Kingfisher Chatter

(a blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge)

NOTE: Enter your email address above and click "Submit" to subscribe/receive email when new Kingfisher Chatter posts are published.  Also check out WWW.FARNWR.ORG to catch up on news, calendar and photos of Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge.

Click on the photos below for larger views

20 Dec 2013

My Refuge is snow covered and very interesting now. 

Figure 1  Winterberry Way

Figure 2  Opening in snow-covered ice near footbridge on Winterberry Way

By the footbridge on Winterberry Way the water was alive with tadpoles and even small Blue-gill sunfish.  The tadpoles were very large (~4 In. in length) so it is suspected they are Bull Frog.   Some tadpoles will go two to three years before their metamorphosis.  There are many factors including water temperature, oxygenation, food availability, overcrowding, to name a few.  As the ice gets thicker and oxygen levels drop there may be mass mortalities as evidenced last winter.  But for now they are wriggling and providing me (Kingfisher) and cousin Heron with a ready food source.   Yum!

Figure 3a  At footbridge on Winterberry Way the water was alive with tadpoles and fish.

Figure 3b    Here is a magnified view of one of the tadpoles from photo 3A.  A polarizing filter would have helped

The Bald-faced Hornet’s nest that was photographed last summer and again in the fall (after being ravaged by critter(s) unknown), is now further torn apart. The comb center is now clearly visible in the photo below:

Figure 4  Bald-faced Hornet's nest showing comb cellcenter.  Taylor Way near FEMA

There are still plenty of other signs of life around me as evidenced by all the imprints and scat in the snow.

Figure 5 Canidtracks along Winterberry Way. Coyote?  Dog?

Figure 6  Closeup view of canid track

Great Blue Heron tracks were seen on the ice on either side of Otter Alley.

Figure 7  Great Blue Heron tracks on the ice adjacent to Otter Alley Trail

Figure 8  Great Blue Heron tracks between Otter Alley and Taylor Way

Two Herons were spotted.  One flew off and landed  behind the cattails.  One of the Herons can be seen If you look closely at the annotated picture below:

Figure 9  Great Blue Heron (within hashed circle)adjacent to Taylor Way taken from Otter Alley

There was a dead Blue Jay on the trail near the footbridge on Taylor Way.  It had but one leg.  There were no signs of a struggle (neither loose feathers nor blood).   It is suspected that the leg was missing well before it died.

Figure 10  Dead Blue Jay on Taylor Way near footbridge

There’s a new bench by the footbridge on Taylor Way.  Hurray!  This is one of the most interesting wildlife watching areas on the refuge.  It is tied with Otter Alley for the best birding throughout the year.  It’ll be a nice place for breakfast, lunch or snack while watching nature.  Please pack out what you pack in!  Keep my refuge litter free. 

Figure 11  New bench near footbridge on Taylor Way

There were very few ducks seen.  Generally this time of year they hang out in the open water in the marsh between Taylor Way and Otter Alley.  Only Canada Geese were seen there this time.  Numerous duck did fly by but none landed in the open waters within the marsh.

Figure 12  Canada Geese on the ice in marsh between Taylor Way and Otter Alley.  Taken from Taylor Way

Here is a complete list of birds seen/heard:

• Blue Jays (Winterberry Way & Taylor Way)
• Canada Geese (marsh between Otter Alley and Taylor Way)
• Great Blue Herons (Otter Alley)
• Eastern Phoebe (Taylor Way near footbridge)
• Goldfinch (Taylor Way near footbridge)
• Cedar Waxwing (Taylor Way near footbridge)
• Sparrows (spp?)  in thicket and unable to identify
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Pileated Woodpecker (heard drumming...not seen (Taylor Way near footbridge)
• Red-bellied Woodpecker (Otter Alley)
• Mallards (fly-by only above Taylor Way footbridge) 
• Flycatcher (sp?) (yellowish breast.  Too distant to identify or photograph)
• Northern Cardinal

Hope to see you on the Refuge and wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2014!

