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From

1/18/21 5:02 pm

GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>

[MASSBIRD] Cohasset Bullock's Oriole continues

1/18/21 8:53 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Golden Eagle, Gloucester 1/17

1/17/21 6:19 pm

CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...>

[MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: updates!

1/17/21 1:17 pm

correne george <correnegeorge...>

[MASSBIRD] Orange Crowned Warbler at BNC

1/16/21 3:06 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] The Red-shouldered and the Goose, Part 2

1/16/21 12:17 pm

correne george <correnegeorge...>

[MASSBIRD] Quick question about park restrooms

1/16/21 6:54 am

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] Reminder: Brookline Bird Club Winter Presentation with Geoff LeBaron Tuesday, January 19th!

1/15/21 7:04 pm

Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...>

[MASSBIRD] Bird Book Sale...

1/15/21 2:32 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13

1/15/21 1:52 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13

1/15/21 12:22 pm

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Franklin County - Harlequin Duck and other species of note 01/15

1/15/21 11:47 am

Tom Brownrigg <brownriggs...>

[MASSBIRD] Gift Item

1/15/21 11:15 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Salineno UPDATE!

1/15/21 8:34 am

Peter Vale <peterfay...>

[MASSBIRD] Snow Geese in Saugus

1/14/21 7:21 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] A Survey of Birders of the World

1/14/21 1:07 pm

Peter Trull <petrull...>

[MASSBIRD] Massbirders,

1/14/21 9:52 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13

1/14/21 9:35 am

Matt S. <accipiter22...>

[MASSBIRD] January 14, 2021 Newton, MA First Cardinal Song of the Year!

1/14/21 6:04 am

Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...>

[MASSBIRD] Baltimore Oriole continues / Newbury

1/13/21 6:33 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Redhead Halibut Point Gloucester

1/13/21 5:46 pm

Valerie Burdette <sailorgirl978...>

[MASSBIRD] Townsend's warbler location: info & question

1/13/21 4:51 pm

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] Correct ID of Leverett Pond Northern Shovelers

1/13/21 3:52 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Common Grackles, West Bridgewater

1/13/21 3:22 pm

Paul Guidetti <guidettipaul...>

[MASSBIRD] RFI Leucistic red tailed hawk Plympton

1/13/21 6:02 am

Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/13/21 5:12 am

goshawk3 <goshawk3...>

[MASSBIRD] Grackles in West Bridgewater!

1/13/21 4:58 am

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] 2 Female Northern Shovelers, Leverett Pond, Boston

1/12/21 8:21 am

William Freedberg <4mrfish...>

[MASSBIRD] Got sick birds? Clean feeders quickly.

1/12/21 7:49 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 8:10 pm

Charles Patterson <chaspatt...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 8:05 pm

Charles Patterson <chaspatt...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 8:03 pm

Eric <elabato...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 7:10 pm

Robert Rotberg <rirotberg...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 6:44 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?

1/11/21 5:06 pm

Matt S. <accipiter22...>

[MASSBIRD] Anyone here use Swarovski EL 12x50s for bird watching?

1/11/21 12:59 pm

Johnathon Benson <johnathonl87...>

[MASSBIRD] Correction: Tundra Swan at Forest GROVE reservation

1/11/21 12:02 pm

Johnathon Benson <johnathonl87...>

[MASSBIRD] Tundra Swan- Waltham

1/11/21 11:18 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Road trip - Plum Island

1/11/21 9:25 am

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] Kingfisher

1/11/21 7:01 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Black-headed Gull - Cape Cod Canal area

1/11/21 6:48 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Ash-throated Flycatcher - Cape Cod Canal area

1/11/21 6:26 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Black-headed Gull, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Townsend's Warbler - Cape Cod Canal area

1/10/21 5:11 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 1/9/21 Duxbury Beach; - Raven and Glaucous Gull

1/10/21 5:11 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Harwich birding - correction

1/10/21 12:32 pm

Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>

[MASSBIRD] Re: Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior

1/10/21 5:50 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Boston Globe - Barred Owls

1/10/21 5:33 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] The Red-shouldered and the Goose

1/10/21 5:30 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Harwich birding

Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Another crow roost - Auburn

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Another crow roost - Auburn

Ronald Zigler <ronaldzigler...>

[MASSBIRD] Royalton Evening Grosbeaks

Peter Trull <petrull...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior

[MASSBIRD] Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior

[MASSBIRD] Unusual Rough-legged Hawk at Plum Island Continued (long)

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Franklin County - Harlequin Duck, Rough-legged Hawk 01/08

Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Worcester County Winter Finches (Friday, 1/8/2021)

Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>

[MASSBIRD] Worcester County Winter Finches (Friday, 1/8/2021)

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] Brookline Bird Club 2021 Virtual Winter Meeting Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 7:00 PM

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Recent Short-eared Owl, Redheads, Barrow's Goldeneye, etc.

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Science Friday - January 1 birding content

judy parrot-willis <jep_willis...>

[MASSBIRD] Varied Thrush

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Varied Thrush in Sudbury - please limit visitation - see below

Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...>

[MASSBIRD] Gray catbird, Milton

1/7/21 11:02 am

<environment...> <environment...>

[MASSBIRD] White-winged crossbills in Rockport

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Millers River - Harlequin Duck 01/06

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Iceland Gulls at Tsongas Arena Lowell

Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...>

[MASSBIRD] Brown Creeper / Newbury

GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>

[MASSBIRD] Great Egret-Plum: issue with right foot?

CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...>

[MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: videos and blog updates!

David Williams <dave.williams6...>

[MASSBIRD] Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Winter Birding Challenge

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] 3 Razorbills at cape cod canal - Scusset end of the canal

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Gill/Turner's Falls - Harlequin Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye 01/04

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] administrative requests - moderator message

Jim Guion <jim_guion...>

[MASSBIRD] RFI Varied Thrush in Sudbury

1/4/21 10:42 am

Annie Massed <annmarie.apple...>

[MASSBIRD] Please change my email for the massbird listing

Cliff Cook <ccook13...>

[MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird -- Royalston Town Center -- Jan 3, 2021

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] GBHEs in Dartmouth

[MASSBIRD] Sector 5B of Taunton-Middleboro CBC 1-3-2021

Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>

[MASSBIRD] Barrows Goldeneye, River Road, West Newbury

Josh <opihi...>

[MASSBIRD] Harlequin Duck near Millers Falls/Erving; Sage Thrasher(s)

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Ivory Gull - Andrews Point, Rockport

1/2/21 12:02 pm

Garry Kessler <gkessler001...>

[MASSBIRD] Lake Chauncy, Westborough

1/2/21 10:22 am

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Millers River - inland Harlequin

[MASSBIRD] New Year's Day Birding Trip 01/01/2021

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Redpolls at Burrage in Hanson MA

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 12/28 Bald Eagles and Fox SPARROW in South Dorchester, etc.

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 1/1 Marsh Wren, Short_Eared Owl, etc. At Belle Isle East Boston

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 1/1: Sagamore - Black-headed Gull continues - new photo

[MASSBIRD] Adult Glaucous gull at Jodrey fish pier

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] GB Herons

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] Correction: 4 GBHE

12/31/20 3:34 pm

[MASSBIRD] Possible Intermediate Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk Plum Island 12.30.20

12/31/20 1:19 pm

Tom Murray <tmurray74...>

[MASSBIRD] Northern Shrike - Fitch's Bridge rd. Groton

12/31/20 8:06 am

Lakshminarayanan Sundaresan <lsundaresan...>

[MASSBIRD] Northern Shrike - Fitch's bridge Road, Groton, MA

12/30/20 8:45 pm

Matt S. <accipiter22...>

[MASSBIRD] 12/30/2020 Lancaster Yellow-Throated Warbler Continues

12/30/20 6:26 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] "Trash Birds" or "Treasure Birds"

12/30/20 4:30 pm

Valerie Burdette <sailorgirl978...>

[MASSBIRD] seeking info on pond by Argilla-Northgate-Essex fields (Ipswich)

12/30/20 12:07 pm

Shilo McDonald <shilocm...>

[MASSBIRD] Brown-headed Cowbirds, Lynn, 12-29

12/30/20 11:50 am

Paul Champlin <skua99...>

[MASSBIRD] Crossbills and Redpolls in Westport

12/30/20 9:21 am

Janice F. Jorgensen <janicejorgensen...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020

12/30/20 8:14 am

Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...>

[MASSBIRD] Red-winged Blackbirds / Newbury

12/30/20 7:42 am

CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...>

[MASSBIRD] Hartford Crow Roost: recent visit

12/30/20 6:35 am

Melissa Aldrich <melcaldrich...>

[MASSBIRD] Holland MA

12/30/20 4:50 am

Steve Knapp <brimel2527...>

[MASSBIRD] Heron

12/29/20 8:04 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020

12/29/20 11:49 am

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] Make that Four Great Blue Herons

12/29/20 10:55 am

Paul Champlin <skua99...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons

12/29/20 7:50 am

Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons

12/29/20 7:31 am

Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons

12/29/20 6:38 am

eduardo <delsolar...>

[MASSBIRD] Salisbury/Merrimack birds, images

12/29/20 5:52 am

Robert Ross <plumisl...>

[MASSBIRD] Frozen with Fear

12/29/20 5:47 am

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] Herons

12/28/20 4:26 pm

Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] YTWA feeder address?

12/28/20 3:31 pm

Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>

[MASSBIRD] YTWA feeder address?

12/28/20 2:14 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] RI- Magnificent Frigatebird - Galilee Harbor

12/28/20 1:59 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Lumix G cover found

12/28/20 8:27 am

Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...>

[MASSBIRD] female Baltilmore Oriole continues / Newbury

12/27/20 3:26 pm

CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...>

[MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: interview with John Kricher & updates!

12/27/20 7:58 am

Peter Trull <petrull...>

[MASSBIRD] Pine Warblers

12/27/20 7:39 am

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] GBHE

12/27/20 5:31 am

Jim Guion <jim_guion...>

[MASSBIRD] Sightings or dips of Western Tanager in Brewster since Christmas?

12/26/20 4:54 pm

GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>

[MASSBIRD] Re: YTWA info - protocol

12/26/20 11:57 am

elabato <elabato...>

[MASSBIRD] Redheads, Ell Pond, Melrose

12/26/20 8:46 am

Claire Wilcox <cmbwilcox...>

[MASSBIRD] Snow Geese in Harwich

12/26/20 6:16 am

Justin Lawson <justindlawson...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] YTWA Protocol

12/26/20 6:02 am

John Liller <john.liller...>

[MASSBIRD] Worcester CBC - 12/19/20

12/26/20 5:58 am

Cliff Cook <ccook13...>

[MASSBIRD] YTWA Protocol

12/25/20 6:19 pm

GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>

[MASSBIRD] YTWA info - protocol

12/25/20 4:30 pm

James P Smith <keenbirder...>

[MASSBIRD] Turner's Falls - Barrow's Goldeneye 12/25

12/25/20 11:01 am

Ronald Zigler <ronaldzigler...>

[MASSBIRD] Red-shouldered Hawk in Sturbridge

12/25/20 7:52 am

Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...>

[MASSBIRD] christmas juncos to all

12/25/20 3:26 am

Laura M <magrinha97...>

[MASSBIRD] Handfeeding attempt

12/24/20 3:33 pm

RUTH MARRION <ruthmarrion...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] RE: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg?

12/24/20 8:40 am

[MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose, Joppa Flats, now

12/23/20 8:40 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose - East Orleans, Newburyport Harbor

12/23/20 2:50 pm

Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...>

[MASSBIRD] Tundra Swan flying towards Fresh Pond, Cambridge

12/23/20 11:41 am

Robert Ross <plumisl...>

[MASSBIRD] Salisbury Beach State Park 12/23

12/23/20 8:49 am

Maryellen Stone <maryellen...>

[MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose at Joppa Park Newburyport

12/23/20 6:59 am

Chris Floyd <chrisf...>

[MASSBIRD] RE: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg?

12/23/20 6:59 am

Bob Stymeist <bobstymeist...>

[MASSBIRD] Greater Boston CBC

12/22/20 7:53 pm

CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...>

[MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: updates and more time lapse!

12/22/20 5:39 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Cape Ann Christmas Count 2020

12/22/20 8:44 am

Kinney Frelinghuysen <kfrelinghuysen...>

Re: [MASSBIRD] Greenfield Pine Grosbeaks

12/22/20 8:31 am

Mark Fairbrother <bogelfin...>

[MASSBIRD] Greenfield Pine Grosbeaks

12/21/20 1:52 pm

alice morgan <morgan.alice...>

[MASSBIRD] Great Blue Herons

12/21/20 6:12 am

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull (corrected link)

12/21/20 5:34 am

David Larson <dlarson...>

[MASSBIRD] Salisbury Beach State Reservation and beyond, 12/20/20

12/21/20 5:19 am

Steve Knapp <brimel2527...>

[MASSBIRD] Andover bald eagle

12/21/20 4:19 am

eduardo <delsolar...>

[MASSBIRD] Race Point, images

12/20/20 6:21 pm

Sam Miller <zamziller...>

[MASSBIRD] eBird Report - Fitchburg Airport, Dec 20, 2020: Lapland Longspur, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks

12/20/20 6:02 pm

GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...>

[MASSBIRD] Quincy CBC-ZOOM compilation

12/20/20 5:32 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] HMSC story time about CBC

12/20/20 4:19 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Newport/Westport CBC

12/20/20 4:13 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull

12/20/20 1:10 pm

Barbara Volkle <barb620...>

[MASSBIRD] Lawrence Winter Crow Roost Numbers

12/20/20 6:17 am

eduardo <delsolar...>

[MASSBIRD] Race Point, Cape Cod images

Date: 1/18/21 5:02 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cohasset Bullock's Oriole continues
I quiet ebird report by the home owners reported the Cohasset (58 Howe Road) Bullock's Oriole had returned after a two week absence. I went there Sunday morning at sunrise and the bird appeared around 7:10ish like it did in the late fall. This time it was on the suet feeder, not the peanut feeder. It spent a lot of time on it which was also a difference than the late fall as well. Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA

Date: 1/18/21 8:53 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Golden Eagle, Gloucester 1/17
Thanks to Steve Grinley & Margo Goetschkes for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 21:24:02 -0500 (EST) From: "Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift" <birdwsg...> Subject: Golden Eagle, Gloucester 1/17 Margo and I were traveling east on Route 133, just across the line from Essex into Gloucester, when I spotted a large raptor circling high from the north. I pulled over and saw what was clearly an eagle, but all dark with no apparent white from underneath. I jumped out of the car and watched the bird for 2 minutes as it circled high over the road heading south. Its jizz didnât fit bald eagle. This bird was uniform brown underneath with NO white in the axillaries, and somewhat darker in secondaries. Yellow talons were clearly seen against brown feathering underneath. Lack of head projection was too small for bald eagle. No white near base of tail nor in the wings. As the bird circled and banked in the sunlight, lighter tawny brown band was seen on the upper back and across secondaries, diagnostic for an adult golden eagle. Jumped back in car and turned around to try to pursue but lost the bird high over the trees as it headed further south. Steve Grinley & Margo Goetschkes Essex, MA

Date: 1/17/21 6:19 pm From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: updates!
Greetings all, The exciting staging and roosting action continues around the Winter Crow Roost in Lawrence! Great to see more visitors coming to take in this breathtaking avian spectacle! Two new videos posted with first one showing staging, streaming, rooftop action, and an inside look at the roost after dark with dynamic night vision optics: Link: https://youtu.be/ra27YpKrQpM Second video shows a very unique overnight time lapse underneath the roost: Link: https://youtu.be/QIU5T6HU0l0 The blog has been updated with postings on visits from last week with terrific action photos! Blog: http://www.wintercrowroost.com/crow-patrol/ Enjoy, Craig Gibson 2021 Crow Patrol cbgibson AT comcast.net

Date: 1/17/21 1:17 pm From: correne george <correnegeorge...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Orange Crowned Warbler at BNC
Had some nice brief views of the subject bird on the Snail Trail at Boston Nature Center in Mattapan this afternoon. Moving quickly and feeding on the ground and under snags. It shows up as rare in eBird so I thought I should share! Correne George Quincy, MA <correnegeorge...>

Date: 1/16/21 3:06 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] The Red-shouldered and the Goose, Part 2
Thanks to Dave Gibson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2021 17:16:43 -0500 Subject: The Red-shouldered and the Goose, Part 2 Hi MA birders, This is part 2 of "The Scuffletown Creek Hunters." As much as it's about the hunting party I encountered, it's also about birds and bird photography. I hope you enjoy it, and I welcome your feedback! Here's the URL: http://birdpartner.com/2021/01/16/scuffletown-creek-hunters-two/ Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/

Date: 1/16/21 12:17 pm From: correne george <correnegeorge...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Quick question about park restrooms
Hi all, I am planning on taking a small teen group to either Millennium park or Scarboro pond and was wondering if either or both have open restrooms. It's hard to tell from the websites and I know these are popular birding spots. I've never been to either. Thanks in advance for your help! Correne George <correnegeorge...> Quincy, MA

Date: 1/16/21 6:54 am From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Reminder: Brookline Bird Club Winter Presentation with Geoff LeBaron Tuesday, January 19th!
Please join the Brookline Bird Club's Virtual Zoom Winter Meeting with Guest Speaker Geoffrey S. LeBaron: AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: From 19th Century Conservation Action to 21st Century Community Science. Geoff LeBaron has been the Christmas Bird Count Director for the National Audubon Society since 1987. He also works on other Community Science and field work projects, including Climate Watch, Hummingbirds at Home, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. He has been ornithological advisor for numerous organizations, and a guide for domestic and international bird and nature tours. Please visit the BBC website to register for the talk: https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/ Good, safe birding, Leslie Kramer BBC PResident

Date: 1/15/21 7:04 pm From: Neil Hayward <opororniswarbler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bird Book Sale...
...are three of my favorite words! Princeton University Press currently has a 75% sale on selected books - of which there are many excellent birding ones: https://press.princeton.edu/sale/featured-collection-sale?fbclid=IwAR2e5nhQ1YBa69oKxCsoGNYlXTrvZuGB0PBth-aPhVF3kPRxn2Nw3Vr-Qzc (You have to enter the code JANSALE at checkout.) There's a lot of non-birding books too, so it helps to use the search bar under the sale info. If you type in "bird" you can see all the birding books on sale. Of particular note is the comprehensive "Birds of Central America" by Vallely and Dyer (2018) as both hardback and paperback. The former is normally $100, now $25; the paperback is only $12.38. Also, Don Kroodsma's excellent, "Listening to a Continent Sing". "Better Birding" by George Armistead is a very helpful book that examines some of the more common identification problems in North America. Plus, there are many regional field guides, including Ecuador, Australia, the Horn of Africa, New Guinea, Europe, East Africa and Botswana. Even if we currently can't see some of these birds, we can at least read about them. I'm not affiliated with Princeton University Press, but wanted to share what is an exceptionally good deal. Good birding (and reading) –Neil Neil Hayward Cambridge, MA

