1980 STATISTICAL REPORT 

During 1980 the Brookline Bird Club observed 313 species of birds as follows: Massachusetts, 299 species; New Hampshire, two additional species; New Jersey to North Carolina, 12 additional species. The 14 species written-in on the Massachusetts Audubon Society Check List were: 

Arctic Loon                                   Newburyport                    1/1 

Western Grebe                               Plum Island                        1/12 

Summer Tanager                            Mt. Auburn                          5/6 

Prothonotary Warbler                  Needham                            5/17 

Ash-throated Flycatcher           Rowley                                5/18 

Chuck-Will’s Widow                     Martha’s Vineyard         5/23 

Kentucky Warbler                           Mt. Auburn                        5/24 

Curlew Sandpiper                           Newburyport                    5/25 

Common Raven                               Mt. Greylock                     6/8 

Lesser Black-backed Gull       Scituate                              7/27 

American Avocet                            Plum Island                        7/27 

Blue Grosbeak                                Nantucket                           9/27 

Fork-tailed Flycatcher                 Orleans                               10/5 

Clay-colored Sparrow                 Salisbury                            10/12 

“Brewster’s” Warbler (hybrid), West Newbury, 5/10; “Kumlien’s” Gull, Andrew’s Point, 1/19; and “Ipswich” Sparrow, Plum Island, 4/5 are also noteworthy, the latter two being identifiable races of the Iceland Gull and Savannah Sparrow, respectively. 

Entered on the BBC Life List were Lesser Black-backed Gull and Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Our Life List now totals 374 species for Massachusetts. Considering all sightings, including presumed escaped birds, hybrids, and those birds no longer considered as separate species since the 1973 reclassification, the list reaches 394. 

We scheduled 242 field trips this season with 84 All-Day events, 108 Early Morning risers, 25 Afternoon strolls, 19 Evening walks, 5 Weekend tours, and 1 Longer Trip South. Five trips were storm cancelled and 31 were unreported. 

Missed in Massachusetts according to current records were the following: 

Leach’s Storm Petrel                   Acadian Flycatcher 

Goshawk                                        Boreal Chickadee 

King Rail                                       Sedge Wren 

Red Phalarope                                Pomarine Jaeger 

Caspian Tern                                  Western Kingbird 

Eastern Bluebird                             Connecticut Warbler 

Red Crossbill 

If you can document the sighting of any of these on a 1980 BBC Massachusetts trip, please contact the statistician. 

Losses from 1979 included the following: 

Whistling Swan                              Lucy’s Warbler 

Gull-billed Tern                              Yellow-throated Warbler 

Sabine’s Gull                                  Lawrence’s Warbler (hybird) 

Bar-tailed Godwit                           Black-headed Grosbeak 

Great Gray Owl                              LeConte’s Sparrow 

Say’s Phoebe 

Gains over 1979 included these species: 

Baird’s Sandpiper                        Pine Siskin 

Western Sandpiper                       Black Skimmer 

Ash-throated Flycatcher           Chuck Will’s Widow 

Dovekie                                       Kentucky Warbler 

Barn Owl                                      Curlew Sandpiper 

Loggerhead Shrike                       Common Raven

Worm-eating Warbler                  Lesser Black-backed Gull 

Common Redpoll                         Fork-tailed Flycatcher 

As usual, Newburyport led our area count with 263 species in 44 trips. One list is missing. This is a gain of 17 over 1979. The 9 Plum Island Evening Walks listed 98 species and produced 3 species not seen on the all day visits. These were Yellow-crowned Night Heron, European Widgeon, and Arctic Tern. 

The Southern Sweep gained 163 species and was highlighted by the spectacular sighting of 55 Black-capped Petrels on the pelagic cruise. Also listed, for those who stayed home, were Audubon’s Shearwater, Royal, Caspian, Bridled, and Sandwich Terns, and of course the Brown Pelican, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, and Boat-tailed Grackle. 

