Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, US
29-Apr-2023 06:00 – 08:30
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: BBC – Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield – Leader: Bruce Bolnick substituting for Peter Vale – Unexpectedly fine weather this morning, partly cloudy, light breeze, temperature in the 50s. With BirdCast showing very low migration rates the past three nights, it was not a surprise to find a dearth of spring warblers. Nonetheless, the woods and marshes were replete with bird song, and we did have some excellent sightings. Note that bird counts for common species are approximation
42 species
Canada Goose 25
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 5
Mourning Dove 8
Virginia Rail 2 Heard clearly in wetlands along South Esker trail, and again very nearby from Innermost boardwalk.
Killdeer 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Bald Eagle 1 Immature, perched in a tree in the distance across the wetlands east of South Esker trail. Identification confirmed from blurry zoomed photos taken by two group members.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2
Merlin 1 Small, brown-backed raptor with longish tail zooming across our path in woodlands above Bunker Meadow viewing platform. Identification based on very rapid flight, color, and shape/jizz. Definitely not a buteo, accipiter, or owl.
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 12
Fish Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Tufted Titmouse 16
Tree Swallow 50
White-breasted Nuthatch 14
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
House Wren 2
Marsh Wren 3
Carolina Wren 6
European Starling 4
Eastern Bluebird 6
American Robin 15
House Sparrow 10
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
Chipping Sparrow 12
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 12
Red-winged Blackbird 70
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Grackle 18
Yellow Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 4
Northern Cardinal 8
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S135528979