Date: 10/27/26 9:34 am From: Soheil Zendeh <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday, November 8 at 9 am; report for October 25 walk
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is scheduled for Sunday, November 8 at 9 am. Details at the end of this email.
The Bear Creek walk on October 25 was attended by approximately 15 people who enjoyed the gorgeous conditions and pleasant temperatures. Highlight birds consisted of a female Northern Harrier, 2 American Kestrels, a few fly-by Horned Larks (many more should be arriving soon), 57 American Pipits, and an incredibly difficult-to-see Lapland Longspur. The latter was initially noted by its flight calls, then refound, miraculously, in dense grass.
Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US
Oct 25, 2026 8:44 AM - 12:23 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.58 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Public walk led by Geoff Wilson and Soheil Zendeh.
☀️
Clear sky
Temperature: 46 - 60°F
Wind: Light breeze
Wind Direction: W - E
Cloud Cover: 0%
Humidity: 44 - 61%
Sunrise: 7:08am
Sunset: 5:47pm
Weather generated by <a href="https://raincrow.app/">RainCrow</a> 45 bird species
Canada Goose 7
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 1
American Black Duck 4
Surf Scoter 5
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 6
Semipalmated Plover 1
Wilson's Snipe 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
American Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Red-throated Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 190
Great Egret 5
Great Blue Heron 11
Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 2
American Kestrel 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 7
Common Raven 1
Horned Lark 6
Tree Swallow 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
European Starling 210
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 5
House Sparrow 2
American Pipit 57
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 15
Lapland Longspur 1
White-throated Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow (Common) 75
Song Sparrow 13
Swamp Sparrow 2
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Common) 8
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 2
Northern Cardinal 3
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on November 8:
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...><mailto:<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:
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.
