Ok so I have suckered you all in. We spent a few days visiting family on
Cape Cod over turkey. Cape is pretty cool this time of year, especially the
sea birds !
Talked to a fellow who had , the day before. Seen a Yellow-throated Warbler
in Chatham. Beaches are pretty sweet this time of year too.
Cave Swallow is at the end (best for last?)
Cape Cod Birding Thanksgiving 2010 Nov 25-28
Hyannis Port Coast and Marsh:
1 Co Loon
20 ~ Com Eider
9 Brant
30 ~ Bufflehead
2 Gadwall, brackish area nearby.
1 Bonaparte's Gull..smaller, cheek patch and distinctly different flight
behavior ! Band on tail, smaller bill.
20+ Herring Gull, 16 ~ Ring-billed
20 ~ Red-br Mergs
50 + Black Ducks
1 Harrier, F
42 Ruddy Turnstones
2 Greater Yellowlegs (even called)
4 Dunlin, winter adults, distinct bills ! In with the Turnstones.
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Belted Kingfisher, male
1 Mockingbird
2 Carolina Wrens
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow, singing.
2 Mute Swans..rather aggressive ! Male in attack mode. (at small pond
nearby) (definitely not Tundra..ha-ha)
Chatham, MA from the beaches, bluff and the harbor
~ 1000 Common Eider (100, 000 + in the vicinity)
40 ~ No Gannets.. dipping and diving, strong birds
4 Red throated Loons (one in brilliant winter plumage, close to shore)
2 Razorbills !!! There was a report of 8,000 around the Cape. Only my
second observation. (have to do sea birds with scope)
1 Black Scoter, M
1 Surf Scoter, M
12 White-winged Scoters
1 No Harrier, F
2 Red-t Hawks
2 No Flickers
*** Cave Swallows. Met someone who asked if we were looking for them. "Oh,
where ?". All we found were about a dozen recently hypothermicly dead ones.
The dog happened to wander off the trail, I followed. I turned them in to
the Refuge center. Kept one for posterity. I have seen them in Laguana
Attacosa NWF in south TX. The cool thing was a few minutes later we were
birding the Chatham Harbor, and chatted with some birders. Cave Swallows
came up. One was doing research for Harvard, Comparative Zoology Dept. Then
I gave him a present. Said it was the first specimen for the state of MA.
Bill Shepard
Project Coordinator
CT River BIrding Trail
2360 Academy Road
Thetford Center, VT 05075
Home: 802 785-2855
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