Common Redpolls

A small flock of Redpolls near the Hellcat area has turned into over 200 birds in under a week. The Redpoll's are feeding on Birch Tree seeds. Fun to watch these winter birds swarm, a nice break from people chasing owls all over the dunes.

On that not I must add, I am excited for the Snowy Owls to leave, people simply can not handle being responsible around these birds, and with no agency to enforce peoples behavior with the wildlife they are simply running ramped up here on Plum.

Purple Snadpipers along rt 1A in NH, Casey and I went looking for a Gyrfalcon but found these little guys. 

 Sleeping,  no need to chase see ? 

Barred Owl & Others

I got some more pictures of the local Barred Owl, sometimes its just to easy not to take a picture of this bird. I also took a great walk on Crane Beach, I love this place, lots of memories since it was my beach growing up.

                                                              Dunes trail at Crane Beach

Horned Lark 

More Snowys

Found 2 Snowy's in the Reserve, and the new "resident" bird in front of the house. Another BIG Snowy year for Plum Island.

Snowy's

Davey called with a Snowy sitting in front of the house. Looks like duck is on the menu !

Long-eared Owl

I flushed a Long-eared Owl while stomping around in the woods this week. I did not even see the owl, which had to of either been directly on the ground or sitting about a foot off the ground in the brush. I always seem to find this species of owl ranging from about 2 feet - 5 feet off the ground, never higher. I did not attempt to follow the owl further once I flushed it, but always cool to see.

Owls

Every time I drive into the reserve this Barred Owl is literally sitting in the road so I pretty much have to take a picture of it. Also Snowy Owls have once again returned to Plum Island. Interestingly enough for the first time that we know of 2 Snowy Owls actually stayed at Logan airport and the Boston harbor islands this year. However this bird is a new arrival. The poor quality of the Snowy picture is due to rain and only taking one quick documentation shot.

                                                                     Horned Lark

Saw-whet Owl banding

It has been a great banding season so far. This week we saw the first large movement of birds. Warm incliment weather and mainly south winds have offset the migration by a few weeks. Thursday we caught & banded 25 Saw-whets, and one red phase Eastern Screech. Mainly hatch year birds, and mostly female.