Plum Island–Parker River NWR & Sandy Pt. State Reservation, Essex, Massachusetts, US

Aug 30, 2026 9:30 AM – 1:50 PM

Protocol: Traveling

6.0 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    Brookline Bird Club Walk – Plum Island – Leader Nick Paulson

56 species (+2 other taxa)

Mute Swan  6

Gadwall  4

Mallard  10

Green-winged Teal  7

Mourning Dove  6

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1

Black-bellied Plover  2

Killdeer  4

Semipalmated Plover  100

Short-billed Dowitcher  2

Spotted Sandpiper  2

Greater Yellowlegs  35

Red Knot  7

Buff-breasted Sandpiper  5    1 at the pannes. Landed for less than a second and flew off. 4 at Bill Forward Pool from Hellcat Dike.

Sanderling  5

Least Sandpiper  20

Semipalmated Sandpiper  50

peep sp.  25

Laughing Gull  3

Ring-billed Gull  1

American Herring Gull  50

Great Black-backed Gull  8

Common Tern  1

Double-crested Cormorant  20

Snowy Egret  5

Great Egret  20

Great Blue Heron  2

Turkey Vulture  5

Osprey  3

Northern Harrier  1

Downy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1

Empidonax sp.  1    Trail’s

Eastern Kingbird  20

Red-eyed Vireo  4

Blue Jay  12

American Crow  1

Black-capped Chickadee  12

Tree Swallow  4000

Barn Swallow  2

White-breasted Nuthatch  1

Red-breasted Nuthatch  1

European Starling  12

Gray Catbird  15

Northern Mockingbird  1

American Robin  12

Cedar Waxwing  50

House Finch  2

Purple Finch  5

American Goldfinch  16

Chipping Sparrow  2

Song Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  6

Baltimore Oriole  1

Common Grackle  2

Common Yellowthroat  1

Blackpoll Warbler  2    A little early. Lemony yellow birds, dark wings with 2 white wing bars. White undertail coverts. More streaky sides of breast than Bay-breasted. One along hellcat trail, one by the road at hellcat.

Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S398063922

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 [...]

News Categories

Upcoming Field Trips

  • Fall migrants at Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park

    Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park 23 Coniston Rd, Roslindale, MA, United States

    A small but mighty urban wild that offers a variety of habitat. Expect to see a variety of woodpeckers, resident birds, warblers, and other migratory species, as well as a surprise or two. The path is flat with a mix of gravel and dirt surfaces with newly added boardwalks on the wetter sections. Boots are [...]

  • Cold Spring Park, Newton

    Newton - Cold Spring Park 1200 Beacon St, Newton, MA, United States

    This large multi-use city park offers an easy 1.4-mile loop through mixed forest, open green areas, and red maple swamplands, attracting a surprising array of resident and migratory birds. Porta Potties available.

  • 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.

Go to Top