Date: 8/20/17 8:42 pm From: Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Nighthawk
I heard nighthawks at dusk in Mount Auburn Cemetery on August 11 and August
17, while out doing bat survey work. On August 11 it sounded like a single
individual, but on the 17th there may have been two or three calling.
Regina Harrison
Woburn, MA
<onebirdlife...>
On Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 9:16 PM, Josh <opihi...> wrote:
> Doug and all - MassBird has not had many (any?) nighthawk reports yet, but
> Western Mass Birders has had plenty over the past week. Maybe it’s an
> east-west thing. I think the first report of more than 1 or 2 birds was
> Dave McClain’s report of 25 or so over Arcadia MAS about a week ago. He
> managed a nice photo that showed 7 of them in one frame. There have been 2
> or 3 more reports of 20+ birds, and a scattering of smaller groups, since
> then, mostly from west of the CT River.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Josh
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
> http://bugguide.net/user/view > https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
>
I copy an ebird report which shows a Bar-tailed Godwit which did not show up in ebird alerts; I discovered this when Long-tailed Jaeger was on the alert and I clicked on the report. Click on the link and see the images.
Interestingly we had an unidentified godwit which flew by us at Tern Island in Chatham in the glare of the sun and could not properly ID it. We saw it from great distance later and could not properly ID to species. I had put this into ebird as a godwit sp and commented to the person who saw it best it is probably a Hudsonian but we could not rule out Bar- and Black-tailed Godwit (Marbled would be larger than the comparison with the Short-billed Dowitchers which it was flying near).
On this trip several of us were discussing why reports/records such as these (we were discussing Sharp-shinned Hawk from SE MA) can be hidden by ebird management; if Marshall would be so kind to let us know why the godwit did not show up on the same alert as the jaeger.
Likely this is the same bird seen a couple of month's ago.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Rod Chase
Observers:
Visitors: Don Richardson from Spencer biked up and stayed for intro to the hawkwatch mission and 1st time hiker Tracy from Ellington, CT stayed longer than I. Daily hikers Frannie and Dennis checked in to say hi.
Weather: 15C/59F at start with light west wind 0-5kph/0-3mph. Light cirrus clouds over 75% of sky all day though the sun went thru to heat the earth with no problem. Vis. 50 mi though Mt. Greylock visible thru haze all day. >From 10am-12pm wind was NW 8-13kph/5-8mph and produced the only action of the day before dying gown and going back to W. Temps: steady rise thru morning and 25C/77F at 1pm.
Raptor Observations: Expecting locals only but was blessed to total 4 migrants! 1 female SS, 9:55; 2 BW at 10:15; 1 OS at 11:30.
Locals: RT 6; TV 5
Non-raptor Observations: Ravens 5, Tree Swallows 8, Chimney Swifts 10.
The only "kettle" of the day provided by 5 gliders who were all up together and had at least doubled their altitude when I noticed them 30 minutes later. Great lift.
Predictions: Inclement. Showers predicted, esp. AM ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rod Chase (<rodchase...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: www.massbird.org/emhw
Had the Little Stint this afternoon (8/20) in Chatham, along with birders from Maine, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Florida! It was in a small flock of about 75 peeps - about 50 Semis and 25 Leasts. Other shorebirds in the general area included one Buff-breasted Sandpiper, numerous Semi and Black-bellied Plovers, and 1 Dowitcher.
Since it took me so long to try for this rarity, I had some problems looking for details on how/where/when to find this bird. In case others who still haven't seen the Stint might be having similar problems, hear are some details -
Location - Park at the Monomoy NWR headquarters facility at the end of Tisquantum Road in Chatham. Walk past the public rest rooms to a trail and boardwalk that takes you down the bluff to the beach.
Walk to the west about 1/2 mile to mudflats and sandflats that are exposed at lower tides. Today we had the bird west of a small creek that empties into the bay, at these approximate coordinates: 41.653976, -69.967491 Not sure if this is the area where it is usually seen. There is also a smaller amount of habitat a bit east of there, and we had a few shorebirds there too. This is all near the southern tip of Morris Island.
When - We arrived at 2 hours after high tide and there was virtually no habitat exposed. (We had to wade in ankle deep water to get there) The first habitat didn't show up until about 2 1/2 hours after high tide - or 3 hours before low tide. The bird was first spotted at 3 1/2 hours after high tide - or 2 hours before low tide. (Though the tide heights vary each day so this timing could vary)
Hope that helps others who may need some more details.
Mike Resch www.statebirding.blogspot.com Pepperell, MA
Doug and all - MassBird has not had many (any?) nighthawk reports yet, but Western Mass Birders has had plenty over the past week. Maybe it’s an east-west thing. I think the first report of more than 1 or 2 birds was Dave McClain’s report of 25 or so over Arcadia MAS about a week ago. He managed a nice photo that showed 7 of them in one frame. There have been 2 or 3 more reports of 20+ birds, and a scattering of smaller groups, since then, mostly from west of the CT River.
Mourning Warbler might be more "common" than that. I believe power line breaks in the northwestern part of the state has MOWA during the breeding season (Mark Lynch used to report these in the past; a person named Ron Rancatti also did a lot of work in that area-I have not heard from or of Ron in 20 or so years-also would report MOWA from these areas).
October Mt. may no longer be viable as the area(s) which were logged 15 or so years ago have grown up beyond MOWA liking and my recent trips (the last two years) have not encountered any during June. Any one with more visits might have more info regarding this.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
> On August 19, 2017 at 11:58 PM Josh <opihi...> wrote:
>
> Hi MassBirders,
>
> I’ve been in and out of town a lot lately, currently out. So I haven’t been around to see any birds, or to relay reports from the Western Mass Birders group on FaceBook to MassBird. It’s gotten very busy lately, with a flurry of reports of shorebirds, warblers, nighthawks, and waders. I’ll try to do a quick summary of the past few days, in vague order of general level of surprise:
>
>
> Another surprise, maybe the biggest of all: Larry Therrien has been detecting Mourning Warblers at Quabbin Park pretty much all summer long. On July 26 he observed a female carrying food. This past Wednesday, August 16, he observed an adult male in the company of a recent fledgling! I had told somebody recently that Mournings only bred at 2 locations in the state, October Mountain and Mount Greylock; looks like I might have to eat those words!
>
> Good birding,
>
> Josh
>
>
>
> Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
> Amherst, MA
> http://bugguide.net/user/view > https://www.facebook.com/opihi >
>
>
Date: 8/20/17 5:18 pm From: Jane Moosbruker <jamoos...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Nighthawks at the Oxbow
Saturday nights' watch on StillRiver Road above the Oxbow reservation was not in vain! Although a little early those with the best eyes saw 7 Nighthawks - Others saw 3 or 4. They were far out over the river and not migrating but feeding. The other show was large flocks of Bobolinks landing in the tall grass, then up and flying around, then landing , for 1/2 hour or so.
Date: 8/20/17 4:48 pm From: DOUGLAS E CHICKERING <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Nighthawk
Massbirders:
It's a tradition. In the second half of August I will wait until the shadows of the oncoming sunset place the deck in shade and then sit out on the deck looking for Nighthawks. This evening was the first evening I specifically started looking for them. The sky is high and there were Tree Swallows; not many, probably the fringes of the staging at Plum. I probably would let most of them pass notice but I wanted to see if there might be a Barn Swallow among them and of course one might turn out to be a Nighthawk. This is precisely what happened. I was picking out the various tree swallows at different altitudes when I came upon one that looked different. Into the field of vision of my binoculars and jackpot. My first Nighthawk of the fall. First of the year. I haven't seen any reports of Nighthawks this summer, but they could have escaped my notice. There are few things on this world that give me more joy than annual flight of Nighthawks over Lois' house. And becaus! e last year I never saw one I had sat down this evening with the slight sense of dread. Perhaps the annual flight of Nighthawks had come to an end. Imagine my relief to see that I had one on the first attempt. Hopefully more to come.
Date: 8/20/17 3:29 pm From: Johnathon Benson <johnathonl87...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Help with gull ID
Howdy birders!
Today I came across a gull that I am not comfortable with identifying. The subject bird is initially identified as a herring gull but there are some unusual characteristics that have me leaning elsewhere. If you would like to take a crack at it I'd be more than happy to send along pictures. I'm very hesitant on calling for a solid ID on this one without the opinion of other birders.
Date: 8/20/17 9:28 am From: Derek Brown <derekbrownbuild...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Essex Bay, Aug 19, 2017
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <ebird-checklist...> Date: Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 11:50 AM Subject: eBird Report - Essex Bay, Aug 19, 2017 To: <derekbrownbuild...>
Essex Bay, Essex, Massachusetts, US Aug 19, 2017 12:30 PM - 1:40 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Birded the spit on a falling tide, from 2.5 hrs following high tide 23 species
American Black Duck 5 Double-crested Cormorant 75 Great Egret 3 Snowy Egret 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Black-bellied Plover 57 Semipalmated Plover 140 Ruddy Turnstone 2 Red Knot 10 adults, waning plumage Stilt Sandpiper 1 Sanderling 21 Semipalmated Sandpiper 310 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 adults Greater Yellowlegs 2 Bonaparte's Gull 42 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Common Tern 2 Tree Swallow X Barn Swallow X
Date: 8/20/17 8:11 am From: Tom Brownrigg <brownriggs...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Olive-sided flycatcher, Carlisle
We saw an olive-sided flycatcher at Great Brook Farm State Park at about 9 AM this morning, not far from where the Acorn trail starts at Lowell St. Park at the ski barn area and take the trail across the street until you come to a boardwalk over a stream. The flycatcher was in tall dead trees in the wetland, and there was another smaller flycatcher with it, not identified, but maybe a phoebe. Note - there is a parking fee unless you have a pass.
I’ve been in and out of town a lot lately, currently out. So I haven’t been around to see any birds, or to relay reports from the Western Mass Birders group on FaceBook to MassBird. It’s gotten very busy lately, with a flurry of reports of shorebirds, warblers, nighthawks, and waders. I’ll try to do a quick summary of the past few days, in vague order of general level of surprise:
Yellow-throated Warbler - October Mountain, Wednesday, Gael Hurley
Dickcissel, Tennessee Warblers (2) - Fort River Trail, Hadley, Thursday, Larry Therrien
Connecticut Warbler - Arcadia MAS, Saturday, Larry Therrien
Wilson’s Phalarope - Longmeadow sandbar, Wednesday, Steve Motyl
American Golden-Plover, Stilt Sandpiper - Longmeadow sandbar, Friday, Dorrie Holmes
Blue-winged Teal - Hell’s Kitchen, Saturday, Eric Huston
Bonaparte’s Gulls (2) - Lake Pontoosuc, Friday, Jonathan Pierce
Cape May Warbler - Dufresne Park, Granby, Thursday, Devin & Aidan Griffiths
Wilson’s Warbler - Linear Park, Williamstown, Thursday, Chuck Johnson
Black-crowned Night Herons at Stockbridge (Jonathan Pierce, Saturday), Easthampton (Bob & Lura Bieda, Friday),
Common Nighthawks - flocks of 20+ Saturday evening over Pittsfield (Tom Collins) and Easthampton (Derek Allard). Dave McClain had about 25 over Arcadia MAS about a week ago. Several people have reported smaller numbers from various locations.
And I’m probably forgetting a few things, apologies if so...
Another surprise, maybe the biggest of all: Larry Therrien has been detecting Mourning Warblers at Quabbin Park pretty much all summer long. On July 26 he observed a female carrying food. This past Wednesday, August 16, he observed an adult male in the company of a recent fledgling! I had told somebody recently that Mournings only bred at 2 locations in the state, October Mountain and Mount Greylock; looks like I might have to eat those words!
Date: 8/19/17 1:11 pm From: David Swain <davidswain79...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Parker River NWR, Aug 19, 2017
Saturday, after seeing the Common Shelduck at Odiorne in NH, and the large roost of night herons across from St. Catherine's in Seabrook, Tim and I continued to Parker River NWR to see the Avocets and anything else that was around. Turns out there was a great deal to be seen.
In addition to the continuing Avocets at Stage Island, there were 2 Baird's and a lovely adult Lesser Black-backed at Stage, and a broad selection of shorebirds at Bill Forward, including turnstones, knots, stilts, a Dunlin, a single Long-billed Dowitcher, a single Wilson's Phalarope (thanks to Bob Murphy), and loads of the usual suspects. We had 4 Whimbrel fly over us, headed to Ipswich, while looking at a cooperative Least Bittern from the Hellcat Dike. And nice to see a Merlin in August, perched above the S-curves. List is below.
David and Tim Swain Concord, MA
Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US Aug 19, 2017 10:17 AM - 1:11 PM Protocol: Traveling 6.0 mile(s) 67 species
Canada Goose 8 Gadwall 1 BFP Mallard (Northern) 31 American Black Duck 22 Green-winged Teal (American) 1 BFP Wild Turkey 1 BFP blind Double-crested Cormorant 56 Least Bittern 1 NP from Hellcat dike. Great Blue Heron (Blue form) 6 Great Egret 20 Snowy Egret 65 Glossy Ibis 1 Pannes Osprey (carolinensis) 4 Northern Harrier 1 BFP American Avocet 2 *rare: Continuing birds at SIP. Seen from dike area on opposite side of pool, but disappeared in unknown direction at around 1130. Disappeared before we thought to take photos. Black-bellied Plover 35 Semipalmated Plover 350 Killdeer 3 Whimbrel (Hudsonian) 4 Flyover at Hellcat dike, flying towards Crane Beach or Sandy Point. Ruddy Turnstone 6 Red Knot 2 BFP Stilt Sandpiper 4 BFP Dunlin 1 BFP Baird's Sandpiper 2 *high: Darting in and out of grass on sandbank on far north side of SIP. Least Sandpiper 30 White-rumped Sandpiper 10 Semipalmated Sandpiper 750 Short-billed Dowitcher 60 Long-billed Dowitcher 1 Worn adult at BFP. Shape bulbous with large humpback. No golden spangling on scapulars and extensive maroon on underside. Wilson's Phalarope 1 Juv at BFP. Only seen briefly before disappearing; very light overall with faint eyeline and cap. Very thin bill, smaller than a nearby LEYE. Greater Yellowlegs 10 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Ring-billed Gull 3 Herring Gull (American) 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Adult at SIP. Great Black-backed Gull 2 Least Tern 6 BFP. Juvs giving SAPH-like calls. Mourning Dove 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Merlin (Taiga) 1 S-Curves Peregrine Falcon (North American) 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 9 Blue Jay 5 Purple Martin 2 Tree Swallow 12000 Conservative estimate Bank Swallow 1 SIP Barn Swallow (American) 25 Black-capped Chickadee 4 House Wren 1 Pannes American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 5 Brown Thrasher 1 S-Curves Northern Mockingbird 2 European Starling 120 Cedar Waxwing 7 Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow Warbler (Northern) 2 Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica) 6 Eastern Towhee 7 Northern Cardinal 2 Bobolink 2 Baltimore Oriole 2 Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 4 Common Grackle (Bronzed) 2 American Goldfinch 6 House Sparrow 5
Date: 8/19/17 4:33 am From: sean riley <newburyowls...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Marbled Godwit Snake Island Winthrop
Today during our DCR canoe trip out to Snake Island we had a Marbled Godwit out on the Island. The only other birds out on the Island were 2 Willets, and about 15 American Oystercatchers.
