Purple Gallinule:  Acting on a tip from Joe Jims, Lanny McDowell saw this handsome adult Purple Gallinule in Oak Bluffs on May 5.

Ruff:  On May 3 Paul Peterson discovered a male Ruff in Rowley. The next day the male was seen, but a second bird was discovered in the same area by Herman D'Entremont and Oakes Spalding. Photos from Ian Davies and Phil Brown.

Pacific Loon:  On May 3 Blair Nikula discovered a breeding plumaged Pacific Loon at Herring Cove in Provincetown, and captured photos of this handsome bird. Has this species ever been photographed before in this plumage in Massachusetts?

Prothonotary Warbler:  On April 24 Dana and Inga Jewell discovered a Prothonotary Warbler at Ell Pond in Melrose. It lingered for several days allowing many birders to enjoy it. See photos from Christopher Ciccone and Paul Ippolito.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher:  On April 13, Doug Kierdorf spotted what he thought might be a Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Chandler Pond in Brighton, and on April 14 got his friend Jean Dunlavy to check it out. It was! Check out photos by Bob Stymeist and Jeremiah Trimble, Marshall Iliff, Paul Kinnally. and  On April 15, see photos by Anne Haggerty, Dan Berard, Marj. Rines, Linda Thompson, Jason Forbes,and video from Matt Garvey.

Bohemian Waxings:  This has been a banner year for Bohemian Waxwings, and in late March Northfield was the place to go. See Sheila Carroll's photos of this impressive flock.

California Gull:  Is there any Larus left to the seen in the state? On February 27 Rick Heil discovered a probable California Gull in Gloucester (where else?)

Northern Hawk Owl:  On February 7 Dan Berard spotted a Northern Hawk Owl in southern Worcester County. It made another brief appearance on February 8. Dan captured photos with his cell phone.

Western Tanager: When Virginia Penney stopped at Joppa Flats to report a possible Western Tanager at her feeder in Merrimac, Dave Larson went (with camera) to check and captured these images on January 21. On January 22 Rick Heil photographed it as well.

Barnacle Goose: Visiting in Sharon on New Year's Eve Gene Leganza went searching the fields for a Greater White-fronted Goose that had been reported, but found a Barnacle Goose instead. Although late in the day he managed a few phone-scoped photos.On January 13 it was still there, and Will Sweet got photos plus a shot of the White-fronted.

American White Pelican: What was a pelican doing in Shelburne Falls on January 8? Photos by Patrick O'Connor and Don Wheeler show it standing in the snow.

Thayer's Gull: On January 2 Erik Nielsen discovered a first winter Thayer's Gull which was photographed by Marshall Iliff on January 3, and James P. Smith on January 5. More photos from James P. Smith on January 10. On January 13 James P. Smith discovered three individuals! Rick Heil phonescoped one of the gulls on January 15 and 17, and again on February 10.

Hoary Redpolls: Redpolls have been reported throughout the Commonwealth this winter, including a surprising number of the very rare Hoary Redpolls. Only a few have been lucky enough to photograph these, including James P. Smith's two Hoaries near Niles Beach in Gloucester on December 30. On January 5 Rich Johnson photographed one at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary feeders. On January 6 Dan Berard captured the same individual. Marshall Iliff photographed up to six Hoaries on Cape Cod, and on January 14 photographed one in Readville. Matt Garvey captured some video of the Readville bird on January 21. Dan Berard was entertaining several Hoaries at home in Millbury and posted some images on January 22.

Slaty-backed Gulls: David Sibley was birding Cape Ann on December 23 and around noon was checking out the gulls on the Jodrey Pier. He noted an interesting bird sleeping on the roof of one of the buildings, but was unable to note field marks until around 12:30 when it flew off with the rest of the gulls and disappeared, not to be rediscovered until 1:30 perched on a second building. BUT David said "The first time we saw it the bill looked very drab, pale fleshy-yellow at the base, which is typical of winter Slaty-backed. . . .When it was perched on the second building an hour later the bill looked bright yellow. It must have been the same bird, but I can't quite convince myself that both sightings were the same bird." Phil Brown managed to capture some flight shots around 2:00PM (and some roosting-on-the-beach photos on December 25). Meanwhile on December 23, Dave Larson and Wayne Petersen were doing  the Cape Cod CBC and at 1:00 spotted a Slaty-backed Gull at the southern tip of Coast Guard Beach and watched it until around 1:45. On December 24 Rick Heil hit Jodrey pier and confirmed David's incredulous suspicion that there were two gulls, and managed phone-scoped photos of both! How many birds???? More photos and video!: Steve Mirick, Taj Schottland, Ian Davies, YouTube, James P. Smith, Jeremiah Trimble, Rick Heil, James P. Smith, Kevin Bourinot. 

