Nahant–Heritage Trail & Lowlands Park, Essex, Massachusetts, US
22-Apr-2023 07:03 – 08:25
Protocol: Traveling
0.85 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    A Brookline Bird Club bird walk led by Shilo McDonald. ~40 ºF. Invasive plant species pointed out along the way: 1. Japanese Knotweed 2. Garlic Mustard 3. Oriental Bittersweet 4. Multiflora Rose 5. Common Buckthorn
28 species
Mallard  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  7
Killdeer  2    Flying in the air above the parking lot and baseball field. Vocalizing.
Wilson’s Snipe  1    In the Stump Dump. Spotted by Mary Margaret.
Herring Gull  9    Flybys.
Double-crested Cormorant  2    Flying by.
Great Egret  1    Flying by.
Osprey  1    Flying by.
Red-tailed Hawk  2    One was seen carrying a young Common Grackle.
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
American Crow  1
Common Raven  1    Seen and heard. Croaking.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1    Adult male. Spotted by Michelle.
Carolina Wren  4
European Starling  20
Northern Mockingbird  1    Singing.
American Robin  8
American Goldfinch  4
White-throated Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  1    Possibly two. Heard only. A reedy trill coming from within the reeds.
Red-winged Blackbird  16
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Common Grackle  12
Northern Cardinal  6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S134635695
Nahant Thicket Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon), Essex, Massachusetts, US
Checklist Comments:    A Brookline Bird Walk led by Shilo McDonald. ~40 ºF. Native species pointed out: 1. Serviceberry / Shadbush 2. Black Oak. Non-native species pointed out: 1. English Ivy 2. European Chestnut.
24 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard  4
Mourning Dove  2
Herring Gull  2    Flying by,
Double-crested Cormorant  1    Flying by.
Accipiter sp.  1    Small accipiter flying just beyond the northern edge of the thicket. Possible Sharp-shinned Hawk. The view was fleeting.
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1    Heard only. Keek series.
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  2    Singing. “Feed me.”
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Carolina Wren  2
Brown Thrasher  1    Found by Mary Margaret. Photos attached.
Northern Mockingbird  1    Providing a performance of a life time. Song bits included Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer, White Breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Phoebe and Greater Yellowlegs.
American Robin  3
House Sparrow  4    Chirping from a nearby yard with feeders.
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  4
White-throated Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1    Seen alongside the muddy ravine on the personal property area allowed for birding.
Eastern Towhee  2    Male female pair foraging on the ground alongside the boardwalk.
Red-winged Blackbird  3
Brown-headed Cowbird  6    Males displaying for the females.
Common Grackle  6
Northern Cardinal  2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S134635697
Nahant–East Point Headland, Essex, Massachusetts, US
22-Apr-2023 09:39 – 10:26
Protocol: Traveling
0.883 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    A Brookline Bird Club bird walk led by Shilo McDonald. ~40 ºF, but extra chilly in the wind. Highlights include Common Raven, Fish Crow, a raft of scoters and Common Loons in breeding plumage!
27 species
Common Eider  25    Estimate.
Surf Scoter  18
White-winged Scoter  5
Black Scoter  100    Estimate.
Long-tailed Duck  8    Flying together.
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Purple Sandpiper  16    Flying all together.
Herring Gull  75    Estimate. Most of these were out on Egg Rock.
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Common Loon  3    In breeding plumage.
Northern Gannet  3    Flying and diving along the horizon.
Double-crested Cormorant  50    Conservative estimate. Most of these were out on Egg Rock.
American Crow  4
Fish Crow  1    Nasally sounding “uh oh.”
Common Raven  1    Gliding over the grass field of Lodge Park.
Tree Swallow  1    Heard only. While standing near one of the nesting boxes. Could not locate the bird.
Carolina Wren  1    Singing.
European Starling  1
American Robin  4
House Sparrow  6    Chirping.
American Goldfinch  2
White-throated Sparrow  2    Singing.
Song Sparrow  2    Singing.
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
Common Grackle  4
Northern Cardinal  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S135017770

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

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Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier Everybody enjoys watching birds during the daytime, but what do they do at night, when they seem to [...]

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Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier

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Upcoming Field Trips

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Spring birding in a beautiful location with lots of flowering trees that attract Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Tree Swallows and other spring migrants.

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A two-hour walk, about 1.5 miles, over easy to moderate gravel roads and trails in search of seasonal specialties. Boots advisable. Restrooms are available. In case of inclement weather check with leader night before trip (text ok). Cosponsored by DCR. For more Information see: https://www.mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park

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