Ipswich birders industriously listed 146 species during 8 trips. One report is missing. Northern Shrike, Cattle Egret, Virginia Rail, Piping Plover, Screech Owl, Pine Warbler, and Pine Grosbeak were seen. Best birds were a Yellow-breasted Chat on 9/1 and the famous Ash-throated Flycatcher in nearby Rowley during May. This species was first recorded by BBC on November 25, 1972, at Eastern Point, Gloucester. 

The Westport area produced 132 species on 3 visits. A Lapland Longspur in intermediate plumage was scrutinized on May 18 as it fed in the sandy-grassy beach area near the bridge at Westport Harbor. Its plumage: off-white outer tail feathers, scalloped breast, white eye ring, scaled feathering on the back, and pinkish-orange bill, was detailed by leader Dot Davis. Other area specialties were many herons, 11 Osprey at Acoaxet, Carolina Wren, Pine Warbler, Grasshopper, Sharp-tailed, and Seaside Sparrows. 

Our 7 Cape Cod reports include 4 Monomoy visits, one re-routed Nantucket trip (the ferry wasn’t running), one lower Cape trip, and the Harwichport Boat Trip. The total was 128 species. The Monomoy trips gained 93 species and the pelagic trip netted 20. Cape Ann birders listed 123 species on 12 trips. Two reports are missing. An additional 5 walks to Manchester only, found an equal 123 species, with 12 species not seen on Cape Ann proper. Alcid sightings totaled Razorbills, 20; Thick-billed Murres, 6; Dovekies, 2; and Black Guillemots, 30. Kittiwakes numbered 108 and Harlequin Duck sightings reached 24, with a high count of 4 on a single outing. 

Mt. Auburn birders found 122 species on 44 trips. There are 4 reports missing. 

Martha’s Vineyard had an enviable 121 species with 4 Barn Owls, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Chuck-Will’s Widow. Nantucket gave us 119 species and likewise offered a Barn Owl, Red Heads, Cooper’s Hawk, Peregrine, American Oyster- catcher, Whimbrels, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Blue Grosbeak. An Iceland Gull was unexpected. 

Great Meadows gave us 113 species on 12 visits. One trip was cancelled. Least Bittern was a fine observation. 16 Sora and 13 Virginia Rails were encountered, plus Pied-billed Grebe and Common Gallinule. This is an excellent area for raptors, and Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, Broad-winged, Cooper’s, Sharp- shinned, and Marsh Hawks were seen, plus American Kestrel and Osprey. 

Other area counts were Berkshires 97, Essex 72 (Loggerhead Shrike and Cattle Egrets), Canton 71, Squantum 71, Winthrop 70, Plymouth 66 (4 Arctic Terns), Middlesex Fells 65, Bridge- water 64 (Screech Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker), New Hampshire 63 (Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker, 5 Mourning Warblers and a Cow Moose), Saugus 63, Bolton 59, Newton 58, South Shore 52, Natick 50 (Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orchard Oriole, and Indigo Bunting), Falmouth 49, Weymouth 47, Marblehead 46, Nahant 46, Fresh Pond 45, Mystic Lake and Horn Pond 43, Owl Prowl! 42, Maine 39, Brain- tree 39, Belmont 37, Irws 34, Lexington 34, Wellesley 33, Quabbin 30, Lynn Boat 29, Western Mass. 24, Boston 24, GBBBC 23, Lynnfield 22, Harwichport Boat 20, and Westwood 17. 

Species gained per month in 1980 follow: 

January                105         May                         88          September       6 

February              13            June                        11          October               4 

March                  16            July                          6           November         5 

April                    35            August                  10            December         0 

Honorable Mention is given for Massachusetts high totals for a single day afield: 

January                 52            Newburyport                    Blaisdell

Squantum                           D. Brown 

February              47            South Shore                      Harrington

March                   56            Newburyport                    Grinley

April                      78            Westport                              Willoughby 

May                      125         Newburyport                    Drummond 

June                      120        Newburyport                    Heil 

July                         91            Canton                                   D. Brown 

August                  102        Newburyport                    Giriunas

September        103        Newburyport                    Grinley 

October                90            Newburyport                    McHale

November          74            Cape Ann                             Heil

December          46            Newburyport                    Henderson

“This day Time winds th’ exhausted chain 

To run the twelvemonth’s length again.”        Burns

Sunny New Year, happy BBC. Mark Kasprzyk smiled success and presented an Arctic Loon to cheer the day. Twenty-two members scrambled to list 52 species at Newburyport. Starting with 3 loon species, the tally soon included Gadwall, Pintail, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Red-tailed, Rough-legged, and Marsh Hawks, Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlin, Kittiwakes, a Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike, and even a pair of Towhees. 

