Race Point Beach, Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
01-Jan-2024 07:03 – 08:16
Protocol: Traveling
0.262 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    Brookline Bird Club Race Point Beach trip. Leader- Ray Bedard.
Thank you to Mimi Zucker to waking super early for this trip.
34 degrees with a light but steady cold wind off the ocean.
Weak morning flight with Red-breasted Merganser and Northern Gannet being the most abundant. Alcids were at a minimum missing out on guillemots and razorbills.
This was stop 1 of 4
13 species (+1 other taxa)
Common Eider (Dresser’s)  40
White-winged Scoter  25
Black Scoter  15
Red-breasted Merganser  75
Dovekie  7    6 and 1
Common Murre  3
large alcid sp.  2    Probably Common Murres. Didn’t get a great look as they flew directly away from us.
Ring-billed Gull  7
Herring Gull (American)  35
Great Black-backed Gull  25
Glaucous Gull  1    1st year bird. Pale buffy overall. Pink, black tipped bill and squared off tail. Hung around the beach for a while making a few passes
Iceland Gull (kumlieni)  1
Red-throated Loon  1    Surprisingly the only loon of the day
Northern Gannet  75    Likely undercounted
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157764207
Pilgrim Lake, Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
01-Jan-2024 08:28 – 08:40
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:    Stop 2 of 4 for BBC Race Point Beach Trip. Ray Bedard Leader and Mimi Zucker attended.
35 and sunny.
Just a quick stop and scan on the way by
7 species
American Black Duck  14
Greater Scaup  40
Bufflehead  100
Common Goldeneye  20
Herring Gull (American)  1
American Crow  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157764212
Fort Hill, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
01-Jan-2024 09:12 – 10:34
Protocol: Traveling
0.6 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    Stop 3 of 4 for BBC Race Point Beach trip. Ray Bedard leader and Mimi Zucker attending.
37 with a mix of sun and clouds
What an awe inspiring flight of robins. Most I have ever seen.
28 species
Canada Goose  22
Mallard  1
American Black Duck  2
Common Eider (Dresser’s)  90
Bufflehead  2
Herring Gull (American)  50
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk (borealis)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  5
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Carolina Wren  2
European Starling  100
Eastern Bluebird  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  1000    Likely undercounted. Robins continually flew over for the entire duration. Another birder there was estimating 2,000
Cedar Waxwing  25    I surely missed some as the robins were so many
House Sparrow  4
House Finch  2
Purple Finch  1    Great looks.  Female
American Goldfinch  1
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157764216
Cape Cod National Seashore–Salt Pond Visitors Center, Barnstable, Massachusetts, US
01-Jan-2024 10:39 – 11:33
Protocol: Traveling
0.46 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    Stop 4 on the BBC Race Point Beach trip. Ray Bedard leader and Mimi Zucker attended.
37 with a mix of sun and clouds.
We decided to check here with the 2 rarities being reported and they didn’t disappoint.
21 species
Herring Gull (American)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (borealis)  2    One sat in a close by tree offering many great photo ops.
Belted Kingfisher  1    Really low flyover giving it’s rattling call.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Western Kingbird  1    Beautiful tyrant flycatcher with pale gray breast and bright yellow belly, gray uppers and black wings. Black tail with white outer rectrices
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  2
Common Raven  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  1
European Starling  50
Eastern Bluebird  3
American Robin  400    Another great showing. Seemed to be coming from Fort Hill area
Cedar Waxwing  11
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  2
Field Sparrow  1
Lark Sparrow  1    Beautiful black, white and chestnut facial pattern! Great looks feeding in the lawn with other sparrows
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  3
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  7
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157764221

The Murmuration: Crowdsourcing Local Knowledge to Improve Birding Safety and Accessibility

The Murmuration is an open access crowdsourcing project designed to collect information to improve birding safety and accessibility at eBird hotspots in Massachusetts and to help make birding more inclusive. BBC members and other [...]

The Murmuration: Crowdsourcing Local Knowledge to Improve Birding Safety and Accessibility

The Murmuration is an open access crowdsourcing project designed to collect information to improve birding safety and accessibility at eBird hotspots in Massachusetts and to help make birding more inclusive. BBC members and other [...]

The Murmuration: Crowdsourcing Local Knowledge to Improve Birding Safety and Accessibility

The Murmuration is an open access crowdsourcing project designed to collect information to improve birding safety and accessibility at eBird hotspots in Massachusetts and to help make birding more inclusive. BBC members and other [...]

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Upcoming Field Trips

  • 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.

  • Hellcat at Parker River NWR

    Parker River NWR - Lot #4 Newbury, MA, United States

    During 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.

  • Arlington Reservoir

    Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United States

    In 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 [...]

  • Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

    Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United States

    Cosponsored 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.

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