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02 Sep Canyon Pelagic 2010 ["John Hoye & Audrey McCarthy" ] 02 Sep Earl Coastal Birding Advice Requested [] 02 Sep Earl Coastal Birding Advice Requested [] 01 Sep Help with N.A. Mammal List? [Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore ] 02 Sep A Compilation of Much Appreciated Defense Tactics against Greenhead Flies ["Susan W." ] 01 Sep CT Report 09/01/2010 White-tailed Kite [Roy Harvey ] 1 Sep Nighthawks- Mt. Auburn Cemetery , 9/1/10 [Bob Stymeist ] 2 Sep Photos of recent rarities [Francois Grenon ] 01 Sep Canyon Pelagic BBC ["John Hoye & Audrey McCarthy" ] 01 Sep Leicester Rt.56 overlook of Worcester Airport 9/1 ["Mark Lynch" ] 1 Sep Fw: eBird Report - Spencer Peirce Little Farm , 8/31/10 [Paul Peterson ] 1 Sep Fw: eBird Report - Parker River NWR , 8/31/10 [Paul Peterson ] 1 Sep Young Birder's Club [Strickland Wheelock ] 01 Sep Lower Merrimack and Plum Island - 09-01-10 ["David K. Weaver" ] 1 Sep Lunchtime Birding - Turkey Vulture-palooza - Heard's Conservation Land , 9/1/10 [Jim M ] 1 Sep Nighthawk #,s for Aug.--Northampton [] 01 Sep Re: Plum Island in brief [Linda Pivacek ] 01 Sep High Ridge Wildlife Management Area (Westminster/ Garder) [Tom Pirro ] 1 Sep Long Beach in Plymouth sightings -Aug. 31 [sharla Fenwick ] 1 Sep Joppa Flats Bird Banding Station - Report for Week #4 ["David Larson" ] 1 Sep Harrier Carlisle ["D'Ann Brownrigg" ] 01 Sep 9/1 Duxbury Beach - low numbers, Peregrine [Rick Bowes ] 1 Sep Barred Owl at Drumlin Farm ["Pamela Sowizral" ] 1 Sep Plum Island in brief ["David Larson" ] 1 Sep Seabirds and Whales trip on September 7, 2010 ["David Larson" ] 01 Sep GULF OIL DISASTER & FALL MIGRATION [Sue McGrath ] 31 Aug CT Report 08/31/2010 White-tailed Kite [Roy Harvey ] 31 Aug Whimbrel -Nahant--Short Beach , 8/31/10 [Jim M ] 31 Aug YT Vireo, Nighthawk, Wellfleet Bay/ Poland query ["Mark Faherty" ] 31 Aug Bar-tailed Godwit (or Godwits) on South Beach August 28? [Paul Roberts ] 31 Aug Westboro - 8/31/10 PM - Pine Grove Cemetery - Common Nighthawk Movement [Pokedaddy ] 31 Aug Cumberland Farms Area, Halifax, Plymouth County ["Jeffrey Offermann" ] 31 Aug Westport 8/31/10 - Morning flight, Baird's Sandpiper [Ian Davies ] 31 Aug RFI Cape birding during noreaster ["RMC" ] 31 Aug Nighthawks- Sharon [Will Sweet ] 31 Aug HSR: Blueberry Hill (31 Aug 2010) 1 Raptors [] 31 Aug BBC Extreme Pelagic - Maps and Mugshots [Steve Mirick ] 31 Aug Fw: eBird Report - Hamlen Reservation , 8/31/10 [Jim M ] 31 Aug Pied-billed Grebes ~ Salisbury, 8/30/10 [Sue McGrath ] 31 Aug Middleboro, Halifax [] 31 Aug Spotted Sandpipers, Estabrook Woods , Concord, 8/31/10 ["Swain, David" ] 31 Aug massbird charter and posting guidelines - from the moderator [Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore ] 31 Aug Nighhawk Surprise ["Michael LaBossiere" ] 31 Aug new links for Cape Cod Bird Club Pelagic information and registration ["cvf AT juno.com" ] 31 Aug BBC Extreme Pelagic Videos [Matt Garvey ] 30 Aug Fenway Nighthawks [James Taylor ] 30 Aug BBC Extreme Pelagic Photos (take two): WFSP, BNRS, GRSK, etc. [Luke Seitz ] 31 Aug Plum Island 2010/08/30 - Royal Tern [Francois Grenon ] 30 Aug my carefully worded responses [Paul Peterson ] 30 Aug CT Report 08/30/2010 White-tailed Kite [Roy Harvey ] 30 Aug Re: South Beach Trip Report ... photo & video links taken August 27, 2010 [Bruce deGraaf ] 31 Aug Wing Island banding blog [] 30 Aug Spotted Sandpiper - Wellesley ["Greg Dysart" ] 30 Aug Belle Isle Blue-winged Teal + ["RMC" ] 30 Aug Mt. Auburn Nighthawks [Bob Stymeist ] 30 Aug Westboro - Common Nighthawks - 8/30/10 PM [Pokedaddy ] 30 Aug Bear Creek, Saugus, report for Sunday 8/29 ["Soheil Zendeh" ] 30 Aug South Beach 8/30 [Greg Hirth ] 31 Aug Eastern Point AM- Gloucester Harbor PM , 8/30/10 [] 30 Aug Re: [Arlington Birds] Watertown Nighthawks 8/30 [] 30 Aug Watertown Nighthawks 8/30 [Linda Ferraresso ] 31 Aug nighthawks and cliff swallow at great meadows [Jim McCoy ] 30 Aug Cumberland Farms area 8/30/10 [Ian Davies ] 30 Aug More photos from Sunday's Extreme Pelagic [Jim Hully ] 30 Aug Compilation of Essex County Sightings ~ 8/30/10 [Sue McGrath ] 30 Aug Newburyport Harbor ~ 8/29/10 [Sue McGrath ] 30 Aug need for HD content of birds for Thoreau documentary being produced ["Paul Maher Jr." ] 30 Aug Cumberland Farms fields ["Brian Cassie" ] 30 Aug Buff-breasted Sandpiper - PI Airport 8/30 [Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore ] 30 Aug eBird Report - Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit , 8/29/10 [Alan Bragg ] 30 Aug FW: eBird Report - Mattison Field, Concord , 8/30/10 ["Swain, David" ] 30 Aug Fw: eBird Report - Heard's Conservation Land , 8/30/10 [Jim M ] 30 Aug Vineyard Report [] 30 Aug Middleboro, Halifax [] 30 Aug Middleboro, Halifax [] 30 Aug Middleboro, Halifax, Buff Breasted, Amer. Golden, Bairds [] Subject: Canyon Pelagic 2010 From: "John Hoye & Audrey McCarthy" <lt.jaeger AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:01:15 -0400 Massbirders Sorry about the previous faulty link. This should work John John Hoye, Wayland Ma Lt.Jaeger AT verizon.net http://picasaweb.google.com/hoye1x/CanyonPelagic2010?feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/hoye1x/CanyonPelagic2010SecondDay?feat=directlink Subject: Earl Coastal Birding Advice Requested From: mresch8702 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:10:17 -0400 As Earl approaches I'm wondering when and where could be the best locations to look for storm birds. Given its likely strength when it goes by (still a hurricane category 1 or 2 depending on the forecast), you probably don't want to be in the middle of things out on the Cape. And probably you wouldn't be allowed to get out there anyway. So would it be best to try to be on the Cape on Saturday after the storm passes, perhaps First Encounter Beach? Or would Cape Ann be a good spot? If so, Halibut Point perhaps? Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. Mike Resch Pepperell, MA Subject: Earl Coastal Birding Advice Requested From: mresch8702 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:21:16 -0400 As Earl approaches I'm wondering when and where could be the best locations to look for storm birds. Given its likely strength when it goes by (still a hurricane category 1 or 2 depending on the forecast), you probably don't want to be in the middle of things out on the Cape. And probably you wouldn't be allowed to get out there anyway. So would it be best to try to be on the Cape on Saturday after the storm passes, perhaps First Encounter Beach? Or would Cape Ann be a good spot? If so, Halibut Point perhaps? Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. Mike Resch Pepperell, MA Subject: Help with N.A. Mammal List? From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620 AT TheWorld.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:09:45 -0400 Please contact Don directly if you wish to help him with his OT quest. Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com * * * Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:33:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Donald Wilkinson Subject: Help with N.A. Mammal List? Dear All, Now that I'm running out of new birds, I finally updated my N.A. Mammal List. 77 species. Are there any local spots that I can add some new mammals? I don't have any moles or weasels. Thanks, Don Nine-banded Armadillo Mexican Free-tailed Bat Little Brown Myotis Black Bear Grizzly Bear American Beaver Beluga Whale American Bison Bobcat Caribou (Reindeer) Eastern Chipmunk White-nosed Coati Mountain Cottontail Eastern Cottontail Mule Deer White-tailed Deer North American Deer Mouse White-tailed Prairie Dog Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin Risso's Dolphin Short-beaked Common Dolphin Elk Fisher Arctic Fox Red Fox Mountain Goat Snowshoe Hare Black-tailed Jackrabbit Canadian Lynx Hoary Marmot Yellow-bellied Marmot Moose Woodland Jumping Mouse Muskox Muskrat Virginia Opossum Northern River Otter Sea Otter Collared Peccary North American Porcupine Dall's Porpoise Harbor Porpoise Pronghorn Marsh Rabbit Northern Raccoon Hispid Cotton Rat California Sea Lion Steler's Sea Lion Harbor Seal Northern Fur Seal Bighorn Sheep Dall's Sheep Striped Skunk Arctic Ground Squirrel Arizona Gray Squirrel Belding's Ground Squirrel California Ground Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Richardson's Ground Squirrel Western Gray Squirrel Northern Red-backed Vole Sagebrush Vole Tundra Vole Baird's Beaked Whale Blue Whale Fin Whale Gray Whale Humpback Whale Killer Whale (Orca) Long-finned Pilot Whale Northern Minke Whale Short-finned Pilot Whale Sperm Whale Woodchuck 77 species (revised 8/31/10) Donald Wilkinson Nahant MA 01908 singingbirder AT yahoo.com http://donwilkinsonbirdingtours.com/ (updated with 2011 tours) http://donaldwilkinson.com/ Subject: A Compilation of Much Appreciated Defense Tactics against Greenhead Flies From: "Susan W." <adhdsw AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:27:25 -0400 Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for help against vicious biting greenhead flies! We were prepared to use every suggestion offered, plus a few old wives tails if necessary. There turned out to be far fewer flies this time than we'd experienced before, but it was a relief to be armed and ready for battle should the need arise. In case the info might help others, I've made a list of the group's accumulated wisdom to share with potential victims. 1. Light colored clothing. These flies are attracted to dark shapes (horses, cows, etc), so wear sand or khaki colors to avoid attracting them by sight. Don't forget light colored socks, too. I forgot, and my ankles were repeatedly attacked! 2. Long pants, long sleeved shirts, socks and shoes or sneakers, and a hat should be worn at all times. They should be lightweight as well as light in color. Breathable fabrics are best for hot weather. 3. You can get lightweight mosquito netting to wear over your hat if it is really bad. The netting doesn't interfere too much with binoculars or cameras, and keeps the flies off your face and neck. 4. Lightweight scarves that can be worn on your neck or pulled up like a mask are alternative to netting. The cylindrical ones at REI are very useful, since they can be worn about a dozen different ways. 5. Saturate your clothing with bug spray. It's better than spraying it on your skin, although hardly pleasant. I used 98% deet spray, but it isn't necessarily better than less toxic stuff. Even the 98% deet will not keep them from landing on you, but it sometimes deters them from biting. 6. Drench exposed skin with Tanqueray gin. It is crazy and irrational, but has worked for me on two occasions. 7. DON'T PANIC! The flies are attracted to carbon monoxide. The more you run and scream and swat, the more you'll exhale or pant, both of which will draw them like flies (Greenhead joke). Walk slowly and be calm to stay under their radar. 8. Avoid the weeds and grass if possible. That is their home base, and always has more lurking flies than the open beaches. We did fine this year, but maybe all it took was a ocean breeze or a wind shift. Maybe all our elaborate preparations accomplished nothing. But I will be suited up and reeking of gin next time, too. Better safe than sorry, after all. Thanks for all the help! Susan Wrublewski Framingham, Ma s.wrublewski AT verizon.net ________________________________________ Visit The Nature of Framingham and discover the wonders of nature in your own backyard! Subject: CT Report 09/01/2010 White-tailed Kite From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:45:00 -0400 Yes, it was day 32 for the White-tailed Kite in Stratford. From Frank Mantlik: 09/01/10 - Milford, Milford Point (CAS Coastal Ctr) -- 3:30-5:30 pm, good numbers and variety of shorebirds (14 species) on coastal sandbars during high tide, including 1 WHIMBREL, 5 western race Willet, 6 Red Knot, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher (basic adult), as well as 6 juv. BLACK SKIMMERS. From Tina Green: 09/01/10 - Milford, Milford Point -- 6 juvenile Black Skimmers sitting at the sand bar in the morning. 09/01/10 - Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- (10:49AM), the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER continues on the model airplane field in spite of two people standing about 30 feet away from it and flying their airplanes. Also,two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS in the Mill Pond near the entrance. From Tina Green with NHBC 1st Wednesday Walk: 09/01/10 - West Haven, Sandy Point -- 1 Whimbrel. From Paul Desjardins: 09/01/10 - Windsor, along Day Hill Road -- adult Peregrine Falcon in the morning. From Paul Cianfaglione: 09/01/10 - Hartford, Riverside Park Sewage Pond -- 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 08/31/10 - New Hartford, Nepaug Reservoir -- 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CTDY.