January

5. At Cape Ann, birders greeted a pair of Harlequin Ducks off Rafe’s Chasm and visited a Lanesville feeding station for Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, and Dickcissel. A coterie of Glaucous, Iceland, and Bonaparte Gulls paraded at Brace’s Cove, their personal winter resort. 

6. Cold telescopes shook in colder hands at Nutt Island, Hough’s Neck as a bitter northwest wind fought efforts to scan the water. Soheil Zendeh found the Barrow’s Goldeneye. Great Cormorant (86) and Red-breasted Mergansers (250) were counted. A Great Horned Owl joined the list, then visits were made to a Hermit Thrush in Milton and a Lark Sparrow in Hingham. 

12. “Western Grebe off the jetty” cried the wind at Salisbury. The ocean tossed its white caps and one member wailed, “This cold is blowing right into my bones.” 

19. Many new birders joined the Hales for the Cape Ann Experience. Enhancing the beautiful ocean drive were Glaucous, Kumlien’s and Little Gull, Kittiwakes (50), Purple Sandpipers, and Black Guillemots. 

26. An American Coot lingered at Flax Pond, Lynn. 

27. Joy for Bill Drummond! His 11 car caravan traversed the state, gaining 5 Bald Eagles at Quabbin, then setting out on a Turkey hunt. After 11 years of searching, there they were—two hens and a tom—strutting across a meadow in Shelburne and right onto Bill’s Massachusetts Life List! 

February

3. Bridgewater birders spent a bracing cold day sky- searching raptors. Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Rough-legged, and Marsh Hawks (Northern Harrier), plus Merlin and Kestrel. Choice bird was a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Three Pied-billed Grebes, Screech Owl, and 47 Evening Grosbeaks were seen and 72 Blue Jays reported. 

16. Three Harbor Seals lumped on shore as members battled blinding snow and incredible winds at Newburyport and Salis- bury. Jim Barton found two Snipe, saving the day (which ended at noon). 

16. And it was snowing in Ipswich when BBC duo, Jim Berry and Dick McHale went on their own snipe hunt. No snipe. They did see three Virginia Rails. One led them a merry chase until it popped inside an old tire at the back of the shopping center. They also encountered a Northern Shrike in the Willowdale State Forest. 

23. Seven Fish Crows were gained at the West Roxbury dump. 

24. Snow flurries teased Newburyport birders who were busy comparing three Bald Eagles along the Merrimac River. Nine Barrow’’s Goldeneyes were seen at close range, with outstanding views of the three females. A Little Gull winged past the group at Salisbury as it flew out of the harbor toward the ocean. There was a Snowy Owl on the prow! at Plum Island; a winter mascot for many who visited there. 

March

2. Pussy willows and birders sensed a change toward Spring, as Cardinals, Chick-a-dees, and Song Sparrows were in full song around Quincy Bay. A Catbird survived at Forbes Hill, a Fox Sparrow was spotted, and an American Bittern prowled in the thicket. Great Horned Owl, yes; Short-eared Owl, no. Over a thousand Brant bunched up at inner Hough’s Neck.

15. This day began with Natalie King getting her car mired in water and mud—up to the doors. She sincerely thanked the eight members who came to her rescue. While they were struggling her out again, one tripper approached the leader and asked, “What are you planning to do first today?” Snow squalls came and went. Lapland Longspurs and Snowbuntings echoed winter but two Red-winged Blackbirds and a Killdeer sang Spring at Plum Island. 

16. It seemed like Spring at Bridgewater as Black-crowned Night Herons, 24 elegant Ring-necked Ducks, and 6 Hooded “” Mergansers appeared. A Woodcock sat close by a fence while flocks of raucous blackbirds lent their blessing to the air. 