Date: 1/15/21 2:32 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13
Thanks to Donald Chapelle for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:40:53 +0000 (UTC) From: Donald Chapelle <codfather3...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13 Hello Crow watchers,This murder of crows have been around as long as I can remember in the Merrimack Valley (25 years). The locals tell me they origin ated around the woods near Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and still seem to gather there for their daily migration. I see them mostly in the winter make their daily run to Lawrence, they come from the west-northwest every day and forage on both sides of the Merrimack at and near my studio at 468 North Canal street. They hang around for an hour then continue east to NB area and parking lots on Merrimack st. They also seem to like a good blizzard, and swarm in crazy murders on the large snow dumps on Merrimack st. It's very ere to see the black crowns on large white snowbanks. For what ever reason they will hang there for quite a while after a snow storm. Donald Chapelle

Date: 1/15/21 1:52 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13
Thanks to Dana Duxbury-Fox for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:23:49 -0500 Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13 Donald, The first written report I have found about the Lawrence crows is 1989 in Bird Observer. The crows at this time of the winter come in in vast numbers from the east, southeast, west, northwest and southwest. They do love to stand on the snow and the frozen Merrimack River. Thanks for your report. Dana Duxbury-Fox

Date: 1/15/21 12:22 pm From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Franklin County - Harlequin Duck and other species of note 01/15
Greetings birders, The general excellence of local birding continues in Franklin County with the Harlequin Duck still being seen fairly consistently along the Millers River in Erving, usually about a 1/4 mile upstream from Cabot Camp. 13 Red Crossbills and 2 Winter Wrens were also at the same site this morning (01/15) though the Harlequin managed to elude me this time around. A Barrow's Goldeneye (first-winter male) continues to use the Turner's Falls power canal roost, along with up to 130 Common Goldeneye. However, the Barrow's will tend to arrive very late in the evening, usually among the very last flocks of goldeneyes to drop in. Also of interest at Turner's Falls, a very strong candidate for a hybrid Great Black-backed x Herring, a nice pristine adult, present on January 11th and 12th. Interestingly, David Sibley saw and photographed an extremely similar adult on February 20th and 23rd, 2020 at the power canal pointing towards the likelihood of it being the same returning individual. A selection of images of that bird can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-great-black-backed-x-herring-gull.html An adult Iceland Gull (kumlieni) was also present in the gull roost on the 14th being seen from both Unity Park and at the power canal in Turner's Falls. Further west in Berkshire County, a Boreal Chickadee was found by Lori Van Handel in a residential neighborhood in Williamstown, first reported on Jan 11th and present through to the 14th at least. Though well reported on ebird, I haven't seen it mentioned yet on Massbird. It favors the spruce and evergreens along the entrance road to Spring Meadow Apartments just off North Hoosac Road. Safe parking can be found along the access road to the apartments, and away from the housing units there. The bird was very vocal during my visit yesterday and not too difficult to locate. Some pics can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-boreal-chickadee-in-berkshires.html Also of interest, and just outside Franklin County in southern New Hampshire, the long staying Sage Thrasher continues at the Hinsdale Setbacks, feeding along the snowmobile trail just off Brattleboro Road. The site is no more than eight minutes north of the Massachusetts state line in Northfield. An image of that bird and other recent birds of interest can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma.html Good birding to all, James http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/

Date: 1/15/21 11:47 am From: Tom Brownrigg <brownriggs...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gift Item
- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. - Hello there! Sorry to bother you, do you have an account with Amazon? Thanks Tom

Date: 1/15/21 11:15 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Salineno UPDATE!
Please join me and make your voice heard! Please circulate. Feel free to edit or modify as you see fit! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Salineno UPDATE! If you’re a birder, you are familiar with Salineno, a destination birding location along the Rio Grande River in Starr County, Texas. On December 15, the Valley Land Fund, owners of the property received a NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION from the Federal Government for 0.723 acres of the property. A court date is set for March 3. At that point, the property be turned over to the Department of Homeland Security for construction of the border wall. Although many of us hope that seizure of property and construction of the border wall will stop with the incoming administration, there is no guarantee and no timeline amidst all the urgent priorities at the federal level. Over the last several years, much of the remaining habitat in this border region area, along with wildlife corridors, has been destroyed and disrupted during clearing and construction of the border wall. You can help. Contact your local senators and representatives. Response to this situation needs to highlight and reinforce that this is an issue of national importance. You can send a POSTCARD to the incoming Biden administration here: http://ow.ly/O0ba30rsvNA <http://ow.ly/O0ba30rsvNA?fbclid=IwAR3MnSzR5SZfaad1HRkTOTyG1Jo7Hh296FRqPdRWdnZ8LU0Lu5eXuqFewK4> Additional postcards for senators and representatives (as well as the Biden administration postcard) can be downloaded and printed here: nationalbutterflycenter.org <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnationalbutterflycenter.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0XwaN9td5SpSyEb7akK10tPEkOsQoaGieMB9_o1fpGrWEPG1BUvM2uuaY&h=AT1UAhEu3RTTAst-JEz45bN5VtITh548LCboctMUusjRnulWIX5w1cNkRyG3n9kikWjGEUdX8I4Y212vODS0ikrgmeF_HbhnvXejJ6ZCZqNMKjyWX2Na0g4nniLKhX0dQQ&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0MPFPZfbZRaXgV846lITVoj66_iom6TfQDmPKLicpuFRhQoht2peJLT5Rz3PgpO9lRMowyNOG6m1fTFo6ifPFbVhlZCNOtvMwi8rDAi2j4dRdJmghzByZd1t66xevOrmX7> Please note, your oversized postcards require a first-class stamp. You can also EMAIL or CALL your senators and representatives by using your search engine to access their websites. Most have easy to use email templates ready to go. For more information on the Salineno situation, go to the Valley Land Fund site. Contributions are welcome and will go to their legal defense fund. Any funds collected and not used for legal defense will go to the maintenance and support of this property: Valleylandfund.com/salineno/ <http://valleylandfund.com/salineno/?fbclid=IwAR3MnSzR5SZfaad1HRkTOTyG1Jo7Hh296FRqPdRWdnZ8LU0Lu5eXuqFewK4> If you wish to contact the Director of the Valley Land Fund, you can reach Debra Lee at <debralee...> Thanks for taking the time to speak out on this important issue! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/15/21 8:34 am From: Peter Vale <peterfay...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Snow Geese in Saugus
Yesterday afternoon I saw 2 snow geese from 35 Johnson st. Saugus. Lots of Canada geese and gulls too. -- Peter Vale Wakefield, MA 01880 “I saw something beautiful...I know how to solve the world’s problems.” Fay Vale, January 30, 2020

Date: 1/14/21 7:21 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] A Survey of Birders of the World
The following was posted on facebook on the American Birding Association Discussion Group by Oliver Burrus. I don't have additional details, but I am sharing in case you wish to participate. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * <https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABAbirds/permalink/10159350820765715/?__cft__[0]=AZUXbduL1N0N6-bQj4VJckmpiqJbDHmtRRm3jp_rVshSCwvL_6hK3qZAYzij7GH8_6bXsw1FDzqOJsHl9DqegeASP-Y5v1B3FRslza0_XfMbvCRKxJXAu3aUrO7tVsBo41LTIvYazbpDEkBlvxjtDtJKioRUyViCFIfEkjvDkdzA-3eKBL67AU55HAiXcDM2F4M&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R> Hey everyone, I am in the process of compiling a survey and blog post about the demographics & diversity of the birding community. If you could give me three minutes of your time to fill out a quick questionnaire, it would be greatly appreciated to help us understand the diversity of our community. Please note that the information you submit is not identifiable and will not be used in any way except in the analysis for the blog post. You do not have to answer all of the questions as none of them are required. I plan to have this survey completed by the end of the month and the results will be posted on The Gullery Blog (https://thegullery.wordpress.com/ <https://thegullery.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ecx8ATJLA66VFhjysS_mDYHP5909Vo9rcZIlh3szp8egTwvSIWTkclr4>). Feel free to share this wherever you like. https://forms.gle/Ndh4FSwMGqAQfJnM8 <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FNdh4FSwMGqAQfJnM8%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0VgGANcjO4JOeS0N5lNTxu5m_m6a1MpLFECSm1FJCP6lJZlaTGqpNIYBo&h=AT3KIrLEJjNd5JgwawthsoXIgKr_ivsZ1v2HZ6c2yrM6LTg6zGuSJfelf553JpiaP3uFx6qjW_wMGGAVZ8xbP1VYpHzYIBeGyWf4mlNyt8pw8JbsT0_iZcy2iQlLB0KUDw&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0l5B47d1NhiWN7QNA3jVayD-2XrnC_EICK7Kb1po0Ft9OZeLMZWtHIC6RMc0dNZmu2Q1JaL3RtGBXeNrN0UL7Hh0xU-vD-H72gCW0uHwhgAvG7lIk5okqCr3r1LOwoHkJas_FCsF_d6RP7VEhwv4FVncsG35vhoMdgKyfXsfe02b_COqDigyy7x1XYlJXSlWMbnM-RxkOIqvB7rmBlOrI>

Date: 1/14/21 1:07 pm From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Massbirders,
Race Point is a favorite haunt of Iceland Gulls. https://www.flickr.com/photos/26676688@N03/ Sent from Mail for Windows 10 Peter Trull Brewster. <petrull...>

Date: 1/14/21 9:52 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13
Thanks to Dana Duxbury-Fox for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:23:10 -0500 Subject: Lawrence MA Winter Crow Roost Jan 11 &13 Report of crow numbers We were out on Monday evening with four other ladies. We started in the New Balance parking lot. The crows started to come in singly and head over the 202 building (the brick building on the east side of So. Union St.) We decided to go to the top of the parking garage and found they were staging in the treetops far to the east south east many in North Andover. Later vast flocks came in from the east, south east and then those from the west - NW and SW flocks too joined them with not many in the O'Connell Common trees. After sunset they began to swirl in large flocks flying towards the clock tower and then around and a round. We went down to the street and looked up. Many, many different swirling flocks each flock of maybe a thousand birds. - over Merrimack St., over South Union St. It is now quite dark and some start to settle down on the flat roof of the R&D building. Bob and the ladies went back up to the top of the garage. I walked back to the car and saw some trickling into the roost while they had 15,000+ still on the roof. NO WAY YOU COULD COUNT THEM SYSTEMATICALLY. Last night with Bob Quinn from NH we went there. Again, the early single birds trickled over to North Andover. We even tried to find them in NA. Back to the garage. Small numbers heading east south east, then the migrant flocks from the east and south east. The western birds were visible far to the west, some in trees, many landing on what we think was the ice not coming towards us though. After sunset, the birds from the west came towards un in vast flocks heading towards the commons. The SE birds moved towards the commons. Pure mayhem followed as thousands of birds in so many different flocks circled around some going all the way to the north side of the river beyond Rt. 28. Later under darkness you could see a few settling down in the roost going way up towards the Casey Bridge but most still in the air. Then thousands dropped onto the far R&D roof and stayed there.. When we left at 5:10 pm. Again, no way to systematically count them as we had on December 19th. Bob Quinn and Bob Fox BOTH estimated there were OVER 20,000 BIRDS. A few Fish Crows were heard flying over in one flock, none id while they were sitting. Do pland to visit the roost by the end of February before the birds begin to head north or stay on their nesting territory. Let me know if you would like to get directions or have a guided tour. Dana Duxbury-Fox and Bob Fox North Andover, MA <dana.fox1939...>

Date: 1/14/21 9:35 am From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] January 14, 2021 Newton, MA First Cardinal Song of the Year!
Hi All, Happy day, I heard a cardinal a little ways off in my neighborhood giving a full song today. I hadn't heard any of the local maestros warming up previously, so it appears this guy just woke up in the mood to give a full boisterous song. This is about 10-14 days earlier than I usually hear even the first few lazy notes from one of the local birds. I know it's probably just an anomaly, but I can hope it means an early spring... That's all for now, Matt S. Newton, MA <Accipiter22...>

Date: 1/14/21 6:04 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Baltimore Oriole continues / Newbury
is anyone else having one winter over? she's quite dominant at the peanut feeder! ------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019 Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>

Date: 1/13/21 6:33 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Redhead Halibut Point Gloucester
Thanks to Dana Fox for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2021 19:43:38 -0500 Subject: Redhead Halibut Point Gloucester At 2 pm on January 13 a young male Redhead was seen by Bob Quinn and Bob Fox in the quarry at Halibut Point. It flew off. Bob Quinn and Bob Fox

Date: 1/13/21 5:46 pm From: Valerie Burdette <sailorgirl978...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Townsend's warbler location: info & question
The AshThroated Flycatcher & Townsend's Warbler have been seen near the Sagamore Recreation Area, off Savary Avenue by the Sagamore Bridge.(Sagamore, Sagamore Beach, or Bourne? Maybe someone can clarify town.) I've been asked to share info, and I also have a question. The friendly homeowner at #27 Savary, Burt, asked me to pass on this message: We birders are welcome to bird-watch from his driveway (left of his house, with views into the backyard of #25, where the Townsend's had been seen at least yesterday and today). I should note that I staked out that spot late this afternoon with no luck, but others seem to have done better earlier in the day. (Work hours...) Burt asked if I would leave a note telling him what I saw (which I did), and asked me to pass this request on to other birders. If you bring paper and pen, you can leave a note about what you saw, on his porch and weighted down with something like a brick, or tucked into his screen door. I did have great views of the Ash-Throated Flycatcher, which flew in and landed 10 feet from me, then fed in front of #25. It's always nice to meet homeowners and neighborhood residents who are welcoming to birders and curious about what we're seeing. Now, the question... I did walk down to #50 Savary, a location where the Townsend's warbler was also reported, and it appeared that the suet feeder which was there a couple days ago has been taken down. I also heard that an older lady was unhappy with the birders (no details--that's all I know). If anyone has any information to share about this, I'd appreciate the info, as may head back down that way this weekend. Feel free to email me if you don't want to post to all. -Valerie Burdette Bolton, MA <vburdette...>

Date: 1/13/21 4:51 pm From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Correct ID of Leverett Pond Northern Shovelers
This morning’s 2 Northern Shovelers were males, not females. Leslie Kramer Medford, MA

Date: 1/13/21 3:52 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Common Grackles, West Bridgewater
Thanks to Denise Cabral for this additional report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Hi! Happy New Year! I thought it was important to make sure this report went through. For an hour this morning, from 8 am to 9 am, there was a flock of at least 200 Common Grackles in my neighborhood. I do not remember ever seeing more than maybe 1 or 2 stragglers in January. They were very actively feeding. Thanks, Denise Cabral Walnut St., West Bridgewater <goshawk3...>

Date: 1/13/21 3:22 pm From: Paul Guidetti <guidettipaul...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] RFI Leucistic red tailed hawk Plympton
Good evening Massbirders, My BIL has been observing and taking pics/video of the Plympton based leucistic red tailed hawk. The bird has been absent for about two weeks and he is wondering where it may have gone. Any info/recent sightings would be appreciated. Thanks, Paul Guidetti Westford

Date: 1/13/21 6:02 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
one option might be to forego feeders and broadcast seed widely anywhere the birds could "social distance", and be somewhat protected from predators... ------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019 Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...> On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 10:46:42 AM EST, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: Thanks to Suzanne Sullivan for this response. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:52:00 -0500 From: <swampy435...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins? I have had several and have stopped feeding them. Platform feeders are no worse than any other feeder. I have cleaned my thistle feeder because of poop on it from multiple times. And they also feed on fallen seed on the ground where they can also come in contact with droppings. It stinks because I also had an Evening Grosbeak coming, which can also get the virus/salmonella ( likely). So I just stopped feeding them all together. First time in 30 years. But it is the right thing to do because they are in is such close quarters it is helping to spread the disease. I may resume in a couple of weeks time and see what happens. Suzanne Sullivan Wilmington MA <swampy435...> <mailto:<swampy435...>

Date: 1/13/21 5:12 am From: goshawk3 <goshawk3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Grackles in West Bridgewater!
Right now, 8:05 am, a flock of 50 or so Common Grackles is flipping over every leaf in my backyard looking for food!Hope this goes through. This is kind of unusual for the middle of winter.Denise <Cabralgoshawk3...> Walnut St., West BridgewaterSent via the Samsung Galaxy, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

Date: 1/13/21 4:58 am From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 2 Female Northern Shovelers, Leverett Pond, Boston
7:45 AM, 1/13/21 Leslie Kramer Medford, MA

Date: 1/12/21 8:21 am From: William Freedberg <4mrfish...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Got sick birds? Clean feeders quickly.
Hi Massbirders, Madeleine's thread on sick siskins raises an important point. If you find a sick bird in your yard, please immediately clean your feeders (and birdbaths/artificial perches/etc.) thoroughly with a 1/10 bleach solution. Some experts also recommend taking your feeders down for a couple of weeks, although there is some debate around this online that is worth looking into. Cleaning feeders regularly (at least monthly) even when birds are healthy is important to prevent salmonella or conjunctivitis outbreaks. Some suggest cleaning weekly during finch irruptions. Mass Audubon has tips on keeping feeders clean and keeping birds healthy, as well as general best practices: https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/bird-feeding-frequently-asked-questions The salmonella outbreak in the PNW is a great reminder that big finch irruption years can result in disease outbreaks both among nomadic finches and sedentary local birds. This link has tons of tips specific to different feeder types, and breaks down the nuance behind whether or not to pause feeding during an outbreak. I would note that the idea that "taking feeders down could simply cause birds to move to other feeders, spreading the outbreak further" remains untested, though it seems like an idea worth considering. http://www.nativebirdcare.org/blog/salmonella-feeders If you pause feeding, don't worry about where your yard birds will find food-- they are pros at this, and will be fine. Think of this as encouraging social distancing! Cheers, Will Freedberg Belmont, MA <wfreedberg...>

Date: 1/12/21 7:49 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
Thanks to Suzanne Sullivan for this response. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:52:00 -0500 From: <swampy435...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins? I have had several and have stopped feeding them. Platform feeders are no worse than any other feeder. I have cleaned my thistle feeder because of poop on it from multiple times. And they also feed on fallen seed on the ground where they can also come in contact with droppings. It stinks because I also had an Evening Grosbeak coming, which can also get the virus/salmonella ( likely). So I just stopped feeding them all together. First time in 30 years. But it is the right thing to do because they are in is such close quarters it is helping to spread the disease. I may resume in a couple of weeks time and see what happens. Suzanne Sullivan Wilmington MA <swampy435...> <mailto:<swampy435...>

Date: 1/11/21 8:10 pm From: Charles Patterson <chaspatt...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
That is likely given the dehydration I noticed. We have large flocks intermittently under the feeders and I suspect that discarded seed and the warm weather would be conducive to the spread of salmonella. Charlie Patterson Norwell, Ma <chaspatt...> On 1/11/2021 9:56 PM, Robert Rotberg wrote: > There have been lengthy discussions on the Oregon bird list of pine siskins being very susceptible to avian salmonella. Apparently, this is a continuing problem, but worse this year. Feeders, especially, flat ones, help spread the disease. > > Robert Rotberg > Lexington > >> On Jan 11, 2021, at 9:39 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: >> >> Thanks to Madeleine Linck for this inquiry. >> >> Barbara Volkle >> Northborough, MA >> <barb620...> >> >> * >> >> >> From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> >> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:07:57 -0500 >> Subject: Sick pine siskins? >> >> >> Has anyone else noticed Siskins looking puffed up and lethargic? I found >> one dead siskin in our yard the other day. Definitely not a window strike. >> The eyes looked ok - no sign of conjunctivitis. Bird was intact. >> House Finches look ok. >> >> Madeleine Linck >> Rehoboth, Mass. >> >

