Vern Laux, resident bird expert and naturalist took the class out birding yesterday to various sites around Nantucket Island. We encounter a northern mocking bird, which can mimic calls from other birds as well as horns, sirens, or other human made noises. Sifting through a field of Canada geese, we attempted to sneak up on the three Northern Lapwings, some of the rarest birds here in North America, which blew over the Atlantic during the unusual weather events of Hurricane Sandy.

Moving onwards to some of the ponds, we saw American Coots, Ring-Necked Ducks, Wigeons (both American and Eurasian) as well as several types of Gulls and shore birds like the Black Bellied Plover.

Eurasian Wigeon

Ring-Neck Duck

Over head we noted Red Tailed Hawks among the fleet of Crows and other common birds.

Later that day, Vern took me out to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Cranberry Bogs in search of a more uncommon Raptor, although it is found on every continent except Antarctica. There we came across a Peregrine Falcon, full on some recent meal, she lazily sat along the road not far from a flock of small shorebirds called Dunlin. We were able to get nearly 10 meters away and snap some good photos. Through the binoculars I was able to observe the faster animal on earth, full, and lackadaisically perched on a cranberry bog road. Cool Video on Peregrines.

As for my independent project – I have been designing new “self guided nature trail posts” for the 11 posts along the UMB Field Station’s Nature trail. Check here for the Current Posts Virtual Tour. I will be focusing on several different topics, including some birds that may be spotted during the off season months. If other students are interested, it would be great to collaborate on some of these posts in order to bring the research and study on specific topics such as salt marshes, coastal change, or hydrological systems into the field posts.

All for now

Peregrine Falcon, Hunting

Dunlin, a small shore bird