Parker River NWR–Hellcat Dike, Essex, Massachusetts, US
07-Oct-2023 06:57 – 16:57
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:    Brookline Bird Club- Big Sit Hellcat Tower, Plum Island. Leader Nick Paulson. Windy and overcast with occasional showers. Generally dryer than forecast as the post tropical storm and the front to the west kept each other away from this slice of area.
84 species (+5 other taxa)
Canada Goose  15
Blue-winged Teal  4
Northern Shoveler  1
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  8
Mallard  40
American Black Duck  120
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)  1
Northern Pintail  75
Green-winged Teal (American)  150
Red-breasted Merganser  4
duck sp.  100
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Mourning Dove  1
Virginia Rail (Virginia)  2
Sora  1
Common Gallinule  1    Continuing, present and in view from tower most of the day.
Black-bellied Plover  18
American Golden-Plover  1
Semipalmated Plover  80
Hudsonian Godwit  1
Sanderling  8
Dunlin  140
White-rumped Sandpiper  8
Pectoral Sandpiper  3
Semipalmated Sandpiper  6
Short-billed Dowitcher  3
Long-billed Dowitcher  1
Greater Yellowlegs  150
Willet (Western)  1    Continuing. Was initially close with a group of yellowlegs, but quickly flew off.
Lesser Yellowlegs  40
Bonaparte’s Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  25
Herring Gull (American)  75
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Red-throated Loon  1
Common Loon  3
Double-crested Cormorant  250
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  5
Great Egret  30
Snowy Egret  3
Black-crowned Night-Heron  2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  1    Juvenile flew from other side of dike into North Pool. Dark gray outer wings, less bulky than BCNH.
Turkey Vulture  11
Osprey (carolinensis)  1
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1
Red-tailed Hawk  7
Belted Kingfisher  2
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
Peregrine Falcon (North American)  2
Peregrine Falcon (Tundra)  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  16
American Crow  1
Common Raven  3
Tree Swallow  11
Barn Swallow (American)  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
House Wren  1
Marsh Wren  2
Gray Catbird  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
Hermit Thrush (faxoni/crymophilus)  1
American Robin  12
American Pipit  5
House Finch  2
Purple Finch (Eastern)  3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  1
White-throated Sparrow  2
Nelson’s/Saltmarsh Sparrow (Sharp-tailed Sparrow)  2
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  16
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  24
Swamp Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  3
Bobolink  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  3
Common Grackle (Bronzed)  1
Tennessee Warbler  1
Nashville Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  6
Cape May Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  35
new world warbler sp.  20
Dickcissel  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S151847096

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

Crane Beach, Ipswich

Ipswich - Crane Beach 331 Argilla Rd, Ipswich, MA, United States

This two-mile walk in the sand is aimed at nesting Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Bank Swallows, as well as evening singers such as Whip-poor-wills. Be prepared for mosquitoes at sunset. Co-sponsored by the Essex County Ornithological Club.

Myles Standish State Forest, Carver – Evening

Carver - Myles Standish State Forest 181 Cranberry Rd, Carver, MA, United States

A serene way to end the day with Prairie Warblers and Hermit Thrushes reluctantly giving way to Eastern Whip-poor-wills and, perhaps, Northern Saw-whet Owls. Target endangered breeding species: Whip-poor-will.

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 [...]

Mount Holyoke to the Quabbin

Hadley - Skinner State Park 99 Old Mountain Rd, Hadley, MA, United States

Join us for a series of short hikes as we search for Cerulean Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Alder Flycatcher. Time will also be taken to enjoy the flora and fauna along the way.

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

Go to Top