Parker River NWR Marsh Cruise
This August the BBC sponsored three cruises around the marshes of Parker River NWR aboard the Yankee Clipper departing from downtown Newburyport.
On the evening of Sunday the 17th we had a beautiful cruise and even made it back just before the rain! We started the trip by heading upstream on the Merrimack to the Rt 1 bridge. Once there Captain Fred directed us to great views of a pair of Peregrine Falcons known to hang out under the harbor bridge!
After cruising downstream through the harbor we turned south to the channel passing under the Plum Island Turnpike bridge. Just before the bridge we began to see groups (!) of Seaside Sparrows flying around the spartina grasses lining the edges of the channel. For this writer the sparrow show was one of the most impressive parts of the trip. We easily saw over a combined 50 Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows during the cruise.
Our overall list included 36 species. In addition to the falcons and sparrows, worthy mentions go to Bobolinks scattered around the marsh, a Harrier just north of the Wardens, a Black-Crowned Night Heron that put in a brief appearance, and an immature Lesser Black-Backed Gull on the north jetty at Salisbury.
Many thanks to Captain Fred and First Mate Charity for a pleasant and relaxing trip!
Check out the eBird list for the trip and see our photos.
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10/23 Fall Meeting and Lecture - All Welcome Please join us on October 23 for our in person Fall Meeting. The evening begins with a social hour at 6:30. The program starts at 7:30 with [...]
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On November 19 at 7PM please join us to hear from Alvaro Jaramillo, about the discovery of new species of seabirds.
11/14 Webinar: Birding in Italy
As a natural north-south bridge between Europe and Africa, Italy is a vitally important region for more than 550 bird species, both migrants and breeders. More than 20% of the “Boot” is under environmental protection
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Think Migrating Golden Eagles: The weather forecast for this Saturday (October 17) suggests birders should brush up on their eagle identification.
Bring Back Bobolinks!
Bring Back Bobolinks! 2026 has been the inaugural year for our Endangered Species Program. Each year we plan to focus on a single bird species facing serious threats in Massachusetts and elsewhere. With this effort [...]
BBC Record of Bachman’s Warbler Sighting
BBC Record of Bachman's Warbler Sighting Club Statistician David Scott recently added a new record to the club's life list stemming from a 1961 week long club trip to Bulls Island, SC. We learned about [...]
10/23 Fall Meeting with Speaker Scott Weidensaul
10/23 Fall Meeting and Lecture - All Welcome Please join us on October 23 for our in person Fall Meeting. The evening begins with a social hour at 6:30. The program starts at 7:30 with [...]
11/19 Webinar: Pinch me! …. Did We Just Discover a New Species?!
On November 19 at 7PM please join us to hear from Alvaro Jaramillo, about the discovery of new species of seabirds.
11/14 Webinar: Birding in Italy
As a natural north-south bridge between Europe and Africa, Italy is a vitally important region for more than 550 bird species, both migrants and breeders. More than 20% of the “Boot” is under environmental protection
Roberts on Raptors – Golden Eagles Coming
Think Migrating Golden Eagles: The weather forecast for this Saturday (October 17) suggests birders should brush up on their eagle identification.
Bring Back Bobolinks!
Bring Back Bobolinks! 2026 has been the inaugural year for our Endangered Species Program. Each year we plan to focus on a single bird species facing serious threats in Massachusetts and elsewhere. With this effort [...]
BBC Record of Bachman’s Warbler Sighting
BBC Record of Bachman's Warbler Sighting Club Statistician David Scott recently added a new record to the club's life list stemming from a 1961 week long club trip to Bulls Island, SC. We learned about [...]
10/23 Fall Meeting with Speaker Scott Weidensaul
10/23 Fall Meeting and Lecture - All Welcome Please join us on October 23 for our in person Fall Meeting. The evening begins with a social hour at 6:30. The program starts at 7:30 with [...]
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Scusset Beach State Reservation
Sagamore - Scusset Beach Pier Parking Lot MA, United StatesOffered by the Cape Cod Bird Club! and co-sponsored by Brookline Bird Club. We'll spend the morning exploring the thickets on the wooded trails for fall migrants, walking the bike path along the canal where wintering waterfowl should just be coming in and exploring the campground area. We’ll finish up at the beach and scope [...]
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Fresh Pond, Cambridge
Cambridge - Fresh Pond - TD Bank 235 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA, United StatesAn easy 2-mile walk through pondside meadows and forest paths at Fresh Pond. The over-wintering waterbirds have started to arrive, and we may see Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks and both Hooded and Common Mergansers. Meadow and forest species may include year-round residents as well as seasonal visitors from the north (e.g. White-throated Sparrows, Juncos).
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Franklin Park – Scarboro Pond (Early Birders Series)
Boston - Franklin Park Tennis Courts (Meeting Spot) MA, United StatesJoin fellow birders in their 20s-30s as we visit Franklin Park! Located in Roxbury, Boston’s largest open space is home to a plethora of natural features, including miles of trails, playing fields, a pond, and plenty of birds! Here we will look for all sorts of songbirds, including late fall migrants and early winterers. Whether [...]
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An Oasis for Birds at Belle Isle Marsh
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesLed by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. Cosponsored by [...]
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Arlington Reservoir with Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee
Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United StatesGetting into late fall, we'll look for interesting ducks and perhaps lingering shorebirds. We'll also check the gardens for remaining fall migrants. Cosponsored by the Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee, and Menotomy Bird Club. For late arrivers, this time we'll circle the reservoir in the clockwise direction looking for interesting ducks first. [...]