MBC trips the weekend and beyond
Paul Ippolito
Fellow MBC
members,
There is a walk this Sunday at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus as well as a walk
on Tuesday at Mary Cummings Park in Burlington.
To help you plan ahead, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 19th @ 7:00 PM at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road in Winchester as we will have Alan Ankers presenting his photographic tour covering the entire breadth of Namibia in southwestern Africa exploring the country’s history, geography, animals, plants, reptiles and insects, as well as birds. Plenty of birds! Doors open at 6:30 for set up and social time and the meeting starts promptly at 7:00 PM.
This Fall we have a series of bird walks in conjunction with the naturalists at the Boston Nature Center and the Brookline Bird Club at places like Belle Island Marsh, the Boston Nature Center and Millenium Park.
Do however continue to look at the weekly e-mails as we continually add trips based upon what is being seen, weather and availability of our leaders.
Fall
migration continues with some interesting observations being posted throughout
Massachusetts and past experience suggests that November is a good month for
rarities to show up so keep exploring your local patches, report what you
are seeing and enjoy all that our area has to offer.
Sunday, November 3
Bear Creek Sanctuary, Saugus
Soheil Zendeh 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Here are details for attending walks at this property:
Bear Creek is an upland wildlife sanctuary built on the Wheelabrator (formerly RESCO) landfill at the northern end of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and Revere. Access information is below. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be prepared for sun, wind and weather.
This walk is free and open to the public, but also note that this property is accessible by invitation only and visitors need to be chaperoned at all times. Please allow roughly 4 hours for this field trip. The actual length of the trip depends on conditions and the birds present. It's usually difficult to break up the party if you need to be somewhere in the early afternoon. Come prepared to stay with the group.
Wheelabrator company has graciously stocked up on some extra pairs of binoculars, so if you or someone you know wants to learn about birds and birding, come on down. Please let Geoff Wilson s2a...@gmail.com know you're coming so we can have a head count.
Bear Creek Sanctuary access is via the Wheelabrator plant, 100 Salem Turnpike (Rte 107), Saugus. The rotary at the intersection of Rtes 60 and 107 is about 1½ miles southwest of the plant and about 1 mile east of Rte 1 exit on Rte 60. When traveling northeast on 107, if you go over the Ballard Street bridge (just after a set of lights) you’ve gone too far — turn back. Here is a link to google maps: http://tinyurl.com/326v87d
When you arrive, drive through the plant gates, park in the parking lot immediately and wait for the group. Please do not drive farther into the property without an escort.
Tuesday, November 5
Mary Cummings Park, Burlington
John Keeley 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Join us as we explore Mary Cummings Park in Burlington, part of a 216 acre park with rustic trails as we search of migrating fall warblers and sparrows. Meet at the Ballfield Parking Lot on Blanchard Road. 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM John Keeley kestr...@gmail.com
Sunday, November 10
Millenium Park, Boston
300 Gardner Street, Boston 8:00 AM
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: Meet in the parking lot nearest the canoe launch. Once you arrive at the park, turn left and then you will very soon see a small sign at the first left turn labelled Canoe Launch. Follow that road to the end of the parking lot. The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing cge...@massaudubon.org and copying neil.c...@mac.com. Please note that participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to 30 people.
Tuesday, November 19
6:30 PM Social Time, 7:00 Meeting Start
Across Namibia – Birds and Other Cool Stuff
Alan Ankers – Jenks Center, Winchester
The Menotomy Bird Club will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, November 19th @ 7:00 PM at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road in Winchester as we will have Alan Ankers presenting
his photographic tour covering the entire breadth of Namibia in southwestern Africa exploring the country’s history, geography, animals, plants, reptiles and insects, as well as birds. Plenty of birds!
Alan Ankers has keenly birded Middlesex County for the last thirty years and in recent years started exploring the rest of the world’s birds. Since co-leading the very first Menotomy Bird Club outing in March 2003, he has led regular bird walks for the club in his current hometown of Carlisle. He enjoys hiking and generally exploring the natural world, particularly dragonflies and butterflies as well as birds.
Doors open at 6:30 for set up and social time and the meeting starts promptly at 7:00 PM.
Sunday, November 24
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, Winthrop
120 Banks Street, Winthrop 8:00 AM
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: Belle Isle Marsh is accessible by the Blue Line at the Suffolk Downs stop and has a large parking lot. Meet in the main parking lot by the bird feeders. The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing cge...@massaudubon.org and copying neil.c...@mac.com. Please note that participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to 30 people.
Sunday, December 1
Dunback Meadows, Lexington
Cliff Cook 8:00 AM - Noon
Join us as we explore the fields and paths of Dunback Meadows looking for wintering birds including raptors. As time permits, we may travel to nearby areas in Waltham, Lexington and Belmont depending on recent reports. Expect to walk about 3 miles on trails. Cosponsored with Brookline Bird Club. Meet at the Clark Middle School, at the end of Brookside Avenue. 8:00 AM – Noon Cliff Cook cco...@gmail.com
Sunday, December 8
Squantum Point Park, Quincy
MWRA Haul Road, Quincy 8:00 AM
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: We will park at the LEFT side entrance of the large parking lot off of MWRA Haul Rd. Do not be concerned if parts of the lot are closed with orange cones, the police frequently use the parking lot for training exercises. The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing cge...@massaudubon.org and copying neil.c...@mac.com. Please note that participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to 30 people.
Sunday, December 22
Millenium Park, Boston
300 Gardner Street, Boston 8:00 AM
Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. A Boston Nature Center naturalist will help us find and identify birds through field marks, sounds, and behaviors. Birders of all levels will enjoy these guided walks; beginning birders are encouraged to come! The trails are flat and easy to walk. This walk is co-sponsored with the Boston Nature center and the Brookline Bird Club. Meeting Place: Meet in the parking lot nearest the canoe launch. Once you arrive at the park, turn left and then you will very soon see a small sign at the first left turn labelled Canoe Launch. Follow that road to the end of the parking lot. The walk is free but all participants must pre-register by emailing cge...@massaudubon.org and copying neil.c...@mac.com. Please note that participants must be at least 13 years of age and this outing is limited to 30 people.
If you are interested in leading a trip, please reach out to
Alan Ankers, Renee LaFontaine or myself, the club would be so lucky to have you
lead.
Please continue to post your observations.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Paul Ippolito
Woburn