16. The Owl Prowl was a fizzle. The March wind whistled a brisk note but this party ended up hearing one Barred Owl, for about one second! Even the Plum Island Snowy Owl was out of sight. 

29. A Great Horned Owl, on nest, was observed in North Andover. 

30. A beautiful 8 mile hike in the Quabbin area gained three Turkey Vultures and a day’s rest from Rock Doves, Starlings, and gull-sorting. 

April

5. Off Plum Island there were 18 seals to watch; on the island, 25 Snow Geese and two Piping Plovers; and at Pikes Bridge Road, three Ospreys. 

12. A red fox watched members at Indian Ridge Road. Great and Snowy Egrets gathered with a Louisiana Heron at Plum Island’s South Pool, where Ruddy Ducks were diving busily. Also listed were two Little Gulls, two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Pine and Palm Warblers. 

19. Tree Swallows coursed over Plum Island in the hundreds, and two Barn Swallows were spied in the melee. Purple Martin was first encountered in Ipswich, later in the month. 

22. Mt. Auburn birders examined a Green Heron, 16 Hermit Thrushes, gnatcatchers, and early warblers, but Peter Alden was occupied with a White-crowned Sparrow as it sang from a tree without leaves and then hopped along with some White- throated Sparrows. 

26. Jim Berry’s group found a Killdeer nest with four eggs in it, aside the road to the Rowley dump. 

May

3. A Ruff and Reeve together on Joppa Flats caused a forest of telescopes to rise at Newburyport. Upland, Spotted, and Solitary Sandpipers waded favorite grasslands and pools. It was clearly fine to see the Louisiana Waterthrush and two Winter Wrens at Crooked Pond’s looking-glass brookside. 

6. A Worm-eating Warbler delighted Mt. Auburn walkers as they gazed from its subtle charms to a more flamboyant Summer Tanager.

8. Rain poured down on Rod Sommers as he made solitary rounds of Mt. Auburn’s nine Warbler species, including a private look at the Worm-eating.

10. Glenn D’Entremont logged 100 species about Newburyport. Turkey Vulture, Ruff, Cooper’s Hawk, and Brewster’s Warbler among them. 

11. Mt. Auburn: 19 warbler species. 

12. Mt. Auburn: 20 warbler species. 

13. Mt. Auburn: 22 warbler species. A tremendous wave flooded the cemetery with accompaniment of Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, many vireos and numerous thrushes. Close to heaven, Mt. Auburn! 

14. Mt. Auburn: 19 warbler species. 

15. Mt. Auburn: 21 warbler species. 

16. Mt. Auburn: 18 warbler species. 

17. Manchester: 20 warbler species. 

17. Newburyport: 24 warbler species and a super day with Blue-winged and Golden-winged, Prothonotary, and Hooded Warbler gained, Wilson’s Phalarope female in resplendent breeding plumage, and Lincoln Sparrow. Strange that among the 125 species, only one hawk was seen, seven waterfowl, and no bitterns, ibis, or owls. 

18. Ipswich birders listed a Red-throated Loon “in winter plumage”. Ida Giriunas started birding at 5:30 a.m. and was joined by a barking dog at 8:00 a.m. It poured so after noon that opening the car windows was a disaster. Despite the drawbacks, the day was splendid she recalls. She and Ann Blaisdell (the rain finally drove everyone else home) went to the Rowley sand pits to try for Orchard Oriole and Bank Swallow. Ann spotted a bird out the rain-streaked car window. A robin, or something? Ida backed up and slowly rolled the window down. A bright rusty tail fanned out on a slender bird, smaller than a Robin. A crest and white front appeared, as it turned around. Out came the books and a discussion ensued, full of “It can’t be” and “Oh, it is, an Ash-throated Flycatcher!” Then the dilemma. What to do? Who to call? Where was the nearest phone? In a panic they drove all the way to Sportsman’s Lodge for a phone. Word spread. A dismal day brightened considerably. And best of all, it remained for many to enjoy in days to come (including me!). Thank you. 

