On April 30, 2026, I went for a walk in Winston Woods. The weather was cold and overcast with only very tiny breaks in the clouds. I went extra slowly through the apparently empty woods trying to see if there were any warmer pockets and what might be skulking there. Sure enough, along the Plymouth Road side of the trail, I finally found some birds (and squirrels)((and chipmunks.))
Northern Waterthrush Is Another First for the Winston Woods Park List
I have been deliberately trying to list the birds that visit Winston Woods park no matter how briefly. I use eBird and if I can get a clear photo I also report on iNaturalist. I am concerned that this tiny parkette, so popular with the people who work in the factories and warehouses surrounding it, might get rezoned some day and lost forever. I hope my lists might help make a case to preserve this tiny but useful remnant of Shagbark Hickory and Red Maple forest.
This week, I found another ‘first’ to add to my list: a Northern Waterthrush teetered into view a few days ago. These birds look like theiy are wagging their tail although it’s more of their body than that. I found this bird again today and was able to get a clearer photo.
There isn’t always standing water at Winston Woods in the spring. These ephemeral pools only appear after a winter with a decent amount of snow and some spring rains. They are very appealing to migrants, though, like this Waterthrush. I watched it eat three ‘worms’ each at least 3 inches long within one minute. It plucked them all out from among the flooded leaves.
Palm Warbler Seeks Warmth in Winston Woods–and Snacks
Today at least one and possibly two Palm Warblers were hunting along the ground. It was a cold day and not many aerial insects were up, even at 3 pm. It seemed to be finding lots of snacks at this lower level luckily.
One advantage of the cold and gloom was only one other person walked the loop while I was there. He very kindly waited till I took some photos of the Palm before passing. Thank you!
Other Birds Also Hunted Hard On the Chilly Afternoon in Winston Woods
I did not get good photos but I did see some other birds today. A male Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet and a Red-Breasted Nuthatch were all up in the canopy. A Downy Woodpecker checked out the fallen logs. A Hermit Thrush and several American Robins were puffed up but seemed fine. And a large dispersed flock of White-throated Sparrows were kicking up leaves and calling. One even sang occasionally about Sweet Canada.
I had not expected to see much more than the Triliiums, Trout Lilies, and Spring Beauties on my walk today. It turned out to be a great one!
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