9.27.18  Bird Nerd Moment with Wild Care Eastham

I heard from Wild Care in Eastham today with regard to a pair of Chimney Swifts that have been successfully rehabilitated and are nearing their release time....
The problem is, most of the Chimney Swifts have already migrated.  

Last year, around this time, I was contacted by Jayne from Wild Care to help out with a lone little swift who just needed a little more time to rehabilitate.  You can't wait too long though, otherwise those little ones will be left to migrate alone.  It's not safe out there for THAT.  You know the expression - safety in numbers - migration makes use of that for so many bird species.

Last year, serendipity took over and a small flock of Tree Swallows essentially appeared literally over my house, that same day.  Time to meet Jayne - on her birthday - to release that little birdie.  It was very moving. Click here for the story...

Jayne with her Chimney Swift patient October 4, 2017

Wildlife rehabilitation is not for the faint of heart.  I'll never forget it, and I like to think Jayne feels the same.

Well... now there are two.  Bird Nerds - we need you.  If you see any flocking Chimney Swifts - unlikely this time of year, or Tree Swallows, PLEASE contact Jen at Wild Care: animalcare@wildcarecapecod.org  (phone:508.240.2255) or me: capecodbirdnerd@gmail.com

We need to hook these little lives back up with a welcoming flock to get them off to safer warmer areas, so they can swift again for us come spring time!  OK... how to spot a swift... if you're a Bird Nerd, you've probably heard they are like "cigars with wings".  Tree Swallows are slightly larger, bulkier and acrobatic as they swoop here and there while feeding on flying insects.  Keep your eyes on the sky...

Happy Birding!

9.18.18  Tuesday Tweets - John Wing Trail - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

I checked the weather forecast Sunday.  I checked the forecast Monday.  I triple-checked the radar Tuesday morning and tried our luck at sneaking in Tuesday Tweets... and our luck panned out. It turned out to be a beautiful morning with a balmy breeze, though there seemed to be a tangible trepidation in the air.  The woods were pretty quiet.  We heard and saw very few species as we hiked over the marsh and into the woods.  There were some distant calls and distant sightings, but we didn't see too many birds... until we reached the beach.

When we arrived on the sands, there was a decent-sized mix flock of terns and gulls, all hunkered down and resting.  I didn't dare get too close because I felt that they were resting to save their energies to survive the storm that was on the way.  If you take a peek at the photos, it's very interesting to note the proximity of each of these different bird species on the sandy flats.  It reminded me that even when we humans have our differences, we often come together in times of crisis in order to get through difficult situations.  Windy rainy times are certainly difficult situations for birds, migrants in particular.  When you notice a flock resting somewhere on a beach, a field, a parking lot, it often means they simply NEED to rest.  It is fine to admire them, but give them their space and let them be.

There were a few moments when flocks on the other side of Quivett Creek took off for a feeding frenzy in the tidal pools.  I got a few nice size comparison photos of the birds hanging out by the shore.  I did take a comparison photo of the shoreline landscape as well.  Inside the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in the Hay Room/Library, there is a photo on the wall of the end of the Wing Island Trail (labeled below) as it connects with the low dunes and sands. I took a photo that morning from about the same spot so you could see the comparison and the real life "sands of time" shifting of the topography of that area.  It's an interesting perspective.  The cedar trees have taken a beating over the past few years!  It's cool to see the passage of time through a local photo.

It was nice to hear those tern calls again, which for me, is SUCH a summer sound.  There's not a whole lot of summer to spare.  I'm so glad we were able to get this Tuesday Tweets in before the storm arrived on Cape Cod, and before I have to start dressing in too many warm layers again.  (double click images to enlarge)

Our List:
Downy Woodpecker 
Gray Catbird
Great Blue Heron
American Goldfinch
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Common Tern
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Canada Goose
American Crow
Mourning Dove
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling

Heading out to cross the salt marsh

Muted colors on the marsh

Great Blue Heron - spotted in the distance

Poison Ivy, looking pretty this time of year

Bee busy on the Groundsel Tree

Silhouette lesson... what raptor can look headless when soaring?
See answer below...

Turkey Vulture

Shades on the meadow

White Goldenrod

Bird Nerds

The photo below is displayed in the Hay Room/Library inside the 

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History... don't miss the comparison of 

what this view looks like today... just below it.

The view on 9.18.18

Bird Nerds

Gulls & Terns & Plovers

Size comparison of Ring-billed Gull ( top left) with
Black-bellied Plover (lower)

Camouflage...
Can you see the Black-bellied Plovers in this photo?
See next photo for close up...

Ring-billed Gull - juvenile

Double-crested Cormorants

Black-bellied Plovers & Semipalmated Plover

Cedar skeletons

We DID see some sunshine...

Glasswort (sea pickle)  turning the beautiful maroon it does this time of year

European Starlings on the powerlines in the distance

Salt Reed Grass/Big Cordgrass
NATIVE SPECIES

Phragmites/Common Reed
INVASIVE SPECIES

Next opportunities for Tuesday Tweets: 
*Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster: 10.16.18 at 9am-10:30am
*Green Briar Nature Center in Sandwich: 10.23.18 at 11am-12p
Note - start times are different at each location.

$4Members/$6Non-members
Happy Birding!

