Plum Island Birders,
I was at the Refuge Headquarters this morning, March 1st, because it's
time to talk about the Purple Martins again
as they are on their way with over 1040 adult scout reports and 5
subadult reports in the southeastern states.
I also asked the staff about the upcoming CCP meetings. I encourage
birders and birding club members to attend one
of these meetings. Birders utilize this Refuge more than many, other,
special interest groups. These meetings are
our opportunity to express our concerns about issues that affect birds,
their habitat and birders.
Let's attempt to influence the future management of habitats, including
the North Pool which remains a serious concern.
Meetings:
Tuesday, March 22,2011 7-9:00pm at the Crane Estate, Ipswich
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 7-9:00pm at the Newbury Fire Station on
Morgan Avenue, Newbury
For more information, the link is:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Parker%20River/ccphome.html
With best wishes,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
www.newburyportbirders.com
978-462-4785
Bill Gette and I led this morning's edition of Wednesday Morning Birding out
of Joppa Flats Education Center. It was partly cloudy and blustery
(SW/10-20) with temps ranging from 34 to 41 F. We visited Parker River NWR
on Plum Island and spent some time on the Merrimack in search of eagles.
The highlight of my morning was having a "brand spanking new" birder seeing
her first Bald Eagle through my scope. Her reaction was something to
behold -- she squealed with absolute and utter delight! What a moment!
Here is our list for the morning:
Plum Island --
Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Pintail (2)
Common Eider
White-winged Scoter (1) - lot #7.
Long-tailed Duck (3) - 1, lot #1; 2, lot #7.
Bufflehead (2)
Common Goldeneye (~ 15) - lot #7; 3 on river at lot #2.
Horned Grebe (2) - lot #1.
Rough-legged Hawk (1) - light morph; Stage Island/Cross Farm Hill.
Sanderling (2) - lot #1.
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
American Crow (~ 5)
European Starling
Snow Bunting (5) - main pan.
Lower Merrimack River (Pumping Station & Deer Island) --
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser (3)
Great Cormorant (~ 10)
Bald Eagle (5) - 1 ad, 1 ~ 4W, 3 juvs.
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird (1)
Common Grackle (1)
Next Wednesday will be our last visit to Cape Ann this season for Wednesday
Morning Birding. We will meet at Friendly's at the first Rt 128 rotary in
Gloucester and depart there at 0930. Any questions about programs at Joppa
Flats Education Center, give Bill Gette or David Larson a call at (978)
462-9998.
Dave Weaver
Manchester, MA 01944
cygnus-dkw@...
Doug Chickering called to say he had a Great Horned Owl on the nest at
the Heron Rookery on Bradford Street in North Andover. A good viewing
spot is just before starting up the hill.
Linda
--
Linda Ferraresso
Watertown, MA
tattler1(at)verizon(dot)net
“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" -
Tagore
Apologies for cross-posting...
A critical part of the funding equation for the MA Natural Heritage &
Endangered Species Program are your voluntary contributions on
your MA state income tax form. If you care about the future of our
wildlife and wild places, please consider making a crucial donation.
Currently, there is no line item in the state budget to support the
NHESP. While a small portion of the operational budget of this
program comes from fees and limited federal aid, the bulk of the
support for this program comes from your tax checkoff contributions.
Alarmingly, contributions to NHESP are down. In 1992, 57,433 filers
contributed $283,671. In 2009 (the most recent year with up-to-
date figures), only 18,916 contributed $199,089!
You can donate when filing your state income tax by entering an
amount on Line 32a: "Endangered Wildlife Conservation". Ask
your tax preparer, if you use one, to do this.
To learn more about rare and endangered species conservation, visit
www.mass.gov/masswildlife (click on Natural Heritage). Scroll down
to "Support us" for more information on the tax checkoff and making
a contribution. If you have already filed your taxes, it is not too
late
to make a contribution directly!
Thanks to Marion Larson of MassWildlife for this information.
Join me and spread the word. Tell a friend or neighbor about this
program and its important work. Share this information with your
local bird clubs and other community groups.
Please contribute generously and support this worthwhile program!
Together, let's turn this trend around!