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Nighthawks- Mt. Auburn Cemetery , 9/1/10 From: Bob Stymeist <bobstymeist AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 22:10:17 -0400 This evening on a second Friends of Mt Auburn Nighthawk watch from the tower, we counted 64 nighthawks; the air was pretty hazy and many were noted flying a bit west, though quite a few went right over. We called in a Screech Owl on the way out. Location: IBA - Mt. Auburn Cemetery Observation date: 9/1/10 Number of species: 19 Mallard 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Herring Gull 4 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 1 Mourning Dove 3 Eastern Screech-Owl 1 Common Nighthawk 64 Chimney Swift 48 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 4 American Robin 24 European Starling 15 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Common Grackle 10 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Bob Stymeist bobstymeist AT gmail.com Subject: Photos of recent rarities From: Francois Grenon <grenonf AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 01:39:33 +0000 Hello, The photos documenting my recent goodies (Gull-billed Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Royal Tern) can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fgrenon/sets/ . Please feel free to comment. Best regards, François Grenon Montreal, QC, Canada Subject: Canyon Pelagic BBC From: "John Hoye & Audrey McCarthy" <lt.jaeger AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:34:09 -0400 Masssbirders Some pictures from the recent Deep Water pelagic Trip can be seen at HTTP://picasaweb.google.com/Hoye!X John Hoye Wayland ma Lt.Jaeger AT verizon.net Subject: Leicester Rt.56 overlook of Worcester Airport 9/1 From: "Mark Lynch" <moa.lynch AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:02:11 -0400 TIME: 5:30PM-7PM Winds: WSW 4mph Temp: 86F Clear skies, but extremely hazy in the lowlands, so almost all the nighthawks we saw were fairly close. COMMON NIGHTHAWK: 513 From 5:40-6:10, birds came in singles or small strung out flocks from the SE or directly from the east, often quite low. The birds hit the hill and then flew all around the north end and proceeded west/southwest. Then at 6;10 a lull with no birds till 6;20. THEN birds came in directly from the east and low right over our heads in ones and twos. Flight was for the most part direct and swift with very little feeding, till the last half hour. After 6;50PM: no more birds. Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll moa.lynch AT verizon.net Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Spencer Peirce Little Farm , 8/31/10 From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:01:10 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "do-not-reply AT ebird.org" To: petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 5:51:15 PM Subject: eBird Report - Spencer Peirce Little Farm , 8/31/10 Location:    Spencer Peirce Little Farm Observation date:    8/31/10 Notes:    Whimbrel was a flyover. The 55 Bobolinks included a flock of 40 birds. Number of species:    16 Double-crested Cormorant    20 Turkey Vulture    1 Buteo sp.    1 Whimbrel    1 Ring-billed Gull    1 Herring Gull (American)    2 Mourning Dove    3 Downy Woodpecker    1 Blue Jay    1 American Crow    7 Black-capped Chickadee    2 Gray Catbird    2 European Starling    7 warbler sp.    1 Song Sparrow    2 Northern Cardinal    1 Bobolink    55 American Goldfinch    3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Parker River NWR , 8/31/10 From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:02:14 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "do-not-reply AT ebird.org" To: petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 5:58:06 PM Subject: eBird Report - Parker River NWR , 8/31/10 Location:    Parker River NWR Observation date:    8/31/10 Notes:    The Pied-billed Grebes were in Bill Forward Pool(Hellcat Dike observation), from where the Northern Harrier was also observed. Number of species:    40 Gadwall    X American Black Duck    1 Mallard    X Green-winged Teal    X Pied-billed Grebe    2 Double-crested Cormorant    X Great Blue Heron    1 Great Egret    5 Snowy Egret    6 Turkey Vulture    1 Osprey    3 Northern Harrier    1 Black-bellied Plover    27 Semipalmated Plover    50 Greater Yellowlegs    10 Lesser Yellowlegs    2 Sanderling    40 Semipalmated Sandpiper    30 Least Sandpiper    1 Ring-billed Gull    X Herring Gull    X Great Black-backed Gull    X Least Tern    2 Mourning Dove    5 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)    1 Eastern Kingbird    2 Blue Jay    1 American Crow    2 Tree Swallow    10 Barn Swallow    2 White-breasted Nuthatch    1 Gray Catbird    4 Northern Mockingbird    1 Cedar Waxwing    13 Common Yellowthroat    2 Eastern Towhee    2 Song Sparrow    2 Northern Cardinal    1 Baltimore Oriole    1 American Goldfinch    X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Young Birder's Club From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:32:30 -0700 (PDT) Any youngsters in grades 6-12 that would be interested in being part of the Young Birder's Club should contact Becky Gilles at Drumlin Farm WS[bgilles AT massaudubon.org]. This club allows the children to bird monthly with other young birders with similar interest. The 1st planned activity is for Sept 25th where the children will visit my banding site in Uxbridge - a great opportunity to capture and band many species of birds at the peak of the fall migration. The learning experience is unbelievable as we point out ID features while the birds are in hand. Each month we have different birding activities ranging from hawk watches, wintering duck trips, Super Bowl of Birding competition - all being led by some of the top ornithologist in Ma. Note - we have children ranging from pure beginners to good birding skills - all are welcomed and before the 2010/2011 season is complete, each child will have advanced in birding skills while having a fun time with their peers. Strickland Wheelock Uxbridge, Ma. Subject: Lower Merrimack and Plum Island - 09-01-10 From: "David K. Weaver" <cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:11:50 -0400 On this very warm day, Bill Gette and I led Wednesday Morning Birding participants out of Joppa Flats Education Center in search of shorebirds, target birds being Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Whimbrel. Sad to say, we came up empty for both species. The temps ranged from low 80s to mid 90s under clear skies and little to no wind. After striking out at the PI Airport (thanks, anyway, for the tip Steve!), the tide was just right for viewing shorebirds (~ 4.5 hours after high tide) along the Joppa Park seawall and from the Newburyport Wastewater Treatment Plant. After having great looks at many birds, we headed for Parker River NWR on Plum Island in search of Whimbrels. If I had had my cell phone anywhere nearby, I would have heard from David Larson about his 14 (!) Whimbrels at the main pan and made tracks there! Our list for the morning: Lower Merrimack River -- Double-crested Cormorant - many juvs. Great Egret (1) Northern Harrier (1) - juv. Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover [Killdeer (2) - PI Airport.] Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Semipalmated Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper (1) Short-billed Dowitcher (1) Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern European Starling Song Sparrow Plum Island -- Canada Goose Gadwall (3) Mallard Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron (3) Great Egret (~ 12) Snowy Egret (~ 8) Osprey (2) - BFP/Pines Trail platform. Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Semipalmated Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Black-backed Gull Rock Dove (2) - PI Bridge. Downy Woodpecker (1) - Pines Trail. European Starling In addition to Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa's International Interns, Jorge from Belize and Egbert from Guyana, and I made an early morning visit to Sandy Point. It was about an hour and three quarters past high tide. On the newly exposed flats to the west of the restricted area was a grand gathering of Black-bellied Plovers and Semipalmated Plovers. The Black-bellies were whistling their plaintive calls and the Semipals were chirping away -- quite the scene. The highlight in amongst all of those plovers was a group of four juvenile Red Knots. Very nice to see! Also scattered among this gathering were Semipalmated Sandpipers and a few Sanderlings. On the south part of Sandy Point were a larger number of Sanderlings, more Semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers, and a lone juvenile Piping Plover. Several Least Terns scolded us from overhead (still unfledged young?). At one point, a juvenile Northern Harrier made a low pass and put everyone up. Other species seen along the way: White-rumped Sandpipers (~ 25), Stage Island Pool; Blue Jay (1); American Crows (3) harassing the harrier; Tree Swallow (1); American Robin - several; Gray Catbird - several; Brown Thrasher (1); Northern Cardinal (1). We will meet again next week back at Joppa Flats at 0930 for Wednesday Morning Birding. For more information about Joppa Flats programs, call Bill Gette or Dave Larson at 978-462-9998. Dave Weaver Manchester, MA 01944 cygnus-dkw AT verizon.net Subject: Lunchtime Birding - Turkey Vulture-palooza - Heard's Conservation Land , 9/1/10 From: Jim M <jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:16:30 -0700 (PDT) Matt Garvey and I had at least 8 turkey vultures dining on voles and other rodents killed in the recent and ongoing mowing and haying operations. Nice close-up looks at these purpose-built scavengers. Also lots of phoebes on the margins. Location: Heard's Conservation Land Observation date: 9/1/10 Number of species: 15 Canada Goose 12 Turkey Vulture 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 Eastern Phoebe 8 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 3 swallow sp. 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 Gray Catbird 1 European Starling 12 Cedar Waxwing 1 American Redstart 1 Northern Cardinal 1 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Jim Malone Nahant, MA jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com Subject: Nighthawk #,s for Aug.--Northampton From: Tombwhawk AT aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:31:21 EDT Hi Folks: My 31st year counting Common Nighthawks in Northampton (WEST of the Connecticut River) was not a very productive year for the time I put in looking. Most days I was on the hill by 5 and stayed until almost dark. I count other species there also and did have a good time period for Ospreys (16) but Bobolinks were way down in numbers. Listed below are my figures: Common Nighthawks Bobolinks (my top 4 evenings) August 15 0 16 112 17 104 18 24 312 19 186 20 5 21 232 22 RAIN 23 5 24 45 25 3 (RAIN) 26 193 448 27 305 200 28 205 353 29 297 30 164 31 24 TOTAL 1,904 Not having time to check past records I believe this could be my SECOND LOWEST number in the 31 years I have been looking from this spot. I believe that not only are the Nighthawks having a hard time in Massachusetts (NO nesting reported in the last several years) they must be struggling North of us also. Tom Gagnon, Florence (Bear Country) Massachusetts Subject: Re: Plum Island in brief From: Linda Pivacek <lpivacek AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:43:29 -0400 Interesting. I've seen a Whimbrel at Little Nahant end of Short Beach, Nahant since Monday and yesterday an additional 8 flew over heading southeast. Linda Pivacek Nahant, MA David Larson wrote: >This morning, I was leading a group from Edgewood in Andover on the >Parker River NWR when we had a total of 14 Whimbrels at the Salt Panne >Observation Area. Quite a nice show. >Dave > > > Subject: High Ridge Wildlife Management Area (Westminster/ Garder) From: Tom Pirro <alurap AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:07:36 -0500 (CDT) I got over to high Ridge WMA late this morning for a few hours, despite the heat and humidity there was a nice selection of birds, though the songbirds had to be coaxed out with a good deal of spishing and screech owl imitations. Entrance was made from East Gardner Road (Westminster) and then Smith Street (Gardner): Highlights: Great Egreat 1 Hooded Merganser 5 Red-shouldered hawk 2 (with 6 of the BW's, at least 1 RS was calling continuously with a good deal of skirmishing going on...between the 8 birds) Broad-winged Hawk 7 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 (in the snags on the north side of the East Gardner Rd. Marsh) Least Flycatcher 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Tennessee Warbler 3 *it took a good deal of work to finally get good looks at these birds, that were together and skirmishing at times. Northern Parula 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Black-throated green Warbler 2 Magnolia Warbler 1 American Redstart 2 Pine Warbler 2 Black and White Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 looked to be a first year type, hint of "bay" on flanks and buffy undertail coverts. Wilson's Warbler 1 male Common Yellowthroat 10 Purple Finch 3 Tom Pirro Westminster, Ma. http://tpirro.blogspot.com/ Subject: Long Beach in Plymouth sightings -Aug. 31 From: sharla Fenwick <pooka1228 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 11:03:49 -0700 (PDT) Aug. 31- following an extremely high tide at Long Beach in Plymouth yesterday there were many shore birds on Goose Point feeding.  