Local birding report

Spring is here and the northbound migration of birds has just begun. During the first week of April there was a profusion of sparrow activity across Cape. Chipping Sparrows arrived adding to the mix of White-throateds, Song and Fox Sparrows. Slightly larger than a Chickadee, the Chipping Sparrow has a bright rusty crown atop its head. This bird’s song is similar that of the Dark-eyed Juncos and somewhat like that of a Pine warbler.

On the late afternoon of April 4 as snow blanketed the landscape, I was observing the bird activity around our feeders when I noticed some commotion further off in the background. Taking a closer peek revealed a small flock of Cedar Waxwings fluttering and plucking at an ornamental berry bush. During the winter and early spring months Waxwings depend on fruit for survival.

I also noticed that one-by-one the Waxwings would disappear down to the ground area where I knew there was a seasonal creek (which ultimately feeds into Pond Cove). Interestingly, the bill and esophagus of the Waxwing has evolved to allow them to swallow berries and fruits whole. Because the winter fruit available to waxwings is high in sugar but largely low in water these birds must drink water more often than many birds. On this same day three first of season Norther Flickers passed through our yard, stopping briefly to gorge on suet.

Additionally, on the night of April 6 along Shore Road I heard the high pitched too-too-too call of a Northern Saw-whet Owl. These little forest elves are master ventriloquists capable of a vast range of noises from whines to whistles to harsh bat like squeaks. Northern Saw-whet Owls are short distance migrants and every spring substantial numbers migrate along the Atlantic’s coastal lowlands and islands from Virginia up to Maine. While most females and younger Saw-whets migrate, many males remain in the state throughout the winter months. Weather conditions, wind direction and moon phase are important factors for saw-whet movements. On this night the prevailing Southwest winds and a waning crescent moon provided ideal conditions for these “invisible owls” to be on the move. Interestingly, eastern U.S. populations exhibit a population cycle in which Saw-whet numbers generally peak every four years. This peak is closely tied to the small rodent populations which also peaks in high mast (acorn) years such as this past year.

And on the sunny afternoon of April 10 I went to Robinson Woods in search of a Winter Wren. After a good bit of searching, I located this secretive little bird amongst the cattails deep within the Pond Cove Brook corridor. To hear the ecstatic song of this little bird calling from the thawing bogs of damp coniferous woods is a very special occasion.

Describing the voice of a Winter wren is no easy task, at times a rather sharp chick, chick, often a rippling sort of trill and with twists and turns that increase in octave from one note to another. The haunts and habits of the Winter wren are most appropriately captured by Edward Forbush when he wrote, “this little Brownie of the forest creeps like a wood mouse under the roots of trees standing on banks overhanging the water, in and out of brush heaps and wood piles along river bottoms and on the banks of woodland brooks, cautious and furtive – an absurd little creature.”

On this same outing I noted five Eastern Phoebes, three gloriously yellow male Pine Warblers and a single male Palm Warbler along the fringes of the great meadow in Robinson Woods.