Our total species coutn was 298, which includes 35 species seen only on the Delaware or North Carolina trips. Besides these two, there were 35 local trips, 15 coastal trips, and 3 censuses.
| July-August 1999 | October 1999 | January 2000 | April 2000 | June 2000 |
| September 1999 | November-December 1999 | February-March 2000 | May 2000 | July 2000 |
During the Cape Cod weekend we found Roseate Terns and Whimbrels, four shearwater species, many Wilson's Storm Petrels and a Parasitic Jaeger. The second of two searches of Agawam and Longmeadow turned up a Snowy Egret and 2 Black-crowned Night Herons. Later in the month Longmeadow had 125 Nighthawks, an Osprey and teals. The Plum Island trip featured a Little Blue Heron, 5 Glossy Ibis, Baird's Sandpiper, and a Long-billed Dowitcher. The nine travelers to Bombay Hook found low water levels, but 25 shorebird species, best being American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, a Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpipers, Black Tern, and a Wilson's Phalarope. Other sterling birds were Black Vulture, 3 Clapper Rails, Carolina Chickadees, and a Blue Grosbeak.
There were 4 Stebbins morning walks averaging 12-15 people each with few warblers. We did have Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night Herons, Merlin, and Philadelphia Vireo. A new Granville trip got 47 species, including Tennessee Warbler. Also new was a visit to Plum Island, where many enjoyed White-rumped and Baird's Sandpipers and a Prothonotary Warbler. A bike excursion in East Quabbin had Blackpolls, many Pine Warblers, and two Lincoln's Sparrows. Northampton gave us look at a few warblers and a Swainson's Thrush. The winds were brisk on Blueberry Hill, and hundreds of hawks flew by. The hawks were also flying on the Connecticut Shore, where shorebirds included 3 Golden Plovers, and a Marbled Godwit. Rare waders were Tricolered and Yellow-crowned Night Herons.
On a hotline trip we viewed the Rufous Hummingbird in Agawam and 55 Kestrels in Granville. On the Cape Cod weekend Stellwagen was great with many shearwaters and Kittiwakes, and Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger. White-crowned Sparrows were seen in Northampton, and a Dickcissel and Black-billed Cuckoo were heard. Showers ruined the Quabbin outing except for 2 Common Loons. Waterfowl were a little scarce at the Berkshire Lakes, but we did note a Shoveler, 45 American Wigeon, and 2 Fox Sparrows.
November-December 1999
Top of Page
Members toured the South Shore and found 20 Red-throated Loons, and hundreds of Ruddy Ducks. Results were better a week later in Rhode Island, where the same number of observers were graced with looks at 15 Shovelers, 50 Pintail, and 65 Canvasbacks among 37 waterbird species. Forest Park was a washout except a Carolina Wren was calling. There were 35 observers in the field for 121 hours to record 73 species on the Springfield Christmas Count. Special birds were a Rough-legged Hawk, Virginia Rail, and 3 Northern Shrikes. Twenty observers on the Westfield Count listed 65 species, with highlights a Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush, and 3 Northern Shrikes.
It was fabulous on Cape CodRhode Island trip to rave reviews. There were 76 species highlighted by Barrow's Goldeneye, 100 Harlequin Ducks, 30 Purple Sandpipers, Black-headed and Glaucous Gull, Peregrine, Rough-legged Hawk, and 3 Short-eared Owls.
February-March 2000
Top of Page
Then the Cape Ann and Plum Island weekend was revived, with excellent results. There were 3 Barrow's Goldeneye, a King Eider, Harlequin Ducks, Black Guillemonts, 6 Iceland Gulls, and a hard earned Snowy Owl. On the Connecticut Coast 33 Red-throated Loons and 45 Canvasbacks along with 2 American Oystercatchers were waiting. A hotline trip to Marshfield featured a look at a Long-eared Owl, and scant views of the Clay-colored Sparrow. Next it was a last stab at winter on the Maine Coast, where there was a Gannet and plenty of Harlequin Ducks and Oldsquaws. On a local ponds trip arriving landbirds were the only highlight.
The ducks were again scarce a week later in Gill, but Red-necked Grebes and Bohemian Waxwings were a consolation. A woodcock waddled into the trail before startled onlookers at Stebbins.Then a Bald Eagle perched close at Ashley Ponds. Brisk winds again accompanied us for our hawkwatch picnic in Granville, but 45 hawks flew by and we had many arriving landbirds, like Louisiana Waterthrush.
The Stanley Park walk came through with 17 warbler species including many Parulas and Blackburnians. The first Stebbins Walk had 11 different warblers, but the second was spectacular with 19 warbler species, including a Tennessee, Blackpoll and Wilson's. Two more walks featured a Nigthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, White-crowned Sparrows, and Pipits. We topped 100 species on the new Plum Island trip, highlighted by American Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Piping Plover, and Orchard Oriole. It had quieted down for the Robinson Park walk, but we still managed Swainson's Thrush and the dependable Indigo Bunting. On the May Census there were 24 observers in 17 parties, finding 143 species. Best were Sora, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Philadelphia and White-eyed Vireo, Cape May and Mourning Warbler. Drizzle dampened the Mt. Tom walk and the Worm-eating Warbler did not cooperate, but warbler song was still prominent. On the Connecticut Coast we got close to nesting Black Skimmers, and Piping Plovers, and saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. May ended with a Red-shouldered Hawk on the Swift River walk.
Our first ever trip to North Carolina was a rousing success for 11 members, some of whom had to endure sea sickness on the Gulf Stream waters. Thrills were provided by 2 Herald Petrels, a Bridled Tern, 2 Pomarine Jaegers, 21 Leachs and 10 Band-rumped Storm Petrels. There were also many Black-Capped Petrels, Cory's and Audubon's Shearwaters. On land we found Gull-billed Tern, Swainson's and Prothonotary Warblers, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Chuck-wills widow, and Brown-headed Nuthatch. In all we listed 133 species. We made special trips for Whip-poor-wills on the Montague Plains and Upland Sandpipers and Grasshopper Sparrows at Westover. We repeated the walk on the Appalachian Trail in Tyringham, finding an American Bittern, a Cliff Swallow, and nesting warblers. The Mt. Greylock campout was windy but festive and sleepful, so we greeted the pre-dawn with many singing Blackburnian and Magnolia Warblers. Nesting Swainson's Thrush, Blackpolls, two Mourning Warblers, and a Black-billed Cuckoo capped the day. We hit the big prize on the Southwick-Granville trip with 88 species and a Blue Grosbeak. Other suprises were a Goshawk, 2 Acadian Flycatchers, a Vesper Sparrow, and an Orchard Oriole. The Blandford walk had 53 upland species, including a Bald Eagle.
The October Mt. trip started with Cliff Swallows in the valley, and ended with good looks at Mourning Warbler in the hills. There were no specialties but warblers on the Moran WMA walk. The trails and yard of our Plainfield host were fruitful again, producing Evening Grosbeaks and warblers galore. Rain limited the Russell walk, except for loads of Purple Finches.