Birding While Jogging- Bridgewater Edition

It's been a while since I've blogged about birding while jogging. This was one of my favorite things to do when I lived in Watertown, MA and had the beautiful DCR Charles River trails at my disposal.

Here are a few of my "Birding While Jogging" posts from 2007-2008:

http://birdinggirl.blogspot.com/2008/01/birding-while-jogging.html
http://birdinggirl.blogspot.com/2007/08/birding-while-jogging.html

Since moving to Bridgewater, MA I haven't been as inclined to go running because we lack scenic trails like the ones on the Charles River. However, there is a nice route I like to take that crosses the Taunton River and its off-shoots in a couple of places. Naturally rivers and streams are a jackpot when it comes to birding. So, since I've picked up running again I've also been trying to get in some birding while I'm out there.

Here's what I've seen so far in my jogs this week and last:

Yellow warbler
Pine warbler
Rose-breasted grosbeak
Tree swallows

Here's to hoping I'll see more! It's definitely the motivating factor when I get out there to run. I like having nature and birds to look at to pass the time. This is a great time for it too since there are so many flowering trees and bushes along my route that they're attracted to.

Mt. Auburn Cemetery Birding

I try to get in at least one day of birding at Mt. Auburn Cemetery each year during peak spring migration.

I made my trip there right on the cusp of peak migration- April 30th. I usually try to get there sometime in late April- early May to see the greatest variety of wood warblers, plus other colorful migrating birds.

The day I was there I got to see some of the usual warblers, and even a lifer for me- the chestnut-sided warbler. Maybe I had technically seen this bird before on a group trip where it blended in with the rest of the birds we saw, but on this day it definitely stood out to me as the most exciting warbler of the day.

Here are some pictures of the Chestnut-sided Warbler preening:

Other (non-photographed) highlights from the day included:
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
Chipping Sparrow

Here's a red-tailed hawk we saw at the end of the day as we were walking back to the car. That's usually where I see them at Mount Auburn Cemetery- in the areas surrounding the main entrance (in the circular parking area, near the entrance to Indian Ridge, near the main office, etc.).

Red-tailed Hawk:

I even have a MYSTERY BIRD to ask for help with. I've tried identifying it on my own, and think it could possibly be a juvenile or female indigo bunting, but I didn't see any male indigo buntings that day, so I can't say for sure how likely it would be to see that bird at Mt. Auburn Cemetery on that date.

Mystery Bird:
The most distinguishable characteristics about this mystery bird are the grosbeak (fat thick beak), the subtle wing bars, and a faint eye line. Click on the images to zoom in more. Thanks in advance for your identifying help!