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The Cape Cod Connection
At The Bird Feeder
Go directly to the Observation Logs
Old Backyard Feeder Logs are kept here.
The longer Trip Reports now have their own page.
Here is my Life List, a list of bird species that I have identified.
Local Spots for Birding in Harwich. 
Here is a collection of the latest postings to the Birdchat - East email list, for your perusal.
Here is the Hypermail version of the BIRDEAST Mailing List.
Check here for the latest Massachusetts Regional Rare Bird Alerts 
A Little Background
 Wooden Box Feeder | I thought I'd keep track of what is going on at the bird feeder's outside my kitchen window. May not be rare and unusual sightings, but for those of us who are not able to get out much, tending the yard feeders can provide hours of entertainment. Birds are amusing to watch and the interest becomes an education as you learn to identify the various birds and sometimes the individuals themselves. They fill the yard with their songs and calls. I find that the distraction can be an important way to relieve stress. It certainly helps me maintain a healthy perspective. Similar to the grounded feeling you can get by listening to the surf, or watching a sunrise over the mountains. |
| Our yard is about a mile from the coast of Harwich, Nantucket Sound, in a residential area that is adjacent to the town golf course. Mostly what I observe are species that prefer meadows and fields, thickets and scrubby growth, and forests, and the ubiquitous suburban species. This summer we had a pair of house wrens start a family in a hanging planter on the porch. Although a cowbird tried to usurp the parenting efforts of our wrens (a story for another time), four babies fledged before the end of August. A pair of cardinals has been returning to the arborvitae for five years now. I have never been able to observe if they are successful at raising a brood. And they do not seem to winter over. Down the road, there are several small kettle ponds that attract red-winged blackbirds. They can be spotted and their calls heard throughout the spring and summer. Since our brush fire destroyed part of the fence, I'm wondering if the coveys of bobwhites that used to wander into the yard will return through the now open space. |  Me and Fuzzy, our cat, and an extra hand |
 Thistle Feeder | I have seven feeders at present. Three are currently are filled with general birdseed mix. This contains black oil and striped sunflower seeds, sunflower and peanut hearts, cracked corn, and white millet. One is segmented with a squirrel baffle hung in a scrub pine, another is a cedar box feeder in a scrub oak, and the third is a tube feeder on a pole. We also have an open tray feeder on a pole now, with general seed mix, bread cubes, some thistle, and fruit pieces as the mood moves me. A thistle feeder is hung up high in the oak. I also hang a bag of thistle seed. It looks like an onion bag, only the holes are smaller. One small plastic feeder attaches to the window with suction cups. This has black oil sunflower seeds in it, and is favored by the Chickadees and Titmice. I have plans to hang a stick feeder with marvel mix in it soon. This is a recipe in Terres' book, Songbirds in Your Garden. |  Open Tray Feeder |
 Baffle Feeder | We don't have too much of a problem with squirrels down here. I think the Cape in general is spared the trials of many pest squirrels. When we lived near New York City, I remember, there were squirrels everywhere. We seem to have one squirrel that occasionally muscles its way through the crowds of birds. It is very gymnastic and has learned to hang upside down by one leg to get the seed from under the squirrel baffle. But it really isn't much of a problem. He/she doesn't seem to eat all that much, and spends most of his/her time elsewhere. Recently, I have noticed two red squirrels, and a few chipmunks have found the seed that spills to the ground. |
I have created a Life List, a list of bird species that I have identified. This is an interesting way to recognize my own progress as I enjoy this new hobby. It can also be a personal game, which challenges us to seek out more and more bird species to add to the list. There is a lot of disagreement in the "Bird World" over whether this is a valuable activity. Some birders can get very ornery over those they consider less serious. I think that if an activity brings you to a better appreciation of the natural world, with a little more respect for our fellow global inhabitants, then it is worthwhile. I was sort of a listless lister, until I really started doing it right. And I have to say it gave me a sense of accomplishment to look at all the species I've seen in the last two months. Sort of like making a To-Do list and putting things down just so you can cross them off. Whatever makes your motor humm.
Here in Harwich, we have a beautiful conservation area, called the West Harwich Conservation Area, or Bells Neck. The Herring River runs through this and acts as a watershed. This is a place that will knock your socks off. You can take a canoe down the river, paddle around the tufts of marshgrass that form little islands all through the river, stop at one and have a picnic lunch, explore the shoreline, press on into the wooded areas. Pretty endless amount of stuff to do. There are two reservoirs here, the East and West. The East is shallow and can be hard to get around in. The mud flats in the middle can be good spots for sightings. Since this is the migration season, there should be ducks. You can also hear rails along the edge of the reservoir in the fall and winter.
Muddy Creek is another good place for birding in Harwich. You can visit this site in winter and find snipes, herons, etc. Many wintering waterfowl choose this place, probably because it stays unfrozen due to the springs.
We also have Long Pond, Hinckleys Pond and Seymour Pond, which run one after the other and are bordered by the Rail Trail, the bicycle path. They are easily accessible and viewable from a variety of places. These are good places to check out the winter duck population.
Hawksnest is a state conservation area that includes a woodland and several ponds. This is more difficult to traverse since it is largely undeveloped, but provides a challenge and good birding opportunities. It is a good area for horned and screech owls.
If you're new to birdwatching, you might want to visit with Chuck Seggelin. He has a lot of basic information helpful to those beginning this fascinating hobby. Also, check out my other links to information of relevance to birdwatchers.
Here's a log of my reports. Only a couple of days are kept here.
Observations made prior to the ones above are saved on a separate page of older daily logs.
The longer Trip Reports now have their own page.
Here is my Life List, a list of bird species that I have identified.
Here is a collection of the latest postings to the Birdchat - East email list, for your perusal.
Here is the Hypermail version of the BIRDEAST Mailing List.
Check here for the latest Massachusetts Regional Rare Bird Alerts
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