Parker River NWR–Hellcat Dike, Essex, Massachusetts, US
07-Oct-2023 06:57 – 16:57
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:    Brookline Bird Club- Big Sit Hellcat Tower, Plum Island. Leader Nick Paulson. Windy and overcast with occasional showers. Generally dryer than forecast as the post tropical storm and the front to the west kept each other away from this slice of area.
84 species (+5 other taxa)
Canada Goose  15
Blue-winged Teal  4
Northern Shoveler  1
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  8
Mallard  40
American Black Duck  120
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)  1
Northern Pintail  75
Green-winged Teal (American)  150
Red-breasted Merganser  4
duck sp.  100
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Mourning Dove  1
Virginia Rail (Virginia)  2
Sora  1
Common Gallinule  1    Continuing, present and in view from tower most of the day.
Black-bellied Plover  18
American Golden-Plover  1
Semipalmated Plover  80
Hudsonian Godwit  1
Sanderling  8
Dunlin  140
White-rumped Sandpiper  8
Pectoral Sandpiper  3
Semipalmated Sandpiper  6
Short-billed Dowitcher  3
Long-billed Dowitcher  1
Greater Yellowlegs  150
Willet (Western)  1    Continuing. Was initially close with a group of yellowlegs, but quickly flew off.
Lesser Yellowlegs  40
Bonaparte’s Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  25
Herring Gull (American)  75
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Red-throated Loon  1
Common Loon  3
Double-crested Cormorant  250
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  5
Great Egret  30
Snowy Egret  3
Black-crowned Night-Heron  2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  1    Juvenile flew from other side of dike into North Pool. Dark gray outer wings, less bulky than BCNH.
Turkey Vulture  11
Osprey (carolinensis)  1
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1
Red-tailed Hawk  7
Belted Kingfisher  2
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
Peregrine Falcon (North American)  2
Peregrine Falcon (Tundra)  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  16
American Crow  1
Common Raven  3
Tree Swallow  11
Barn Swallow (American)  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
House Wren  1
Marsh Wren  2
Gray Catbird  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
Hermit Thrush (faxoni/crymophilus)  1
American Robin  12
American Pipit  5
House Finch  2
Purple Finch (Eastern)  3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  1
White-throated Sparrow  2
Nelson’s/Saltmarsh Sparrow (Sharp-tailed Sparrow)  2
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  16
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  24
Swamp Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  3
Bobolink  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  3
Common Grackle (Bronzed)  1
Tennessee Warbler  1
Nashville Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  6
Cape May Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  35
new world warbler sp.  20
Dickcissel  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S151847096

ANNUAL REPORT 1985

STATISTICAL REPORT 1985 by Mary L. Barnett, Statistician “Come in, Barn Owl. We're at the Salt Pans. The Tundra Swan just landed.” BBC CB Radio Patrol 12-7-1985 The Birding Highlight of 1985 was the proliferation [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1984

STATISTICAL REPORT-1984  Our Life List is a storehouse of rich memories to which we added this year the monarch of shorebirds, the Long-billed Curlew, on the 9th of June. Like an echo, to the same [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1983

1983 BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB STATISTICAL REPORT During 1983 the Brookline Bird Club listed 300 Massachusetts species, and identified an additional six hybrids, subspecies, color morphs, or exotics, totaling 306 in all. Trips to Maine added [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1982

1982 STATISTICAL REPORT  In 1982 the Brookline Bird Club enriched its Massachu-setts Life Species List to 376 with the addition of Townsend's Solitaire, viewed at West Tisbury on January 3rd. Dr. Bob Timberlake’s Falmouth trip [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1981

1981 STATISTICAL REPORT “My heart is warm with the friends I make And better friends I'll not be knowing There isn’t a [bird trip] I wouldn’t take No matter where it’s going!” (with apologies to [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1980

1980 STATISTICAL REPORT  During 1980 the Brookline Bird Club observed 313 species of birds as follows: Massachusetts, 299 species; New Hampshire, two additional species; New Jersey to North Carolina, 12 additional species. The 14 species [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1985

STATISTICAL REPORT 1985 by Mary L. Barnett, Statistician “Come in, Barn Owl. We're at the Salt Pans. The Tundra Swan just landed.” BBC CB Radio Patrol 12-7-1985 The Birding Highlight of 1985 was the proliferation [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1984

STATISTICAL REPORT-1984  Our Life List is a storehouse of rich memories to which we added this year the monarch of shorebirds, the Long-billed Curlew, on the 9th of June. Like an echo, to the same [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1983

1983 BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB STATISTICAL REPORT During 1983 the Brookline Bird Club listed 300 Massachusetts species, and identified an additional six hybrids, subspecies, color morphs, or exotics, totaling 306 in all. Trips to Maine added [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1982

1982 STATISTICAL REPORT  In 1982 the Brookline Bird Club enriched its Massachu-setts Life Species List to 376 with the addition of Townsend's Solitaire, viewed at West Tisbury on January 3rd. Dr. Bob Timberlake’s Falmouth trip [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1981

1981 STATISTICAL REPORT “My heart is warm with the friends I make And better friends I'll not be knowing There isn’t a [bird trip] I wouldn’t take No matter where it’s going!” (with apologies to [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1980

1980 STATISTICAL REPORT  During 1980 the Brookline Bird Club observed 313 species of birds as follows: Massachusetts, 299 species; New Hampshire, two additional species; New Jersey to North Carolina, 12 additional species. The 14 species [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1985

STATISTICAL REPORT 1985 by Mary L. Barnett, Statistician “Come in, Barn Owl. We're at the Salt Pans. The Tundra Swan just landed.” BBC CB Radio Patrol 12-7-1985 The Birding Highlight of 1985 was the proliferation [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1984

STATISTICAL REPORT-1984  Our Life List is a storehouse of rich memories to which we added this year the monarch of shorebirds, the Long-billed Curlew, on the 9th of June. Like an echo, to the same [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1983

1983 BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB STATISTICAL REPORT During 1983 the Brookline Bird Club listed 300 Massachusetts species, and identified an additional six hybrids, subspecies, color morphs, or exotics, totaling 306 in all. Trips to Maine added [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1982

1982 STATISTICAL REPORT  In 1982 the Brookline Bird Club enriched its Massachu-setts Life Species List to 376 with the addition of Townsend's Solitaire, viewed at West Tisbury on January 3rd. Dr. Bob Timberlake’s Falmouth trip [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1981

1981 STATISTICAL REPORT “My heart is warm with the friends I make And better friends I'll not be knowing There isn’t a [bird trip] I wouldn’t take No matter where it’s going!” (with apologies to [...]

ANNUAL REPORT 1980

1980 STATISTICAL REPORT  During 1980 the Brookline Bird Club observed 313 species of birds as follows: Massachusetts, 299 species; New Hampshire, two additional species; New Jersey to North Carolina, 12 additional species. The 14 species [...]

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Upcoming Field Trips

  • 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.

  • Arlington Reservoir

    Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United States

    In the fall water levels are lowered creating good conditions for ducks and shorebirds. We will also visit the adjacent Lexington community farm. Birds are found feasting on the remains of the crops planted there. We will walk about a mile on wide paths and some uneven ground (possibly muddy). Note that the reservoir area [...]

  • Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

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

    Cosponsored with Boxborough Birders. We will look for fall migrants and resident birds. Expect to walk about 2 miles on trails through meadow and woods, with some steep sections. Heavy rain cancels the trip.

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