Caratunk Wildlife Refuge

Yesterday, I took Lily to Caratunk, a Rhode Island Audubon Society property. Met Nana there. It was a gorgeous day. We tramped through the woods and the fields. Lots of warblers, phoebes, and mockingbirds there.

We heard this one singing, though it was strangely unmocker-like. Mockingbirds usually repeat more distinctly; this one just kept fluidly at it (more like a catbird)and was rather soft and warbly. Here's the record. A moment after I snapped this picture, a little hawk swooped down and almost got Mr. Mocker.

Palm Warblers at the Charles River Peninsula

A flock of palm warblers graced the meadow this afternoon, mixed with some yellow-rumps. Got some decent shots.


Including this puffed up guy with the head-on skinny head perspective.

And in the river, a darling little pied-billed grebe.

Yellow-rumped Warblers at Broadmoor

An exceptionally nice fall day. I sat for a while on a bridge in the sun at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary and watched a yellow-rump catch bugs.


We were joined by a skulking swamp sparrow at one point.

And on the trail back, a bounding doe.

Marblehead Neck

Did a little actual "birding" at the tiny but surprisingly rich MassAudubon sanctuary in Marblehead on Monday afternoon. This little wooded property, surrounded by residences on all sides, is a critical migration area and I wasn't disappointed. Abundant black and white warblers (god bless your love of tree trunks), some blackpolls, and redstarts. Throw in a friendly brown creeper, a Wilson's Snipe I kept flushing accidentally, and a Carolina Wren insistent on running through his full playlist and I had, for me, a pretty good time. I brought my camera but only captured blurry bird fragments.

A better time photo-wise in Swampscott, near Red Rock. Mixed in with the herring gulls, some smudgies--which I assume are Bonapartes in fall dress.

Migrating birds at the Charles River Peninsula

A drizzly overcast day at the CRP. The perfect day for crappy photos of migrating birds.

There was a large flock of song sparrows (either passing through or collecting in anticipation of the move(?)) And they were singing a little, neatly book-ending the birdsong year. Mixed among the songs was a lovely white-throat (not singing).

And who is this little guy below? I do believe it is our blue-gray and yellow friend, the Nashville Warbler.

Hand-feed Chickadees at Ipswich River

This is for those of you who don't have the patience to teach your own neighborhood chickadees and titmice to eat seeds out of your hand. They're already trained at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Just bring a sack of black oil sunflower seeds, hold out your hand, and you'll be a human bird feeder in no time. (Thanks to the kind folk who loaned us some of their seed today).
Below, Lily and I search for migrating blackpoll warblers (saw one!)

Mushroom Party

A week of rain and what do you get? Mushroom party! A slightly different cast of characters than the summer version (though I'm not going to attempt to ID anything). Today's theme: balancing things on your head.



No balancing here, just a sweet purple baby.