Brookline Bird Club – America’s most active bird club!

Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US
17-Sep-2023 07:59 – 12:26
Protocol: Traveling
9.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    A complimentary bird walk hosted by the Brookline Bird Club and led by Shilo McDonald. Blue skies, slight breeze and temps starting at ~60 ºF and finishing at ~75 ºF.
50 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose  32    Estimate.
Mute Swan  2    Seen from Lot 1, looking west into the river.
Gadwall  12    Estimate. Most of these were seen in the North Pool (from Hellcat Dike).
American Wigeon  3    At least 3. A pair seen at the Salt Pannes and one in the North Pool.
Mallard  40    Estimate. Salt Pannes, North Pool and Bill Forward Pool. Plus a couple flying by at Lot 1 Parking Lot.
American Black Duck  12    Estimate. Seen at the Salt Pannes and also in the Bill Forward Pool.
Northern Pintail  6    Minimum of 6, but likely more. Duck with long slender neck. Seen at the Salt Pannes and also at the Bill Forward Pool.
Green-winged Teal  40    Estimate. Seen in the North Pool and Bill Forward Pool too.
Wild Turkey  2    Pointed out to me by Emmett at the Lot 1 Parking lot. An immature male and an age unknown female.
Common Gallinule  1    Heard only. While not a life bird, it was the first time in my life I’d ever heard this call. A horn-like wail, repeated several times in a row. Coming from the eastern most corner of the north pool reeds (while we were standing on the Hellcat Dike).
Black-bellied Plover  4
American Golden-Plover  0    Merlin picked one up at the Hellcat Dike. But, I’m not buyin’ it. I heard a Semipalmated Plover and a Black-bellied Plover. Marking as quantity zero, but noting for personal record.
Semipalmated Plover  20    Estimate. Salt Pannes and Bill Forward Pool.
Sanderling  3    At the Salt Pannes with a Dunlin tagging along.
Dunlin  2    One seen at the Salt Pannes and one seen on the grassy edge of the Bill Forward Pool.
Baird’s Sandpiper  0    We had a potential Baird’s on the grassy edge of the water. A brown backed sandpiper which looked flat to me, as if he’d been stepped on. But, he was preening most of the time. And not foraging. Marking as quantity zero, but noting for personal record.
Least Sandpiper  5    Seen flying into the ocean side marsh (while standing on Hellcat Dike). Heard “breet, breet” as they flew.
Semipalmated Sandpiper  20    Conservative estimate.
peep sp.  60    Flying together (like a school of fish) over the Salt Pannes while we were driving back to Lot 1. We did not stop to ID them.
Greater Yellowlegs  5    Seen and heard, “Tu, tu, tu, tu.”
Lesser Yellowlegs  3    Seen and heard, “Tu, tu.”
Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs  14    Didn’t ID them other than to note they were yellowlegs.
Herring Gull  16
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Double-crested Cormorant  35    Estimate. They were here, there and everywhere.
Least Bittern  1    How fortunate we were to see this Least Bittern hunting along the edge of reeds of the North Pool. Seen from Hellcat Dike. Photos attached.
Great Blue Heron  4
Great Egret  40    Estimate.
Snowy Egret  26    Estimate.
Turkey Vulture  2    Soaring over Hellcat. Heading towards the ocean.
Osprey  3    One dove into the river and came out with a fish. Right in front of us at the boat ramp! it was spectacular.
Northern Harrier  2    Formerly known as Marsh Hawk.
Cooper’s Hawk  2    One was seen in the S-Curves. The other was seen at the Bill Forward Blind flying after a Peregrine Falcon.
Bald Eagle  1    Observed an immature eagle giving chase to a Herring Gull. It seemed especially peculiar, since the gull was not carrying food. Photos attached.
Northern Flicker  4
Peregrine Falcon  2    Saw one flying north, while we were standing in parking lot 1. And we also had one fly right as us, while we were in the Bill Forward Blind. That one was being chased by a Cooper’s Hawk.
Eastern Phoebe  1    Tail flicking flycatcher at the Warden’s Maintenance Area.
Blue Jay  1    Heard only. Calling at Hellcat.
Common Raven  2    Seen and heard. Croaking at Lot 1.
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Tree Swallow  65    Conservative estimate. While spread out, they were ubiquitous.
Barn Swallow  3
Gray Catbird  6
Northern Mockingbird  3
Cedar Waxwing  4
House Sparrow  6    Lot 1.
House Finch  1    Perched in a tree, roadside.
American Goldfinch  5
Savannah Sparrow  5    In the dunes alongside the boardwalk.
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  3
Red-winged Blackbird  1    Flew into the reeds of the North Pool.
Common Yellowthroat  1    Heard only, “Churt. Churt.” Coming from the reeds of the North Pool.
Palm Warbler  1    Tail flicking warbler. Seen alongside the boardwalk at Lot 1.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150236142

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

Renew membership now!

Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2024. Renew today for the 2025 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

Renew membership now!

Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2024. Renew today for the 2025 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership

2024 Year in Review!

Photo credit: Manomet Photo credit Jennifer Thornton Thanks to our inspired volunteer Board, committee members, and field trip leaders, the Brookline Bird Club enjoyed impressive successes during 2024.  Our volunteer trip leaders and enthusiastic participants

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 276 species for 2022, based upon 204 reported trips. Of those, 264 species were recorded in Massachusetts, with 12 additional species reported from the out-of-state trips to New Hampshire

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Brookline Bird Club 2021 Statistical and Year-End Report By David Scott, Club Statistician The Brookline Bird Club recorded 270 species for 2021, based upon 206 reported trips. Two-hundred and sixty-five species were recorded in Massachusetts,

Renew membership now!

Calling all BBC members - annual memberships expire December 31st 2024. Renew today for the 2025 calendar year to continue uninterrupted access to member benefits including our blue book mailings, member webinars, and more! Membership

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Today

  • Hydrographer Canyon Overnight Pelagic (Trip #2)

    Hyannis - Pelagic - Helen H 137 Pleasant St, Hyannis, MA, United States

    Join the BBC on the Helen H out of Hyannis, MA to search for pelagic birds on an overnight trip to the Hydrographer Canyon area. For more information, fee, and registration info see: https://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/bbc-news/hydrographer-canyon-overnight-pelagics-registration/

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    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

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

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