Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mount Auburn-Mothers Days May 10th

I went to Mount Auburn today and it was one of the most memorable places I have been to thus far. Mount Auburn is a cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has been designated a historical landmark and is recognized as one of the country's most significant cultural landscapes. In fact, it was one of the first large-scale designed landscapes open to the public. All of this means plenty of birds as Cambridge is right near Boston and migrating birds can't resist it's lush green landscape and fresh bodies of water.



Anyhow, onto the good stuff. The photos above and below are that of a Blackburnian Warbler. LIFER! Such a gorgeous little bird and is now my new favorite little bird for the month of May.


Check out that vivid orange on its head.


Great Horned Owl. LIFER!! It was sleeping within a pine tree as various people from bird clubs oogled it with their binoculars and cameras. It seemed to be used to the attention as it didn't even stir.

Cape-may Warbler. LIFER!!! Word got out across the cemetery that there was a Cape-may in the area and people from all over went looking for it. It was very cool to be in a place with people who get as excited about birds as you do. You don't feel like a freak when you are around fellow freaks. It makes you feel normal which is nice for a change.

A Wilson's Warbler. LIFER. Boy was this one hard to get. I was a little tired at this point due to neck pain and semi-back bends trying to get pictures of birds perched high on the tree tops. This one was down below in the rhododendrons as approx 15 people all tried to get a look at it. It would tease us on occasion to our delight and then pop back down to our demise.
Bay-breasted warbler. LIFER!!! Again, another warbler we heard was around from word of mouth. Various bird clubs stalked this bird the way teeny boppers stalked Elvis in his prime. The bird seemed oblivious to it as it went about its business. I have come to the conclusion that many birds must think of humans as strange beings. I bet they can't wait to hit the road again to escape the wacky people who look at them through strange scopes, lenses and other things.


A butt shot of an Eastern Kingbird. I took over 20o hundred pictures and don't even remember taking this one. It came out good considering that fact. Maybe I should just take all of my pictures that way and maybe they will come out better. ;o)

Check this one out folks. If you are sensitive to the hanky panky than I suggest you close your eyes as you scroll on down to the next picture. Here are two Baltimore Orioles copulating! HA! Everyone was excited to see this except for the two above who were a little annoyed to have an audience during such an intimate time. The male finally flew off to a more disclosed location and waited for the female to follow suit.




An oh so sweet picture of a Wood Thrush. Look at that face. Such a pretty bird with a pretty song to go with it.


Finally some pictures of the cemetery itself. A little chapel located within Mount Auburn


And the gardens nest to the chapel. Seriously if you are ever in Boston on business you HAVE to check this place out as it is a wonderful place. If you go in May to mid-June, you will NOT be disappointed.


Peace all and get out there and bird.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a lovely place for birds, architecture and flowers. What a day you had. I have no doubt that you are tired! Thanks for sharing.

A Scattering said...

Wow, you're doing great with your Life List. The combination of birds and architecture must have been wonderful.

Helen said...

You got a see a lot of different birds and took some beautiful pictures today. Helen

Rick (Ratty) said...

I like watching for wildlife in a cemetery. When I was a kid cemeteries were the only place around to find forests and a lot of trees.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

FANTASTIC pictures- even the hanky panky!!

Ruth said...

You are really seeing a lot of birds! I love that last picture too.

Dawn Fine said...

Kim,
Sooo coool you saw some great birdies! and you took photos of them..
I have been trying for two #%%^ days to take a photo of a Magnolia Warbler...no luck ...geeze
Whats your secret?
We will be in MAss the beginning of June..will head over to Mt. Auburn then.

Kelly said...

...such beautiful birds. I love the Blackburnians, and your photos are terrific. I get that horrible "warbler neck" too. At the end of a trip, I'm often holding my head in one hand and looking through the binocs in the other. I'm sure that's a sight to see! It's great you have such a nice group of birders to hunt with!

Vickie said...

Looks like you had a terrific day! Great images and what a lovely place to visit.

John B. said...

I like the Blackburnian Warbler tossing its head back. So cute!

Amy said...

Hey Kim, I'm so far behind reading my favorite blogs from having company this week, I finally caught up with yours! Congrats on 100 (and many more now!) lifers. Your shots of warblers are awesome, how do you do it?! Love your new profile pic too. And I loooove your new mantra! I've been stuck working this weekend since company left. Hopefully I'll be able to get out and bird later this week. :)

Jayne said...

What a gorgeous place Kim, and what a stunning variety of birds you saw. I am so greeeen!

Unknown said...

The sheer number of birds visiting you is amazing, you may want to consider buying a telephoto lens

Kim said...

Thanks all. Believe me taking pictures of the warblers is very difficult. It takes a lot of patience which is something I normally lack.

T&S, I am thinking about getting a telephoto lense I just don't know what kind yet as it is all so confusing for me. It will make picture taking so much easier I hope.

Mary said...

This is a wonderful place! So nice to see all that life in a place that celebrates death. Great bird shots and so many lifers! Pretty soon you will have to go to other parts of the country to find something you haven't seen yet :-)

Christopher said...

I just KNEW you were going to love Mt. Auburn. It really is a beautiful place any time of the year, and in May it is simply crawling with birds (and birders).
You got some great shots too - very jealous that you saw the Cape May and Blackburnian Warblers close enough to get photos! (Usually when I see them, they are so far away it's not even worth picking up the camera) I'm so glad you had such a great day!

Shelley said...

There is so many beautiful places in your area - so glad you are showing us your town! I've always wanted to visit Boston. Loved your warbler photos! Lol on the Oriole hanky panky! Hopefully there are babies for you to photograph in the near future!

Deborah Godin said...

Blackburnian's are a fave of mine. I wonder what that little guy was checking out - fat bug for lunch? or maybe the orioles...tsk, tsk!

MaineBirder said...

From one birding freak to another... Excellent photos and congrats on the lifers!

Your life list is growing by leaps and bounds!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow Kim.... You have had a fabulous bird week.. You are WAY over 100 now I'm sure!!!! I have missed reading blogs this past week---and hope I can find time to catch up...

Love seeing all of your Warblers... I've never seen any of them...

Hugs,
Betsy

Ginnymo said...

Great shots of the birds. I guess that owl has learned to tune out people..Ha! Great shot of the Orioles too!! Ha! Ha! I'm hoping to see a Warbler someday.

Alan Pulley said...

Great series of photos Kim! Several of those birds would be lifers for me as well. Congrats!!

FAB said...

Gosh Kim, I've just caught up with your last few posts. Lifers stacking up day by day, 'hanky panky' plus lots of good photos. Well done, but don't burn out!
Lol FAB

Chuck Dilmore said...

you continue to
blow
my
mind!

incredible photographs!
thank you for sharing!
Chuck

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