Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US

Jul 29, 2025 7:35 AM – 10:40 AM

Protocol: Traveling

5.5 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    Sunny and hot.  Low tide at 9:30am.  Led BBC walk.  Stops at main salt panne(2), NPO, SIP, and Hellcat dike.

46 species

Canada Goose  20

Gadwall  2

Mallard  12

Mourning Dove  3

Killdeer  1

Short-billed Dowitcher  13

Long-billed Dowitcher  2    Main salt panne.  On our first pass past the pannes, I thought these two were good candidates for LODO’s, but unsure.  After out second pass through here, and talking with several other birders, I am confident that these two birds were LODO’s.

Lesser Yellowlegs  3

Willet  2

Greater Yellowlegs  12

Least Sandpiper  3

Semipalmated Sandpiper  11

Ring-billed Gull  4

American Herring Gull  5

Great Black-backed Gull  1

Least Tern  6

Common Tern  3

Double-crested Cormorant  7

Least Bittern  1    Hellcat, south side.

Black-crowned Night Heron  1    NPO

Snowy Egret  6

Great Egret  7

Great Blue Heron  2

Osprey  7

Northern Flicker  1

Willow Flycatcher  1

Eastern Kingbird  2

Blue Jay  1

Black-capped Chickadee  1

Tree Swallow  45

Purple Martin  17

Marsh Wren  2

European Starling  30

Gray Catbird  2

Northern Mockingbird  3

American Robin  1

Cedar Waxwing  12

American Goldfinch  4

Saltmarsh Sparrow  1

Song Sparrow  4

Eastern Towhee  3

Red-winged Blackbird  2

Common Grackle  8

Common Yellowthroat  1

Yellow Warbler  1

Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S264167329

BBC daily field trips to Mount Auburn are back!

It’s that time of year again! The Brookline Bird Club will be leading daily birding trips through Mount Auburn Cemetery, an oasis for migrating birds, this spring from Wednesday April 17th through Sunday May 26th [...]

BBC daily field trips to Mount Auburn are back!

It’s that time of year again! The Brookline Bird Club will be leading daily birding trips through Mount Auburn Cemetery, an oasis for migrating birds, this spring from Wednesday April 17th through Sunday May 26th [...]

BBC daily field trips to Mount Auburn are back!

It’s that time of year again! The Brookline Bird Club will be leading daily birding trips through Mount Auburn Cemetery, an oasis for migrating birds, this spring from Wednesday April 17th through Sunday May 26th [...]

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

  • Cold Spring Park, Newton

    Newton - Cold Spring Park 1200 Beacon St, Newton, MA, United States

    This large multi-use city park offers an easy 1.4-mile loop through mixed forest, open green areas, and red maple swamplands, attracting a surprising array of resident and migratory birds. Porta Potties available.

  • Plum Island

    Parker River NWR - Lot #1 Refuge Rd., Newbury, MA, MA, United States

    We will be walking the North Pool dike as well as visiting other spots. Note that an entrance fee or pass is required. Restrooms available.

  • Barretts Mill Farmland

    Concord - Barretts Mill Farmland Barrett's Mill Road, Concord, MA, United States

    This is often a great place for fall sparrows including Savannah, Field, and White-crowned, as well as Pipit and occasional Dickcissel. Loaner binoculars available; please email trip leader to reserve a pair! If the weather doens't look good, contact the leader to check status.

  • Hellcat at Parker River NWR

    Parker River NWR - Lot #4 Newbury, MA, United States

    During the past few years the refuge has opened the dike to hiking during National Wildlife Refuge Week. We will plan to do that hike if the dike is again open this year. Otherwise we hike the boardwalk and normal dike area.

Go to Top