BBC Recent Trips

Vernal Equinox Walk ~ 03-20-10

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:17:00 +0000

On March 20th I led my Vernal Equinox Walk for the Brookline Bird Club. I was joined by Mark Burns, Jane Lothian, Lenny Jackson, Joan and Larry Duprey, Dianna Fruguglietti, and Paul Ippolito. We spent the day on the Upper Cape and birded Salt Pond, Falmouth Thicket, Nobska Point, Sider’s Pond behind the Falmouth Town Hall, Little Pond, Great Pond, Mill Pond, Herring Pond, Muddy Pond, and Sandy Neck. We stopped at Scusset Beach before heading north to our carpool spot in Plymouth and we finished the day at Cumberland Farms in Halifax/Middleboro. It certainly felt like Spring with temperatures ranging between 44 df in the morning and 72 df in the afternoon! The winds were light and sunshine was abundant. We tallied 59 species between 9:00am and 7:30pm.

There were several highlights for the day but notables included seeing: KILLDEER at the Plymouth Rest Area (a first of the year for many of us); REDHEAD at Sider’s Pond; AMERICAN WIGEON at Little Pond; TREE SWALLOWS at Muddy Pond; NORTHERN GANNET, WHITE-WINGED- SURF- BLACK- SCOTERS at Sandy Neck; FISH CROWS in Sandwich; and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (immature), NORTHERN HARRIERS, DUCKS, WOODCOCK, and a beautiful sunset at Cumberland Farms! Here is a special Thank you to Jim Sweeney who met us Cumberland Farms and shared his wealth of knowledge about the area and brought us to the best spots to see ducks and woodcocks at twilight!

Following is a complete list of the birds we saw:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 6
Horned Grebe – 40
Red-necked Grebe – 7
Northern Gannet – 8
Double-crested Cormorant - 4
Canada Goose - 300
Brant - 45
Mute Swan - 35
Wood Duck – 30 (at Cumberland Farms)
Gadwall – 4
American Wigeon - 3
American Black Duck - 200
Mallard - 120
Redhead -1
Ring-necked Duck - 12
Greater Scaup – 350
Lesser Scaup - 40
Common Eider – 700
Surf Scoter - 50
White-winged Scoter - 20
Black Scoter - 17
Duck formerly known as Oldsquaw - 12
Bufflehead - 180
Red-breasted Merganser - 24
Northern Harrier - 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 15
Killdeer - 11
American Woodcock - 6
Ring-billed Gull - 190
Herring Gull - 200
Great Black-backed Gull - 20
Rock Pigeon - 1
Mourning Dove - 26
Downy Woodpecker – 7
Northern Flicker - 11
Blue Jay - 18
American Crow - 260
Fish Crow – 3
Tree Swallow - 9
Black-capped Chickadee - 36
Tufted Titmouse - 45
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Carolina Wren - 7
American Robin - 650
Northern Mockingbird - 5
European Starling – 1,000
Savannah Sparrow – 2
Song Sparrow – 70
White-throated Sparrow – 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 35
Red-winged Blackbird – 1,000
Common Grackle - 250
Brown-headed Cowbird – 9
House Finch - 27
American Goldfinch - 90
House Sparrow - 24

Wishing you all a Happy Spring!

2010 Owl Prowl

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:56:00 +0000

From Eddie Giles:

*On January 9th, Mark Burns and I led our 11th annual MASS Owl Prowl for the Brookline Bird Club. The intent of this trip is to find by sight or by sound all seven species of owls wintering on the Massachusetts mainland in one day. 16 birders turned out, including 12 year old Jeremiah and 10 year old Will and we were very happy to have them along. We started the day at 3:00 AM in Peabody** and ended it down in Middleboro. Weather condtions varied from clearing skies and the mid teens at the start, clear sunny skies and the mid-20s by the afternoon, with the temps dropping quickly back into the teens again by sunset. Winds were light, around 10-15 mph, wind chills factoring in along the coast and at the Cumberland Farms fields. 38 species for the day, hitting 5 of our 7 targets:

OWLS

Eastern Screech Owl (2) - We had great looks at these two birds around 4:00 AM in Ipswich. Roosting birds at Corliss Brothers, Ipswich and Western Avenue in Essex were not visible at the time of our arrivals.
Great-horned Owl (3) - One bird calling along Stackyard Road, Rowley around 4:30 AM and two birds seen around 4:45 PM at the Cumberland Farms fields in Middleboro.
Short-eared Owl (1) - Cumberland Farms fields, Middleboro around 5:00 PM.
Northern Saw-whet Owl (1) - Burlington

Incidental species along the way:

Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Common Eider
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Bald Eagle (2)
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk (3) - 2 dark morph, 1 light morph, Cumberland Farms fields
Merlin (1) - **Cumberland Farms fields
COMMON SNIPE (2) - **Cumberland Farms fields
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Dove
Morning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark - Salisbury Beach SP
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthach
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Dark-eyed Junco
Snow Bunting - **Salisbury Beach SP
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird -** Cumberland Farms fields
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

The group capped the day with dinner at Lorenzo's in Middleboro.

