Plum Island (please use more refined location), Essex, Massachusetts, US
Aug 25, 2019 8:12 AM – 1:32 PM
Comments:    BBC – Plum Island – Leader: Neil Hayward
57 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose  30
Blue-winged Teal  3
Gadwall  2
Mallard  50
American Black Duck  3
Green-winged Teal  3
Common Eider  4
Wild Turkey  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5
Mourning Dove  1
American Avocet  1    Continuing at Bill Forward pool. Seen from dike.
Black-bellied Plover  10
Semipalmated Plover  365
Common Ringed/Semipalmated Plover  1    Pans, feeding with flock of SEPLs. Thick breast band, especially at sides of breast, and thick across front of breast. Hint of eye-ring, but for the most part dark / lacking. Black on face meets bill at the gape, and not just above gape as in SEPL (the most reliable field-mark I’ve used in AK for separating the two). I’m hesitant to call this CRPL as: bill is not particularly long, and neither is the supercilium very bold. I didn’t notice any obvious difference in size between this bird and others. Silent and no observation of feet. Poor digiscoped pics.
Piping Plover  6
Killdeer  1
Sanderling  8
Baird’s Sandpiper  1
Least Sandpiper  13
White-rumped Sandpiper  17
Semipalmated Sandpiper  275
Western Sandpiper  4    At pans. At least 4, perhaps 5. All that I saw had rufous on scapulars but not on head. Larger size and longer bill than nearby Semipalmated Sandpipers.
Short-billed Dowitcher  13
Long-billed Dowitcher  2
Spotted Sandpiper  3
Greater Yellowlegs  30
Lesser Yellowlegs  22
Ring-billed Gull  19
Herring Gull  12
Great Black-backed Gull  18
Least Tern  6
Common Tern  1
Northern Gannet  6
Double-crested Cormorant  33
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  28
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  4
Northern Harrier  1
Merlin  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Eastern Kingbird  5
American Crow  1
Common Raven  2
Tree Swallow  10000
Barn Swallow  4
European Starling  21
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
American Robin  1
Cedar Waxwing  3
House Finch  4
American Goldfinch  2
Eastern Towhee  1
Bobolink  1
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59360881

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier Everybody enjoys watching birds during the daytime, but what do they do at night, when they seem to [...]

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier Everybody enjoys watching birds during the daytime, but what do they do at night, when they seem to [...]

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley

Member Webinar August 13: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming.  What key field [...]

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier

Member Webinar September 16: Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep with Roger Pasquier Everybody enjoys watching birds during the daytime, but what do they do at night, when they seem to [...]

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery 536 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, United States

Arnold Arboretum Peter’s Hill, Boston

Arnold Arboretum - Peter's Hill Gate 99 Bussey St, Boston, MA, United States

Spring birding in a beautiful location with lots of flowering trees that attract Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Tree Swallows and other spring migrants.

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport

Rockport - Halibut Point State Park Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA, United States

A two-hour walk, about 1.5 miles, over easy to moderate gravel roads and trails in search of seasonal specialties. Boots advisable. Restrooms are available. In case of inclement weather check with leader night before trip (text ok). Cosponsored by DCR. For more Information see: https://www.mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park

Millennium Park

Boston - Millennium Park Canoe Launch 300 Gardner Street, Boston, MA, United States

Join us to observe resident birds and spring 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 flat and easy to walk. We may do an optional 30 minute trip extension to an adjacent [...]

Bird Hike in Middlesex Fells with The Great Malden Outdoors

Co-sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club and The Great Malden Outdoors, birding Middlesex Fells Enjoy observing birds in the Middlesex Fells, a hidden gem of Malden. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Limited loaner binoculars will be available on a first come, first served basis. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing for the [...]

Go to Top