The bird appeared very dark from the water (due to today's lighting), but after some consulting with Soheil who was not convinced of my initial assessment of Hudsonian, and after reviewing photos back home, he was indeed right with Marbled Godwit. Great Bird, perhaps it will fly over to Belle Isle for our birding walk tomorrow ! Program starts at 8am unless there is heavy rain.
Date: 8/19/17 4:33 am From: Mark Daley <mbkm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Little Stint Continues 8/18
Massbirders,
The Little Stint was seen, albeit very briefly, today at approximately 1pm. Location as previously reported on the mudflat just west of the trail exit to the beach on the south end of Morris Island. The bird appeared out of the marsh grass approximately 15 feet or so right in front of me. I got extremely brief but diagnostic looks before the completely clueless beach walkers spooked the birds. Fortunately another birder was able to confirm the sighting although most did not get on the bird. We had multiple instances of beach strollers walk right into the mudflat in front of us; completely oblivious to the line of scopes searching the birds in front of us. The bird was last seen flying west. We searched the large congregation of shorebirds (including many peeps) on the mudflat just west of the original location but were unable to locate the stint in the hour I remained. Given the downpours on the Cape tonight I would surmise the bird will still be in the area tomorrow.
Date: 8/19/17 4:33 am From: caroline haines <chaines49...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Merlin for breakfast
Our immature Merlin was back in the dead tree at breakfast again today. This time he brought his own-what appeared to be an English sparrow. He set about plucking it with vigor, feathers falling lightly among the bare branches. At last he tore into the ruby flesh, and began devouring the stringy morsels. Between each bite he was vigilant, looking both left and right. When the breast meat was gone, he tore off a leg, which he found unappealing and set aside on a branch. He finished off the remnants, and came to the other leg, which he scarfed down, foot and all. When he was done, he gave his talons a quick once over, wiped his bill on the tree, and sat back to survey his territory. You gotta love breakfast birding. Caroline Haines Gloucester <Songbirder...> Sent from my iPhone-please excuse brevity, typos, or insults.
Date: 8/18/17 8:55 pm From: Liam Waters <youngeaglewaters...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Visiting birder looking for guidance in the Boston/Cambridge area
Lauren McCaferty is looking for someone to show her around for a day next week. She is from the Great Lakes, and would like to see some shorebirds (and anything else that is different out here). If anyone would be willing to help her out, let me know and I'll send along her email address. Thanks, Liam Waters Sharon
Date: 8/17/17 2:04 pm From: Colors in Wildlife <mimibixh...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] UPDATE Re: Death report
Hello:
Over five months ago, in March, I shared on Massbird that a pair of mated ravens had died abruptly. Many of you wrote me personally asking for an update. I finally have one. I was informed by Grafton Wildlife Clinic that the toxicology report recently came in; it revealed that rodenticide was present. They do not know which generation of rodenticide.
Sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but I hope this answers your lingering questions.
Sincerely, Mimi Bix-Hylan
On Tue, Mar 7, 2017 at 7:35 PM, M BH <mimibixh...> wrote: > Hello Massbirders: > > Unfortunately, I have sad news. The raven pair 12 miles north of Boston died > today. I swung by early this morning in hope of observing them before the > rain. To my utter shock and bewilderment, within a couple of minutes of > arriving, one of the two ravens fell out of the sky and plummeted down the > rock face straight down to the rocky hill below its nest. I couldn't believe > my eyes. After confirming for myself what I had witnessed, I waited for a > friend, another local birder, to arrive and help me with transferring the > bird to Grafton Wildlife Clinic. We were able to safely transport the bird > to Grafton, but by the time we arrived its breathing was depressed. Grafton > reported to me that despite their best efforts to keep it alive it died > within 45 minutes of being dropped off. They also reported that they were > puzzled because its blood work did not show rodenticide and nether blunt > force trauma nor bullet wounds were observed externally. They promised to > update me further following a necropsy. As for the dead raven's mate, it > appears to be dead in its nest. > > Such a sad and troubling end for this beautiful pair. It is especially > troubling because this is the second consecutive year that a raven has died > in its nest in this spot. > > I am hoping that the necropsy will provide answers. > > Sincerely, > Mimi Bix-Hylan
Date: 8/17/17 10:00 am From: Joan Stoner <jsstoner...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR-Concord Unit Thursday survey
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US Aug 17, 2017 6:02 AM - 10:36 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.6 mile(s) Comments: Weekly survey with Will, Larry,Audrey,Soheil,Isabella, Isabella,Kevin,Matt,Zena,Joan 41 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 46 Wood Duck 10 Mallard 10 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 1 Fly over Osprey 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Killdeer 1 peep sp. 3 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 11 Chimney Swift 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 6 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Empidonax sp. 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 4 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 3 Tree Swallow 20 Barn Swallow 100 Black-capped Chickadee 7 Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Marsh Wren 4 American Robin 5 Gray Catbird 10 Cedar Waxwing 8 Common Yellowthroat 4 Yellow Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 16 Swamp Sparrow 8 Northern Cardinal 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Red-winged Blackbird 52 Common Grackle 28 House Finch 1 American Goldfinch 17
Date: 8/16/17 2:01 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island (Parker River Refuge) - 08-16-17
David Moon and I led Wednesday Morning Birding from Joppa Flats Education Center on to Plum Island and the Parker River Refuge. It was a beautiful morning with partly cloudy skies, temps in the 70s, and winds NW/5-10 mph.
Our list: Gadwall (10) - 2 broods (2 & 6) w/ hens; Bill Forward Pool. Mallard - common, mostly juvs. Double-crested Cormorant (~ 45) - various. Least Bittern (2) - North Pool from Hellcat dike. Great Blue Heron (3) - 1, NP from Hellcat dike; 2, Stage Island Pool. Great Egret - common. Snowy Egret - common. Black-crowned Night-Heron (1) - juv; North Pool from North Pool Overlook. Glossy Ibis (9) - North Pool from NPO. Turkey Vulture (2) - SIP. Osprey (1) - Pines Trail platform. Black-bellied Plover (7) - BFP from new blind. Semipalmated Plover - common; mostly BFP. Greater Yellowlegs - common; various. Lesser Yellowlegs - common - a few juvs mixed in; various. Semipalmated Sandpiper (~ 50) - various. Least Sandpiper (2) - NP from Hellcat dike. White-rumped Sandpiper (3) - 2, BFP; 1, NP from Hellcat dike. Baird's Sandpiper (1) - juv; SIP. Short-billed Dowitcher (8) - 6, BFP; 2, NP from Hellcat dike. Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Peregrine Falcon (2) - mixing it up with Tree Swallows over North Field. American Crow (1) Tree Swallow - common (building). Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1) Bank Swallow (1) Northern Mockingbird (1) - lot #1. European Starling - common. Cedar Waxwing (8) - SIP. House Sparrow
Please take note, during Wednesdays in August, "Wednesday Evening Shorebirding" will be conducted out of Joppa Flats, 5:30 until 7:30. $10 for Mass Audubon members; $12 for nonmembers. Hope to see you there!
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 8/16/17 12:55 pm From: Nash, Matthew (DCR) <matthew.nash...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Belle Isle Marsh, E. Boston & Winthrop Beach, FREE Nature Programs
North Region Coastal District
Department of Conservation and Recreation
One Eliot Circle Contact: Matthew Nash
Revere, MA 02151
(781) 485-2804 Ext. 105
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Find yourself in a DCR State Park
Winthrop\East Boston\Rockport
Join a DCR Park interpreter to learn about the wonderful natural history of your state parks. All Programs are FREE and open to the public. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For program cancellations phone 978-937-2094 ext. 121, one hour before start time. Rain Cancels. Bring Water. Strongly recommend sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and footwear suitable for walking on the beach, and on paths. For more information phone (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105 or email <Matthew.Nash...><mailto:<Matthew.Nash...>. For a listing of programs at other DCR state parks visit www.mass.gov/DCR<http://www.mass.gov/DCR> .
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
An Oasis for Wildlife
Saturday, August 19 8:15 -9:15 a.m.
Discover the abundant birdlife at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, a restored wildlife sanctuary. We will walk while birding for a distance of a mile on easy level terrain. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them. Reasonable accommodations available upon request.
Avian Delights
Friday, August 18 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Morning)
Saturday, August 26 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Afternoon)
Observe migrating shorebirds and learn about their adaptations for survival as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to one mile. Terrain can be uneven. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them.
Beachcomber Scavenger Hunt
Wednesdays, August 23 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Did you know that marine snails are like sharks because they have rows of sharp teeth that they use to devour their prey? Learn about the fascinating lives of sea animals and discover new treasures of vacant shells as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to half a mile. Terrain can be uneven.
Nature Story time Exploration
Friday, August 25 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
Listen to a nature themed childrens story followed by an exploration of nature. Recommended for children ages 4-10. Bring a towel, blanket or beach chair to sit on.
Birding 101
Sunday, August 20 8:00 -10:00 a.m.
Join us on a two-hour walk over easy to moderate trails in search of seasonal specialties. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Boots are advisable. Please bring your binoculars and if you are able to a spotting scope to share. For more information, contact <Peter...>
I just wanted to let the MassBirders know that the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary just sent out a special Saltmarsh Sparrow / Salt Marshes edition of the Birding Community Newsletter. It is very long and very detailed. If you do not receive the newsletter, you can still view it at the link provided below. If your provider clips the pictures or the content, be sure to click on the view full content link. The ending photo should be three gentlemen of the very best sort in kayaks.
A tremendous thanks goes out to Soheil, Alan, Zack, Savannah, Sean, Tim, Sebastian, Sarah, Melanie, and Cameron. This was a huge effort that required many hands and paddles. For anyone interested in joining these efforts next season, we will be looking to survey additional areas of the ACEC starting in late May, and checking in on the areas that we find Saltmarsh Sparrow activity at the end of the June and July neap tide cycles.
Also, as a reminder to Soheil’s post a few days ago, the Sunday morning bird walks will start up again on August 20th at 9:00am.
Date: 8/15/17 2:33 pm From: Ida Giriunas <ida8...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC September Extreme Pelagic Trip
Greetings:
It is time to sign up for the September BBC Pelagic Trip
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2017, 6:00 AM SATURDAY TO 6 PM SUNDAY
HYANNIS TO HYDROGRAPHER, VEACH, AND ATLANTIS CANYON area for WHITE-FACED STORM PETRELS, other petrels, several species of shearwaters, jaegers, possible skua, terns and other seabirds and mammals.
Limit: 50 participants
Cost: BBC members $310, non-members $330
We have master birders Jeremiah Trimble, Nicholas Bonomo and two others leading these trips. Our boat, from Hyannis is the Helen H. It is a very comfortable, fast, 100-foot fishing boat with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic captain and crew. We use gallons of chum to attract the birds. There are 34 bunks aboard which will be available for the first 34 who sign up. There is a full galley with excellent food at reasonable prices. Parking is free.
.
To reserve a space, send a check for the full amount made out to Brookline Bird Club Agent along with a signed Waiver to Ida Giriunas, 83 Summer Ave, Reading, MA 01867 and include your email or your postal address for confirmation, boarding instructions, and other details.
To register and to receive further information and a waiver form:
juvenile? calling sporadically: weak tea-kettle, descending churr... -- <frederickbouchard...> 78 farnham st belmont 02478 ma 617-484-6692 www.fredbouchard.com
'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a tasty wine, see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.' -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1836)
Date: 8/15/17 8:44 am From: John <john.mcelligott3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island yesterday
Yesterday afternoon we had Hundreds of Tree Swallows at the Wardens and North Pool Overlook. They were skimming the water and circling the area. Very impressive!!!
Date: 8/14/17 1:50 pm From: <redpoll...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: Pelagic Birding trip today out of Newburyport
Today 45 people joined me and the crew of the Captains Lady II on a pelagic birding trip from 9 am to 3 pm. We headed out of Newburyport Harbor, north to the Isles of Shoals, further north nearly to Boon Island Light, then east and in a loop over Jeffries Ledge and back to Newburyport. We had a really nice day on the water. It was warm but not hot, seas were flat, visibility was good with a little haze. More importantly, the birds showed up-not great diversity but good numbers. Outside of the mouth of the Merrimack, we had:
960 Wilson's Storm-petrels
24 Northern Gannets
2 Black Guillemots (Isles of Shoals)
29 Cory's Shearwaters
208 Great Shearwaters
2 Red-necked Phalaropes
5 Bonaparte's Gulls
150 Common Eiders (Isles of Shoals)
Uncounted numbers of large gulls and DC cormorants
Remarkably, we had zero terns off the Isles of Shoals.
Non-avian sightings included Atlantic White-sided Dolphins, Harbor Porpoises, Minke Whale, one large whale sp., 3 small sharks, 2 Mola mola, a few leaping tuna, and large amounts of baitfish on the surface.
Our next and last Seabirds trip will be held on September 11, 2017 from 9 am to 3 pm. All registrations are through Newburyport Whale Watch.
Hope you can join us!
David M. Larson, Ph.D., Science and Education Coordinator
Joppa Flats Education Center, Mass Audubon, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 01950
Telephone: (978) 462-9998
E-mail: <dlarson...>
Date: 8/14/17 7:20 am From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 'no tern was left unstoned'
We often refer others on the listserv to pertinent articles in the Globe.
Folks might have missed this, though, at the end of the Neil Chayet obit in
today's paper. You might want to read the entire obit. Fascinating--as he
was a fascinating man. Among other things he broadcast entertaining &
informative segments about the law on WBZ for years. I listened all the
time.
“I’m sort of a born entertainer,” Mr. Chayet told the Globe in 1999. He
often edited scripts for his “Listening to the Law” broadcasts right up to
the moment he began taping segments — all the better to make sure each one
ended just right, preferably on a light note.
One segment concerned a big marijuana arrest on the West Coast, where
authorities decided to bring their haul out to sea on a barge and burn it
offshore, within sniffing distance of a flock of terns. “And then the last
line in Neil’s piece was, ‘No tern was left unstoned,’ ” Casey recalled.
“That was my favorite pun even before I knew it was Neil’s favorite one. I
guess the flock of birds out there had an interesting time for themselves.”
Date: 8/12/17 7:33 pm From: Linda <tattler1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Belle Isle Marsh 8/12 4:30 p.m.
A stop at the Key at Belle Isle this afternoon had a nice group of shorebirds.
A male Kestrel was perched on a pole when I arrived, only to be chased off by a very ambitious Peregrine Falcon. They were both out of sight in a matter of seconds. Other birds present:
Date: 8/12/17 5:29 pm From: Phil Brown <nebirdsplus...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hummingbirds and Hawks Essex, MA 08-12-17
The backyard has been an interesting spot to bird this summer with a pair of Cooper's Hawks nesting across the street in the Pines. The young are now out of the nest, visiting the yard and making life tough for the squirrels, Crows and other birds that frequent the feeders.
