Tag Archives: Cape Cod Birding

Gorgeous Northern Bobwhite At Fort Hill On Cape Cod!

It’s amazing how, so often, you just happen to be at the right place at the right time. I was hiking at Fort Hill on Friday and decided to hang out a bit at Hemenway Landing taking some photographs of the horseshoe crabs mating near the shore. It was pretty cool. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

And then, as I walked up the trail, I heard a distinct call of “Bob-white! Bob-white!” I knew there was a Bobwhite nearby. But where? I quietly looked about the brush and trees and then found him on a branch overlooking Nauset Marsh. He was only about 15-20 feet from me and he hadn’t seen me yet. I quietly clicked away and got some amazing photos.

I’ve only seen the Bobwhite 3 times since we moved here 6 years ago, so it was a big treat. If I hadn’t stopped to check out those horseshoe crabs, I might have missed this elusive bird.

Just happy that… I was at the right place at the right time! Gorgeous bird, don’t you think?

The Red-Winged Blackbirds Love Our Feeders On Cape Cod!

We were so surprised last spring to see the Red-winged Blackbirds come into our yard and eat from the bird feeders. I always thought that they only lived by the water and the marsh. I had no idea they frequented people’s yards. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

They always give a call from a nearby tree to let us know that they are coming by. It is really cool. I love their call, “Conk-a-ree!” It is so distinctive. Have you ever heard their call?

The female Red-winged Blackbird is totally different in her coloring, as you can see in this photo of her at the feeder. Isn’t she gorgeous?

Colorful Wood Duck At Beech Forest Trail In Provincetown On Cape Cod.

I have only seen a Wood Duck once before in Florida many, many years ago, so it was a big treat to see a male and a female on the pond by the Beech Forest Trail. What a gorgeous bird! Love the reflection of his beautiful head in the water. (Click on blog link for other photo.)

You can see such a dramatic difference in coloring of the female in the 2nd photograph. It was hard to get a decent photograph as she blended in with the pond colors and lily pads so well.

Have you ever seen a Wood Duck? So stunning!

The American Oystercatchers Are Back On Cape Cod!

It was such a  treat to see two American Oystercatchers at Hemenway Landing yesterday afternoon. We had never seen them there before and these were the first ones we’ve seen this season. They are such a distinctive bird with their black hood, yellow eyes  and long, bright orange, needle-shaped bill. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

We watched for a while as they dug around in the sand for “oysters” and other mollusks. They used their bill as a little jackhammer to dig up the sand and then open the mollusks, which you can see in the 2nd and 3rd photographs. They were pretty far away but it was really fun to watch!

Have you ever seen an Oystercatcher? Such a cool shorebird!