Barbara Volkle, moderator MASSBIRD
Northborough, MA
barb620@...
Parker River's newsletter is back!
You may view and/or download a copy of The Wrack Line at the main
refuge web site. Simply click here to go to the web site.
Many thanks,
Matt
************************************************************
Matt Poole, Visitor Services Manager
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950
Phone: (978) 465-5753
Email: matt_poole@... http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/
"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not
see." John W. Whitehead
SATURDAY, 12 MARCH 2011:
PLUM ISLAND: Lot One Migration Watch (0740-1145 hrs.) then south to Stage
Island Pool (1145-1305 hrs)
Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy, SW winds 10-25 mph, 40-46 F.
Richard S. Heil
Canada Goose (1340): Including 570 migrating N.
Mute Swan (2)
Gadwall (4)
American Black Duck (550)
Mallard (85)
Northern Pintail (64) : Most Stage I. Pool.
American Green-winged Teal (60) : Stage I. Pool.
Ring-necked Duck (8) : Stage I. Pool.
Common Goldeneye (14)
Common Merganser (14) : migrating N.
Red-breasted Merganser (3)
Turkey Vulture (24) : migrating N.
Bald Eagle (2 imms.)
Northern Harrier (3f.)
Cooper's Hawk (1m.)
Red-shouldered Hawk (4 ads.) : migrating N.; Rapidly increasing of late.
This tally of migrants from Plum Island where traditionally rare seems
indicative of this ongoing change of status.
Red-tailed Hawk (6)
Rough-legged Hawk (1 lt. imm.) : migrating N.
Merlin (1) : migrating N.
Peregrine Falcon (2)
Killdeer (2)
Ring-billed Gull (25) : migrating N.
Herring Gull (40) : some migrating
Great Black-backed Gull (12) : migrating N.
Mourning Dove (4)
American Crow (277) : All migrating N in flocks over the dunes and marsh;
largest flock was 55.
Horned Lark (23)
Black-capped Chickadee (4)
American Robin (8)
European Starling (16) : migrating N.
American Tree Sparrow (9)
Song Sparrow (4)
Northern Cardinal (1)
Red-winged Blackbird (280+) : mostly males, migrating N.
Common Grackle (90+) : migrating N.
Brown-headed Cowbird (4) : migrating N.
COMMON PASTURES, NEWBURY-NEWBURYPORT: Scotland Road and Hale Street
(0610-0730 hrs.)
Canada Goose (520)
Ring-billed Gull (250+)
Eastern Bluebird (1m.)
American Robin (85)
American Pipit (1)
Red-winged Blackbird (220)
Common Grackle (230)
PI Birders,
Lots of birds on Stage Island Pool this morning ...
WOOD DUCK -- 12
Gadwall -- 5
American Black Duck -- 80
Mallard -- 20
Northern Pintail -- 70
Green-winged Teal -- 350
NORTHERN SHOVELER -- 2
RING-NECKED DUCK -- 20
PIED-BILLED GREBE -- 1
There was a Red-necked Grebe on Bill Forward Pool; may be the first time I've
seen one there.
At the North Pool Overlook there were 2 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS.
The roadside was lined with Song Sparrows, about 120 by my count.
Good birding,
Tom Wetmore
Newburyport, MA
http://bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/
Think globally, bird locally.
Birders,
I arrived at Parker River NWR at 5:34am and found the gates are oepn. I got my
first Am Woodcock at the Hellcat parking lot. I have since then counted 17 birds
to the end of the refuge.
Sent with Verizon Mobile Email Nancy Landry Haverhill MA
Though windy and raw and sometimes rainy it was another wonderful morning on
Plum Island.
My favorites included ...
Brant -- 130 seen from Lot Seven overlook.
American Wigeon -- four on Stage Island Pool.
Green-winged Teal -- 450+ on North Pool, Forward Pool and Stage Island Pool.
American Coot -- one on Stage Island Pool.
Piping Plover -- three at Sandy Point -- none with leg bands.
American Woodcock -- about 18 seen and heard from Lot One to Hellcat before
dawn.
Razorbill -- 2 in ocean close off Lot One.