Eddie

Westport 1/9

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:58:00 +0000

From Bob Stymeist:

Today nine Members joined up for a very cold day birding just on the west side of rte 88 in Westport with a short stop in Fall River.
Location: Westport, Massachusetts
Observation date: 1/9/10
Number of species: 56

Canada Goose 340
American Black Duck 180
Mallard 210
Northern Pintail 13
Greater Scaup 170
Common Eider 200
Bufflehead 54
Common Goldeneye 46
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 28
Wild Turkey 29
Common Loon 1
Great Cormorant 18
Turkey Vulture 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Purple Sandpiper 4
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Rock Pigeon 80
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 16
American Crow 4
Horned Lark 30
Black-capped Chickadee 85
Tufted Titmouse 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 5
Eastern Bluebird 9
Hermit Thrush 8
American Robin 55
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 2600
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Eastern Towhee 2
American Tree Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 15
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 12
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 14
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 80
Brown-headed Cowbird 200
House Finch 16
American Goldfinch 20
House Sparrow 45

Cape Ann 1/9

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:58:00 +0000

From Linda Ferraresso:

On a very cold (temp in 20's) and windy day on Cape Ann, 10 members tallied 50 species and some great birds. One of the highlights was a juv King Eider at the Fisherman's Monument spotted at 8 a.m. by Nick Barber. The icing on the cake was seeing an adult King Eider at the north end of Good Harbor Beach later in the day ! A Red-breasted Nuthatch off Grapevine Rd was a nice surprise!

Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 10
American Black Duck 16
Mallard 82
Greater Scaup 6
KING EIDER 2 ( juv in Gloucester Harbor at Fisherman's Monument, adult at Good Harbor Beach)
Common Eider 180
Harlequin Duck 35
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 60
Black Scoter 2
Long-tailed Duck 2
Bufflehead 120
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 135
Red-throated Loon 2
Common Loon 6
Horned Grebe 1
Red-necked Grebe 2
Northern Gannet 3
Great Cormorant 26
Cooper's Hawk 1 ( Niles Pond)
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Peregrine Falcon 2 (atop Gloucester City Hall)
Purple Sandpiper 33 ( Bass Rocks, Andrews Point)
Ring-billed Gull 32
Herring Gull 870
Great Black-backed Gull 176
Black-legged Kittiwake 1 ( Andrew's Point, Rockport)
COMMON MURRE 2 ( Cathedral Ledge)
Razorbill 8 ( Andrew's Point
Black Guillemot 8
Rock Pigeon 75
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 (seen by the Athol Club but could not be relocated by our group)
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 (off Grapevine Rd Gloucester)
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
American Robin 6
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 90
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 5
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 250

Cheer!
Linda

BBC New Years Day Birding Trip 01/01/10

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Yesterday, Mark Burns and I led our 14th annual New Year's Day birding trip for the Brookline Bird Club (BBC)! At 9:00AM, we greeted 26 BBCers at the municipal parking lot in Newburyport and toasted in the New Year with sparkling apple cider and good cheer! It is always so nice to see our old friends who have come on this trip each year and to meet new ones! To those who could not make the trip this year (you know who you are) we missed you. The temperature was 28df as we started our day and it slowly rose to 35df during the day. The sky remained overcast and the wind was very light. We birded until 4:45PM.

We birded Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Cashman Park/Merrimac River, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (PRNWR), and north Plum Island.

We tallied 51 species for the Club list. Following is a complete list of the birds we saw:

Red-throated Loon - 2
Common Loon - 12
Horned Grebe - 9
Red-necked Grebe – 1
Northern Gannet – 18 (PRNWR-Emerson Rocks)

Great Cormorant – 4
Great-blue Heron – 1 (Peter, Fay, and Jim saw this bird along the Merrimack River near the Chain Bridge)
Canada Goose – 500
Brant – 6 (fly-by along the Merrimack River near the Newburyport Jetty, north Plum Island)
American Black Duck - 90
Mallard – 180
Northern Pintail – 5 (PRNWR)
Common Eider – 350
Surf Scoter – 3
White-winged Scoter – 25
Black Scoter - 2
Oldsquaw - 12
Bufflehead - 40
Common Goldeneye - 18
Red-breasted Merganser – 47
Bald Eagle -1 (immature seen from the Salisbury Boat Ramp)
Northern Harrier – 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Sanderling - 30
Purple Sandpiper – 12 (one sat on a snow-capped rock on the Salisbury Jetty providing nice scope looks)
Ring-billed Gull - 90
Herring Gull - 175
GLAUCOUS GULL 1 (Cashman Park/Merrimack River - Thanks Peter, Fay, and Jim for hanging on to this bird until the group arrived)
Great Black-backed Gull - 35
RAZORBILL – 65 (PRNWR-Emerson Rocks)
BLACK GUILLEMOT – 1 (PRNWR-Emerson Rocks)
Rock Dove - 250
Mourning Dove – 28
SNOWY OWL – 1 (PRNWR-Lot 3 - Thanks to Paul Roberts for tipping us off)
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Blue Jay - 37
American Crow - 52
Horned Lark - 22 (Salisbury Beach State Reservation)

Black-capped Chickadee - 18
American Robin – 400 (they seemed to be everywhere)
Northern Mockingbird - 5
European Starling - 600
American Tree Sparrow – 23
Savannah Sparrow – 7 (5 of which were Ipswich Sparrows seen at Salisbury and north Plum Island)
Song Sparrow - 5
Dark-eyed Junco - 8
LAPLAND LONGSPUR - 1 (Salisbury Beach State Reservation near the campground entrance - Thanks to Ida for alerting us to this bird)
Snow Bunting – 2
Northern Cardinal - 9
American Goldfinch - 33
House Sparrow - 25

Many Thanks again to all who joined us on New Year’s Day and wishing you a happy, healthy, and birdy 2010!

Laura H. de la Flor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So much to learn about Mother Nature ..
... always racing with father time." (lhf)

Cape Ann 12/17

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:58:00 +0000

From Ida G:

I ran Barbara Volkle's Cape Ann BBC trip today and only Martha Finta joined
in on this frigid, windy, winter day. Yes, it was really cold.
But we did see 37 species of birds. Highlights were one gray-phase SCREECH
OWL in the Lanesville Cemetary, one AMERICAN PIPIT bobbing along the weedy
side of Atlantic Ave in the Bass Rocks section, one COCK PHEASANT, nine Wild Turkeys and over 40 Harlequin ducks. We did not find any Alcids, not even any Guillimots and aside from the Harlequin ducks, Buffleheads and Common Eiders, very few other ducks were seen in the very rough seas.

