Purple Gallinule 5/22 Gloucester, ma.

Karin and I drove up to Cape Ann area, on Saturday 5/22, where we had the opportunity to look for the Purple Gallinule, that was first found Jane and Steve Mirick on 5/15. A couple of birders walking along High Street were kind enough to show us the exact spot they had seen it. Within minutes we had a somewhat obstructed view of this stunning marsh bird. It disappeared in the thick brushy cover, but soon we re-found it. I took several dozen digi-scope shots of the Gallinue as it walked and fed in between the dense vegetation and brush.

an up-right pose

It was busy feeding.....

..looking on...

..showing brilliant white under tail coverts....

..."planning" its next move.

During our visit, the bird remained feeding in the the marsh and along its edge and not venturing to feed in the tree tops.

Various images from recent travels 5/14-5/18

I had the pleasure of birding with Jim Baird during this year's Massachusetts Birdathon, we started off well on friday evening. We had a pair each of Red-breasted Mergansers, Ringed-necked Ducks and Long-tailed Ducks on the Connecticut River in turner's Falls. Approximately 100 Chimney Swifts were swarming high over the village of Turner's Falls and we saw 4 Common Nighthawks near the local airport.
This pair of Long-tailed Ducks was on the Connecticut River, very uncommon any time inland in Massachusetts.

These Ring-necked Ducks were close by, very uncommon during mid-May.

I birded a bit at Bolton Flats and Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday morning, were an Olive-sided Flycather and Lincoln's Sparrow were hilights. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on its nest was pleasant. Eariler in May I had seen one on a Forbush Field Trip at Quabbin Reservoir.

Blue-gray Gnatcathcer on its nest.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, below, had just landed and leaned forward to pickup some nesting material.

Striking an odd pose!

A handsome male Common Yellowthroat, posing nicely.
This morning I has nice views of the Pileated Woodpecker (below) and managed a few action shots by "digi-binning" with the point and shoot camera through the binoculars (as are all the photos on this post, except the 1st two of the ducks, which were digi-scoped).

Pileated Woodpecker crossing the ski slope at Wachusett Mountain.

..a little closer.

Female Chesatnut-sided Warbler.

Perched Turkey Vulture about to get "goosed" by an oriole!

Bobolink in flight...

...with the landing gear down.

Raven at barre Falls Dam.

Bolton Flats

I was fortunate enough to capture a few digi-scope shots of two Lesser Yellowlegs "slugging it out" for supremacy of some Bolton Flats Reale State.
..."Frazier and Ali"....squaring off.

..a little sparring....

...olay....

..gittin away while the gittins are still good...still a long journey ahead.