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
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Upcoming Field Trips
5 field trips / events found.
Field Trips / Events
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Plum Island
Parker River NWR - Lot #1 Refuge Rd., Newbury, MA, MA, United StatesWe will be walking the North Pool dike as well as visiting other spots. Note that an entrance fee or pass is required. Restrooms available.
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Barretts Mill Farmland
Concord - Barretts Mill Farmland Barrett's Mill Road, Concord, MA, United StatesThis 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.
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Hellcat at Parker River NWR
Parker River NWR - Lot #4 Newbury, MA, United StatesDuring 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.
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Arlington Reservoir
Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United StatesIn 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 [...]
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Fruitlands Museum, Harvard
Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United StatesCosponsored 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.