Field Ornithology Journal 2: Grassland and Shrubland Birds

On May 19, 2020, I went to three locations to observe water body and wetland habitats from 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Throughout the day it was clear sunny skies in the 50Fº -60Fºs range and strong western winds. My first location was Pine Hill Road in Lancaster, MA where I travelled 1.55 miles over 2.5 hours. Here my primary goal was to see the endangered Grasshopper Sparrows that is an obligate grassland species. Pine Hill Road is ideal for Grasshopper Sparrow for there is a grassland trip made up of gravel-like soil and early successional vegetation (sapling gray birch, pitch pine, quaking aspen, sweet fern, and grasses) surrounded by a aspen-oak forest. Leaving first from my car I encountered a pond with thick vegetation where Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Gray Catbird, Common Grackle, Yellowthroat, and American Robin were found. Moving away from the pond site I walked towards the grasslands. Before reaching the grasslands I went through a stand of aspen-pine forest where I found Black-capped Chickadee, Wild Turkey, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Bay-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Brown-headed Cowbird. This area marked as a transition area between the forest stand and grasslands, yet as I soon moved to the grasslands I only saw grasslands species. Moving past the forest stand I reached the grasslands to be meet with a concert of songs and calls of Field Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Barn Swallow, American Kestrel, and Mourning Dove. Investigating each call and song I soon heard a high-pitched call. Excited I peered every plant to find a Grasshopper Sparrow perched ontop of a sapling pitch pine long large than one foot! Ecstatic I sat on the ground and just admired this Grasshopper Sparrow for twenty minutes. Soon getting photos and recordings I moved on to find another high-pitch call of the Vesper Sparrow. To my disappointment the Vesper Sparrow perched for a couple of moments for me to ID it, yet soon disappeared in the vegetation. Soon after the Vesper Sparrow disappeared I truck came my way to do maintenance. With these workings disturbance and me seeing the species I wanted to see I moved on. Overall I saw 26 species and 62 individuals.

My next location was Chestnut Hill Farm where I drove twenty minutes southeast while listening to birding by ear. Chestnut Hill Farm is an operating farm with grasslands, shrublands, and surrounding oak-pine forest. Starting in the parking lot I was meet with a mob filled with House Sparrow, Killdeer, American Robin, European Starling, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Mourning Dove, and a singing HouseWren. Soon tired of the parking lot birds I moved to aptly named Bobolink Trail to see some grassland birds. To no surprise, I saw a group of Bobolinks center of the grass fields no taller than 10 inches. Observing the brilliant males perched on the tallest grass stem I marveled at their bubbly song and the songs of their grasslands neighbors. In addition to Bobolinks, I observed Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Eastern Bluebird, and Eastern Kingbird. Observing as many grassland species I moved to the top of the hill of the grasslands to observe flyovers by Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, and American Crow. After. Witnessing these flyovers I wandered off to a shrubland of grasses and flowering crabapples to find Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, and “Bee BUZZ”! Still working on my calls I was puzzled, yet pull apart this two phrase call to “Bee” and “BUZZ” to figure out Blue-winged Warbler then spotted the species and got a recording. After I finally moved to the oak-pine forest. Here I saw many forest interior species such as Common Yellowthroat (wetland also), Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Wood Thrush, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Ovenbird, and Black-and-white Warbler. However, these species were not a priority so I made through promptly to visit the grassland and shrublands for a second time. Overall I traveled 2.26 miles over 2 hours and saw 41 species and 114 individuals. I still had an hour left so I drove ten minutes west for Heirloom Harvest CSA Fields.

Heirloom Harvest CSA Fields is another grassland for 1 hour over 1.2 miles, yet this time this grassland surrounded by Cedar Bog. Here I could have explored the bog, yet I choose to observe the grassland species here. I really tried looking at the field marks of American Kestrel, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird House Wren, and to a shocking distance Bobolinks. With strong winds, Bobolinks could hardly fly against the winds and perched closer to me than at Chestnut Hill Farm. Still, I wanted to maintain a safe distance, yet able to listen to their bubbly song. Other species I found here included Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Common Grackle, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Tree Swallow (performed mating), House Sparrow, and a pair of Baltimore Orioles. This might be a limited count of 14 species and 40 individuals, yet I wanted to focus on vocalizations more here. This was a great day of birding in grasslands and shrubs with one new lifer of the Grasshopper Sparrow. In total, I found 51 species.

PS Here is the Scavenger Hunt Points: 52 Points Total
Eastern Kingbird- 2
Eastern Bluebird- 6
Bobolink- 5
Savanah Sparrow- 3
Killdeer- 5
House Wren- 2
Gray Catbird-1
Song Sparrow-1
Yellow Warbler-1
Blue-winged Warbler-9
Chestnut-sided Warbler-6
Eastern Towhee- 5
Field Sparrow-6

