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