Date: 5/3/26 2:46 pm From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday, May 17 at 9 am; report for May 3 walk
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is on Sunday, May 17 at 9 am. Details for attending this walk are at the end of this email.
Note that this will be the last public walk of the season at this property due to the fact that the nests of ground-nesting birds will be scattered throughout the property during the spring and summer.
The highlight of the walk on May 3 was a brief sighting of Upland Sandpiper in flight. Once it flushed and landed, it could not be relocated but its gurgling call was heard. Other highlights were sightings of a plethora of Ospreys, most near or at nests, at least six American Kestrels which were often seen hovering in the breeze, and a single Eastern Meadowlark.
Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US
May 3, 2026 9:25 AM - 12:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.008 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Regular Bear Creek walk. Tide was low but rising. Cold northwest wind, occasional spitting rain.
33 bird species
Mallard 6
American Black Duck 3
Mourning Dove 4
Killdeer 2
Upland Sandpiper 1 Flushed from low grass at the north end of the fill. Tall, long-necked shorebird. barred neck, bill slightly longer than head.
American Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Snowy Egret 1
Great Egret 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 15 Some in the marsh, some appear to be migrating
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 6
American Crow 4
Barn Swallow 3
European Starling 100
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 3
American Robin 10
Cedar Waxwing 5
American Goldfinch 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 35
Song Sparrow 15
Bobolink 1
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Northern Yellow Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on May 17:
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.
