Quiet Week

Mar 26, 20232 min read

Well sort of - on my first day back I had a First of Year Black-Crowned Night Heron, Osprey & Piping Plover. Just catch up on the Rhode Island list from my weekend away.

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Tucked way in!)

Piping Plover

Female Purple Finch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Tuesday I headed up to Acton/Concord Massachusetts to try to see the Barnacle Goose that has been hanging out there for a few weeks. It was only reported once yesterday and not in its usual spot, so I knew I was taking a chance. I spent an hour where it was reported yesterday and another 45 minutes at its usual spot when I decided if I wanted to see this bird I was going to have to get creative. Since I had never been in that area before, I leveraged eBird's Hotspot Maps to find fields in the area.

I was very lucky to get it at the first field I tried (it was way back - hence the less than crisp photos). As I drove up the road, there was a sign that said State Property - No Trespassing, so I turned around in front of that sign and pulled off the road to get some photos. A few minutes later a man in a white van drove up and asked if he could help me. I told him I was looking at a bird -- he told me I couldn't stay because it was state property. I pointed out the sign and told him I thought I was ok because I was in front of the sign. He sighed & said he had auditors there right now and if they saw a car hanging out, he would get questions. I said no problem and left. I had my prize at the Concord Circle Prison Fields.

Barnacle Goose

Tuesday found three Wilson's Snipe (no photo) and two Blue-winged Teal (Rare at that moment -- although not a few days later). Fortunately, they both stayed around for a few days, so lots of birders subsequently saw them. The photos are from a few days later...

A few days later a Northern Shoveler showed up at Card's Pond too. Then some American Oystercatchers in Jamestown and an Osprey in the nest I monitor at Cap'n Jacks!

Northern Shoveler