Date: 5/7/25 6:49 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] May 7, 2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge: Lots of Warblers! Early, Mid and Late Season birds were all around.
Hi All,
May 7, 2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery
After some lousy weather recently I finally got to Mount Auburn today. As
soon as I got out of my car by the Dell where I usually start I knew it was
going to be a good day. I picked up a Maggy, several parula, B&W and
yellow-rumps right off the bat. The latter 3 were all over the place
through the cemetery. I picked up Tennessee as I entered the dell, and
then a blackpoll. Their song always sounds like the ghost of another
warbler, to me anyway. The blackpoll reminded me that migration has really
been going at a good clip since late April. That is the 2nd straight year
it seems like we’re having earlier flows, I wonder if birds are starting to
adapt to earlier bloom time.
The bottom of the dell did not have any action going on; I like checking
the water for birds bathing by some of the bushes, but no luck today. Above
me though there was a lot of noise, so I ascended up towards Harvard Hill
and got a BTG along the way, and then at the top, behind Harvard Hill I
picked up a Cape May Warbler, then another one, along with a Nashville.
Other folks had blackburnian, bay-breasted, and a prairie. I hopped over
to the Ridge but it was fairly quiet for me, as was Spectacle, though a
Canada was observed there, another late-season specialist coming out
early. I did pick up another Cape May though. All along the way there was
the YR, B&W, Parula early-season platter of warblers.
As I traveled around I stopped by Halcyon, which was quiet, although the
trees “above” contained another Tennessee. I circled back to the Dell and
it was still hopping, only this time I picked up another male Cape May at a
different part, then the two that were still hanging around the same pine
tree, then a female Cape May on Harvard Hill as well. That brought me to
five, I think the most I’ve ever seen in one day. One thing that struck me
about them, in the moment, was how unassuming their song is. I never
remember it, because it’s so “standard” in a way. Pretty, but not
distinct. As I left the Dell area I grabbed a BTB on my way out and headed
to Willow Pond where a northern waterthrush was seen earlier, but the
grounds crew were there, so no dice on that one. Overall, a very birdy
trip, lots of activity from the “early season” crew, but the May-peak and
even post-peak birds were there too, which was surprising. It felt good to
be back at Mount Auburn.
That's all for now
Matt s.
Newton, NH
<Accipiter22...>
Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
May 7, 2025 7:32 AM - 10:01 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.7 mile(s)
48 species
