Back in early October we went for a hike to Blue Hills and I snuck in a little bit of birding. I'm not sure I've mentioned this before, but Steve and I set a goal a few years back to hike every trail at Blue Hills. When we go, Steve is very serious, carefully planning a route that will cover the most ground. We don't stop until we get to the summit marked for that day (remember, this is Blue Hills- so the summits are quick to get up, but there's always a nice view of Boston). There's little time for birding, so I have to choose my birds carefully.
I recognized a unique call and stopped to take pictures of this female yellow-rumped warbler. Of course I identified her afterward, but at least I knew enough to stop and take notice of the call! :)
Also in October I got Steve to go with me to check out Borderland State Park. We used the entrance off Bay Rd. in Easton, I believe. Since moving to Bridgewater I had wanted to go birding there, and although we didn't see any lifers, I still had some nice lighting for these shots of this mallard pair:
I recognized a unique call and stopped to take pictures of this female yellow-rumped warbler. Of course I identified her afterward, but at least I knew enough to stop and take notice of the call! :)
Also in October I got Steve to go with me to check out Borderland State Park. We used the entrance off Bay Rd. in Easton, I believe. Since moving to Bridgewater I had wanted to go birding there, and although we didn't see any lifers, I still had some nice lighting for these shots of this mallard pair:
I also saw some ducks sitting out on the "sand bar" although not really a sand bar, but are of low water in the middle of the pond. I noticed the blue bars and thought it was something interesting, but then went back and consulted my Sibley Guide and realized it was most likely a juvenile mallard duck.
UPDATE: Thanks to Hap in Minnesota for sharing his insights- he thinks the duck on the right is a Black Duck, and based on these Google Image Results I agree. Thanks for teaching me something new!
Comments
@Dawn- Thanks! I'm glad to be back. I'm finally starting to fall into a routine again. Blue Hills is great. And fall/winter hiking is the best- hope to do lots more of it.
I'm glad you're enjoying the Blue Hills!
Judy Lehrer Jacobs
Executive Director
www.FriendsoftheBlueHills.org
in the bird and blog fold. Guess
you have been pretty busy. If I
may, I would suggest the duck on
the right in the last photo is a
Black Duck judging by the color
of the speculum; the duck on the
left is may be a Mallard. Also,
in your post when you visited your
friends at Central Park, I think
that mystery thrush is actually a
Fox Sparrow. See what you think.
Hope I have been of some help.
Hap in New Hope (MN)
I wasn't 100% sure about the thrush/fox sparrow so I'll gladly add your input to that post too.
Happy Birding!
- BG
WELCOME BACK, BirdingGirl - I'VE MISSED YOU!
I'll check out your friend's Flickr page. Blue Hills is great!
Thanks