I observed 2 Long Billed Dowitchers, a large flock of about 50 Greater Black Backed Gulls together, and 4 Ruddy Turnstones.  Also, there were Sanderlings, Least Sandpipers, and Semi-Palmated Plovers present.   A Peregrine Falcon has been observed at same beach throughout the month of July over dunes and marshes in Plymouth.       Sharla Fenwick      Pooka1229 AT yahoo.com      Plymouth,  MA Subject: Joppa Flats Bird Banding Station - Report for Week #4 From: "David Larson" <dlarson AT massaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:05:58 -0400 The Joppa Flats Education Center operates a bird banding station on Plum Island, in cooperation with the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. This is a report by Station Manager Ben Flemer, covering activity for August 21-27, 2010. ---------------------------------------------------- Hello Everyone, Welcome to the end of week four of our fall banding season. As we near the end of August most of our early migrants have moved on and we are in a bit of a lull period as we wait for things to really heat up. Rainy weather on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday didn't help our effort either. Nonetheless, we added some new birds for the season including Black-throated blue, Canada, and Wilson's warbler as well as Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo. In total, we banded 64 birds of 19 species and recaptured 22 birds of 4 species with totals listed below. New: Yellow bellied Flycatcher 4 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 American Robin 12 Gray Catbird 18 Brown Thrasher 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 American Redstart 4 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 2 Common Yellowthroat 6 Wilson's Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 2 Song Sparrow 2 Purple Finch 2 Total 64 Recaptured: Downy Woodpecker 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Gray Catbird 14 American Redstart 1 Song Sparrow 2 Total 22 ----------------------------------------------------- -- David M. Larson, Ph.D. Education Coordinator Joppa Flats Education Center Mass Audubon Newburyport, MA 978-462-9998 Subject: Harrier Carlisle From: "D'Ann Brownrigg" <brownriggs AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:21:24 -0400 We saw a Harrier while we were birding at Great Brook Farm State Park this morning. It flew over the ski barn area headed west. We also saw a "wild" hummingbird in a large patch of Jewel Weed and heard Warbling Vireo. (Most hummers we see are feeder addicts.) D'Ann D'Ann Brownrigg dann AT brownrigggallery.com brownriggs AT comcast.ner Subject: 9/1 Duxbury Beach - low numbers, Peregrine From: Rick Bowes <rbowes AT bowesweb.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:18:35 -0400 Wed. 9/1/2010: 8:10-10:15am; HiTide 5:01am (only 8.8ft); clear; 77F;Wind NW 5; bay quiet; ocean small rollers. A short visit hoping to capitalize on clear skies and diminished human activity to get some good numbers and possibly photos was remarkable only for what wasn't there - shorebirds! I've noted some other folks' posts remarking on what they sense as unimpressive numbers of birds; consider this an addition to that group. Usually at this time of year the ocean side has Sanderlings scattered along the water's edge pretty much the length of the beach - in addition to a few good sized mixed caladris flocks at various "loafing" places along the 3+mile stretch. I saw very few birds at the water's edge (<50) and no flocks of any note. The same was true for Semipalmated Sandpipers and Turnstones. On the bay side I've been seeing 100-300 Dowitchers - today no more than a dozen. Etc. Even the usually reliable "boat hole" had only a handful of Semi Plovers and Black-bellies. At first I attributed it to the birds being on the bay side where the mud flats were rapidly being exposed, but after scoping many of those areas, I found very few birds there either. Semipalmated Plovers and Black -bellied Plovers were more in line with expectations though still 15-20% or so lower than normal I think I'm hoping that this is just an instance confirming that Duxbury Beach is a very transient place. Last weekends birds have moved on and nothing has come in to replace them. Perhaps by the weekend the beaches will be refreshed with new migrants Two highlights were (1) having a Whimbrel fly noisily up out of the grass and right in front of my car from the grassy area just south of High Pines, and (2) a dark Peregrine (in bad light) working its way south over the backbone of the Beach road from Plum hills to Gurnet - where it lighted briefly on the roof of a house and then disappeared continuing its southward track. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rick Bowes rbowes AT bowesweb.com PO Box 1637, Duxbury, MA 02331 Subject: Barred Owl at Drumlin Farm From: "Pamela Sowizral" <psowizral AT massaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:26:17 -0400 Nice Barred Owl at Drumlin Farm today - perched only about 5 feet off the ground. Pam Sowizral Drumlin Farm Lincoln Subject: Plum Island in brief From: "David Larson" <dlarson AT massaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:21:22 -0400 This morning, I was leading a group from Edgewood in Andover on the Parker River NWR when we had a total of 14 Whimbrels at the Salt Panne Observation Area. Quite a nice show. Dave -- David M. Larson, Ph.D. Education Coordinator Joppa Flats Education Center Mass Audubon Newburyport, MA 978-462-9998 Subject: Seabirds and Whales trip on September 7, 2010 From: "David Larson" <dlarson AT massaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 09:45:32 -0400 The Joppa Flats Education Center has teamed with Newburyport Whale Watch to offer a series of trips focusing on both seabirds and marine mammals. The last trip of the summer is scheduled for Tuesday, September 7, the day after Labor Day. I hope you can join us for this excursion! The trips are longer than the usual whale-watch trip and we seek out and stop for seabirds, as well as the whales. I will be onboard to narrate the seabird sightings. Don't miss out on the seabirds (and the cooler temps at sea)! Get on the phone and register by calling Newburyport Whale Watch at 800-848-1111 or register online at http://www.newburyportwhalewatch.com/. Details: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Adult: $47 Senior (65+): $42 Child (4-12): $32 See you aboard! Dave -- David M. Larson, Ph.D. Education Coordinator Joppa Flats Education Center Mass Audubon Newburyport, MA 978-462-9998 Subject: GULF OIL DISASTER & FALL MIGRATION From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:36:49 -0400 Birders, The Gulf coastal marshes are the take off point for so many of our neotropical migrants. Thousands of square miles of marsh along the coast are important habitat for Blackpoll Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Swainson's Thrushes, Chimney Swifts, Ovenbirds and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The White-rumped Upland and Semipalmated Sandpipers along with the Blue-winged Teals pass through Louisiana on their southern trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. These birds are traveling from the Arctic tundra and boreal forests, farmland, and woodlands in Canada. Next spring, the northerly migration will tell the story about the effects of the oil spill on migrants. The Essex County Ornithological Club is opening its season with Shawn Carey's "Scenes From The BP Gulf Oil Disaster". As president of our county's bird club, I invite you to attend this program on Friday, September 17th. Scenes From The BP Gulf Oil Disaster Date: Friday, Sept. 17, 7:30 pm Location: Morse Auditorium, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA Hear about what is happening in the Gulf from someone who has actually been there! Shawn Carey, birder, wildlife photographer and co-founder of Migration Productions, shares firsthand accounts, images and video from his recent trip to the Louisiana Coast to witness and document the effects of the nation~Rs largest, oil spill on the region and its wildlife. Find out what he observed regarding the impacts of this environmental disaster and the efforts underway to fix the damage. Carey will also discuss potential risks facing migratory birds heading south this fall. This program is co-sponsored by the PEM & is FREE and open the public. Best Wishes, Sue Sue McGrath ECOC, President Subject: CT Report 08/31/2010 White-tailed Kite From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:15:09 -0400 From AJ Hand via Sara Zagorski: 08/31/10 - Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- Buff-Breasted Sandpiper in the parking area near where the model airplanes fly, which is the area on the far left hand side of the park as you go through the toll booths. From Frank Mantlik with A.J. and Sue Hand: 08/31/10 - Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present at same general area at 4:30pm. From Frank Mantlik: 08/31/10 - Milford/Stratford, Housatonic River sandbars off Milford Point and Short Beach -- 1 Whimbrel, 2 juv. Black Skimmers. 08/31/10 - Stratford, Long Beach Blvd -- 3 Blue-winged Teal in the Warehouse Pond; probably the same three later seen in the Access Rd. pool. From Greg Hanisek: 08/31/10 - Watertown, Artillery Road -- female type BLUE-WINGED TEAL in Logue Farm pond. From Peter DeGennaro: 08/31/10 - Derby, Osborndale State Park -- MOURNING WARBLER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BROWN THRASHER. The Mourning Warbler and flycatcher were on the trail west of the two ponds just before the trail enters the woods and nears the stream (or what's left of it). The Brown Thrasher was among the hordes of Catbirds on the kestrel trail. From Sara Zagorski: 08/31/10 - Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill Meadows -- 6:55-7:45 pm, Pectoral Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Common Nighthawk. From Jalna Jaeger and Dave Callan: 08/31/10 - Norwalk, East Ave -- 7:30 PM, 30 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying south. From Ernie Harris: 08/31/10 - Bolton Backyard -- 6:30-7:30AM-AM, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and for the 5th day-RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 08/29/10 - Bolton Bolton lakes -- 6:30PM, 5 COMMON NIGHTHAWK. From Frank Mantlik: 08/30/10 - Stratford, Short Beach -- 6-6:30pm, 4 juvenile BLACK SKIMMERS on sandbar then flying around river, 1 Willet (western race). From Dave Rosgen: 08/30/10 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area & Activity Field) - 2 Common Nighthawks, 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 2 Purple Finches. 08/30/10 - Litchfield, White's Woods Rd. (White Memorial's Cemetery Pond) -- 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. From Dave Rosgen, w/ Ann Orsillo, Suzy & Harry Ainsworth, et. al.: 08/30/10 - Litchfield, S. Lake St. (White Memorial's Little Pond Boardwalk) -- 1 SORA, 6 Common Nighthawks, 3 Marsh Wrens. From Sean Murtha: 08/30/10 - Norwalk -- good flight of Common Nighthawks over our house, 6-7PM; there was always at least one in sight anytime I looked. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CTDY.