Oxford, Ma. 4/29/07

Sunday morning I attended a Forbush Bird Club field trip, lead by Paul Meleski, to the Hodge's Village Dam area of Oxford, Ma. Water levels remain high from recent flooding, behind this flood control dam, so many trails and walk-ways were still flooded but the group was still able to cover a good deal of area on foot. Some hilights from the trip included 7 species of wood warblers including Yellow, Yellow-rumped,Black-throated green, Black and White, Pine, Palm and Northern Waterthrush; 2 Vireos...Warbling and Blue-headed. We had nice looks at Wood Ducks and a pair of Hooded Mergansers.

a few happy Forbush Bird Club members

Joan Zumphe had an injurned knee and was unable to join the group on one of the longer walks through the woods. She patiently birded from a stationary location near a sandpit, while she missed an Eastern Kingbird, she was able to pick out a pair of Sandhill Cranes passing overhead, the "best" birds of the outing! A pair of Ravens were soaring together near the dam and we enjoyed watching Northern Rough-winged Swallows inspecting prospective nest holes in dam.
House Wren

Afterwards a few of us visited a Great Horned Owl nest in the town of Charlton that Paul had previously found. This nest is located in an abandoned Great Blue Heron colony, I managed a few grainy digi-scope photos though Paul's Swarovski scope from quite a long distance.

Paul and Fran discussing Owl and Eagle nests in Worcester County Great Horned Owl and Owlet Great Horned Owlet

Link to the trip list:

http://www.massbird.org/forbush/trips07.htm#apr29