Fresh Pond 10/29

From Sylvia Martin:

10 birders, including a gentleman from Virginia, joined me today at Fresh
Pond Reservoir, Cambridge. There were a couple of surprises in addition to
the expected waterfowl. The pied-billed grebes had enough to form a
volleyball team if they wanted. The canvasbacks were a life bird for one
lady. Some birders took an impromptu extension with me to Danehy Park
because of a lark sparrow reported to us by a couple at FP. We did not
turn up the lark sparrow between 11:20 and noon. A few stayed on after I
had to leave, so maybe there will be an update on that sparrow.

All birds seen at Fresh Pond except where there's a "D" for Danehy.

Thanks to all for an enjoyable and productive walk.


Fresh Pond--IBA, Middlesex, US-MA
Oct 29, 2011 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s) [I have no idea of actual distance walked; required field!]
Comments:     Overcast, 38-40F, wind 5-10 mph and increasing as the
morning went on.
37 species

Mute Swan  2     1 ad., 1 juvenile
Mallard  6
Canvasback  2     females, in NW area near Lusitania
Ring-necked Duck  232     may be a conservative no.
BUFFLEHEAD  1     female; dove and reappeared so constantly that a 2d bird
was possible
Hooded Merganser  5     4 males, 1 f., Black's Nook Pond
Ruddy Duck  27
PIED-BILLED GREBE  6   yup
Double-crested Cormorant  60     50 of these were migrating, high up in a
loose formation; the others were roosting in trees
Cooper's Hawk  1     Lusitania; after some debate, determined to be an adult
Red-tailed Hawk  4
MERLIN  1  at one point in brief dogfight with a redtail
American Coot  53
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  1     immature
Rock Pigeon  45
Belted Kingfisher  1
Downy Woodpecker  5
Eastern Phoebe  1     Lusitania Meadow
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
American Robin  3
Northern Mockingbird  3     FP/D
European Starling  70     Danehy
Yellow-rumped Warbler  9
Song Sparrow  10     FP/D
White-throated Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  15     FP/D
House Finch  18     Danehy
American Goldfinch  50     conservative; moving about so much it was hard
to tell if some groups were the same birds; ebird is too inflexible to
allow ranges or approximations (~) in count box.  :  (
House Sparrow  8     Danehy