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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Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Chandler Pond, Brighton
Easy birding around the pond. Possible extension to another location if the pond is not too birdy. Cosponsored by Friends of Chandler Pond.
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Hammond Pond/Webster Woods, Newton
Newton - Hammond Pond MA, United StatesHammond Pond and Houghton Gardens for early migrants. Trails can be muddy.
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Weston Station Pond Rookery
Discover a Weston hot-spot featuring a Great Blue Heron rookery accessible by public transportation. The walk offers excellent chances for spring migrants, raptors, nesting Eastern Bluebirds and various waterfowl. Beginners welcome. Leader will pre-walk the route to scout for arriving species each session.
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Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharon
We’ll be looking and listening for migrants along the Billings Loop. Let’s find what Glenn can hear! Cosponsored with the South Shore Bird Club.