                  - The Kingfisher

20 Nov 2013: A blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

 

Kingfisher Chatter

(a blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge)

 

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20 November 2013

 

Click on pictures which are linked to the originals on FARNWR's Flickr account

Have you heard of the Pine Tube Moth?  It was a new one to me!  Argyrotaenia pinatubana lives in pine trees and seems abundant in Eastern White Pine on the Refuge and well beyond too.   At this time of the year the Pine Tube Moth larva has bundled up to about 20 live pine needles with a silk it produces.  The bundle is fashioned into a tube; the binding silk on the inside of the tube.  The greenish-yellow larva (caterpillar) will eat some of the pine needles composing the tube from the tips down.  If too much is eaten it will build another tube.  Here is an illustration of a typical tube residence.

 

 

 

 

Below is is an actual Pine Tube Moth tube photographed on the Refuge.  Difficult to see unless one is looking for it.  Once you know what to look for you will find tubes are abundant.

 

 

 

As the weather starts to cool, the larva pupates in a chrysalis as is typical for moths and butterflies.  The moth will emerge in the spring.  Hopefully next spring there will be a moth picture to post.  Here is a photo of the chrysalis from an opened tube

 

 

 

According to several sources, the Pine Tube Moth is a minor pest only effecting aesthetics as the tube needles, especially the tips, will generally brown.  It is found from Canada to Florida and west into Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Jack Pine Tube Moth is a similar species found in our western states.  In some areas two generations may occur in one season.

 

I'll be looking for caterpillars in the early summer and again in the fall and moths also.  Yum!  (Yes.  Belted Kingfisher will eat insects too)

 

Hope to see you at my Refuge.

 

- The Kingfisher -

 

19 Nov 2013: A blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

 

Kingfisher Chatter

(a blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge)

 

NOTE: Enter your email address above to subscribe/receive email when new Kingfisher Chatter posts are published

19 November 2013

 

Click on pictures which are linked to the originals on FARNWR's Flickr account

 

The Refuge has been quiet but still plenty of things to see and do there. 

 

Birding with John M: John Milhaven led a morning birding walk last Saturday.  Here is a partial list of sightings:

• Eastern Bluebird
• Blue Jay
• Northern Cardinal
• Gold-crown Kinglet
• Common Grackle
• Canada Goose
• Mallard Duck
• Great Blue Heron
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Down Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Belted Kingfisher (that's me!)
• American Goldfinch
• Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored variant)

 

Representative pictures of each of these species photographed on the Refuge can be found at: http://farnwr.org/gallery1.html

 

Bunker Tour: Jan Wright led a bunker tour last Sunday.  It started in the Visitor Center with her presentation on the history of the ARNWR land especially from the time of the government taking of the land by eminent domain in 1942 during WWII.  Residents were only given ten days to pack up and move out and construction of the ammo depot and bunkers commenced almost immediately. The site was used to store munitions from navy vessels docking in Boston Harbor and surroundings.  The ammo was removed to enhance the safety of the harbor in case of accident or attack.  It was carried by rail  to be stored in the bunkers (officially know as "igloos").  The site (now ARNWR) which touches Maynard, Stow, Hudson and Sudbury was just out of the range of enemy battleship firepower of the time making it a safer prospect than storing anywhere near the city. 

 

Following the war it served for troop training, munitions testing and numerous projects associated with the Army's Natick Labs.  Camo gear, parachutes and other materials and equipment were tested here.  Our Refuge was established in 2000 but it was not opened to the public until structures were demolished and Superfund cleanup was completed.

 

Bunker #303 was opened.  It was dark and echoey and remarkably clean and fresh smelling.  I would have expected dank!  Click on the image below to see photos from the tour.

 

 

 

 

Flora & Flora Spotted Recently

 

Deer: spotted from a distance crossing Harry's Way near Kingfisher Trail.  These were very mature does, both unusually tall.  Legs too short for moose more reminiscent of elk but there are no Elk in this area.

 

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk Dragonflies are still about, particularly around Puffer Pond. 

 

 

 

Remarkably these two are both males in mating position!  Thanks to both Betty and Jini Foster for help with identification.