I managed a few shots of the young Hawks and captured a few minutes of audio from this rainy morning with the pair of young Hawks making quite a racket while the Crows that have taken up residence in the yard and a 1/2 dozen Hummingbirds have their say, all in all a fun morning!
I also walked Appleton Farms this afternoon finding a leucistic Barn Swallow hunting over the recently mowed fields off of Goodhue St, a very light tan to white on some spots, a cool looking bird!
Eating breakfast this morning at the Cape when a non-birdingfriend from Morocco looked out the window and said "Look at the falcon!" And, indeed, it was, perched at eye level 20 feet away on the railing of our retaining wall- a fierce-looking Merlin. It scanned the beach 40 feet below looking for an opportunity as we watched it for about2 minutes, then over the edge it dove in fastpursuit. Seen them before in Cataumet buzzing the beaches of Megansett Harbor, but never had such a prolonged and good view at close range.
Last post from Wayland, moving to Cataumet in two days. I'll keep my eyes on Megansett Harbor for anything unusual.
Date: 8/12/17 3:37 pm From: Sabrina Hepburn <s.k.hepburn...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Trip Parker River NWR 8/12/17
It was a beautiful day for a BBC mid-August trip to Parker River NWR. The island was surprisingly empty - no difficulty finding parking even at Sandy Point - with people kept away by the morning drizzle, although in the end the day turned out to be sunny and warm. While no extreme rarities were found, there was a nice mix of species. Highlights included good views of Least Bittern from the Warden’s/Maintenance Area, a stunning close juvenile Peregrine Falcon being mobbed by catbirds, that eventually chased after a Glossy Ibis (which was seen again later), a smattering of warblers, and plenty of the expected shorebirds. John Hoye and others also reported a Black Tern at Stage Island but we couldn’t find it on the trip.
Sabrina Hepburn
Waltham
Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Aug 12, 2017 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.0 mile(s)
Comments: BBC Trip covered Parker River NWR, Sabrina Hepburn leader plus about 10 participants
63 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 19
Gadwall 5
American Black Duck 4
Mallard 15
Green-winged Teal 6
Wild Turkey 5
Red-throated Loon 1 Only seen by one
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 6
Snowy Egret 10
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 4
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 30
Semipalmated Plover 100
Killdeer 4
Sanderling 25
Least Sandpiper 40
White-rumped Sandpiper 30
Semipalmated Sandpiper 500
Short-billed Dowitcher 20
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Willet 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 30
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Least Tern 7
Common Tern 4
Mourning Dove 3
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 30
Red-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 1
Purple Martin 4
Tree Swallow 2000
Barn Swallow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Marsh Wren 3
American Robin 15
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 3 One recent fledge, with Peregrine
European Starling 200
Cedar Waxwing 25
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 4
Setophaga sp. 1
Saltmarsh Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 6
Eastern Towhee 3
Common Grackle 8
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 1
Date: 8/12/17 2:57 pm From: Linda Pivacek <lpivacek...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Little Stint continues
Little Stint was present this morning. continuing at the south side of Morris Island. This bird stayed in the same area: rather close to the viewing path for an extended period of time and was still there when we left as other birders arrived to enjoy!
Join a DCR Park interpreter to learn about the wonderful natural history of your state parks. All Programs are FREE and open to the public. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For program cancellations phone 978-937-2094 ext. 121, one hour before start time. Rain Cancels. Bring Water. Strongly recommend sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and footwear suitable for walking on the beach, and on paths. For more information phone (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105 or email <Matthew.Nash...><mailto:<Matthew.Nash...>. For a listing of programs at other DCR state parks visit www.mass.gov/DCR<http://www.mass.gov/DCR> .
Winthrop Beach
Avian Delights
Tuesdays, August 1 & 15 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Evening)
Fridays, August 4 & 18 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Morning)
Saturdays, August 12 & 26 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Afternoon)
Observe migrating shorebirds and learn about their adaptations for survival as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to one mile. Terrain can be uneven. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them.
Matthew Nash
Visitor Services Supervisor
DCR North Region Coastal District
One Eliot Circle
Revere, MA 02151
(781) 485-2804 ext. 105
Date: 8/12/17 1:06 pm From: Walt Webb <wwebb24...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fw: eBird Report - Parker River NWR, Aug 10, 2017
----- Original Message ----- From: <ebird-checklist...> To: <wwebb24...> Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2017 1:33 PM Subject: eBird Report - Parker River NWR, Aug 10, 2017
> Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US > Aug 10, 2017 11:00 AM - 1:15 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 4.0 mile(s) > Comments: Our goal was to make quick stops at several sites. We > stopped at the Salt Pannes, the Warden's, North Pool Overlook, & Hellcat > Dike (North Pool & Bill Forward Pool). Spent 1h11m at the Dike with scope > & binoculars. All the plovers & sandpipers except the Spotted Sandpiper > were observed at Bill Forward Pool or North Pool. I don't count birds > unless they number 2 or 3. For anything more or if number is unknown, I > usually use the dreaded "X"! Sky clear to partly cloudy. Temp. mid-80s. > 28 species (+1 other taxa) > > Canada Goose X > American Black Duck X > Mallard X > Double-crested Cormorant X Observed 2 drying their wings. > Great Blue Heron 4 > Great Egret 12 All resting & preening & seen from North Pool > Overlook. > Snowy Egret 2 Resting & preening. Seen from North Pool Overlook. > Green Heron 1 Seen from North Pool Overlook. > Osprey 1 Hovered several times over Bill Forward Pool, dove into the > water once w/o a fish reward, then left. > Black-bellied Plover 1 > Semipalmated Plover X > Killdeer 1 > Least Sandpiper X > Semipalmated Sandpiper X > Short-billed Dowitcher X > Spotted Sandpiper 1 Seen from North Pool Overlook. Winter phase. > Greater Yellowlegs X > Lesser Yellowlegs X > Herring Gull X > Least Tern 2 > Mourning Dove X > American Crow 1 > Tree Swallow X Flocks were everywhere in mass migration, even landing > on the Bill Forward Pool mud flats. > Barn Swallow X Both adults & juveniles on the sides of maintenance > buildings. > Brown Thrasher 1 > European Starling X > Song Sparrow 2 > blackbird sp. 1 > American Goldfinch X > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38604010 Includes photos. > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Date: 8/12/17 12:00 pm From: Tim Spahr <tspahr44...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] organizing a crossbill searching, Western Massachusetts
Hi Birders:
Given the influx of Red Crossbills just over the borders in New Hampshire and Vermont, I figured I'd ping folks again and see if anyone is interested in searching in the western part of the state. The birds are using primarily native red spruces in New Hampshire, but if white spruce plantations are around those are preferred. New Hampshire birds are also working on hemlock and larch. If anyone in the western third of the state knows of good locations for red or white spruces, I'd love to hear about them. In fact I'd love to hear someone headed there and found crossbills! Poking around on Google Earth it seems there are probably some spruce groves in October Mountain State Forest, and also Mt. Greylock. I found some good spruce groves in Windsor and Savoy a few weeks ago, but no crossbills. I'll be heading back to these areas in the next week or so.
If anyone is interested in searching and would like any more information, feel free to write me off-list.
Since I haven't seen any other posts, just sending this to confirm the Little Stint was again present this evening, seen by several birders, from about 7pm to dark. Same area on the south side of Morris Island as previously described.
Date: 8/11/17 1:36 pm From: Sean Williams <seanbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] White Ibis continue at Wellfleet 8/11 afternoon
Both ibis are visible right now from the end of the Try Island trail, right at the bench that says "In loving memory of Warren F. Jones 'Poppy.'" Posting again because several people at the Little Stint this morning said they were going to look for the ibis this afternoon.
Good birding, Sean
--- Sean M. Williams <seanbirder...> Dept. of Zoology Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48823
Date: 8/11/17 6:22 am From: William Loughlin <wkloughlin111...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: Morris Island Stint - 1 or 2?
Is this one bird with multiple identities or are there 2 stints present? At the time I was there (left about 11) up until then no one had found a second. Bill Loughlin West Bridgewater <Wkloughlin111...>
Date: 8/11/17 5:37 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Parker River Peregrine
Thanks to A. Reeve for the following.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> *
On Weds. afternoon I thought I might try to find the bittern. I observed 3 Glossy Ibis at the North Pool overlook. They were difficult to see behind grasses in the company of several Egrets, ducks, & turtles. I went on to the Hellcat area & surveyed Bill Forward Pool where there were large flocks of shorebirds at the far end. They repeatedly swarmed off & returned. I then noticed a large dark bird on a sandy patch of ground. Viewing it through my binoculars it was easily identified as a peregrine. It kept looking my way & turning it's head from side to side showing its "mustache" very clearly. By the time I had climbed the tower for a better view it had taken off in a southerly direction. I looked for it again from the Pines observation deck without luck. I did see 4 osprey: 2 on the nest platform, 1 on a tall pole nearby, & 1 on a short post closer to the shore. I never found the Bittern but was pleased to see so many egrets & herons. There were lots of swallows but I did not observe their staging behavior. A. Reeve Exeter,NH
Date: 8/11/17 4:52 am From: Sean Williams <seanbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Little Stint continues now- 8/11 Morris Island
Hello all,
Ten of us us are enjoying great looks at the Little Stint this morning exactly in the previously described location, just west of the southern tip of Morris Island in Chatham.
The two White Ibis continue at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary too.
Good birding, Sean
--- Sean M. Williams <seanbirder...> PhD candidate Dept. of Zoology Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48823
Date: 8/11/17 4:42 am From: sean riley <newburyowls...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] eBird -- Belle Isle Marsh Reservation -- Aug 10, 2017
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Aug 10, 2017
Comments: Mainly in the Key or mud flats along the estuary abutting the key. Highlights were continuing 3 Stilt Sandpipers really close views , and a Pectoral Sandpiper.
6 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Great Blue Heron 8 Great Egret 15 Snowy Egret 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Osprey 3 American Oystercatcher 15 Black-bellied Plover 30 Semipalmated Plover -- Low count likely more 12 Killdeer 3 Stilt Sandpiper -- Continuing 40 Least Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper -- In the Key 200 Semipalmated Sandpiper 8 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Spotted Sandpiper 10 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Willet 2 Lesser Yellowlegs
Number of Taxa: 20 Sean Riley Plum Island <Newburyowls...>
Date: 8/10/17 10:05 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Monomoy NWR - Red-necked Stint
Folks,
Here's an additional report!
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
--------------------------------------------- Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> ABA Rarities.This alert is for observations of rare birds (ABA code 3 and above) in the ABA Area. View or unsubscribe to this alert at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN10489 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated
Date: 8/10/17 8:31 am From: Alan & Ruth Bragg <alan.ruth.bragg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Aug 10, 2017
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
Aug 10, 2017 5:56 AM - 9:53 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.56 mile(s)
Comments: Weekly survey by NWR Volunteers Janet, Tom, Will, Kathy,
Joan, Audrey, Jonathan, David, Frank and Alan. Distance measured using
ebird gps track on Android phone.
45 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 50
Wood Duck 7
Mallard 12
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 7
Great Egret 1
Virginia Rail 2
Killdeer 2
Least Sandpiper 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 7
Chimney Swift 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 8 family group of 4
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Eastern Kingbird 7
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 30
Barn Swallow 60
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
Marsh Wren 11
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
American Robin 24
Gray Catbird 5
Cedar Waxwing 20
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 18
Swamp Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 4
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 27
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 19
Date: 8/10/17 6:38 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Little Stint - Morris Island, Monomoy NWR
There's a report of a Little Stint on the Massachusetts Rare Bird Alert facebook page, on the text alert and on ebird. It was found by Sue Finnegan and John Pratt.
There are photos from those links.
I hope that one of the folks who saw the bird will be able to share more details.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA <barb620...>
From eBird:
*** Species Summary:
Little Stint (1 Massachusetts)
--------------------------------------------- Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> ABA Rarities.This alert is for observations of rare birds (ABA code 3 and above) in the ABA Area. View or unsubscribe to this alert at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN10489 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated
Date: 8/9/17 1:37 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island - 08-09-17
David Moon and I led today's edition of Wednesday Morning Birding on to Plum Island and Parker River Refuge. Skies were clear; temps ranged from 70 to 82F.; and winds were SW-S/5-10 mph. Focus was shorebirds of which there were many at Bill Forward Pool (relatively few at Stage Island Pool).
Our list: Canada Goose Mute Swan -- note, Tom, individual cited a week ago was still there in Bill Forward Pool, same place -- dead. This time around, looked a bit the worse for wear . . . . every reason to believe it was dead last week. Gadwall (2) - North Pool from Hellcat dike. Mallard - common. Green-winged Teal (4) - juvs, NP from Hellcat dike. Double-crested Cormorant (~ 45) - various. Least Bittern (2) - 1 ad, 1 probable juv; BFP immediately off of Hellcat dike. Great Blue Heron - common. Great Egret - common. Snowy Egret - common. Turkey Vulture (3) Osprey (2) - vicinity of BFP. Black-bellied Plover - common; BFP. Semipalmated Plover - common; BFP. Killdeer (2) - 1, Stage Island Pool; 1, BFP. Greater Yellowlegs - common; various. Lesser Yellowlegs (~ 15) - NP, Hellcat dike. Red Knot (1) - appeared at distance to be basic plumage ad; BFP. Semipalmated Sandpiper - common; BFP with a few at SIP. Least Sandpiper (4) - 3, NP, Hellcat dike; 1, BFP, Hellcat dike. White-rumped Sandpiper (1) - BFP. Stilt Sandpiper (2) - 1, NP, Hellcat dike; 1, BFP. Short-billed Dowitcher - common; BFP. Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull (1) - SIP. Least Tern (5) - BFP. Mourning Dove Eastern Kingbird (4) Purple Martin - several; lot #1. Tree Swallow - common (congregating!). Barn Swallow (1) European Starling Cedar Waxwing (5) Eastern Towhee (1) Song Sparrow(1) - singing; Hellcat dike. Red-winged Blackbird (~ 10) American Goldfinch (~ 5)
Please take note, during Wednesdays in August, "Wednesday Evening Shorebirding" will be conducted out of Joppa Flats, 5:30 until 7:30. $10 for Mass Audubon members; $12 for nonmembers. Hope to see you there!
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
The immature pelican flew by north to south, far out, passing among lobster boats. Lost sight over Ipswich bay enroute Cape Ann. About 9:15.
TW
> On Aug 8, 2017, at 10:21 AM, Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> wrote: > > tom, that pelican flew south from seabrook beach about an hour ago, so it's almost certainly the same bird (immature, i presume?), that has often been seen on the NH coast, as well as ours. it never seems to stay in one place very long. jim > > Jim Berry > Ipswich, Mass. > <jim.berry3...> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Wetmore <ttw4...> [plumislandbirds]" <plumislandbirds-noreply...> > To: "Plum Island Birds" <plumislandbirds...> > Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 9:30 AM > Subject: [PIBirds] Pelican, Storm-Petrels > > 2+ Wilson's Storm-Petrels and a Brown Pelican from Lot one platform last half hour. > > Wetmore
Just wanted to let folks know of a great opportunity to learn how to build
Bird Boxes at Riverbed in Ipswich. Riverbed is the head quarters of the
Ipswich River Watershed Association and is located right on the River at
143 County Road. For anyone who has never been here this is a beautiful
location. This workshop is geared mostly for kids but adults are more than
welcome.
