Minuteman NHP – Vernal Pool Trail, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
Jun 1, 2017 5:45 PM – 8:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: BBC- Minuteman NHP- Leader: Kathy Dia- We started out at the Hartwell Tavern lot and walked via the Vernal pool Tr. back to the Brooks Village lot. Sunny with a few clouds until dusk; mild 60’s to 50’s F. Observers: Lynette, Bev, Juana Ham, Bob, Gail, Stan, Bill Lee, Kathy Dia
40 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2
Wild Turkey 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2     Fly over
Great Blue Heron 2
Mourning Dove 5
Common Nighthawk 6     Feeding high over the boardwalk with swifts and swallows. Tough to count as they kept coming from different directions, but I think this is reasonable. I wonder whether they are nesting nearby. A pair has also been seen regularly at Great Meadows- Concord since mid-May.
Chimney Swift 6
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
Warbling Vireo (Eastern) 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 15
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 5
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 8
Ovenbird 2
American Redstart 1
Pine Warbler 2
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) 1     A “see-saw” heard once; likely Black-and-white or redstart.
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 3
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 0     This was an unfortunate surprise. Each June since 2012 the Buntings have nested in the brushy edges of the spot called the “Bloody Angle” . Each evening like clockwork the males would perch on the trees in the open area and sing. This year no buntings although I have heard one or two elsewhere in the park.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 13
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 4
blackbird sp. 8
House Sparrow 3

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37389023

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Photo credit: Manomet

Photo credit: Manomet