|
WORDS ON BIRDS
Eagles will steal the show today
February 17, 2007
Steve Grinley
Last Sunday's "Eagles and Owls" bird walk was a real
crowd pleaser. And we did have a crowd.
Twenty-four participants gathered at the store on a
cold, but sunny winter afternoon. The lack of wind, which has been a
problem of late, made it quite pleasant. The raptors were enjoying the
weather as well, as they put on quite a show.
Our caravan of nine cars first stopped along Scotland
Road based on a report that I had received about some American pipits,
uncommon in winter, feeding in one of the fields there. We stopped at
the reported field and it took one of the younger pairs of eyes among
us to spot the pipits foraging among the tufts of grass that were
exposed about the ice and snow. These striped, sparrow-like birds run
across the ground, but they did put up and fly a short distance,
enabling us to count 13 of them as they flashed their outer white tail
feathers.
We continued on and made our first planned stop on Old
Merrill Street on the Amesbury side of the Chain Bridge. Almost
immediately, an immature eagle flew across in front of us and landed
on the ice in front of us, but out of site behind a tall stand of
phragmites. An adult and at least two other immature eagles flew out
from behind Eagle Island, made a pass along the river and returned to
behind the island.
A Cooper's hawk also flew onto the island and perched
in view. Several great cormorants were flying up and down the river
while one spent most of the time swimming and diving for fish. We then
headed for Ferry Landing where we saw two adult bald eagles perched
directly across from us on Ram Island. An immature eagle soon flew by
and perched with the two adults.
Looking up river with the scopes, we could see eight
immature bald eagles perched with one adult on the east side of Eagle
Island. Several other eagles were spotted over the trees and river
while we were there. It was spectacular to see so many eagles at one
time!
While we watched the eagles, a harrier hunted the marsh
across on the Salisbury side and a great blue heron also flew off in
that direction. Three ruddy ducks dove out of sight on our side of the
river while bufflehead, common goldeneye, common and red-breasted
mergansers, ring-necked ducks and lesser scaup all swam within viewing
range. But it was the eagles that stole the show!
As we proceeded to Plum Island, a male kestrel was
perched on a telephone wire along the Causeway. As we stopped to watch
him, he flew a little further up ahead to where some cars were pulled
over. We drove up and found what was causing others to stop. A
short-eared owl was perched in the sunlight on some staddles about 50
yards out in the marsh. We had a beautiful look at this owl with
bright yellow eyes peering back at our scopes.
Behind it, a couple of harriers were criss-crossing low
over the marsh and soon the owl also took flight. Its boldly patterned
underwing was very visible as it fluttered like a butterfly over the
grasses. As we headed down the Island, we looked at every lump of snow
and ice, hoping for a snowy owl.
We stopped several times and scoped the marsh along the
river, but to no avail. We did see a couple of rough-legged hawks
flying directly away from us in the direction of Pine Island. Several
red-tails were also circling above the mainland, quite a distance
away.
We pulled into the Warden's Area, that was already
quite filled with cars, to find a snowy owl perched atop a stick a few
hundred yards north. This was the pure white male that we had seen on
the Superbowl a couple of weeks back. Another short-eared owl was also
flying around the same area, as was a harrier, who was not as keen
about sharing his hunting territory.
The harrier dove and swerved by the snowy several
times, causing the owl to once lift his wings, but otherwise stood his
ground. We continued down the refuge, searching along the way for a
shrike or for other raptors. We did see a merlin perched atop a shrub
on the dunes side of the road.
We then stopped on our way back, just below the Pines,
where we were told there was another snowy owl. We finally spotted one
atop the osprey platform. We later saw it from the north side of the
pines, perched on the dike. A flock of about eighty snow buntings
glistened in the late sunlight as they flew north over the marsh.
To cap our day, Paul Roberts pointed out a pair of
adult bald eagles perched on a small island across the river. They
seemed larger than life, perched in a tree above a small cabin on the
island. It was a fitting ending to our Eagles and Owls experience.
If you wish to have an eagle "experience", plan to
participate in today's Eagle Festival that has eagle tours and ongoing
events at several venues.
The tours are full, but you can visit eagle observation
areas in several areas along the river where naturalists will have
spotting scopes to show you bald eagles. Maps are available at the
Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center, at the Parker River
National Wildlife Festival Headquarters, at the Spencer Pierce Little
Farm or at the Newburyport City Hall, all of which also have free
programs throughout the day.
For additional information go to:
www.massaudubon.org/eaglefestival or call 978-462-9998. I also
have a free walk tomorrow morning to look for eagles, owls and other
birds, leaving from Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift at 9 a.m.
Pre-registration is not necessary. Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats
Newburyport, MA
BirdWSG@Verizon.net
978-462-0775 Index of Recent
Articles |