Townsend's Solitaire: As if Cape Ann birding weren't exciting enough, Michael Duffy discovered a Townsend's Solitaire at the Rockport Golf Club on December 24, and Rick Heil captured it on his cell phone camera and later that day Jim Hully got photos. On Christmas Day Bruce deGraaf got a lovely flight shot, and Ian Davies photographed it December 26.

Painted Bunting: On December 2 Hal Caswell reported on an unusual-looking bird at his Falmouth feeder: "What it looks most like, from browsing several books, is a female painted bunting, but that seems unlikely." Unlikely, maybe, but that's what it was! On December 3 Mat Malin got some photos and so did Peter Trimble.

Western Grebe: On November 25 Chuck Caron spotted a Western Grebe off Parking Lot 1 on Plum Island, and pointed it out to Ian Davies who captured it with his camera.

Ash-throated Flycatcher: A Carlisle couple noticed an unusual bird hanging around their yard, and initially identified it as an Ash-throated Flycatcher, but when they consulted the range map they decided it couldn't be, so reported it as Great Crested. The initial impression was the right one! Marshall Iliff got photographs on November 20. Ian Davies got a couple of shots on November 21 (1,2), and so did Paul Cozza. Luke Seitz on November 22, E. J. Raynor on November 23.

American Avocet: On November 20 Joe Poggi and Marilyn McLean discovered an American Avocet at Black Creek in Quincy. The next day Bruce deGraaf saw it again and captured some digital photos.

Western Kingbird: Vern Laux spotted this bird at the Crane Wildlife Management Area on November 18, and Matt Malin relocated it again on November 19 and was able to photograph it. It was still there November 22 for Peter Trimble's camera.

Hoary Redpoll: On November 17 Erik Nielsen photographed a Hoary Redpoll at Plum Island. Check out his photographs at: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Rufous Hummingbird: In Eastham another vagrant Rufous Hummingbird,  was trapped, measured, and banded by Sue Finnegan, and photos taken by Sue Finnegan and Dan Berard. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: Late in the morning of November 11, Blair Nikula was amazed to discover an immature Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in perching on the wires in North Truro. Amazed to find a great bird, but more amazing that it was a year almost to the day since he saw and photographed one in the same location!

Rufous Hummingbird: On November 10, Ian Nisbet saw a hummingbird coming to his feeder and posted his sighting to the Massbird Listserv. Several people saw and photographed the bird, and Sue Finnegan trapped, measured, and photographed it, confirming it as a hatch-year female Rufous.

Black-chinned Hummingbirds: Lanny McDowell noticed a hummingbird coming to his feeder in West Tisbury on October 22 so, knowing any hummer this late in the season could be a vagrant, he checked carefully and identified it as a Black-chinned Hummingbird, only the third state record. Only a a couple of weeks later Edie Ray on Nantucket heard about a hummer coming to a feeder in Siasconset so (remember the part about checking late hummers?) she checked it out with Vern Laux, and it was another Black-chinned.

Gray Jay: On Sunday, October 28, two groups made made the trip up Mount Watatic. Around 1:30PM, Steve Blanchard and his family reached the summit, when they spotted a Gray Jay near the summit marker. "The jay was extremely friendly, and was practically eating out of our hands," says Steve. Around 3:00PM, the West Groton Pack 12 Cub Scout Webelos made it to the top Watatic, when Dave Fischi spotted a Gray Jay, which "was foraging for food around the lower peak of Mt. Watatic," says Dave. Both groups got photos. What a photogenic bird! Dan Berard captured it on October 31 (1, 2), and Tom Murray on November 1. See Erik Nielsen's of it eating walnuts. It was still there on November 9 when Bruce deGraaf got some great photos. Still there Thanksgiving weekend when E. J. Raynor got some shots.  On November 21 the bird was still there for Greg Dysart and John Sharp.

Townsend's Solitaire: Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard is always a good stop during migration. On October 24, Lanny McDowell and Allan Keith discovered this bird, and Lanny was able to confirm with several photographs.

MacGillivray's Warbler: Sue Finnegan runs the Wing Island Banding Station in Brewster, and on October 22 she captured and banded a MacGillivray's Warbler. See her exceptional photographs of the bird in hand.