Date: 1/11/21 8:05 pm From: Charles Patterson <chaspatt...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
I have seen 4 that I know of.� Two were simply found dead and, one was still alive but immobile when I found it and it died in a few minutes.� A fourth was huddled on my wife's window feeder, finally chased off by a cardinal and I assume it also died.� Other than obvious dehydration I could see no other lesions.� I have not seen any sick or dead Goldfinches which I have some winters. Charlie Patterson Norwell, Ma <chaspatt...> On 1/11/2021 9:39 PM, Barbara Volkle wrote: > Thanks to Madeleine Linck for this inquiry. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > > From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> > Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:07:57 -0500 > Subject: Sick pine siskins? > > > Has anyone else noticed Siskins looking puffed up and lethargic? I found > one dead siskin in our yard the other day. Definitely not a window > strike. > The eyes looked ok - no sign of conjunctivitis. Bird was intact. > House Finches look ok. > > Madeleine Linck > Rehoboth, Mass. >

Date: 1/11/21 8:03 pm From: Eric <elabato...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
It could be salmonella. https://audubonportland.org/blog/help-pine-siskins-by-practicing-safe-bird-feeding/ Eric Labato Malden, MA, <elabato...> -------------------------------------------------- From: "Barbara Volkle" <barb620...> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 9:39 PM To: "massbird" <massbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins? > Thanks to Madeleine Linck for this inquiry. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > > From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> > Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:07:57 -0500 > Subject: Sick pine siskins? > > > Has anyone else noticed Siskins looking puffed up and lethargic? I found > one dead siskin in our yard the other day. Definitely not a window strike. > The eyes looked ok - no sign of conjunctivitis. Bird was intact. > House Finches look ok. > > Madeleine Linck > Rehoboth, Mass. > >

Date: 1/11/21 7:10 pm From: Robert Rotberg <rirotberg...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
There have been lengthy discussions on the Oregon bird list of pine siskins being very susceptible to avian salmonella. Apparently, this is a continuing problem, but worse this year. Feeders, especially, flat ones, help spread the disease. Robert Rotberg Lexington > On Jan 11, 2021, at 9:39 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: > > Thanks to Madeleine Linck for this inquiry. > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > > From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> > Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:07:57 -0500 > Subject: Sick pine siskins? > > > Has anyone else noticed Siskins looking puffed up and lethargic? I found > one dead siskin in our yard the other day. Definitely not a window strike. > The eyes looked ok - no sign of conjunctivitis. Bird was intact. > House Finches look ok. > > Madeleine Linck > Rehoboth, Mass. >

Date: 1/11/21 6:44 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sick pine siskins?
Thanks to Madeleine Linck for this inquiry. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:07:57 -0500 Subject: Sick pine siskins? Has anyone else noticed Siskins looking puffed up and lethargic? I found one dead siskin in our yard the other day. Definitely not a window strike. The eyes looked ok - no sign of conjunctivitis. Bird was intact. House Finches look ok. Madeleine Linck Rehoboth, Mass.

Date: 1/11/21 5:06 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Anyone here use Swarovski EL 12x50s for bird watching?
Hi All, I've been thinking of getting a pair of the Swarovski's mentioned in my post title and was wondering if anyone else lugs them around? I have a very steady hand and the weight doesn't bother me, so I'm not worried so much about shake. Right now I use a pair of Nikon Monarch 5 8x42s...I love them for close to moderate distances, but during warbler season for things at the tops of old-growth trees I find that they feel a bit underpowered. I thought about the 10x50s as well, but I don't want to lay out the money I've saved and come away thinking "still wish I had an extra couple points of magnification". Thanks, Matt S. Newton, MA <Accipiter22...>

Date: 1/11/21 12:59 pm From: Johnathon Benson <johnathonl87...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Correction: Tundra Swan at Forest GROVE reservation
Sorry to those who have seen the post. I easily mix up these two locations. The TUNDRA SWAN is being seen at the Forest GROVE reservation off of Woerd Avenue in Waltham. Apologies for the confusion.

Date: 1/11/21 12:02 pm From: Johnathon Benson <johnathonl87...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Tundra Swan- Waltham
I am currently viewing a TUNDRA SWAN at the forest hills area off of Woerd Avenue in Waltham. Park at the boat loading area (the rest of the street is portioned off for bridge construction) and proceed to the dock and search towards the left. Swan holding neck upright with dark bill and yellow lores. Associating with Mute Swans but keeping a bit of a distance. It has frequently gone around the cove but come back around while feeding. -Johnathon Benson Waltham, MA

Date: 1/11/21 11:18 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Road trip - Plum Island
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:30:02 +0000 (UTC) From: "YahoomaiI..Service" <skwheelock...> Subject: Road trip - Plum Island One of the top birding locations in MA is Plum Island which I recently explored/birded twice recently and would like to share my experiences to any birder who wants to visit Plum Island - many excellent birds such as Snowy Owls to enjoy.For me, I drive directly to the Parker River NWR pre-light [gates are open] and hope to hear a Gt-Horned or Barred Owl calling just north of Hellcat but goal is to get to Cross Farm Hill at early light and park along the edge of the road. Shortly the Short-eared Owl often starts hunting low over the hill - in the far trees on the south side of the hill are often raptors from Red-tails, occasionally a Rough-legged, etc - various sparrows & a few other passerines can be also found there.Then I head directly toParking lot 7 and walk up to the platform overlooking the ocean and Emerson Rocks - from the platform [scope is important although you can walk the beach to be closer], this location is the best location on the island for viewing the ocean birds with the Emerson Rocks being a big draw - all 3 scoters, many C Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, 1 female Harlequin, Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, etc - the rocks will attract Dunlin and Purple Sandpipers - also there are Common & Red-thr Loons, Horned & Red-n Grebes, various alcids like Razorbills, gull species, Gannets , cormorants in the water and/or flying off shore - Parking lot 1 beach is another spot good for looking for seabirds but 7 is the best - often excellent birders are at 7 calling out the interesting birds & who are very helpful. I head back to Parking lot 4 to Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area which is an excellent spot for observing many species - Snowy Owls, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcon [who often sits on the tower], N Harrier, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk occasionally - in the water dikes [if not frozen] are various ducks likePintails, Gadwalls, etcTake the trails off the parking lot through the woods where you can pick up a variety of passerine species - the trail cuts across the main road and that area has many berries & good for finches & sparrows. > From there, I head to the Maintenance parking lot and check the dirt > parking lots around the buildings for Horned Larks, Snow Bunting and a > very occasional Longspur - also you will find Savannah Sparrows - walk > to the far small pines behind the buildings to check for finches, etc > - also you can scan the Plum Island Sound from there for a variety of > ducks, geese, gulls One could head back to Parking lot 6 and walk the trail to Stage Island Pool overlook but also has another nice look at the PI Sound again but closer - many geese, ducks and gulls feeding there - along the trail over the hill= there are various passerines that could prove interesting [Shrike??] There are other viewing locations on the refuge to explore like the Pines Trail [Parking lot 5], etc that I am probably short changing - like the Snowy Owls [2 or 3] can be anywhere but the word spreads where they are to be seen - just driving the main road you can spot various raptors, geese, etc -even 1 late Great Egret One exciting birding location and one great spot for photographers is the northern end of Plum Island - head off the refuge and drive Northern Blvd tothe very end to the parking lots. One option is at the end walking out on a commercial dock for great scanning of Newburyport Harbor for all the many many ducks, gulls, etc.�� Next exciting option is to walk the beach to the right of the dock so you are looking straight across to Salisbury Beach State Reservation.- keep walking further up the beach to where you can easily scan the ripping ocean water between the breakwaters entering or exiting the harbor depending on the tide - hundreds & hundreds of ducks along with loons, grebes, cormorants, gulls are tightly packed in feeding non-stop - if you were a photographer, just sit along the beach and these species will swim close by with no care of your presence. Obviously best to get to the refuge early for all the early bird movement but also to avoid all the tourist entering the refuge later filling the parking lots - always special birds are there at the refuge to make any trip exciting For those interested in birding competition and supporting the Parker River NWR and it's "Friends' Internship Fund" which helps support wildlife conservation students working with the refuge staff, there is a "Parker River NWR Winter Birding Challenge" that takes place between Feb 13th - 19th.Two separate competitions that covers the total Plum Island - which person or team can see the most species in 1 day during that week or the 2nd competition who or team can see the most species during that week. Stay safe Strickland WheelockUxbridge MA

Date: 1/11/21 9:25 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Kingfisher
BEKI on my neighbor's dock here in Dartmouth MA. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 1/11/21 7:01 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Black-headed Gull - Cape Cod Canal area
Black-headed Gull continues at Bourne rev area parking lot. Thanks again to Andy Sanford. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/11/21 6:48 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ash-throated Flycatcher - Cape Cod Canal area
Ash-throated continues along the water right near where old Plymouth Road intersects canal in Bourne. Thanks again to Andy Sanford. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/11/21 6:26 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Black-headed Gull, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Townsend's Warbler - Cape Cod Canal area
A Black-headed Gull has been along the Cape Cod Canal lately. Perhaps someone can supply some specifics. An Ash-throated Flycatcher was found along the Canal yesterday. Found along the Canal Service Road in Sagamore near Scusset Beach Road. 41.7755322, -70.525568 This morning, a Townsend's Warbler was also near Ash-throated spot. Thank you, Andy Sanford. 41.7759685, -70.5308469 This info via the text line. Thanks to everyone for sharing information. It's good to be out birding! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/10/21 5:11 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 1/9/21 Duxbury Beach; - Raven and Glaucous Gull
Thanks to Rick Bowes for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: <rbowes...> Subject: 1/9/21 Duxbury Beach; - Raven and Glaucous Gull Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2021 09:25:01 -0500 A Common Raven was flying about the Gurnet Saturday morning (doc pix: https://pbase.com/rickbowes/image/171333251) At the foot of the Gurnet cliff there were a number of gulls flying in the strong wind and among them was a beautiful Glaucous Gull. Since birds I see here generally are transient and often show up in Plymouth and points south. These 3 photos were taken with full zoom and cropped: https://pbase.com/rickbowes/image/171333252 (click next upper right to advance pix) Rick Bowes, Duxbury, MA <rbowes...>

Date: 1/10/21 5:11 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Harwich birding - correction
Thanks to Ed Banks for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Edlow Banks <68edbanks...> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2021 15:45:30 -0500 Subject: Today was a great day birdwise: Mourning Dove - 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Downey Woodpecker - 4 S - sparrowCarolina Wren - 1 E Bluebird - 6 Robin - 2 Cardinal - Yellow-rumpled Warbler - 1 -16 -16- Pine Warbler - 2 Song Sparrow - 3 White-throated Sparrow - 3 Junco - 10 Cardinal - 4 House Finch - 8 Pine Siskin 16 Goldfinch - 9 Happy Birding! Ed Banks Harwich

Date: 1/10/21 12:32 pm From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior
You might call that a Snowy Duck. -- <frederickbouchard...>

Date: 1/10/21 5:50 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Boston Globe - Barred Owls
Here's an article from the Boston Globe Sunday Metro Section, originally published 1/7: Here’s looking at you: In the woods — or in your backyard — you might see a barred owl this winter - The Boston Globe <https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/07/metro/heres-looking-you-woods-or-your-backyard-you-might-see-barred-owl-this-winter> Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <bbarb620...>

Date: 1/10/21 5:33 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] The Red-shouldered and the Goose
Thanks to Dave Gibson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2021 17:16:55 -0500 Subject: The Red-shouldered and the Goose Hi MA birders, This is a piece that contains two different stories. There's the story about the Canada Goose that fell from the sky not far from me as I was out birding on Christmas Eve. There's also a story about a close encounter I had with a Red-shouldered Hawk. I hope you enjoy them both, and I welcome your feedback. Again, Happy New Year! Here's the URL: http://birdpartner.com/2021/01/09/scuffletown-creek-hunters/ Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/

Date: 1/10/21 5:30 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Harwich birding
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Edlow Banks <68edbanks...> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2021 15:45:30 -0500 Subject: Today was a great day birdwise: Mourning Dove - 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Downey Woodpecker - 4 S - sparrowCarolina Wren - 1 E Bluebird - 6 Robin - 2 Cardinal - Yellow-rumpled Warbler - 1 -16 -16- Pine Warbler - 2 Song Sparrow - 3 White-throated Sparrow - 3 Junco - 10 Cardinal - 4 House Finch - 8 Pine Siskin 16 Goldfinch - 9 Happy Birding! Ed Banks Harwich

Date: 1/9/21 1:56 pm From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Another crow roost - Auburn
Believe they head up near the airport. Been that way for years. Coes Pond area they stage at on Mill St, Worcester. Fish Crows mixed in. On Sat, Jan 9, 2021 at 4:21 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: > Mark Blazis passes along a report of another crow roost somewhere in > Auburn. A former student of his is seeing large numbers of crows flying > near Southbridge Street across from Sword Street and the Industrial Park > every day at approximately 4 pm. He notes thousands of crows moving > south to north each day. > > Thanks for the report, Mark! > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > -- Justin Lawson

Date: 1/9/21 1:14 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Another crow roost - Auburn
Mark Blazis passes along a report of another crow roost somewhere in Auburn. A former student of his is seeing large numbers of crows flying near Southbridge Street across from Sword Street and the Industrial Park every day at approximately 4 pm. He notes thousands of crows moving south to north each day. Thanks for the report, Mark! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/9/21 9:00 am From: Ronald Zigler <ronaldzigler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Royalton Evening Grosbeaks
I had an opportunity to see and photograph the Evening Grosbeaks in Royalton yesterday. As advertised, there is an impressive gathering of these birds and the people with feeders are very friendly and welcoming. Since I arrived early, the resident informed me that the largest gathering usually begins around 10:30 AM and last till about 12:30 PM. She suggested that I look for the Red-shouldered Hawk up the hill on Fye Hill Rd so I took a walk up that hill.. I did not see the hawk, but instead found another feeder near the road with a small flock of about 12 Grosbeaks feeding there. The lighting was great for photos so I spent most of my time at that feeder. The link below is to an album of the images captured yesterday at this feeder. Eventually, I went back down the hill and observed the larger flock that was beginning to arrive. I had another friendly chat with one of the homeowners who indicated he was going through 100 pounds of seed a week. I told him that must be why I have not seen these birds in the southern part of the state. They are being so well fed in Royalton ; ) Here is that link below Ron ZiglerHolland, MA https://flic.kr/s/aHsmTxqC6h

Date: 1/9/21 7:52 am From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior
That is a great Natural History observation and note Paul. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 9, 2021, at 9:37 AM, <phawk254...> wrote: > > > Julie and I were on Plum Island on January 8 and observed a rather heavily barred Snowy Owl sitting roughly 100 yards out in the marsh from the refuge road, where it appeared relatively safe from human harassment. I was photographing it while Julie was admiring it through the scope at 60X when she asked "What is the owl doing?" The owl had stretched out, apparently flat on its belly, looking like a penguin about to slide off the rock into the water (but the wings were held tightly to the body). I sagely suggested perhaps it had seen a vole or mouse approach oblivious to the owl and was stretching slowly to snatch it, similar in behavior to a heron. > > Then I caught saw movement out of the top of my field of view. An adult Bald Eagle was rapidly approaching from the south, perhaps sixty feet off the ground. The owl had obviously seen the eagle and had flattened itself into a small "melting pile of snow." The eagle flew directly overhead and past, seemingly oblivious to the feathered snow-pile. The owl craned its neck to follow the eagle, and then stood up, eyes fixed on the now fast disappearing eagle. The owl then assumed the normal relaxed vertical posture it had had less than a minute earlier. > > I've seen similar behavior by squirrels attempting to avoid a hawk, but never seen a Snowy react this way before. > > Best, > Paul > > Paul M. Roberts > Medford, MA > <phawk254...>

Date: 1/9/21 6:30 am From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Surprising (?) Snowy Owl Behavior
Julie and I were on Plum Island on January 8 and observed a rather heavily barred Snowy Owl sitting roughly 100 yards out in the marsh from the refuge road, where it appeared relatively safe from human harassment. I was photographing it while Julie was admiring it through the scope at 60X when she asked "What is the owl doing?" The owl had stretched out, apparently flat on its belly, looking like a penguin about to slide off the rock into the water (but the wings were held tightly to the body). I sagely suggested perhaps it had seen a vole or mouse approach oblivious to the owl and was stretching slowly to snatch it, similar in behavior to a heron. Then I caught saw movement out of the top of my field of view. An adult Bald Eagle was rapidly approaching from the south, perhaps sixty feet off the ground. The owl had obviously seen the eagle and had flattened itself into a small "melting pile of snow." The eagle flew directly overhead and past, seemingly oblivious to the feathered snow-pile. The owl craned its neck to follow the eagle, and then stood up, eyes fixed on the now fast disappearing eagle. The owl then assumed the normal relaxed vertical posture it had had less than a minute earlier. I've seen similar behavior by squirrels attempting to avoid a hawk, but never seen a Snowy react this way before. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>

Date: 1/9/21 3:53 am From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Unusual Rough-legged Hawk at Plum Island Continued (long)
On Dec 31 I posted that Julie and I had seen a possible intermediate dark morph Rough-legged Hawk at Plum Island on the 30th. Perched, it looked to be a typical juvenile dark morph, overall a uniform brown, excepting what appeared to be a large white face patch on the forehead. When the bird roused, it briefly revealed what looked more like the underwing of a light morph bird, with paler wing linings accentuated by a black carpal patch, rather than the relatively uniform dark wing linings without a distinctive carpal patch that I usually see on dark morphs in Massachusetts. I want to thank everyone who sent me photos of what might have been the bird I saw. Two, Susan Moses and Mark Timmerman were able to photograph at some distance the bird I am confident is the one I had seen, showing what I had observed as well as pale primary panels typical of juveniles. The photos were taken at considerable distance but enhanceable to prove helpful. My interpretation is that this bird is juvenile dark morph best described by Brian Wheeler in his Raptors of Eastern North America (2003). which he notes is a "common plumage type in the East." He writes "Varies from very pale and nearly rivaling those of light morphs to moderately dark with...a fairly defined white mask." On the underwings "Dark brown axillaries, rufous coverts, and a sharply defined large black carpal patch." Perched at a distance the bird looks like a typical dark morph juvenile or female, saving for a larger, brighter white face patch than I have ever seen before on a dark morph bird. (I'll note that my observations were made roughly 2000-3000 ft from the bird.) The photos suggest the patch is not dramatically larger than usual, but the white clearly "blew out" its periphery when I saw the bird perched. The wing linings are more heavily marked than on a light morph, but not nearly as uniformly dark as what is seen on the typical dark morph bird. I have seen at most two dark morph birds with somewhat similar wing linings in 45 years, and none with as bright a face patch (forehead). Roughleg plumages are incredibly varied and complex, and are still be described and defined. Recent radiotracking of several migrating Roughlegs by Hawk Watch International reveals that we also have a lot to learn about their wide-ranging movements. If anyone obtains good photos of this bird in flight, I would be grateful if you would contact me. Thank you to Susan and Mark for their sharing. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>