Ida Giriunas
Reading, MA

Newburyport 12/13

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:57:00 +0000

From Jane Z:

We struck out on bald eagles this afternoon but had some very nice birds anyway under heavy overcast and eventual rain. Highlights:
SB = Salisbury Beach State Reservation
PI = Plum Island

common loon 1 SB
double-crested cormorant 2 SB
green-winged teal 1 SB
common eider 122 SB
long-tailed duck 4 SB beautiful fly-by
common goldeneye 1 SB
northern harrier 2 1 adult PI 1 juv. SB
red-tailed hawk 1
Bonaparte's gull 1 SB
SNOWY OWL 1 PI along the dike by the North Pool at Hellcat
cedar waxwing 4 courthouse parking lot
Am. tree sparrow 4 PI--gravel piles at Warden's
white-throated sparrow 2
snow bunting 2 Warden's gravel piles

Heard a report of two snow geese on Plum Island but could not relocate them in the near-dark.

Jane Zanichkowsky, Newton

Jamaica Pond 12/6

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:16:00 +0000

From Bob Mayer:

Eight birders joined me for a stroll around Jamaica Pond in Boston on this first snow day of the season. There were almost no land birds seen or heard but we did get good looks at some waterfowl. Complete list:

Location: Jamaica Pond
Observation date: 12/6/09
Notes: Temp 31 sunny & windy
Number of species: 14

Canada Goose 30
Mallard 35
Hooded Merganser 4
Ruddy Duck 14
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
American Coot 15
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Rock Pigeon 12
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
European Starling 70

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Bob Mayer
Jamaica Plain

Unscheduled Fenway 11/22

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:27:00 +0000

From Ida Giriunas and Bill Drummond:

Greetings:

Bill Drummond's impromptu BBC trip to the Fenway Gardens this morning
(11/21) was quite successful.

Species seen:

MacGillivray's Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow-breasted Chat
Mockingbirds
White-throated sparrows,
Morning Doves
American Robins
Etc

Ida Giriunas for WCDrummond

Essex and Beyond, 11/8

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:33:00 +0000

From Ida Giriunas:

Folks:

This was an Indian Summer-type day with clear skies, balmy breezes and
wonderful birds. We enjoyed the view of the great marsh around Essex and
Ipswich from the top of the Savros Hill in Essex.
Found the 6 CACKLING GEESE in the Ipswich Farm fields, thanks to Rick Heil.
Hot-mulled cider and apple donuts refreshed us at Russell's Winery.
Shore birds and ducks such as Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers,
Black-Bellied Plovers, Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling,
Dunlin, and a greater Yellowleg entertained us off the dike between Great
and Little Neck.
Saw dozens of HOODED MERGANSERS in Clark Pond along with several Gadwall.
Then to The University of MA Marine Station in Gloucester where we found the WESTERN KINGBIRD. (Thanks to Mollie Taylor for the heads-up.) Also thanks to her tip, we went to Brace's Cove at Eastern Point and found the
BLACK-HEADED GULL.

Totals for the day: 10 Species of Duck, 6 species of Shorebirds, 5 species
of Gulls, several miscellaneous species and seven HAPPY BIRDERS.

Ida Giriunas
Reading, MA

Cape Ann 11/7

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:26:00 +0000

From Bill Drummond:

Dear Friends,
It was a nice birding day today at Cape Ann. We did not have any alcids nor did we have shearwaters. But at Cathedral Ledge in Rockport there were great looks at the Harlequins and we were lucky to have a close Lincoln's Sparrow sitting in the same bush with a Song Sparrow. Also at Good Harbor Beach parking, two people got their life Lapland Longspurs. There was a winter plumage female and a first year bird working along on the ground at close range and in perfect light. We worked hard at the Elks hoping for the King Eider but no luck. There were still plenty of Gannets and we had great looks at Purple Sandpipers from the Elks.

Good birding, everyone!

Bill Drummond

Lakes of Wakefield and Lynnfield 11/1

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:30:00 +0000

From Dave Williams:

Birds seen on this mornings trip included:
The number of ducks was low, except for Suntoug Reservoir. A
possible reason for the low numbers at the 2 Wakefield lakes may be
that the town has hired a goose control agent. He has a boat moored
at both lakes and he and his dogs patrol the 2 lakes and chase off the
geese. Well, this time of year, the other ducks are scared off, too.

Lake Quanapowitt, Wakefield
Double-crested cormorant - 3
Canada geese - 65
Mallard - 5
Killdeer - 3
Ring-billed gull - 17
Herring gull- 3

Crystal Lake, Wakefield
Pied-billed grebe - 2
Double-crested cormorant - 2
Canada geese - 23
Mute swan - 2
Wood duck - 8
Mallard - 33
Ring-neck duck - 5
Hooded merganser - 2
Ring - billed gull - 10
Herring gull - 2

Suntoug Reservoir, Wakefield/Peabody
Double-crested cormorant - 5
Great blue heron - 2
Canada geese - 75
Mute swan - 2
Mallard - 17
Ring-neck duck 38
Lesser scaup - 11
Hooded mergansers - 3
Ruddy duck - 37
Ring-billed gull - 125
Herring gull - 210
Greater black-backed gull - 17
Belted kingfisher - 1
American crow - 110
Common raven - 1

Other birds seen during the trip included:
Red-tailed hawk - 3
Rock dove - 115
Mourning dove - 17
Downy woodpecker - 3
Northern flicker - 1
Blue jay - 12
Black-capped chickadee - 7
Tufted titmouse - 6
Red-breasted nuthatch - 1
White-breasted nuthatch - 5
Golden-crowned kinglet - 2
Robin - 150
Starling - 10
Song sparrow - 2
White-throated sparrow - 2
Junco - 4
Red-winged blackbird - 2
Goldfinch - 4
House sparrow - 13

Dave Williams
Reading

New Hampshire Coast 11/1

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:27:00 +0000

From Steve Mirick:

15 ± birders joined Jane and I for a fun-filled day of birding along the NH Coast on a trip we led for the Brookline Bird Club.