Please see flier linked below and make sure to RSVP by August 18th to
<rsvp...>
--
Suzanne M. Sullivan
Wilmington, MA
<swampy435...>
"The self evident vision of who we are as a free and caring nation, and the
ideal to fulfill this destiny is stronger than the division of those who's
only vision is of themselves. “ SMB
Date: 8/8/17 6:14 am From: Mary <lemmel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sora and Olive-sided Flycatcher
Once again sorry! But Yes Olive-sided is present in the Woodpecker swamp now. Also Sora Yes
Mary Ellen McMahon
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Mary <lemmel...>
> Date: August 8, 2017, 6:19:37 AM EDT
> To: <massbird...>
> Subject: Olive-sided Flycatcher
>
> Looking at an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Millennium Park West Roxbury now. Perched at the lower rotary.
>
> Mary Ellen McMahon
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 8/8/17 3:41 am From: Mary <lemmel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Please disregard-: Olive-sided Flycatcher
My apologies please disregard
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Mary <lemmel...>
> Date: August 8, 2017, 6:19:37 AM EDT
> To: <massbird...>
> Subject: Olive-sided Flycatcher
>
> Looking at an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Millennium Park West Roxbury now. Perched at the lower rotary.
>
> Mary Ellen McMahon
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 8/7/17 8:39 pm From: Derek Brown <derekbrownbuild...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird Report - Essex Bay, Aug 7, 2017
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <ebird-checklist...> Date: Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 9:54 PM Subject: eBird Report - Essex Bay, Aug 7, 2017 To: <derekbrownbuild...>
Essex Bay, Essex, Massachusetts, US Aug 7, 2017 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: april manganiello and i birded the spit sandbar in the middle of essex bay on a falling tide this afternoon. Migration activity has been a bit thin till today but things are looking up 15 species
Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 2 Black-bellied Plover 41 Semipalmated Plover 120 Ruddy Turnstone 2 White-rumped Sandpiper 127 Seen in mostly 3 groups with the other peeps. Same date and [place 2016 we counted 68, before that year, never more than 10 per trip. As with last year also, could be a lucky day or two. Semipalmated Sandpiper 765 Bonaparte's Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Least Tern 5 Common Tern 3 Tree Swallow 67 Hawking insects above cross island and crane beach
Date: 8/7/17 3:50 pm From: Linda Pivacek <lpivacek...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Nahant- Northern Waterthrush Day
this morning 2 N. Waterthrush in our garden pool. so I drove the mile to the Nahant Thicket ... and found 4, yes four! at the "bridge". On a roll I walked the private property across Walton Rd and found another 2. Again, very vocal.
Date: 8/7/17 1:23 pm From: David Larson <dlarson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird Photography Workshop at Joppa Flats in Newburyport
We will be again be offering Eduardo del Solar's great 2.5 hour program on Bird Photography at Joppa Flats Education Center. The program is on August 13, 2017, from 2 pm to 4:30 pm.
This workshop aims to develop skills and strategies to improve your bird photographs. Technical, artistic, and practical topics covered in this workshop include equipment and accessories needed for static photography and shooting birds in flight; light, exposure, and composition techniques; the digital darkroom; where to go and how to approach birds; and ethical issues associated with nature photography.
Types of bird photography covered include bird on a branch; bird only; environmental photography; behavioral topics such as breeding, feeding, migration, and displaying; birds in flight; outdoor studio photography versus nature or "natural" photography; realism or documentary versus expressionistic/artistic photography; and captives.
Strategies for improving your skills will be covered in some detail. A minimum of seven participants is required for this program.
Eduardo del Solar is a master nature photographer and retired schoolteacher who has exhibited widely. He designed this workshop to be accessible to all levels of bird photographers. A graduate of the Birder's Certificate Program, Eduardo is now in the eighth year of his ongoing project to photograph the birds of the Americas.
David M. Larson, Ph.D., Science and Education Coordinator Joppa Flats Education Center, Mass Audubon, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 01950 Telephone: (978) 462-9998 E-mail: <dlarson...>
Date: 8/7/17 12:23 pm From: DOUGLAS E CHICKERING <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Every Year
Massbirders:
Lois and I started the morning on Plum Island at Parking lot1 where I set up my scope to get Lois on the newly made Purple Martins sticking their heads out of the openings of the gourds where they were born. This is where they would wait for food, struggle with any siblings trying to do the same, and encounter the new world for the first time. Lois and I have been checking the gourds at parking Lot#1 ever since the Martins arrived in April. Mostly just to see and hear them busily going about their day, but now in early August we start looking for the fresh new fuzzy heads and yellow gapes of the fledglings. It happens every year and it never gets old.
As we watched the young birds getting fed we couldn’t help but notice the increase of Tree Swallows flying fairly high above the Martin Gourds. And when we started down the island we stopped before we got to Parking lot#2 when we saw Tree Swallows that were gathered into a dense mob around and in some low trees that were heavy with fruit. Apparently, the staging of the Tree Swallows had begun. The staging of the Tree Swallows is a particularly spectacular avian show that will probably last until Labor Day. Sometimes the number of Tree Swallows seen can be breathtaking as they cluster in frantic groups to gorge themselves on the Bayberries, fill the air, and occasionally blanket the road in uncountable numbers. A show so spectacular that even non-birders are left in gaping awe when they encounter it. To us who know it is coming it is an event not to be missed. It happens every year.
Just south of the pans I pulled the car over at the sight of a cluster of slender white forms in the salt marshes. Another of those special scenes at Plum Island. The Egrets were off nest and were out in the marshes in large numbers to feed. They like to cluster around tidal pools where the relentless and unfeeling tide has stranded large schools of minnows and other small fish in the shallows where they could be picked off by Egrets and Herons at their leisure. Quite often the salt marshes are so extensive and the food so distributed that the egrets are little more than a scattering of white spots out over the green expanse. Occasionally one pool is particularly crowded with fish and the waders gather in large numbers and offer an impressive picture of pure white birds in the dense green background. To varying degrees, it is something that happens every year.
Every year. There are events, small and large, prosaic and spectacular that mark the progress of the year. They will never be reported on e-bird or cause a ripple of excitement on any rare bird alert. I suspect there are some birders who pass them over as done-that, seen-that and not worthy of special attention. There is always the excitement of finding something new and something rare but these are the expected predictable bird events that guide us through the year. Even though I appreciate the rare find as much as the next birder I am also thrilled by the more mundane experiences in the field. Baby Purple Martins, Tree Swallows at the bayberries, Egrets gathering in a pool. These are just a few of things that I love, and that I never tired of. I am blessed.
Date: 8/7/17 9:52 am From: Donald Wilkinson <singingbirder...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Merlin
LOL - how did he taste? "I had Merlin for Breakfast"!
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 7, 2017, at 10:32 AM, caroline haines <chaines49...> wrote: > > This morning for breakfast I had Merlin. A young one perched near the top of the big dead tree across the street from my deck and lingered for 15 minutes, preening, cocking its head, and looking generally sharp-eyed. Eventually a brazen blue jay landed in the tree, and hopped from branch to branch getting closer and closer to the Merlin. Startled, the Merlin lost its footing, did a little twirl, and landed lower on the branch. A second jay screamed repeatedly from a nearby tree, while the first jay hopped even closer to the young Merlin, who finally had enough, and flew off. Best breakfast so far this week. > Caroline Haines > Gloucester > <Songbirder...> > > Sent from my iPhone-please excuse brevity, typos, or insults.
Date: 8/7/17 8:40 am From: JOHN ROCKWOOD <loonphotog...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: Loons from 7/17
Loon parent trying to feed either chick a crayfish. Some Loon chicks never acquire the taste for crayfish.
Road noise in background. From 7/17/2017. Video shot from my kayak in southern, NH..
This morning for breakfast I had Merlin. A young one perched near the top of the big dead tree across the street from my deck and lingered for 15 minutes, preening, cocking its head, and looking generally sharp-eyed. Eventually a brazen blue jay landed in the tree, and hopped from branch to branch getting closer and closer to the Merlin. Startled, the Merlin lost its footing, did a little twirl, and landed lower on the branch. A second jay screamed repeatedly from a nearby tree, while the first jay hopped even closer to the young Merlin, who finally had enough, and flew off. Best breakfast so far this week. Caroline Haines Gloucester <Songbirder...>
Sent from my iPhone-please excuse brevity, typos, or insults.
Date: 8/7/17 4:20 am From: Mary <lemmel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Olive-sided Flycatcher Millennium Park
Good morning,
Seen as I was walking along the lower asphalt path From the parking lot, past the bridge, in the dead trees. Perched at first and with my zoom lens could see two white spots on its back. Halfway between the bridge and woodpecker corner, flitting around
I birded here at both high tide and low tide, from 10:20-4:17. I had a lunch break in-between. I was at "The Key" during low tide.
Common Loon 1 at nearby Short Beach (not too unusual here in summer) Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Glossy Ibis 2 Snowy Egret 15 Great Egret 8 Great Blue Heron 2 Common Eider 21 off Winthrop; near Short Beach White-winged Scoter 1 Short Beach area Northern Harrier 1 Stilt Sandpiper 1 F.O.Y.; "The Key"(accessed from Summer St.in Revere) Pectoral Sandpiper 1 "The Key" Short-billed Dowitcher 4 seen from "The Key"; on the inlet White-rumped Sandpiper 2 Short Beach Bonaparte's Gull 1 Short Beach Belted Kingfisher 1 American Kestrel 1 "The Key" (perched on house roof) P. S. Great day with 58 species!
Date: 8/5/17 3:06 pm From: Mary Small <mary.halm.small...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Swallows near Rose Garden, Fens, Boston - ID?
I have noticed what I think are swallows due to their fly-catching behavior and wing shape in the Fens near the Rose Garden on several days last week. Their call is low, one or two notes, and they fly over the land, not the water. Sorry not to have more details; they are fast and not perching.
Hoping that someone else has seen them and can give a more positive ID.
Thanks, Mary Small Concord, Mass. mary.halm.small AT gmail.com
Date: 8/5/17 11:14 am From: Maurice Gilmore <petegilmore79...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird -- Norton Point tidal flats -- Aug 4, 2017
Hi Folks,
Red Knot, Lesser Black-backed Gull and the list follows.
Pete Gilmore Newton, MA <Petegilmore79...>
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Comcast <maurice.gilmore...> Date: Sat, Aug 5, 2017 at 1:28 PM Subject: eBird -- Norton Point tidal flats -- Aug 4, 2017 To: Maurice Gilmore <petegilmore79...>
Norton Point tidal flats Aug 4, 2017 8:30 AM Traveling 4.00 miles 120 Minutes All birds reported? Yes Comments: Breezy, fog lifting, 75 degrees Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.5.2 Build 140
8 Mallard (Northern) 5 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Green Heron 2 Osprey 10 American Oystercatcher 2 Black-bellied Plover 80 Semipalmated Plover 30 Ruddy Turnstone 1 Red Knot 30 Sanderling 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper 25 Short-billed Dowitcher 5 Greater Yellowlegs 12 Willet (Eastern) 1 Willet (Western) 8 Laughing Gull 6 Ring-billed Gull 30 Herring Gull (American) 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 10 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Least Tern 25 Roseate Tern 200 Common Tern 3 Eastern Kingbird 2 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow (American)
Date: 8/4/17 2:11 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Georgetown: Parker River marshes, Aug 4, 2017
> Georgetown: Parker River marshes > Aug 4, 2017 7:20 AM - 12:00 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 3.0 mile(s) > Comments: I teamed up with my long-time friend Bob Watts to bird the > Parker River watershed, walking from his house nearby, including a portion > of the Georgetown/Groveland powerline. There was not that much birdsong > due to the late date, and thus limited variety (e.g., no raptors, rails, > shorebirds, or several expected songbirds, and only a single warbler), but > we had some decent birds and butterflies (e.g., buckeye, painted lady, > white admiral, viceroy, monarch), and keyed out some wildflowers using > Newcomb's guide. > 33 species > > Canada Goose 5 > Wood Duck 1 No broods of ducks seen despite extensive looking. > Great Blue Heron 2 > Great Egret 3 > Mourning Dove 3 > Downy Woodpecker 1 > Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 5 > Eastern Wood-Pewee 10 > Eastern Phoebe 7 > Eastern Kingbird 5 > Warbling Vireo 1 > Red-eyed Vireo 3 > Blue Jay 4 > American Crow 2 > Tree Swallow 250 Most perched on wires along a causeway across the > river; the rest in the air. Those swallows did not fly even when we > walked under them, thus giving me ample time to check for other species, > of which I found none. > Black-capped Chickadee 16 > Tufted Titmouse 10 > White-breasted Nuthatch 1 > House Wren 3 > Carolina Wren 1 > American Robin 9 > Gray Catbird 10 > Cedar Waxwing 4 > Pine Warbler 1 > Chipping Sparrow 5 > Song Sparrow 8 > Eastern Towhee 7 > Northern Cardinal 6 > Red-winged Blackbird 4 > Common Grackle 2 > Baltimore Oriole 4 or 5--one family > American Goldfinch 18 > House Sparrow 10 > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38476360
Date: 8/4/17 9:27 am From: Steve Arena <pokedaddy151...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] WBWS White Ibis - Yes
The two immature White Ibis at WBWS have left the pond area and are feeding in the nearby salt pannes. They can also be viewed with a scope from marker 5 "Salt Marsh Overlook"
Steve -- Steve Arena Westboro, MA Sent from Gmail Mobile
Date: 8/3/17 1:14 pm From: Nash, Matthew (DCR) <matthew.nash...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winthrop Beach birding and nature programs affected by construction
Winthrop Shore drive is under construction which affects the DCR nature programs listed below. We will still be meeting on the beach across from Sturgis Street and 62 Winthrop Shore drive in order to accommodate folks who did not receive this notice. However, you will not be able to park right at the meeting place as in the past.
Also, the nearest recommended entrance to the beach is at Dolphin Avenue then walk about 1/4 of a mile on the beach towards the red white and blue tower until you reach Sturgis Street. It appears that those arriving by bus can cross carefully at Sturgis Street as in the past, however be prepared to walk along the sidewalk opposite the beach until you find an entrance in case the Sturgis street entrance to the beach is inaccessible.
We apologize for any inconvenience due to construction.
Parking and driving is not restricted for Evening and Weekend programs along Winthrop Shore Drive.
North Region Coastal District
Department of Conservation and Recreation
One Eliot Circle Contact: MatthewNash Revere, MA 02151 (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105
Date July 21, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Find yourself in a DCR State Park
Winthrop\East Boston\
Join a DCR Park interpreter to learn about the wonderful natural history of your state parks. All Programs are FREE and open to the public. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For program cancellations phone 978-937-2094 ext. 121, one hour before start time. Rain Cancels. Bring Water. Strongly recommend sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and footwear suitable for walking on the beach, and on paths. For more information phone (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105 or email <Matthew.Nash...> For a listing of programs at other DCR state parks visit www.mass.gov/DCR .
