Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Oct 12, 2021 7:20 AM – 12:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    Mostly sunny. 64-72 degrees with winds South 2 mph to WSW 5 mph. Outgoing tide with low tide at 10:42 am.  With Brookline Bird Club walk led by Dave Williams. Stops at main pans, Wardens Maintenance area, where we walked the dike to North Pool Overlook from Wardens. Also stopped at Lot 7 Emerson Rocks, Hellcat dike, and Hellcat boardwalk to old blind, finishing along road by Goodno Crossing back to Hellcat parking lot.
54 species (+4 other taxa)
Snow Goose  1    Continuing immature at Hellcat Bill Forward Pool
Canada Goose  29
Mute Swan  13    12 in main pans and another Hellcat
Blue-winged Teal  1    Bill Forward Pool Hellcat dike
Gadwall  4    North Pool from Hellcat dike
Mallard  8
American Black Duck  83
Northern Pintail  5    Hellcat Bill Forward Pool
Green-winged Teal  20    Bill Forward Pool
White-winged Scoter  50    Lot 7
Wild Turkey  4    Just outside refuge entrance when I arrived about 7:15 am.
Horned Grebe  1    Lot 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Mourning Dove  3
Black-bellied Plover  1    Calling several times at Lot 1 boat ramp
Killdeer  2    One in middle of Lot 1 parking lot and another on mud in pans
Semipalmated Sandpiper  2    Pans
Greater Yellowlegs  19
Lesser Yellowlegs  1    Standing next to a Greater Yellowlegs at Lot 1 boat ramp. Good comparison of body size and bill length.
Ring-billed Gull  3    Lot 7
Herring Gull  36
Great Black-backed Gull  4    Emerson Rocks Lot 7
Common Loon  1    Lot 7 Emerson Rocks
Northern Gannet  1    We were surprised to see an adult Northern Gannet on the beach at Lot 7. The Gannet was able to walk (waddle) but since it is so unusual to see on land, perhaps it was sick. No obvious injuries seen.
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  5
Great Egret  27
Northern Harrier  1
Cooper’s Hawk  2    1 large female chasing 3 crows roadside. At times it perched giving good looks at size similar to the crows. Another smaller Coopers Hawk seen perched not too far away but obviously smaller than the other Cooper’s Hawk.
Bald Eagle  1    Adult on Osprey platform  Lot 1 boat ramp
Downy Woodpecker  4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Peregrine Falcon  1    Flying over Hellcat parking lot
falcon sp.  1    A fast falcon flew over us at Hellcat parking lot but only a couple of us got a brief look. Probably a Merlin.
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  4    1 at Lot 1 and 3 being harassed by a large Cooper’s Hawk roadside
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2    Hellcat boardwalk marsh trail
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5    Hellcat boardwalk trail toward old blind
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Marsh Wren  1    Scolding calls at old blind area at end of Hellcat boardwalk marsh trail
Carolina Wren  1
European Starling  25    On telephone wires outside refuge entrance
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
American Robin  9
thrush sp.  1    Seen quickly by leader Dave Williams along Hellcat marsh boardwalk trail, but we could not relocate
House Sparrow  2    By entrance to refuge
House Finch  2    Wardens
American Goldfinch  4
White-throated Sparrow  3
Savannah Sparrow  4    Wardens
Song Sparrow  10
Eastern Towhee  1
sparrow sp.  2    Possibly Saltmarsh or Nelson’s Sparrow at edge of marsh opposite Lot 1 boat ramp.
blackbird sp.  30    Flock flying at Lot 1. Probably Red Winged Blackbirds but not sure
Blackpoll Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  25
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S96091422

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

Lake Umbagog & Region, NH

New Hampshire - Lake Umbagog Region NH, United States

WAIT LIST ONLY   OVERNIGHT TRIPS IN JUNE 2024 Umbagog and Region, New Hampshire. This trip is offered twice in early June. We visit Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and journey to Dixville Notch for boreal species. Possible sightings include Black-backed  Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, 20+ species of breeding warblers, and nesting ducks. We [...]

Gore Place, Waltham

Watertown - Gore Place 52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA, United States

We will walk around the farm fields and gardens at the Gore Place then venture across Waltham Street to adjacent conservation land. Free for BBC and Gore Place members. Preregistration required at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=228497

Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity

East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United States

Led by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile on flat, easy terrain, for migrating or resident songbirds, raptors, shorebirds, and marsh birds at this birding hotspot and state park. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks and mosquitoes. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with [...]

Mass. Audubon Boston Nature Center

Mattapan - MAS Boston Nature Center 500 Walk Hill St, Mattapan, MA, United States

Join us to observe resident birds and spring migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. Birders of all levels will enjoy this walk The trails are flat and easy to walk. Be sure to wear a hat and waterproof footwear and pack water. [...]

Go to Top