[Neil Grubb]

While in Boston for a few days for a work conference I managed to fit in some birding - and had a great time! The first morning I got up at 5 am (jetlag) and went to the Arnold Arboretum for a couple of hours. It's a botanical garden which is easily reached by tube (Orange line - Forest Hills). At first familiar birds seemed the order of the day - house sparrow, starling and feral pigeon seen at the tube station. Once in the park proper, there were numerous American robin and gray catbird, both very noisy, and American crow flew over - a higher pitched call than carrion crow but similar. Several Baltimore oriole were conspicuous both by call and by their beautiful orange, black and white uniforms. Chipping sparrows sang in a way that resembles wood warbler at home. I came on my favourite bird song and listened for a long time to a wood thrush - a completely entrancing sound. Further into the arboretum, by the pond, a pair of American goldfinch gathered nest material and yellow warblers were conspicuous. Both common grackle and red winged blackbird were also present by the pond. On the path uphill from the pond I saw house finch, tufted titmouse,white breasted nuthatch and downy woodpecker, and then heard some soft drumming - a northern flicker, and then another. I followed the flickers down the path to a tree with a hole into which one of the birds disappeared. All the way along chipping sparrows, black-capped chickadee and cardinals sang. Also present was a mourning dove. I then met a local, very helpful birder called Mary-Lou who got me onto a male indigo bunting - looked black in the canopy until he caught the light, then wow! A distant but great view. Soon after a turkey vulture flew over and at the end I saw a tree swallow in flight. All too soon I had to go to my conference but Mary-Lou recommended I visit the Mt Auburn Cemetery, as this is a good migration spot.

Next morning I followed this advice. Mt Auburn Cemetery was reached from downtown on the red tube line to Harvard, then either number 71 or 73 bus to Aberdeen Avenue. The cemetery encourages birders and there is a board just inside the park gates with information on recent sightings. Initially I saw a similar range of birds; in addition song sparrow and yellow rumped warbler on the Indian Ridge path. On the pond were a couple of mallard, the only ducks I saw on the trip. At the Dell, which is a hollow overlooked by tall trees, with a pond, I was put onto the call of blackpoll warbler by a local birder, and then saw a male scarlet tanager- another stunning bird - in the treetops. A great blue heron flew overhead, catching the light very nicely. The local birders, of whom there were several, seemed disappointed at the low number of migrants present that day we heard but only had questionable views of blackpoll and black and white warbler- this was corrected on Saturday morning (see next!). On the way back from the Dell I saw a plain bird perched which I later identified from a photo as a warbling vireo, and also two great crested flycatcher. A party of blue jays screeched near the park entrance. Two hours was not enough time so I decided to return.

Today I had the whole morning free and was very fortunate as this timed with a really good day at Mt Auburn. The hotspots seemed to be the Dell and the Tower monument areas but on the way I saw a Swainson's thrush by the large pond. A great horned owl was perched in a fork of one of the conifers - a resident I wasa told. I learned a lot about warbler calls today - and saw in rapid succession blackpoll warbler, black and white warbler and magnolia warbler. Then, several cedar waxwing flew out and in of the tall trees - noticeably smaller than Bohemian waxwings at home and with a pale rather than brown vent. A shout of 'INDIGO' went up as another male indigo bunting perched in clear view. Two red tailed hawks circled and I asked about a loud and odd call - a red bellied woodpecker - didn't see it though! Then birds appeared so fast it was difficult to know where to look. The previous visit I had been advised that two of my target birds were very unlikely - Cape May warbler and Blackburnian warbler, but at one point a Cape May and a Blackburnian were showing in adjacent trees - being ignored because of the bay-breasted warbler in the next tree! All three were high up but absulute stunners though binoculars, though a bit of patience was needed for good views. A Least flycatcher was doing what flycatchers do, then a rose breasted grosbeak appeared singing its dry flutey song. An eastern kingbird also flew in and out of the canopy. A black billed cuckoo flew through, very distinctive shape with a long tail. Chimney swifts hawked insects overhead.

Another of my target birds appeared, a bird I have singularly failed to see on previous trips to the States - a red-eyed vireo. Soon after a blue headed vireo was also showing well, so this trip has taken my vireo list from zero to three! The morning was rounded off by very close views of black and white warbler and black throated green warbler, and a wood thrush, by the pond in the Dell.

This was a great day, and made so in large part by the extremely friendly and helpful local birders who patiently explained calls and helped me to see these birds. I took many photographs and will append some to this posting on my return home tomorrow.

[markgrubb]

Work,heh?! Been taking tips from Dr W

No wonder NHS waiting lists are so long....

And I'm not in the least bit jealous

[apbarr]

Sounds like a great trip, loads of the same birds I had in Ontario a couple of years ago plus a couple I failed to connect with. The "not knowing where to look" sounds familiar as well with Bay-breasted, Blackburnian and Magnolia all being stunners

[Neil Grubb]

The first lot of photos:

Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle (with nest material), Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler

[Neil Grubb]

American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Yellow-Rumped Warbler

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Nice report Neil - good to see you're catching on to the possibilities of work trips .

[Neil Grubb]

White-breasted Nuthatch, Scarlet Tanager montage, Great Horned Owl, Magnolia Warbler, Song Sparrow.

More to come...!

[Neil Grubb]

Indigo Bunting, Red-Tailed Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Cape May Warbler, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

[Neil Grubb]

Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Headed Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush

[Neil Grubb]

Red-winged Blackbird, Bay-breasted Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Cardinal and a bird I haven't IDd.

This last bird was at the pond edge at Arnold Arboretum collecting dry grass. I can't make it match any finch or flycatcher in my Sibley guide - can anyone help ?

[danehower]

Originally Posted by Neil Grubb

Red-winged Blackbird, Bay-breasted Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Cardinal and a bird I haven't IDd.

This last bird was at the pond edge at Arnold Arboretum collecting dry grass. I can't make it match any finch or flycatcher in my Sibley guide - can anyone help ?

I think it is a Baltimore Oriole - amazing pics on this thread - nice job Neil !

[tjbirdofprey]

great report and lovely photos

[Gretchen]

Nice report, and great pics!

I'm no expert, but I'm thinking not an oriole for the last - how about great crested flycatcher? (e.g. see http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/G..._Flycatcher/id)

[edenwatcher]

A very fine work trip Neil. Must see if I can manage something decent in Slovenia next month ...

Rob

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by danehower

I think it is a Baltimore Oriole - amazing pics on this thread - nice job Neil !

Dave has it right. Female-type Baltimore Oriole. Nice job getting the warbler photos--they can be tough!

Best,
Jim

[Gretchen]

Originally Posted by J. Moore

Dave has it right. Female-type Baltimore Oriole.

I see... I had to look at both closely at first to see what you meant. Looks obvious now Well, something new learned.

[Neil Grubb]

Nice to see the male orioles just sitting around sunning themselves looking pretty while the girls get on with the domestic work......