Date: 1/6/26 1:59 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 1/6 Rip-Roaring Raucous Raptors at Castle Island
I had a rapturous day at Castle Island from 1:30-4:00 today !
Common Loon 4+ Brant 28 Long-tailed Duck 1 in Pleasure Bay (us old-timers used to call it the "Sugar Bowl") Common Eider 120 Northern Harrier 1 seen over Logan Airport from the fish pier Rough-legged Hawk 2 ditto Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 perched on giant crucifix atop the fort Peregrine Falcon 1 watched as it landed on the giant crane closest to parking lot Purple Sandpiper 16 good numbers for here (at least in the last few years) Dunlin 20 beautiful; with the smaller of the two Purple Sandpiper groups (at first cut)
Date: 1/6/26 9:26 am From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 1/4 Coastal Raptors at Belle Isle and Revere Beach
I birded Belle Isle Marsh from 10:15-2:15. From thence, I went to Revere Beach in hopes of finding the rare warbler. No warbler, but I did get a pair of Peregrines on the roof of the tallest condo building!
Great Blue Heron 1 Brant 5 Revere Beach Green-winged Teal 1 Gadwall 2 American Black Duck 100 estimate Hooded Merganser 2 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 See Above Mourning Dove 14+ Downy Woodpecker 6 all but one at marsh Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 edge of marsh near former New England Casket Company American Tree Sparrow 9+ American Goldfinch 24+ House Finch 10+
Date: 1/2/26 1:29 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 1/1 Barrow's Goldeneye at Castle Island
I found an adult Barrow's Goldeneye out from the Korean War monument. This was at 2:00 p.m. This spot is where this species has been seen frequently over the years
Common Loon 1 fishing pier Red-throated Loon 1 fishing pier Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Long-tailed Duck 5 mostly near fishing pier Purple Sandpiper 5 usual spot near the first cut along the causeway, left side. Not far from the parking lot
Date: 1/2/26 1:22 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 1/2 Longspur, Pipits and Snow Buntings in Deer Island
There was a Lapland Longspur all alone today near the Deer Island parking lot. It was near four American Pipits at their almost annual spot . Unless noted, all birds were at Deer Island.,
Common Loon 1 Brant 75 Hooded Merganser 7 Crystal Cove Common Eider 600 wild guess; mostly at their usual winter spot scaup sp. 10 Winthrop Beach out beyond The Sisters Red-tailed Hawk 1 Winthrop Beach accipiter sp. 1 Crystal Cove Common Raven 2 Deer Island American Pipit 4 usual almost annual spot near the parking lot Snow Bunting 3 including two Winthrop Beach LAPLAND LONGSPUR 1 See Above
Date: 12/30/25 4:55 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 12/29 Barred Owl at Brookline Public Library
Last night, a man asked me if I saw the owl fly right by. The man had exited the library right behind me. I said no, but then said it is probably in one of the trees in the adjacent park with the Civil War monument in it. Sure enough, there was the Barred Owl in one of those trees! Perhaps the owl wanted to gain some more wisdom from the library and overshot the entrance?
Date: 12/17/25 5:37 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 12/17 Newton Birdapalooza Red-shouldered Hawk, Etc.
10:40-5:00, with minimal breaks. I started at Houghton Garden, then the Deer Park, then Webster Conservation Area, then Hammond Pond Reservation, then Webster Park, then Norumbega Conservation Area, then Charkes River Reservation, then the old Rumford St. landfill, and finally, Flowed Meadow Conservation Area. Highlights only:
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 imm.; seen along Hammond Pond Parkway at entrance to trail that drops down to woods
Red-tailed Hawk 4 maximum; two at edge of landfill in tree
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4 max. Deer Park
Common Raven 1 Deer Park and train station
Brown Creeper 2
Carolina Wren 4
Swamp Sparrow 3 Flowed Meadow at dusk
American Tree Sparrow 2 ditto
White-throated Sparrow 9 three+two+four
Dark-eyed Junco 23 spread out
House Finch 41 twenty Deer P., twenty-one Webster Park in dense brush in back
American Goldfinch 15
Date: 12/15/25 4:36 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 12/15 Chestnut Hill Reservoir Highlights
About two-thirds of the water is still open. I birded from 2:00-3:30
Mute Swan 4 Canada Goose 130 Common Merganser 25 Ruddy Duck 1 Red=tailed Hawk 4 Mourning Dove 26 not a typo Common Raven 2 Brookline Village Station Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Dark-eyed Junco 6
Date: 12/14/25 1:30 pm From: 'Paul Peterson' via Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Subject: [BostonBirds] 12/14 Entire Length of Muddy River Highlights
I birded along the entire length of the Muddy River today from 1:00-3:30:
Great Blue Heron 2 Hooded Merganser 8 Ring-necked Duck 1 Riverway Red-tailed Hawk 2 minimum Fenway Cooper's Hawk 2 adult and juvenile Fenway Common Raven 1 Victory Gardens flyover, calling Cedar Waxwing 4 Nice; eating berries war memorial area
