Trip Highlights

A good crowd of birders (~15) gathered at the Station Road entrance to the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Amherst to enjoy the birds of evening.   They were rewarded with a Black-billed Cuckoo, a Virginia Rail seen well walking back and forth in the marsh in an exposed area, Bobolinks out in the field, a Grackle sitting on her nest very close to the path, two Woodcock, two Swamp Sparrows, two Orchard Orioles, any many other birds to delight.

Thirteen participants were on our 2nd Wednesday walk at Stebbins Refuge.   We tallied 35 species, including 7 warbler species.  The dominant warbler was the Yellow.   Good looks at 3 Solitary Sandpipers, a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a Great Crested Flycatcher were the highlights.   Part of the group endeavored to find an elusive singing bird and stayed later.   It was a learning curve to get a handle on the singing birds after a winter off.

For Day 1 at Cape Ann there were 14 people on board.  There was less wind than predicted at the start, but it got very strong by the afternoon.  The Thick-billed Murre was sleeping not far out at Jodrey Pier and an Iceland Gull was present with a modest number of other gulls.  At Eastern Point it was too windy to walk out to the jetty, so we walked around the lee side of the lighthouse.  There we had only a few birds, but they included a Razorbill on the water and a flock of Purple Sandpipers flying past.  Niles Pond was fairly calm, with a mixed flock of diving Greater and Lesser Scaup, a flock of Ring-necked Ducks, some Gadwall, Bufflehead, a few Goldeneye, and both Hooded and Red-breasted Merganser.  From the Elks Club we had a breeding plumage Black Guillemot, some White-winged Scoters, Eiders, and the usual Bufflehead flock.

After lunch we visited Salt Island, where some got Sanderlings, but no one could find the King Eider.  We headed north, wandering the side streets on the western shore of Rockport, finding only a small assortment of ducks.  At the Granite Pier and at Andrews Point there were Harlequin Duck, Surf and Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser plus Common Loon and Eider.  We could not pick out the female King Eider reported here.

We headed north and found some geese in the Ipswich fields, but no Pink-footed.  Two cars went north to Salisbury to hunt for Red Crossbills in vain. Instead they got 20 Gadwall, two American Wigeon, a few Eiders, and Red-breasted Merganser, some Oldsquaw and Goldeneye, a Red-throated and several Common Loons.  Raptors present were a Harrier and 2 Bald Eagles, plus a close Snowy Owl just across from the boat ramp.        

On Day 2 some took the ride down Plum Island, which was quite barren and very windy and cold.  There were Harriers at the Wardens over the north pool, a flock of Brant, and regular ducks, mostly at Emerson Rocks where a flock of Dunlin were feeding.  Also new were three Horned Grebes.  The north end of Plum had more Brant and some ducks, Cashman Park had a few Goldeneye, and Salisbury had some ducks and loons. The owl was gone.        

We got lucky with the weather, since there was rain on either side of the Thursday of the trip.   Nine members joined in to find a total of 40 species.   It was a little cool in the morning and warmed up nicely towards the end of the trip.   In addition to the expected birds, we found nine different warbler species and two Common Loons, who appeared to be a pair.   Walking around the reservoir is so pleasant that this trip always lasts longer than the scheduled two hours.   As usual, we had a very pleasant time along the reservoir with good friends who enjoyed each other’s company.

At 60 degrees, under cloudy skies, fifteen participants, including one visitor from Dublin Ireland, gathered on Pondside to revel in the many, recently-arrived spring migrants.  There were Yellow, Black-and-White, and Black-throated-green Warblers, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Parula, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush.  We found Gnatchatchers flitting, Wood Thrush, and beautifully colored Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager and Baltimore Oriole.  Extra special sightings included Great Egret, Orchard Oriole, and Rusty Blackbird.  In all, 41 species counted and enjoyed.