We had great weather, enjoyed good company, and viewed a variety of birds on our annual spring migration bird walk at Minute Man National Historical Park on June 5, 2025.
Near the Hartwell Tavern parking lot, we had some lovely views of both the male and female American Redstart. This warbler is a less common breeder in Massachusetts and is always a treat to see in nesting season. Redstarts are nesting at several spots in the Park, and we heard the male of a second pair declaring his territory near the Hartwell Tavern.
The area near the Hartwell Tavern was busy with several birds, including a Red-eyed Vireo family, Cedar Waxwings, Baltimore Orioles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Chipping Sparrows. We also heard the nasal call of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
We spotted not one but two active Baltimore Oriole nests! We all enjoyed watching both the male and the female actively attend to the young, and listening to the begging calls of the baby birds in their handsome woven nest.
As we approached the Elm Brook Hill battlefield, a sweet, emphatic song could be heard in the trees – an Indigo Bunting! These birds prefer to nest in habitats along field edges, and there are several pairs in this area this year.
We looked for, but did not find the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, rare eastern Massachusetts breeders, which have returned to the Park for the third year. Our efforts were rewarded near the vernal pool where we used our audio birding skills to listen to the burry song of the Scarlet Tanager, the strident call of the Hairy Woodpecker, and the beautiful flute-like song of the Wood Thrush.
To view the full list of birds viewed, please visit our eBird checklist. We look forward to seeing you at a future bird walk at Minute Man! Check our events page for updated listings.
Image above, clockwise, left to right: Our birding group at the Hartwell Tavern by Kathleen D. Fahey, a Baltimore Oriole and fledgling White-breasted Nuthatch by Lily Dong.
Written by Kathy Dia, our bird walk guide. Kathy leads bird programs for Mass Audubon and the Brookline Bird Club. She is a volunteer monitor for the Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at Minute Man National Historical Park.
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Baltimore Oriole nest-feeding. Photo by Lily Dong.
American Redstart. Photo by Lily Dong.