This afternoon a flock of 5+ (could easily have been 12 or more) Fox
Sparrows hanging out near the Long Branch Nature Center building, mostly in
the small stream valley that runs upstream (north) from the parking lot
side of the building. I'm used to just seeing the occasional onesy Fox
Sparrow come through my back yard, so it was fun to see these.
Not bird-related, but the Wood Frogs have been busy at Willow Pond along
the access road to the building, and there are 30-ish fresh egg masses in
the water. A few Spotted Salamanders have been seen as well. What is
bird-related is that the Red-shouldered Hawks seem to be staking out the
pond with amphibian meals in mind.
Cheers,
Steve Young, Arlington
