Date: 3/11/25 12:44 pm From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [BostonBirds] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday, March 16 at 9 am; report for March 9 walk
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is on Sunday, March 16 at 9 am. Details for attending this walk are at the end of this email.
The highlight of the walk on March 9 was sighting of 2 Short-eared Owls. Shorties have been scarce lately at the Sanctuary -- the last one we saw was in November. The birds we saw on Sunday could be migrants; or they could have been pushed up onto the landfill because of very high tides.
We had a frustrating series of encounters with a very large flock of "winter passerines": The usual Horned Larks (minimum 150); at least one Lapland Longspur (see Matt Clark's astonishing image of one in flight that I posted to the ebird report); and a pair of Eastern Meadowlarks which have been here all winter. I say "frustrating" because none of the birds sat long enough or close enough for study. But the wheeling, swirling flock was fun to watch.
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on March 16:
Bear Creek is an upland sanctuary built on the WINWaste (formerly Wheelabrator) landfill at the northeast corner of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and Revere. Access information is below. Wear waterproof walking shoes and be prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be prepared for sun, wind and weather.
This walk is free and open to the public, but also note that this property is accessible by invitation only and visitors need to be chaperoned at all times. Please allow roughly 4 hours for this field trip. The actual length of the trip depends on conditions and the birds present. It's usually difficult to break up the party if you need to be somewhere in the early afternoon. Come prepared to stay with the group.
WINWaste company has graciously stocked up on some extra pairs of binoculars, so if you or someone you know wants to learn about birds and birding, come on down. Please let Geoff Wilson <s2ary...> know you're coming so we can have a head count.
Bear Creek Sanctuary access is via the WINWaste plant, 100 Salem Turnpike (Rte 107), Saugus. The rotary at the intersection of Rtes 60 and 107 is about 1½ miles southwest of the plant and about 1 mile east of Rte 1 exit on Rte 60. When traveling northeast on 107, if you go over the Ballard Street bridge (just after a set of lights) you’ve gone too far — turn back. Here is a link to google maps:
http://tinyurl.com/326v87d.
When you arrive, drive through the plant gates, park in the parking lot immediately and wait for the group. Please do not drive farther into the property without an escort.