Date: 1/8/21 7:00 pm From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Franklin County - Harlequin Duck, Rough-legged Hawk 01/08
Greetings birders, The Harlequin Duck, initially found by Anne Jemas on Jan 1st, continues on the Millers River just a little upstream from Cabot Camp. Yesterday evening it was also observed swimming down the Connecticut River below the French King Bridge. A Rough-legged Hawk (light morph) was seen on the 7th and 8th along the Mohawk Trail in Charlemont from the Deerfield River overlook/rest stop near Hall Tavern Farm, and first reported by Brendan Murtha on the 7th. In the Turner's Falls area the first-winter male Barrow's Goldeneye continues to come into roost at the power canal but usually arrives very late. A female Northern Pintail was present at the power canal this evening, and there was a continuing Lesser Black-backed Gull at Barton Cove, Gill. Pics of the Rough-legged Hawk and some of the other species mentioned can be seen here; https://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-local-rough-legged-hawk-plus.html Good birding, James https://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/

Date: 1/8/21 5:23 pm From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Worcester County Winter Finches (Friday, 1/8/2021)
Just a correction on that Royalston address. Its 8 No. Fitzwilliam Rd. On Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 7:15 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> wrote: > [highlights]: > Gardner High School: 9 PIGR (no males; plenty fruit by main entrance); 22 > CEWA > Smith Dairy Farm, Templeton (off 68): cheese break: 10 unexceptional > species; great cheeses! > Royalston Center: ground zero (as for generations) is 8 No. WIlliamstown > Rd: 21 EVGR; Coop quieted other regulars. > Prince School, Princeton: 5 PIGR (no males; fruit gone); 7 EABL. > ALSO: nearby Whitaker Lane (off Coal Kiln): RHWO (1 radiant adult of 3) > [PARK AT CIRCLE AT END; observe request markers; birds in dead snags] > good luck to all to to all a [Better] New Year! > fred bouchard and andrew list > -- > <frederickbouchard...> > 78 farnham st > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> > belmont 02478 ma > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/78+farnham+st+belmont+02478+ma?entry=gmail&source=g> > 617-484-6692 > www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com > > -- Justin Lawson

Date: 1/8/21 4:09 pm From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Worcester County Winter Finches (Friday, 1/8/2021)
[highlights]: Gardner High School: 9 PIGR (no males; plenty fruit by main entrance); 22 CEWA Smith Dairy Farm, Templeton (off 68): cheese break: 10 unexceptional species; great cheeses! Royalston Center: ground zero (as for generations) is 8 No. WIlliamstown Rd: 21 EVGR; Coop quieted other regulars. Prince School, Princeton: 5 PIGR (no males; fruit gone); 7 EABL. ALSO: nearby Whitaker Lane (off Coal Kiln): RHWO (1 radiant adult of 3) [PARK AT CIRCLE AT END; observe request markers; birds in dead snags] good luck to all to to all a [Better] New Year! fred bouchard and andrew list -- <frederickbouchard...> 78 farnham st belmont 02478 ma 617-484-6692 www.fredbouchard.wordpress.com

Date: 1/8/21 1:51 pm From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brookline Bird Club 2021 Virtual Winter Meeting Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 7:00 PM
Greetings, Massbirders! The Brookline Bird Club is pleased to invite you to attend our virtual zoom Winter Meeting with Guest Speaker Geoffrey S. LeBaron: AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT: From 19th Century Conservation Action to 21st Century Community Science. Geoff LeBaron has been the Christmas Bird Count Director for the National Audubon Society since 1987. He also works on other Community Science and field work projects, including Climate Watch, Hummingbirds at Home, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. He has been ornithological advisor for numerous organizations, and a guide for domestic and international bird and nature tours. Please visit the BBC website to register for the talk: https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/ Good, safe birding, Leslie Kramer BBC PResident

Date: 1/7/21 7:36 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Recent Short-eared Owl, Redheads, Barrow's Goldeneye, etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2021 21:43:37 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Recent Short-eared Owl, Redheads, Barrow's Goldeneye, etc. I birdied the last four days: Short-eared Owl 1� � �1/5� � � � � �hunting over Belle Isle at dusk (seen from Short Beach) Iceland Gull� 8� �1/4� � � � � � � � � � � � �Deer Island ocean side starting at the three yellow sodium �hypochlorite tanks Redhead� 2� � � � 1/6� � � � � � � � � � � � � Ell Pond in Melrose; continuing Barrow's Goldeneye 1� 1/5� � � � Orient Heights Yacht Club; third WINTER here! Black Scoter� 1000� � � � � � � � � � � �Deer Island (roughly) Wow! Merlin� 1� � 1/5 �Fisherman's Bend Winthrop Common Redpoll 9� � 1/7� � � � � � Franklin Park birches pond edge Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Boston

Date: 1/7/21 6:50 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Science Friday - January 1 birding content
Two stories about birds and birding on the January 1 broadcast of Science Friday. One was on the Christmas Bird Count, featuring Geoff LeBaron, and the other was on Black Birders Week. You can listen or download from here: Christmas Bird Count, Black Birders Week, Science Diction: Vaccine. Jan 1, 2021, Part 1 \| Science Friday \| WNYC Studios <https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/science-friday/segments/christmas-bird-count-science-diction-vaccine-jan-1-2021-part-1> Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/7/21 4:17 pm From: judy parrot-willis <jep_willis...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Varied Thrush
Arriv at 9:30am, bird JUST arriv., 12:02, foraging 1min. before 'poof'! so dressing well can allow for a longer, tolerable wait! Many thanks to the tolerant homeowner!Judy Parrot-WillisN.Andover Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Date: 1/7/21 1:09 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Varied Thrush in Sudbury - please limit visitation - see below
Simon Perkins has been in touch with the homeowner. From Simon: 1. No more than two cars at a time, so if there are two cars on the street when you arrive, come back later. 2. No visitors on weekends. * Here's the message from the homeowner: Just an update, the thrush has been a regular crowd pleaser, showing up several times a day for a brief period to satisfy the staked out birders. However, I'm getting complaints from my husband about the number of cars on the street, so I'm reaching out to see what is the best way to limit the birders. Also, it would be great if we could have the weekend birder free. I thought maybe the interest would taper off in a few days, and maybe it still will, but I may be underestimating the interest in this bird. Thanks! * With your help, the homeowners will be happy and visitation can continue on this limited basis. Thanks everyone! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/7/21 1:05 pm From: Robert Mussey <mussey.robert...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gray catbird, Milton
A huge early surprise at my heated water source this AM— a gray catbird taking a long drink. A rarity for January, and total surprise. Robert Mussey, Milton Sent from my iPhone

Date: 1/7/21 11:02 am From: <environment...> <environment...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] White-winged crossbills in Rockport
I had a flock of 10 white-winged crossbills fly over the house and settle into some spruces in a neighbor's yard and start feeding on the cones. After a few minutes they were scared up by a Cooper's Hawk and then flew off towards downtown Rockport. Dave PetersonGully Point, Rockport. ____________________________________________________________ Sponsored by https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more First Cabinet Member Resigns After Violence http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5ff759d1b866b59d120c6st04vuc1 First GOP Lawmaker Calls for Trump's Removal http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5ff759d1dc13c59d120c6st04vuc2 You Might Get $2K Relief Check After All http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/5ff759d2bc9a59d120c6st04vuc3

Date: 1/6/21 6:17 pm From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Millers River - Harlequin Duck 01/06
Greetings birders, After spending most of January 4th downriver at Barton Cove, Gill, the first-winter male Harlequin Duck has returned to the Millers River just below Millers Falls. The bird has been favoring the rapids about 1/4 mile upriver from Cabot Camp which is at the end of East Mineral Road. The same spot can also be accessed from Dorsey Road just off Rt 2. Other species there today included a continuing Eastern Phoebe plus 6 Red Crossbills and a Pine Grosbeak in the pines/spruces at Cabot Camp. Yesterday (01/05), single Pine Grosbeaks were also at Meadow Road, Montague and Unity Park, Turner's Falls. A few recent pics of the Harlequin can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-little-more-harlequin.html Good birding, James http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/

Date: 1/6/21 4:41 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Iceland Gulls at Tsongas Arena Lowell
Thanks to Dana Duxbury-Fox and Bob Fox for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2021 14:13:09 -0500 Subject: Iceland Gulls at Tsongas Arena Lowell 4 Icelands -1 adult, 3 immatures mainly on roof of arena 1:30 pm. Dana Duxbury-Fox and Bob Fox

Date: 1/6/21 6:40 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brown Creeper / Newbury
first time I've seen one here in January! ------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019 Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>

Date: 1/5/21 6:06 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Egret-Plum: issue with right foot?
Can some one check their images of this bird? Someone forwarded an image and then a second one and it appears the right foot is angled strangely. Might explain why it stuck around, if injured. Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA

Date: 1/5/21 5:31 pm From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: videos and blog updates!
Greetings all, The action around the Winter Crow Roost continues to be dazzling! First, you are invited to check out to short recent YouTube videos that help to appreciate this remarkable avian spectacle! Working with an FAA certified drone pilot with all proper clearances, we explored the extended roost area during the staging process as the Crows were still moving around and had not yet converged into the overnight roost area. Every effort was made to follow strict drone conservation biology standards for this type of activity. Well worth a look! Link: https://youtu.be/bSdnJ4w-d5U Second, don't miss this two minute video from last night where we experienced some of the most dramatic scenes during the staging process and while the Crows were vocalizing and streaming towards the overnight roost, as we well as infrared video segments near the end showing an after dark staging area and then a scan along the roost trees with an infrared illuminator! Link: https://youtu.be/nEFqX7u5_OY Lastly, checkout the three recent blog postings listed below: Blog: http://www.wintercrowroost.com/crow-patrol/ Mon. Dec. 28: with flight swarm action images and infrared images from after dark Tues. Dec. 29: more flight action swarm images and the full moon rising over the Merrimack River Wed. Dec. 30: staging and roosting images along with a night vision video showing a recurring group in the same location Enjoy, Craig Gibson 2021 Crow Patrol Lawrence, MA cbgibson AT comcast.net

Date: 1/5/21 5:59 am From: David Williams <dave.williams6...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Winter Birding Challenge
Announcing the 2021 Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Winter Birding Challenge! The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce the inaugural Winter Birding Challenge. The goal of the Winter Birding Challenge is to encourage birders to visit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Plum Island during the winter. Winter is an extraordinarily productive time of year to explore the area’s salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal waters in search of birds. The objective of the Winter Challenge is to observe and record as many bird species as possible on or from Plum Island, on a single day or throughout the contest period. The Winter Challenge will run during the week of February 13 through 19, 2021 (7 days). By running the contest for seven days, birders (teams of 1-4 members) can choose the day or days with the best weather or that best fit their personal schedules. All monies raised through the Winter Birding Challenge registration fees and donations, will be used to support the Friends’ Internship Fund which provides students interested in wildlife conservation with paid opportunities to work with refuge staff. For more information about the Winter Birding Challenge and how to register, please visit the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge website at: https://parkerriver.org/ Dave Williams Reading, MA

Date: 1/5/21 5:16 am From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 3 Razorbills at cape cod canal - Scusset end of the canal
7:50 AM - Leslie Kramer Medford, MA

Date: 1/4/21 6:19 pm From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Gill/Turner's Falls - Harlequin Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye 01/04
Greetings birders, The first-winter male Harlequin Duck first reported by Anne Jemas at the Millers/Connecticut River confluence on Jan 1st has moved downstream to Barton Cove, Gill. Today it was seen by many birders from Riverview Drive, Gill and to a lesser extent from Unity Park, Turner's Falls. It was still present on the cove at dusk. A first-winter Iceland Gull was also at Barton Cove mixed in with a relatively small gull flock. The last three evenings have also seen a first-winter male Barrow's Goldeneye at the Turner's Falls power canal. This is the same bird that I initially saw during the rainstorm on Christmas Day. It usually arrives at the roost late, among the very last groups of Common Goldeneyes to drop in. A few pics from the day including both of the subject species can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-harle-on-move-plus-barrows-goldeneye.html Good birding, James

Date: 1/4/21 3:44 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] administrative requests - moderator message
Please, no administrative messages to the list. Contact me directly with any questions or concerns. Thank you! Barbara Volkle Moderator, MASSBIRD Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 1/4/21 3:26 pm From: Jim Guion <jim_guion...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] RFI Varied Thrush in Sudbury
I have only seen a couple of people post and no comments about whether the owners are welcoming birders or not, nor any information about where the feeders are. Any information greatly appreciated, Jim Guion Arlington, MA

Date: 1/4/21 10:42 am From: Annie Massed <annmarie.apple...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Please change my email for the massbird listing
Currently my email is <annmarie.apple...> Please change to <dearbyrdie...> thanks, include or listings Annie Massed

Date: 1/4/21 9:34 am From: Cliff Cook <ccook13...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fwd: eBird -- Royalston Town Center -- Jan 3, 2021
We drove out to Royalston yesterday morning hoping for winter finches and were not disappointed. When I opened the car door I could hear Evening Grosbeaks calling from every direction. Within minutes we had a flock of 40+ in one tree and another flock of 25+ visible nearby at the same time. While I estimated 90 birds in all there could well have been many more. The best looks were had at a house with feeders on Northeast Fitzwilliam Road just north of the center of town. The house will be obvious and the inhabitants quite friendly. This is also where we had the flock of 25 Siskins all in view at once on the ground. The Red Crossbills were a flyover heading northwest earlier in the morning. The Pine Grosbeaks were picking grit off the road on North Fitzwilliam Road near the houses there. For reasons I don't understand these birds all disappeared from eBird alerts yesterday so I thought people should find out about them. if you go you can park in a small lot by the public library. Also noteworthy was a group of about 15 Red Crossbills along the entrance road to Birch Hill Dam. Before you grab your bins and head out west here is an article to read about a bird that is causing a big stir in DC right now: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/03/painted-bunting-great-falls-bird-watchers/ Cliff Cook Watertown Royalston Town Center Jan 3, 2021 8:30 AM Traveling 2.00 miles 113 Minutes All birds reported? Yes Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 2.3 Build 2.3.7 12 Mourning Dove 1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- Very clear key-urrrr coming from mixed woods twice. Top of N Fitzwilliam hill. 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker 12 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 65 Blue Jay 35 Black-capped Chickadee 15 Tufted Titmouse 8 Red-breasted Nuthatch 12 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 30 European Starling 10 House Sparrow 90 Evening Grosbeak -- Medium sized white yellow and brown birds with large beaks. Everywhere around north end of town. Flocks of 25 and 40 south of library. Group of 15 at intersection of N Fitzwilliam and NE Fitzwilliam. Group of 10 at top of N Fitzwilliam hill. 2 Pine Grosbeak -- Two on road picking grit. Large beaks. Gray with pink markings. 15 Red Crossbill -- Flyover group calling kip kip kip. Crossed bills observed on a couple. 25 Pine Siskin 4 American Tree Sparrow 7 Dark-eyed Junco 1 White-throated Sparrow 3 Northern Cardinal Number of Taxa: 22

Date: 1/4/21 9:18 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] GBHEs in Dartmouth
We had two on the road as we drove in, and two across the marsh from the house when we arrived back home. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 1/4/21 7:52 am From: <redpoll...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sector 5B of Taunton-Middleboro CBC 1-3-2021
Sector 5B of the Taunton-Middleboro CBC is south and east of the Taunton River and mostly bounded by Route 24 to the east, and encompasses parts of Taunton, Berkeley, and Freetown, including Assonet Bay. For the past two years, we have also quickly covered the Mill Pond WMA off Howland Road in Assonet. We were spared the recitation of all of the great birds seen in other sectors of the count this year, since there was no tally party. So, of course, yesterday we had some pretty good stuff in our normally quiet sector. As usual, Susan and I were joined by Wayne Petersen and Jill Mathieu. Highlights included: 1 Great Blue Heron (not common despite river frontage), 4 Bald Eagles (amazing number, normally struggle to find one , 3 adults and 1 first year), 1 Red-shouldered Hawk (it has been a long time since we had one), 1 Rough-legged Hawk (dark morph, in Mill Brook WMA in Assonet for 2 years in a row), 87 Blue Jays (high number, everywhere there were oaks), 12 Carolina Wrens (good number), 17 Eastern Bluebirds (easy to miss normally), 1 Gray Catbird (not every year), 1 Brown Thrasher (Remarkable!), 1 Purple Finch (bright male - rare in our area), 93 Dark-eyed Juncos (good year for juncos), and 4 Pine Warblers (2 birds at each of 2 feeder locations). 2 Harbor Seals (well up the tidal Taunton River, seen from Dighton Rock State Park). Lowlights included: Lowest number of waterfowl I can remember, Sparse raptors (except eagles), Very quiet woods and thickets, Zero waxwings of any flavor, Amazing number of empty feeders, and Total absence of any grosbeaks, redpolls, crossbills, or even siskins. (sigh) Dave David Larson Bradford, MA <redpoll...> <larson...>

Date: 1/3/21 3:27 pm From: Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Barrows Goldeneye, River Road, West Newbury
Thanks to a heads-up from a few birders, seen along River Road (near #97-ish)this afternoon: a Barrow’s Goldeneye, 8 Common Goldeneye, 6+ Common mergansers. River Road is narrow: take care pulling over and letting cars pass. Leslie Kramer Barry Burden Medford

Date: 1/3/21 2:11 pm From: Josh <opihi...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Harlequin Duck near Millers Falls/Erving; Sage Thrasher(s)
Hi MassBirders, On New Year’s Day, Anne Jemas found a Harlequin Duck on the Miller’s River, between Erving and Millers Falls. While the species occurs regularly on the MA coast, this might be the first record for western MA. Veit and Peterson mention only three inland records, all east of I-495, all before 1965. And one of them is from Lynn, which sorta stretches the definition of “inland” (ha ha). eBird shows no other records at all away from the coast in MA, though there is another Valley record, about 10 years ago near Hartford CT. Anyway, it is a first-winter male. Several local birders were initially skeptical of Anne’s post, suggesting that the bird was a female or immature scoter, or Bufflehead, etc., but James Smith followed up on her report and got brilliant photos confirming her ID. Yet another lesson that, just because a birder is not one of the widely recognized names, and is reporting a locally rare species, and didn’t get a photo, doesn’t always mean that they misidentified the bird! Numerous other local birders have seen the duck since, swimming on the Millers River just upstream of its confluence with the Connecticut, and occasionally crawling out on rocks in the river. Most have observed it from the pedestrian bridge at Cabot Camp, an eBird hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2168351 <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=02a5f87fa7&e=99688ad12b> Note that access to this pedestrian bridge involves a somewhat steep downhill approach, on foot from the east side, by car from the west, so could be treacherous if there is any ice or snow on the pavement. The approach from the east is via Dorsey Road, on the south side of Route 2, a little ways east of the French King Bridge. From the west it is at the end of East Mineral Road from Millers Falls. Also: for the past few weeks, birders have been seeing a Sage Thrasher near Hatfield. I’m somewhat shocked that this apparently has not been posted on MassBird yet, beyond two brief mentions buried within posts mainly about other topics. However, the location is a bit dicey: poor-quality roads where cars can get hopelessly stuck in mud, surrounded by private property, some with owners irritated by birders who park carelessly or trespass off the road. So I would not necessarily recommend chasing it, and have not yet done so myself. But it has been an amazing season for eastward vagrant Sage Thrashers - one just across the state line in Vermont was present at least through New Year’s Day, and another was in eastern New York state just up the Pike from Stockbridge for about half of November, both mentioned here on MassBird - so this one seemed worth adding to the picture. Given that this is not the easiest species in the world to detect or identify (the birder who found the one in Hatfield was unfamiliar with the species, and posted a photo on FaceBook asking for help identifying it), there easily could be others around. Good birding! Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Amherst, MA https://www.facebook.com/opihi <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=6fcb148ea2&e=99688ad12b> Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club https://hampshirebirdclub.org/ <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=2a5efd6aea&e=99688ad12b> Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=ad7704cda8&e=99688ad12b> Citizen science pages: http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399 <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=bc9f73e8a3&e=99688ad12b> https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/opihiman <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=107d24c10a&e=99688ad12b> https://ebird.org/profile/MTk1MTQw/US-MA <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=5c6f8f8292&e=99688ad12b> This email was sent to <opihi...> <mailto:<opihi...> why did I get this? <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/about?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=5a645e5cbe&e=99688ad12b&c=7cb118a88c> unsubscribe from this list <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=5a645e5cbe&e=99688ad12b&c=7cb118a88c> update subscription preferences <https://hampshirebirdclub.us8.list-manage.com/profile?u=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&id=5a645e5cbe&e=99688ad12b> Hampshire Bird Club · Post Office Box 716 · Amherst, MA 01004-0716 · USA <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=6322678d908a8acbad1620c53&afl=1>

