The Brookline Bird Club trip to Cape Ann was rewarded by a warmup in the weather and surprising flat calm seas.
We visited Halibut Point, where land birds were again very few. Andrews Point, Cathedral, the Granite Pier, the Elks and the Jodrey Fish Pier had a nice variety of species, although numbers seemed relatively low overall.
Another birder pointed out the Iceland Gull at the Fish Pier. The Peregrine was cruising the wetland next to the Vista Motel. The Thick-billed Murres – one or two at Andrews, two at the Granite Pier (clearer looks) – were a treat. The Horned Larks were in the parking lot at Good Harbor Beach. The Sanderlings were at Good Harbor Beach and the Purple Sandpipers were at the Elks Club. Part of Gloucester Harbor was frozen, with sea ice piled up at several other locations. List below.
Canada Goose 64
Mallard 231
American Black Duck 65
Common Eider 306
Harlequin Duck 76 Andrews, Cathedral, Granite Pier – calm seas, excellent visibility
Surf Scoter 10
White-winged Scoter 35
Black Scoter 131
Long-tailed Duck 28
Bufflehead 137
Common Goldeneye 1
Red-breasted Merganser 70
Common Loon 13
Red-necked Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 2
Great Cormorant 35
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Sanderling 18
Purple Sandpiper 5
Common/Thick-billed Murre 3 Thick-billed – 2 at Granite Pier, 1 at Andrews, good visibility
Razorbill 26
Black Guillemot 3 1 Salt Island, 2 at Bass Rocks
alcid sp. 30
Ring-billed Gull 16
Herring Gull 127
Iceland Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 105
Mourning Dove 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 by Vista Motel
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 28
Horned Lark 42
Black-capped Chickadee 3
American Robin 2
European Starling 130
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow 2
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41618938
Update on Young Birder Scholarships
Updated April 26,2020: The BBC is sorry to announce that National Audubon has cancelled all 2020 summer camps at Hog Island in Maine, so that our two Young Birder Scholarship recipients, May Adams and [...]
Help Us Archive Old Trips!
The Brookline Bird Club has almost 80 years of field trip reports that we’d like to add to eBird. As one of the oldest bird clubs in the United States, our archive of field [...]
A Look Back to 1918
The date of July 17, 1918 was marked in the calendar of Bostonians as the fifth anniversary of the Brookline Bird Club. There was a birthday party at “Lake Walden” to celebrate the event, [...]
Proposed rules change for the Duck Stamp and Duck Stamp Art Contest
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now proposing a permanent rule change to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest (known as the Duck Stamp) that would make the theme “Celebrating Our Waterfowl [...]
BBC 2020 Winter Meeting: Scott Weidensaul
Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul In 1955, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher published their bestselling book Wild America, chronicling a now-legendary 30,000-mile trip across [...]
Fundraising Effort to Memorialize Ida (update)
Ida at Plum Island, undated. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce 73 donations were received totaling $5,615 which far exceeded the goal set. 100% of the funds will go to [...]
Update on Young Birder Scholarships
Updated April 26,2020: The BBC is sorry to announce that National Audubon has cancelled all 2020 summer camps at Hog Island in Maine, so that our two Young Birder Scholarship recipients, May Adams and [...]
Help Us Archive Old Trips!
The Brookline Bird Club has almost 80 years of field trip reports that we’d like to add to eBird. As one of the oldest bird clubs in the United States, our archive of field [...]
A Look Back to 1918
The date of July 17, 1918 was marked in the calendar of Bostonians as the fifth anniversary of the Brookline Bird Club. There was a birthday party at “Lake Walden” to celebrate the event, [...]
Proposed rules change for the Duck Stamp and Duck Stamp Art Contest
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now proposing a permanent rule change to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest (known as the Duck Stamp) that would make the theme “Celebrating Our Waterfowl [...]
BBC 2020 Winter Meeting: Scott Weidensaul
Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul In 1955, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher published their bestselling book Wild America, chronicling a now-legendary 30,000-mile trip across [...]
Fundraising Effort to Memorialize Ida (update)
Ida at Plum Island, undated. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce 73 donations were received totaling $5,615 which far exceeded the goal set. 100% of the funds will go to [...]
Update on Young Birder Scholarships
Updated April 26,2020: The BBC is sorry to announce that National Audubon has cancelled all 2020 summer camps at Hog Island in Maine, so that our two Young Birder Scholarship recipients, May Adams and [...]
Help Us Archive Old Trips!
The Brookline Bird Club has almost 80 years of field trip reports that we’d like to add to eBird. As one of the oldest bird clubs in the United States, our archive of field [...]
A Look Back to 1918
The date of July 17, 1918 was marked in the calendar of Bostonians as the fifth anniversary of the Brookline Bird Club. There was a birthday party at “Lake Walden” to celebrate the event, [...]
Proposed rules change for the Duck Stamp and Duck Stamp Art Contest
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now proposing a permanent rule change to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest (known as the Duck Stamp) that would make the theme “Celebrating Our Waterfowl [...]
BBC 2020 Winter Meeting: Scott Weidensaul
Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul In 1955, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher published their bestselling book Wild America, chronicling a now-legendary 30,000-mile trip across [...]
Fundraising Effort to Memorialize Ida (update)
Ida at Plum Island, undated. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce 73 donations were received totaling $5,615 which far exceeded the goal set. 100% of the funds will go to [...]
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
-
-
Westborough WMA in Two Parts
Northborough - Watson Park, Bartlett Pond 35A Lyman St, Northborough, MA, United StatesPart 1: 7:30 – 10:15 am / Part 2: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm. We will hike at a slow pace through mild to moderate trails in search of sparrows and other migrants. For the first part we will hike the Eastern trails between Lake Chauncy and Little Chauncy(about 3 miles). Then we will again [...]
-
Halibut Point State Park, Rockport
Rockport - Halibut Point State Park Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA, United StatesBeginners encouraged. A two-hour walk over easy to moderate trails in search of seasonal specialties. Boots advisable. Co-sponsored by DCR.
-
West Roxbury High School Marsh and Millennium Park
West Roxbury High School Marsh and Millennium Park 1205 VFW Pkwy, Boston, MA, United StatesJoin us to observe resident birds and fall 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, water proof clothing including a hat, sunblock & [...]
-
Webinar: Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders
The book Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders reveals the marvel of how birds work—from the tips of their beaks to the sheen of their tail feathers. Consider feathers: They define birds’ wings, enabling flight. They insulate against cold. They repel water. They even control sound. And how feathers work is just [...]
-
Fall Meeting with Scott Weidensaul: The Return of the Oystercatcher – Saving Birds to Save the Planet
Harvard University Geological Lecture Hall 24 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA, United StatesPlease 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 announcements, a short presentation by our 2026 Hog Island Scholarship winners, and a talk by author Scott Weidensaul – “The Return of the Oystercatcher – Saving Birds to [...]