Brookline Bird Club – America’s most active bird club!

BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count Follow Up

BBC members birded every county and every corner of the state this year, recording a total of 193 species. (See the eBird trip report.)Essex County led the way over Plymouth, but only by a single species. Suffolk was third, helped by a couple of county Big Day efforts. The first birds of the day were reported from Savery Pond in Plymouth County (Whip-poor-will, Eastern Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl), with an American Woodcock at Marconi Station on Cape Cod the last to be added to our list.

2026 Massachusetts Big Day Checklist Location Map
2026 BBC Massachusetts Big Day Checklist Locations

Here is the count by county:

  1. Essex – 136 Species
  2. Plymouth – 135 Species
  3. Suffolk – 126 Species
  4. Middlesex – 122 Species
  5. Barnstable – 99 Species
  6. Bristol – 84 Species
  7. Berkshire – 84 Species
  8. Worcester – 74 Species
  9. Norfolk – 74 Species
  10. Nantucket – 62 Species
  11. Hampshire – 57 Species
  12. Hampden – 30 Species
  13. Dukes – 9 Species

Highlights include

  • Summer Tanager (Mt Auburn Cemetery)
  • American Golden-Plover (Scituate)
  • Razorbill (Stellwagen whale watch)
  • Wilson’s Phalarope (Plum Island)
  • White-faced Ibis (Scotland Road, Newbury)
  • Little Blue Heron (Nantucket)
  • Sandhill Crane (Burrage Pond)
  • Prothonatory Warbler (Wompatuck)

Top 10 reported species by number of checklists:

  • 1st -American Robin
  • 2nd -Song Sparrow
  • 3rd – Gray Catbird
  • 4th – Red-winged Blackbird
  • 5th – Northern Cardinal
  • 6th/7th – Blue Jay, American Goldfinch (tie)
  • 8th – Common Grackle
  • 9th – Baltimore Oriole
  • 10th – Mourning Dove

Species appearing on a single checklist or at a single location:

  • Black-billed Cuckoo
  • Whimbrel
  • American Woodcock
  • Wilson’s Snipe
  • Purple Sandpiper
  • Manx Shearwater
  • American Bittern
  • Least Bittern
  • Black Vulture
  • Eastern Screech-Owl
  • Winter Wren
  • Pine Siskin
  • Lincoln’s Sparrow
  • Worm-eating Warbler
  • Canada Warbler
  • Cerulean Warbler

What did we miss? Not much, but Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hooded Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Sora, Horned Lark and Blue-winged Teal would have taken us to 200 for the day. Saltmarsh Sparrow and Eastern Wood-Pewee reached the state in decent numbers just a day or two later.

Bring Back Bobolinks!

Bring Back Bobolinks! This year the BBC is introducing new Endangered Species Program. Each year we plan to focus on a single bird species facing serious threats in Massachusetts and elsewhere. With this effort we

Bring Back Bobolinks!

Bring Back Bobolinks! This year the BBC is introducing new Endangered Species Program. Each year we plan to focus on a single bird species facing serious threats in Massachusetts and elsewhere. With this effort we

Bring Back Bobolinks!

Bring Back Bobolinks! This year the BBC is introducing new Endangered Species Program. Each year we plan to focus on a single bird species facing serious threats in Massachusetts and elsewhere. With this effort we

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Today

  • Ashby & Townsend

    Townsend - Willard Brook State Forest MA, United States

    We will explore for nesting warblers, juncos, sapsuckers, and probably butterflies and dragonflies, possibly continuing into the afternoon. We will start in Willard Brook State Forest and probably continue to Townsend State Forest, Mt. Watatic, or the Squannacook River WMA. Some trails are steep and moderately uneven.

  • 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

  • Pine Hill Road Grassland

    Lancaster - Pine Hill Road Grasslands Pine Hill Road, Lancaster, MA, United States

    In June, this wonderfully preserved grassland is alive with the songs of breeding Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrow, which are state listed as endangered species. Prairie Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and American Kestrels nest regularly here as well. A mile walk on level grade; can be dry so bring water.

  • Bring Back Boblinks: Bobolinks at Farm Meadow, Lincoln

    Lincoln - Farm Meadow Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA, United States

    An opportunity to see Bobolinks, a declining and unique species, displaying and singing in their breeding habitat, possibly with fledglings! In addition to Bobolinks, possible species include Indigo Bunting, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, and maybe an Alder Flycatcher if we're lucky! This is about a 1.5 mile walk circling the hayfield where the Bobolinks breed, and up

  • Halibut Point State Park, Rockport

    Rockport - Halibut Point State Park Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA, United States

    A two-hour walk, about 1.5 miles, over easy to moderate gravel roads and trails in search of seasonal specialties. Boots advisable. Restrooms are available. In case of inclement weather check with leader night before trip (text ok). Cosponsored by DCR. For more Information see: https://www.mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park

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