Date: 1/2/21 6:02 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ivory Gull - Andrews Point, Rockport
An amazing report by Rick Heil from ebird - copied below. This bird may still be in the area. If Rick or others have additional details on this sighting, please share! Thanks for this detailed report, Rick! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) (1) - Reported Jan 02, 2021 07:20 by Rick Heil - Andrews Point, Rockport, Essex, Massachusetts - Map:http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-70.6204365&<ll...>,-70.6204365 - Checklist:https://ebird.org/checklist/S78533180 - Comments: "Amazing!!! During my seawatch today I had a clear adult Ivory Gull passing NW to SE (as virtually all storm birds do here) at about 250-300 yards, just after 0830 hrs., overtaking and passing two kittiwakes, and disappearing around the corner; in view about 10-12 seconds in my scope. Before it went around the corner and out of view I fumbled for my iPhone to attempt a digiscoped shot but failed to get it set up quickly enough. Visibility was fairly decent at the time, as it was about forty minutes prior to the fog moving in. Description: gleaming pure all bright white medium sized gull, as bright as the white on an adult gannet; clean bright white from head to tail without a mark; It actually immediately recalled a Snow Petrel to me (having seen many on trips to Antarctica); It appeared just slightly larger than the kittiwake in the same scope view, but with a very different shape and flight style. The bird was heavier-bodied than the kittiwake in the same view, and the wings were much broader based, but angular, appearing fairly long, and very pointed towards the tip; the flight was steady, straight, level, and strong, with rapid wingbeats, no gliding noted; the flight reminded me somewhat of a jaeger, and easily overtook and passed the kittiwakes; the tail was shortish, appeared square, pure white like the rest of the plumage; the feet were not visible. The bill appeared short; I couldn't perceive any color, but was clearly pale at the tip and darker toward the base; even at several hundred yards I could see the dark eye that stood out on the plain bright white face through the scope. I have no doubt at all that this was an adult Ivory Gull; a leucistic/albinistic kittiwake can be eliminated by the IVGU's slightly larger size, heavier body, broader wings - especially the inner wing, and different flight style and behavior; a pale 1W or especially 2W (which can be quite white later in winter) Kumlien's/Iceland Gull can be eliminated by this birds clearly smaller size, pure gleaming white plumage, versus the creamier or 'dirty' white plumage of Iceland, and also by the pale tipped, dark-based bill, the obverse of a 2W Iceland Gull. I've seen several Ivory Gulls over the years, including three in Massachusetts; this is also my second record of Ivory Gull for Andrew's Point in my 46 years of seawatching here; a first-winter bird was present in the area the winter of 1976-77, and I had it pass the point on 8 Jan. 1977 (photographed)."

Date: 1/2/21 12:02 pm From: Garry Kessler <gkessler001...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lake Chauncy, Westborough
One male common goldeneye, continuing scaup, lots of hooded mergansers, Canada geese and ring-billed gulls. In the fields, song sparrows, white-throated sparrows, American tree sparrows, bluebirds and the ever present red-tailed hawk. I wasn't able to relocate the common redpolls I saw yesterday. https://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p937986789/hf3f5dcbe#hf4505c2f - common redpoll Garry Kessler Westborough, MA

Date: 1/2/21 10:22 am From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Millers River - inland Harlequin
Greetings birders, Yesterday evening I read a fascinating report from Anne Jemes concerning a young Harlequin on the Millers River near Millers Falls. The description was excellent and I followed it up this morning finding a first-winter male Harlequin just upriver from the confluence of the Connecticut and Millers Rivers, actually not too far from the French King Bridge on Rt 2. The spot can be accessed from Dorsey Road/Pine Meadow Road with a small amount of parking close to the bike path bridge over the Millers River at East Mineral Road. A narrow footpath on the east bank follows the river upstream and the bird was about 1/4 mile upriver from the bike path bridge. It was the only duck present on that particular stretch. Congratulations go to Anne Jemes for an exceptional find. A few pics of the bird, the habitat and a map of the location can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-harlequin-in-franklin-county.html <http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/01/ma-harlequin-in-franklin-county.html> Good birding, James

Date: 1/2/21 7:40 am From: <anhinga3...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] New Year's Day Birding Trip 01/01/2021
Happy New Year MassBirders! Well, yesterday Mark Burns and I would have led our 25th Annual New Year's Day Birding Trip for the Brookline Bird Club. But we cancelled the trip due to the pandemic. While we missed seeing our NYD "regular" trip attendees we birded the day with a few friends and met up with others at several birding spots. We started our day at 9:00AM and birded right up to 5:00PM. Stops included Cashman Park; Salisbury Beach State Reservation; points in between Bolton, Clinton, Sterling, Lancaster, and Princeton; and Newbury. It was a perfect winter day with a crystal blue sky and temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s and low 40s. My day list consists of 37 species but I know there were birds seen by others that I did not see. Here's my NYD list: Canada Goose American Black Duck Long-tailed Duck Hooded Merganser (Sterling backroads) Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Merlin (Route 495 fly by) Wild Turkey (Sterling backroads) Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Snowy Owl (Salisbury) Belted Kingfisher (Lancaster backroads) Red-headed Woodpecker (Princeton) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Lancaster) Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker (Clinton backroads) Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren American Robin Northern Mockingbird (My 1st bird of the year) European Starling Yellow-throated Warbler (Lancaster) Snow Bunting (Salisbury) Northern Cardinal Pine Grosbeak (Bolton) House Finch Red Crossbill (Salisbury) White-winged Crossbill (Salisbury) American Goldfinch House Sparrow Here's wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Birdy 2021! Laura H. de la Flor Salem, MA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "So much to learn about Mother Nature .. ... always racing with father time." (lhf)

Date: 1/2/21 5:24 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Redpolls at Burrage in Hanson MA
Thanks to Paul McGovern for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Paul McGovern <rovr66...> Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2021 23:59:55 -0500 Subject: Redpolls at Burrage in Hanson MA We were able to get very nice views of about 75 Redpolls today at Burrage WMA in Hanson. The birds were feeding on Birch catkins. Petersonâs states that Hoary Redpolls often hang out with Commons. If I had known that I would have been more careful to scope the flock. I just assumed they were all Common Redpolls. Cheers, Paul McGovern Hanson MA

Date: 1/1/21 8:17 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 12/28 Bald Eagles and Fox SPARROW in South Dorchester, etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: 'Paul Peterson' To: Massbird MASSBIRD <massbird...>; Boston Birds <bostonbirds...> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 09:56:51 PM EST Subject: [BostonBirds] 12/28 Bald Eagles and Fox SPARROW in South Dorchester, etc. I birded in the Neponset Marsh and nearby Cedar Grove Cemetery in Dorchester the other day. Great Blue Heron 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Common Merganser 4 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 all perched out in marsh Bald Eagle 2 perched on Milton side Belted Kingfisher 1 Mourning Dove 30 Northern Flicker 1 Dorchester Park Carolina Wren 1 Fox SPARROW 1 cemetery just beyond tall dirt piles if coming from Butler St. entrance American Tree SPARROW 9 near Fox SPARROW White-throated SPARROW 5 ditto Song SPARROW 7 ditto Dark-eyed Junco 5 ditto Red-winged Blackbird 50 marsh Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Boston

Date: 1/1/21 8:13 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 1/1 Marsh Wren, Short_Eared Owl, etc. At Belle Isle East Boston
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2021 03:30:16 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> TSubject: 1/1 Marsh Wren, Short_Eared Owl, etc. At Belle Isle East Boston It was a banner day: Great Blue Heron 2 American Wigeon 3� � � � � � inlet Red-tailed Hawk 2 Cooper`s Hawk 1 Black-bellied Plover 1 calling;flying low over inlet Short-eared Owl 1� � � �on marsh left side of berm from end of boardwalk Hairy� Woodpecker 1� � first ever here! Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Kestrel 1� � � �mostly in meadow(main section) MARSH WREN 1� � � � � � � �marsh� edge at Park Place (across from station and down a bit; calling Swamp SPARROW 3 Common Redpoll 21� � � �birch grove at new boardwalk(parking lot area) Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Boston

Date: 1/1/21 6:29 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 1/1: Sagamore - Black-headed Gull continues - new photo
Thanks to Rick Bowes for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: <rbowes...> Subject: 1/1: Sagamore - Black-headed Gull continues - new photo Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2021 18:29:49 -0500 2021 got off to a nice start with 2 Great-horned Owls calling to each other at our house at midnight ... Bird #1 for the year! A short trip to Scusset Beach via North Plymouth turned up a Coot (Cordage pond), Razorbills in the canal, and when we stopped at the Sagamore Recreation Area lot overlooking the canal, the Black-headed Gull we found on December 19 was there to greet us. Close photo with coordinates at: https://pbase.com/image/171314574. Rick Bowes, Duxbury, MA <rbowes...> Duxbury Beach info at: <https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/duxbury-beach> https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/duxbury-beach

Date: 1/1/21 8:48 am From: <redpoll...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Adult Glaucous gull at Jodrey fish pier
Gloucester On the bow of the Endeavor, fishing boat David Larson Bradford, MA

Date: 1/1/21 6:59 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] GB Herons
Three Great Blue Herons greeted the New Year with me at 7:30 this morning in Dartmouth MA. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 1/1/21 5:25 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Correction: 4 GBHE
in the marsh behind our house in Dartmouth MA. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 12/31/20 3:34 pm From: <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Possible Intermediate Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk Plum Island 12.30.20
Wednesday Julie and I saw what appeared to be a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk sitting on bushes on the far end of Cross Farm Hill. Through a 60x scope when perched it appeared to be a uniformly brownish bird with a white patch on the lores and forehead as well as a pale spot on the rear crown. (Similar to Plate 420 in Brian Wheeler's Raptors of Eastern North America, 2003, but an overall lighter brown coloration on the body.) At one point it roused and briefly raised its wings to rebalance itself. In that very brief moment the left underwing was visible through the scope. Unlike the typical dark morph the wing lining appeared tawny with a sharply contrasting blackish carpal patch. The breast did not appear to have any light or pale brown patches but was brown consistent with the solid belly color. The head color did not resemble the "Devonshire cream" of some light morph juveniles. The head, throat, upper breast and neck appeared uniformly brown, except for the light patch on the upper face as best as I could discern. This could be the uncommon "intermediate dark morph" briefly touched on by several guides. If anyone has photographed this bird or is able to going forward, could you please contact me regarding an opportunity to look at and evaluate the photos. I've seen only one or two "intermediate dark morph" birds ever, and none with the white lores and forehead seen on this bird. (Roughlegs are highly variable.) Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>

Date: 12/31/20 1:19 pm From: Tom Murray <tmurray74...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Northern Shrike - Fitch's Bridge rd. Groton
The immature shrike that Lakshminarayanan Sundaresan reported this morning was still in the tree tops this afternoon. For my complete list with pictures here's the eBird report: https://ebird.org/checklist/email?subID=S78325286 Tom MurrayGroton, Ma.

Date: 12/31/20 8:06 am From: Lakshminarayanan Sundaresan <lsundaresan...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Northern Shrike - Fitch's bridge Road, Groton, MA
Juvenile bird hanging around on the trees by the bridge and hunting. Also calling and singing from the tallest tree on the mud road by the farthest field on the west side. Sundar L Littleton, MA.

Date: 12/30/20 8:45 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 12/30/2020 Lancaster Yellow-Throated Warbler Continues
Hi All, The yellow-throated warbler is still continuing. I took a drive out there today and spoke with the owner, such a nice person, I feel like we should pool some money for a seed donation or something for her ample number of feeders. I noticed that the warbler was coming every 20 minutes or so, then flying into some woods across the street, and back a ways. When I looked through the woods I realized I was looking into someone else's yards with feeders set up. I think the warbler was bouncing back and forth between them. There was also a small group of bluebirds there as well, quite vibrant, I assume from the good diet provided. That's All For Now, Matt S. Newton, MA Accipiter22 @ Gmail.com

Date: 12/30/20 6:26 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] "Trash Birds" or "Treasure Birds"
Thanks to Dave Gibson for this notice. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: David Gibson <20cabot...> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:42:00 -0500 Subject: "Trash Birds" or "Treasure Birds" Some people consider European Starlings "trash birds." Such was the case with Joanne, a veterinarian from Maryland. But she changed her mind after a brief encounter with one at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Here's her story: http://birdpartner.com/2020/12/30/life-lesson/. Happy New Year, and thank you so much for taking time to read my bird blog this past year. Dave Gibson https://birdpartner.com/

Date: 12/30/20 4:30 pm From: Valerie Burdette <sailorgirl978...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] seeking info on pond by Argilla-Northgate-Essex fields (Ipswich)
I'm looking for information on a pond referenced in an ebird checklist, either in or near the Argilla-Northgate-Essex road field complex in Ipswich. I've viewed geese here from the roads before, from several vantage points, but I am not familiar with ponds other than a small one on Heartbreak Road. I stopped by these fields today and didn't find a pond that could hold 600-700 geese. (There were just 4 geese on the fields, but 150 flying over, most heading west.) I read in this checklist a reference to a "pond down the lane" with 600-700 geese (Canadas and one snow goose), on 12/29: https://ebird.org/checklist/S78219919 Can anyone provide tips? Thanks. -Valerie Burdette Bolton, MA <sailorgirl978...>

Date: 12/30/20 12:07 pm From: Shilo McDonald <shilocm...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Brown-headed Cowbirds, Lynn, 12-29
Dear MassBirders, Yesterday, I had two immature Brown-headed Cowbirds enjoying the complimentary breakfast I offer in my backyard. Report with 24 Photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S78260999 Text only report below. Healthy Holidays! - Shilo McDonald Lynn, Massachusetts ShiloCM at Yahoo dot com "Lots of my friends have babies. I don't have any babies. But I do have lots of friends. Babies don't have any friends." - Steven Wright, comedian from Massachusetts Shilo's Animal Sanctuary, Essex, Massachusetts, US Dec 29, 2020 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Protocol: Stationary Checklist Comments: Birding from inside the house. 19 species Wild Turkey 13 Female flock. Mourning Dove 12 Photos attached. Herring Gull 2 Flying by. Downy Woodpecker 1 Eating suet. Northern Flicker 1 Eating peanuts and also eating suet. Photos attached. Blue Jay 4 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Taking a peek inside the Owl Box. Carolina Wren 1 Heard only. Singing. European Starling 5 House Sparrow 18 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 3 Eating Nyjer. Dark-eyed Junco 5 Photo attached. White-throated Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Immatures. Enjoying complimentary breakfast at the buffet. Photos attached. Northern Cardinal 2

Date: 12/30/20 11:50 am From: Paul Champlin <skua99...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Crossbills and Redpolls in Westport
Over the last few days, a few flocks of a dozen or so redpolls and crossbills have been working the shoreline thickets and forest between Gooseberry and the mouth of the Westport River (no reliable single location). Also today, a Fox Sparrow and Greater Yellowlegs. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36>

Date: 12/30/20 9:21 am From: Janice F. Jorgensen <janicejorgensen...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020
And our numbers continue to grow as we near the end of compiling. It has been a great year and thank you to all for helping our MANO CBC be successful. Best Regards, Janice F. Jorgensen 150 River Drive Hadley, MA 01035 413-585-0145 (home) 413-320-9494 (cell) 507 6372-9685 (WhatsApp) <janicejorgensen...> > On Dec 29, 2020, at 11:00 PM, Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote: > > > Thanks to Janice Jorgensen for this report. > > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...> > > * > > >> From: "Janice F. Jorgensen" <cbc...> <mailto:<cbc...>> >> Subject: Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020 >> Date: December 26, 2020 at 11:19:44 AM EST >> To: massbird <massbird...> <mailto:<massbird...>> >> >> On Sunday, December 20, binoculars in hand... scopes at the ready, 185 field participants ventured out into the snowy streets and fields and 40+ participants watched their feeders for the 87th MANO Northampton CBC. Due to a heavy snowfall in the past week, some birders donned snowshoes while others were birding in their cars due to unplowed farm roads. >> >> A total of 86 species were found amongst the 36374 birds counted, including a very wayward Sage Thrasher and two “head turning” common species: a leucistic Black - capped Chickadee and an Ipswich Savannah Sparrow. >> >> New High Count records included 41 Cooper’s Hawk, 208 Red-tailed Hawk, 339 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 70 Pileated Woodpecker, 8 Merlin, 1784 Blue Jay, 43 Common Raven, 666 White breasted Nuthatch, 218 Carolina Wren and 30 White-crowned Sparrow. >> >> Other unusual species for the Count included: 9 (HC) Red-shouldered Hawk, 36 Pine Grosbeak, and 1 Hoary Redpoll. >> >> Count Week birds include: Red-headed Woodpecker, Fox Sparrow, Black Vulture, Lincoln’s Sparrow. We are saving 12/19/2021 for the next MANO CBC >> >> Canada Goose 2810 >> >> American Black Duck 117 >> Mallard 480 >> Northern Pintail >> Dabbling duck sp 3 >> Common Goldeneye 42 >> Hooded Merganser 55 >> Common Merganser 103 >> Ring-necked Pheasant 2 >> Wild Turkey 72 >> Great Blue Heron 17 >> Northern Harrier adult 6 >> Northern Harrier-imm 4 >> Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 >> Cooper's Hawk 41 >> Bald Eagle adult 14 >> Bald Eagle immature 5 >> Red-tailed Hawk 208 >> Ring-billed Gull 87 >> Herring Gull 2 >> gull sp 2 >> Rock Pigeon 480 >> Mourning Dove 1918 >> Eastern Screech-Owl 26 >> Great Horned Owl 54 >> Barred Owl 7 >> Short-eared Owl 2 >> Belted Kingfisher 18 >> Red-bellied Woodpecker 339 >> Yell-bellied Sapsucker 19 >> Downy Woodpecker 491 >> Hairy Woodpecker 181 >> Northern Flicker 58 >> Pileated Woodpecker 70 >> American Kestrel 2 >> Merlin 8 >> Peregrine Falcon 7 >> Eastern Phoebe 1 >> Blue Jay 1784 >> American Crow 2407 >> Common Raven 43 >> Horned Lark 1478 >> Black-capped Chickadee 2026 >> Tufted Titmouse 780 >> Red-breasted Nuthatch 80 >> White-breasted Nuthatch 666 >> Brown Creeper 23 >> Winter Wren 7 >> Carolina Wren 218 >> Golden-crowned Kinglet 24 >> Eastern Bluebird 342 >> Hermit Thrush 9 >> American Robin 597 >> Grey Catbird 2 >> Brown Thrasher 1 >> Northern Mockingbird 102 >> European Starling 8790 >> Cedar Waxwing 77 >> Snow Bunting 31 >> Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 >> American Tree Sparrow 446 >> Field Sparrow 2 >> Fox Sparrow cw >> Dark-eyed Junco 2341 >> White-crowned Sparrow 30 >> White-throated Sparrow 431 >> Savannah Sparrow 56 >> Song Sparrow 362 >> Swamp Sparrow 6 >> Northern Cardinal 815 >> Red-winged Blackbird 68 >> Rusty Blackbird 4 >> Common Grackle 32 >> Brown-headed Cowbird 2 >> House Finch 701 >> Purple Finch 8 >> Red Crossbill 6 >> Common Redpoll 360 >> Pine Siskin 192 >> American Goldfinch 762 >> Evening Grosbeak 3 >> House Sparrow 2438 >> Bufflehead 1 >> Green-winged Teal 1 >> Red-Shouldered Hawk 9 >> Wilson's Snipe 2 >> Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 >> Red-headed Woodpecker cow >> Lapland Longspur 1 >> Pine Grosbeak 36 >> Hoary Redpoll 1 >> Lincoln's Sparrow cw >> Black Vulture cw >> House Wren 1 >> Sage Thrasher 1 >> “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow 1 >> WestTaiga White-Crowned Sparrow 1 >> Leucistic Chickadee 1 >> >> >> Best Regards, >> >> Janice F. Jorgensen >> 150 River Drive >> Hadley, MA 01035 >> 413-585-0145 (home) >> 413-320-9494 (cell) >> 507 6372-9685 (WhatsApp) >> <janicejorgensen...> <mailto:<janicejorgensen...> >> >

