Yard Birds & a BCNH

So I spent the end of the weekend enjoying the warm sun and hanging with some of my various yard birds. The Hummer's are back ! I also found a Night Heron sitting near the Newbury center pond after a late work day around 7ish. The beautiful heron did not seem to mind the serious little league game that was laying siege to the opposing side of the green.

B.C.P

Another great BCP class this weekend, Wayne P was the lecturer for this module. The session was about breeding biology, some very interesting information about avian breeding behavior. We got to stop by the banding station where Ben the resident bander had a Black Throated Green Warbler. Lots of other warblers around; yellows, black & whites, yellow rumped, & also a number blue headed viero's.

BTG

purple finch

B&W

yellow throat

yellow warbler on nest

yellow W

FOY kingbird

Striiiiiipaaaa

I had a FOY Ruby Throated Humming bird today in the dunes of Sandy Point today, as well as a sharpie that buzzed the feeders & a SUMMER TANAGER in the 10th street thicket !!!!! Very cool, didn't get a pic though...no camera. BAH !

MAY ?

So over at Hellcat the Canada Geese have had their young, the little fluff balls were of interest to some of the other birds...you know...snowy owl ? Yup May 4th Snowy Owl. Same bird that has been around Hellcat for about a month. The Owl appears to have a minor injury on its neck. But is still seemingly doing well. I watched the owl dive the Geese twice, no catches...but it did not look like the Snowy was done with that little buffet as of yet.

Also lots of Warblers about to, some just arriving; black & whites, Pines, Yellow Rumps, & Yellows to name a few. Also had at least 2 Merlin's flying around, maybe 3...

watching the little baby geese 

rainy afternoon yawn

Glossy Ibis & others

I made a few stops today after work. First stop was PRNWR, lots of Flickers and a good number of Kestrels. Also 3 Snowy Egrets in the pannes. On my way to Ipswich I stopped at the Pilkes Pannes on 1A, about 30 Glossy Ibis were there. First Glossy of the year. Next I shot over to Ipswich to check on the Great Horned Owl nest, still no owlets...just mom in the 80 degree heat.

Last stop was Nelsons Island, a few Yellow Rumped Warblers. Also a first of the year.

Spring Migration

For a few quick stops I had some great birds, and a few great pics. I found a Palm Warbler in the Hellcat lot hanging out with a few Chipping Sparrows. Kestrels continue to be EVERYWHERE, I saw 15-20 of them. & finally a good shot of a female sitting on a wire. Other highlights were an Eastern Meadow Lark, Snowy & Great Egrets, 1 Snowy Owl, and a number of Greater Yellow-legs in the marsh. 

Palm Warbler

Chipping S

Photo Shop Edit; pic from a month ago...I just love this picture

Kestrel migration

This weekend was a pretty incredible one for American Kestrels, seeing about 40 of them since Friday. All over Plum Island! Lots of other great Raptor highlights: Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Snowy Owl, Short-eared Owl, Bald Eagle...then the regulars to.  I took a few pictures, mainly this weekend was more watching than pictures though.

Just a bit to far for the lens

6 am...First light Red-tailed

Quick stop by the parents found a pile of Turkeys, not a big fan, but this was impressive none the less

photo shop turkey

Sunday

Some good birding this weekend, a stop by the Morris farm today yielded a good number of Blue Birds & some Tree Swallows. Also some other cool animals as always; Tina is mothering some baby snapping turtles, and 2 rare Blanding's Turtle. Both will be released pretty soon. Pictures are in no sort of order from the days events.

Caught this guy in the Witch Hollow gardern

Baby snappers

Later caught a Snowy in the reserve  in the Pines field along with hundreds of peeps off Sandy Point. Dunlin & some sanderlings.  Also the FOY Snowy Egret at North Pool