 



Here's what Betty Wright has to say about Yellow-legged Meadowhawk Dragonflies:

• They are the only Meadowhawks to fly in November; the latest to fly
• They can feed at temperatures below 50 degrees
• Eyes are reddish brown
• Brown to yellow basal wing patches
• Early legs are dull yellowish; the older legs are dull brown
• Lack of black on legs and usually less black on the sides of the abdomen distinguish this species from other Meadowhawks

Here are some other comments from Betty:On Kingfisher:  I saw a Kingfisher.  This surprised me, but according to David Sibley, while they will migrate, they will stay as far North as there is open water.  Mine could have been migrating or one that planned to winter here

 

On Earthworm: There is not a native earthworm in North America.  They are all invasives and come from Europe.  I am not sure whether we are better or worse for them

On Wintergreen: When I was much younger, the advice was to chew on Wintergreen leaves.  Now, people into herbal medicines like Arthur Haines say never chew the leaves


Betty will be a frequent contributor to this blog :-).  Welcome aboard Betty and thanks!

As the weather continues to cool the waterways within the Refuge will be resting place for migrating and returning waterfowl.  Keep an eye open for Mergansers, Buffleheads, Teal, Ring-necked Ducks and others.  Come on down and keep watch.   Though the Refuge is seemingly quiet there is a lot of work going on.  Beavers and muskrats are preparing and repairing their lodges and stockpiling materials for the long winter. Watch for their activity near sunrise and sunset.  Also look for new beaver work (gnawed and felled trees) along waterways.

Speaking of muskrats, Paulette Freedman will lead a Fledgling program this Friday (22 Nov) at 10:30AM with a focus on muskrats and cattails.  Age range for this is 2 to 5 year olds and will be held in the ARNWR Visitors Center.


See you on the Refuge.

- The Kingfisher - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kingfisher Chatter

(a blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge)

 

NOTE: Enter your email address above to subscribe/receive email when new Kingfisher Chatter posts are published

30 October 2013

Its been cold at the Refuge.  Yesterday there was ice on the waterways and it closed in near-shore water pushing waterfowl further out and making viewing rather poor.  Many of my web-footed friends have come back from their extended vacation up north.  It is nice to have them back.  There have been lots of Canada Goose returning,  large numbers of Mallards and some American Black Duck mixed in.  I've seen American Coot

 

 

note the ivory bill (they used to be called Ivory-billed Coot).

 

 

Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal are  here too.  Here's a Green-wing Teal

 

 

Still awaiting my Merganser friends and many other species.

The Bald-faced Hornet nest above Taylor Way has been ransacked.  Check out the before and after   pictures.

 

Before (09/14/2013)

 

After (10/21/2013)

 

Even though these "hornets" are very aggressive nest defenders by virtue of their sting, there are many birds and mammals that find them delicious and will tear apart the nest for a feast.  They always leave enough of the population to ensure a feast for next year.  By the way, the Bald-faced Hornet is a not a true hornet.  It is a member of the Yellowjacket/Wasp family.

Great Blue Herons have been fattening up for the winter.  Check out this fishing sequence ending in the successful catch of a Hornpout Catfish near the footbridge on Taylor Way.  To view full size, click on each picture or click on the first one and use Flickr left arrow on the picture to navigate to the next one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Heron was a smart cookie and risk averse.  After the one fish was caught, it flew to dry land so the fish could be oriented headfirst flipped into the air and swallowed whole.  It was too hidden by the weeds to photograph this dining experience. 

Two  Snapping Turtles have been seen recently; one on Taylor Way and another within minutes on Otter Alley.  Although formidable on land, they are shy and evasive in the water preferring to swiftly swim away from people and other animals.  Their temperament on land stems from the fact that these guys are so bulky that they can't fully retract into their shell for safety.  So Nature has favored them with a sharp beak and powerful jaw muscles.  Be careful around them on land as their necks are very long and agile.  they can reach back behind them to about 3/4 the length of their shell.   Here are a few pictures of one of the turtles (click on pictures for full size photos):

There are still some Warblers hanging around although the bulk of the autumn Warbler migration seems to be over.  There is also a decided lower population of insects visible now that the frosts have hit.