Date: 12/30/20 8:14 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Red-winged Blackbirds / Newbury
draining my feeders! ------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019 Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>

Date: 12/30/20 7:42 am From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hartford Crow Roost: recent visit
Greetings all, For those with an interest, had an exciting visit Saturday night at the long standing Winter Crow Roost in Hartford, CT. It was a cold, dry evening and the streaming, staging, and roosting Crow activities were exhilarating to watch and behold! Over past few days, have been in contact with members of the team of Hartford CBC counters who have been tracking and counting this roost for years. Recently, they have had big variations in their roost counts, and have shared a number of invaluable lessons on the very unique task of counting Crows, in and around an overnight winter roost, at dusk, in the dark, and with all types of wild flight patterns around the general roost area. A list of lessons learned is at bottom of post and well worth a look! Please review the lessons learned list and share other ideas you might have by return email. I'm working on a Winter Crow Roost counting guide and welcome inputs. Blog: http://www.wintercrowroost.com/hartford-crow-roost/ Enjoy, Craig Gibson 2020 Crow Patrol Lawrence, MA cbgibson AT comcast.net

Date: 12/30/20 6:35 am From: Melissa Aldrich <melcaldrich...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Holland MA
Hello all, Excited to see 3 male Hooded Mergansers and 1-2 females on the Northern pond of Hamilton Reservoir, east side. They've been around all morning. Just piqued my curiosity. New species on my life list. Beautiful! Melissa Aldrich 413-219-2418

Date: 12/30/20 4:50 am From: Steve Knapp <brimel2527...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Heron
A great blue heron just flew over the Great Meadow at Ward Reservation in Andover. Steve Knapp Andover, MA

Date: 12/29/20 8:04 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020
Thanks to Janice Jorgensen for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * > From: "Janice F. Jorgensen" <cbc...> > <mailto:<cbc...>> > Subject: Northampton (MANO) CBC results for 12/20/2020 > Date: December 26, 2020 at 11:19:44 AM EST > To: massbird <massbird...> <mailto:<massbird...>> > > On Sunday, December 20, binoculars in hand... scopes at the ready, 185 > field participants ventured out into the snowy streets and fields and > 40+ participants watched their feeders for the 87th MANO Northampton > CBC. Due to a heavy snowfall in the past week, some birders donned > snowshoes while others were birding in their cars due to unplowed farm > roads. > > A total of 86 species were found amongst the 36374 birds counted, > including a very wayward Sage Thrasher and two “head turning” common > species: a leucistic Black - capped Chickadee and an Ipswich Savannah > Sparrow. > > New High Count records included 41 Cooper’s Hawk, 208 Red-tailed Hawk, > 339 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 70 Pileated Woodpecker, 8 Merlin, 1784 > Blue Jay, 43 Common Raven, 666 White breasted Nuthatch, 218 Carolina > Wren and 30 White-crowned Sparrow. > > Other unusual species for the Count included: 9 (HC) Red-shouldered > Hawk, 36 Pine Grosbeak, and 1 Hoary Redpoll. > > Count Week birds include: Red-headed Woodpecker, Fox Sparrow, Black > Vulture, Lincoln’s Sparrow. We are saving 12/19/2021 for the next > MANO CBC > > Canada Goose 2810 > > American Black Duck 117 > Mallard 480 > Northern Pintail > Dabbling duck sp 3 > Common Goldeneye 42 > Hooded Merganser 55 > Common Merganser 103 > Ring-necked Pheasant 2 > Wild Turkey 72 > Great Blue Heron 17 > Northern Harrier adult 6 > Northern Harrier-imm 4 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 > Cooper's Hawk 41 > Bald Eagle adult 14 > Bald Eagle immature 5 > Red-tailed Hawk 208 > Ring-billed Gull 87 > Herring Gull 2 > gull sp 2 > Rock Pigeon 480 > Mourning Dove 1918 > Eastern Screech-Owl 26 > Great Horned Owl 54 > Barred Owl 7 > Short-eared Owl 2 > Belted Kingfisher 18 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 339 > Yell-bellied Sapsucker 19 > Downy Woodpecker 491 > Hairy Woodpecker 181 > Northern Flicker 58 > Pileated Woodpecker 70 > American Kestrel 2 > Merlin 8 > Peregrine Falcon 7 > Eastern Phoebe 1 > Blue Jay 1784 > American Crow 2407 > Common Raven 43 > Horned Lark 1478 > Black-capped Chickadee 2026 > Tufted Titmouse 780 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 80 > White-breasted Nuthatch 666 > Brown Creeper 23 > Winter Wren 7 > Carolina Wren 218 > Golden-crowned Kinglet 24 > Eastern Bluebird 342 > Hermit Thrush 9 > American Robin 597 > Grey Catbird 2 > Brown Thrasher 1 > Northern Mockingbird 102 > European Starling 8790 > Cedar Waxwing 77 > Snow Bunting 31 > Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 > American Tree Sparrow 446 > Field Sparrow 2 > Fox Sparrow cw > Dark-eyed Junco 2341 > White-crowned Sparrow 30 > White-throated Sparrow 431 > Savannah Sparrow 56 > Song Sparrow 362 > Swamp Sparrow 6 > Northern Cardinal 815 > Red-winged Blackbird 68 > Rusty Blackbird 4 > Common Grackle 32 > Brown-headed Cowbird 2 > House Finch 701 > Purple Finch 8 > Red Crossbill 6 > Common Redpoll 360 > Pine Siskin 192 > American Goldfinch 762 > Evening Grosbeak 3 > House Sparrow 2438 > Bufflehead 1 > Green-winged Teal 1 > Red-Shouldered Hawk 9 > Wilson's Snipe 2 > Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 > Red-headed Woodpecker cow > Lapland Longspur 1 > Pine Grosbeak 36 > Hoary Redpoll 1 > Lincoln's Sparrow cw > Black Vulture cw > House Wren 1 > Sage Thrasher 1 > “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow 1 > WestTaiga White-Crowned Sparrow 1 > Leucistic Chickadee 1 > > > Best Regards, > > Janice F. Jorgensen > 150 River Drive > Hadley, MA 01035 > 413-585-0145 (home) > 413-320-9494 (cell) > 507 6372-9685 (WhatsApp) > <janicejorgensen...> <mailto:<janicejorgensen...> >

Date: 12/29/20 11:49 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Make that Four Great Blue Herons
sitting across from our house on the marsh in S. Dartmouth -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 12/29/20 10:55 am From: Paul Champlin <skua99...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons
...however one this past Sunday, flying east to west about a mile out over the ocean off the eastern side of Race Point Beach seemed fairly odd. I barely see them out there during warmer months! Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36> ________________________________ From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> on behalf of Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2020 10:45:04 AM To: Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...> Cc: alice morgan <morgan.alice...>; <massbird...> <massbird...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons If you look at the ebird data they are year round in massachusetts. pretty regular on any open water even in winter and def easy to find given the current winter as of today. On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 10:36 AM Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...><mailto:<onebirdlife...>> wrote: I saw one at Woburn's Horn Pond on December 26. We have some hardy herons here! I wonder if they are year-round residents, or more northern birds coming south. Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...><mailto:<onebirdlife...> Woburn, MA On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 8:52 AM alice morgan <morgan.alice...><mailto:<morgan.alice...>> wrote: To my surprise, there are two Great Blue Herons on the marsh this morning in Dartmouth! -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA -- Justin Lawson

Date: 12/29/20 7:50 am From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons
If you look at the ebird data they are year round in massachusetts. pretty regular on any open water even in winter and def easy to find given the current winter as of today. On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 10:36 AM Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...> wrote: > I saw one at Woburn's Horn Pond on December 26. We have some hardy herons > here! I wonder if they are year-round residents, or more northern birds > coming south. > > Regina Harrison > <onebirdlife...> > Woburn, MA > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 8:52 AM alice morgan <morgan.alice...> > wrote: > >> To my surprise, there are two Great Blue Herons on the marsh this morning >> in Dartmouth! >> >> -- >> Alice & Dane Morgan >> Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA >> > -- Justin Lawson

Date: 12/29/20 7:31 am From: Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Herons
I saw one at Woburn's Horn Pond on December 26. We have some hardy herons here! I wonder if they are year-round residents, or more northern birds coming south. Regina Harrison <onebirdlife...> Woburn, MA On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 8:52 AM alice morgan <morgan.alice...> wrote: > To my surprise, there are two Great Blue Herons on the marsh this morning > in Dartmouth! > > -- > Alice & Dane Morgan > Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA >

Date: 12/29/20 6:38 am From: eduardo <delsolar...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Salisbury/Merrimack birds, images
Last Saturday, under gorgeous clear skies, I birded and photographed at the Salisbury State Reservation from 8-11:30 AM. Red Crossbills were plentiful, no White-winged, and feeding in flocks. Snowy Buntings were all over the camping grounds in large groups, a lonely Lapland Longspur near the boat dock. Joining the Crossbills were Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadee, and Northern Mockingbird. A Northern Harrier and a Red-tailed Hawk at entrance of the reservation but no Snowy Owl. Around 12 PM I went to Eagle Island, a few Eagles there, a Turkey Vulture and groups of Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye were present. Other species seen and photographed include seal. Here is the link to that shoot: http://delsolar.org/webs/birds/salisbury20/content/_76A2788_large.html Eduardo del Solar <delsolar...> Boston, Mass My Website del Solar Homepage Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Date: 12/29/20 5:52 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Frozen with Fear
Frozen with Fear It’s a ritual. Every morning, rise, brew a cup of tea, and sit to watch the feeders. The mealworm feeder is filled every night, the suet feeder is kept packed, the three hangers—sunflower, Nyjer seed, and safflower—are cleaned and filled weekly. Over forty species have appeared in or over the backyard. This morning, though, there is only one bird on a feeder. It is a female Cardinal. She is perched on the side of the feeder. She is as still as a Cardinal in a Glen Loates painting. The branches around the yard, where Mourning Doves, Crows, Starlings, Grackles, and Grosbeaks often perch, are empty. The large flock of finches, Gold, House, and Purple are nowhere to be found. The joyful morning chorus of excited chirps and squeaks is silent. Not a creature is stirring, not even a Titmouse. A pair of Cardinals have been in the yard all year. Male and female feed regularly. They are the yard’s alarm system, hitting their high, sharp, staccato chirps whenever anyone or anything enters the yard. It is, in their precise world view, their yard. The Robins, House and Carolina Wrens, and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers would vociferously disagree. The lone Starling which magically morphs into twenty before the very eye, the sparrows who bully beyond their standing, and boisterous Blue Jays make their case yet the Cardinals do not flinch. The Cardinal has not moved an inch. Not a feather. Perhaps she has caught her claw, wing, or beak in the feeder. Last night brought the first frost, the grass is glazed with a slight layer of sugar. It was not cold enough to freeze any healthy bird to death. Twenty minutes later, the paper is read, the tea is drained. Out the kitchen window framing the feeders, the Cardinal is surprisingly still there. She has not stirred. Curiosity wins out. Opening the backdoor, accompanied by two rambunctious hounds bounding out with glee, the dogs dart right below her. She does not move. The dogs spring off to sniff out the night’s invaders. The bird on the feeder appears dead on its perch. A clap of the hands and the Cardinal bursts to life, springs up, and darts off, diving down into the bushes and vines lining the yard fence. A grey-blue blur, darts by, descending at speed, its wings so close they woosh as a sharp wind blast hits the face. As it passes, its dive does not veer, its red eye looks only ahead. Cooper’s Hawk! The Cardinal flees into the bramble. The scraggly maze engulfs her. The striker flaps but once and is right on her tail. Both disappear into the bush and nary a single branch or vine moves. Predator and prey are swallowed up without a trace, as a rising trout takes a mayfly and then both are gone. Maybe 30 seconds goes by; maybe less. The Hawk rises out of the bush like a diving cormorant reappears with a trout in its maw. It makes no sound. It perches on the fence post, its beak, though, is empty; its claws grasp only the fence. Its head cocked, its flaming eyes burn into the bush, dissecting the vines. The red eyes search for the slightest stir with a predator’s single focus. The hunt is not over yet. It seems only fair to the unwittingly exposed Cardinal to end it. Walking towards the hawk, the dogs get there first and it flies off toward the tall pines down the road. The dogs watch it go as the high shrill of its scolding echoes. There is no sign of the Cardinal. She is not below the bushes. There is no red or lighter brown among the grey, dormant branches and swirling vines. She does not fly out. She has vanished. Perhaps she will return at the mid-day feeding. She does not. It is several mornings before she is seen again at the sunflower feeder. There is no obvious sign of trauma and if she recalls, she does not let on. A White-breasted Nuthatch feeds with her, chattering Chickadees come and go seemingly too quickly to claim a prize, the Bluebirds gobble and joust over the mealworms, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch shares the suet feeder with a Downy. All is back to normal at least until the Cooper’s hunts again. © Robert Ross, 12/20 Robert Ross Byfield, MA <plumisl...>

Date: 12/29/20 5:47 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Herons
To my surprise, there are two Great Blue Herons on the marsh this morning in Dartmouth! -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 12/28/20 4:26 pm From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] YTWA feeder address?
Yeah. 646 S Meadow Road Lancaster. you can go up the driveway and park up there per the homeowner. On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 6:36 PM Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> wrote: > hi birders > the e-bird pushpin for the stake-out is in the middle of water. > is there a beach point road or south meadow street address? > thanks, > fred b > > -- > <frederickbouchard...> > > -- Justin Lawson

Date: 12/28/20 3:31 pm From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] YTWA feeder address?
hi birders the e-bird pushpin for the stake-out is in the middle of water. is there a beach point road or south meadow street address? thanks, fred b -- <frederickbouchard...>

Date: 12/28/20 2:14 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] RI- Magnificent Frigatebird - Galilee Harbor
A Magnificent Frigatebird was reported today in Galilee Harbor. Reported on Rhode Island Bird Reports on facebook by Jim Stanton, reported by Samuel Fuller. If anyone has additional details, please share... Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 12/28/20 1:59 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lumix G cover found
Thanks to Harold Capone for this notice.�� Contact him directly if this belongs to you! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Harold Capone <hacapone...> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2020 15:32:35 -0500 Subject: Lumix G cover found 12/28/2020 Found a Lumix G 72mm cover at Sage Thrasher site today and the bird. can contact me at my email address Harry Capone Sandwich

Date: 12/28/20 8:27 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] female Baltilmore Oriole continues / Newbury
I have seen her nearly every day since December 6, at the peanut feeder and/or at the bath, both drinking and bathing! and am thrilled that she made it through the snowstorm, severe cold, and the rainstorm ------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019 Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>

Date: 12/27/20 3:26 pm From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: interview with John Kricher & updates!
Greetings all, Had a very informative conversation with John Kricher recently about a recent research project that looked at multi-level societies, stable groupings, and cohesive sub-groupings among large flocks of birds. We discussed how this might have applications around a Winter Crow Roost. Out in the roost area, the early part of last week, we had some wild twists and turns around the Winter Crow Roost in Lawrence! Blog postings have been updated: Dec. 27: highlights of conversation with John Kricher Dec. 23: amazing flight show before settling into the roost Dec. 22: flight action and liftoffs from the nearby staging rooftops Dec. 21: streaming, staging, and back on the warehouse rooftops Link: http://www.wintercrowroost.com/crow-patrol/ Enjoy, Craig Gibson 2020 Crow Patrol Lawrence, MA cbgibson AT comcast.net

Date: 12/27/20 7:58 am From: Peter Trull <petrull...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pine Warblers
Massbirders, good feeder activity this morning with 3 red-nuts, eastern bluebird and four pine warblers on the pure beef suet. Peter Trull Brewster <petrull...> Sent from my iPhone

Date: 12/27/20 7:39 am From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] GBHE
A Great Blue Heron is still visiting us in Dartmouth MA. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 12/27/20 5:31 am From: Jim Guion <jim_guion...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sightings or dips of Western Tanager in Brewster since Christmas?
I am not seeing any positive reports since 12/24 and have not seen any reports of trips looking for it and not finding it. Information either way would be useful since I am heading to the Cape today. Also, if anyone has information on birding at Bass River Rod and Gun club, I would like to know since I keep seeing Eurasion Wigeon reported there, but the one time I went there, it was posted and the signage was not friendly? Thanks for any information, Jim Guion Arlington, MA

Date: 12/26/20 4:54 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Re: YTWA info - protocol
I would like to thank all of you who responded. Got a brief, but good view of the bird today. Home owner was very friendly. Both feeders were active. At one point something came through the yard which I did not see but cleared both feeders; likely a Cooper's Hawk. Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA > On 12/25/2020 9:14 PM GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> wrote: > > > Google earth shows 646 and 658 S Meadow Road in Lancaster as off the street aways so wonder how people are seeing this bird which is regularly being seen (as of today). Are people welcome to walk into the yard(s)? > > Any assistance would be appreciated. > > Thank you. > > Glenn > > Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA >

Date: 12/26/20 11:57 am From: elabato <elabato...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Redheads, Ell Pond, Melrose
Two males at west end of pond at 1:45 pm.Eric LabatoSent via my Samsung Galaxy, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

Date: 12/26/20 8:46 am From: Claire Wilcox <cmbwilcox...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Snow Geese in Harwich
There were 2 Snow Geese on the front field at Monomoy Regional High School this morning. They’re grazing with a large group of Canada Geese, and quite easy to see from the main entrance road to the school. Claire Wilcox Harwich Port Sent from my iPad

Date: 12/26/20 6:16 am From: Justin Lawson <justindlawson...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] YTWA Protocol
I had originally spoken to the owner the day he posted on facebook and established with him that birders can come. There is parking for about 6 cars up his driveway and you are allowed to drive up and park there. On Sat, Dec 26, 2020 at 9:06 AM Cliff Cook <ccook13...> wrote: > Responding to Glenn’s question about the Yellow Throated Warbler in > Lancaster birders are allowed to walk up the driveway to the house where > the bird is being seen at the feeders. This is the first house you come up > to. Note that there are feeders in backyard as well as the front. I saw the > bird out back. To see those feeders walk past the garage and look behind > the house. > > Cliff Cook > Watertown > > Sent from my iPhone > -- Justin Lawson

Date: 12/26/20 6:02 am From: John Liller <john.liller...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Worcester CBC - 12/19/20
I apologize for the lateness of this report. The Worcester Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, December 19th. The day began with temperatures in the low single digits, but warmed up to around or, in some places, above freezing. There was plenty of snow on the ground due to the storm the previous day, and though moving water was mostly open, any open still water was found strictly in the larger bodies of water. 79 species were recorded, along with a good number (8) of count week birds. Here is the list: Canada Goose (1418) Mute Swan (50) Swan species (5 - possible Tundras) American Black Duck (29) Mallard (570) Northern Shoveler (1) Greater Scaup (75) Long-tailed Duck (1 - 3rd record for the count) Bufflehead (1) Common Goldeneye (115) Hooded Merganser (182) Common Merganser (76) Wild Turkey (19) Common Loon (7) Great Blue Heron (6) Bald Eagle (2) Northern Harrier (2) Sharp-shinned Hawk (3) Cooper's Hawk (14 - new high) Northern Goshawk (1) Accipiter species (1) Red-shouldered Hawk (3) Red-tailed Hawk (59) Red-shouldered/Red-tailed hybrid (1) Ring-billed Gull (167) Herring Gull (9) Rock Pigeon (549) Mourning Dove (336) Eastern Screech-Owl (1) Great Horned Owl (18) Barred Owl (3) Northern Saw-whet Owl (3) Belted Kingfisher (10) Red-bellied Woodpecker (71 - new high) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (5) Downy Woodpecker (178) Hairy Woodpecker (36) Northern Flicker (11) Pileated Woodpecker (11) Peregrine Falcon (2 - pair in downtown Worcester) Blue Jay (619) American Crow (653) Common Raven (7) Horned Lark (71) Black-capped Chickadee (896) Tufted Titmouse (408) Red-breasted Nuthatch (10) White-breasted Nuthatch (251) Brown Creeper (6) Carolina Wren (53 - new high) Winter Wren (3) Golden-crowned Kinglet (5) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) Eastern Bluebird (98) Hermit Thrush (5) American Robin (302) Gray Catbird (2) Northern Mockingbird (24) European Starling (1176) Cedar Waxwing (86) Yellow-rumped Warbler (1) American Tree Sparrow (55) Chipping Sparrow (3 - new high) Savannah Sparrow (1) Song Sparrow (68) Swamp Sparrow (2) White-throated Sparrow (66) Dark-eyed Junco (643) Snow Bunting (34) Northern Cardinal (229 - new high) Red-winged Blackbird (3) Common Grackle (2) Pine Grosbeak (4) House Finch (178) Red Crossbill (2) White-winged Crossbill (1) Common Redpoll (92) Pine Siskin (5) American Goldfinch (198) Evening Grosbeak (1) House Sparrow (1601 - new high) Count Week species: Snow Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Northern Pintail Turkey Vulture American Woodcock (photo submitted) Fish Crow CAPE MAY WARBLER (The bird was found in West Boylston three days before the count, but was last seen during the snowstorm the day before the count. It likely perished. Photos can be found on eBird.) One final note: The Yellow-throated Warbler coming to feeders in Lancaster is almost exactly one quarter of a mile OUTSIDE of the count circle. ------------------ John Liller Mathematics Department Goalkeeper Coach, Girls Varsity Soccer 81 Providence St. Worcester, MA 01604 Phone 508-754-5302 Fax 508-754-6571 <john.liller...> WORCESTER ACADEMY is a co-ed day and boarding school for grades 6 to 12 and postgraduates. Our urban setting, diverse community, and challenging curriculum provide students with a solid, real-world education. Information at www.worcesteracademy.org.

Date: 12/26/20 5:58 am From: Cliff Cook <ccook13...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] YTWA Protocol
Responding to Glenn’s question about the Yellow Throated Warbler in Lancaster birders are allowed to walk up the driveway to the house where the bird is being seen at the feeders. This is the first house you come up to. Note that there are feeders in backyard as well as the front. I saw the bird out back. To see those feeders walk past the garage and look behind the house. Cliff Cook Watertown Sent from my iPhone

Date: 12/25/20 6:19 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] YTWA info - protocol
Google earth shows 646 and 658 S Meadow Road in Lancaster as off the street aways so wonder how people are seeing this bird which is regularly being seen (as of today). Are people welcome to walk into the yard(s)? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA

Date: 12/25/20 4:30 pm From: James P Smith <keenbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Turner's Falls - Barrow's Goldeneye 12/25
Greetings birders, There was a fine first-winter male Barrow's Goldeneye at the Turner's Falls power canal this morning amid 55 or so Common Goldeneyes plus a female Greater Scaup and a couple of female Buffleheads. It also happened to be the first Barrow's Goldeneye that I've seen locally during this particular winter period. For those interested in venturing a little further north, the Sage Thrasher was again present at the Hinsdale Setbacks, NH around noon today, about 300 meters north of the northern parking area and seen hopping across the snowmobile trail. A few pics of today's Barrow's Goldeneye and the Hinsdale Sage Thrasher can be seen here; http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2020/12/ma-christmas-day-barrows-goldeneye-and.html Most of the geese have moved out of Turner's Falls and I haven't seen the Barnacle Goose (or the Cackling Goose) since December 16th. Good birding to all, James http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/

Date: 12/25/20 11:01 am From: Ronald Zigler <ronaldzigler...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Red-shouldered Hawk in Sturbridge
Greetings Mass Birders! I am new to both Massachusetts as well as this list-serve, however I have been following the messages for a couple of months now. I thought you might find my recent observations (as well as some images) of a Red-shouldered Hawk noteworthy. This bird has been observed along route 131 in between the Sturbridge Common and the Shaws market, as well as along route 20 near the road to Burgess Elementary School. Having spent the past 24 years in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia, I did not expect to find a RSH this far north during this season. Best wishes for a great holiday season and a better new year. Ron ZiglerHolland, MA <ronaldzigler...> Here are a couple of links to my images of this bird: Red-shouldered Hawk IMG_3300 \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| Red-shouldered Hawk IMG_3300 Sturbridge, Massachusetts I was not expecting to see one of these raptors up here at this time of year. Nonethel... \| \| \| Red-shouldered Hawk pivoting away from the wind IMG_3358 \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| Red-shouldered Hawk pivoting away from the wind IMG_3358 Sturbridge, Massachusetts This bird had been perched facing the wind. This image captures its mid-air pivot as h... \| \| \|

Date: 12/25/20 7:52 am From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] christmas juncos to all
a yard-record eight under the feeders with housies and song sparrows! <frederickbouchard...> 😏🐦

Date: 12/25/20 3:26 am From: Laura M <magrinha97...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Handfeeding attempt
I know it's generally frowned upon, but as I can't have a bird feeder where I live (and wouldn't get many good birds if I did) I thought I'd try to hand-feed a chickadee, which I've heard are sometimes amenable. I was at Forest Hills Cemetery with a small baggie of seed. I was in an area behind a construction lot that is more wooded and scrubby than the manicured cemetery. I saw a couple chickadees and juncos in a tangle foraging. First I tried standing with my arm outstretched, to no effect. Then I moved a little closer and crouched beside a tree with the seed in my outstretched hand. The birds were less than 10 feet away and my arm was balanced against the tree trunk. I pished softly. After a few moments it seemed I had the attention of one as it grew still and seemed to be looking at me and debating it. Then I noticed a small brown form a little behind the bird and slowly raised my bins - a silent Carolina Wren perched close. I congratulated myself for being able to crouch, view a bird with my left hand, and attempt to feed another with my right (while wishing the Carolina Wren was a Winter Wren). The chickadee then gave a few alarm calls, "dee-dee-dee-dee!" and moved further back in the tangle. Anyway, it was a nice bird walk in 54 degree temps in a beautiful, uncrowded place. Laura Markley South Boston

Date: 12/24/20 3:33 pm From: RUTH MARRION <ruthmarrion...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] RE: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg?
It could be neurologic. Budgerigars with cancer of an abdominal organ often present to the veterinarian with lameness in one leg. So cancer is possible cause. Ruth Marrion > On 12/23/2020 9:53 AM Chris Floyd <chrisf...> wrote: > > > > Happened across same bird yesterday: > > > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S77854780 > > > > From the four new photos, the afflicted leg appears to be structurally intact with full range of motion but without muscle-tendon function. > > > > Also got some audio (of other birds) that may support typing. > > > > Chris Floyd > > Lexington > > <chrisf...> mailto:<chrisf...> > > > > From: Chris Floyd > Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:20 AM > To: Massbird <massbird...> > Subject: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg? > > > > See first Red Crossbill photo in https://ebird.org/checklist/S77550681 https://ebird.org/checklist/S77550681 . > > > > This wasn’t a temporary preening posture – it persisted through other photos in different postures. > > > > Broken/healed/deformed leg? Muscle paralysis or detachment? > > > > Chris Floyd > > Lexington > > <chrisf...> mailto:<chrisf...> >

Date: 12/24/20 8:40 am From: <redpoll...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose, Joppa Flats, now
The (a) Pink-footed Goose is in the salt marsh right behind Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats at this moment. David Larson Bradford, MA

Date: 12/23/20 8:40 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose - East Orleans, Newburyport Harbor
I see from ebird today that the Pink-footed Goose at Eldridge Park in East Orleans continues. There's report of a second this afternoon from the Joppa park boat ramp. Happy Holidays everyone! Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>

Date: 12/23/20 2:50 pm From: Madeleine Linck <madeleine.linck...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Tundra Swan flying towards Fresh Pond, Cambridge
My daughter just called on her way home from work in Concord, heading to her home in Somerville. She grew up in Minnesota where we had many Tundra Swans migrating through the state (as well as thousands of Trumpeter Swans that nest throughout the State). She said the swan looked to be heading towards Fresh Pond. Madeleine Linck Rehoboth, Mass

Date: 12/23/20 11:41 am From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Salisbury Beach State Park 12/23
Visiting from 8:30-10:00 AM. The large flock of Red Crossbills continues on the edge of the main road in the pines. I did not see any White-winged today yet had several earlier this week. Two Lapland Longspurs foraged quite happily, out in the open grass, near the boat ramp. They were not easily spooked by photographers. Long-tailed Ducks contine in the tributary mouth off the ramp. Unusually large flocks of Snow Buntings (I counted 46 in my photos in one grouping) chirping loudly as they fly around the campground, might be found anywhere in the park. No Horned Larks found today, yet expected. From the jetty parking lot, the huge flotilla of White-winged Scoters, with Common Eiders mixed in, also continues. It is an impressive display. Many commons, including Chickadees, Cardinals, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmouse, Mockingbird, Mallards, American Blacks, Harrier, Song Sparrows, and Finches of three types (House, Purple, and Gold). Also found two Hooded Mergansers off the entrance road before the campground, deep in narrow tide flows at near high tide. They disappeared as the tide dropped. Many birders and photographers today, including the usual suspects. Happy Holidays! Robert Ross Byfield, MA <plumsil...>

Date: 12/23/20 8:49 am From: Maryellen Stone <maryellen...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Pink-footed Goose at Joppa Park Newburyport
Hello All, There is a Pink-footed Goose grazing with 100s of Canada Geese on the left side of the boat ramp at Joppa Park in Newburyport. In very close. Cheers, Maryellen Stone North Reading, MA <maryellen...> Sent from my iPhone

Date: 12/23/20 6:59 am From: Chris Floyd <chrisf...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] RE: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg?
Happened across same bird yesterday: https://ebird.org/checklist/S77854780 From the four new photos, the afflicted leg appears to be structurally intact with full range of motion but without muscle-tendon function. Also got some audio (of other birds) that may support typing. Chris Floyd Lexington <chrisf...><mailto:<chrisf...> From: Chris Floyd Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:20 AM To: Massbird <massbird...> Subject: What's Wrong with This Bird's Foot/Leg? See first Red Crossbill photo in https://ebird.org/checklist/S77550681 . This wasn't a temporary preening posture - it persisted through other photos in different postures. Broken/healed/deformed leg? Muscle paralysis or detachment? Chris Floyd Lexington <chrisf...><mailto:<chrisf...>

Date: 12/23/20 6:59 am From: Bob Stymeist <bobstymeist...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Greater Boston CBC
The 48th Greater Boston Christmas Bird Count was held Sunday December 20 2020; the total number of species recorded was 117 plus 1 count week species (CW). Outstanding was the discovery of an Eared Grebe by Ted Bradford on Jamaica Pond on December 6; this is a first for Boston. The Eared Grebe brings the all time total for the Greater Boston CBC including CW to an amazing 234! Unfortunately the Pacific-slope Flycatcher found November 24 by Ben Shamgochian remained up until December 16, one day shy of count period. The snow storm was devastating. Noteworthy birds included Snow Goose, 2 Redhead, Virginia Rail, American Woodcock, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Snowy Owls, 4 Pileated Woodpeckers, a Marsh Wren and new high counts for 13 species The Counts this year were unlike any other with the pandemic, we had had to adhere to the guidelines of social distancing, face coverings and birding solo or with only family or pod members. We did much more walking this year, some group leaders divided their sections into smaller areas leading to better coverage. We had new record high counts for 13 species. The blizzard on December 17 brought over a foot of snow in much of the count circle. Moving about was challenging. The weather at least was cooperative, seasonable temperature and no wind gave us calm seas for maximum viewing. We missed socializing over refreshments at Habitat, hopefully we will get back to the fun of the countdown next year. Next Years Count will be Sunday December 19 2021- Be There! Good birding and Happy Holidays Bob Stymeist, compiler Greater Boston Christmas Bird Count December 20 2020 117 species plus 1 Count Week Bird Snow Goose 1 Brant 107 Canada Goose 5259 Mute Swan 118 Wood Duck 8 Gadwall 1 American Wigeon 4 Mallard 3013 American Black Duck 472 Northern Pintail 1 Green-winged Teal 5 Redhead 2 Ring-necked Duck 123 Greater Scaup 6 Lesser Scaup 2 Common Eider 1491 Surf Scoter 448 White-winged Scoter 183 Black Scoter 2002-HC. Last year just a single bird Long-tailed Duck 240-HC Bufflehead 347 Common Goldeneye 88 Hooded Merganser 607-HC Common Merganser 827-HC Red-breasted Merganser 230 Ruddy Duck 83 Wild Turkey 90 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Horned Grebe 9 Red-necked Grebe 20 Eared Grebe 1- NEW to Count # 234 Rock Pigeon 2441 Mourning Dove 924 Virginia Rail 1 only noted 5x- last reported 1998 American Coot 20 Ruddy Turnstone 6 Dunlin 21 Purple Sandpiper 6 American Woodcock 1 Razorbill 3 Ring-billed Gull 715 Herring Gull 2394 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull 217 Red-throated Loon 33 Common Loon 101 Double-crested Cormorant 10 Great Blue Heron 35 Turkey Vulture CW Northern Harrier 12 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 Cooper's Hawk 31 Red-shoulderd Hawk 2 Bald Eagle 9 Red-tailed Hawk 102 Eastern Screech-Owl 15 Great Horned Owl 17 Snowy Owl 8- 7 at Logan Airport Barred Owl 5 Short-eared Owl 1- Logan Airport Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 11 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 165-HC Downy Woodpecker 444-HC Hairy Woodpecker 26 Pileated Woodpecker* 4-HC* Northern Flicker 40 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 5 Peregrine Falcon 13-HC Blue Jay 1099-HC American Crow 428 Common Raven* 19- HC* Black-capped Chickadee 1266-HC Tufted Titmouse 464-HC Horned Lark 416-HC Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 35 White-breasted Nuthatch 408 Brown Creeper 9 Winter Wren 10 Marsh Wren 1 Carolina Wren 174 Eurasian Starling 3311 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 94 Eastern Bluebird 8 Hermit Thrush 13 American Robin 2138 Cedar Waxwing 42 House Sparrow 2558 Evening Grosbeak 1 House Finch 327 Purple Finch 3 Common Redpoll 181 Red Crossbill 16 White-winged Crossbill 3 Pine Siskin 42 American Goldfinch 636 Lapland Longspur 4 Snow Bunting 135 Chipping Sparrow 1 American Tree Sparrow 211 Fox Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 1126 White-throated Sparrow 339 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 510 Swamp Sparrow 27 Eastern Towhee 1 Red-winged Blackbird 226 Rusty Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 3 Pine Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Northern Cardinal 395 -- Bob Stymeist <bobstymeist...>

Date: 12/22/20 7:53 pm From: CRAIG GIBSON <cbgibson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Winter Crow Roost: updates and more time lapse!
Greetings all, For those with an interest, the action in and around the Winter Crow Roost continues to get more exciting! The Crows keep us on our toes, with constant changes in streaming, staging, and roosting patterns. Each night is an exhilarating joy and at times a complete mystery with change being the one constant through it all. Recent blog postings with action and sunset photos include the following: Dec. 13: coming in form all directions Dec. 15: staging, roosting, and roosting after dark Dec. 17: staging shift after the snowstorm with roost time lapse Dec.19: terrific action with Bob and Dana during the Christmas Bird Count and yet another short action-packed time lapse movie Blog: http://www.wintercrowroost.com/crow-patrol/ Christmas blessings to all, Craig Gibson 2020 Crow Patrol Lawrence, MA cbgibson AT comcast.net Check out the new "Crow Patrol" podcast with Wayne Petersen!

