Date: 3/9/25 6:52 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] March 9, 2025 - Windy day at Parker River (Newburyport) - Several bald eagle, tons of Brant. Good day for "big birds"
We had a Brookline Bird Club Walk today at Parker River; yesterday I was
hopeful as the forecast called for lower winds. That did not turn out to
be true, at all. The winds were fairly blistering for most of the trip any
time we got near the water. Most passerines kept low, and this ended up
being a “large bird” trip, which is fine. The stars of the day were the
bald eagles; we had a couple juveniles and at least three adults. At one
point, at the end of the Marsh Spur, we got to watch as a couple juves and
an adult took some thermal up like a staircase, eventually passing directly
overhead. We had some new birders in the group, and hopefully that moment
was enough to keep them around. Watching the eagles, which were not
particularly fond of each other’s presences, circle overhead kind of took
everyone’s mind off the winds. Some other highlights included a pair of
ravens that were heckling the bald eagles, and some snow buntings, which
flew erratically, looking like giant snowflakes in squall. Later on, we
had brief looks at a rough-legged hawk, and then at lot 7 there were a few
brant…then we noticed some more…and then more, and more. We had a few
dozen floating around by the rocks, and down towards the rocks at lot 8.
The water was filled with the usual folks, eider, bufflehead, a loon or
two, all three scoter, some grebe. Lastly, down at the shore, one of the
group members had gone down to get a look at the surf, and right there in
front were some dunlin, so we all went down and watched them scurry about.
It was a really nice group of folks, and a really nice day of birding,
despite the wind that bordered on horrendous. Thanks as always to the
Brookline Bird Club for the opportunity to lead walks. I had never thought
of doing something like this before a few years ago, I highly encourage
everyone to give it a shot.
That's all for now,
Matt s.
Newton, NH
<Accipiter22...>
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Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Mar 9, 2025 9:01 AM - 1:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
9.43 mile(s)
34 species
Brant (Branta bernicla) 44
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 54
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 19
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 20
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 2
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 22
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 1
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) 11
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) 25
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 10
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 46
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 19
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 2
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 3
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 17
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 7
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) X
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 4
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 5
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) 1
Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 7
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) 7
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 7
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 7
Common Grackle (Bronzed) (Quiscalus quiscula versicolor) 16
