Please share your reports of interesting happenings at Hall’s Pond Sanctuary and enjoy reading others’ posts. Click on any photo to enlarge it.
Some ideas of things to share: animals, birds, flowers, trees, a cool rock, a tree shape, a strange fungus; a change you noticed from one visit to the next or over a period of time; snippets of overheard conversation about the Sanctuary; kids’ reactions. Write up something you find curious or awesome. Ask questions about something you saw or heard, or anything that HPS make you wonder about.
Things that cannot be posted: “Sightings” is meant to share our appreciation of Hall’s Pond Sanctuary nature: flora, fauna and landscape. We cannot post photos of people, even if their faces aren’t visible, and even if it’s a selfie. There are too many thorny issues arising from internet postings. Also, please no photos of political campaign items.
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Please share the date and time of your visit to HPS if it’s about something that happened on that day.
at 5:48 pm
Around the pond…
at 7:30 pm
Well, Alex, as you say — E-bird reports that the Canada Goose and Mallard families departed Hall’s Pond on or around June 4 or 5. They (or other waterfowl) may well make reappearances in the fall, or sooner. Meanwhile, enjoy the summer! So many turtles, dragonflies, (a few) butterflies and other pond denizens to observe — not to mention the marvelous flora.
at 2:16 am
What happened to the geese family? They are gone as of June 4th.
at 4:02 pm
Migration seems to have peaked; there could be another spurt before June 1, weather depending. Fred B.
Bird report from May 21, 2020 7:40 AM – 9:00 AM
Checklist Comments: Sun, chill, 50F. “More birders than birds…” (Neil, Turga, Leo, Ed, MLK, et al.) “0” = reported, but Fred missed it. 29 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6, includes goslings
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 3
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 4
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1 over ivy school yard
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 7
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 4
Veery (Catharus fuscescens) 0
Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 20
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 15
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 0
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 4
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 4
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 9
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) 1 60″ study of singing male over ivy school driveway
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 0
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69414541
at 7:26 pm
Fall Community Day bulb plantings in bloom.
at 4:34 pm
Hello, Hall’s Ponders!
We’re reaching peak migration for all you bird lovers. You can look and share while wearing masks and maintaining CDC-recommended distance. Especially since the very best hours are 6-10am and a distant second best say, 4-7pm. A few species, however, may encroach a bit into your personal space, such as B&W Warblers, trip-over White-throated Sparrows, and cheeky Ovenbirds. Heh heh. Fred B
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 15, 2020 7:10 AM – 8:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling 1.1 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Grey to p/c, 55F, light sw breeze.
44 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 5
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 3 1160 beacon
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2 1 amory woods, 1 amory street maples
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) 1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3 1 by pond, 2 amory st. oaks
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 6
Veery (Catharus fuscescens) 1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 18
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 20
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 3 amory st
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 2 ‘camptown races’ virtuoso and his understudy
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 10
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 2
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 3
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) 1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 7
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 4
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) 1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) 1
Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69087900
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
at 5:29 pm
HP nature fans:
I finally got over to the Pond early Friday for a 3-round solo walk checking on bird migration; other masked regulars included Ed, David, Jasper, and a young Indian lady. My written results below, with no camera.
You’re encouraged to go look — bring bins and book and your sharp vision! May thru early June are best!
Fred B
PS: Diane, click ebird checklist link, then click Baltimore Oriole — was that the bird you queried yesterday?
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 8, 2020 6:15 AM – 8:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling 1.7 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Sunny, 48-50F, se/variable winds kept canopy birds away or down. Leps: 0. Herps: 0. Venturing into the uplands in a vain search for thrushes, I encountered a skanky skunk in the yard of the Ivy St brick house. When he ran straight at me, right under the chainlink fence, I hightailed it before he could.
33 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6 parents and four goslings
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1 arrived after 8
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 circled at 6:30 but thought better of landing
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 circling at 8:30, attacked by redwing
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4 in amory apple trees
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 15
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 30 pervasive, relentless
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 20 some jumping on grubs in ballfield
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1 singing high in amory street oaks
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1 late-season surprise, by amory chainlink fence
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 6 scattered in woodsy litter
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1 near second base
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1 high tentative song
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 7
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 25 oy vey!
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 2 one heard, one seen well
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 2 amory swale and main pond
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 2 point blank range pond-side
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1 5″ in amory apple tree
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1 last bird, from amory entry ramp
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1 faint song from ivy street
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S68598307
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
at 9:52 pm
Wednesday 5/6 saw bright orange and black bird with black beak. Smaller and brighter than a robin. I think either and Easten Towhee or American Redstart. Can anyone help??
at 1:09 am
The migrant warblers and other species are arriving, and JW’s finding them!
https://ebird.org/checklist/S68309036
at 12:23 pm
Super close sighting of a young red-tailed hawk – bombarded by pairs of blue jays and red-winged blackbirds constantly barraging with direct flights to hawk’s head and back! Hawk did move around a bit, but seemed to take it in stride.
Also saw a pair of great blues a couple of days earlier, male in breeding plumage. Weren’t there yesterday.
at 2:48 am
Birders visiting Hall’s Pond this week should keep on the alert for spring migrants (Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Hermit Thrush) and summer residents (B. Oriole, Sapsucker, Kingfisher, Northern Waterthrush).
Your sightings and E-bird reports are welcome here! https://ebird.org/checklist/S67640761