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Whimbrel -Nahant--Short Beach , 8/31/10 From: Jim M <jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:52:32 -0700 (PDT) While walking with my wife, Roze, to the Tides restaurant tonight long Short Beach, I spotted among the gulls and peeps one nicely marked whimbrel at the north end by Little Nahant. Location: Nahant--Short Beach Observation date: 8/31/10 Number of species: 8 Semipalmated Plover 25 Whimbrel 1 Sanderling 38 Semipalmated Sandpiper 12 Bonaparte's Gull 23 Laughing Gull 34 Herring Gull (American) 15 Great Black-backed Gull 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Jim Malone Nahant, MA jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com Subject: YT Vireo, Nighthawk, Wellfleet Bay/ Poland query From: "Mark Faherty" <mfaherty AT massaudubon.org> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:23:33 -0400 Despite little evidence of any migrants around in the morning, we did have a couple of unusual species for us today on the sanctuary. First, a Yellow-throated Vireo hit one of the windows by the feeders but sadly didn't make it. When they brought it to me I reflexively identified it as one of the many Pine Warblers always swirling around the building recently, but realized after a second what it really was. Then a Common Nighthawk passed over this evening. Both of these species are very scarce migrants out this way. On an unrelated note, if anyone has any experience birding in Poland, I'm open to suggestions. I'm going for a friend's wedding this weekend and will have a week to bird around afterwards. ********************************************************************* Mark Faherty Science Coordinator Mass Audubon/Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary http://www.facebook.com/MassAudubonWellfleetBay Subject: Bar-tailed Godwit (or Godwits) on South Beach August 28? From: Paul Roberts <phawk254 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:09:04 -0400 Seeing Daniel Mitev¹s and Erik Nielsen¹s reports on a Bar-tailed Godwit on South Beach on Saturday, August 28, providing photographs of a Bar-tailed Godwit of the baueri race, I would like to add to the discussion suggesting there was, as unlikely as it might seem, a second Bar-tailed Godwit present at the same time, of the lapponica race. I was one of at least 13 people observing a flock of approximately 30 godwits within an hour of high tide by the northernmost old cut. I had a field class with me, and the location had the best assemblage of shorebirds we saw in almost seven hours on the beach. (It was the fewest shorebirds I¹ve ever seen at high tide on South Beach from mid-July to Labor Day.) There were at least 26 Hudsonian Godwits present. I think it was Eric who spotted the Bar-tailed Godwit first, but am not certain. (At least I heard him comment first.) We also found a Marbled Godwit in the flock along the rising water¹s edge. A number of the godwits were hidden or partially hidden by outcrops of beach grass and other tucked birds. A third godwit also attracted my attention. It was brightly colored above, spangled, but fairly dull light buff below, and appeared slightly larger than any of the (other?) Hudsonians. After getting everyone in the class on the bright adult Bar-tailed and the Marbled Godwit, I tried to refind this bird and look more closely at it. There was a fair amount of bird movement on the ground, however, and I never relocated the bird on the ground. Suddenly, the flock grew very alert and took off. With binos, I looked at the flock in flight, trying to find the Bar-tailed. I found it on the far left of the flock (second bird from the left) flying north, away from us. It had a clearly barred tail with a white rump and a narrow inverted white ³V² up the back, similar to a dowitcher, and it was as larger or larger than the Hudsonians on either side. I was almost directly behind the bird with the sun bright over my left shoulder. Viewing conditions were excellent. I remarked on the white rump and line up the back and Janet Kovner remarked that she had clearly seen that as well. Afterwards, there was discussion as to what race of Bar-tailed this was because several of the observers did not see that. Looks at a photo or two on an LCD panel in the glare of the beach sun did not help resolve the question. Seeing Daniel¹s photos on MassBird, I can state unequivocally that his photos are not of the bird that I observed in flight. I believe they are photos of the fading adult that everyone was studying on the ground and that Daniel and Erik apparently followed when it took off. I was not observing that bird when it took off and clearly did not see it in flight. I was surprised shortly afterwards when several observers indicated the Bar-tailed had landed a relatively short distance away, among knots and other smaller shorebirds, separate from the other godwits. The bird I had observed flying away had continued with the flock of Hudsonian Godwits that had moved farther down the beach. The bird I saw flying was clearly lapponica. There was no ³light artifact² because I clearly saw the barring on the tail but no barring on the rump or back. I believe this was likely the third godwit of ³special interest,² probably a juvenile. It was sufficiently dull underneath that everyone¹s attention was drawn to the much more obvious and colorful adult of the baueri race. Whatever, I¹d encourage observers on South Beach to carefully review all the godwits going forward, keeping an eye open for a somewhat less flashy Bar-tailed Godwit than shown in the photos posted, and in particular, to check them out in flight and photograph them if possible. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA phawk254 AT comcast.net Subject: Westboro - 8/31/10 PM - Pine Grove Cemetery - Common Nighthawk Movement From: Pokedaddy <pokedaddy151 AT aim.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:50:25 -0400 (EDT) Tonight I wanted to check a different location for Common Nighthawk movement. I spent 45 minutes at the back of the Pine Grove Cemetery in Westboro. This cemetery, like the cooperative farm land behind St. Luke's Cemetery, abuts the great Cedar Swamp. The Cedar Swamp is roughly 1650 acres in size and is home to the headwaters of the Sudbury River. The Pine Grove Cemetery has a more westerly orientation than the cooperative farm land. Tonight, there was a moderate to good flight of Common Nighthawks. Observation Time: 1815 to 1900 Common Nighthawk - 436 **These birds were rising out of the Cedar Swamp in small flocks. They did not hawk insects, instead they moved WSW with an almost hurried flight. The majority of the birds were observed between 1820 and 1850. ------------------------------------------------- Steve Arena Westboro, MA PokeDaddy151_at_aol_dot_com Subject: Cumberland Farms Area, Halifax, Plymouth County From: "Jeffrey Offermann" <offermann AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:09:23 -0400 Dear Massbirdsers, The following were seen in a very small area in a productive locale. Kudos to Ian Davies and others for locating some of the specialties. They persist today: Location: Fuller Street Fields Observation date: 8/31/10 Number of species: 22 Green-winged Teal (American) - Anas crecca carolinensis 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 1 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 2 Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola 1 Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus 18 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 30 Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria 7 Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes 6 Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla 7 Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla 9 Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Tryngites subruficollis 1 Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 8 Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor 1 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 1 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 2 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 1 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 1 White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 1 Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 3 Location: Walnut Street Fields Observation date: 8/31/10 Number of species: 11 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 47 Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola 6 Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus 24 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 70 Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla 7 Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Tryngites subruficollis 2 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group] 1 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 2 Location: Cumberland Farms--IBA Observation date: 8/31/10 Number of species: 17 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 2 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 1 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 2 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 3 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 1 Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 2 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 1 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 1 Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 2 American Robin - Turdus migratorius 2 Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 2 Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 3 Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis 1 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 4 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1 Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 3 American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 16 Jeffrey Offermann offermannATcomcastDOTnet Somerville This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Westport 8/31/10 - Morning flight, Baird's Sandpiper From: Ian Davies <goshawk227 AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:04:34 -0400 I was at the parking lot at Gooseberry Neck in Westport this morning before sunrise, hoping for some morning flight after the migration last night. My hopes were fulfilled as I had close to 100 birds participating in morning flight in an hour of watching, the separate eBird checklist below includes only birds that were seen flying north off of the island. Some nice birds included a few early Palm Warblers, a Scarlet Tanager, and a couple Wilson's Warblers. The surprise of the morning though was two flyover Baird's Sandpipers that called as they flew over heading NW. Photo linked below. Also 17 Forster's Terns and a few empids on a walk out to the tower and back. Allen's Pond had a good variety of shorebirds, a few Forster's Terns, a Little Blue Heron, and a few migrant raptors. Tonight in Manomet I had 8 Common Nighthawks from my yard, my first fall record for here. Full lists from this morning below, as well as links to photos of Little Blue Heron and a juvenile Dunlin which approached within 6 feet. Gooseberry Neck -- Morning flight (0600-0700): Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 11 Flocks of 2, 5, 3, and a single. Looks like a flight year! Cedar Waxwing 19 Flocks of 17 and 2. Northern Parula 1 Yellow Warbler 6 Likely some of the warbler sp. pertained to Yellow Warblers. Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Confirmed by photo. Prairie Warbler 1 Confirmed by photo. Palm Warbler (Western) 3 Two went out very low to the ground, no higher than 8 feet at any time. Other one was a high flier, confirmed by photo. Blackpoll Warbler 1 American Redstart 4 First two birds of the day were these, then more sparse. Wilson's Warbler 2 Together. warbler sp. 8 Most Dendroica sp., likely Yellow Warblers, possibly one Vermivora, and then some entirely unknown. Scarlet Tanager 1 Bobolink 4 Singles Red-winged Blackbird 5 Single and flock of 4. Not sure if true morning flight. Common Grackle 18 One flock. Not sure if true morning flight. Baltimore Oriole 1 American Goldfinch 3 Singles Gooseberry Neck (0600-0815): Mute Swan 1 Strange. Sitting in the ocean. Mallard 5 Strange. Flying low over the shrubs heading W. Common Eider (Atlantic) 6 Double-crested Cormorant 25 Osprey 5 Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 2 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Ruddy Turnstone 18 Many juvs, FOS for me. Sanderling 44 Many juvs, FOS for me. Least Sandpiper 1 Baird's Sandpiper 2 **Rare, high count. Two flyover birds that called, photographed as well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/4946965408/ Laughing Gull 12 Ring-billed Gull 5 Herring Gull (American) 15 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Common Tern 25 Forster's Tern 17 **High count. Four birds passed by the parking lot heading towards Horseneck during morning flight, and then a cohesive flock of thirteen flew over the middle of the island heading east. Pictures of the four, none of the 13. Rock Pigeon 3 Mourning Dove 19 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Empidonax sp. 3 One possibly Yellow-bellied. Eastern Phoebe 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Tree Swallow 1100 Passing north constantly, no large flocks today. Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Gray Catbird 18 American Redstart 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 11 Eastern Towhee 2 Savannah Sparrow 1 Parking lot, heard only, possibly morning flight, but not seen. Song Sparrow 15 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Baltimore Oriole 1 House Finch 9 House Sparrow 8 Allen's Pond - - Beach Loop (Westport) (0825-1025): Mute Swan 5 Adult with 4 young Mallard 4 Common Eider (Atlantic) 2 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 15 Snowy Egret 20 Little Blue Heron 1 *Uncommon. Photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/4945847322/ Glossy Ibis 6 Flock of 5 juveniles at the salt pans, one flyby with cormorants over the pond. Osprey 8 Northern Harrier 1 Juvenile bird, I flushed it from about 15 feet away, never knowing it was there until it took off! Cooper's Hawk 1 Hunting shorebirds American Kestrel 1 Black-bellied Plover 29 Flats in the pond at low tide Semipalmated Plover 140 Flats in the pond at low tide American Oystercatcher 7 Flats in the pond at low tide Greater Yellowlegs 18 Most on flats in the pond at low tide Willet (Eastern) 4 Flats in the pond at low tide Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Salt pans Red Knot 1 Flats in the pond at low tide. Juvenile. Sanderling 60 Beach Semipalmated Sandpiper 75 Salt pans and flats in pond Least Sandpiper 25 White-rumped Sandpiper 3 Salt pans, adults. Dunlin 1 Gorgeous juvenile on the beach that came within 5 feet of me. Not being able to focus closer than 11' with my camera I just watched naked eye as the bird kept coming closer and closer. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/4945844346/in/photostream/ Short-billed Dowitcher 5 Laughing Gull 40 Ring-billed Gull 10 Herring Gull (American) 35 Great Black-backed Gull 20 Common Tern 3 Forster's Tern 3 *Uncommon. Feeding over saltmarsh. Mourning Dove 4 Chimney Swift 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 American Crow 5 Tree Swallow 200 Common Yellowthroat 2 Saltmarsh Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 3 70 species total This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good birding, Ian Davies Manomet, MA goshawk227 AT earthlink.net http://uropsalis.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/ Subject: RFI Cape birding during noreaster From: "RMC" <r.cressman.xyz.1928 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:12:45 -0400 To those birders who consistently head for the cape during the time of NE wind & rain storms: With the possibility of Hurricane Earl (& and maybe another 1 or after that) I might be able to make it out for some observations. Considering migration at this time is north to south, what would you recommend as the what site might likely to be the more productive: Halibut Pt, Andrew's point, the north side of the cape beyond Halibut, maybe even Plum Island or ???? I don't have the gear nor temperament to deal with heavy rain, but, if the right conditions emerge, I am planning to make a trip. Rich Richard Cressman East Boston, MA r.cressman.xyz.1928[at]gmail.com Subject: Nighthawks- Sharon From: Will Sweet <wsweet321 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:20:19 -0400 I just had about 30 Common Nighthawks eating insects above my house in Sharon. In addition, there were also a large amount of gulls hawking insects with the nighthawks. -- Will Sweet Sharon MA http://www.flickr.com/photos/22560927 AT N04/?saved=1 wsweet321 AT gmail.com Subject: HSR: Blueberry Hill (31 Aug 2010) 1 Raptors From: reports AT hawkcount.org Date: 31 Aug 2010 17:08:02 -0400 Blueberry Hill Granville, Massachusetts, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 31, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Vulture 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 1 3 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Byard Miller, Dick Haas, John Weeks Weather: Hot and hazy with reduced visibility due to the smog. Wind NW for the most part but slipping to W by watch's end. Temperature 24-29 C. Raptor Observations: One male Kestrel passed through low without stopping. Not counted as migrants: a handful of Turkey Vultures, one adult Bald Eagle and one adult Broad-wing. Non-raptor Observations: Hummingbird, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallows (2), Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren (singing loudly), Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwings (13+), Palm Warbler, Purple Finches (3). ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Weeks (aerie.john AT cox.net) Subject: BBC Extreme Pelagic - Maps and Mugshots From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:10:18 -0400 As promised, I put together some maps of the trip we took with locations marked for a few of the rarities. The maps are large at about 1 mb in size to allow for better detail. I also have a link for a download of the Google Earth course of the trip. Finally, I put together a web page of photos, but unlike others, most of mine are people shots. http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//BBC%20Pelagic%20-%2008282910-2.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//shelfrarities4.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//BBCPelagicSeaSurfaceTemp.jpg Google Earth file: http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//BBC%20Pelagic%20-%2008282910.kmz And a few people photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/stevemirick/BBCExtremePelagic8281082910# Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Hamlen Reservation , 8/31/10 From: Jim M <jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:46:05 -0700 (PDT) Lunchtime birding - Shorebirds in Wayland -- The ponds at Hamlen Reservation are low. I found the solitarys and last sandpipers in mudflats near the boardwalk on the main trail. The flycatchers were too far away to ID. Location: Hamlen Reservation Observation date: 8/31/10 Number of species: 14 Mallard 5 Great Blue Heron 1 hawk sp. 1 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 3 Empidonax sp. 2 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Carolina Wren 1 Gray Catbird 1 European Starling 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Jim Malone Nahant, MA jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com Subject: Pied-billed Grebes ~ Salisbury, 8/30/10 From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:23:50 -0400 Birders, I saw three Pied-billed Grebes this morning on the Old Eastern Marsh Rail Trail. Salisbury's 1.4-mile Old Eastern Marsh Trail extends from the north bank of the Merrimack River near Friedenfels Street to Mudnock Road. Good birding, Sue Sue McGrath Newburyport, MA Subject: Middleboro, Halifax From: kr1946 AT verizon.net Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:56:55 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Spotted Sandpipers, Estabrook Woods , Concord, 8/31/10 From: "Swain, David" <D.Swain AT snhu.edu> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:09:48 -0400 Low water in Mink Pond in Estabrook Woods has exposed numerous small islands of mud, and to my surprise there were shorebirds. I'll stick with the Least Sandpiper ID, but confirmation of the Spotted Sandpipers would be good, as I didn't have a scope and am well less than expert on shorebirds. In any case, Kenneth Harte's 36 birding data for Estabrook lists Spotted as an occasional summer visitor, but eBird has no data for the species at this location. Location: Estabrook Woods Observation date: 8/31/10 Notes: Fairly quiet, but nice to hear and see Pileateds. Low counts on GBH and Wood Duck. Water is low, exposing small islands of mud which held the surprise shorebirds. Small flock of Least Sandpipers flying about. Two groupings of sandpipers, most of them teetering and whistling (slower than Leasts), half in plain brown plumage (adult), half in darker, lightly patterned plumage (juv?). Eyelines well seen, but I wish I'd had a scope to be 100% sure. Number of species: 19 Wood Duck 10 Mallard 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Spotted Sandpiper 6 Least Sandpiper 12 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Blue Jay 10 Black-capped Chickadee 7 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 13 American Robin 1 American Goldfinch 1 David Swain Concord, MA d.swain AT snhu.edu Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: massbird charter and posting guidelines - from the moderator From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620 AT TheWorld.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:48:36 -0400 With Labor Day and the start of the working year, it's time to post the MASSBIRD charter and guidelines. The warm days, chilly nights, changing conditions of fall with the occasional turbulence of fall and early winter storms brings birding opportunities and challenges. Please take a minute or two to carefully read the MASSBIRD CHARTER and POSTING GUIDELINES! One of the keys to our success is the respect we show for each other in our observations and thoughtful comments, no matter what your level of experience with birding or with posting. While healthy discussion is encouraged, comments intended to be disparaging, whether personal or in general, are not acceptable. Thanks to all those seasoned birders who provide background information and tutelage to those readers who are just starting birding and to those of us not at the expert level. Your help is appreciated - please post in plain text, since the format of massbird-digest is impacted by this problem. Thanks to all of you who have shown leadership in its many ways - sharing information and observations, showing courtesy towards novices and seasoned birders alike, reflecting on environmental trends and ethics, highlighting opportunities for volunteering, noting opportunities for regulatory impact and input to governmental processes and more. Join me again in thanking all of you who have contributed to the success of MASSBIRD. The diversity of contributions and observations rests with you. From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, from Cape Ann to southwestern Massachusetts, birders visit coast and mountains, forest and field, wetlands and river plains. While most of us are in Eastern Massachusetts, observations from those of you elsewhere help to paint a more complete picture of what's going on in our state and region and are especially welcomed. Thank you for your participation and for making MASSBIRD something we can all share credit and be thankful for. Finally, a personal request from me. Open someone's eyes to the outdoors - take them out birding! Migration is underway. Take a neighbor, a scout troop, your kids, a coworker for a walk, just to name a few. Personal experience is a the core of the awareness of the natural world. Share what you know with others - they will never see the world in the same way. Thank you and bring enjoy fall migration! Barbara Volkle, moderator MASSBIRD Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com * * * * * Please save this for future reference! MASSBIRD is a mailing list dedicated to the interchange of wild bird and birding information relevant to Massachusetts and New England. This list is intended for the discussion of local issues - such as birding locations, local conditions, reports of local rarities and unusual sightings, pelagic trip reports, legislative alerts, events and speakers in the area, and calls for volunteers in research and census activities. Hopefully, novice birdwatchers, visitors to our area, and our local experts alike, will share their questions and knowledge through this mailing list. Together we have made MASSBIRD a useful forum, sharing information on a real time basis. If you wish to bring up a topic of environmental concern that is of special interest to birders in Massachusetts or the northeast ( ie. local content), contact me. Such posts should be designed to summarize the issue and inform readers of how they can pursue the topic from that point on. Most of us lead enormously busy lives - family, home and work commitments, and of course, a demanding interest in birding. Please respect each other's time by limiting your posts on massbird to topics within the charter. Please SIGN your posts with your NAME, TOWN and EMAIL ADDRESS. This is the