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

November sometimes can surprise us in the birdwatching department.  The weather on the other hand, is fairly predictable and we toughed it out in our winter gear for a cold and windy, yet brilliantly sunny, Tuesday Tweets.  It was the perfect-sized group so that we each got a visit in.  The highlight of our walk had to be the poses we got from the small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers who perched for us again in the small meadow where the stone calendar is on the John Wing Trail.

What is especially sweet about these birds is that they tend to come out of hiding one at a time as we bird nerds patiently wait to prove to them that we are there just to appreciate them.  At first we'd just hear a peep.  Then we'd see a flash.  Then another flash and another, as they perch here and there, all puffed up to conserve their warmth in the cold air.  Birdwatching is a gift in every season, and we only get to see these guys in the colder months.  They gave us quite a show, including a size comparison with a Black-capped Chickadee.  I wonder what they were communicating to each other when they were so close.  Just wondering about that, is enough to keep us excited about getting to see them year after year.  I will admit... I may have taken too many photos of the warblers.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
House Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Herring Gull
Blue Jay
Carolina Wren
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Red-breasted Mergansers

House Sparrow - females

Can you spot the two House Sparrow females?  

Camouflage is amazing

Red White and Blue!
(Northern Cardinal - male & Blue Jay)

Old Man's Beard lichen covering tree branches

Found nest in the marsh reeds

View of Paine's Creek through the trees

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Bird Nerds!

Watching Warblers!

 

Ring-billed Gull

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warblers and Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Paw prints in the sand along the meadow trail

Another nest spotted

Herring Gull

We did not stay long on the beach - it was too cold and windy

Big old highbush blueberry - it's famous around here

Red-breasted Merganser - females and male

Next opportunity for Tuesday Tweets:
Green Briar Nature Center, East Sandwich: 12.4.19 at 11am  $4Members/$6Non-members
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster: 12.11.19 at 9am $4Members/$6Non-members
*NOTE* Different start times at different locations

Happy Birding!

11.13.18  Tuesday Tweets cancelled due to rain

Here is a Wild Turkey, since they are the bird of the month in many ways.  I don't know what it's like in your neighborhood with these guys, but they show up quite a bit in ours. The color diversity of their many different feathers is pretty spectacular!  In my opinion, Wild Turkeys lend themselves to the Cape Cod lifestyle.  If you're a few minutes behind schedule, it seems OK to blame it on the 23 turkeys that needed to slowly cross the road while you were on your way.  Happens all the time... 

Next opportunities for Tuesday Tweets:

11.27.18 Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster *9am*

12.4.18 Green Briar Nature Center, East Sandwich *11am*

12.11.18 Cape Cod Museum of Natural History *9am*

$4Members/$6Non-members

*Note:* Different start times for different locations

Happy Birding!

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

The campus of Green Briar Nature Center has MUCH to offer.  The birds think so too.  It is common knowledge that having a bird feeder provides excellent opportunities for bird sightings.  I often recommend to those interested in learning more about bird identification to pay close attention to local native species.  When you become more familiar with the field marks of the birds you see quite often, you are more apt to have a, "...wait a minute, who's THAT?!" moment when you notice a species that is new to you.  We keep the bird feeder at Green Briar full of black sunflower seeds.  This is yet another reason for having your own bird feeder... Christmas is coming!  It's not just for the birds!  As you'll notice in the photos below, some days we are full of several species thanks to this very feeder.

We had a peaceful and quiet walk through the woods, appreciating the varying colors of the leaves.  The beech trees in particular were looking extra pretty.  As we walked we discussed some of the behaviors of certain birds, including the mimic abilities of Blue Jays.  The Blue Jays didn't disappoint and we had several sightings.  We even caught a glimpse of a Cooper's Hawk as we were finishing up our time together.  What a sweet group of bird nerds we had along for this Tuesday Tweets.  I will admit, when I spotted a Northern Mockingbird, I freaked out.  They are a native species, I just typically see them in the warmer months.  I took a few too many photos of that bird.  I couldn't help it.  (double click photos to enlarge)
Our List:
American Robin
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-throated Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Song Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
American Crow
Coopers Hawk

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal - male

Red-bellied Woodpecker- male, note the zygodactyl feet!

This guy was fun to photograph!

Mourning Dove

Camouflage lesson, can you spot the Song Sparrow?

Tufted Titmouse

Song Sparrow blending in 

Song Sparrow testing your eyes

Song Sparrow - easier to spot 

White-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Mockingbird - I could not believe my eyes!
I am not used to seeing them in the colder months even though
they are native to this area

More field marks to notice on a Northern Mockingbird:
2 white wing bars (stripes along their wings) and long tail

Just fun to photograph!
Note the amount of white when the wings are stretched
This is a trait to notice when Northern Mockingbirds are in flight

Northern Mockingbird silhouetted against the grey sky

Poison Ivy - Photo Credit: MARIANNE

Briar Patch Trail

Beetle tracks along a fallen tree

Another "Spot the bird"
There's a Downy Woodpecker in there...

Downy Woodpecker - male
finding something worthwhile in fallen branches on the forest floor

Size comparison of an Oak's giant trunk
(surrounded by Beech trees - which are the green leaves you see)

Northeast view across the Smiling Pool

Princess Pine

Beech Tree colors  Photo Credit: MARIANNE

Hard to believe, but we spotted an inch worm dangling from a Holly tree!

Red-bellied Woodpecker from behind

I just liked the color contrast 

Bird Nerds!  Photo Credit: MARIANNE

We spotted a nest
This is a great time of year to spot them as the leaves slowly fall to the ground

Blue Jay

Photo Credit: MARIANNE

Looking south on the Smiling Pool

Next opportunities for Tuesday Tweets:
11.13.18 Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster *9am*
11.27.18 Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster *9am*
12.4.18 Green Briar Nature Center, Sandwich *11am*
$4Members/$6Non-members
Note different start times for different locations
Happy Birding!