5.22.14 - Bird Nerd Moment - Surprise Mallard visit

Yarmouth, MA

 

I have to admit, when Mr.&Mrs.Mallard show up in our backyard...we feel pretty special.  My daughter insisted on filling our kiddie pool, which we have done in the past for these two.  We haven't had a visit from them though in two years!  We rescued our dog Pumpkin in the summer of 2012 and these mallards have stayed out of our yard since...until today.  What a special treat and a reminder that when you're kind, as often as possible, you're treated to wild surprises just like this.  They really seemed content on our filthy Slip-N-Slide.  Mr.Mallard seemed quite protective of his lady.  He always had a watchful eye.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Happy Birding!

5.18.14 - Bird Nerd Moment

Chatham, MA

 

Having young children often requires finding a destination filled with fun, but at little to no cost, when possible.  Living on Cape Cod, I feel we are surrounded by natural resources, often totally free to take in, if you're just paying attention.  It's all right there.  So, a Sunday afternoon in Chatham was in order, and we saw some pretty cool stuff.  While the boys hung out at the ball field practicing fielding, we girls took a walk over to Stage Harbor and spotted some interesting characters.  We came across some mating Horseshoe crabs... Happy Spring!  We later visited the Chatham Fish Pier and managed to get VERY close to a Barn Swallow.  It is often the case that nature is not far and will often come to you, if you're willing to give it that chance. (click photos to enlarge)

 

Horseshoe Crabs...uhh...celebrating the season

 

Red-tailed Hawk  

Chatham Fish Pier

Barn Swallow 

Barn Swallow (I guess we blew his cover) 

Barn Swallow 

Barn Swallow nest

 

Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets - 5.20.14 - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Brewster, MA $2Members/$4Non-members

Happy Birding!

5.20.14 - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Tuesday Tweets

John Wing Trail - Brewster, MA

 

So, it was supposed to rain, but it did not...and we just lucked out.  A fast and furious Tuesday Tweets this morning and I have a feeling, if it lasted longer, we'd have experienced at least five more species!  We even had a red fox sighting!  Pretty awesome!  See photos below.  Hope to see you on a Tuesday Tweets sometime!  It's ALWAYS different even though we travel the same trails.

 

Our List:

Song Sparrow

Osprey

House Sparrow

Herring Gull

Barn Swallow

American Crow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Northern Cardinal

Gray Catbird

Pine Warbler

Eastern Towhee

Black-capped Chickadee

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Common Yellowthroat (!!!)

American Goldfinch

Northern Mockingbird

Yellow Warbler

We Heard:

Yellowlegs (Greater? Lesser?)

Song Sparrow

 

Red Fox!!!

Osprey (House Sparrow on right)

 

Song Sparrow

 

Brown-headed Cowbird (male)

 

Eastern Towhee (rump view!)

Eastern Towhee (male) 

Eastern Towhee (male) singing... : )

Eastern Towhee (male) 

 

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

 

Common Yellowthroat (male - lousy photo)

Common Yellowthroat (male)

 

American Goldfinch (male)

 

Tree Swallow

 

Tuesday Tweets welcomes bird lovers of all ages.

 

Northern Mockingbird (Good eye Marian!)

Northern Mockingbird

 

Gray Catbird

 

The rhododendrons are blossoming at CCMNH!

 

Osprey - one last photo, couldn't resist...

 

Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets - 6.10.14 - 9:30am - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Brewster, MA $2Member/$4Non-member

Click HERE for more information about the museum's programs.

Happy Birding!

5.16.14 - Bird Nerd Experience - Teaticket Elementary School
Falmouth, MA

The past three Fridays I've been fortunate to be able to visit four 3rd grade classrooms at Teaticket Elementary School through the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.  It's always my goal to get the kids outside thinking about and looking for birds, and we were able to do that with each class, every time I visited.  I love their bird stories and great questions and insights.  Teaticket third graders were so jazzed about birds, they inspired the school to hang 2 birdfeeders (see photos below) in the beautiful school courtyard!  Way to go kids!  See what you are capable of when you care about nature!  Now everyone can enjoy birdwatching as they eat their lunch, and the courtyard is an IDEAL location for the feeders.  We established an eBird account with each class so that they may continue to record and keep track of their accurate bird sightings.  Citizen Science is another way we all can help the birds by counting them and reporting our evidence through eBird thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  The birds benefit because the Citizen Science helps the ongoing studies.  We benefit because we're outside, enjoying nature and loving those birds.  Start your own count!  Visit eBird today!  (click on photos to enlarge)

Blue Jay

Students' Evaluation 

American Crow 

American Crow 

Red-Winged Blackbird (blurry)

Nest 

Bird seed feeder in the courtyard

Hummingbird Feeder in the courtyard

Room 7 eBird results 

Thank You Katie...and thank you to ALL students!

 

 Our List: (although I'm guessing the students will remember some that I forgot... I wasn't keeping a list each week, so this is based on memory)

Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Osprey
American Crow
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Chimney Swift
Barn Swallow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Mourning Dove
Mallard
Common Grackle
Carolina Wren
Baltimore Oriole
White-throated Sparrow
House Sparrow
Gray Catbird
Blue Jay
Red-tailed Hawk

Thank you third graders of Teaticket School for the memorable visits!  Thank You Mrs.Dwyer, Mrs.Turner, Mrs.Moran and Mrs.Geist!  I had the BEST time!
Happy Birding!