convention used by MASSBIRD and other birding email lists. Be sure to give the location of your sightings by town. Many birders are listening in - including beginners, those new to the area, and those planning visits. Don't assume that everyone listening is familiar with finding your birding location. Additionally, your clarity helps others put your reports in context. Make your title meaningful. Date and location make it clear what your message is about. This simple idea makes it possible for readers to find and process your message easily. Focus on the content of your message. While healthy discussion is encouraged, comments intended to be disparaging, whether personal or in general, are not acceptable. Avoid abbreviations and codes. While many of us figure these things out, participants with less experience with MASSBIRD have to translate these. Make it easy for your message to be easily understood. Full bird names should be used. If you wish to use four-letter banding codes, make sure that it is clear what species they refer to by pairing them with the full species name at least once in your post. If possible, provide details on numbers of birds seen, especially unusual species. Records are created from postings to MASSBIRD for Bird Observer and Massachusetts Audubon. Researchers are working to establish weather and other patterns related to seabird populations, winter finches, rarities, etc. Especially with seabird posts, please try to note when, where and how long your observation was. Noting weather information is also useful. Do not include the original post in your reply to MASSBIRD. If there's something specific you'd like to address, include that segment. Including the original posts and multiple replies make the digest version repetitive and difficult to read. Finally, post in PLAIN TEXT. If at all possible, avoid MIME and HTML including highlighting or text formatting. The majordomo software that handles massbird translates these formats into additional code that is unnecessary and confusing for digest users. NO ATTACHMENTS, please! Finally, if you are not able to post or reach me at my primary email address, contact me directly at b_volkle AT yahoo.com. Thanks for your continued support and for making MASSBIRD a successful forum! Barbara Volkle, moderator Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com Subject: Nighhawk Surprise From: "Michael LaBossiere" <sparrowhawk51 AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:01:14 -0400 I was in Maine this weekend for a "quality time" trip with my daughters before they return to college. On they way home we stopped at a restaurant 'Taste of Maine"( Woolwich, Maine) which is located on a hill overlooking a river, a great view. As we enjoyed ourselves, a Nighthawk flew past and I was excited and pointed it out to them. I have spent many vigils in Mattapoisett and have seen maybe two or three Nighthawks a once. I have seen post of big numbers, but never been so lucky. As we dined, another flew past, and because of the location of the Restaurant they were passing at eye level and in excellent sun setting light. Nearly 40 Nighthawks passed during our meal and it made our quality time all the more special. Saw several more before dark on they way South. Happy Birding! Mike LaBossiere sparrowhawk51 AT verizon.net Mattapoisett, Ma. Subject: new links for Cape Cod Bird Club Pelagic information and registration From: "cvf AT juno.com" <cvf@juno.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:46:47 GMT Apparently the link I listed for the information and waiver for the Cape Cod Bird Club Pelagic trip on September 26th did not always work. The link for the registration and waiver form is: http://massbird.org/ccbc/waiver%20form.pdf The trip is on September 26th, from 8:30am to 3:00pm, out of Provincetown, on a Dolphin Fleet boat. For more information see: http://massbird.org/ccbc/pelagic%20trip.pdf Registrations are due on September 1st. Contact Person – Charlie Martin 508-430-1257 or cemartinjr AT comcast.net Cynthia Franklin cvf AT juno.com for the Cape Cod Bird Club ____________________________________________________________ Refinance Now 3.7% FIXED $160,000 Mortgage for $547/mo. FREE. No Obligation. Get 4 Quotes! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4c7cebdf52f5a972e04st06vuc Subject: BBC Extreme Pelagic Videos From: Matt Garvey <mattpgarvey AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:29:22 -0400 I posted some video of the White-faced Storm-Petrels, deft Baltimore Oriole rescue by Luke and Jeremiah, and other highlights (Porbeagle Shark, Great Skua, Yellowfin Tuna, Spotted Dolphins, Wilson's and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, Fin Whale, Manta Ray and remeras) on YoutTube at this address: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=mattpgarvey#p/u/0/_NqbjOex3nw. Slightly better quality videos, although harder to view on some web browsers, can be found at my mobileme sight here: http://gallery.me.com/mattpgarvey#101350 (general highlights), http://gallery.me.com/mattpgarvey#101351 (White-faced Storm-Petrels) and http://gallery.me.com/mattpgarvey#101362 (oriole rescue). It was a tremendous trip, hard to do it justice with video! Matt Garvey Brookline, MA mattpgarvey AT gmail.com Subject: Fenway Nighthawks From: James Taylor <jtaylor274 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:04:31 -0400 I sat at Ramler Park in the Fenway from 6:30 to 7:30 looking for Nighthawks, but saw more Grackles than anything. Common Grackle - 182 - moving east to west in medium sized flocks European Starling - 37 - moving east to west American Robin - 10 - moving west to east Chimney Swift - 7 - moving north to south Mourning Dove - 6 Herring Gull - 2 American Goldfinch - 1 COMMON NIGHTHAWK - 3 - moving north to south After popping into Shaws afterwards, I came out around 7:45ish and across the Landmark Center traffic circle towards the Riverway, in a beautiful sky holding onto the last light of the day, more COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were streaming by. I grabbed my binoculars from my bag and was able to see 10 more moving in a north to south direction. James Taylor, Fenway, Boston Subject: BBC Extreme Pelagic Photos (take two): WFSP, BNRS, GRSK, etc. From: Luke Seitz <birdfreak007 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:33:51 -0700 (PDT) Hi all- I guess there have been some problems with the link I sent out before.  See if this works (for photos from the BBC Pelagic trip with White-faced and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, Great Skua, etc): http://www.flickr.com/photos/51533299 AT N05/sets/72157624716229659/with/4941980234/ Best Luke Seitz Falmouth, ME birdfreak007 AT yahoo.com www.seitzart.com Subject: Plum Island 2010/08/30 - Royal Tern From: Francois Grenon <grenonf AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:23:03 +0000 Hi, I am back in Montreal. It is now 0100 in the morning so here is a very short report relaying the highlights of my day in case these birds are of interest to some of you. I spent the afternoon at Plum Island Monday 08/30. You already know about the juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the airport, along the wooden fence adjacent to the main building. Found at 1130, was still there at 1300. There was a relatively low shorebird activity at the Salt Pans (5-7 Whimbrels), Bill Forward Pool, the overlook at the Pines Trail (only Red Knot of the day was there) and Sandy Point. Most of the action was at Stage Island Pool 1600-1740: - About 600-ish shorebirds of 11 species, among which 1 juvenile Stilt Sandpiper close from the tower. I found another Stilt S. from the overlook (Parking Lot #6) - too far to age, could be the same bird. - One female Ruddy Duck - I do not know if this is a good bird for Mass or not, but it is my first on PI. - Caspian Tern (1 a, 1 j): Found at 1600 from the tower, roosting in the center of the pool with a mixed flock of about 130 gulls (Herring, Ring-billed, Great Black-backed, Laughing). Departed around 1630. - ROYAL TERN (1 a): Found at 1645 from the overlook (Parking Lot #6) in the same flock of gulls, exactly where the 2 caspian terns were minutes ago! Adult with the white winter (non-breeding) forehead about 50% through. Actively preening all the time. Was still there when I scanned a last time from the parking lot at 1740. Decent pictures taken. Regards, François Grenon Montreal, QC, Canada Subject: my carefully worded responses From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:19:32 -0700 (PDT) Hi massbirders, I  have finally built up my stomach enough to get around to reading Marshall's response to my posting. I am not going to bother stooping so low as to comment on Marshall Iliff's claim that I answer queries from ebird editors by saying "I know what I know", except to say that I may have ONCE answered thusly, and that I'm sure he must have taken it out of context. But I do feel a need to respond to the besmirching of my character. His post makes it sound like I am a careless, frivolous birder, and by extension a careless human being. I answer ebird editors' questions to the best of my abilities without lying, even though I have suspected on more than one occasion that my sightings were being rejected out of pettiness, pride, or even competitive rivalry. It is true that Marshall and I are incommunicado, and have been for a long time, but I felt I couldn't just sit here and do nothing after just now reading about his cheap shots and insults. I have also sent an email of complaint to the people at ebird regarding the very unprofessional behaviour of this "expert."    Thank you very much Paul Peterson petersonpaul63 AT yahoo.com Boston Subject: CT Report 08/30/2010 White-tailed Kite From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT snet.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:10:28 -0400 Day 30 for the White-tailed Kite in Stratford. Details on CTBirds. From Paul Cianfaglione and Tom Sayers: 08/30/10 - Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill Meadows -- 1 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPER. From John Marshall: 08/30/10 - Winchester, Old Waterbury Turnpike (Rosgen Wildlife Sanctuary) -- 6:30 AM, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 2 PURPLE FINCH. From Dave Provencher with John Oshlick: 08/30/10 - ????, Bluff Point -- Black-billed Cuckoo (1), Philadelphia Vireo (1), Red-breasted Nuthatch (15), Brown Thrasher (2), Bobolink (20). From Paul Carrier: 08/30/10 - ?????, Bakersville swamp -- 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO. From Hank Golet 08/30/10 - Old Lyme, Great Island -- WHIMBREL, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. From Greg Hanisek: 08/30/10 - New Haven, Lighthouse Point hawk watch -- OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER teed up for 1/2 hour in "the dead tree"; 3 flyover DICKCISSELS, 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH; 235 BOBOLINKS; 4 PURPLE FINCHES. From Paul Desjardins: 08/30/10 - West Haven, Sandy Point -- 2 juvenile Red Knots. From James Randall: 08/30/10 - Faifield, Penfield Reef -- A juvenile Red Knot on the jetty next to the reef. From Dennis Varza: 08/30/10 - Stratford, Selby's Pond (Shakespeare Theater Pond) -- an immature Northern Pintail. From Louise P. Tucker: 08/30/10 - ?????, Harkness Memorial State Park -- a Whimbrel flew to the edge of the marsh in the inlet that is to the west of the lawn. It rested near a gull group, preening itself for quite a while. From Brenda Inskeep: 08/30/10 - Stamford, Shippan -- while unloading groceries from the car, there were Common Nighthawks streaming by overhead. I watched for about 10 minutes and counted at least 30, one after the other, until deciding the ice cream couldn't wait for the freezer any longer. I was able to see them off in the distance over the tree-line towards Dyke Park while driving home; after dark I went to that location and was able to see 3 flying back and forth, feeding above the field lights. From SH Johnston: 08/30/10 - Farmington yard -- 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at backyard suet feeder. First time I've ever seen one at this time of year in my yard. From Frank Mantlik: 08/29/10 - Stratford, Stratford Point -- 5:10pm, 1 BLACK TERN flew south down the Housatonic River and continued past the coastal bluff and out of sight. From Jim Denham: 08/29/10 - Essex yard -- a group of 20+ Common Nighthawks at 6:45 pm. ********************************************************************** This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written authorization from the board of directors of the