Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge (5/26)

On Friday morning I got up and, with Kate's help, I drove over to Mt. Auburn Cemetery. This cemetery is famous for having some great birds in spring migration. I'd never been to the cemetery, and since I was in the area and had some time off, I decided to give it a try.

I found the main gate and spent a few minutes driving thru the site looking for somewhere to take a walk. I found a good place, parked and took a short walk. There were birds everywhere but they were mostly the common "backyard" birds (Catbird, Mockingbird, Robin, etc.). And, before I knew it I was totally turned around and lost. All the streets looked alike. After a few minutes of slight panic, I relocated my vehicle. From then on I tried to stay close to the car.

After I drove around the cemetery a few times, I was about to leave when I saw a few other birdwatchers. They were clustered around a small pond that had several trails runing up the side of the hill. This ended up being the best spot of the day. There were Common Yellowthroats in the bushes and I even got a great look at an Ovenbird as she tried to lead me away from her nest.

I climbed to the top of the hill and a strange call almost immediately caught my attention. As I got closer to it I could have sworn that it was coming for down low in the bushes. I must have spent 10 minutes tring to find the bird. Finally, I was aided by a couple of birders who found the bird up high in the tree. It ended up being a Blackpoll Warbler. It always amazing to me how bird songs are reflected off the vegetation. It adds that extra degree of difficulty.

As I was leaving the area, the other birders informed me that a Wilson's Warbler had been calling. Earlier I had seen a small warbler enter the bushes but I didn't get a very good look at it.

Overall it was a nice morning at the cemetery. But, next time I go back I know where I'll want to start.

Birds: Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Northern Flicker, American Redstart, Brown-headed Cowbird, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Oriole, Mouring Dove, House Sparrow, European Starling, American Goldfinch, Chimney Swift, Blackpoll Warbler, Chickadee, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Wilson's Warbler (?)