Date: 4/24/25 6:48 pm From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird bonanza - (mostly) urban version
What a day - I had to work downtown, but I didn't let that stop me. The urban bird bonanza has begun! Last night I went to Belle Isle Marsh (not urban, but just 15 minutes from downtown) and managed to capture distant pics of the (Eurasian) Green-winged Teal and the Pectoral Sandpiper - both continuing birds hanging out at the same pool. It was a beautiful, warm evening and I enjoyed a nice leisurely walk. Somehow I managed to get a good night's sleep and woke up at 5 a.m. I went to Linda Ferraresso's BBC walk at the BPG (Boston Public Garden) where we saw some nice, feathered friends such as a Blue-headed Vireo and two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, tiny gray sprites with long tails chasing each other through the trees. I spotted a well-hidden Northern Flicker and others spotted Hermit Thrushes and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Had a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitting about the blossoming trees with their almond shaped eye rings, tiny red crown patches, and effervescent songs - rippling through the air like bird-laughter. After that I walked to work through the RKG (Rose Kennedy Greenway) where I found the Field Sparrow people were mentioning on eBird. One long time birder told me he doesn't know why they come up rare in Suffolk County, as they are always abundant in Spring. After work, I found a skulky Brown Thrasher at Post Office Square hiding in the bushes - I sat on the grass and tried to pish him out, but he wasn't having it. And I saw a beautiful male Yellow-rumped Warbler, foraging on the ground just three feet away, then two feet, until I thought he might climb up my pant leg the way the squirrels try to at the Public Garden. I may have achieved maximum bird cuteness with one snap I took. Then I made my way back to the RKG, had a Blue-headed Vireo (maybe a patch bird), over 30 White-throated Sparrows in one block, including an interesting dark-faced one, a singing male Eastern Towhee managing to sing and eat seeds at the same time, some juncos, a Hermit Thrush and a flicker. A few days ago one birder counted 56 Hermit Thrushes on the Greenway, an event he called "the Thrushening." I think they have mostly moved through, though. I hope I can get enough sleep in the coming days to keep it all going! "It's the most, wonderful time... of the year..."
