Field Ornithology: Grassland/Shrubland

Date: 5/25/2021
Start time: 7:08
End time: 12:30
Location: Chestnut Hill Farm Trailhead (Southborough, MA)
Weather: 52 degrees at start, 72 degrees by end, sunny, 5 percent clouds, SW 8 mph wind
Habitat: farm land with fences boxing in some areas, few and small patches of trees, some small hills, rock wall near barn

• denser forest (mostly deciduous) in the far back on the east side, some streams in the woods, small river on the west side, grass in fields were maintained at a low height (highest it got was likely 2.5 feet)
• tree species: hickory, American linden, red oak, red maple, white ash, white pine (minimal), Norway spruce (on west side next to river)
• shrub species: geraniums, buttercups, cinnamon fern, interrupted wood fern, royal fern, lady fern
• I spent an equal amount of time in the open field as I did in the fields within the forest

I first spent some time by an open barn as well since Eastern Phoebes and Barn Swallows were flying in and out of the barn. Just outside of the barn were American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, and Mourning Doves, all flying from the tree to the ground and all around. I started to make my way up the path made by the tires of the vehicles from the farm. Once again, I was faced with so many Red-winged Blackbirds creating several vocalizations. This time (for the most part) I knew which calls were theirs and which were other species. I noticed some birds sitting on an electric fence and wondered how in the hell they weren't getting shocked. I later looked it up and found they are not good conductors of electricity!
Heading down the field, there weren't many species that I hadn't already seen. Once I got to the woods in the back, I found two separate Song Sparrows and a Northern Cardinal on the meadow trail. As I walked further down the trail there were a ton more birds in the meadows in the woods. I heard a Common Yellowthroat, White-breasted Nuthatch, Ovenbird, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Eastern-wood Pewee, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, and a Blue-Winged Warbler. All of them were hiding in the trees. I was able to see the American Goldfinch with my binoculars but it quickly flew away.
Once I got back out to the field, I saw my first ever Killdeer. There was a group of Mourning Doves near it which all taunted and scared it off. I walked back down the field, over near the barn and saw an Eastern Bluebird which tilted its head at me. It would come down to the ground to peck at the ground and then fly back up on its perch. Nearby I heard the famous "sweet, sweet, sweet, little-more-sweet" from a Yellow Warbler, as well as a Chickadee. I walked across the street to the Beals Loop Trail in another field which had goats and sheep. I believe I heard a European Starling, Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, and of course, a bunch of Red-winged Blackbirds. A lot of the birds seemed to enjoy sitting upon the wooden fence posts, likely standing their ground. I did a double take on a bird that I thought was a large sparrow but I noticed it had a longer, thinner bill, a red spot on the back of its neck, and an orangey tint on the underside of its wings. I looked it up in iNat and it said it was likely a Northern Flicker.
Overall I had an amazing trip once again, seeing so many birds I hadn't seen before.

Julkaistu toukokuu 25, 2021 10:14 IP. käyttäjältä avilensky