The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 283 species for 2024, with 274 species in Massachusetts (four more than 2023), and nine additional species reported from New Hampshire and Maine.  This total was based upon 262 trips for which checklists were reported, the highest number in the history of the club, as well as the out-of-state overnight trips.  

The two August pelagic trips visited Hydrographer, Dogbody and Welker Canyons and found a remarkable variety of marine life. This included four species of whales, three species of dolphins, three species of sharks, ocean sunfish and leatherback turtle. One trip even managed to collect a baby sailfish from the sargassum. Bird highlights included White-faced, Band-rumped and Leach’s Storm-Petrels, South Polar Skua, Long-tailed and Pomarine Jaegers, Black-capped Petrel and migrating Red and Red-necked Phalaropes.

Other highlights in Massachusetts included: Dovekie and Common Murre (Race Point, January 1), Western Kingbird (Salt Pond, Eastham, January 1), Long-eared and Short-eared Owls (Newburyport/Salisbury, January 1), Prothonotary Warbler (Mt Auburn, May 1), Northern Goshawk (Westboro WMA, May 6), Chuck-will’s Widow (Charles River Esplanade, May 15), Caspian Tern (Plumbush Marshes, September 11), Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Ipswich River Audubon, November 16), and Spotted Towhee (Provincetown Airport, November 30).

Outside of Massachusetts, Bicknell’s Thrush, Canada Jay, Ruffed Grouse and Boreal Chickadee were seen on the trip to the Lake Umbagog region in New Hampshire. On the Rangeley Lakes and Downeast trips to Maine, the club recorded Spruce Grouse, Evening Grosbeak, Black Tern, Upland Sandpiper and Nelson’s Sparrow.

Birds we missed in Massachusetts included Redpoll, Snowy Owl, Red Knot, Evening Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Yellow-breasted Chat, Ruffed Grouse, King Eider, Redhead and Canvasback (last reported on a club trip in 2014).

There were 385 species reported in eBird in 2024 for Massachusetts, of which the club’s total of 274 represented 71 percent. The club reported the most species in Essex County (226), followed by Plymouth (165), Middlesex (164), Suffolk (148), Worcester (141), Barnstable (130), Bristol (127), and Norfolk (126). Trips to Mt. Auburn Cemetery recorded 113 species this year, including 29 species of warblers. We missed Blue-winged Warbler at the cemetery but recorded it on 15 other trips.

The following table shows the trips reporting the most species by month: 

Thanks to all our trip leaders, especially those who led 10 or more trips in 2024: Cliff Cook, Kathy Dia, Glenn d’Entremont, Linda Ferraresso, Leslie Kramer, Michealle Larkins, Thomas Michel, Nick Paulson, David Scott, and Dave Williams.

Thanks also to the organizations with whom the club co-sponsors trips. These include the South Shore Bird Club, Cape Cod Bird Club, the Charles River Esplanade Association, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Franklin Park Coalition.

Excluding the pelagic and overnight out-of-state trips, there were 363 eBird checklists associated with 259 trips. American Robin retained its position as the most frequently reported species, appearing on 261 checklists. Song Sparrow (252) and Blue Jay (248) remained in second and third. Mourning Dove (227) and Northern Cardinal (226) overtook Black-capped Chickadee (222). American Goldfinch (219) was seventh, and Downy Woodpecker (208) moved up two places to eighth. Mallard (209) was ninth and Red-winged Blackbird (193) tenth. The next five were Common Grackle (185), Canada Goose (177), Herring Gull (177), American Crow (174) and Northern Flicker (170).

Download a copy of the 2024 Annual Report.