Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Aug 26, 2019 5:30 PM – 7:45 PM
Comments:    Beautiful evening for a well attended BBC trip led by Dave Williams. Highlights were an American Avocet seen feeding and in flight, followed by a spectacular Tree Swallow sunset show at Hellcat, and the cherry on the sundae was having 3 Whip-poor-wills calling as we were walking to our cars at Hellcat.
31 species (+1 other taxa)
Blue-winged Teal  2
Gadwall  3
Mallard  25
American Black Duck  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5    Right before the entrance gate.
Mourning Dove  1
Eastern Whip-poor-will  3
American Avocet  1    Continuing at BFP.
Semipalmated Plover  70    20 at pannes and 50 at BFP.
White-rumped Sandpiper  5    At pannes.
Semipalmated Sandpiper  155    Most at pannes.
Short-billed Dowitcher  18
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher  2
Spotted Sandpiper  1    Stage Island Pool.
Greater Yellowlegs  35    Hellcat and SIP.
Lesser Yellowlegs  4
Herring Gull  2
Double-crested Cormorant  20
Great Egret  7    There was a large group of Egrets, (about 40 birds), on the right side of the road out to the bluff by Stage Island.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to stop and differentiate species.
Snowy Egret  4
Black-crowned Night-Heron  5
Peregrine Falcon  1    Perched on the mud flats at Hellcat, we were all praying it wouldn’t go after the American Avocet.
Eastern Kingbird  2
Tree Swallow  100000    Incredible numbers, a breathtaking show in conjunction with a gorgeous sunset. Thousands were streaming in from the west from the river to join the roosting party seen looking north over the phrags from Hellcat dike.
Carolina Wren  1
European Starling  25
Gray Catbird  4
American Robin  1
House Sparrow  2    Heard by front gate.
American Goldfinch  2
Song Sparrow  3
Eastern Towhee  2    Heard calling only.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59363555

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

Mt. Greylock

Mount Greylock Visitors Center 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA, United States

This will be an exciting trip with the occasional surprise. Mourning Warbler has always been a specialty of this trip. Enjoy the warblers and other neotropical migrants we observed during spring migration. Co-sponsored by the South Shore Bird Club. This trip will end around 3 p.m. then reconvene for dinner and an evening trip to [...]

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United States

Co-sponsored with Boxborough Birders. We will look for local avian residents and early arrivals. Expect to walk about two miles on trails through meadows and woods, with some steep sections. Prepare for ticks. We will bird at the meeting location for about 30 minutes so any latecomers can catch up.

Early Birders @ Belle Isle Marsh & Winthrop Area

East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United States

Join fellow birders in their 20s-30s for a special entry into the Early Birder series as we visit Belle Isle Marsh & the nearby Winthrop/Revere area! Nestled between Orient Heights, Beachmont, and Winthrop, the salt marsh of Belle Isle is host to a wide variety of unique bird species. As we navigate the northern portion [...]

Go to Top