The day started off with a complete change in itinerary as we veered northward for a staked out Eurasian Wigeon on Great Bay that flew off just as we arrived! We then visited the Exeter wastewater treatment plant and then headed east to the coast and worked north stopping at Hampton Beach State Park, Bicentennial Park, Ragged Neck, Seal Rocks and then Odiorne Point State Park. A trip extension finished the day at the Great Bog blackbird roost. Generally land birds were VERY SCARCE along the coast. Sparrows were in short supply and essentially zero warblers! A short walk around Odiorne produced almost nothing! Fortunately, we managed to scare up a few nice birds for the day!

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Partly cloudy and clearing skies
45F-60F
Winds NW 15-25 mph
Total species - 69
---------------------------
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck - 5 flying by at dusk near blackbird roost.
EURASIAN WIGEON - 1 male seen by only a few members of group from Sunset Farm on Great Bay in Greenland. Unfortunately the bird flew with the American Wigeon as most of the group drove up! :-(
American Wigeon - 4 from Sunset Farm.
American Black Duck
Mallard
NORTHERN SHOVELER - 1 female continues at Exeter WWTP.
Green-winged Teal - 17 at Exeter WWTP
Greater Scaup - A couple hundred+ distant from Sunset Farm on Great Bay
Lesser Scaup - 5 at Exeter WWTP
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead - 2 at Exeter WWTP
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon - Including 31 counted on water off Ragged Neck in Rye.
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet - Lots along coast. Most far out, but a few not too far offshore. Mostly adults.
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
GREAT EGRET - 1 at Sunset Farm on Great Bay. Getting late. Especially for Great Bay.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - A couple
Red-tailed Hawk - A few along coast. A couple appeared to be migrating.
Peregrine Falcon - Distant views of a bird chasing pigeons near Hampton beach.
Semipalmated Plover - About 12 at Ragged Neck.
Greater Yellowlegs
Sanderling - 300+ at Jenness Beach. Huge flock continues, but not carefully counted.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 17 juveniles continue at Ragged Neck in Rye, NH. Although not rare in early November, this is a large group for the date.
Dunlin - Including 19 at Sunset Farm on Great Bay.
Wilson's Snipe - 1 at Exeter WWTP
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
ICELAND GULL - 2 first winter birds continue at Exeter WWTP.
Great Black-backed Gull
COMMON TERN - 2 picked out by Nick Barber flying into Hampton Harbor. Late. Our last tern in NH this fall was on October 4th.
COMMON MURRE - 1 continues in Rye Harbor. Great bird for NH coast and very odd for one to be hanging out in Rye Harbor. Unfortunately, it may be an ill bird.....hope it makes it. Only my 3rd record for NH. Here's my photo again from yesterday.

Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 vocalizing at Sunset Farm
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark - 7 at Hampton Beach State Park.
Black-capped Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 at Odiorne Point State Park
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 at Exeter WWTP
Eastern Bluebird - 1 at Sunset Farm
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Warbler sp. - 1 at Ragged Neck. Incredibly only one warbler for the day and could not be tracked down. Possible Yellowthroat/Orange-crowned.
American Tree Sparrow - 1 at Odiorne Point State Park. Our first of the winter??!!!!!
"Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - 6 including 3+ at Hampton Beach State Park and great views of 3 feeding together in grasses at Odiorne Point State Park.
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow - 1 at Exeter WWTP
White-throated Sparrow - A few at Exeter WWTP
Dark-eyed Junco
Snow Bunting - About 311 including 170 at Hampton Beach SP, 16 at Exeter WWTP, 75 at Ragged Neck and 50 at Odiorne.
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
COMMON GRACKLE - 200,000. For those who stuck around to the bitter end, we finished the day at the Great Bog blackbird roost and witnessed "The River" of blackbirds from the parking lot of the Target Store along Rt. 33 at the Greenland/Portsmouth town line. Today it started later than yesterday....at about 4:15 PM (EST) and continued non-stop until very late when it finished somewhat abruptly almost exactly at 5:00 PM. About 25 minutes after sunset! I really don't know how many birds there are in "The River", but today's flight was significantly longer than last nights and lasted about 40-45 minutes. Based on input from others, I decided to up last nights estimate of 100,000 to 200,000 birds tonight. There may have been more than that and Len seemed to think closer to 400,000 birds.....who knows? More in a separate post.
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
House Sparrow

Mammals
----------
White-tailed Dear
Red Squirrel
Gray Seal - Now regular along NH coast
Harbor Seal

Herps
------
Painted Turtle - 1 at Exeter WWTP

Insects
-------
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur - Many
RED ADMIRAL - 1 at Ragged neck (late?)
American Lady - 1 or 2

COMMON GREEN DARNER - 1 at Ragged Neck
Meadowhawk sp. - A few along coast including pair flying in tandem (likely Autumn Meadowhawk)

Nahanton Park 10/12

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:32:00 +0000

From Jane Zanichkowsky:

Birders,

A total of six sparrow species, plus other birds, braved the chill, frosty weather this morning at Nahanton Park in Newton. Eight hardy birders did likewise. The sparrows:

song sparrow
swamp sparrow
chipping sparrow
white-throated sparrow, singing
Lincoln's sparrow, at least two, lower gardens
Savannah sparrow

other highlights:
double-crested cormorant
osprey
eastern phoebe
blue-headed vireo, lower gardens
red-eyed vireo, ditto
ruby-crowned kinglet
pine warbler
yellow-rumped warblers

Thanks to all participants.

