Date: 3/25/25 7:30 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday, March 30 at 9 am; report for March 23 walk
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is on Sunday, March 30 at 9 am. Details for attending this walk are at the end of this email.
On a windy and chilly day, Cammy Kaynor was the list keeper for the March 23 walk. If you want the ebird list shared, click on this link:
https://ebird.org/mychecklists?<subID...>&s=t
Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US Mar 23, 2025 9:31 AM - 11:42 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.288 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Very windy and chilly. Consequently, bird numbers were at a minimum. Although it was above freezing (~40oF) the puddles still had ice from last night.
20 bird species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 12
American Black Duck 3
Green-winged Teal 5
Bufflehead 3
Red-breasted Merganser 6
duck sp. 20 Likely Scoters, Goldeneyes, Eider, and Common Loons. Nobody had a scope for more refined viewing so the majority of fowl in the river and estuary went unidentified.
Mourning Dove 4
Killdeer 5
Ring-billed Gull 3
American Herring Gull 45
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Crow 1
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 15
White-throated Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 25
new world sparrow sp. 4 2 were possibly Chipping Sparrows. Reddish cap, un marked breast, small size, etc... but I cannot rule out Field Sparrow or maybe a Tree Sparrow with weak breast spot. If someone got a reasonable photo we can edit the listing.
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 5
Northern Cardinal 2
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on March 30:
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.
