Neighborhood American Woodcocks 3/27

Paul Meleski and I birded Bolton Flats, Delaney WMA, Sterling Peat and then took a short walk in my neighborhood today. The recent fridged conditions seems to have put the breaks on migration, but we had an enjoyable day afield. But, my personal hilights were just a few hundred yards down the road from my apartment. Amercian Woodcock are easy enough find in the correct habitat, but having a good look in full daylight is another matter. We found one on the lawn of a nearby residence, and when I returned with the scope, for a few digi-scope shots, I found an additional woodcock. Below are some shots I got this afternoon:

This American Woodcock was in the open, and while about 50 yards away was cooperative and easy to photograph. The second bird (below), while closer, was a different story and it always had the upper hand in a little game of "cat and mouse", never allowing an unobstructed view! I took perhaps 200 shots of this bird and ALWAYS there was a stick or piece of brush in the way. But, perhaps that is more fitting and natural for this species (of course.....I am rationalizing!). facing away ..showing large eyes set close to the back of its head. A "peek-a-boo" shot. Nearly in the open... A flank shot. Even this woodcock was feeling the effects of this blustery day. In this same yard we found 8 Fox Sparrows, a leusistic House Finch and across the street was a lesistic House Sparrow. A leusistic House Sparrow.... ...leusistic House Finch.

Waxwings 3/5 and 3/6

There was a nice flock of approx. 260 Cedar Waxwings at Turner's Falls on 3/5, despite carefull scanning I could not find a Bohemian in the mix.
Below are few digi-scope shots from the "Turner's" Cedar Waxwings.

A nice portrait...

...who's next?....

...a precarious reach....

...got it..

...down the hatch...

Here are few other "good" birds from the Turner's Falls area on Saturday:

The above Redhead was with Rng-necked Ducks, seen from the Turner's Falls Rod and Gun Club.
This Merlin was at Unity Park, in Turner's Falls, it frightened many robins, waxwings and even put up 100+ Ring-billed Gulls.

The above Glaucous Gull, a 1st year type, was one of two present on the river.

This 1st year Iceland Gull spent some time at close range.

Sunday morning I read a report from Nick Paulson, who had found a flock of 85 Bohemian Waxwings at the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area, in Westminster, just a few miles from home. I headed over after morning coffee and the flock, today about 70, flew in from the west about 9AM. The light was poor and it began to drizzle, but I did manage some digi-scope shots of these handsome birds.

A portion of the flock of 70 Bohemian Waxwings at High Ridge WMA.

...zoomed in a bit closer...

and one in flight.