Fox Sparrow -- six, including four roadside near Wardens and two roadside south
of Stage tower -- all singing.
Song Sparrow -- 200+ abundant roadside throughout.
Good birding,
Tom Wetmore
Newburyport, MA
http://bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/
Think globally, bird locally.
It was a great morning to be out on Plum Island this morning. It was one of those in between season’s type of day that you could find almost anything from Snow Geese to Fox Sparrow. The Fox Sparrow was a MA and Plum Island life bird and I managed to get 2 good photos today. One was taken down by lot 7 and the other at the Dunes Trails swamp area along the road. They are posted on my website at http://www.pbase.com/plumphotos/image/133266574.
The Fox Sparrow also making it be the 226 bird species that I have photographed on the island with hopes of capturing as many different species as possible that visit the island. The web page for that can be found at http://www.pbase.com/plumphotos/pi.
My full list of birds seen today is below
Snow Goose 30 flyby Brant 130 ocean 7, Canada Goose X Gadwall 12 American Black Duck X Mallard 15 Northern Pintail 26 Green-winged Teal 300 Ring-necked Duck X Common Eider X White-winged Scoter 9, Ocean 7 Bufflehead X Common Goldeneye X Hooded Merganser 2 Pines Panes Red-breasted Merganser 2 Common Loon 1, ocean 7, 2 Sandy Point
Piping Plover 3 Sandy Point Northern Harrier 2, 1 M @ Wardens
Rough-legged Hawk 1 cross hill American Coot 1 stage Killdeer 4 American Woodcock 17 mostly heard Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Mourning Dove 3 Blue Jay 1 Hellcat American Crow 9 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Pines American Robin X Northern Mockingbird 1 lot 7 European Starling X American Tree Sparrow 3 Fox Sparrow 2 lot 7, 2 dunes trails swamp Song Sparrow 80 Dark-eyed Junco 1 rd Panns Northern Cardinal 2 Hellcat Red-winged Blackbird X Common Grackle X Brown-headed Cowbird 2
American Goldfinch 3
Nancy J. Landry Haverhill MA njlandry@... www.pbase.com/plumphotos
Plum Island: 15 common loon, PI Sound 10 horned grebe, PI Sound 50 Pale-bellied Brant PI Sound 16 ring-necked ducks, Stage Is Pool 6 PIPING PLOVER, Sandy Point none banded. We predict that this will be a good breeding year for piping plover on the Island. Every time we turned around, they multiplied! First there were 3. After turning away to check the brant, there were 4. After turning away to count loons and grebes in the Sound, there were 6! 1 Rough-legged Hawk- Cross Farm Hill 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE- north edge of Cross Farm Hill 110 song sparrows (65 at Wardens!)
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA BirdWSG@... 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
PI Birders,
Just back from a short visit to the refuge.
Two male REDHEADS and two singing FOX SPARROWS are still in view/sound from the
Stage tower. In addition, there is a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL mixed in with
hundreds of Green-winged Teals at Stage; plus the AMERICAN COOT is still at
Stage; and the Ring-necked Duck flock was over 45 in number.
Off the Bar Head Rocks there were three male Greater Scaup to add to the single
male still at Forward Pool. The Lesser Scaup that has also been at Forward Pool
the past couple days was not in evidence.
Unusually, of the three Northern Harriers present at North Field this morning,
two were males, one adult the other first year, and the other an adult female.
Good birding,
Tom Wetmore
Newburyport, MA
http://bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/
Think globally, bird locally.
Birders,
I wanted to share this with the group.
Best,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport, MA
Dear Friends and
Volunteers of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge,
As promised, we will periodically
be providing some fun developmental opportunities for volunteers
and Friends of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Each is
intended to add breadth and depth to your understanding of the
Refuge, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service. And, did I mention that a central
goal is to have fun?!
Here's what we've put on the
calendar for this spring:
The Merrimack River Atlantic
Salmon Restoration Program, Friday, May 6th from 9:00 am
to 2:00 pm: Wild Atlantic salmon disappeared from the
Merrimack River by 1900. Since 1969, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service has been working with its partners to restore the salmon
to the Merrimack and it's cold water tributaries. During this
field trip we will visit the Nashua National Fish Hatchery, where
salmon are raised for the recovery effort. We'll then visit the
Amoskeag Dam in Manchester, NH, where we'll have an opportunity to
walk through the visitor center and see how a fish ladder works.
