Starting the Year Off with the BBC
On January 1 Laura de la Flor and Mark Burns led their our 29th (maybe 30th) Brookline Bird Club New Year’s Day birding trip! I’ll let Laura take it from here…
We started leading this trip on the cusp of the ‘technological boom’ so some of our earliest records are either in notebooks or an old AOL account (remember dial-up modems!). Nonetheless, one of our oldest and dearest birding friends came up to me and said: “You do know this is your 30th year!”… I’m checking our records.
It was a perfect winter day with snow squalls in the morning, temps that hovered around 23°F, and winds that gusted throughout the PM. We birded Cashman Park, the Merrimack River, Salisbury Beach State Park, and Parker River NWR, and tallied 59 species for the club list.
Highlights include: 3 Barrow’s Goldeneye and 4 Bald Eagles seen along the river during a snow squall, a Long-eared Owl roosting in cedars, 2 Snowy Owls hunkered down in the marsh among ice and snow chunks, and both a Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting the marsh beneath a near full moon.
eBird trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/457805
As always, I loved spending time with old friends and new. Here’s to a very Happy New Year! 
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Millennium Park
Boston - Millennium Park Canoe Launch 300 Gardner Street, Boston, MA, United StatesJoin us to observe resident birds and winter 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. A water bottle, water proof clothing including a hat, gloves, and trail shoes are recommended. [...]
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Delaney WMA in Stow
Stow - Delaney WMA Boat Launch 353 Harvard Road, Stow, MA, United StatesDelaney WMA in Stow is an Important Bird Area with a variety of habitats, including a shallow lake, a slow-running stream and a marsh, all bordered by mixed conifer/deciduous forest. We’ll go for a slow-paced 2-to-3 mile walk along trails with moderate terrain changes to see how many species we can find.
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Bear Creek Sanctuary (on behalf of Soheil Zendeh and WINWaste)
Saugus - Bear Creek Sanctuary (WINWaste) 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA, United StatesBear Creek is an upland sanctuary built on the WINWaste (formerly Wheelabrator) landfill at the northeast corner of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and Revere. Access information is below. Wear waterproof walking shoes and be prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be prepared for sun, wind and weather. [...]
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Parker River NWR
Parker River NWR - Lot #1 Refuge Rd., Newbury, MA, MA, United StatesWe will explore various hot-spots on the refuge for fall migrants. Anything is possible during fall migration! Note that an entrance fee or pass is required to enter Parker River NWR. There are decent bathrooms at lot 1 where we start. Beginners welcome! Late arrivers can phone John at 781 859 9450 to find out [...]
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Franklin Park – Scarboro Pond (Early Birders Series) Rescheduled from 11/7
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 [...]