June

1. The Harwichport Boat logged Northern Fulmar, two Greater Shearwaters, 40 Sooty Shearwaters, 150 Wilson’s Storm Petrels, and one jaeger species.

2. Our first Plum Island evening walk was held despite threatening skies, thunder rolls, and distant lightening. Twelve members skulked the marshes across from the airport, trying to spot the European Widgeon. Torrents of rain fell as a willet flashed past. Back into cars, wet birders proceeded up the harbor past the clam shack, where swam the widgeon, easily observed from the road. 

8. The Berkshire Weekend added a Common Raven to our list and featured seven Turkey Vultures, both cuckoos, Night- hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested, Yellow-bellied, Willow, Alder, Least, and Olivesided Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbird, Phoebe, and Wood Pewee. Winter Wrens, 19 warbler species (with two Mourning Warblers), and the evening chorus of thrushes made this a mountain holiday to remember. 

9. Gloves were in order at Ice House Pond. Not that listening to the Whip-poor-wills was such a formal occasion—just a very chill reception for a June evening! 

16. Plum Island trippers listed nine Green Herons and 25 Long-billed Marsh Wrens. 

22. Great Meadows trekkies found two Eastern Kingbirds on nests, a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and a Sora feeding close along the dike. 

30. A Yellow-crowned Night Heron posed on a muskrat house for Plum Island visitors. Four Wilson’s Phalarope and 100 Snowy Egrets were listed.

July

6. The weather was sunny but very windy at Bolton Flats when members “saw the first rail seen at the flats in two years”. Five Virginia Rails and three Soras were gained. A pair of nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos, plus three others, were also enjoyed. 

7. Eight willets were viewed at Plum Island. 

14. A short-tailed weasel played under and over the board- walk at Southend while members gathered to observe three Louisiana Herons, 42 Glossy Ibis, and parent Wood Ducks, Bob White, Pheasant, and Killdeer supervising their young. Twenty Cliff Swallows were counted at their adobe nests on the refuge garage. 

26. A Northern Yellowthroat fed its demanding Cowbird chick at Great Meadows. 

27. Two Avocets fascinated a group at the salt pans, Plum Island. Rivalling this was a 2’ hour look at a Least Bittern in South Pool as it slowly worked its way among reeds. Snowy Kgrets (375) and Glossy Ibis (85) made a gorgeous spectacle! Young Common Gallinule were designated “cute but ugly” by one member. 

27. The Fowl Meadows trip scooted off to Scituate, hoping to see a Rufous-necked Sandpiper. Alas, all they could find was an unexpected Lesser Black-backed Gull, added to our life list! Fowl Meadows itself was arrayed in a wealth of flowers, dragonflies, and butterflies. Bob Campbell caught a watersnake and showed the difference between it and a sunning garter snake. A smoky shrew headed the mammal list. Best birds were five Ruffed Grouse, two Bobwhite, both cuckoos, Willow and Alder Fly- catchers. Cedar Waxwings (85), 39 Common Yellowthroats, 13 Bobolinks, 14 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, two Indigo Buntings, and 27 Goldfinches added interest. 

August

2. Glenn D’Entremont petted an immature skunk at the warden’s on Plum Island, while most members kept their distance! The Avocets were still present, but could not be found on the evening of the 4th. 

10. John Nove led a visit to Eastern Point, Gloucester, finding four Broad-winged Hawks, nine Spotted Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpiper, and two Laughing Gulls. 

10. Monomoy birders eyed nine American Oyster-catchers, 10 Piping Plovers, two Whimbrel, 30 Willets, 50 Red Knots, an early Dunlin, 52 Hudsonian Godwits, 150 Sanderlings, two Wilson’s Phalarope, and 200 Laughing Gulls. If this wasn’t enough they also counted three Kittiwakes, five Forster’s Terns, 3000 Common Terns, two Arctic Terns, 150 Roseate Terns, one Black Tern, and two Short-eared Owls. 

17. An Arctic Tern was observed, discussed, and photographed by Soheil Zendeh as Monomoy trippers logged 50 Piping Plover, two Golden Plover, and 750 Laughing Gulls. 