Date: 12/22/20 5:39 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cape Ann Christmas Count 2020
Thanks to Robert Buchsbaum for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Robert Buchsbaum <rnbuchsbaum...> Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:10:27 -0500 Subject: Cape Ann Christmas Count 2020 Robert Buchsbaum Beverly, MA <rnbuchsbaum...>, Here are results from the Cape Ann Christmas Count held on Sunday, December 20, 2020. The count was unusual for a few reasons. First, everyone wore masks and adhered to social distancing protocols. Secone we did our compilation a day later via Zoom (thanks to Peter Van Demark) rather than the traditional post birding pizza party. Finally, it had been a long time since we had a Christmas Count with so much snow on the ground (9-12 inches). That made parking and traversing trails more challenging than normal. Nevertheless, we persisted and came out with 114 species, slightly higher than the past few years The weather started out in the low 20s and rose to about 40 during the day. There was very little wind which made for calm seas and good viewing conditions. It started raining at about 3:30PM. Freshwater ponds were frozen. Here is our list. Particularly interesting sightings are in bold. Atlantic Brant 39 Canada Goose 1155 Mute Swan 1 Gadwall 12 American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 527 Mallard 1162 Mallard x Black hybrid 1 Northern Shoveler 1 Northern Pintail 3 Ring-necked Duck 3 Greater Scaup 47 Lesser Scaup 1 Common Eider 2672 Harlequin Duck 201 Surf Scoter 277 White-winged Scoter 1859 Black Scoter 2262 scoter (sp.) 121 Long-tailed Duck 270 Bufflehead 548 Common Goldeneye 65 Hooded Merganser 10 Red-breasted Merganser 301 Wild Turkey 70 Red-throated Loon 11 Common Loon 228 Horned Grebe 16 Red-necked Grebe 16 Northern Gannet 6 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Great Cormorant 125 cormorant (sp.) 19 Great Blue Heron 7 Bald Eagle 2 Northern Harrier 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 Cooper's Hawk 24 Accipiter (sp.) 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 39 Black-bellied Plover 2 Ruddy Turnstone 2 Sanderling 18 Purple Sandpiper 79 Dunlin 40 Common Murre 1 Razorbill 40 Black Guillemot 8 Black-legged Kittiwake 1 Bonaparte's Gull 1 Black-headed Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 157 Herring Gull 1844 Kumlien's Iceland Gull 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull 385 Rock Pigeon 248 Mourning Dove 346 Eastern Screech-Owl 14 Great Horned Owl 15 Snowy Owl 1 Barred Owl 6 Northern Saw-whet Owl 5 Belted Kingfisher 9 Red-bellied Woodpecker 60 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 177 Hairy Woodpecker 9 Northern Flicker 16 Pileated Woodpecker 12 woodpecker sp. 2 Merlin 2 Peregrine Falcon 5 Blue Jay 492 American Crow 691 Common Raven 4 Horned Lark 196 Black-capped Chickadee 941 Tufted Titmouse 438 Red-breasted Nuthatch 293 White-breasted Nuthatch 232 Nuthatch sp. 15 Brown Creeper 8 Winter Wren 1 Carolina Wren 105 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Eastern Bluebird 2 Hermit Thrush 8 American Robin 2450 Northern Mockingbird 41 European Starling 2512 American Pipit 2 Bohemian Waxwing 2 Cedar Waxwing 134 Snow Bunting 218 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Spotted Towhee 1 American Tree Sparrow 160 Chipping Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow 21 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 223 Swamp Sparrow 15 White-throated Sparrow 146 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 413 Northern Cardinal 235 Red-winged Blackbird 49 House Finch 262 Purple Finch 14 Red Crossbill* 9 White-winged Crossbill 4 Common Redpoll 153 Pine Siskin 10 American Goldfinch 474 Evening Grosbeak 1 Finch sp. 10 House Sparrow 957 House Wren 1 Red Crossbill Type 1 1 Red Crossbill Type 10 6 *The Red Crossbill id's were done by Miles Brengle based on vocalizations

Date: 12/22/20 8:44 am From: Kinney Frelinghuysen <kfrelinghuysen...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Greenfield Pine Grosbeaks
Interesting. On Tue, Dec 22, 2020 at 11:36 AM Mark Fairbrother <bogelfin...> wrote: > About 11:00 this morning there were about 20 Pine Grosbeaks dining on a > fruit tree in front of the McDonalds on Federal Street in Greenfield. Of > the dozen or so I saw clearly, none were adult males. They were feeding > quietly, and even though I was within 10’ of some of them the only reason I > saw them was I noticed the half-eaten fruit building up on the snow under > the tree. > > > > Mark Fairbrother > > Montague, MA 01351 >

Date: 12/22/20 8:31 am From: Mark Fairbrother <bogelfin...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Greenfield Pine Grosbeaks
About 11:00 this morning there were about 20 Pine Grosbeaks dining on a fruit tree in front of the McDonalds on Federal Street in Greenfield. Of the dozen or so I saw clearly, none were adult males. They were feeding quietly, and even though I was within 10' of some of them the only reason I saw them was I noticed the half-eaten fruit building up on the snow under the tree. Mark Fairbrother Montague, MA 01351

Date: 12/21/20 1:52 pm From: alice morgan <morgan.alice...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Blue Herons
We had four today, to my surprise, in Dartmouth MA. -- Alice & Dane Morgan Brookline & S. Dartmouth, MA

Date: 12/21/20 6:12 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull (corrected link)
Thanks to Rick Bowes for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: <rbowes...> Subject: 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull (corrected link) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 23:44:45 -0500 Link in earlier post appears to be incorrect. This is the correct one. My apologies! https://ebird.org/checklist/S77751914 Rick Bowes, Duxbury, MA <rbowes...>

Date: 12/21/20 5:34 am From: David Larson <dlarson...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Salisbury Beach State Reservation and beyond, 12/20/20
I met some of this year's Birder's Certificate Program students and my coleader Susan Yurkus at Salisbury Beach yesterday morning. We had a great time with some very nice birds. Before anyone in the group arrived, there was a close Snowy Owl on the dune by parking lot #1. It flew to the base of the jetty and as photographers began to accumulate and got closer, the it flew further out the jetty, but our people all got to see this beautiful bird. There were multiple thousands of ducks in the harbor with a big raft of mostly Black and White-winged Scoters and Common Eiders by the rocks where the seals haul out. One adult Bald Eagle flew by heading up river with four Great Black-backed Gulls in pursuit. We headed to the campground where we could hear the Black Scoters "singing" in the river the whole time we were there. There were flocks of Snow Buntings, Common Redpolls (never did see them land), Red Crossbills, and smaller numbers of White-winged Crossbills, swirling around. Add in the tin horns of the Red-breasted Nuthatches, and it was magnificent. We walked over to the boat ramp and, right at the beginning of the parking lot in a small grassy island, there were four Ipswich Sparrows. I'm not sure I have ever seen four Ipswich Sparrows together. From the boat ramp, we saw a chilly-looking Great Blue Heron in the creek, a seriously misplaced Pied-billed Grebe (I now have a photo of that grebe with a Long-tailed Duck-a new conjunction for me), a flock of Horned Larks, and a single Lapland Longspur. Add in a few Northern Harriers, Common Goldeneyes, loons, White-winged Scoters, and a pair of Gadwall, and it was a pretty nice place to hang out. We drove to Cashman Park in Newburyport where we added Peregrine Falcon, Belted Kingfisher, Buffleheads, and Ring-billed Gulls to our list. Then we finished up at Joppa Flats where the tonnage of Canada Geese was amazing and, unfortunately, not interrupted by any other goose species that we could find, and an adult Bald Eagle was eating something way out on an ice floe (?). We also ran into a small group of American Tree Sparrows with two Field Sparrows in the Joppa parking lot. At the Parker River NWR headquarters we were able to finally find a House Sparrow and Eurasian Starlings to round out our day. I was trying to avoid looking at the six Muter Swans in the harbor, but someone pointed them out. Despite those three species, we had a lovely morning with some fun birds. I posted 10 photos on my Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/142067850@N05. Some of the students got great shots of crossbills. Dave David M. Larson, PhD North Shore Region Newburyport, MA Mass Audubon

Date: 12/21/20 5:19 am From: Steve Knapp <brimel2527...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Andover bald eagle
There is a bald eagle perched in a tree at the northern end of the beaver pond in Ward Reservation in Andover, just off of Gray Road. I have never seen one here before. Steve Knapp Andover, MA

Date: 12/21/20 4:19 am From: eduardo <delsolar...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Race Point, images
Last week, December 8-11, I visited Race Point, upper Cape to bird and photograph. Razorbills were plenty far away but, like Northern Gannets, some were coming close to shore. Few Long-tailed Ducks were flying close to shore together with large flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Eiders. Likewise a few Surf Scoters were close to land mixed with large flocks of Black Scoters. At Race Point beach saw a group of about 15 Snow Buntings, plenty of seals feeding very near the shore line. No wonder there are so many warning posts regarding white sharks in every beach I visited here. Had great looks of a Red Fox one early morning in the dunes near Race Point beach. At my return did a brief stop at Scusset beach, bordering the canal. Saw Common Loon and Common Eider feeding at the canal side. Herring and Ring-billed Gulls cracking shells at the rocky beach at Scusset, Sandwich side. Here is the link to images from that trip: Race Point, Cape Cod (delsolar.org) Eduardo del Solar Boston, mass. <delsolar...> del Solar Homepage Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Date: 12/20/20 6:21 pm From: Sam Miller <zamziller...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] eBird Report - Fitchburg Airport, Dec 20, 2020: Lapland Longspur, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks
As part of our Groton/Oxbow CBC count today, Carla and I spent some time birding the Fitchburg Airport, and had some good birds. As noted below in the eBird report, all the “good” birds except the redpolls were seen from the publicly accessible airport parking lot. Airplane and car traffic out on the tarmac often stirred the birds up, but they often returned to feed on grass or pavement quite close to the airport office building. Good luck if you try for these birds. Sam Miller and Carla Dengler Acton, MA > > Fitchburg Airport, Worcester, Massachusetts, US > Dec 20, 2020 10:28 AM - 11:49 AM > Protocol: Traveling > 1.402 mile(s) > Checklist Comments: Part of our Groton/Oxbow CBC effort. Our team leader, Ron Lockwood, had arranged for us to get entry to the airport. Thanks, Ron! We were allowed out on the edge of an unused runway, with access to some areas not easily birded from the road or from the airport parking lot. Note that the ONLY notable species we saw only inside the fence was Common Redpoll. The other "good" species--Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, and Northern Harrier--were all seen (and were only seen) from the edges of the parking lot at the small airport headquarters. Scope useful. Thanks to the staff and management at Fitchburg Airport for allowing us entry and encouraging the Christmas Bird Count effort! > 11 species > > Mourning Dove 1 > Herring Gull (American) 16 > Northern Harrier 1 Uncommon, but airport is good habitat. Adult male “gray ghost.” Seen from parking lot. > Red-tailed Hawk (borealis) 2 > Blue Jay 2 > American Crow 3 > Horned Lark 58 High count. Careful count through scope of single-species flock on the ground. Seen from parking lot. > Common Redpoll 12 > Lapland Longspur 1 Rare. Seen well through scope on ground with Snow Buntings. Slightly smaller and darker than SNBU. Prominent dark-edged auricular patch; chestnut in folded wing. Was able to relocate later when the separate-species flocks merged into a bigger flock. Seen from parking lot. > Snow Bunting 36 Uncommon, highish count; counted on the ground through scope, in single-species flock, except for one LALO. Seen from parking lot. > Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica) 1 > > View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77760454 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Date: 12/20/20 6:02 pm From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Quincy CBC-ZOOM compilation
The Quincy CBC was run for the 75th year. We held the compilation via ZOOM and it went very well. It was seemingly not complex and the section captains got the hang of it and followed one another pretty easily. A few times the first syllable of the response was missed, but just had to ask to repeat. Keep the non-speakers mute during the compilation. The total is currently at 102 which needs to be confirmed with the lists since I want to ensure I took the numbers correctly. This is better than average. We had two species new to the count: Common Murre and Bullock's Oriole Highlights below: Harlequin Duck 2 (one each in Cohasset and Hull) Barrow's Goldeneye 1 male, continuing bird at Great Pond Randolph/Braintree Common Loon 74 high Bald Eagle 6 high, maybe highest Red-shouldered Hawk 7 high low light-missing shorebirds, NO Sanderlings Thick-billed Murre 1 Common Murre 1 (off Hull gut) Razorbill 1 Black Guillemot 1 (four alcids!) Black-legged Kittiwake 1 Barred Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 Common Raven 7 high, maybe highest Winter Wren 2 Carolina Wren 79 (their back) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 11 BULLOCK's ORIOLE 1 continuing bird at feeder in Cohasset Purple Finch 1 RED CROSSBILL 3 COMMON REDPOLL 41 Pine Siskin 13 Glenn Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA

Date: 12/20/20 5:32 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] HMSC story time about CBC
Thanks to Christine Whitebread for the following suggestion of a resource from the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * .. this might�be of interest to some birders who have small children in their lives. https://hmsc.harvard.edu/story-time <https://hmsc.harvard.edu/story-time> The books are read by the HMSC volunteer coordinator Carol Carlson. Fun for adults to watch too!

Date: 12/20/20 4:19 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Newport/Westport CBC
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 23:21:08 +0000 (UTC) From: "YahoomaiI..Service" <skwheelock...> Subject: Newport/Westport CBC Sat 12/19/20 was the Newport/Westport CBC and my section was between the East & West Branch of the Westport River up to Rt 177 down to the Point. The temp was 24 degrees at 6 am, clear skies, no wind, 3" to 4" of crusty snow covering the many woods & fields and ponds were semi-frozen definitely affecting the results although the thickets held many birds where there were many berries - in the end, the final count totaled 62 species and 2048 individuals. The owls were vocal at 6 am to 7 am with 2 Barred , 1 Gt-horned & 1 E Screech Owl.Tried the frozen marsh early and found 1 Marsh Wren and 2 Swamp Sparrows The woods and thickets held 320 Robins [everywhere], 13 Hermit Thrushes, 22 Bluebirds, 5 Gray Catbirds, 18 Yellow-rump Warblers, 1 each of Ruby-crowned and Golden-cr Kinglets, 8 Cedar Waxwings, 20 Carolina Wrens, 21 Wht-b Nuthatch, 50 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Fox Sparrow, 16 Wht-thr & 4 Savannah Sparrows, 38 Cardinals, 6 Wild Turkey & numerous Juncos, Titmouse, Chickadees, House Finches, Goldfinches, etc The most exciting bird was a Yellow-breasted Chat that popped up with the sun hitting the breast square - so stunning of a yellow !!Raptors were slim with 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Red-shouldered & 2 Red-tailed Hawks - no falcons At Sawdy Pond with limited open water had 2 N. Pintails, 20 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Greater Scaup, 9 Hooded Mergansers, 30 Buffleheads, 120 Mallards, 18 Mute Swans, 12 Coot & 20 Canada Geese [the 4 eagles were keeping a close eye on all these ducks]Along the rivers were many individuals including 1 Common Loon, 100+ Bufflehead, 35 Common Goldeneye, 35 Red-b Merganser, 250 C Eider, 20 Black Ducks, 1 Gt Blue Heron plus all the expected gulls and flocks of Canada GeeseFortunately I had Ursulla Collinson to help bird this section along with consulting on the individual numbers Strickland WheelockUxbridge Ma

Date: 12/20/20 4:13 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull
Thanks to Rick Bowes for this report. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: <rbowes...> Subject: 12/19 Sagamore - Black-headed Gull Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 16:47:41 -0500 Sat. 12/19/20. Stopped at the Sagamore Recreation Area overlooking the canal to look briefly for a King Eider among the hundreds of wintering Common Eiders along the canal's north shoreline. On the guard rail in the parking lot, staring right at us as we pulled in, was a handsome adult Black-headed Gull. Apparently local visitors toss bread from time to time in the parking lot as there were Ring-billed, Herring and a juv. Great Black Backed Gull hanging around as well, The BHGU was quite tame and, when it occasionally flushed, returned to the same general spot almost immediately. (coordinates: 41.777287,-70.541676) [Notes and photos at https://ebird.org/checklist/S77751914] Likely this is the same bird I found in Plymouth, MA at the town pier on 11/30 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S76907272) - which I saw only that one time and have checked several times since. Comparing the close-ups in the ebird posting shows essentially identical head markings and also the pattern of the black on the bill. I've been frustrated for years in not being able to get good pix of a BHGU, and it seems unlikely that within 3 weeks I would have found two such cooperative birds that look so much alike! In any event, the bird seemed quite at home there; perhaps it is settling in for the winter. Rick Bowes, Duxbury, MA <rbowes...>

Date: 12/20/20 1:10 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Lawrence Winter Crow Roost Numbers
Thanks to Dana Duxbury-Fox this post. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> * From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2020 09:31:13 -0500 Subject: Lawrence Winter Crow Roost Numbers Amazingly, last night (December 19) Bob (my husband Bob Fox) and I went to count the crows in the Lawrence, MA winter roost for the Andover CBC. First of all, as you know from previous posts, the crows strike a different pattern for their final staging and roosting each night. We had already searched for them along Market St. and looked west from So. Canal St. This is where we had last seen thousands coming in from the NE, west and SW and finally staging on the roofs of the flat buildings on the south side of Merrimack St. We saw a few going over us and heading further east over Merrimack St. so we turned around and went into the Savatore's restaurant parking area and went west of that to the river's edge. Some Fish Crows were there on the open pavement, many crows were gathering in the trees along the south and then the north side of the river - maybe a couple of thousand when we drove back to the New Balance Parking Lot. We parked in the New Balance parking lot on the east side of So. Union St.just south of the Merrimack River right in the upper most part. Now he walked out on the west side of the So. Union St. "Duck" Bridge while I stayed in the car parked in the NW corner of the parking lot where I could see a wide open swatch that the birds would hopefully pass through as they went up over the bridge going from east to west heading into the roost which begins to the west of this bridge. Bob is the "official" counter at this roost but for some reason tonight I sucked up and started to count. Suddenly an endless stream (and I mean endless) of crows came from the west over the river, up over the bridge and they joined the crows we had just seen mostly on the south side of the river. It was well past sunset - they were "late" and it was getting dark. Well, after it got too dark to see any more, I became fascinated as you can imagine in his totals. Believe it or not - he had 24,200 and I had 24.500. A 300 bird difference. Can you believe it? I also had 1,000 more along the south side of the river before it got too dark to see any more moving that he did not see. So on a night when they follow this pattern, you can either be on the bridge or in the parking lot and see all of the crows. Also, numbers have grown since we counted 18,000 a week ago. During this Covid pandemic, you can safely stay in your car and not even be exposed to anyone or go out of your car with a mask and see the crows. Stay safe and come see the amazing show. When you wish to come please email me at <dana.fox1939...> to get the latest info on where they have been staging and roosting. Cheers, Dana Duxbury- Fox

Date: 12/20/20 6:17 am From: eduardo <delsolar...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Race Point, Cape Cod images
Last week, December 8-11, I visited Race Point, upper Cape to bird and photograph. Razorbills were plenty far away but, like Northern Gannets, some were coming close to shore. Few Long-tailed Ducks were flying close to shore together with large flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Eiders. Likewise a few Surf Scoters were close to land mixed with large flocks of Black Scoters. At Race Point beach saw a group of about 15 Snow Buntings, plenty of seals feeding very near the shore line. No wonder there are so many warning posts regarding white sharks in every beach I visited here. Had great looks of a Red Fox one early morning in the dunes near Race Point beach. At my return did a brief stop at Scusset beach, bordering the canal. Saw Common Loon and Common Eider feeding at the canal side. Herring and Ring-billed Gulls cracking shells at the rocky beach at Scusset, Sandwich side. Here is the link to images from that trip: Race Point, Cape Cod (delsolar.org) Eduardo del Solar Boston, mass. <delsolar...> del Solar Homepage Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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