Jane Zanichkowsky, Newton

Ipswich 10/4

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:31:00 +0000

From Tom Young:

This morning I led my annual BBC field trip to Town Farm Road in Ipswich, as well as a couple of other spots (N.E. BioLabs on Rte. 1A in Ipswich and Island Road in Essex). Probably due to the inauspicious early morning weather, I had only 1 participant: Marge Watson of Georgetown. I would decline to entertain the notion that the leader's personal characteristics were material to the low participation on this field trip. Anyhow, the undisputed Bird of the Day for us was a brightly-colored White-eyed Vireo that was in some small trees at the edge of the parking area near the gate at the end of Town Farm Road. The big disappointment of the day, in my opinion, was failing to find Lincoln's Sparrow (one of my target species). But we amassed 57 total species in 4 hours of birding. Here is the complete list:

Double-crested Cormorant 61
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Canada Goose 73
Mute Swan 2
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 (Island Road, Essex)
Greater Yellowlegs 47
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Herring Gull 6 (yes, only 6)
Rock Dove 18
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 7
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 6
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 27
Black-capped Chickadee 3 (yes, only 3)
Tufted Titmouse 11
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin >250
Gray Catbird 16
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling Yes, we saw some.
Cedar Waxwing 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler 28
Palm Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 6
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 17
Song Sparrow 41
Swamp Sparrow 36
White-throated Sparrow 22
Northern Cardinal 7
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 112
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 21
House Sparrow 15

Tom Young
Merrimack, NH

Horn Pond 9/27

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:34:00 +0000

From Paul Ippolito:

15 birders arrived on a clear, very cool Saturday morning at Horn Pond in Woburn. A few warblers throughout, excellent looks at Field Sparrow a specialty of the area and a responding Owl - all in all a nice day.

Thanks to all that participated.

Double-crested Cormorant - 454 - 4 at the pond remainder overhead
Great Blue Heron - 3
Mute Swan - 10
Canada Goose - 7
Wood Duck - 7
Mallard - 29
Mourning Dove - 17
Osprey -2
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
American Herring Gull - 50
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 - responded at corner of Community Gardens
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 13
Northern Flicker - 3
Eastern Phoebe -2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 27
Carolina Wren - 2
House Wren - 2
Gray Catbird - 7
Northern Mockingbird - 10
Brown Thrasher - 1 - seen briefly at Lions Park by 1 or 2 in back of group
American Robin - 25
Black-capped Chickadee - 27
Tufted Titmouse - 20
White-breasted Nuthatch - 7
Blue Jay - 21
American Crow - 4
European Starling - 3
House Sparrow - 2
American Goldfinch - 33
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Eastern Towhee - 5
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 27
Song Sparrow - 11
Lincoln's Sparrow - 4
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Northern Cardinal - 2
Indigo Bunting - 2

Paul Ippolito
Woburn

Mt. Tom 9/13

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:33:00 +0000

From Tom Gagnon:

Hi Folks:

Brookline Bird Club trip to Goat's Peak at the Mt. Tom State Reservation in the heart of the Connecticut River valley (9:30 to 1:45) produced the following :
Turkey Vulture 5+
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 4 (locals)
Broad-winged hawk 35 (1 kettle of 20)
Osprey 5
Marsh Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2 adults---3 immature
Merlin 1
Kestrel 10
Northern Raven 2
Scarlet Tanager 3
Wood thrush 1

Tom Gagnon, Florence (Bear Country) Massachusetts

August (September) Overnight Pelagic

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:08:00 +0000

After several storm-related delays, the overnight pelagic sailed on September 3. It was a great success as Rick Heil's report shows:

3-4 SEPTEMBER 2009:

BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB's "EXTREME PELAGIC" from HYANNIS, MA to HYDROGRAPHER, VEATCH & EAST ATLANTIS CANYONS and vicinity, via NANTUCKET SHOALS

Richard S. Heil

Roughly 40 participants plus leaders Rick Heil, Jeremiah Trimble, Mark Flaherty, and Ian Davies, along with trip organizer Ida Giriunas, joined Captain Joe Huckameyer and the able crew of the 100 foot 'Helen H' for our first overnight trip of the 'Extreme Pelagic" series. To say it was merely a success would be a dramatic understatement! We either tied, slashed or surpased the state records for White-faced Storm-Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Bridled Tern, and Long-tailed Jaeger! Indeed, we are rapidly learning that these 'warmer water seabirds' are regular and expected in New England waters around the offshore canyons and shelf break, and beyond, and that these Massachusetts offshore waters are probably the best anywhere for finding White-faced Storm-Petrels on this side of the North Atlantic.

Course:

Thursday, 3 Sep.: Hyannis (depart c. 0530) across Nantucket Shoals to Hydrographer Canyon, then east and south of the canyon (off the shelf to water 6800 feet deep, 79.5 F water temp) before working west to anchor after dark in Veatch Canyon. While traversing the shoals we encountered an amazing concentration of birds in one area, including hundreds of shearwaters, thousands of terns, and numerous jaegers. One mixed flock of seven jaegers first seen on the water (Long-tailed and Parasitic together) initially caused confusion among the leaders until photos could later be sorted and critically analyzed. What is a pelagic without a good jaeger conundrum?

Friday, 4 Sep.: Veatch Canyon south and then east to East Atlantis Canyon and beyond (all in water 77-78 F, to 5400 feet deep), then north to Muskeget Channel and return to Hyannis (arriving c. 1715).

