Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Sep 9, 2018 7:22 AM – 11:52 AM
Protocol: Traveling
7.5 mile(s)
Comments: Cloudy and 64-60 degrees. Winds NNE 13-15 mph. With Brookline Bird Club walk led by Dave Williams. Birded North Pool Overlook, Bill Forward Blind, Hellcat dike , Stage Island Pool marsh and Sandy Point State Reservation. A separate EBird report was done for Sandy Point.
42 species
Gadwall 2
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 5
Green-winged Teal 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 25
Mourning Dove 2
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 150
Killdeer 1
Red Knot 1 Large gray shorebird seen from Bill Forward Blind
Least Sandpiper 2 With Semipalmated Sandpiper at North Pool Overlook
White-rumped Sandpiper 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 31
Short-billed Dowitcher 11
Long-billed Dowitcher 1 Long bill, hunched back, barring all along to the tail. Possibly more.
Greater Yellowlegs 23
Willet 1 Lot 1 marsh
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Double-crested Cormorant 223 Large flock of about 200 flying and swimming around the river near Stage Island. Others seen sporadically throughout the refuge,
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 16
Snowy Egret 30
Little Blue Heron 1 Continuing immature in marsh near Stage Island Pool with Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets. Gray bill with dark tip noticeable in comparison to nearby Snowy Egrets. Distant photos.
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 4
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2 One in parking lot at Hellcat and another in tree by North Pool Overlook
Peregrine Falcon 2
Blue Jay 3
Tree Swallow 25
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Heard at Bill Forward Blind
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 50
Cedar Waxwing 7
American Goldfinch 1
Eastern Towhee 1
House Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48716261
Sandy Point State Reservation, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Sep 9, 2018 7:55 AM – 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Cloudy and 54 degrees with winds NNE 13 mph. With Brookline Bird Club walk led by Dave Williams
16 species
Canada Goose 25
Common Eider 2
Black-bellied Plover 3
Semipalmated Plover 58 Probably many more in the wrack line
Whimbrel 1
Sanderling 15
Dunlin 1 Still showing black belly
Least Sandpiper 2
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 25
Western Sandpiper 1 Continuing- pointed out by Tom Wetmore. Long bill and rusty scapulars
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 16
Great Black-backed Gull 22
Merlin 1
American Crow 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48716260
Migration Madness Membership Drive
Win a Free Pair of Binoculars - Migration Madness Membership Drive To celebrate the excitement of spring migration, the Brookline Bird Club once again has a special offer for any new member joining the club
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts Important conservation issues directly affecting birds and birders are pending in front of the Massachusetts legislature. Please demonstrate your commitment to Massachusetts bird life by taking action now. Mass Ready Act
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count – Follow Up
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count Follow Up BBC members birded every county and every corner of the state this year, recording a total of 193 species. (See the eBird trip report.)Essex County led the way
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy in Boston The Brookline Bird Club Book Fund committee has made a donation of $750 to support a school library program of bird and nature study at the
BBC Massachusetts Big Day – May 9, 2026
BBC Massachusetts Big Day - May 9, 2026 On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours
May 5 Webinar – Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides
May 5 Webinar Open to All with Heather Packard, Mass Audubon - Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides Please join the BBC on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a webinar with
Migration Madness Membership Drive
Win a Free Pair of Binoculars - Migration Madness Membership Drive To celebrate the excitement of spring migration, the Brookline Bird Club once again has a special offer for any new member joining the club
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts Important conservation issues directly affecting birds and birders are pending in front of the Massachusetts legislature. Please demonstrate your commitment to Massachusetts bird life by taking action now. Mass Ready Act
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count – Follow Up
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count Follow Up BBC members birded every county and every corner of the state this year, recording a total of 193 species. (See the eBird trip report.)Essex County led the way
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy in Boston The Brookline Bird Club Book Fund committee has made a donation of $750 to support a school library program of bird and nature study at the
BBC Massachusetts Big Day – May 9, 2026
BBC Massachusetts Big Day - May 9, 2026 On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours
May 5 Webinar – Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides
May 5 Webinar Open to All with Heather Packard, Mass Audubon - Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides Please join the BBC on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a webinar with
Migration Madness Membership Drive
Win a Free Pair of Binoculars - Migration Madness Membership Drive To celebrate the excitement of spring migration, the Brookline Bird Club once again has a special offer for any new member joining the club
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts
Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts Important conservation issues directly affecting birds and birders are pending in front of the Massachusetts legislature. Please demonstrate your commitment to Massachusetts bird life by taking action now. Mass Ready Act
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count – Follow Up
BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count Follow Up BBC members birded every county and every corner of the state this year, recording a total of 193 species. (See the eBird trip report.)Essex County led the way
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy
Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy in Boston The Brookline Bird Club Book Fund committee has made a donation of $750 to support a school library program of bird and nature study at the
BBC Massachusetts Big Day – May 9, 2026
BBC Massachusetts Big Day - May 9, 2026 On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours
May 5 Webinar – Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides
May 5 Webinar Open to All with Heather Packard, Mass Audubon - Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides Please join the BBC on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a webinar with
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Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Pop-up Trip: Crane WMA, Falmouth, and Swallow-tailed Kites!
Falmouth - Crane WMA 754 Nathan Ellis Highway, Falmouth, MA, United StatesPop-up trip to look for the Swallow-tailed Kites that have bred this year near Mashpee. We'll start with a walk at Crane WMA to look for grassland birds, then head over to the location nearby where the kites are being seen. Contact trip leader (leaving from Newton around 6.30am) for possible carpooling, or else meet
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Half-Day Seabirding and Whale Watching
Plymouth - Captain John's Whale Watching Tour Company 10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA, United StatesThe BBC has reserved a limited block of discounted group tickets on these public tours. These tours are open to all. Register online at https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=330 Registration opens June 19. Co-sponsored with the South Shore Bird club. The parking for multiple hours that you need is not near the town wharf. Allow extra time to find
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Nighthawk Watch at Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
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Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (Winthrop side)
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Plum Island
Newburyport - Courthouse 188 State Street, Newburyport, MA, United StatesBeginners and those with limited mobility welcome. There is an entrance fee for Parker River NWR.