Beach
Avian Delights Fridays, August 4 & 18 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Morning) Observe migrating shorebirds and learn about their adaptations for survival as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to one mile. Terrain can be uneven. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them.
Beachcomber Scavenger Hunt Wednesdays, August 9 & 23 9:00-10:00 a.m. Did you know that marine snails are like sharks because they have rows of sharp teeth that they use to devour their prey? Learn about the fascinating lives of sea animals and discover new treasures of vacant shells as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to half a mile. Terrain can be uneven.
Nature Story time Exploration Fridays, August 11 & 25 9:00 -10:00 a.m. Listen to a nature themed childrens story followed by an exploration of nature. Recommended for children ages 4-10. Bring a towel, blanket or beach chair to sit on.
Meet at: Winthrop Beach on Winthrop Shore Drive across from Sturgis Street and 62 Winthrop Shore Drive, Winthrop, MA. On street parking is available free of charge. Accessible by Public Transportation: Paul Revere Transportation bus 712 or 713 Point Shirley-Orient Heights, arrive at the Winthrop Beach stop then walk down Sturgis Street, Winthrop MA (If traveling from outside Winthrop, board the bus at the MBTA Orient Heights station on the blue line). Visit www.MBTA.com for bus and train information (schedule, route and fees).
Date: 8/3/17 6:20 am From: Peter Crosson <pcrosson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Buff-breasted Sandpiper- Sandwich
Hi all, I found a somewhat early buff-breasted sandpiper this morning at Stauffer's Puddle in East Sandwich. The bird flushed while I was watching it and flew off to the west. It is likely still somewhere in the area; might be worth checking Sandwich town beach as well.
Date: 8/3/17 4:52 am From: Eduardo del Solar <delsolar...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: Hummingbird moth, images at BNC
About 11 years ago while doing a yearly seasonal website on insects and birds at the Boston Nature Center I observed/photographed both hummingbirds and hummingbird moths feeding on the bee balm plants (see photos below, I believe that is the ID on plants) growing to the right of the main entrance door at the BNC. Below are the images of BNC moths and hummingbirds near the entrance door to the BNC during the summer of 2006.
moths
http://delsolar.org/nature/webs/bnc/docs/hummermoths.htm hummingbirds
http://delsolar.org/nature/webs/bnc/docs/hummingbird.htm
My wife Julie and I regularly visit the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and look for Parauques, a close relative of the Common Nighthawk that roosts on the ground under shrubs and bushes during the daytime. Their cryptic camouflage makes them very difficult to find even when you are looking at known roost sites and you KNOW they have been there. Fortunately, Julie has an uncanny knack for detecting their plumage in the lattice of sticks, leaf litter, shrubs and shadows of the valley. We go to known roost areas and she can find them quickly. We know their preferred habitat, and she spots them before anyone else.
This year I went to a spot where we know them to roost for years, and they had been seen there an hour earlier. I looked and looked and looked and could not find them. Concluding that some idiot had gone too close and flushed the birds, I was about to give up after twenty minutes when I spotted one, about two feet away from me off the trail. Some more people came looking and could not find any either. I was about to point out the one bird, when I got an angle of view and enough light to see a second. The people could not see either until looking right at them for minutes. Several more people came and I was about to point out the two paraugues, when I shifted position enough that I spotted the third. I could not believe that the three had been there the entire time, within 2-6' of me at times. They are various shades of brown, but the patterns are so rich and varied in tone that they blend in perfectly to a ground cover of dried sicks and shadows.
I birded only from 8:30-9:30, due to the heat and humidity:
Snowy Egret 20 Great Egret 9 Great Blue Heron 4 Osprey 5 Killdeer 4 Semipalmated Plover 10 Least Sandpiper 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 100 White-rumped Sandpiper 4 F.O.Y. Kennedy Center pan Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Greater Yellowlegs 24 Lesser Yellowlegs 6 Willet 2 P.S. Two Forster's Terns at Orchard Beach last evening, and one today, seen by Dan Burton
Date: 8/2/17 2:07 pm From: David Weaver <cygnus-dkw...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Plum Island - 08-02-2017
Joppa Flats Education Center's Wednesday Morning Birding program was in
session once again following its July hiatus. David Moon and I led an enthusiastic group on to Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge focusing on shorebirds. We spent the first hour or so ensconced in the Bill Forward Pool blind watching a number of shorebirds fueling up for their migration south. Apologies to Paul Roberts for our invasion of his quiet observation post and many thanks to him for sharing some of his sightings, including the continuing HUDSONIAN GODWIT and several Stilt Sandpipers.
Our list: Canada Goose Mute Swan (1) - main panne. Mallard - common -- mostly juvs. Green-winged Teal (4) - small pannes. Double-crested Cormorant (~ 25) Great Blue Heron (10) - various. Great Egret (4) Snowy Egret - common. Green Heron (1) - fly-by, w. to e., n. end main panne. Glossy Ibis (1) - fly-by, n. end Stage Island Pool, heading w. Osprey (2) - vicinity of Hellcat. [(1) - Joppa Park boat ramp.] Black-bellied Plover - common; Bill Forward Pool. Semipalmated Plover - common; BFP. Killdeer (2) - 1, BFP; 1, n. end main panne. Spotted Sandpiper (3) - 1, SIP; 2, main panne. Greater Yellowlegs (~ 7) - various. Willet (3) - marsh, main panne. Lesser Yellowlegs (1) - n. end main panne. Hudsonian Godwit (1) - BFP. Semipalmated Sandpiper - common; BFP. White-rumped Sandpiper (1) - BFP. Stilt Sandpiper (4) - BFP. Short-billed Dowitcher - common; BFP. [Bonaparte's Gull (~ 25) - JP boat ramp.] [Ring-billed Gull - common; JP boat ramp.] [Herring Gull - common; JP boat ramp.] Least Tern - common; various. Common Tern (5) - SIP, main panne. Mourning Dove Eastern Kingbird - common. Blue Jay (1) Purple Martin (~ 10) - lot #1. Tree Swallow - common. Barn Swallow - common. Black-capped Chickadee (1) - shrubs, main panne. American Robin - common. Gray Catbird (4) Northern Mockingbird (3) European Starling - common; many flocks of juvs. Cedar Waxwing - common. Yellow Warbler (1) Eastern Towhee (3) Savannah Sparrow (2) - n. main panne. [(2) - JP boat ramp.] Song Sparrow (~ 5) - singing. Bobolink (1) - North Field. Red-winged Blackbird (1) - North Field. Common Grackle (~ 25) House Finch (1) - roadside, main panne. American Goldfinch - common. House Sparrow
Please take note, during Wednesdays in August, "Wednesday Evening Shorebirding" will be conducted out of Joppa Flats, 5:30 until 7:30. $10 for Mass Audubon members; $12 for nonmembers. Hope to see you there!
We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call David Moon or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998.
Date: 8/2/17 11:57 am From: Pamela Sowizral <psowizral...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Today at Drumlin Farm
Better birding than I expected. I hit a little pocket of birds along one trail - gnatcatcher, blue-wing warbler, Baltimore oriole mixed in with catbirds and robins with a singing indigo bunting behind them. In the Sandpit Field there were 21 bobolinks all sitting in one tree. I saw 33 species total.
We also have some late nesting activity in our bird boxes including a recent clutch of bluebird eggs.
Pam Sowizral
Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm
Lincoln
Wild Turkey 6
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 2
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 1
Barn Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 15
Gray Catbird 9
European Starling 16
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 63
Common Grackle 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 8
Date: 8/2/17 10:18 am From: Marsha Salett <msalett...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] August 2017 Bird Observer now online
Massbirders,
Bird Observer announces that its August 2017 issue is now online at www.birdobserver.org.
Where to Go Birding goes back in time 30 years with a reissue of Nicholas Kumar's "Summer Birding along Realty Road, Aroostook County, Maine" and his "Distinctions between Thre-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers" with new photographs. Articles feature "Canvasbacks at Fresh Pond: Coming or Going?" by Jeffrey Boone Miller, "Bird Sermons: Thomas Green Fessenden and the New England Farmer (18221846)" by Peter W. Oehlkers, and "The Increase in Wintering Hooded Mergansers in New England from 1986 to 2015 as Recorded by the Christmas Bird Counts" by Steve Davis.
The photo essay is "Common Yellowthroat Courtship and Mating Display" by Eric Swanzey. The Field Note describes "Confusing Fall Blackpoll Warbler" by Trevor Lloyd-Evans. We include regular columns by Martha Steele and Mark Lynch, as well as Bird Sightings for March-April 2017 and Wayne Petersen's "At A Glance."
The cover art features Black Skimmers by Ikki Matsumoto.
Date: 8/2/17 6:49 am From: <mresch8702...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Red Crossbill, Pepperell, 8/1
On 8/1 I had a single Red Crossbill fly almost directly overhead while I was in my Pepperell backyard. I heard it call 6 or 7 times giving a sharp "tik" call that I'm used to hearing as what may be a typical call from birds in the northeast, albeit in the winter instead of mid-summer. I would think it was a Type 3 bird, but the calls are so similar that I can't be 100% sure. This is likely part of the local invasion this summer, and the 2nd one I've heard in my neighborhood in the last couple weeks. Though the first bird had a different call which I couldn't assign to "type", but wasn't Type 3.
I know you can record their calls and submit the recordings to experts who can make the ID. But, most of my Red Crossbill sightings are of flyover birds and I doubt I could ever have enough time to wake up my iPhone and start a video recording in time, even for yesterday's bird that was audible for a "long" time - 5 or 6 seconds.
(What will we do if Red Crossbill is split into 10 species?)
Mike Resch www.statebirding.blogspot.com Pepperell. MA
Date: 8/1/17 6:00 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/1/2017 Pointers for Birding at Manomet?
Hi all,
So I was thinking of doing some birding in the next few week at Manomet ( http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L207383) and can't tell from the map, where does one park? Also, where do you actually do the birding? I see there's a Manomet Point and a Stage Point, but there doesn't appear to be a park or anything, is it just a public beach you go on? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated as well.
Date: 8/1/17 5:03 pm From: sean riley <newburyowls...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] eBird -- Belle Isle Marsh Reservation -- Aug 1, 2017
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Aug 1, 2017 5:00 AM
Comments: Good shorebird numbers first thing in the morning feeding in the main salt pans in the main part of the park . Seemed to die down in the heat of the day, but a friend reported numbers picking back up in the afternoon. Also by tomorrow the water level should be back down to a good level in the "key" again. The path around the key is also cleared about 2/3 of the way around, making it very easy to access.
10 Mallard 2 Least Bittern -- Adult with fledged juvenile flushed by peregrine with other shorebirds out of brackish pool. 8 Great Blue Heron -- High numbers of Great blues continue 16 Great Egret 20 Snowy Egret 2 Green Heron 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 10 Glossy Ibis -- Flock in the main salt pans in the park 2 Osprey 2 Black-bellied Plover 20 Semipalmated Plover 5 Killdeer 2 Stilt Sandpiper 40 Least Sandpiper 100 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 6 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Willet 5 Common Tern 1 Chimney Swift 1 Peregrine Falcon 5 Eastern Kingbird -- With fledged young 2 Tree Swallow 10 Cedar Waxwing 2 Savannah Sparrow -- Adult feeding young 2 Northern Cardinal 1 Baltimore Oriole
Date: 8/1/17 12:42 pm From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey62...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] A Relocated MassBirder's Report from VT
After 40 years of birding in Concord and much of eastern Massachusetts, my husband and I last month relocated to his family homestead in Marlboro, VT (just 8 miles north of the western Mass. border). He and I met at Marlboro College some 40+ years ago and this is where my botanical and birding passions truely took hold. Returning here older, wiser, and more field experienced, I’ve been made dizzy in just these last two weeks by the wildness and diversity that abounds on just our 45 acres of meadow and woodlands…much of it witnessed right from our kitchen window and back porch. In the wake of climate change, I’ve been relieved to find certain wildflowers (wetland orchids especially) and birds right where I remember encountering them in the ’70’s and still largely unencroached by invasive plant spread.
Doug Chickering’s report of a broad-wings over his yard this week, prompted me to write and share my gratitude for a bounty of birds and wildlife that has surprised me here. My “yard” list doesn’t begin to convey the range of behaviors, interactions, and encounters we’ve enjoyed watching the birds range from apple trees to porch post to forest edges through the insect rich open space above 10+ acres of wet and dry meadow. A broad wing busily hunting about the field edges; an indigo bunting singing in our windows from dawn to dusk; phoebe families in daily acrobatic flights chasing gnats, moths, and each other above the grasses; a turkey vulture (apparently resident) setting down on three separate days in newly mown areas of our yard and field to walk and forage; a daily abundance of bird species, songs, and antics that astounds; and turkeys, of course. To top it off, our second week here, I heard and saw a Cerulean warbler twice in our woodlands (one reported on Wantastiquet by several Brattleboro area birders last year). And not one house sparrow, house finch, starling, or cowbird anywhere in sight!
Butterfly diversity and numbers have also been incredible in the mowing and all habitats here these last two weeks, with 10+ monarch individuals and counting.
Looking forward to joining more western Massbirders on future forays!
“YARD” LIST
(45 acres, but most seen and heard from our back porch overlooking meadow)
Turkey vulture (soaring and feeding in meadow)
Broad-winged hawk (resident pair, and offspring)
Turkey (family)
Mourning dove
Chimney swift (visiting?)
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Downy woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker
Northern flicker (family)
Eastern wood pewee
Eastern phoebe (families)
Eastern kingbird
Red-eyed vireo
Blue jay (families)
American crow (pair)
Tree swallows
Black-capped chickadee
White-breasted nuthatch
Tufted titmouse
Winter wren
Hermit thrush
American robin
Cedar waxwings
White-breasted nuthatch
Yellow warbler
Cerulean warbler* !!!! (seen and heard)
Black-throated green warbler
Ovenbird
Common yellowthroat
Scarlet tanager
Indigo bunting
Chipping sparrow
Song sparrow
Northern cardinal
American goldfinch
I’ll continue to lead programs in the Concord area in the future, but also look forward to savoring, documenting, and sharing my new wild community.
Date: 8/1/17 8:24 am From: Bill Lafley <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Harvard Pond - flycatchers
Hello,
Took a walk this AM along the W side of Harvard Pond in Petersham. In a shrubby clearing with scattered tall trees there were 5 species of flycatchers, E. Kingbird, E. Phoebe, Least (it called a few times), Great Crested and E. Pewee, all hawking insects in a group of 3 or 4 scattered tall trees. There was also 4 Cedar Waxwings and a female Scarlet Tanager in the same group of trees. On the flats in the pond there was 3 Solitary Sandpipers, a Least Sandpiper and 2 Killdeer.