Weather: Thurs. 9/3: Mostly cloudy to overcast, E winds 8-15 mph, 70's; Fri., 9/4: mostly overcast, showers, NNE winds 10-20 mph, 70's; seas both days 2-4 foot, at times even 1-2 foot.

Visibility: Very good to excellent for most of the trip, except fair to good in showers and occ. light fog generally in cooler waters.

Common Eider (3): 3 females - Muskeget Channel -9/4.

White-winged Scoter (1): 1 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Common Loon (9): 8 - Nantucket Shoal - 9/3 ; 1 - S. of Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Cory's Shearwater (408): 395 - Nantucket Shoals, 4 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 4 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons, 5 - S. of Muskeget Channel - 9/4: Many Cory's throughout the trip were scrutinized for possible 'Scoploli's Shearwater (C. d. diomedea), but all viewed critically appeared to be borealis.

Greater Shearwater (1377): 1320 - Nantucket Shoals, 12 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 39 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic., 6 - S. of Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Sooty Shearwater (15) - All from Nantucket Shoals.

Manx Shearwater (20) - All from Nantucket Shoals.

Audubon's Shearwater (28): 25 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3 ( *** New State High Count, cf., 19 - W. Atlantis/Atlantis Canyons - 7/18/09); 3 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic. - 9/4.

Wilson's Storm-Petrel (563): 137 - - Nantucket Shoals, 111 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 290 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic., 25 - S. of Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (6): 3 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3 (all roughly vicinity of 40 02.9 N, 69 02.0 W in 67.2 F water); 3 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic. (1 - 39 50.2 N, 69 44.1 W; 1 - 39 50.0 N, 69 45.7 W; 1 - 39 50.2 N, 69 48.9 W; all of these on 9/4 in water 77-78 F.) - 9/4. ***Three each day both tie the prior single day high count for Massachusetts, but six detected in two days in a narrow cruise track in adjacent but different waters (along with other numerous records in the past) indicates the routine, albeit low density presence of this species here in the August-September window.

Image: Paul Cozza

Leach's Storm-Petrel (50): 46 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 4 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic.- 9/4.

BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (8): 4 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 4 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic.- 9/4 ; ***Four each day both tie the prior single day high count for Massachusetts.

Northern Gannet (5 sub-adults) - Nantucket Shoals.

Double-crested Cormorant (20+) - Muskeget Channel.

Whimbrel (3) : 2 migrating S - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3; 1 migrating S at dawn- Veatch Canyon - 9/4.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT (62): A remarkable and amazing observation!!!; a single flock observed migrating south low over the water beyond the shelf edge nearly 100 miles SE of Nantucket on 9/4! Next stop South America in a couple of days of non-stop flight? See Photo from Jeremiah Trimble

Calidris sp. (2) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3

Red-necked Phalarope (16) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

phalarope sp. (2) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Laughing Gull (365): 5 - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3 ; 360(overwhelming majority juvs.) - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Herring Gull (47): 40 - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3 ; 7 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Great Black-backed Gull (21): 15 - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3 ; 6 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

BRIDLED TERN (5; 2 adults, 3 imms.): *** New state high count; All roughly 2-3 miles SW of East Atlantis Canyon on 9/4 in an area of 77 F water and abundant Sargassum Weed near 39 55.9 N, 69 59.1 W. Spectacular close views were had of an adult sitting on a floating board (from hich perch he reached under the board and snagged a fish!), then 3 immatures (1S/juvs) at one point flying together, then a second adult-like bird later.

Image: Paul Cozza

Least Tern (2): 1 - Hyannis - 9/3; 1 juv. - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Black Tern (94): 93 - Nantucket Sound to Nantucket Shoals - 9/3; 1 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Roseate Tern (15+): - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Common Tern (2385+): 2300+ - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3. ; 85 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Forster's Tern (1) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Sterna sp. (560+) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Pomarine Jaeger (7): 5 - Nantucket Shoals; 1 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3 ; 1 - S. of Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Parasitic Jaeger (5+): 3+ - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3 ; 2 - Muskeget Channel - 9/4.

Long-tailed Jaeger (7+): 6+(1 juv., 5 sub-ads.) - Nantucket Shoals (1 juv.) - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3.

jaeger sp. (14+): 11+ - - Nantucket Shoals, 3 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3.

Mammals and other marine life:

Fin Whale (1) - Nantucket Shoals on 9/3.

Humpback Whale (1) - Nantucket Shoals on 9/3.

possible Sperm Whale (1) - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3

bottlenosed whale sp./possible Cuvier's (1) - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3

Gray Grampus/Risso's Dolphin (40+) - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3

Offshore Bottlenosed Dolphin (150+): 30 - Hydrographer Canyon vic. - 9/3 ; 120 - Veatch/East Atlantis Canyons vic.- 9/4.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin (80+) - Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Harbor Porpoise (7+) Nantucket Shoals - 9/3.

Ocean Sunfish (3)

Blue Shark (2)

manta ray sp. (1)

numerous flying fish

Yellowfin Tuna (1) - Caught by crew in Veatch Canyon.

Skipjack (1) - Caught by crew in Veatch Canyon.

Trip photos here:

Jeremiah Trimble day 1 and day 2

Ian Davies

John Hoye

Paul Cozza

Thanks to Ida Giriunas for organizing these trips and to the many birders whose participation gets us out there to find new discoveries!

Birds and Nature Journaling

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:00:00 +0000

From Jane Lothian:
The annual BBC Birds and Nature Journaling walk took place Saturday Aug. 1, a warm but clear morning, at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Birds and watchers (3 plus leaders) were few, but enthusiasm was high; it was one participant's first bird walk and first visit to Mount Auburn.

