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!)