22. Rain cut short a Newburyport trip. It was odd not to find one warbler at Hell Cat. Baird’s Sandpiper was the great gain. 

24. A hundred members put to sea in the Lynn Boat, They had a joyous time with eight Cory’s, 450 Greater, 75 Sooty, and five Manx Shearwaters, 15 Wilson’s Storm Petrels, 20 Northern Phalaropes, two Parasitic Jaegers, a Kittiwake, and a Black Guillemot in Lynn Harbor. 

31. Fog shrouded Monomoy this day but BBC sneaked through it to find two Black Skimmers and a Marbled Godwit. 

September

1. Two greenhead flies led the highlights of this trip. Pursuing shore birds about Newburyport, members found three Buff- breasted Sandpipers, but drawing most comment were two color-dyed birds, an orange Semipalmated Sandpiper wearing a band on its “left ankle” and a tangerine Semipalmated Plover, with a silver band on the left upper leg. 

13. Marblehead birders wished for something different. A Philadelphia Vireo was all they could find. 

28. A Peregrine Falcon zoomed in and landed on a telephone pole across from the Plum Island Airport, where it then sat for 20) minutes. Later, a Long-eared Owl was discovered on the trail to Hellcat’s blind. 

October

12. Bright blue skies and crimson foliage greeted BBC members as they pondered Stilt Sandpipers off Pikes Bridge Road. The Peregrine was swooping through the shorebird ranks at the Salt Pans. Gannets (25) swept close to the Plum Island ee shore. Most birders camped at Salisbury with the Indigo Bunting, Loggerhead Shrike, and Clay-colored Sparrow. 

19. Newton birders found an Orange-crowned Warbler! 

25. invigorating weather” said a former U.S. Coastguardsman, when winds blew E 15-20, gusting to 50 MPH and the rain came down with gusto. The 1000 Gannets fishing off Plum Island were spectacular! A Snow Goose, five Kittiwakes, two Lapland Longspurs, and five Snowbuntings reflected the advancing season. 

November

1. Brant and Snow Geese visited Plum Island, along with a Rough-legged Hawk, 100 Long-billed Dowitchers, one Iceland Gull, a Short-eared Ow! and 300 Snowbuntings. 

9. At Winthrop, 10,000 Common Eiders once again rafted comfortably. From Nahant, 25 Common Loons were observed. Purple Sandpipers (1100), a Pectoral and a White-rumped Sandpiper appeared and went. Members busied themselves with the sparrow clan, finding nine species, plus Ipswich Sparrow. 

22. Birders watched a Northern Waterthrush rooting in leaves aside the Ipswich shopping center parking lot. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed its crest. Great Blue Herons gathered on the salt marsh, and a Northern Harrier tilted across the sound. 

23. Sharp-shinned Hawk pursued Flicker into a shrub at Plum Island. The captive started to scream loudly, and thereby escaped! 23. The year’s only White-winged Crossbill was seen in Manchester! 

29. Cape Ann birders added the last two species gained for 1980, a Razorbill and a Dovekie! 30. Two Snowy Owls and a Saw Whet sat in the new pines. The weather was beautiful: a mild, sweet day when from “Gold to gray… Indian Summer fades too soon.”

December

6. Marbled Godwit lingered at the salt pans; a restless band of Common Redpolls followed the trip down Plum Island; a Seaside Sparrow gleaned aside parking lot 1. 

7. Castle Hill, Ipswich was a fine vantage point. Black-headed Gull and Pine Grosbeaks and a Pine Siskin were observed 

13. A pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes swam in Niles Pond, Gloucester, with a Glaucous Gull and several immature Iceland Gulls. At Bass Rocks were four Harlequin Ducks. 

14. Plum Island offered another look at the Saw Whet Owl. There were two hunting Snowy Owls, one of which kited over the dunes, narrowly missing a pheasant dinner. 

27. The last walk of the year was held in Manchester by the sea. A harbor seal lounged on the rocks. A Harlequin Duck swam the Atlantic surge, and birders started dreaming about the future; snow and ice, sleet and rain—soon winter melts to spring again. 

Mary Lou Barnett