Please be sure to bring a bag lunch for this visit. The tour
will be lead by Matt Poole, who spent eight years working with the
salmon program on the Merrimack.
Behind the Scenes at Parker
River, Friday, May 13th from 10:00 am - Noon: We've
been working on a new interpretive program that will provide
visitors with a behind the scenes tour of Parker River NWR. While
visiting some areas on the refuge not generally open to the
public, you' will be provided with an overview of refuge habitats
and wildlife, refuge management practices, and historical use of
Plum Island (pre-Refuge). This new "flagship" interpretive
program will begin in the auditorium at the refuge headquarters.
Point N' Shoot 101 -- Digital
Photography for Beginners, Friday, May 20th from 9:00 am -
Noon: This presentation is for folks who find the new world
of digital photography somewhat bewildering! Matt Poole, the
Refuge's visitor services manager and an avid photographer, will
provide an overview of the "digital workflow" -- the cycle in
digital photography that begins with pressing the shutter release
(or taking a picture) and concludes with editing images on a
computer. He'll provide an array of useful tips and will answer
your questions. This session will be conducted in the auditorium
at Refuge headquarters.
If you plan to participate in
any or all of these programs, please reserve a spot by
contacting Jan Wood at (978) 465-5753. Down the road, we'll
also be looking at the possibility of scheduling similar training
programs on weekends.
Thanks,
Matt Poole
************************************************************
Matt Poole, Visitor Services Manager
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950
Phone: (978) 465-5753
Email: matt_poole@... http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/
"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not
see." John W. Whitehead
Bill Gette and I led Wednesday Morning Birding out of Joppa Flats Education
Center on a deceptively cold day with temps in the 30s, overcast conditions,
and light winds out of the NW. We checked out the pastures off Scotland
Road and Plum Island to take advantage of all that was being seen in these
two areas -- and were not disappointed.
Here's our list for the morning:
Scotland Road --
American Wigeon (~ 20)
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Pintail (2)
Green-winged Teal (~ 15)
"AMERICAN X EURASIAN INTERGRADE" TEAL (Sibley) (1) - adult male, observed
and photographed by Rick Heil on Monday.
Killdeer (3)
Wilson's Snipe - 54 counted, but no doubt more present.
American Crow (3)
Black-capped Chickadee (2)
American Robin
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Plum Island --
Canada Goose
Mute Swan (4) - main pan.
Gadwall (~ 12) - various.
American Black Duck - many throughout island.
Mallard
Northern Pintail (~ 80) - main pan, Bill Forward Pool, Stage Island Pool.
Green-winged Teal (~ 350) - main pan, BFP, SIP.
Redhead (2) - drakes, SIP (thanks, Doug!).
Ring-necked Duck (~ 24) - SIP.
Greater Scaup (1) - BFP.
Lesser Scaup (2) - SIP.
Common Eider (~ 40) - 2, lot #1; balance, Emerson Rocks.
White-winged Scoter (6) - 5, lot #1; 1, ER.
Black Scoter (7) - lot #1.
Long-tailed Duck (5) - ER.
Bufflehead (2) - BFP.
Common Goldeneye (4) - BFP.
Red-breasted Merganser (~ 15) - various.
Common Loon (3) - 1, lot #1; 2, ER.
Horned Grebe (~ 13) - ~ 10, lot #1; 3, ER.
Double-crested Cormorant (2) - BFP.
OSPREY (1) - Pines Trail platform; as we moved south on refuge road late
morning, first seen engaged in skirmish with light morph Rough-legged Hawk
in vicinity of nesting platform -- evidently Osprey defending nesting
territory; large bird, probably female; then seen perched atop platform as
we headed north toward end of program, ~ 1230.
Northern Harrier (3) - 2 over dike, BFP; 1 n. end refuge.
Red-tailed Hawk (2)
Rough-legged Hawk (1) - light morph (see Osprey note).