Squirrels and Chipmunks are abundant and busy knocking acorns from the Oaks for collection and storage.  Although Muskrats and Beavers should be busy now, only one Muskrat has been sited recently and that was in the water near the footbridge on Taylor Way.

Raccoon poop was found on the bench at the end of Kingfisher Trail.  Coyotes must be fattening up too as there seems to be more scat about and also more bird feathers on the trails.

Don't forget to check out more about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge online: 

• Refuge Home Page
• Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
• More images of wildlife on the Refuge

Also let me know if you have any questions, comments, sightings by posting comments to this blog or emailing kingfisherchatter@gmail.com
 

Hope to see you soon.

The Kingfisher

Kingfisher Chatter

(a blog about Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge)

 

29 Sep 2013

 

Fall is in the air and I've been very busy fattening up for the long cold spell that isn't too far off.  The trees are starting to turn beautiful colors here on the Refuge, especially the ones near my waterways.  The fall bird migration is on and I have seen many of my relatives that I haven't seen since spring because they went north for the summer.  These include (click on the links to see pictures): 

• Pine Warbler
• Prairie Warbler
• American Redstart

 

Others friends seen recently include:

• Cooper's Hawk:  I knew he was here as the ducks were making a fuss.  He was sitting in a tree overlooking their feeding spot on Puffer Pond
• Green Heron
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Blue Heron egg (must have dropped from a nest...but there were no nests nearby!!!)
• American Black Duck
• Lincoln's Sparrow
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Common Yellowthroat taking a bath
• Northern Catbird taking a bath

There have been lots of interesting insects spotted lately:

• Brown Daddy-Long-Legs
• White Admiral Butterfly
• Cabbage White Butterfly
• Little Glassywing Butterfly
• Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar
• Wooly Bear (Isabella Tiger Moth) Caterpillar
• Common Backswimmer (watch out, they bite!)
• Whirlygig Beetle
• Black Beetle
• Japanese Beetle
• Northern Flatid Planthopper
• Chinese Mantid (the largest Mantid on the refuge.  Introduced to the U.S. in 1896 as a "beneficial" insect)
• Locust Borer
• Ruby Meadowhawk Dragonfly
• Bald-faced Hornet's nest
• Bald-faced Hornet (very protective of their nest...don't goof with them!)
• American Pelecinid Wasp (this is a female.  Spotting the smaller male is very rare)
• Eastern Yellow Jacket
• Paper Wasp
• American Bumblebee
• Honey Bee

Other sightings include:

• Chipmunk (very busy collecting acorns to get them through the winter)
•  Freshwater Snail shell (found along Otter Way)
• Pickerel Frog

 Its good to be back online.  I'll talk to you again soon.

 

- Kingfisher

Kingfisher Chatter

10 Aug 2013

 

My friends Gary and Paulette walked my land starting at North parking area (off White Pond Rd. in Stow) progressing to Taylor Way and Winterberry Way as far as the bridge.  Backtracking they made their way to Otter Alley and Harry's Way to White Pond Road and back to the North parking lot.  Walk started late morning.  The woodsy parts of the trails were heavy with mosquito but overall enjoyable and no Off was used.

 

Wildlife sightings were low but there were some interesting finds.  Brown Creepers were seen in the parking lot. Their colorations make them masters of disguise (click on photos for larger size images):

 

 

 

There were lots of locusts/grasshoppers.  Carolina Grasshopper were the most abundant species. 

 

 

Look for black/dark brown wings fringed with tan when they fly.  Many Robins, Goldfinch, Grackles seen along the way.  At the North Marsh (gotta give the marsh and stream areas better names...soon), there were Great Blue Herons, one Green Heron, Kingfishers (me included), Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Phoebes to name a few.  It was not as birdy as usual.  Tent Caterpillars were also seen indicating that autumn is not far off.

 

 

 

Along Winterberry Way a couple walking a dog was observed.  Shame on them!

 

Busted!



 

Remember, dogs are not allowed on the Refuge. 

