Birding in Norfolk County, MA.... and beyond

ADULT IVORY GULL IN PLYMOUTH!!!

2009-01-25T16:40:00.001-08:00

Ivory Gull, originally uploaded by wsweet321.

This is my second Adult Ivory Gull in one week!! The first in Gloucester and now this one. When I pulled up to the East Bay Grille parking lot, the gull was right there eating a chicken carcass. I got many pictures including this one. The black in the background was a car driving past.

Yard Birds- January 4th

2009-01-05T16:41:00.001-08:00

Pine Siskin, originally uploaded by wsweet321.

3 Pine Siskins finally came to yard thistle feeders in Sharon. There first were calling in a Maple Tree in my yard, until they flew down and started to eat thistle seeds with 26 American Goldfinches. Other yard birds included

Location: Sharon Home
Observation date: 1/4/09
Number of species: 19

Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 23
Northern Cardinal 3
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 26
House Sparrow 5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

BALD EAGLE, Lake Massapoag- 12/24

2008-12-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th) there was a third year (I think) BALD EAGLE on the Ice on Lake Massapoag in Sharon. It was very close to shore, until it flew across and scared the gulls and geese. I caught one of the gulls and was eating it while American Crows were attacking.

The Eagle on the ice

Flying across the lake

Lake Massapoag- 12/21/08

2008-12-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

The first day of winter held a lot of waterfowl at Lake Massapoag in Sharon today. There were manyn Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, and a few Common Mergansers. I searched through the LARGE flock of geese on the lake to find the Greater-white Fronted Goose, but I did not find it. There were many gulls out in the middle of the lake, but the snow made it almost impossible to ID them. The only gulls on the dock were Ring-billed Gulls.

Location: Lake Massapoag

Observation date: 12/21/08

Number of species: 24
Canada Goose 650

Mallard 6

Bufflehead 7

Common Goldeneye 11

Hooded Merganser 5

Common Merganser 3

Double-crested Cormorant 1

Ring-billed Gull 30

Herring Gull 13

Great Black-backed Gull 5

Mourning Dove 2

Blue Jay X

American Crow 3

Black-capped Chickadee 2

Tufted Titmouse 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet 8

American Robin 3

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 5

Dark-eyed Junco 5

Northern Cardinal 2

House Finch 2

House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

Ring-billed Gulls

Lake Masspoag, Great Cormorant.

2008-12-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Lake Massapoag in Sharon in hopes of finding the White-fronted goose there, but I did not find it. I did find a consolation prize, a Great Cormorant sitting on the dock. This bird was very approachable, so I got many pictures. Other birds there were 5 Common Goldeneyes. 3 males and 2 females, a male Bufflehead, and a Common Loon. Pictures and full lists are below.

Location: Lake Massapoag
Observation date: 12/13/08
Number of species: 23
Canada Goose 350
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 3
Ring-necked Duck 1
Bufflehead 3
Common Goldeneye 5
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Loon 2
Great Cormorant 1
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Dark-eyed Junco 10
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

Sharon Snow Birds

2008-12-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

Not a lot out today in the snow. While I was at Lake Massapoag, there was one female Common Goldeneye, a Common Loon very close the shore, a Double-breasted Cormorant, and 4 Fish Crows. Not much else there. The Greater White-fronted Goose, was still present with the flock of Canada Geese on South Main Street, but I did not find the Cackling Goose. Back at my house we had male and female Cardinals feeding at our bird feeder and Golden-crowned Kinglets in the pine trees.

There was not very good light for a picture but I did manage to get one of the Goldeneye.

Sharon Geese

2008-12-03T17:25:00.001-08:00

Greater-white Fronted Goose, originally uploaded by wsweet321.

Last Week on November 29th I went to the farm fields along South Main Street in Sharon, where a Greater-white Fronted Goose and a Cackling Goose were previously reported. Although there were no geese in the fields, there was 30 Ring-billed Gulls, 60 Horned Larks, 70 Snow Buntings, and 2 American Pipits. I saw all of the geese across the street at Wolomolopoag Pond, so I walked over to take a look. I searched through the flock of about 400 Canada Geese until I found the Greater-white Fronted Goose. I am guessing that this bird is of the Greenland Sub-species because of how orange the bill was. While watching the goose, another large flock of Canada Geese flew over. I searched through the flock while it was flying overhead for the Cackling Goose. I did find it. The bird was noticeably smaller, and its call was much higher. I have added pictures of the Greater-white Fronted Goose that I took on November 26th.

Welcome

2008-12-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

Hello,
I started this blog to talk about birds found in Norfolk County in Mass. This is where I do the bulk 0f my birding. I will also include pictures that I have taken while birding

- Will Sweet