Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals
On December 6 over 70 BBC birders and guides departed from Hyannis and headed out to Nantucket Shoals about the Helen H. The plan was to go as far offshore as possible before looping back to the northwest on their return, which would take them past the large sea duck concentrations near Monomoy.
This was an effective strategy, yielding good numbers (and views!) of Black-legged Kittiwake, Atlantic Puffin, Dovekie, Northern Fulmar and several late shearwaters the further out we got.
Eventually they came upon a recently deceased Minke Whale surrounded by dozens of Fulmar (both light and dark morphs), a Sooty Shearwater and a handful of gulls, including a juvenile Great Black-backed that was standing atop the carcass and pecking away. Suddenly, as many of the seabirds took flight and scattered, one of the leaders shouted “Skua!” and I began to tell participants to begin photographing the bird as there was a good chance it could be a Great given the date. While the bird flew directly above us, the lighting was not ideal, and it only made one pass. While initially ID’ed as late South Polar Skua, further examination of photos led to the conclusion that this was the sixth Massachusetts record of Great Skua!
Read the eBird report for more details.
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals On December 6 over 70 BBC birders and guides departed from Hyannis and headed out to Nantucket Shoals about the Helen H. The plan was to go as far [...]
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application Available The Brookline Bird Club will again offer two Bill Drummond Young Birder’s Scholarships to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders. The scholarship covers the full [...]
Kestrel Adventures Book Fund Donation
School Book Fund Donation to Kestrel Educational Adventures The BBC School Book Fund Committee is pleased to announce that we have donated just under $750 for optical equipment to support bird and nature education at [...]
Renew membership now for 2026!
Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2025. Renew today for the 2026 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership [...]
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts The 126th (2025-26) Christmas bird count season begins December 14. We encourage you to participate in this citizen science effort. Please note that the count week for each Xmas count [...]
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 – Social Hour, Book Sale & Norman Smith!
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 - Social Hour, Used Book Sale & Norman Smith! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7 at 2PM for the BBC's annual in-person Winter Meeting featuring a social hour with [...]
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals On December 6 over 70 BBC birders and guides departed from Hyannis and headed out to Nantucket Shoals about the Helen H. The plan was to go as far [...]
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application Available The Brookline Bird Club will again offer two Bill Drummond Young Birder’s Scholarships to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders. The scholarship covers the full [...]
Kestrel Adventures Book Fund Donation
School Book Fund Donation to Kestrel Educational Adventures The BBC School Book Fund Committee is pleased to announce that we have donated just under $750 for optical equipment to support bird and nature education at [...]
Renew membership now for 2026!
Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2025. Renew today for the 2026 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership [...]
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts The 126th (2025-26) Christmas bird count season begins December 14. We encourage you to participate in this citizen science effort. Please note that the count week for each Xmas count [...]
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 – Social Hour, Book Sale & Norman Smith!
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 - Social Hour, Used Book Sale & Norman Smith! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7 at 2PM for the BBC's annual in-person Winter Meeting featuring a social hour with [...]
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals
Successful Pelagic Trip to Nantucket Shoals On December 6 over 70 BBC birders and guides departed from Hyannis and headed out to Nantucket Shoals about the Helen H. The plan was to go as far [...]
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application
2026 Young Birders Scholarship Application Available The Brookline Bird Club will again offer two Bill Drummond Young Birder’s Scholarships to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders. The scholarship covers the full [...]
Kestrel Adventures Book Fund Donation
School Book Fund Donation to Kestrel Educational Adventures The BBC School Book Fund Committee is pleased to announce that we have donated just under $750 for optical equipment to support bird and nature education at [...]
Renew membership now for 2026!
Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2025. Renew today for the 2026 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership [...]
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts
2025 Annual Christmas Bird Counts The 126th (2025-26) Christmas bird count season begins December 14. We encourage you to participate in this citizen science effort. Please note that the count week for each Xmas count [...]
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 – Social Hour, Book Sale & Norman Smith!
BBC Winter Meeting February 7 - Social Hour, Used Book Sale & Norman Smith! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7 at 2PM for the BBC's annual in-person Winter Meeting featuring a social hour with [...]
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
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Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesLed by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. ADA/Reasonable Accommodations [...]
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Early Birders @ Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Boston
Chestnut Hill Reservoir 2420 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, United StatesJoin fellow birders in their 20s-30s as we visit Chestnut Hill Reservoir for a low-key bird outing before the new year! Located on the outskirts of Boston next to Boston University, Chestnut Hill Reservoir is a former water supply distribution reservoir that is a hot spot for waterfowl activity & other residents. Expect to walk [...]
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Race Point Beach
Provincetown - Race Point BeachLet’s start the year with some awesome birds! We will bird from the beach close to the parking lot. We may walk the beach depending on participants interest. Several species of alcids are possible as well as gannets, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls and three loon species. Dress for cold windy weather. We may try other [...]
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New Year’s Day Birding — Newburyport and Vicinity
Newburyport - Cashman Park 68 Sally Snyder Way, Newburyport, MA, United StatesJoin us on our annual New Year’s Day birding trip! We may also venture on to Cape Ann. In case of inclement weather check with leader night before trip. Note that an entrance fee or pass is required to visit Parker River NWR.
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Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesLed by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. ADA/Reasonable Accommodations [...]