Date: 8/1/17 6:22 am From: Mary <lemmel...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sora West Roxbury
Hello,
Sorry not to have the location in for the Sora. Millennium Park, West Roxbury.
From the lower lot just walk along the blacktop path past the boat ramp. Stay on the hard top. When the creek is on your left and you've passed that big stand alone tree in the reeds (the live one) look for the dead tree crossing the creek and it was to the right of it. Where the black-crown night herons were hanging around last summer.
Date: 8/1/17 5:01 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Yellow-Crowned Night Herons
I was delighted to see two, an adult and a juvenile, in the marsh behind our house in Dartmouth yesterday. We had three young ones last summer, but I have not seen any in the marsh so far this year, although I know an adult has been on private property nearby.
-- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA
Thanks for the rundown Josh. I am a little rusty on my sphinx moths. I was unaware of the feeding preference but it makes sense. With good rain (finally) our L. sempervirens is going to town and I see the adults on it all the time.
Charlie Patterson
Norwell, Ma
<chaspatt...>
Sent From Middle Earth
From: Josh
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 8:14 PM
To: massbird
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth
The two species of Hemaris sp. clearwing moths mentioned both feed on plants of the honeysuckle family as caterpillars. I’ve seen Snowberry Clearwing hornworms on Japanese Honeysuckle but they strongly prefer the native Coral (Lonicera sempervirens). BugGuide (a citizen science website for terrestrial arthropods) also mentions hawthorn, snowberry, and viburnum as larval hosts for the Hummingbird Clearwing, and snowberry, dogbane, and the native bush-honeysuckle Diervilla for the Snowberry. Massachusetts also has a third species, the Slender Clearwing (H. gracilis), which closely resembles the Snowberry, but whose hornworms feed on various species of blueberry and laurel.
For anyone interested in these, but not comfortable with the non-native Butterfly Bush, the adult hummingbird moths are also extremely fond of various species of Bee Balm (Monarda sp.). As are real hummingbirds (hey, look, I managed to mention an actual bird!), and also Monarchs.
On Jul 30, 2017, at 7:33 PM, Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...> wrote:
Both species of hummingbird moths common in Massachusetts (hummingbird clearwing and snowberry clearwing) are related to tomato hornworms, but tomato hornworms are the larval form of the five-spotted hawk moth. Hummingbird moths and the five-spotted hawk moth are members of the sphinx moth family.
The two species of Hemaris sp. clearwing moths mentioned both feed on plants of the honeysuckle family as caterpillars. I’ve seen Snowberry Clearwing hornworms on Japanese Honeysuckle but they strongly prefer the native Coral (Lonicera sempervirens). BugGuide (a citizen science website for terrestrial arthropods) also mentions hawthorn, snowberry, and viburnum as larval hosts for the Hummingbird Clearwing, and snowberry, dogbane, and the native bush-honeysuckle Diervilla for the Snowberry. Massachusetts also has a third species, the Slender Clearwing (H. gracilis), which closely resembles the Snowberry, but whose hornworms feed on various species of blueberry and laurel.
For anyone interested in these, but not comfortable with the non-native Butterfly Bush, the adult hummingbird moths are also extremely fond of various species of Bee Balm (Monarda sp.). As are real hummingbirds (hey, look, I managed to mention an actual bird!), and also Monarchs.
> On Jul 30, 2017, at 7:33 PM, Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...> wrote:
>
> Both species of hummingbird moths common in Massachusetts (hummingbird clearwing and snowberry clearwing) are related to tomato hornworms, but tomato hornworms are the larval form of the five-spotted hawk moth. Hummingbird moths and the five-spotted hawk moth are members of the sphinx moth family.
>
> C. Fisher
> Lee, NH
We have quite a few H. thysbe this year for some reason. No complaints. They are pretty cool to watch. I think the tomato horn worm is Manduca quinquemaculata though, which is quite a bit bigger and does not have clear spots. Can be mistaken for hummingbirds at a distance. I have done this😊
Charlie Patterson
Norwell, Ma
<chaspatt...>
Sent From Middle Earth
From: Peter Trull
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 7:17 PM
To: G M ARCHAMBAULT; Daan Sandee; <massbird...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth
The Clear-winged Sphinx Hemaris thysbe is a widespread nectaring moth. The big green tomato hornworm caterpillar is the larval stage of this moth. Adult moths are frequently seen in numbers on butterfly bush, which has recently been determined as an invasive species.
Peter Trull
Brewster
<petrull...>
From: G M ARCHAMBAULT
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 6:21 PM
To: Daan Sandee ; <massbird...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth
I'm curious about Daan's photo, since I happened to be watching my own video of apparently the same species of Hemaris moth in Ethiopia, so I checked and they appear to be identical in the abdomen pattern. As far as I know, this species is an Old World species. There are about 2 dozen Hemaris moth species worldwide, with 4 or 5 reported from North America, but I am not sure which species is in Daan's photo. Daan, can you verify this photo was taken in Massachusetts? Thanks. Does anyone on this listserv have any expertise or intel re the Hemaris group? Thank you. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama
On Sunday, July 30, 2017 3:41 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote:
Date: 7/30/17 4:57 pm From: DOUGLAS E CHICKERING <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Always Birding
Massbirders:
One of the realities of being a birder is that you soon become accustomed to the fact that part of your mind is always birding. How many of us have been awaken in the midst of deep sleep by the quiet low trill of a Screech Owl, or have found ourselves among non-birders during a social situation, suddenly stopping a comment in mid-sentence when your unconscious birder self spots some movement in a tree at the edge of the party. The depth of our passion means that over the years we gather a large reservoir of knowledge which manifests itself in surprising and unexpected ways. We bird sometimes when we don’t even know we are birding.
This afternoon (July 30) I was sitting in our living room watching the Red Sox blow another lead when I slowly became aware of a sound intruding into my consciousness. It was a high pitched, almost inaudible scream coming from outside, and above. It took a few seconds for my mind to process the noise and to realize it was the high-pitched call of a Broad-winged Hawk. I picked up my binoculars and walked out on the deck. The bird called again and again and finally appeared from behind the high oak in the yard and briefly banked into an arc and disappeared. It was a hawk, it was a buteo but the lighting was not great and I was still basing my identification by that call. Then I heard a second call, far off to my right and immediately after that a third call, directly overhead. I stepped farther out onto the deck and sure enough there was a hawk directly overhead and close. I put up my binoculars and became reasonably certain that this was a broad-winged. How! ever, it was a juvenal so the tail banding was faint as was the black at the wing tips. Oddly in this bird there appeared to be a translucence that one would associate with a Red-shouldered Hawk. But to me the wings were not the shape of a Red-shouldered. Then this bird was joined by another, only higher up and when I got on this bird it accommodated by calling. Some of the field marks on both hawks were unclear but the call was clear, unmistakable and diagnostic.
I shouldn’t have been surprised by this birds for I have had them here, above the yard, circling the woods and houses around us now for four days; and as they have last year and the year before. Broad-winged Hawk. Not a bad yard bird.
In a similar exciting moment of recognition this morning Lois and I were poking around some of our local patches, intending to avoid the Sunday crowds at Plum Island. We drove down to the end of Crane Neck Road. Finding nothing at the two gates we turned around and drove slowly back. Just before we hit the school bus turn-around a big black bird flew across the road and into the trees on the left. My first instinct was Crow. It was black and big but immediately I knew something was wrong, for this big black bird flew to the trunk of a large tree on the roadside. Crows don’t land on trunks. And sure enough after a short search I found the Pileated Woodpecker. It was a male and soon he was joined by a female. We had never seen a Pileated in this area before. It is clear to me that Pileated Woodpecker is getting easier and easier to find, at least in our immediate area. My unscientific opinion is that their population is increasing.
incidentally, the date on those photos was July 30, 2007 - ten years ago today. I don't think I've seen one since, but I'm sure I'd seen one before. -- Daan
Both species of hummingbird moths common in Massachusetts (hummingbird clearwing and snowberry clearwing) are related to tomato hornworms, but tomato hornworms are the larval form of the five-spotted hawk moth. Hummingbird moths and the five-spotted hawk moth are members of the sphinx moth family.
C. Fisher Lee, NH
On Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 6:55 PM, Peter Trull <petrull...> wrote:
> The Clear-winged Sphinx *Hemaris thysbe *is a widespread nectaring moth. > The big green tomato hornworm caterpillar is the larval stage of this > moth. Adult moths are frequently seen in numbers on butterfly bush, which > has recently been determined as an invasive species. > Peter Trull > Brewster > <petrull...> > > *From:* G M ARCHAMBAULT <gm72125...> > *Sent:* Sunday, July 30, 2017 6:21 PM > *To:* Daan Sandee <sandee...> ; <massbird...> > *Subject:* Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth > > I'm curious about Daan's photo, since I happened to be watching my own > video of apparently the same species of Hemaris moth in Ethiopia, so I > checked and they appear to be identical in the abdomen pattern. As far as > I know, this species is an Old World species. There are about 2 dozen > Hemaris moth species worldwide, with 4 or 5 reported from North America, > but I am not sure which species is in Daan's photo. Daan, can you verify > this photo was taken in Massachusetts? Thanks. Does anyone on this > listserv have any expertise or intel re the Hemaris group? Thank you. -Ken > Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama > > > On Sunday, July 30, 2017 3:41 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote: > > > http://theworld.com/~sandee/jpg/hmot1.jpg > http://theworld.com/~sandee/jpg/hmot2.jpg > > handheld, out of the kitchen window. > Posted to Massbird, with a "Subject: New ABA species ?" > That was in 2007. > > Daan Sandee > Gloucester, MA > <ssndee...> > > > >
The Clear-winged Sphinx Hemaris thysbe is a widespread nectaring moth. The big green tomato hornworm caterpillar is the larval stage of this moth. Adult moths are frequently seen in numbers on butterfly bush, which has recently been determined as an invasive species.
Peter Trull
Brewster
<petrull...>
From: G M ARCHAMBAULT
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 6:21 PM
To: Daan Sandee ; <massbird...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth
I'm curious about Daan's photo, since I happened to be watching my own video of apparently the same species of Hemaris moth in Ethiopia, so I checked and they appear to be identical in the abdomen pattern. As far as I know, this species is an Old World species. There are about 2 dozen Hemaris moth species worldwide, with 4 or 5 reported from North America, but I am not sure which species is in Daan's photo. Daan, can you verify this photo was taken in Massachusetts? Thanks. Does anyone on this listserv have any expertise or intel re the Hemaris group? Thank you. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama
On Sunday, July 30, 2017 3:41 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote:
Date: 7/30/17 3:28 pm From: G M ARCHAMBAULT <gm72125...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth
I'm curious about Daan's photo, since I happened to be watching my own video of apparently the same species of Hemaris moth in Ethiopia, so I checked and they appear to be identical in the abdomen pattern. As far as I know, this species is an Old World species. There are about 2 dozen Hemaris moth species worldwide, with 4 or 5 reported from North America, but I am not sure which species is in Daan's photo. Daan, can you verify this photo was taken in Massachusetts? Thanks. Does anyone on this listserv have any expertise or intel re the Hemaris group? Thank you. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama
On Sunday, July 30, 2017 3:41 PM, Daan Sandee <sandee...> wrote:
Date: 7/30/17 12:16 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Halibut Point SP, Rockport, Jul 30, 2017: BROWN PELICAN
> Halibut Point SP, Rockport > Jul 30, 2017 8:25 AM - 10:25 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 1.25 mile(s) > Comments: Miles Brengle and I birded Halibut Pt. Highlight was a > (the) BROWN PELICAN! > 31 species > > Mallard 11 > Common Eider 1 > Wilson's Storm-Petrel 1 > Northern Gannet 6 all ages > Double-crested Cormorant 9 > Brown Pelican 1 Continuing immature bird flew right past us as we > stood on the rocks. Large brown pelican-like bird (because it was a > pelican), showing plain brown coloration and a huge bill with a pouch. I > was looking through my scope when Miles spotted it and yelled at the top > of his voice: PELICAN!! That silhouette is unmistakable, as I have seen > thousands of these birds in the south (but never in the north). I've > never said this before, but this time I will: STATE BIRD! WOO-HOO! > Ruddy Turnstone 2 > Least Sandpiper 1 > Spotted Sandpiper 3 > Bonaparte's Gull 4 > Ring-billed Gull 10 > Herring Gull 35 > Great Black-backed Gull 20 > Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5 > Mourning Dove 4 > Downy Woodpecker 1 > Eastern Kingbird 1 > Blue Jay 11 > American Crow 5 > Tree Swallow 15 > Barn Swallow 2 > Black-capped Chickadee 5 > Tufted Titmouse 1 > House Wren 1 > American Robin 3 > Gray Catbird 9 > Magnolia Warbler 1 > Chipping Sparrow 2 > Eastern Towhee 1 > American Goldfinch 6 > House Sparrow 2 > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38394673
A little off this listserv subject but....! Mbers, My wife called all excited to report she just saw a Hummingbird Moth while waiting in line at the Village Restaurant in Essex. There was a man taking close up pictures of it that piqued her interest to investigate and he told her what he was looking at. Not sure of any significance but I don't remember ever reading about this species here. Sorry for any "trespassing"....! Joe Paluzzi
Date: 7/30/17 6:49 am From: mab <brenglema...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brown Pelican - Rockport - 7/30
Massbird,
The continuing immature Brown Pelican just flew by Halibut Point in Rockport at close range heading south and out of sight at 9:35 am. -- Miles Brengle Ipswich, Mass. <brenglema...>
Date: 7/30/17 5:04 am From: Suzanne Sullivan <swampy435...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Status of Great Black-backed Gulls
Hey Massbirders,
Thought some might find this article interesting. We are lucky to have one
of the most impressive and largest of all gulls in the world in our
state/country. Great Black-backed Gulls numbers have been dropping
unfortunately. So I thought this article might be of interest to some
people.
--
Suzanne M. Sullivan
Wilmington, MA
<swampy435...>
"The self evident vision of who we are as a free and caring nation, and the
ideal to fulfill this destiny is stronger than the division of those who's
only vision is of themselves. “ SMB
Date: 7/29/17 12:21 pm From: Nash, Matthew (DCR) <matthew.nash...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] WINTHROP BEACH & BELLE ISLE MARSH fREE Natural History Programs August 2017
North Region Coastal District
Department of Conservation and Recreation
One Eliot Circle Contact: Matthew Nash Revere, MA 02151 (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105
Date July 21, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Find yourself in a DCR State Park
Winthrop\East Boston\Rockport
Join a DCR Park interpreter to learn about the wonderful natural history of your state parks. All Programs are FREE and open to the public. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For program cancellations phone 978-937-2094 ext. 121, one hour before start time. Rain Cancels. Bring Water. Strongly recommend sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and footwear suitable for walking on the beach, and on paths. For more information phone (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105 or email <Matthew.Nash...> For a listing of programs at other DCR state parks visit www.mass.gov/DCR .
Avian Delights Tuesdays, August 1 & 15 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Evening) Fridays, August 4 & 18 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Morning) Saturdays, August 12 & 26 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Afternoon) Observe migrating shorebirds and learn about their adaptations for survival as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to one mile. Terrain can be uneven. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them.
