Spring around the corner!

With the sun climbing higher in the sky, and days getting longer, spring is around the corner. In mid-late February, Red-tailed Hawks will nest and Red-winged Blackbirds will return and begin to sing. With the warmer weather, I intend to reactivate this blog with information about vernal pools, bird migration, spring wildflowers, tree and shrub identification and more.

Dip-netting a Newton Vernal Pool in early spring

Sparrow Season

Over the past few weeks large numbers of migrant sparrows have moved into the neighborhood. Some will continue south while others will spend the winter. White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Junco's are particularly abundant. Note the distinctive "tseet" call of the White-throat and the white tail flashes of the Junco. Each fall, our insectivorous song-birds migrate first (these tend to be long-distance migrants headed to the tropics), followed by the sparrows and waterfowl (generally, shorter distance migrants). Be on the lookout for less common migrant sparrows such as the Fox Sparrow & White-crowned Sparrow. Tree sparrows and Savannah Sparrows can be seen regularly this time of year at old fields and brushlands (e.g. Nahanton Park).

Owl in Newton Centre

Last week, I observed a large owl at dusk in Newton Center. The owl was flying across Beacon Street near Homer, flying towards the Newton Center playground. Based on size, the owl was almost certainly a Great-horned Owl. In Newton, the Screech Owl is our most common owl. Great-horned Owls are probably also year-round residents. The Barred Owl is also fairly common in Massachusetts, but it tends to disappear from more urban landscapes. I have observed the Great-horned Owl in Nahanton Park and the Screech Owl in Cold-spring Park.

Fall Asters

As we move into late fall, the Asters are beginning to falter. As I wrote in September, we have a diverse array of Goldenrods and Asters that bloom in late summer and fall. Although most Goldenrods are done blooming by now, some of the asters are hanging on. Two of Newton's most common asters of open woods, and suburban edges are the White Wood Aster and Heart-leaved Aster. The lilac-colored Heart-leaved Aster tends to bloom a bit later and is still blooming. Both of these species are quite widespread and may even be found blooming at the base of some hedgerows (privet). I have 4-5 native Aster species in my front yard, providing fall color when many of my neighbor's gardens are finished blooming for the season.

Osprey at Crystal Lake

Thanks to Carol Stapleton of Newton Parks & Recreation for reporting an Osprey at Crystal Lake today. This large bird of prey was observed hunting for fish in the lake. Osprey's have staged a dramatic recovery in Massachusetts and elsewhere in North America since the banning of DDT. Osprey in Eastern Massachusetts frequently nest on nest poles and other man-made structures. This species is apparently an uncommon visitor to Newton. I have not observed this species here, although I have observed it just across the Needham line in Cutler Park. Carol has a wonderful series of Newton Wildlife photographs available for viewing on the city's website. Other raptors uncommonly seen in Newton include the Bald Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk. More frequent visitors and year round residents include the Red-tailed hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Screech Owls and Great-horned Owls are also resident.

Turtle Hatchling

9/16/07 - This Painted Turtle Hatchling was rescued by passersby on the road adjacent to Bullough's Pond. It is about the size of a Quarter. During August & September, Painted & Snapping Turtle eggs hatch, and the hatchlings make their way to wetlands to overwinter. Many are killed by predators or cars. Last year I found a squashed Snapping Turtle hatchling in the road near Bullough's Pond. As I wrote in June, adult turtle road mortality is a significant conservation issue in Massachusetts.

92 Birds

On April 28, I reported siting my 50th bird species in Newton during 2007. With the observation of a Black-crowned Night Heron on August 2, I am up to 92 bird species for the year. Some highlights include a Common Loon at Crystal Lake and an Orchard Oriole at Bullough's pond. Fall is a great time to observe migrant songbirds, sparrows, and waterfowl in Newton, at sites such as Crystal Lake, Charles River, Nahanton Park, Hammond Woods.

Newton Species List 2007

Species
american crow
american goldfinch
american redstart
american robin
american woodcock
barn swallow
belted kingfisher
black and white warbler
black duck
blackburnian warbler
black-capped chickadee
black-crowned night heron
blackpoll warbler
black-throated blue warbler
black-throated green warbler
blue jay
blue-gray gnatcatcher
brown creeper
brown-headed cowbird
bufflehead
canada goose
canada warbler
carolina wren
cedar waxwing
chimney swift
chipping sparrow
common flicker
common grackle
common loon
common merganser
common nighthawk
common yellowthroat
cooper's hawk
double-crested cormorant
downy woodpecker
eastern bluebird
eastern kingbird
eastern pewee
eastern pheobe
european starling
golden-crowned kinglet
gray catbird
great blue heron
great-crested flycatcher
green heron
herring gull
hooded merganser
house finch
house sparrow
house wren
killdeer
least flycatcher
magnolia warbler
mallard
mourning dove
mute swan
northern cardinal
northern flicker
northern junco
northern mockingbird
northern oriole
northern parula
northern rough-winged swallow
orchard oriole
ovenbird
palm warbler
pine warbler
red-bellied woodpecker
red-eyed vireo
red-tailed hawk
red-winged blackbird
ring-billed gull
ring-necked duck
rock dove
rose-breasted grosbeak
rough-winged swallow
ruddy duck
rufous-sided towhee
savannah sparrow
scarlet tanager
song sparrow
tree swallow
tufted titmouse
turkey vulture
warbling vireo
white-breasted nuthatch
white-throated sparrow
wild turkey
wood duck
wood thrush
yellow warbler
yellow-rumped warbler