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.

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

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Upcoming Field Trips

  • Bring Back Boblinks: Bobolinks at Heard Farm, Wayland (New!)

    Wayland - Heard Farm Conservation Area 12 Heard Road, Wayland, MA, United States

    New addition to our Bring Back Bobolinks conservation series. This gem works its way into the rotations of many birders once discovered. It is managed for dog walking (no dogs on this walk please) and bobolinks, which in a good year can number 100 or more. We will be using dirt trails and boardwalks. Trails

  • Bring Back Bobolinks: Codman Estate Farm (Was Drumlin Farm) (New!)

    Codman Community Farms - Donelan's parking 145 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA, United States

    This walk was planned for Drumlin Farm but more Bobolinks can be seen at this nearby location so we've moved the walk to Codman Farms. Adding to our Bobolink conservation series. Join Ilija to observe and appreciate Bobolinks in breeding habitat! Bobolinks are migratory grassland birds found across Massachusetts. The Bobolink is listed as a

  • Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

    Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United States

    Cosponsored with Boxborough Birders. All the nesting birds will still be around, with good views of young out of the nest being fed by parents: Veery, Indigo Bunting, Catbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Bobolink, Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, and Warblers. Expect to walk about 2 miles on trails through meadow and woods with some steep

  • Southwick WMA

    Southwick WMA - Suffield WMA entrance Point Grove Road, Suffield, CT, United States

    We will hike the fields focusing on grassland breeders, particularly Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow.

  • Half-Day Seabirding and Whale Watching, 7-Seas, Gloucester

    Gloucester - 7 Seas Whale Watch 63 Rogers Street, 7 Seas Wharf, Gloucester, MA, United States

    The BBC has reserved a limited block of discounted group tickets on these public tours. These tours are open to all. Register online at https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=329 Registration opens June 19. Additional info at the company site: https://www.7seaswhalewatch.com/ For registration, use our site. If you have registration problems, contact us at fieldtrips@brooklinebirdclub.org.

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