Barnacle Goose: Willy Hutcheson had a nice day at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge on October 11, when he picked out a Barnacle Goose from a huge flock of Canadas. Shortly thereafter the flock moved to nearby Old Bedford Road, where it was seen any enjoyed by many. Photos were taken by Marj Rines, Ben Griffith, Jeremiah Trimble, and Linda Ferraresso. Seen later by Simon Perkins, Bruce deGraaf, Joan Chasan.

Northern Wheatear: Michael Polana found a Northern Wheatear at the Orange Airport on October 5, and it obligingly stuck around to be photographed on October 9 by Byard Miller and James P. Smith.

Swainson's Hawk: On September 26, 2007 Charlie Nims was exploring the Cumberland Farms fields in Halifax/Middleboro, when he spotted an interesting buteo, and fired off a few photographs. It was seen again on both Thursday and Friday. Erik Nielsen photographed it on September 30 - be sure to check out the images of a battle with a Red-tail (images 4-7)! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Phil Brown was there on October 1.

American Avocet: An American Avocet was discovered by Willy Hucheson on September 15 in the main pan at Belle Isle in East Boston, and later that day Marshall Iliff got a photograph of this bird.

Sandwich Tern: On September 8, 2007 Blair Nikula and Ian Davies were birding South Beach in Chatham when Blair spotted a Sandwich Tern roosting among the Commons. Ian was equipped with a camera, and managed a distant, although identifiable, image of this bird.

Say's Phoebe: At around 10:00AM on September 6, Don Logan discovered a Say's Phoebe flying around the south dike behind Hellcat on Plum Island. It continued to be seen through 2:30PM when the last report was heard. In the mean time, Rick Heil was able to capture a series of images using his cell phone and his Kowa telescope.
 

Little (Macaronesian) Shearwater: If anyone thought the August 19 pelagic was extreme, reconsider! On August 25 the Brookline Bird Club sponsored another trip, starring a Little Shearwater (subspecies P. a. baroli in North America, but a full species, Macaronesian Shearwater, in the United Kingdom). The bird was seen and photographed 65 miles SSE of Nantucket, MA, over shelf waters (roughly 100 foot depth). See photos from Ian Davies, Marshall Iliff, Jason Forbes, Blair Nikula, Carlos Pedro, Scott Spangenberg, Scott Surner, and Jeremiah Trimble. Scott Spangengerg has also posted a selection of photos from various photographers. Steve Mirick has posted a map showing the trip's route and the location of the Little Shearwater.

Extreme Pelagic: The Brookline Bird Club sponsored a trip to Hydrographer Canyon on August 19. Marshall Iliff and Phil Brown posted some spectacular photos of this memorable trip.

Curlew Sandpiper: On August 8 Bob Clem discovered a Curlew Sandpiper on South Beach in Chatham. The bird continued through August 17 when Phil Brown captured these images.

Black-necked Stilts: These birds are rare enough in Massachusetts, but a total of six is unprecedented! On June 7 Mike O'Connor skeptically followed up on a report of "at least a dozen" Black-necked Stilts at Forest Beach in Chatham, and discovered six. On June 18, Blair Nikula followed up and got these photos.

Northern Wheatear: On June 18 Susan Hedman discovered a Northern Wheatear at Coolidge Point Trustees Reservation in Manchester, and later that day Rick Heil phonescoped it. Steve Grinley digiscoped an image as well.

Wilson's Plover: Rick Heil found a Wilson's Plover foraging on the broad wet flats at Sandy Point on Plum Island late afternoon on June 17. The bird was catching and eating small crabs and allowed him to get close enough to obtain a number of phonescoped photographs.  Knowing that most Massachusetts records for this bird are during June, Rick actually had this species in mind when he was heading down the island towards Sandy Point. This is Rick's 43rd shorebird species for the island!

Swallow-tailed Kite: On June 9, Charlie Wade photographed this spectacular bird in his yard!

Franklin's Gull: On June 9, Wayne Petersen spotted an adult, alternate plumaged Franklin's Gull at Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island. Dave Larson and Dana Duxbury-Fox captured some images.

Gull-billed Tern: Rick Heil discovered this Gull-billed Tern at Kettle Cove in Manchester, and once again took advantage of the camera in his mobile phone to "photo-scope" it through his Kowa. 

Swainson's Warbler: Wouldn't you have loved to have been at the Joppa Flats banding station when they removed this from the nets?! This skulker had been heard nearby, but was assumed to be an aberrant Louisiana Waterthrush. But on May 24 it was netted, banded, and photographed on Plum Island. The following day, Tim Spahr also managed to record its song (turn up your volume). If accepted by the MARC this will only be the third state record.