Beachcomber Scavenger Hunt Wednesdays, August 9 & 23 9:00-10:00 a.m. Did you know that marine snails are like sharks because they have rows of sharp teeth that they use to devour their prey? Learn about the fascinating lives of sea animals and discover new treasures of vacant shells as we walk on the beach sand for a distance of up to half a mile. Terrain can be uneven.
Nature Story time Exploration Fridays, August 11 & 25 9:00 -10:00 a.m. Listen to a nature themed childrens story followed by an exploration of nature. Recommended for children ages 4-10. Bring a towel, blanket or beach chair to sit on.
Meet at: Winthrop Beach on Winthrop Shore Drive across from Sturgis Street and 62 Winthrop Shore Drive, Winthrop, MA. On street parking is available free of charge. Accessible by Public Transportation: Paul Revere Transportation bus 712 or 713 Point Shirley-Orient Heights, arrive at the Winthrop Beach stop then walk down Sturgis Street, Winthrop MA (If traveling from outside Winthrop, board the bus at the MBTA Orient Heights station on the blue line). Visit www.MBTA.com for bus and train information (schedule, route and fees).
Co-sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
An Oasis for Wildlife Saturdays, August 5 & 19 8:15 -9:15 a.m. Discover the abundant birdlife at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, a restored wildlife sanctuary. We will walk while birding for a distance of a mile on easy level terrain. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them. Reasonable accommodations available upon request.
Meet at: Main Parking lot near the bulletin board, located on Bennington Street, East Boston between address 1236 Bennington St., East Boston and 173 Bennington St., Revere. Parking is on a paved lot and is free of charge. Accessible by public transportation: MBTA Blue line, Beachmont Station. Exit station, turn right, at intersection cross State Road/Bennington Street, travel right along Bennington Street to park entrance on the left. Visit www.MBTA.com for bus and train information.
Co-sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh.
Short Beach
What Lies Beneath the Sea Saturday, August 12 9:00 -10:30 a.m. Did you know that a barnacle is an animal that sweeps its legs through the water to catch its food consisting of tiny floating plants and animals? Discover what animals lay beneath the sea on this tide pool exploration and learn how these animals struggle for survival and satisfy their voracious appetites. Be prepared for walking on rocky and slippery ground and getting your feet wet. Some nets will be provided but bring a net if you have one.
Meet at: Short Beach section of Winthrop Shores Reservation, Winthrop, MA. (Beachside on the sidewalk near the boundary between Revere Street, Winthrop, MA and Winthrop Parkway, Revere MA). Parking is free of charge but limited on the street and in a small lot across the street.
Co-sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh.
Halibut Point State Park
Birding 101 Sunday, August 20 8:00 -10:00 a.m. Join us on a two-hour walk over easy to moderate trails in search of seasonal specialties. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Boots are advisable. Please bring your binoculars and if you are able to a spotting scope to share. For more information, contact <Peter...>
Date: 7/29/17 11:47 am From: Constance Lapite <peteorconstance...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Andrew's Point Brown Pelican
One Brown pelican on the breakwater as of 2:10 pm today. Visible from the end of Long Branch looking east-ish. Long look, but I think it is a juvenile. Not much else out here so far.
Date: 7/28/17 1:54 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hunsley Hills, Rowley, Jul 28, 2017
> Hunsley Hills, Rowley > Jul 28, 2017 9:30 AM - 11:40 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 1.5 mile(s) > Comments: First time I have birded in this place on the south side of > Rt. 133 since Atlas 2. It consists of steep, wooded, mostly deciduous > hillsides and a powerline cut along the southwest edge, crossing one of > the two hilltops. > 16 species > > Downy Woodpecker 2 One juv, with red on crown, making it (probably) a > male. Kilham (1983) wrote that some females of both downies and hairies > also show red crowns as juveniles, but apparently only a few. > Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 > Eastern Wood-Pewee 5 > Eastern Phoebe 2 > Blue Jay 2 > American Crow 1 > Tree Swallow 1 > Black-capped Chickadee 11 > Tufted Titmouse 11 > White-breasted Nuthatch 3 > House Wren 4 family group on powerline > American Robin 2 > Pine Warbler 3 > Eastern Towhee 9 in the forest as well as on the powerline > Indigo Bunting 2 Female feeding a fledgling on powerline. The young > one had a blue rump and a hint of blue on the wings, so I'm leaning toward > a male. > American Goldfinch 2 > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38362539
Date: 7/28/17 9:07 am From: Mark Faherty <mfaherty...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] WHITE IBISES Wellfleet Bay now
Volunteer Jeanette Bragger just showed me photos of two imm White Ibises currently in the marsh below the center.
*********************************************************************
Mark Faherty
Science Coordinator
Mass Audubon/Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
PO Box 236, State Highway Route 6
South Wellfleet, MA 02663
508-349-2615 x-110 fax: 508-349-2632
email: <mfaherty...><mailto:<mfaherty...> website: www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay<http://www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay> http://www.facebook.com/MassAudubonWellfleetBay Protecting the Nature of Massachusetts
In addition to the Monarchs, you can get into raising other caterpillars which are just as beautiful, and big, and need the help even more, the giant silkworm moths (Luna, Polyphemus, Cecropia, Promethea, et al), a.k.a. Saturniids or “Sats” for short. Several birders (and a few non-birders) who belong to the aforementioned MassLep e-mail list raise crops of these every year, and are always happy to give newcomers free advice, and sometimes a few surplus eggs or caterpillars for them to get started…
> On Jul 27, 2017, at 8:18 PM, <sffaulkner...> wrote:
>
> I wanted to encourage birders to raise the monarch caterpillars inside, if you're able. The caterpillars are predated rather heavily and we can help the populations by raising them indoors and releasing them once they emerge from their crysali. I've done this many time successfully. Depending on temperature, it can take anywhere from a week to two weeks if you bring in the leaves with eggs, giving fresh asclepias leaves daily and being careful not to discard the tiny caterpillars. And fun to watch them grow!
>
> Sarah Faulkner
> Collinsville, CT
I wanted to encourage birders to raise the monarch caterpillars inside, if you're able. The caterpillars are predated rather heavily and we can help the populations by raising them indoors and releasing them once they emerge from their crysali. I've done this many time successfully. Depending on temperature, it can take anywhere from a week to two weeks if you bring in the leaves with eggs, giving fresh asclepias leaves daily and being careful not to discard the tiny caterpillars. And fun to watch them grow!
Sarah Faulkner
Collinsville, CT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Josh" <opihi...>
To: "MassBird" <massbird...>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2017 6:37:30 PM
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] monarch butterflies
Hi Robert,
You were not wrong. My wife’s garden is currently populated - some would say infested - with Asclepias syriaca, maybe 2 dozen plants or so, and is in its third consecutive year of producing Monarch caterpillars and, hopefully, butterflies. We’ve found chrysalises each of the past two summers, and have at least three caterpillars out there now. I have heard that the Monarch prefers A. tuberosa and A. incarnata when those host species are available, but they will take syriaca if that’s all they can find.
BTW, there is a separate e-mail list for discussion of Massachusetts butterflies. I know that MassBird chief Barbara Volkle is a big butterfly fan and probably will not object to the occasional mention of them here, but if you want to discuss the topic more frequently or in-depth, here is the home of that other list:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/MassLep
On Jul 27, 2017, at 2:38 PM, Robert Mussey < <mussey.robert...> > wrote:
For the first time in years, we've had a good number of monarch butterflies this year, perhaps 8-10 so far. They are attracted to the native milkweed species we've planted, especially swap milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata ) which is blooming right now, and orange butterflyweed ( Asclepias tuberosa ) which is just finishing blooming. They won't come near the common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) we have let go wild here, and which I had always associated with monarchs, perhaps wrongly.
Both tuberosa (dry sandy, well-drained soils) and incarnata (damp spots, or water regularly) are fairly easy to establish and will self seed to some extent, which has allowed us to increase the size of our milkweed patches.
So, a perhaps little hope here on one front of an otherwise depressing decline.
You were not wrong. My wife’s garden is currently populated - some would say infested - with Asclepias syriaca, maybe 2 dozen plants or so, and is in its third consecutive year of producing Monarch caterpillars and, hopefully, butterflies. We’ve found chrysalises each of the past two summers, and have at least three caterpillars out there now. I have heard that the Monarch prefers A. tuberosa and A. incarnata when those host species are available, but they will take syriaca if that’s all they can find.
BTW, there is a separate e-mail list for discussion of Massachusetts butterflies. I know that MassBird chief Barbara Volkle is a big butterfly fan and probably will not object to the occasional mention of them here, but if you want to discuss the topic more frequently or in-depth, here is the home of that other list:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/MassLep <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/MassLep>
> On Jul 27, 2017, at 2:38 PM, Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> wrote:
>
> For the first time in years, we've had a good number of monarch butterflies this year, perhaps 8-10 so far. They are attracted to the native milkweed species we've planted, especially swap milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) which is blooming right now, and orange butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which is just finishing blooming. They won't come near the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) we have let go wild here, and which I had always associated with monarchs, perhaps wrongly.
>
> Both tuberosa (dry sandy, well-drained soils) and incarnata (damp spots, or water regularly) are fairly easy to establish and will self seed to some extent, which has allowed us to increase the size of our milkweed patches.
>
> So, a perhaps little hope here on one front of an otherwise depressing decline.
>
> Robert Mussey
> near the Blue Hills, Milton
I too have seen more monarchs this year than the last several, including 7 on plum island yesterday. then today i found THIRTEEN caterpillars on our common milkweed plants (A. syriaca), all tiny. i had given up even looking for them until this year. how great it is to see them possibly bouncing back, despite such a small sample. we'll be monitoring them for sure.
Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. <jim.berry3...>
----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Mussey" <mussey.robert...> To: <massbird...> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2017 2:38 PM Subject: [MASSBIRD] monarch butterflies
> For the first time in years, we've had a good number of monarch > butterflies > this year, perhaps 8-10 so far. They are attracted to the native milkweed > species we've planted, especially swamp milkweed (*Asclepias incarnata*) > which is blooming right now, and orange butterflyweed (*Asclepias > tuberosa*) > which is just finishing blooming. They won't come near the common > milkweed (*Asclepias > syriaca*) we have let go wild here, and which I had always associated with > monarchs, perhaps wrongly. > > Both *tuberosa* (dry sandy, well-drained soils) and *incarnata* (damp > spots, or water regularly) are fairly easy to establish and will self seed > to some extent, which has allowed us to increase the size of our milkweed > patches. > > So, a perhaps little hope here on one front of an otherwise depressing > decline. > > Robert Mussey > near the Blue Hills, Milton >
Date: 7/27/17 11:45 am From: Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] monarch butterflies
For the first time in years, we've had a good number of monarch butterflies this year, perhaps 8-10 so far. They are attracted to the native milkweed species we've planted, especially swap milkweed (*Asclepias incarnata*) which is blooming right now, and orange butterflyweed (*Asclepias tuberosa*) which is just finishing blooming. They won't come near the common milkweed (*Asclepias syriaca*) we have let go wild here, and which I had always associated with monarchs, perhaps wrongly.
Both *tuberosa* (dry sandy, well-drained soils) and *incarnata* (damp spots, or water regularly) are fairly easy to establish and will self seed to some extent, which has allowed us to increase the size of our milkweed patches.
So, a perhaps little hope here on one front of an otherwise depressing decline.
Date: 7/27/17 8:10 am From: Alan & Ruth Bragg <alan.ruth.bragg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Jul 27, 2017
Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US
Jul 27, 2017 6:00 AM - 10:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Weekly survey by NWR volunteers Will, Maryellen, Larry,
Soheil, Tom, Audrey, Alan, Melani and Ginger
49 species
Canada Goose 47
Wood Duck 8
Mallard 5
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Least Bittern 2 M
Great Blue Heron 10
Green Heron 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Willow Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 3
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 10
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 24
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Marsh Wren 22 Careful count
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 7
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Am imm
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 44
Common Grackle 27
Baltimore Oriole 2
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 1
Date: 7/27/17 7:40 am From: Simon Bunyard <simon...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Duxbury and Plymouth Beaches
This is my first post to MassBird, so I apologize in advance if I am breaching some protocol.
I want to visit Duxbury and/or Plymouth beaches next week to photograph the shore birds there. I understand it is a really good place to do so. Can anyone offer suggestions of the best places to go that will afford a good vantage point without bothering the birds too much?
Date: 7/26/17 8:44 pm From: Craig Gibson <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird Island, Marion - Photos!
Made a recent visit by kayak around Bird Island in Marion to review the completion of the habitat restoration.....very impressive with loads of Common and Roseate Terns all around!
On June 21, 2017, the completion of an important island stabilization and endangered tern habitat restoration project on Bird Island was the focus of a gathering of federal, state, and local officials in the Town of Marion. Rising 10 feet above sea level, Bird Island has experienced erosion which drastically reduced critical nesting habitats for one of the largest populations of federally endangered terns in the country and threatened the historic lighthouse on the island (built in 1819). For well over a decade, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) within the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has been working with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Town of Marion to stabilize the island, increase tern nesting habitat, and protect the lighthouse.
Bird Island hosts critically important nesting habitat for approximately 1,100 nesting pairs of federally endangered Roseate Terns. "This island is one of only three major Roseate Tern colonies in North America and one of two in Massachusetts," said MassWildlife Director Jack Buckley. "The Bird Island population represents 30% of the entire North American Roseate Tern population and 60% of the state's population. It's no surprise that this project is one of the highest priority restoration efforts on both the state and federal level." In addition, 2,500 pairs of Common Terns, a state listed endangered species, also nest on Bird Island. Over many years, the low lying graveled areas where terns prefer to nest began to flood and the amount of usable nesting space began to shrink. As the interior island areas flooded, former tern nesting areas turned into salt marsh, unsuitable for tern nesting. The more aggressive Common Terns responded by displacing Roseate Terns on the limite! d remaining nesting areas. Continued erosion also threatened the lighthouse and island itself.
To address these problems, the seawall around most of the island was redesigned and rebuilt to address projected sea level rise and reduce erosion. Gravel fill suitable for tern nesting raised the low areas, replacing the salt marsh habitat and adding additional tern nesting area. Native plants providing shade for terns were planted. A natural gravel road and pad around the lighthouse will physically support equipment needed to maintain the lighthouse.
