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.
Here is the count by county:
- Essex – 136 Species
- Plymouth – 135 Species
- Suffolk – 126 Species
- Middlesex – 122 Species
- Barnstable – 99 Species
- Bristol – 84 Species
- Berkshire – 84 Species
- Worcester – 74 Species
- Norfolk – 74 Species
- Nantucket – 62 Species
- Hampshire – 57 Species
- Hampden – 30 Species
- 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.
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Field Trips / Events
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Fall migrants at Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park
Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park 23 Coniston Rd, Roslindale, MA, United StatesA small but mighty urban wild that offers a variety of habitat. Expect to see a variety of woodpeckers, resident birds, warblers, and other migratory species, as well as a surprise or two. The path is flat with a mix of gravel and dirt surfaces with newly added boardwalks on the wetter sections. Boots are [...]
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Cold Spring Park, Newton
Newton - Cold Spring Park 1200 Beacon St, Newton, MA, United StatesThis large multi-use city park offers an easy 1.4-mile loop through mixed forest, open green areas, and red maple swamplands, attracting a surprising array of resident and migratory birds. Porta Potties available.
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Birding Sketch Crawl – Fall Series
Leader's ChoiceCome and bird/sketch favorite patches around Essex and Middlesex Counties.
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Plum Island
Parker River NWR - Lot #1 Refuge Rd., Newbury, MA, MA, United StatesWe will be walking the North Pool dike as well as visiting other spots. Note that an entrance fee or pass is required. Restrooms available.
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Barretts Mill Farmland
Concord - Barretts Mill Farmland Barrett's Mill Road, Concord, MA, United StatesThis is often a great place for fall sparrows including Savannah, Field, and White-crowned, as well as Pipit and occasional Dickcissel. Loaner binoculars available; please email trip leader to reserve a pair! If the weather doens't look good, contact the leader to check status.