Quabbin Reservoir (6/9)
It was another weird overcast day on Saturday June 9th. But this didn’t stop us from taking a trip out to Quabbin Reservoir. I hadn’t been out to the reservoir in some time and it was good to get back.
We started in the Gate ?? area. Even though it was later in the morning, the birds were all still singing loudly. Became really difficult to pick out individual songs but we did our best. As we hiked, we heard Wood Thrushes, Veerys, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Ovenbirds. In a small clearing my Mom thought that she could hear a Chestnut-sided Warbler so I decided to call it in. The second that I played the recording, the small male bird appeared. He looked at us inquisitively before disappearing again into the trees.
We continued up the road until we got to a small marshy area. Common Yellowthroats were calling from the bushes and we spotted a Great Blue Heron on the opposite shore from us. As we watched, a Cooper's Hawk dove down out of a tree and escaped into the woods.
In this area I came across a strange sight. It was a Red Eft who had climbed near the top what must appear to him to be a giant boulder. I can’t imagine why he would do this but it made for a really nice shot.
After a bit more, we turned around and headed back to the parking lot. As we walked we noticed Pink Ladyslippers in full bloom all around us. They were absolutely beautiful.
Once back at the car we decided to drive out to the boat launch area to have our lunch. The boat launch was also a pretty good site for birdwatching. There were Tree Swallows everywhere and one even perched on a piece of wood one a few feet from our picnic table. With all the boat activity, the water was relatively bare but my Dad did find one Loon.
After lunch we walked around the area a bit more and turned up some really nice birds. On the water was a family of Canada Geese. And, while we were admiring the goslings an adult Bald Eagle soared overhead.
Since we weren't dead tired yet, my Mom and I decided to walk along the road. From there we heard Cedar Waxwings, a Warbling Vireo, lots of Redstarts, and at least one Great Crested Flycatcher. But the best bird of the day was the Blackburnian Warbler that we spotted in the trees. That's such a handsome bird. It was a nice end to the day.
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Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Veery, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mallard, Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Gray Catbird, Black and White Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Tufted Titmouse, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Crow, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tananger, Barred Owl, Blue Jay, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Wood Peewee, Pine Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Eastern Kingbird, Red-tail Hawk, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Common Loon, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Great-crested Flycatcher, Bald Eagle, Blackburnian Warbler, Turkey Vulture
We started in the Gate ?? area. Even though it was later in the morning, the birds were all still singing loudly. Became really difficult to pick out individual songs but we did our best. As we hiked, we heard Wood Thrushes, Veerys, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Ovenbirds. In a small clearing my Mom thought that she could hear a Chestnut-sided Warbler so I decided to call it in. The second that I played the recording, the small male bird appeared. He looked at us inquisitively before disappearing again into the trees.
We continued up the road until we got to a small marshy area. Common Yellowthroats were calling from the bushes and we spotted a Great Blue Heron on the opposite shore from us. As we watched, a Cooper's Hawk dove down out of a tree and escaped into the woods.
In this area I came across a strange sight. It was a Red Eft who had climbed near the top what must appear to him to be a giant boulder. I can’t imagine why he would do this but it made for a really nice shot.
After a bit more, we turned around and headed back to the parking lot. As we walked we noticed Pink Ladyslippers in full bloom all around us. They were absolutely beautiful.
Once back at the car we decided to drive out to the boat launch area to have our lunch. The boat launch was also a pretty good site for birdwatching. There were Tree Swallows everywhere and one even perched on a piece of wood one a few feet from our picnic table. With all the boat activity, the water was relatively bare but my Dad did find one Loon.
After lunch we walked around the area a bit more and turned up some really nice birds. On the water was a family of Canada Geese. And, while we were admiring the goslings an adult Bald Eagle soared overhead.
Since we weren't dead tired yet, my Mom and I decided to walk along the road. From there we heard Cedar Waxwings, a Warbling Vireo, lots of Redstarts, and at least one Great Crested Flycatcher. But the best bird of the day was the Blackburnian Warbler that we spotted in the trees. That's such a handsome bird. It was a nice end to the day.
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Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Veery, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mallard, Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Gray Catbird, Black and White Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Tufted Titmouse, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Crow, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tananger, Barred Owl, Blue Jay, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Wood Peewee, Pine Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Eastern Kingbird, Red-tail Hawk, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Common Loon, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Great-crested Flycatcher, Bald Eagle, Blackburnian Warbler, Turkey Vulture
posted by Mike @ 2:48 PM
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