Killdeer (4) - courtship display in marsh opposite lot #3 -- obviously one
bird attempting to hold off two others (assume three males) from what must
have been a lone female.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
[American Tree Sparrow (3) - Joppa Flats.]
Song Sparrow (3) - singing.
Northern Cardinal (1)
Red-winged Blackbird
[Eastern Meadowlark (1) - PI Airport.]
Common Grackle
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday
Morning Birding. For more information
about Joppa Flats programs, call Bill Gette or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Dave Weaver
Manchester, MA 01944
cygnus-dkw@...
Today, Paula & I led our Signs of Spring birding program. Many
of the winter specialties are still present while some early, spring
migrants have arrived. During this field program with north,
northwest winds, we birded the salt marshes, ocean and maritime
forest. Mild Sandy Point was littered with plastic discs from the
Hooksett plant as we searched for shorebirds.
The emerging marsh grass shoots, red buds on trees and pussy
willows were a joy to see. Before the male catkins of the American
pussy willow come into full flower, they are covered in fine,
grayish fur, lending to a fancied likeness to tiny cats ~ these
catkins appear long before their leaves and are known as one of the
earliest signs of spring. As we exited the Refuge, we listened for
American Woodcock and observed two of them probing, evacuating their
cloaca and strutting roadside.
Peregrine Falcon, 1
Northern Harrier, 2 [1 gray ghost, 1 large female]
Fox Sparrow, 3, Goodno Woods
American Woodcock, 2, roadside
Barred Owl, perched & in flight between Lots 2-3 [marsh side]
Green-winged Teal, southern end of Stage Island Pool & Marsh
Trail @ Hellcat
American Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck, SI Pool
Red-breasted Merganser
Mallard X American Black Duck, 1male
Greater Scaup, 3, Sandy Point
Common Eider SP
Black Scoter SP
Wing-winged Scoter SP
Horned Grebes, SP
Long-tailed Duck SP
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Mourning Dove
Song Sparrow, 20, various
Woodpecker species
Black-capped Chickadee
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Great Cormorant
American Crow
"Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men."
Chinese Proverb
With best wishes,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA www.newburyportbirders.com
Tom Wetmore called to report a pair of BLUEBIRDS (very rare on Plum Island) just south of the parking lot to the Bill Forward Blind. There was also a PHOEBE there, and Tom also saw 2 TREESWALLOWS on the island.
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA BirdWSG@... 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
Birders,
I had a large flock of Brant [145] at the Basin this afternoon. They
took flight, crossed the river and put down at Salisbury Beach State
Reservation. Then, within minutes they were in flight to return to the Basin
Good birding,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
www.newburyportbirders.com
Late this afternoon (about 4:15 PM), a male Blue-Winged Teal, again with many Green-Winged Teal, was in the flooded field (pond) to the right of the road leading to Sandy Point's second parking lot. Around 14 Brant were also at Emerson Rocks.
Art Robinson
Cambridge
On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 10:30 AM, Thomas Wetmore <ttw4@...> wrote:
PI Birders,
Just back from a short visit to the refuge.
Two male REDHEADS and two singing FOX SPARROWS are still in view/sound from the Stage tower. In addition, there is a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL mixed in with hundreds of Green-winged Teals at Stage; plus the AMERICAN COOT is still at Stage; and the Ring-necked Duck flock was over 45 in number.
Off the Bar Head Rocks there were three male Greater Scaup to add to the single male still at Forward Pool. The Lesser Scaup that has also been at Forward Pool the past couple days was not in evidence.
Unusually, of the three Northern Harriers present at North Field this morning, two were males, one adult the other first year, and the other an adult female.
This a quick reminder that we are
planning
to have a native garden work day here at Refuge headquarters on
Thursday,
April 7th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. We are looking for folks to
help
out.
This will be phase one of our
effort
to turn the existing native garden into an outdoor classroom. The
goal for the day includes moving some plant beds, laying down
organic compost
and mulch, and constructing a meeting circle in the center of the
garden
space (a place where groups will gather for programs).
If you're interested in helping
out,
simply show up with enthusiasm and a smile. If you can only
contribute
a few hours, those are a few hours that we will greatly
appreciate! If
you could bring a shovel and/or garden rake, that would be
helpful, as
well.