COA. ********************************************************************** Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport AT ftml.net. Reports should include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at: http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CTDY.html http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/ Subject: Re: South Beach Trip Report ... photo & video links taken August 27, 2010 From: Bruce deGraaf <brucedegraaf AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:02:47 -0700 (PDT) I posted photos of an assortment of the birds seen during the August 27th combined Forbush and Cape Cod Bird Clubs trip to South Beach in Chatham. The photos include a cooperative group of American Oysetercatchers, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Forster's Tern, Black Tern (in flight), Laughing Gull, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, and others. Here's the link for those interested: http://brucedegraaf.zenfolio.com/p932996218 I also posted a short (1 minute 17 second) HD video on YouTube of an American Oystercatcher feeding its Fledglings and a combined group of Whimbrels and a Marbled Godwit. Here's the link for those interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI2yQZb56sM For a complete trip list, see the attached email from Ed Banks. Bruce deGraaf Shrewsbury, MA ________________________________ From: Ed Banks To: Massbird Email Sent: Sat, August 28, 2010 11:40:16 AM Subject: [MASSBIRD] South Beach Trip Report Aug 27th Forbush/Cape Cod Bird Club Trip Report The co-sponsored birding trip to South Beach in Chatham with the Forbush and Cape Cod Bird Clubs on Friday, August 27, produced the following: Canada Goose - 6 Common Eider - 10 White-winged Scoter - 6 Commonb Loon - 2 Northern Gannet - 6 Double-crested Cormorant - 200+ Snowy Egret - 3 Great Blue Heron - 1 Snowy Egret - 3 Osprey - 2 Northern Harrier - 3 Black-bellied Plover - 500+ Semipalmated Plover - 500+ Piping Plover - 2 American Oystercatcher - 20+ Greater Yellowleg - 40+ Lesser Yellowleg - 5 Willet - 50+ Whimbrel - 12 Hudsonian Godwit - 22 Marbled Godwit - 1 Ruddy Turnstone - 200+ Red Knot - 40+ Sanderling - 400+ Semipalmated Sandpiper - 500+ Least Sandpiper - 20+ White-rumped Sandpiper - 2 Dunlin - 5 Short-billed Dowitcher - 1400+ Lauging Gull - 10+ Herring Gull - 200+ Great Black-backed Gull - 200+ Roseate Tern - 8 Common Tern - 1000+ Forster’s Tern - 6 Least Tern - 10 Mourning Dove - 2 Am Crow - 20 Tree Swallow - 10 Barn Swallow - 30+ Savannah Sparrow - 2 Northern cardinal - 2 Red-winged Blackbird - 4 American Goldfinch - 3 Total Species: 50 Ed Banks Harwich, MA edbanks AT verizon.net Subject: Wing Island banding blog From: suefinnegan AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:36:52 +0000 (UTC) I just updated my banding blog for the past week with pics of fall migrants, young of summer breeders, and a VERY interesting goldfinch! http://www.capecodbander.blogspot.com Sue Finnegan Wing Island Banding Station Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Brewster MA 02631 http://www.wingisland.org Lyme Awareness of Cape Cod www.lymeticks.org Subject: Spotted Sandpiper - Wellesley From: "Greg Dysart" <dysart AT volume3.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:05:53 -0400 Monday, August 30, 2010 This evening at 7pm on Longfellow Pond off Oakland Street Wellesley, there were the usual Mallards and a Spotted Sandpiper, still with spots. The bird flew to the distant shore opposite the parking area as I pulled in, but then flew inches above the water back to the initial spot, a few feet from where I sat, bobbing up and down and up and down after it landed. Nice bird for a summer evening, Greg Dysart dysart AT volume3.com natick ma http://dysart.zenfolio.com/ Subject: Belle Isle Blue-winged Teal + From: "RMC" <r.cressman.xyz.1928 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:42:56 -0400 Belle Isle Marsh, E.Boston 8/30/20 9:30 ++ just after low tide Egrets 18 mixed Great & Snowy Black Ducks 12 in pool to boardwalk Unidentified ducks 8+ in the more distant pool (later seen to be Blue-winged Teal) (see below) NORTHERN HARRIER 1 (first sighting - dark top and wings with white rump) (came closer in a 2nd tour and on a turn I saw a dark belly indicating a juvenile) WOOD DUCK 1 flyby (Black on top with white edge on trailing edge of wings;tail longish. Greater Yellowlegs Various other shorebirds on edges of distant ponds and flitting out and into the marsh vegetation. Hummingbird 1- flyby Northern Mockingbirds 3 (4?) near tower 6:00 Return visit Only a few Egrets present. Great Blue Heron 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL 19 in the pool closest to the boardwalk. (This description based on recording taken at the site.) Mottled dark brown on top. Light grayish brown on bottom with heavy speckling. After a period of rest on the water, some started gamboling around and showing their wings. The pale blue shoulder patch with a white edge in back was clearly visible in a number of them. Bill appears a little longish (made me briefly consider the Shoveler during my distant morning sightings when they were also doing the Shoveler method of feeding). Some have a white spot at the base of the bill and below it. Some are just lighter in this area. Cheeks had various degress of paleness. A few standing on hump had yellowish legs. Of the various shorebirds only Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs were identifiable using my binocs. Many small peeps seemed to be Semipalmated SP. Rich Richard Cressman East Boston, MA r.cressman.xyz.1928[at]gmail.com Subject: Mt. Auburn Nighthawks From: Bob Stymeist <bobstymeist AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:05:09 -0400 This evening the Friends of Mt Auburn Cemetery hosted a Nighthawk watch from the Tower, a total of 102 nighthawks were seen, many of which passed directly overhead. Birds started at 6:20 and continued right up until 7:45. We also talied approximately 65 Chimney Swifts and a Great Egret fly over the Cemetery- only my third in 49 yeards!!. The evening started with a Merlin attacking and capturing a young Robin on Central Avenue Bob Stymeist Arlington -- Bob Stymeist bobstymeist AT gmail.com Subject: Westboro - Common Nighthawks - 8/30/10 PM From: Pokedaddy <pokedaddy151 AT aim.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:12:25 -0400 (EDT) In the area of the cooperative farm land behind St. Luke's Cemetery, there was a modest flight of Common Nighthawks. Observation Time: 1830 to 1945 Killdeer - 19 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Common Nighthawk - 46 - Birds were rising out of the Cedar Swamp in small groups of 2-4, hunting over the tree tops for a few minutes, then making a beeline SSE. Chimney Swift - 1 Bobolink - 13 -------------------------------------------------------- Steve Arena Westboro, MA PokeDaddy151 (at) aol (dot) com Subject: Bear Creek, Saugus, report for Sunday 8/29 From: "Soheil Zendeh" <szendeh AT rcn.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:23:02 -0400 The next Bear Creek walk is next Sunday September 5 at 7:30 am. Let me know if you are coming. 2010.08.29 Bear Creek Sanctuary, Rumney Marsh, Saugus Observers: Peter & Armen Young, Soheil Zendeh, Tim Factor, David Desmond, Pat Randall Weather: sunny, windy, 70° - 85°F, W 10 - 20 mph Tide: high at 2:59 pm Time: 7:45 - 10:45 am Notes: Though it promised to be a hot and buggy day, the stiff west breeze kept everything fresh and delightful. Three young Redtails kept us entertained for a long time, flying about seemingly oblivious to us, tumbling over each other, chasing each other on the ground--on foot! Tim commented on their lack of coordination when landing-- obviously young of the year. I posted some pix of them at http://picasaweb.google.com/sohzendeh/BearCreek?feat=directlink Herons are staging and numbers are building for the fall migration. This was the highest count of Great Egrets at Bear Creek since I began to keep records. Bug numbers and density was gratifying. There is no spraying at this sanctuary. For this and possibly other reasons (such as excellent diversity of plants) bugs such as grasshoppers, ichneumon wasps, dragonflies and butterflies are abundant. I give some very approximate estimates of numbers after the bird list. Mind you, I'm no bug expert. Number of bird species: 36 Canada Goose 72 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 8 Ring-necked Pheasant 2 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 18 Great Egret 36 Snowy Egret 3 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Accipiter sp. 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 2 Black-bellied Plover 2 Killdeer 2 Greater Yellowlegs 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper 100 Herring Gull X Rock Pigeon 32 Mourning Dove 1 Hummingbird (sp) 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 4 Tree Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 2 American Robin 3 Northern Mockingbird 5 European Starling 140 Savannah Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Bobolink 2 Eastern Meadowlark 3 American Goldfinch 6 Leps: Monarch 15 Black Swallowtail 10 Tailed Blue 35 Common Ringlet 1 (these were abundant earlier in the summer) Sulphur (several species and hybrids?) 50 Forage Looper 2 Odes: AJ 30 Wandering Glider 3 (incl mated pair) Halloween Pennant 1 Grasshoppers: Carolina Grasshopper 150 Small whitish flying grasshoppers 200 Ichneumon Wasps: 2 Soheil Zendeh 42 Baker Ave Lexington, MA 02421 szendeh AT rcn.com 781-863-2392 home 617-763-5637 cell 617-528-4013 office Subject: South Beach 8/30 From: Greg Hirth <geohawk_1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:25:48 -0700 (PDT) I spent the day out on South Beach in Chatham from around 10 to 4:30. The tide was lousy for birding with the Outermost Harbor "last call" at 4:30. Birds were pretty scarce until 2:30 to 3:00. I did not see Bar-tailed Godwit, I also missed Marbled Godwit and only saw around 6 Hudsonian's before I had to head back to the boat. I did see an interesting Golden Plover. The bird struck me as very brownish-yellow and small. It showed obvious white supercillium and black spot around ear. I have some lousy photos if anyone is interested in seeing them. Overall the bird appeared more golden/yellowish-brown on the back and head than I am used to with American Golden Plover and am wondering if Pacific is a possibility. Other highlights, such as they were: Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) Black Tern (3) Cheers, Greg Hirth East Falmouth geohawk_1 at yahoo.com Subject: Eastern Point AM- Gloucester Harbor PM , 8/30/10 From: winterwren2 AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:34:45 +0000 (UTC) Location: Eastern Point Gloucester Observation date: 8/30/10 Notes: quiet morning walk from the EP lighthouse to Brace Cove and back Number of species: 33 Mute Swan 3 Double-crested Cormorant X Merlin 1 Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 4 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 25 Least Sandpiper 5 White-rumped Sandpiper 5 Bonaparte's Gull 42 Laughing Gull 18 Herring Gull X Great Black-backed Gull X Mourning Dove X Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Tree Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 5 Black-capped Chickadee X Tufted Titmouse X White-breasted Nuthatch X Carolina Wren 2 Gray Catbird 25 Northern Mockingbird 2 European Starling X Blue-winged Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 3 Northern Cardinal 2 House Finch X American Goldfinch X House Sparrow X ________________________________________ Location: Gloucester Harbor Evening- Observation date: 8/30/10 6pm-7:30 Notes: I walked to the boulevard and the Blynman Bridge to watch the egrets flying to a night roost on Ten Pound Island. They fly down the Annisquam River and over to the island. Nighthawks were a pleasant surprise. Number of species: 11 Common Eider 32 Surf Scoter 4 Double-crested Cormorant 18 Great Egret 36 Snowy Egret 220 Little Blue Heron 3 Laughing Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 20 Common Nighthawk 5 Chimney Swift 3 American Crow 15 Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Watertown Nighthawks 8/30 From: BHYOND AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:00:59 EDT Twenty or so over Spy Pond between 720p and 750p..............going different directions Barbara Hunter Arlington Subject: Watertown Nighthawks 8/30 From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1 AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:58:39 -0400 Encouraged by recent reports of Nighthawks in Watertown and surrounding areas, I got home in time for a short soiree with the sky this evening. Between 