Date: 10/6/25 9:55 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday October 19, 9 am; report for October 5 walk
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is on Sunday, October 19 at 9 am. Detail at the end of this email.
The walk on October 5 was attended by 8 people who were happy to stroll on a warm day in the fresh breeze off the water. The recent region-wide drought seems to have produced an enormous crop of seed-bearing brush and weeds; note the large number of sparrows, especially Savannahs, in the list below. Other than the seed-eaters, species counts were low.
Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US Oct 5, 2025 9:22 AM - 12:24 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.426 mile(s)
25 bird species
American Black Duck 5
Ring-billed Gull 1
American Herring Gull 190
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 162
Snowy Egret 3
Great Egret 3
Great Blue Heron 2
Osprey 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
European Starling 132
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Pipit 45
House Finch 1
Savannah Sparrow 100
Song Sparrow 30
Bobolink 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Blue Grosbeak 1 Blue-black feathers, large beak.
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on October 19:
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.
