Date: 2/1/26 10:40 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Pleasure Bay, South Boston shorebirds
Folks,
John Edmondson and I led a hardy group of birders around Castle Island and Pleasure Bay, South Boston, yesterday. Temperatures were in the teens but the wind was relatively mild so overall conditions were decent. There was great light and excellent birding to be had. The highlight was, of course, the Snowy Owl on top of the Castle. But encountering three species of shorebirds, particularly 25 Purple Sandpipers - a relatively high count for this location - with the snow and ice and cold temperatures was a blast too.
If you're curious about where the shorebirds are (usually), here are some hints:
Purples are usually near the beginning of the causeway around Pleasure Bay (starting near the Castle). Yesterday they kept coming back to a pebbly beach on the left (open bay) side of the causeway. Sometimes they perched on the rocks near the first sluiceway.
The Sanderling was on the same pebbly patch.
Dunlins typically, nearly always, roost on the rocks on the outer side of the causeway near the Sugarbowl - that is the structure halfway out on the causeway. They were not easy to see due to the ice and snow.
Thanks to John for maintaining the list. If you were on the trip, use this link to share yesterday's list:
Castle Island and Pleasure Bay, Suffolk, Massachusetts, US
Jan 31, 2026 9:04 AM - 11:04 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.059 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: BBC trip. Forgot to count. about 10 plus two leaders. Very cold. Wind was moderate but created biting wind chill becasue it was about 10F and less at the start. Sunny.
Pine Warbler 1 Pic may be coming. ID'd carefully. That certain citrus yellow that only Pine Warnlers have. Strong contrast between darker cheeks and yellow throat.
