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 8:30 pm
January heron
at 10:46 pm
Thanks to Faith Michaels and Faithful Flowers, the formal garden planter looks festive.
at 5:16 pm
Bruce Wolff delighted us with his camera by capturing wildlife, including the heron that regularly patrols Hall’s Pond. Here’s to the heron and to the spirit of Bruce that inhabits the pond.
at 9:45 pm
hi folks!
i visited HP for a quick burrito with birding buddy Shawn Carey on this balmy Veterans Day. You’d see lots more kids (playing volleyball and hanging out in the uplands) and dog walkers than birds, not unusual in the shoulder seasons. Here’s my short list; JW also reported GB Heron and Carolina Wren early this morning. Add two Red-eared Sliders sunning themselves on snags in the pond.
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Nov 11, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling 0.8 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 73F, sunny to gray; Shawn Carey & I enjoy Anna’s burritos by field. Plentiful masked volleyballers and strollers. Just 7 species.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2 dozing by big yellow willow
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 7 4-5 mobbing (an owl?) at Chilton Street fence; 1 cracking an acorn
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 7
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76132324
at 8:47 am
Autumn on the pond
at 8:44 am
Summer Green
at 5:45 pm
October beauty
at 5:44 pm
The formal garden in fall dress
at 12:56 am
Double-crested Cormorant shaking off after fishing at Hall’s Pond 9.25.20
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