Tuesday, October 25, 2011

MA - North American Porcupines - 10/23




North American Porcupines - Warwick State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2011.

On Sunday we enjoyed a family walk along the lower slopes of Mount Grace in Warwick. The trail
we chose, actually part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, was rather quiet bird-wise but got a little more exciting when we came across not one, not two, but three porcupines all feeding in the same Eastern Hemlock! Two of them even got into a confrontational dispute resulting in some very weird, eerie squeals ringing around the forest. Close by, a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker fed during the whole time completely unconcerned as we clambered through the undergrowth to get better views of the porcupines. Perhaps it's just coincidence but I can recall at least two other ocassions where I've found sapsuckers feeding close to porcupines. Both of those sightings came from the Prescott Peninsula in the Quabbin watershed.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - juvenile, Warwick State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2011.


Foliage along the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail.


JPS.

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