Pam Perry and I led the group to our favorite shady spot for sketching, answering questions and pointing out species heard and seen on the way. We offered no instruction, considering ourselves novice artists, but did distribute bibliographies of some nature drawing guides we've found useful.

As usual, Auburn Lake produced many subjects for our eager pencils -- water lilies, Mallards, and a curious Mourning Dove who walked quite close to us. A Belted Kingfisher rattled by and vanished into a tree. Then a collective sigh went up as a Great Blue Heron dropped gracefully into the far edge of the lake.

The time passed quickly. Photographer John Harrison stopped by and asked the group's permission to photograph us; he later sent the photos that appear with this account. Those who were willing shared their work with each other, and we regretfully packed up. One last surprise was in store -- a Black Cherry on the way out hosted dozens of American Robins.

1 Mourning Dove
1 Blue Jay
1 Gray Catbird
1 Cardinal
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Eastern Phoebes
1 Osprey
50 American Robins
5 Mallard Ducks
3 Red-winged Blackbirds

Hope you'll join us next year!

Great Meadows 8/16

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:56:00 +0000

From Jonathan Center:

Seven birders joined the Brookline Bird Club trip to Great Meadows NWR. Below is our record of what was observed. Thanks go to Alan Bragg who helped me compile this report and all participants who joined the walk on this very warm morning. We birded the refuge from 7:00a.m. to 10:30a.m.

 
Location:     Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit
Observation date:     8/16/09
Notes:     BBC walk led by Jonathan Center.
Walked across dike stopping at mid point benches, water control 
structure, mud flat at southwestern corner of lower impoundment and 
river landing. Walked south to water control structure, turned around
and walked north around lower impoundment returning to parking lot on 
Edge Trail.
Eastern Tailed Blue and Gray Hairstreak on North section of river dike.
Number of species:     33

Canada Goose     15
Wood Duck     7
Mallard     17
Hooded Merganser     1
Pied-billed Grebe     2     One was at extreme end of upper impoundment against the cattails
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     10
Great Egret     1
Little Blue Heron     1     Distant view from mid dike. Confirmed immature LBHE from Edge Trail.
Osprey     2
Killdeer     3
Spotted Sandpiper     1
Solitary Sandpiper     1
Lesser Yellowlegs     3
Least Sandpiper     60     juvs
Pectoral Sandpiper     1
Mourning Dove     2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Downy Woodpecker     2
Eastern Wood-Pewee     1
Blue Jay     1
Tree Swallow     10
Black-capped Chickadee     2
Marsh Wren     3
Gray Catbird     2
Cedar Waxwing     1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Song Sparrow     6
Red-winged Blackbird     5
Common Grackle     2
Baltimore Oriole     1
American Goldfinch     8

July Pelagic

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:01:00 +0000

From Rick Heil:

SATURDAY, 18 JULY 2009:

Brookline Bird Club EXTREME PELAGIC: HYANNIS to WEST ATLANTIS and ATLANTIS CANYONS (0400-2115 hours)

Weather: A.M.: Mostly overcast, rain (heavy at times) until about 0830 hrs, S-SW winds 10-22 mph, 62-75 F.
P.M.: Partly sunny (hazy), S-SW winds 8-15 mph, 65-75 F.

Seas: 4-6 feet in the A.M., diminishing to 2-4 feet in the afternoon.

Visibility: Mostly very good after the rain ended; light to moderate fog over cooler Nantucket Shoals waters on the return.

Leaders: Richard S. Heil, Jeremiah Trimble, and Steve "the man on the mike" Mirick; no trips would happen without the dedication and hard work of Ida Giriunas.

Approximate route aboard the "Helen H" with able Captain Joe Huckameyer and excellent attentive crew Matt and Bob: From Hyannis via Muskeget Channel south to West Atlantis Canyon, then east to Atlantis Canyon, then north across Nantucket Shoals and back into Nantucket Sound between Nantucket and Monomoy Islands.

An exact route map nicely charted via GPS by Steve Mirick (click to enlarge):

A nearly full boat endured moderately rough conditions in the morning on the way to the shelf edge, but were rewarded with diminished seas as the day progressed and were especially rewarded by some great pelagic birding. Proving once again the exciting possibilities in these mostly unexplored waters, we encountered our first Pterodroma petrel in the Extreme Pelagic trip history, a beautiful BLACK-CAPPED PETREL that showed for nearly five minutes, making two close passes to the boat, all the while pursued expertly at full throttle by the captain. Chasing Pterodromas is not for the weak at heart!

Other highlights included a new state high count for Audubon's Shearwaters and a nice tally of Leach's Storm-Petrels, many being well seen. The major 'lowlight' was the sad case of a Right Whale, injured an entangled in fishing gear south of Nantucket Shoals.

photo by Jason Forbes


Common Eider (5 males): just off Martha's Vineyard.
BLACK-CAPPED PETREL (1) Found in approximately 425 feet of water (surface T = 72 F), 
about 15 miles NW of the head of West Atlantis Canyon and 77 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, 
at 40 10 15 N, 70 43 90 W.   In view 4-5 minutes; seen by most on board;
 the petrel made two close passes at the boat arcing high in typical Pterodroma fashion in wind; 
photographically documented; about 5th state record; spectacular bird.




