On Sun, Feb 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM <sohzendeh...> wrote:
> 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:
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/email?subID=S297357234#share-checklist-form >
>
>
>
>
> 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.
>
> 26 bird species + one seal – undetermined species
>
>
>
> Brant 58
>
> Canada Goose 17
>
> American Black Duck 23
>
> Common Eider 53
>
> Surf Scoter 6
>
> White-winged Scoter 1
>
> Black Scoter 1
>
> Long-tailed Duck 2
>
> Bufflehead 4
>
> Common Goldeneye 10
>
> Red-breasted Merganser 18
>
> Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 15
>
> Sanderling 1
>
> Dunlin 27
>
> Purple Sandpiper 25 Careful count, multiple observers.
>
> Ring-billed Gull 3
>
> American Herring Gull 25
>
> Great Black-backed Gull 3
>
> Red-throated Loon 1
>
> Common Loon 2
>
> Cooper's Hawk 1
>
> Snowy Owl 1
>
> Horned Lark 7 definite ID, one small flock.
>
> Snow Bunting 9
>
> Song Sparrow 1
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297357234 >
>
>
>
>
> Soheil Zendeh
>
> Littleton, MA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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