9.11.18 Tuesday Tweets - Green Briar Trail - Green Briar Nature Center
East Sandwich, MA

When we head out on our hike at Green Briar Nature Center, we are essentially greeted by a slew of species at the trail head, thanks to our bird feeder.  This morning was no exception as there were five separate species offering a nice peek at their behavior while they enjoyed a sunflower seed snack.  The weather was a bit iffy as we began, but once we were surrounded by the trees and the green, the sun came out and we had a warm walk through the woods.  As we cornered around the bend in the trail while entering the Beech Tree area, suddenly we could hear another set of species, though the dense Beech leaf foliage made for difficult sightings.  I was able to hear a Belted Kingfisher as s/he flew over the Smiling Pool... but we couldn't see her/him in the distance.

We saw more bird activity as we approached the loop end of Discovery Hill Road, where a small group of American Robins were enjoying berries for lunch, and the Gray Catbirds flew back and forth over the road.  It is always a grand finale to tip toe through the Wildflower Garden at the end of Tuesday Tweets.  Janice and an enthusiastic bunch of knowledgeable gardeners care for this picturesque spot.  It seems it blooms in every color for most of the year.  Do not miss your own walk through when you visit the property.  They also offer a book club: Wildflower Garden Book Club.  What a perfect location for inspiration!

No sight of the swans this Tuesday Tweets, but we were able to fit a hike in despite the screwy weather.  It is always a good idea to get outside and Green Briar Nature Center is an ideal place to do so for folks of all ages, with all sorts of programs.  Join us sometime! (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
White-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
House Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat
Gray Catbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Towhee
Belted Kingfisher
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Tree Swallow

A massive fallen Beech Tree

I don't know why I love these old stone walls so much

Pendulous nest, Oriole? Vireo?

American Robin

American Robin

Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets: 9.18.18 at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster: $4Members/$6Non-members

Happy Birding!

9.8.18  Thornton Burgess Adult Nature Club - Green Briar Trail - Green Briar Nature Center Sandwich MA
Cape Cod Canal - Sandwich, MA

The Thornton Burgess Adult Nature Club is the brain child of Elise Leduc, local naturalist and environmental educator.  We gathered at Green Briar Nature Center for the first half of our time together to hike the Green Briar Trail that begins behind the Education Building and winds around the Smiling Pool, eventually connecting with Discovery Hill Road.  The woods were a bit quiet that morning, with overcast skies and a nice breeze.  As usual, the birdfeeder was where a lot of action was, with about 6 species of bird, offering a good morning welcome to our group.  

While I focused on the birds, Elise focused on the plant life.  The Green Briar Trail is very VERY green and we had sights and smells to guide our way.  We learned about Jewel Weed, which at the right time, produces seed pods that basically explode when touched.  We also got to try the tiny edible seeds that taste like walnuts.  A natural little surprise snack!  We were able to catch a quick glimpse of the Mute Swan pair who live on the property before we headed to the Cape Cod Canal.

When we arrived at the canal, it was clearly high tide and the ocean water was running like a river.  It was SO fast and impossible not to take notice.  The breeze was now a wind and the birds were here, there and everywhere.  As we got closer to the water, I noticed a fin moving in a circular motion.  "What the heck?!"  Turns out it was an Ocean Sunfish, according to Elise.  The fin was easily identifiable by the circular motion it kept going in.  I wish we had an aerial view of this gigantic fish!  I did get some photos... see below.  There were plenty of gulls to talk about gull ID and we saw juvenile terns when we arrived at the beach near the east end of the canal by the jetty.  The cormorants provided quite a show on and in the water.  They are truly amazing to me.  We even had a brief, but very close up view of a Turkey Vulture pair.  

The morning was an interesting combination of different habitats and the birds and plants found in and around them.  Click: Thornton Burgess Adult Nature Club for more information.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Gray Catbird
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Mourning Dove
Common Yellowthroat
Tree Swallow
Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Tern (Common? Roseate?)
Sandpiper

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

American Goldfinch - male

Northern Cardinal - female

Mourning Doves

Eastern Chipmunk

Nature Nerds - you gotta love it!

Lovely trail

Princess Pine on the forest floor

Coexisting

Fungus lesson

Turkey Tail Fungus on a fallen Beech Trunk

Black Locust

Nature Lovers! 

Old stone wall

Tiny branch on a Black Cherry, fighting for sun

Jewel Weed - which I now know thanks to Elise

Mr. & Mrs. Mute Swan on the Smiling Pool

A walk through the Wildflower Garden

Jewel weed seed pods

Overcast days are an opportunity to work on bird silhouettes

Wait a minute.... Who's fin is this?!

What is going on in the Cape Cod Canal?!

Elise assured us that this was...

...an Ocean Sunfish.  I have only seen them in videos
and at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium in captivity

... now I can't say that anymore.  It was WAY cool!!!

Double-crested Cormorant

...coming in for a landing

Don't you wish you could?

Double-crested Cormorant coming up for air after a dive

The kite show going on at Scussett Beach 

Graceful landing on top of the water

Laughing Gull - juveniles

Laughing Gull - juvenile

Cormorants in the water and Gulls on the sand

A distant flock of Tree Swallows gathering across the canal

Add caption

Tern almost finished swallowing a fish

Tern, pretty sure it is a Common Tern

Ring-billed Gull

Nice size comparison among a Ring-billed Gull (top left)
what I believe is a Semipalmated Sandpiper (bottom left)
and an a very recognizable Great Black-backed Gull

Next opportunity with Thornton Burgess Adult Nature Club featuring Wild Food
Saturday October 6th - 9a-12p -$30
Happy Birding!