Minute Man NHP–Hartwell Area, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

May 22, 2019 6:45 AM – 8:45 AM

Comments:    BBC – Spring Migrants at Minute Man NHP – Leader: Kathy Dia – Sunny 50’s to 60’s F strong breeze.. We walked from the Hartwell lot to the Vernal Pool loop, stopped at the Bloody Angle and back up the Battle Rd.

39 species

Canada Goose  2

Wild Turkey  2

Mourning Dove  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2

Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1

Eastern Wood-Pewee  2

Eastern Phoebe  1

Eastern Kingbird  1

Yellow-throated Vireo  1    Heard but not seen on the walk. Will Martens and I took a walk in at 12:30 and were able to locate the bird singing loudly on a maple on the Battle Rd. just east of the Smith House ruins.

Red-eyed Vireo  7

Blue Jay  3

Black-capped Chickadee  5

Tufted Titmouse  4

White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  3

House Wren  1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1

Wood Thrush  1

American Robin  9

Gray Catbird  1

Cedar Waxwing  1

American Goldfinch  2

Chipping Sparrow  4

Song Sparrow  1

Baltimore Oriole  7

Brown-headed Cowbird  2

Ovenbird  3

Blue-winged Warbler  1

Nashville Warbler  2

Common Yellowthroat  3

American Redstart  7    In recent year’s there have been one to two nesting pairs in this area but this year there are likely multiple. There are two occupied nests in the lot area alone and males singing at various locations throughout the  Hartwell Tavern and Vernal Pool area. The first occupied nest is in a low bush well-hidden but in an area of high visitor traffic. The female was coming and going while the male sang loudly nearby. I did not see young in the nest and it was unclear whether she was carrying nest material or food. I have been watching this nest for about a week. The second nest is in a maple mid-height and rather in the open once one finds it. This is the nest pictured with the female sometimes sitting on the nest and sometimes perched very near but never bringing anything to the nest. Again a male was singing nearby.

Northern Parula  1

Magnolia Warbler  1

Black-throated Green Warbler  2

Canada Warbler  2    Same location I heard it on 5/14; same behavior. At start of recording followed by an American Redstart. Confirmed by Jason Forbes, David Swain thinks two Canada males counter-singing.

Scarlet Tanager  2    Vernal Pool area. One seen and one singing

Northern Cardinal  1

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  4

Indigo Bunting  2    One seen near Smith house. One chip note heard just west of Hartwell Tavern (area INBU pair seen several days ago)

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56666176