Twelve birders met at the Alewife Reservation parking lot on Acorn Park Dr. at 7am with leaders Robert Stymeist and Karsten Hartel.

The early morning rise brought rich sightings today. IT was noted that the Reservation was bountiful in nutrients for the birds well after fall. We noted huge grape clusters, rich staghorn sumac orchards, and all variety of berries. The pedestrian-bike path was loaded with birds, especially the mimics, which included my birth state bird, the Brown Thrasher. Also noted was their regular use of the pathway which had much gravel and grit some species need for digestion, and the berries and nuts that fall on the pathway are easier to see. IT was most exciting to see a Northern Waterthrush on the pathway. Heavy paving and high speed are not what is needed here.

Results from leaders and participants:

Location: Alewife Reservation, Cambridge
Observation date: 9/21/07 7:00-9:20AM
Notes: Menotomy Bird Club
59-68F, 11 observers
Notes: Beautiful plumaged Northern Parula, Great to see all mimics in a row: thrasher, catbird & mocker. Nice Northern Waterthrush on the open road; female tanager, most likely Scarlet based on findings
Number of species: 38

Canada Goose 10
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 12
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 38
Mourning Dove 6
Downy Woodpecker 10
Northern Flicker 5
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 14
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Tufted Titmouse 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 3
Swainson's Thrush perched on dead tree
American Robin 96
Gray Catbird 32
Northern Mockingbird 4
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 80
Cedar Waxwing 14
Northern Parula 1 "spring" plumage
Yellow Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Northern Waterthrush 1 walking on road
Common Yellowthroat 2
warbler sp. 4
Scarlet Tanager 1 female bird perched in open on dead tree before disappearing. The bill was a bit small for Summer Tanager, I felt the plumage was more greenish-yellow also suggesting scarlet. Fun!
Song Sparrow 14
Northern Cardinal 5
Common Grackle 600 probably a lot more- they were all over Acorn Drive early
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 14

Bob Stymeist
Arlington
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)