Species Observed

  1. Canada Goose- 11
  2. Mallard- 2
  3. Wild Turkey- 2
  4. Mourning Dove- 3
  5. Killdeer- 1
  6. Great Blue Heron- 2
  7. Turkey Vulture- 2
  8. Red-tailed Hawk- 1
  9. Downy Woodpecker- 2
  10. Pileated Woodpecker- 1
  11. Northern Flicker- 1
  12. American Kestrel- 3
  13. Eastern Kingbird- 2
  14. Blue Jay- 3
  15. American Crow- 3
  16. Black-capped Chickadee- 6
  17. Tufted Titmouse- 4
  18. Tree Swallow- 14
  19. Barn Swallow- 15
  20. White-breasted Nuthatch- 2
  21. Brown Creeper- 1
  22. House Wren- 4
  23. European Starling- 5
  24. Gray Catbird- 5
  25. Eastern Bluebird- 6
  26. Wood Thrush- 2
  27. American Robin- 10
  28. House Sparrow- 6
  29. House Finch- 2
  30. American Goldfinch- 6
  31. Grasshopper Sparrow- 2
  32. Chipping Sparrow- 8
  33. Field Sparrow- 3
  34. Vesper Sparrow- 1
  35. Savannah Sparrow- 3
  36. Song Sparrow- 8
  37. Eastern Towhee- 4
  38. Bobolink- 7
  39. Baltimore Oriole- 6
  40. Red-winged Blackbird- 19
  41. Brown-headed Cowbird- 5
  42. Common Grackle- 20
  43. Ovenbird- 3
  44. Common Yellowthroat- 2
  45. Yellow Warbler- 1
  46. Blue-winged Warbler- 2
  47. Black-and-white Warbler- 2
  48. Bay-breasted Warbler- 2
  49. Chestnut-sided Warbler- 1
  50. Prairie Warbler- 7
  51. Northern Cardinal- 1

Pine Hill Road

  1. Canada Goose- 9
  2. Wild Turkey- 2
  3. Mourning Dove- 1
  4. Great Blue Heron- 1
  5. American Kestrel- 1
  6. Eastern Kingbird- 1
  7. American Crow- 2
  8. Black-capped Chickadee- 2
  9. Barn Swallow- 1
  10. Gray Catbird- 2
  11. Eastern Bluebird- 2
  12. American Robin- 1
  13. American Goldfinch- 2
  14. Grasshopper Sparrow- 2
  15. Chipping Sparrow- 5
  16. Field Sparrow- 3
  17. Vesper Sparrow- 1
  18. Song Sparrow- 4
  19. Eastern Towhee- 4
  20. Baltimore Oriole- 2
  21. Brown-headed Cowbird- 1
  22. Common Grackle- 2
  23. Common Yellowthroat- 1
  24. Bay-breasted Warbler- 2
  25. Chestnut-sided Warbler- 1
  26. Prairie Warbler- 7

Chestnut Hill Farm

  1. Canada Goose- 2
  2. Mourning Dove- 2
  3. Killdeer- 1
  4. Great Blue Heron- 1
  5. Turkey Vulture- 1
  6. Red-tailed Hawk- 1
  7. Downy Woodpecker- 2
  8. Pileated Woodpecker- 1
  9. Northern Flicker- 1
  10. Eastern Kingbird- 1
  11. Blue Jay- 3
  12. American Crow- 2
  13. Black-capped Chickadee- 4
  14. Tufted Titmouse- 2
  15. Tree Swallow- 2
  16. Barn Swallow- 4
  17. White-breasted Nuthatch- 2
  18. Brown Creeper- 1
  19. House Wren- 1
  20. European Starling- 5
  21. Gray Catbird- 3
  22. Eastern Bluebird- 3
  23. Wood Thrush- 2
  24. American Robin- 9
  25. House Sparrow- 4
  26. House Finch- 2
  27. American Goldfinch- 3
  28. Chipping Sparrow- 5
  29. Savannah Sparrow- 3
  30. Song Sparrow- 4
  31. Bobolink- 4
  32. Baltimore Oriole- 2
  33. Red-winged Blackbird- 9
  34. Brown-headed Cowbird- 4
  35. Common Grackle- 8
  36. Ovenbird- 3
  37. Common Yellowthroat- 1
  38. Yellow Warbler- 1
  39. Blue-winged Warbler- 2
  40. Black-and-white Warbler- 2
  41. Northern Cardinal- 1

Heirloom Harvest CSA Fields

  1. Turkey Vulture- 1
  2. American Kestrel- 2
  3. American Crow- 1
  4. Tufted Titmouse- 2
  5. Tree Swallow- 12
  6. House Wren- 3
  7. Eastern Bluebird- 1
  8. House Sparrow- 2
  9. American Goldfinch- 1
  10. Chipping Sparrow- 3
  11. Song Sparrow- 4
  12. Savannah Sparrow- 2
  13. Bobolink- 3
  14. Baltimore Oriole- 2
Posted on May 19, 2020 10:38 PM by cliazos cliazos

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:45 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:33 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:27 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:48 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:41 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:08 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:59 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:57 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:34 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:30 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:18 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:27 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 06:33 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 07:49 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:09 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:00 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 08:32 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 08:27 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 08:50 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 08:52 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:02 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:09 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:12 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:24 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:25 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:33 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:35 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:48 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:50 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:58 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:09 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:12 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:14 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:22 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:25 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 09:45 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:35 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:55 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

Description

chasing crow

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 10:58 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:05 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:12 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:34 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:37 AM EDT

Description

photo of breeding pair

Photos / Sounds

What

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:41 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Observer

cliazos

Date

May 19, 2020 11:42 AM EDT

Description

one found in one location and two found in another

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