Date: 7/26/17 1:50 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Jul 26, 2017
> Parker River National Wildlife Refuge > Jul 26, 2017 7:00 AM - 11:20 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 6.5 mile(s) > Comments: Nate Dubrow and I birded the refuge to Stage Island Pool > (SIP). Most of the shorebirds were in Bill Forward Pool (BFP). > Highlights were 2 least bitterns (of 3 seen by Wetmore et al.), 6 stilt > sandpipers, and a hudsonian godwit. > 54 species (+1 other taxon) > > Canada Goose 22 > Mute Swan 5 family of 5 in salt marsh > Mallard 30 > Double-crested Cormorant 93 > Least Bittern 2 Female in North Pool (NP), adult male in BFP. The > latter put on quite a show stalking the north edge of the pool in plain > sight. > Great Blue Heron 9 > Great Egret 11 > Snowy Egret 47 > Black-crowned Night-Heron 5 First-summer bird in PI River at boat > ramp and 4 juvs on salt-marsh side of BFP dike. > Turkey Vulture 2 > Osprey 6 5 adults plus at least one visible nestling on platform near > gate > rail/crake sp. 1 Odd-sounding rail in NP sounded off only once. Not > much to go on. > Semipalmated Plover 25 > Killdeer 10 > Hudsonian Godwit 1 adult in BFP > Stilt Sandpiper 6 together in BFP > Least Sandpiper 10 > Semipalmated Sandpiper 40 Rough estimate. Tide was low and not many > shorebirds in the impoundments (SIP was barren) > Short-billed Dowitcher 68 > Spotted Sandpiper 1 > Greater Yellowlegs 42 > Willet (Eastern) 3 > Lesser Yellowlegs 10 > Herring Gull 15 > Great Black-backed Gull 1 > Least Tern 12 > Common Tern 4 > Mourning Dove 10 5 apparent pairs > Willow Flycatcher 4 > Eastern Kingbird 13 > Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 > Purple Martin 17 including 5 young in 2 nests > Tree Swallow 1500 Building up but not that numerous yet. > Bank Swallow 1 > Barn Swallow 5 > Black-capped Chickadee 3 > Marsh Wren 12 Most in salt marsh (we did not walk the NP boardwalk). > American Robin 16 > Gray Catbird 15 > Brown Thrasher 1 > Northern Mockingbird 4 > European Starling 450 > Cedar Waxwing 8 > Common Yellowthroat 4 > Yellow Warbler 1 > Saltmarsh Sparrow 9 > Song Sparrow 20 > Swamp Sparrow 1 > Eastern Towhee 9 > Northern Cardinal 2 > Bobolink 1 > Red-winged Blackbird 7 > Common Grackle 10 > American Goldfinch 6 > House Sparrow 10 > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38332691
Date: 7/26/17 11:35 am From: DOUGLAS E CHICKERING <dovekie...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Some Mid-summer Notes
Massbirders:
Today the target bird turned out to be Hudsonian Godwit. When Lois and I started out this morning we naturally went to Plum Island but didn’t really have a definite target bird. That all changed when I stranger pulled up beside me in his car. I was looking in the bushes by the second large oak in the S Curves, watching a peculiar looking passerine that I eventually decided was a very young Towhee. He asked me what I was looking at and then casually informed me he had just come from Hellcat and there was an Hudsonian Godwit in the Bill Forward pool. Of course, this immediately reached the status of target bird and Lois and I headed to Hellcat. Up on the main dike leading to the tower at Hellcat I met two of my birding friends, Bob Murphy and Steve Babbit. Steve pointed out the Godwit, feeding furiously just beyond the central sandy island in the middle of the Bill Forward pool. The lighting was problematical and the distance would have challenged binocula! rs but not my scope. It was clearly a godwit; the size of the bird and the long slightly upturned bill were diagnostic. Some further careful scrutiny was able to eliminate a possible Marbled Godwit. It was back to us occasionally and frequently plunging its beak into the water and displaying white undertail coverts and lower belly. The rest of the bird just appeared dark. No doubt, Hudsonian Godwit and not only my first of the year but the first one I can remember seeing reported.
While watching the Godwit we were somewhat surprised when a Least Bittern flew from the North Pool, skimming the top of the dike, only a few yards away and then flying straight into the phrags of Bill Forward Pool. Bob and Steve remarked the bird had been flying back and forth between the two pools occasionally for a while. Shortly after the Bittern disappeared into the phrags we could hear a second Least Bittern, calling from the vegetation in the south-east corner of the North Pool. The chaps assured me this too had been going on before I arrived. Steve even told me of a report of someone seeing three Least Bitterns in the area. Least Bittern has been active here for a couple of weeks now; reminiscent of several decades ago and a welcome repeat of those days.
About a half hour later Lois and I pulled into the North Pool Overlook which overlooks the north end of the North Pool. I hauled out my scope for I wanted to scan the cattails on the opposite side of the pool where the Swallows like to congregate. I was hoping I might score a Rough-winged Swallow, which has eluded me all year. Just as I started to scan the other side a Least Bittern flew out of the cattails and down the edge then flew back into the heavy foliage. My immediate thought was “how many Least Bitterns are there in the North Pool anyway?” The North Pool is fairly extensive but not exceptionally large as fresh water marshes go. And if I saw two and hear one in under an hour I can only wonder how many are there throughout the marsh.
A while back I saw an unusual (for me) sight at the Pans on Plum Island. There was a Least Tern feeding there, as they are apt to do. I deduce that they are probably nesting on the beach just to the east of the Pans for one can see them feeding in the Pans shallows pretty regularly. However, this particular Least Tern seems to have offended a few of the Tree Swallows that also proliferate this area. They attacked him constantly and mercilessly as he attempted to feed so much so he beat a retreat. Tree Swallows feed on insects most of the time and gorge themselves with bayberries in late summer. Least Terns are fish eaters so it seems unlikely they were fighting over food accessibility. The Tree Swallows nest nearby but I have seen scores of Least Terns feeding here since early spring and there never was trouble. This sudden burst of violent aggression is a mystery to me. Just another one of those curious events that one comes across in a day’s birding.
In years when Cory's Shearwaters are recorded close to shore off Gooseberry Neck, MA, and Jamestown, RI, many are found in Vineyard Sound, as far north as Quicks and Robinsons Holes between the Elizabeth Islands. During these occurrences, there are a few in the Buzzards Bay waters off Pasque and Nashawena Islands. I've never seen Cory's farther north. It's possible that the Cory's Shearwaters off Gooseberry Neck were in Vineyard Sound later that day or the next.
In June, Sooty Shearwaters can be seen as far north as 2-3 miles off the shore of West Falmouth Harbor in upper Buzzards Bay.
In fall and early winter, Northern Gannets are common in upper Buzzards Bay, as far north as Bourne and into the Cape Cod Canal. I have photos of gannets flying over my head as I walked the shoreline in Falmouth.
Rachel Farrell
_____
From: <massbird-approval...> [mailto:<massbird-approval...>] On Behalf Of Liam Waters Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 10:27 PM To: <massbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gooseberry Neck (Westport) shearwater phenomenon
For those of you who do not receive eBird alerts, I'm sorry this is so belated.
There has been a very unusually large concentration of shearwaters (almost entirely Cory's) passing by the tip of Gooseberry neck each morning. Yesterday, there was a very surprising AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER and 2 distant Sooty's, mixed in with 9 Greats and 636! Cory's. (Complete list and comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
Today, we had a very slow start with the first shearwaters not arriving until 6am, and numbers not building until just after 7am. However, then the floodgates opened and we had a constant stream of birds moving by for another 2 hours (they were still moving when we left, but had slowed down drastically). (All this is in sharp contrast to previous mornings where birds were moving at dawn, and peak was between 6 and 7, with very little after 8am.) We ended today with 1397(!!!) Cory's, 5 Greats, and 4 Manx. (List with comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
We do not know when this started, but it potentially has been happening for a while now. I was there midday on June 30th and had 21 Cory's and 1 Great (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37888489) so I would guess that there has been near daily movement at least since then.
No one knows where these birds are going, so if anyone has the time to look anywhere along Buzzards Bay, I would love to know the outcome (positive or negative).
Date: 7/23/17 2:20 pm From: Jim Berry <jim.berry3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crane Beach, Ipswich, Jul 23, 2017
> Crane Beach, Ipswich > Jul 23, 2017 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 2.25 mile(s) > Comments: Not much variety today (no black-bellies, whimbrels, > godwits, knots, white-rumps, or dows, for example), but plenty of birds. > I walked to the SE end and back, and was never off the beach. > 25 species (+1 other taxon) > > Double-crested Cormorant 10 > Great Egret 3 > Semipalmated Plover 330 > Piping Plover 28 at least 10 juvs., some almost grown > Killdeer 1 > Ruddy Turnstone 3 > Sanderling 175 > Semipalmated Sandpiper 1900 > Ring-billed Gull 225 > Herring Gull 170 > Great Black-backed Gull 40 > Least Tern 120 4 juvs. in colony down at SE end (there were others > seen by staff). This is not a high count for the beach, which is a major > nesting site for these birds every year. > Common Tern 3 flying over towards PI > Eastern Kingbird 0 remarkable miss, though I never went into the > dunes > Blue Jay 1 > Tree Swallow 4 > Bank Swallow 30 at 2 or 3 small colonies (did not see young in any of > the burrows) > Barn Swallow 2 > swallow sp. 20 > American Robin 3 > Northern Mockingbird 6 > European Starling 10 > Savannah Sparrow 1 > Song Sparrow 6 > Red-winged Blackbird 2 nesting pair in beach grass > American Goldfinch 1 > House Sparrow 2 > > View this checklist online at > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38286219
Date: 7/23/17 4:41 am From: Richard Veit <rrveit23...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Gooseberry Neck (Westport) shearwater phenomenon
Check Baird, s.f. 1887 . Auk 4:71-72 about very large numbers of corys shearwaters and other seabirds entering buzzards bay
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 22, 2017, at 10:26 PM, Liam Waters <youngeaglewaters...> wrote:
>
> For those of you who do not receive eBird alerts, I'm sorry this is so belated.
>
> There has been a very unusually large concentration of shearwaters (almost entirely Cory's) passing by the tip of Gooseberry neck each morning. Yesterday, there was a very surprising AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER and 2 distant Sooty's, mixed in with 9 Greats and 636! Cory's. (Complete list and comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
> Today, we had a very slow start with the first shearwaters not arriving until 6am, and numbers not building until just after 7am. However, then the floodgates opened and we had a constant stream of birds moving by for another 2 hours (they were still moving when we left, but had slowed down drastically). (All this is in sharp contrast to previous mornings where birds were moving at dawn, and peak was between 6 and 7, with very little after 8am.) We ended today with 1397(!!!) Cory's, 5 Greats, and 4 Manx. (List with comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
> We do not know when this started, but it potentially has been happening for a while now. I was there midday on June 30th and had 21 Cory's and 1 Great (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37888489) so I would guess that there has been near daily movement at least since then.
> No one knows where these birds are going, so if anyone has the time to look anywhere along Buzzards Bay, I would love to know the outcome (positive or negative).
> For those interested in following this, I would recommend checking in on the 'recent visits' tab of the Gooseberry Neck hotspot for lists http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L455897/activity?yr=all&m= > Each day has yielded higher numbers of Cory's, so maybe this is just the beginning.
>
> Happy seabirding,
> Liam Waters
> Sharon
>
> Sent from my iPod so please excuse any errors.
>
Thanks to Matthew Nash of DCR for the following announcement.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Shorebird Surprises Revere Beach Reservation Tuesdays, July 25 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Explore beautiful Revere Beach for shorebirds and Manx Shearwaters and learn how these birds are adapted for survival. Walk up to 3 miles on the beach, on mud flats and paths. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you have them. Meet at: Across the street from One Carey Circle on the sidewalk of the semicircular parking lot. Accessible by MBTA Bus # 441 or 442 to Point of Pines stop: Cross street, turn right and walk approximately 0.3 miles to the sidewalk of the semicircular parking lot across the street from One Carey Circle. Visit www.MBTA.com for bus and train information (schedule, route and fees).
Join a DCR Park interpreter to learn about the wonderful natural history of your state parks. All Programs are FREE and open to the public. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For program cancellations phone 978-937-2094 ext. 121, one hour before start time. Rain Cancels. Strongly recommend sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and footwear suitable for walking on the beach, and on paths. For more information phone (781) 485-2804 Ext. 105 or email <Matthew.Nash...> For a listing of programs at other DCR state parks visit www.mass.gov/DCR
Matthew Nash Visitor Services Supervisor DCR North Region Coastal District One Eliot Circle Revere, MA 02151 (781) 485-2804 ext. 105
For those of you who do not receive eBird alerts, I'm sorry this is so belated.
There has been a very unusually large concentration of shearwaters (almost entirely Cory's) passing by the tip of Gooseberry neck each morning. Yesterday, there was a very surprising AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER and 2 distant Sooty's, mixed in with 9 Greats and 636! Cory's. (Complete list and comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
Today, we had a very slow start with the first shearwaters not arriving until 6am, and numbers not building until just after 7am. However, then the floodgates opened and we had a constant stream of birds moving by for another 2 hours (they were still moving when we left, but had slowed down drastically). (All this is in sharp contrast to previous mornings where birds were moving at dawn, and peak was between 6 and 7, with very little after 8am.) We ended today with 1397(!!!) Cory's, 5 Greats, and 4 Manx. (List with comments http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38247290)
We do not know when this started, but it potentially has been happening for a while now. I was there midday on June 30th and had 21 Cory's and 1 Great (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37888489) so I would guess that there has been near daily movement at least since then.
No one knows where these birds are going, so if anyone has the time to look anywhere along Buzzards Bay, I would love to know the outcome (positive or negative).
For those interested in following this, I would recommend checking in on the 'recent visits' tab of the Gooseberry Neck hotspot for lists http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L455897/activity?yr=all&m= Each day has yielded higher numbers of Cory's, so maybe this is just the beginning.
Date: 7/22/17 4:40 pm From: Sabrina Hepburn <s.k.hepburn...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Trip on the 7 Seas Whale Watch -7/22/17
Very calm seas for this morning’s trip aboard the 7 Seas Whale Watch. Good numbers of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels but low shearwater numbers. The trip went all the way down to the SW corner of Stellwagen off P-town, where the whales have been lately. Not much in NW Stellwagen
7 Seas Whale Watch Dock, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Jul 22, 2017 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: BBC Gloucester Whale Watch - Checklist includes the Harbor to Eastern Point Light
11 species
Canada Goose 2
Common Eider 25
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Snowy Egret 1
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 15
Peregrine Falcon 1
Fish Crow 3
Barn Swallow 8
Stellwagen Bank NMS, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
Jul 22, 2017 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
60.0 mile(s)
Comments: Travel along the west edge of Stellwagen to the SW Corner and back
9 species (+1 other taxa)
Cory's Shearwater 27
Great Shearwater 1
Sooty Shearwater 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 124
Great Blue Heron 1 SW corner of Stellwagen. Pretty far offshore although Provincetown was visible.
peep sp. 14
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Herring Gull 30
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Tern 6
Date: 7/22/17 10:02 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply <birdwsg...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gannet on beach, Gloucester
Steve Muise called the store at 12:30 to report a Gannet on the beach by the cove at Eastern Point lighthouse, Gloucester.
Barrett S Bacall
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift 194 Route 1 Route 1 Traffic Circle Newburyport, MA 01950 <Birdwsg...> 978-462-0775 www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
Date: 7/22/17 6:04 am From: William Loughlin <wkloughlin111...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Scarlet Tanager question
I have been hearing a scarlet tanager behind my house every morning recently and am wondering if this isn't rather late for that. The Orioles have been noticeable by their silence for a while now.