 

 

This year's crop of Canada Geese look very mature now as do the Mallard chicks.  Along Otter Alley a Poison Ivy Sawfly was seen. 

 

 

These insects lay their eggs on Poison Ivy (itchy just thinking of it). 

 

Enjoy Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge.  Hope to see you there.  

 

- Kingfisher

Belated Post: Birding by Ear

 

Kingfisher Chatters

On Saturday AM, July 27th, John Milhaven of Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge ( www.farnwr.org ) led "friends" and some visitors on a birding walk at the refuge.  The walk was entitled: "Birding by Ear" and as the name implies it was more about identifying Avians by listening to their calls.  The walk started at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (ARNWR) Visitor Center then down Winterberry Way to Taylor Way as far as the footbridge.  Then the walk backtracked to Otter Alley.  Harry's Way was followed to complete the loop back to the Visitor Center.

 

The highlight for most of us was hearing a Black-billed Cuckoo. New England is will within the summer (breeding) range of the Black- and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.  Unfortunately no Cuckoos were seen.  Along the way numerous other birds were heard and seen.  Here are some photos from the walk (click on the highlighted listings below to view the photos):

 

• Red-winged Blackbird (female) and Cedar Waxwing atop a tree
• Close-up of Red-winged Blackbird (female)
• Northern Cardinal (juvenile female)
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Eastern Kingbird
• Yellow Warbler
• Close-up view of Cedar Waxwing
• Another close-up view of Cedar Waxwing
• Canada Geese
• Mallards
• Red-tailed Hawk (not positively identified but most likely a good ID
• Song Sparrow
• Eastern Phoebe
• Turkey Vulture
• Common Grackles

Other species seen but not photographed include: Pine Warbler; Green Heron; American Robin; Belted Kingfisher (me :-) ); Great Blue Herons and many more.  If  you visit FARNWR's Flicker account ( http://farnwr.org/gallery1.html ), you can see lots more wildlife from ARNWR.  Check frequently as the website is updated frequently with new Fauna and Flora.

 

Don't forget to subscribe to this Blog.  You can find the subscription tab on the right of the screen.  On my screen it is a pop-up menu so run the mouse on the right side of the screen to make it pop-up. 

 

Until next time,

 

              Kingfisher

 

Kingfisher Chatters

Here are some recent sightings at ARNWR (all posted to the ARNWR Flickr account).

Name	Location	Date	URL
Birds
Great Crested Flycatcher	Taylor Way	11 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9335401385/
Eastern Bluebird (juvenile)	Taylor Way	11 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9335401239/in/photostream/
Eastern Towhee	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334574083/in/photostream/
Common Yellowthroat	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334575387/in/photostream/
Orchard Oriole	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9337361960/in/photostream/
Belted Kingfisher	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9337362636/in/photostream/
Blue Jay	Winterberry Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334577539/in/photostream/
Flora
Chicory	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9337361616/in/photostream/
Purple Loosestrife	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334576051/in/photostream/
Queen Anne’s Lace	Taylor Way	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334577371/in/photostream/
Insects
Banded Longhorn Beetle	Otter Alley	16 Jul 2013	http://www.flickr.com/photos/91861642@N05/9334575109/in/photostream/

The weather has been hot and water levels are low.  The flow of water at the footbridge on Winterberry Way has reversed direction and is now flow east versus the usual westward flow.

When there is a breeze, mosquitos are absent especially in open areas.  Dragonflies and butterflies are everywhere now.  Lots of Red-spotted Purples Butterflies and Mourning Cloak Butterflies.  The most common Dragonflies these days are Blue Dashers, Eastern Pondhawks and Common Whitetails.

Fledglings are everywhere.  Today (07/22) in the afternoon, the following chicks were seen:

• Common Yellow Throat
• Cedar Waxwing
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Green Heron
• Pine Warbler
• Eastern Phoebe
• Gray Catbird
• Eastern Bluebird
• Common Grackle

There were lots of Belted Kingfishers, Eastern Kingbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Great Blue Herons, Eastern Phoebes.

Enjoy nature!

- Kingfisher