Saturday, April 7, 2007

Templeton Birds 4/7/07

I took a drive over to the Templeton Development Center and drove the roads through the property to bird from the car. One of the nicer views in North Central Massachusetts is from the main road just north of Church Hill in Templeton.

Mount Monadnoc from Church Hill

While driving, on rte 68, I was fortunate to catch a glimps of an odd lump about 50 feet off the road in one of the hay fields. I backed the car up, 90% of the time the "subject" turns out to just an odd lump, but this time it was an American Woodcock! Woodcocks are usually not difficult to find, at dusk and dawn while calling and displaying, in the area but this bird was very coopertive, visible and in decent light. I watched for about 15 minutes as it fed and bobbed its rump up and down.

A cooperative American Woodcock

Woodcock digging for worms, with a watchful eye

On Norcross Hill there was an American Kestrel (Male) atop a deciduous tree.

A late day American Kestrel "teed" up

Hilights from this evening:
Canada Goose 4 Wild Turkey 40
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 3
American Woodcock 1
Rock Pigeon 40
Mourning Dove 2
American Crow 6
American Robin 30
European Starling 20
Dark-eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1



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