Posted on June 13, 2014

The last of a series of spring bird walks in the Arnold Arboretum attracted over thirty participants in very nice early summer weather. We also saw some birds although we had no migrant species.

Early on, our youngest birder spotted something at the top of a conifer; I was ready to pass it off as a common Chipping Sparrow but she commented that it seemed too big. She was right; it was an Eastern Kingbird. This large member of the flycatcher family gave everyone good looks.

Eastern Kingbird. The terminal white band on the tail is distinctive.
Photo: Bob Mayer

Our other flycatcher was not as cooperative. High up in some fully leafed out trees, we first heard the “wheep” call of a Great-crested Flycatcher. After some searching, most of us got some fleeting looks as it moved about the canopy at the top of Peters Hill.

Great-crested Flycatcher. Note the long rusty tail.
Photo: Bob Mayer

Our only other bird of note was a nice male Orchard Oriole. Baltimore Orioles are quite common in the Arboretum during the spring and summer. Orchards also nest here, but they are seen much less frequently.

Male Orchard Oriole. This species is identical to it’s more common cousin, the Baltimore Oriole, except for the darker, rusty breast and back rather than the orange color of the Baltimore.
Photo: Bob Mayer

Here is the list of birds seen:

Arnold Arboretum, Suffolk, US-MA
Jun 7, 2014 8:00 AM – 9:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.3 mile(s)
Comments: sunny, 74, AA/BBC walk, Peters Hill
27 species

Great Blue Heron 1
Herring Gull 2
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 8
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 4
Tree Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
American Robin 30
Gray Catbird 3
European Starling 4
Yellow Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow 20
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 15
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 7

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18714976

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Over the summer I intend to report signs of avian nesting in the Arboretum, and pick up on other fauna that can be seen during the birding doldrums of June and July. Stay tuned!

Posted in Arnold Arboretum, Avian, Bird walks