Because of the difficulty with
rescheduling
this type of work, we're planning to do the work rain or shine
(within
climatological reason, of course!).
Thank you!
Matt
************************************************************
Matt Poole, Visitor Services Manager
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950
Phone: (978) 465-5753
Email: matt_poole@... http://www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver/
I witnessed the courtship flight of the male Northern Harrier this
afternoon. I saw dramatic barrel rolls over the North Pool Field.
Two females were seen hunting in the area.
Seems early to me...
With best wishes,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA www.newburyportbirders.com
The Purple Martin nest boxes and gourds are up at both Lot 1 and the
north end of Plum Island [by the lighthouse].
We're eagerly awaiting their arrival!
You can adopt a Purple Martin gourd for the 2011 breeding
season. These birds at Plum Island have been studied and monitored
for years. Purple Martin gourd adoptions make great gifts for
members of your family or friends.
With each adoption of a Purple Martin gourd for the 2011
breeding season, you will receive:
Photos
As the season progresses, updates on breeding biology at the
colony ~ nest building, egg laying, hatching and fledgling
activities.
A final tally of the colony's reproductive success.
An invitation to renew your adoption the following year.
Your adoption allows you to:
Partake in a scheduled round of nest checks with a Purple
Martin landlord.
Know that you are helping provide housing for this
human-dependent songbird.
can anyone ID this hawk? Thought it was a Coppers but now think it to be a Sharp
shinned as it looked smaller in height.
http://www.bedardphoto.com/coopers2webpage.jpg
Thanks!
John B.
Lenox, MA
Susan Hardy saw a LITTLE BLUE HERON at the south end of the Salt Pannes on Plum Island this morning. She also said that there were great egrets on the island, and also many phoebes along the road.
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA BirdWSG@... 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
PI Birders,
65 degree winds blowing from the south are having quite an effect on the island.
This morning there were Eastern Phoebes EVERYWHERE, on the marsh, in the scrub,
in the forest, in the fields, on the road, as well as flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos
and a PALM WARBLER in the s-curves. Add in 8 Great Egrets, 9 Great Blue Herons,
a Brown Creeper at the Pines, a few Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 FOX SPARROWS, and
it was a better than expected rush on to the island and off again this morning
in hopes of seeingn the Little Blue Heron (not there) reported earlier this
morning.
Good birding,
Tom Wetmore
Newburyport, MA
http://bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/
Think globally, bird locally.
I'm posting this course information on behalf of my friend and mentor
Stephen Haydock. Please remember to sign up early!
Good birding,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport, MA
North Shore Community College (NSCC) in Danvers, Massachusetts is
currently enrolling students for an introductory course in ornithology
to be offered this fall. The course is designed to provide the student
with a foundation of knowledge in avian biology, enhance student
ornithological field skills and increase student appreciation of birds.
The lectures introduce the students to the biology of birds and include
the following topics: field techniques, taxonomy, evolution, anatomy and
physiology, feathers and flight, vocalizations, distribution,
reproduction and development, populations, conservation, migration, and
behavior. The field trips/laboratories emphasize bird identification and
field techniques.
The course instructor is retired U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist
Steve Haydock who has been studying birds and other wildlife for more
than 35 years. He has been teaching this course at NSCC since 2002.
Additional details are as follows:
COURSE: Introduction to Bird Biology, Bio-150
SEMESTER: Fall, 2011, September 8 - December 17
CREDITS: 3 semester. Course may be audited for no
credit/grade
CAMPUS: 1 Ferncroft Road located off Route 1 south
TIMES: Lectures: Thursdays, 6:30pm - 8:15pm
Labs/Field Trips: Saturdays, 8am - 10am
REGISTRATION: For information, visit or call the Enrollment Office
(Danvers Campus) at 978-762-4000 ext 4336 or dial 0 for the operator to connect you. PROOF
OF COMMUNICATIONS PROFICIENCY IS REQUIRED. Early registration is
strongly recommended.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: North Shore Community College: www.northshore.edu
Steve Haydock, Instuctor
telephone: 978-363-5457
email: SHAYDOCK01@...
Send Email