Photos by Jeremiah Trimble


Cory's Shearwater (232) : Many identified as borealis; a couple possible Scopoli's candidates not fully documented.
Greater Shearwater (240)
Sooty Shearwater (16)
Manx Shearwater (3)
Audubon's Shearwater (19): HIGH COUNT; All in warmer (70-76 degree F.) waters near the shelf edge; many in heavy molt;
New state high count! Previous high was of 17-Hyrographer Canyon vicinity-9 August 2007.

photo by Jason Forbes


black-and-white shearwater sp. (1) : Manx/Little type not well seen.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (475)
Leach's Storm-Petrel (58) : Most in or near deeper waters near shelf break as is typical



Photo by Jeremiah Trimble


storm-petrel sp. (3): LESP/ Band-rumped's not well observed.
Northern Gannet (3 sub ads.)
Herring Gull (3)
Great Black-backed Gull (7)
Least Tern (2) : Near M.V.
Common Tern (4)-Natucket Shoals.
Sterna sp. (10)
Pomarine Jaeger (1) ; Darkish sub-adult; oddly only jaeger for the day.
passerine sp. (1) : Small (large warbler/vireo/waxwing) size, squat, short tailed; maybe 10-15 miles south of M.V.



NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE (1): Sadly entangled in fishing gear (ropes and flotation ball) about 42 miles SSE of Nantucket. 
The animal also showed old healed propeller damage on the back; the situation was duly reported and rescue efforts 
may be underway soon if they are not already. (see below for an update)







Photos by Jeremiah Trimble


Gray Grampus (Risso's Dolphin) (1)
Bottlenosed Dolphin (70)
Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (28)
Harbor Seal (2)

Blue Shark (1)
Hammerhead Shark (1): about 7 ft long
Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (2)
a number of Flying Fish sp.
Green Darner, Anax junius (1)

Thanks to all the participants aboard who made this trip happen!

Whale update from Scott Landry, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies:

Based on your images the New England Aquarium verified the ID as an adult male nicknamed Radiator. The whale was last seen gear-free by our aerial survey program in Cape Cod Bay in April. Based on your images it now seems clear that the whale is not entangled by the flukes but perhaps somewhere forward on the body, such as the head (a common occurrence in right whale entanglements). The scarring you observed was a mix of old wounds (from two previous entanglements) and new (likely from the current line chafing against the tailstock). Due to time of day of the report and distance from our port no entanglement response was possible. Since Nantucket Shoal is not known to be a reliable feeding area for right whales, Radiator is probably long gone from that area, though the Great South Channel might be his next stop (just a guess). Our disentanglement network has been alerted to this case and now we can only hope for another opportunistic sighting of this whale (we may also hope that his entanglement is not serious and may be shed).

On a brighter note we had three South Polar skuas during a whale survey yesterday on Cultivator Shoal. Very impressive birds.

Pictures and reports

Jeremiah Trimble's Photos

James P. Smith's Photos

Derek Lovitch's Report

Nick Bonomo's Report

Jason Forbes's Report and separate Greater Shearwater photos

Machias 2009

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:36:00 +0000

From Ida Giriunas:

MACHIAS, July 3-6, 2009

Nineteen birders headed up to Machias for the 28th Annual BBC Machias, ME Weekend from July 3-6, 2009. The goal of this trip was to seek out the Boreal Species and birds not usually seen in Massachusetts. Several of the birders were very experienced, a few were beginners. All contributed greatly to the sightings because of their ability to spot and hear the birds and their knowledge about them. The weather was perfect for birding; cloudy but mild when birding on land, sunny but cool when out to sea and on Machias Seal Island.

Participants drove through fog most of the way, arrived separately at the Bluebird Motel in Machias on Friday, July 3 and met at 2 PM to bird around the Motel and the Rogue's Bluff Area. Within minutes from stepping out of the car on Birch Point Road, in Rogue's Bluff, a hen SPRUCE GROUSE was spotted along with two chicks.

On Day 2, we birded in Topsfield, ME in a vast Boreal forest with Marion
Bates as our Guide. Native orchids and other flowers were abundant along the trails. A moose crossed the road ahead of us, and then later a black bear scooted by. The Gray Jays and Spruce Grouse were unusually abundant, but both the Boreal Chickadee and the Black-backed woodpecker took a lot of time and patience to find.
We went out to sea on day 3 to Machias Seal Island. We enjoyed a pelagic birding experience on the trip out. First a few shearwaters, then a FULMAR, then 2 more. Also seen were the usual storm-petrels and gannets. On the return trip, the captain brought us to an area with an Eagle’s nest containing two young being fed.
In the Afternoon, we drove to West Quoddy Head State Park. This park with its light house and cliff-edge trails along the ocean is in contention for one of the most beautiful places in America. The group walked the boardwalk out to the bog at Quoddy head. A singing Lincoln’s sparrows was found along with numerous bog plants.
We returned to the Boston area on Day 4, but stopped at Lake Messalonskee in Belgrade to see more than 4 BLACK TERNS. Next we drove over to the Weskeag Marsh in Thomaston and saw several NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS before finishing the trip.

Highlights of the trip were the 4000 PUFFINS, 2000 RAZORBILLS, 1000 COMMON MURRES, 3 FULMAR, and an Eagle's nest with two young, 14 SPRUCE GROUSE, 12 GRAY JAYS, one BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, ONE BOREAL CHICKADEE, a female MOOSE in the road, 3 BLACK TERNS and several NELSON's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS.

I think this was the most successful trip we have ever had. It may never be this good again!

Total species = 107 birds.

And some pictures from Diane Silverstein (her full set can be viewed here):

Spruce Grouse

Orchid

Razorbills

Birding the Boreal

Murres

Pitcher Plant at Quoddy Head Bog

Birding

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (BBC) — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Welcome to the BBC's recent trips blog. Read all about trips as they happen and see photos of some of the highlights.

Trip leaders, you can either send the webmaster a summary of your trip or you can be added as an author and can post your trip reports yourself (just sign up for a blogger account and let the webmaster know the email it uses).

This page will be redesigned to fit in with the rest of the BBC site shortly.