Upcoming October 11 Big Day!
This May the BBC conducted its first “Big Day”. Despite some terrible weather, club members recorded a total of 186 species across Massachusetts. We’re sure we can beat that next year, but how many species can we find in October?
To find our we’re planning another all club count on October 11 to coincide with Cornell’s October Big Day event and World Migratory Bird Day.
Taking part is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Go birding anytime on the 11th anywhere in Massachusetts, either on your own, with friends, or on a BBC trip. You can go to your local patch, plan your own big day, or anything in between. Take just a couple hours or head out before dawn for the day. We’re interested in all of it. Most importantly, invite a friend and have fun. (Our trip schedule for that day will soon be posted both here and on our October event calendar.)
- Share your eBird trip report with us. Share your eBird report either from the phone app or on your laptop with the eBird account BBCBigDay. (NB: This is different from the eBird account used to collect trip lists.) As well as a species list, feel free to include comments about your day.
- Send us your photos: Send us your photos. This could be a team photo of you and your birding friends, bird photos, or fun shots from the day. Email photos to our Communications Coordinator Lara Kazo at socialmedia@brooklinebirdclub.org.
We’ll combine everyone’s sightings into a club-wide species total and share the highlights. Photos will be featured in our recap and on our website/newsletter — so this is your chance to see your birding adventure shared with the whole club! Whether you spot 10 species or 100, every bird and every birder counts. Let’s make this Big Day a celebration of the joy of birding and the strength of our community.
For more information contact Club Statistician David Scott at dscott@brooklinebirdclub.org.
BBC trips planned for October 11:
- Fresh Pond, Cambridge, 7:00AM (rescheduled from 1–/12)
- October Big Day Kickoff at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Concord with TBD Optional Second Stop, 7:30 AM
- October Big Day Kickoff at Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park, 7:30AM – 8:30AM
- Cold Spring Park, Newton, 8:AM – 9:30AM
- Birding Sketch Crawl – Fall Series, 8:00AM – 12:00PM
- Early Birders @ Mystic River Reservation (Young Adult Birding Series), 9:00AM
- October Big Day Hawk Watch from Pinnacle Rock, 9:00AM
- Afternoon Bird Walk at Fruitlands, 2:00PM – 3:30PM
- October Big Day Afternoon Stop at Arlington Reservoir, 3:30PM – 4:30PM
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program Join us on summer daytime pelagic trips and marsh cruises this summer. Note that these popular trips regularly sell out. Once sold out we will keep a waitlist
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region During early June two groups of BBC birders traveled around the Errol, NH area in search of nesting neotropical migrants, boreal species and whatever else we could find
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Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic Registration The Brookline Bird Club's 2026 overnight pelagic trips to the edge of the continental shelf at Hydrographer Canyon are now open for registration! About the Trip Join the BBC on
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Migration Madness Membership Drive Winners Thanks to new members who joined during our this spring's Migration Madness membership drive. We wrapped up a successful campaign at the end of May with 52 new members.
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BBC Field Records Project
BBC Field Records Project For many years, the club engaged in a project to import our historic field card data into eBird. Our archive of about 10,000 cards dating back to 1926 might be unique
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program Join us on summer daytime pelagic trips and marsh cruises this summer. Note that these popular trips regularly sell out. Once sold out we will keep a waitlist
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region During early June two groups of BBC birders traveled around the Errol, NH area in search of nesting neotropical migrants, boreal species and whatever else we could find
Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic Registration
Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic Registration The Brookline Bird Club's 2026 overnight pelagic trips to the edge of the continental shelf at Hydrographer Canyon are now open for registration! About the Trip Join the BBC on
Migration Madness Membership Drive Winners
Migration Madness Membership Drive Winners Thanks to new members who joined during our this spring's Migration Madness membership drive. We wrapped up a successful campaign at the end of May with 52 new members.
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
BBC Field Records Project
BBC Field Records Project For many years, the club engaged in a project to import our historic field card data into eBird. Our archive of about 10,000 cards dating back to 1926 might be unique
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program
2026 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Program Join us on summer daytime pelagic trips and marsh cruises this summer. Note that these popular trips regularly sell out. Once sold out we will keep a waitlist
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region
Trip to New Hampshire Lake Umbagog Region During early June two groups of BBC birders traveled around the Errol, NH area in search of nesting neotropical migrants, boreal species and whatever else we could find
Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic Registration
Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic Registration The Brookline Bird Club's 2026 overnight pelagic trips to the edge of the continental shelf at Hydrographer Canyon are now open for registration! About the Trip Join the BBC on
Migration Madness Membership Drive Winners
Migration Madness Membership Drive Winners Thanks to new members who joined during our this spring's Migration Madness membership drive. We wrapped up a successful campaign at the end of May with 52 new members.
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
BBC Field Records Project
BBC Field Records Project For many years, the club engaged in a project to import our historic field card data into eBird. Our archive of about 10,000 cards dating back to 1926 might be unique
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Pine Hill Road Grassland
Lancaster - Pine Hill Road Grasslands Pine Hill Road, Lancaster, MA, United StatesIn 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.
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Bring Back Boblinks: Bobolinks at Farm Meadow, Lincoln
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
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Halibut Point State Park, Rockport
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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Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (Winthrop)
Winthrop - Belle Isle March and Marine Ecology Park Banks Street, Winthrop, MA, United StatesJoin us to observe resident birds and summer migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. Birders of all levels will enjoy this walk. The trails are (generally) flat and easy to walk. A water bottle and water proof clothing including a hat are
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Neponset River Greenway – An Urban Oasis
Boston - Neponset River Greenway, Mattapan to Milton (T accessible) 1674 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA, United StatesEnjoy an approximately 2-mile trip along the Neponset River Greenway on a metal and asphalt boardwalk and bike path. Let's see what we can find: Yellow-rumped Warblers, Gray Catbirds, and other migrant and resident species. Beginners, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ encouraged as well as more experienced birders. Loaner binoculars available.