Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
Oct 15, 2019 7:22 AM – 12:08 PM
Checklist Comments:    Sunny and 48-58 degrees with winds NW 7-8 mph.  With Brookline Bird Club walk led by Dave Williams.  It’s National Wildlife Refuge week so dikes were open to walk.  We stopped at main pans, walked dike from Wardens to North Pool Overlook and back along the road. Then stopped at Hellcat dike, Bill Forward Blind, Pines Trail and Lot 7 Emerson Rocks. On return trip, we stopped at Hellcat to check Dunes Loop and ended with good looks at shorebirds in the main pans.  Incoming tide with high tide today around 1:00.
45 species (+3 other taxa)
Canada Goose  15
Blue-winged Teal  2    1 at North Pool Overlook and 1 at Hellcat dike
Gadwall  2
Mallard  33
American Black Duck  121
Northern Pintail  50    Bill Forward Blind
Green-winged Teal  180    2 large flocks of about 75 each flew overhead as we stood on Hellcat dike and at least 30 more in Bill Forward Pool already
Common Eider  20    Lot 7
Surf Scoter  1    Lot 7
White-winged Scoter  50    Lot 7
Black Scoter  14    Lot 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  18
Black-bellied Plover  15    On mud flats with clammers
Semipalmated Plover  38    Main pans
Sanderling  11    Flock at Emerson Rocks and at least one more seen in main pans before Falcon stirred up the shorebirds
Dunlin  22    Pans
Semipalmated Sandpiper  12
peep sp.  200    Too far to ID on mud flats with clammers
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher  19    All together at North Pool Overlook. Based on how late in season, expected them to be Long Billed Dowitchers
Greater Yellowlegs  66
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  16
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Common Loon  2    Lot 7
Northern Gannet  12    Great diving show seen from Lot 7 ocean platform
Double-crested Cormorant  14
Great Egret  15
Snowy Egret  2    One at North Pool Overlook and a second in main pans
Turkey Vulture  4
Northern Harrier  3
falcon sp.  1    Not sure if Peregrine or Merlin. At main pans as we watched shorebirds
Blue Jay  7
American Crow  10
Common Raven  1    Seen and heard distinctive croaking
Gray Catbird  2
Northern Mockingbird  3
American Robin  11
Cedar Waxwing  20    Several seen at Goodno Crossing and remaining flock at Lot 1
American Goldfinch  1
Field Sparrow  1    Wardens
Savannah Sparrow  1    Wardens
Song Sparrow  9
Eastern Towhee  5
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  5    Flew over us at Lot 1 as walk was starting
Palm Warbler  4    2 at Wardens and 2 more in thicket along dike
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  10    Several seen at the Wardens and others seen flycatching from thicket at end of dike at North Pool Overlook
Northern Cardinal  3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S60933613

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

  • Pop-up Trip: Crane WMA, Falmouth, and Swallow-tailed Kites!

    Falmouth - Crane WMA 754 Nathan Ellis Highway, Falmouth, MA, United States

    Pop-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

  • Half-Day Seabirding and Whale Watching

    Plymouth - Captain John's Whale Watching Tour Company 10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA, United States

    The 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

  • Nighthawk Watch at Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

    Harvard - Oxbow NWR Tank Rd, Harvard, MA, United States

    Join us for a pleasant evening of watching nighthawk migration along the Nashua River valley. Bring a lawn chair or a camp stool. Rain date: Sunday August 30.

  • Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (Winthrop side)

    Winthrop - Belle Isle March and Marine Ecology Park Banks Street, Winthrop, MA, United States

    Join us to observe resident birds and fall migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare birds. Birders of all levels will enjoy this walk. The trails are (generally) flat and easy to walk. A water bottle, water proof clothing including a hat, sunblock &

  • Plum Island

    Newburyport - Courthouse 188 State Street, Newburyport, MA, United States

    Beginners and those with limited mobility welcome. There is an entrance fee for Parker River NWR.

Go to Top