Great Meadows NWR–Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
Aug 24, 2017 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:     BBC – Great Meadows NWR Concord – Leader: Kathy Dia – A lovely warm evening, 70’s F no breeze. We walked to the river and back to the observation platform where we hung out for a while to see what emerged.
24 species

Canada Goose  10
Wood Duck  16
Mallard  6
Great Blue Heron  5
Great Egret  1     Flew into Lower Pool and did not re-emerge
Osprey  1
Sora  1     This was a wonderful surprise. It has been some time since I’ve seen a Sora at Great Meadows and this was one of the best looks I’ve ever had at one. At around 6:45 pm we were hearing a loudly scolding and singing Marsh Wren from the cattails next to the south side of the mid-dike observation platform. Then we heard a second voice from the cattails, a nasal repeated call that Will and I guessed might be an unfamiliar juvenile rail call. I mentioned to the group that Marsh Wrens don’t like rails and to keep an eye out.  Tabitha was the first to spot the Sora and eventually after waiting patiently while it appeared and reappeared everyone in the group got to see it! Small rail with short yellow bill, white supercilium and rump.Pale plumage and call suggest immature. A pleasure to see this bird!
Killdeer  1
Mourning Dove  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Eastern Kingbird  3
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  1
Barn Swallow  25
Black-capped Chickadee  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Marsh Wren  6
Gray Catbird  4
Cedar Waxwing  6
Song Sparrow  5
Bobolink  9
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Common Grackle  1
American Goldfinch  9

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38927651