Hummingbird feeder up yesterday, just in case they should show early.
April 17-18, 2004
Jean Shea (from edited email to L Kollett)
Just wanted to give you a quick update on what I have been hearing and seeing in the last few days on and around my yard and the Medeiros property. On Saturday I heard my first Pine Warbler of the season. I also saw many Spring Azures and a Mourning Cloak butterfly. Sunday brought Chipping Sparrows. Sunday evening just as it was getting dark a Saw whet owl was beeping away. I was so excited! Early Monday morning I had my kitchen window open and heard a male turkey gobbling in the distance. I also spent 2 hours today birding under the power lines on both sides of the street with a friend. We saw and heard right on schedule,
Northern Water thrush and a Palm warbler. We also saw and heard a Savannah Sparrow which is a new one for the list !!!! I was very excited because I felt we should have them there and now I know for sure we do. In addition to those birds I just mentioned we also saw an American Kestrel, Song Sparrow, Bluebird, White-throated Sparrow, Towee, Killdeer and Barn Swallow, Canada Geese with the female sitting on eggs and a pair of Mallards. We also saw several spotted turtles. Just before we stopped we noticed American Toads starting to sing...I love that sound! We also heard several other bird noises that could not be identify.....yet. We also ran into two dirt bikers who drove by us so fast they splashed water all over us and one of them came so close to me I almost lost my balance and fell over into the water.
March 27, 2004
Deb Cato and Linda Kollett
We walked the Medeiros property on Richardson Street between 3 and 5 PM. The weather was clear and the temperature was in the 50s. Water in the river and the swampy areas was high. Unfortunately there is a lot of trash near the power lines.
Birds seen: Juncos, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mockingbird, Mourning Doves
Signs of spring: pussy willows, skunk cabbage, peepers (first of the year for us!)