ux/ui design | creative design
The extended last week of the month was probably the least-birdy of the year so far. In general it was not as productive a month as past years would show. The weather being the biggest factor – with a snow storm followed by freezing rain and more heavy rain – only to go back below freezing the next night. I’d imagine it kept a lot of birds and birders hunkered down.
(needs an update, eBird not behaving this morning!)
I did get out in my Plaistow patch briefly on Saturday and despite some focused birding, I only found 1 new species for the patch, but it was a good one. This beautiful male Northern Harrier was a pleasant surprise at a brand spanking new Hotspot in Massachusetts, Job Swamp, and was also the first one to be reported in the 5MR this year.
Hoping to luck into a Glaucous or Lesser Black-backed I returned to my new ‘gull spot’ in Haverhill where I picked up 3 Iceland Gulls (2 adult, one 1cy). Despite not picking up any new gulls I am hopeful this spot will turn up some nice surprises in the near future.
The last day of the month I added another to the January list by finally catching up with one of the neighborhood Red-shouldered Hawks. A good bird to get during the winter months in NH and northern Mass, though at least one of a pair that breed in the wetlands next to our complex, overwinters in the area every year. It was a balmy 2 degrees when this photo was taken, and the hawk was taking in the first rays of the day in our backyard.
Total: 56 (2 new birds this week, Northern Harrier & Red-shouldered Hawk)
There were a total of 67 species recorded in the month of January, and with my 56 I was able to see 84% of the birds within my circle.
(needs an update, eBird not behaving this morning!)
No great highlights to report in either circle, but one of the resident Bald Eagles in Salem was seen sopping wet in Thursday’s downpours. A friend’s report of a Common Redpoll briefly visiting his feeders in Atkinson was a point for the “Dipped list”, but hope has not been lost on winter finches yet!
I was also able to catch up with what I assume is a continuing “Northern” Red-tailed Hawk (abieticola) and got some better photos.
Total: 47 (only 1 this week…Cedar Waxwing on the 31st!)
*I also forgot to add European Starling to my checklists…not surprising since I tend to tune them out…
If what I’m seeing for species totals on eBird is correct, I have seen 47/48 species recorded for this circle in January – putting me at 98%! This isn’t all that unusual…there are only a couple of folks besides myself that actively bird. The one miss – Common Redpoll – seen by the other 2 individuals in my circle, go figure!
Tip: I use this nifty little tool: 5MR Explorer to see a total number of birds have been reported in my 5MR.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Canvasback*
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren*
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Evening Grosbeak+
House Finch
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
House Sparrow
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)*
Great Black-backed Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
House Sparrow
Contact me at kyle.wilmarth[at]gmail.com