7:25 and 7:35 p.m. I saw 9 Common Nighthawks ( 7 moving south, 2 flying north - go figure). So, keep you eyes to the sky for a few more nights! Cheers! Linda -- Linda Ferraresso Watertown, MA tattler1(at)verizon(dot)net “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore Subject: nighthawks and cliff swallow at great meadows From: Jim McCoy <jfmccoy AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:38:24 +0000 We went for a very pleasant outing to Great Meadows this evening. There weren't too many nighthawks at first, but then they came in several small strings, and by the time we left, the assembled group (Will M., Alan Bragg, Willy Hutcheson and kids, and Nancy and I) had seen at least 47 individuals. Things had slowed down considerably, but they might have caught a couple of stragglers after we took off. There weren't many surprises, but a single Cliff Swallow flew over, which was a notable exception. There were very few swallows generally -- only a handful of Barn Swallows besides that one individual. There was also a Least Sandpiper immediately in front of us that put on a nice show for the kids. Jim McCoy Melrose, MA jfmccoy AT hotmail.com Subject: Cumberland Farms area 8/30/10 From: Ian Davies <goshawk227 AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:05:45 -0400 An afternoon at the the fields on Fuller and Walnut Streets today was well spent, with a great variety of inland shorebirds. Highlights included the previously reported Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden-Plover at Walnut St., as well as the Wilson's Phalarope at Fuller St., but two juvenile Baird's Sandpipers at Fuller St. were recent additions. The Baird's and Wilson's Phalarope were incredibly tame, both species feeding in my direction and coming within 11 feet (the close focus of my camera) in the course of their wanderings. Photos can be seen at the end of this set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/sets/72157622663136158 , including one of the two Baird's together. Driving to and from the fields, I noticed large numbers of Turkey Vultures along Route 44 especially, with at least 18 Turkey Vultures in 3 kettles. No Black Vultures seen, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some hanging around. Full lists from the two fields below. Cumberland Farms--IBA - Fuller St fields (1420-1535): Turkey Vulture 5 American Kestrel 4 Surprised to see more than one. At least one male. Feeding actively and perching in the fields, often flushing shorebirds. Black-bellied Plover 6 Semipalmated Plover 7 Killdeer 35 Solitary Sandpiper 5 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Juveniles Lesser Yellowlegs 6 Juveniles Semipalmated Sandpiper 12 Juveniles Least Sandpiper 18 Juveniles Baird's Sandpiper 2 **Rare, high count. Surprised to see these here, as I hadn't seen any reported from these fields. Two juvenile birds originally feeding separately, but when flushed by a raptor they flew and landed together. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/sets/72157622663136158 Pectoral Sandpiper 6 *High count. All juveniles, one cohesive flock of five and a single. Wilson's Snipe 4 Wilson's Phalarope 1 *Rare. Feeding in a pool at the center rear of the fields, it was very tame and fed within 15 feet of me, swimming around in endless circles. Photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/4942961861/in/set-72157622663136158/ Laughing Gull 1 Juvenile Mourning Dove 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Tree Swallow 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Walnut St. field, Halifax (1545-1615): Canada Goose 15 Black-bellied Plover 8 American Golden-Plover 1 *Rare. Gorgeous adult still with ~50% breeding plumage. Killdeer 6 Least Sandpiper 5 Pectoral Sandpiper 3 Juveniles Buff-breasted Sandpiper 1 **Rare. Juvenile bird seen actively feeding in the southern part of the fields. Interesting to watch it pick insects off of small weeds about 4-6 inches off the ground. This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good birding, Ian Davies Manomet, MA goshawk227 AT earthlink.net http://uropsalis.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/uropsalis/ Subject: More photos from Sunday's Extreme Pelagic From: Jim Hully <hullyjr AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:09:32 -0400 I've put a few images from this wonderful trip here: http:// jimhully.smugmug.com/Latest-Images/Latest-Bird- Images-1/9054259_FeSqJ#988671287_cNxEy Thanks again to Ida, the leaders and the crew of the Helen H. The Yellow-tail Tuna and Mahi-mahi were excellent! You will note a few non-avianimages, these are the remarkable white remora or sharks that attended the manta ray. I think they are remoras as I cannot imagine a manta ray tolerating a couple of 'toothy' sharks. Here are some interesting links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_suckerfish http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/remo-rem.html http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=02466 http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=2003 Cheers Jim Hully Salisbury, MA Email: hullyjr AT comcast.net Bird images: http://jimhully.smugmug.com/ Subject: Compilation of Essex County Sightings ~ 8/30/10 From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:47:43 -0400 Birders, Compilation of Essex County Sightings ~ 8/30/10... Good birding, Sue Sue McGrath Newburyport Birders Newburyport, MA 01950 newburyportbirders AT comcast.net www.newburyportbirders.com *Merrimack River, North Andover: Osprey *Page School, West Newbury: Common Nighthawk, Indigo Bunting, Great Blue Heron, Ring-necked Pheasant, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow *Parker River, Newbury: American Crow, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Green Heron *Baker Road & Bartlett Street, Salisbury: Wild Turkey, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle *Essex Bay, Essex: Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Common Tern *Newburyport Harbor: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Northern Mockingbird, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Mourning Dove, European Starling, Common Grackle, Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Double-crested Cormorant, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, House Finch, Rock Pigeon *Nevins Bird Sanctuary, Methuen: Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eastern Phoebe, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Downy Woodpecker *Old Right Road, Ipswich: Pine Warbler *Bachelor Street, West Newbury: Wild Turkey, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, American Crow *Short Beach, Nahant: Laughing Gull *Moulton Street, Newburyport: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Fish Crow, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren *Willowdale State Forest, Ipswich: Red-breasted Nuthatch *Salisbury Rail Trail ~ Mudnock Road to Friendenfels Road: Belted Kingfisher, Osprey, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Herring Gull *Route 1A, Rowley: Barn Swallow, Double-crested Cormorant, Wild Turkey, Snowy Egret *Brace Cove, Gloucester: Common Eider, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, American Crow *Kenoza Lake, Haverhill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Common Tern, Chimney Swift, Bank Swallow, Great Egret, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Tree Swallow *Newman Road, Newbury: Common Tern, Snowy Egret, Red-tailed Hawk, Double-crested Cormorant, Tree Swallow, Killdeer *Hatter's Point Marina, Amesbury: Bald Eagle, Osprey *Nahant Golf Course, Nahant: Laughing Gull *Marsh Avenue, Newbury: Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird *Route 213/Rte 93, Methuen: Green Heron, Spotted Sandpiper *Red Gate Road, Rowley: Barn Swallow, Orchard Oriole, Tree Swallow, Killdeer *Halibut Point, Rockport: Common Eider, Black Scoter, Common Loon, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Northern Harrier, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Pomarine Jaeger, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch *Bird Banding Station, Plum Island: Downy Woodpecker, "Traill's" Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Finch, Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Carolina Wren, Blue-winged Warbler, Canada Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Orchard Oriole *Savory Street, Newburyport: Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, Fish Crow, Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron *Nelson Island, Rowley: Great Egret, Osprey, Eastern Kingbird *Nahant Beach, Nahant: Laughing Gull *Quill Pond, Newbury: Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Eastern Phoebe *Nahant Beach and Lynn Beach: Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling *Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dowitcher sp., Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch Subject: Newburyport Harbor ~ 8/29/10 From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:08:21 -0400 Birders, Two, small groups joined Paula McFarland and me for some birding of the extensive mudflats of Newburyport Harbor on Sunday. We spent our time at several viewing sites along Water Street, observing, appreciating and identifying resident birds and long-distance migrants. Our focus was on the aids to field identification including habitat preference, feeding techniques and physical characteristics. During the morning walk, we watched a hovering Belted Kingfisher and an Osprey. Those medium-sized, white terns with black caps, the Common Terns, were very active, and the participants were thrilled as they studied the long tails that are deeply forked. The white wings with dark tips were well seen. Immature terns perched on the sailboats resembled winter adults but had even darker primaries. Participants at the evening program witnessed hundreds of gulls enjoying a "hatch"; it was an aerial, feeding frenzy. The Bonaparte's Gulls were favorites of many as they breed near bogs or lakes in conifer forests of western Canada & Alaska. They nest in conifer trees and sometimes on the ground. Bonaparte's Gulls forage in flight and pick up objects while swimming or wading. They mainly eat crustaceans, insects and fish and rarely scavenge. They are graceful in flight and tern-like and were named after Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a zoologist and nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. At the morning program, we watched a Monarch nectaring. The evening program brought us Black-crowned Night-Herons, and at both programs, we sampled Beach Plums. Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron, 6 Osprey Northern Mockingbird, eating poke berries Least Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Short-billed Dowitcher Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Bonaparte's Gull, huge flotilla Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Belted Kingfisher Mourning Dove European Starking Common Grackle Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck Green-winged Teal, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, migrating American Crow Tree Swallow, large gatherings along the Salisbury marshes Chimney Swift Black-capped Chickadee American Robin Gray Catbird American Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow House Finch Rock Pigeon Good birding, Sue Sue McGrath Newburyport Birders Newburyport, MA 01950 newburyportbirders AT comcast.net www.newburyportbirders.com Subject: need for HD content of birds for Thoreau documentary being produced From: "Paul Maher Jr." <paul_maherjr AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:34:18 -0700 (PDT) Hi, I am assembling footage for this big project about Henry Thoreau and the natural world. Since his journal covers such a vast array of bird and animal species which would be hard to cover alone, I am soliciting video from any out there that have shot, preferably HD 24p footage of any New England avian species. This can be short, as low as ten seconds worth or up to a few minutes. It doesn't even have to be aesthetically perfect. This will give you a credit as camera person and a copy of the finished DVD/Blu-Ray when it is finished down the line. I am also looking for any other native animal species, by land or sea. MORE INFO CAN BE HAD HERE: http://henrydthoreau.blogspot.com/ Thanks, Paul Maher Jr. 9789065673 Lancaster, MA. 01523 Subject: Cumberland Farms fields From: "Brian Cassie" <Brian_Cassie AT parkschool.org> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:12:39 -0400 Hi, Yesterday in the late afternoon there was lots of shorebird activity (but no other birders) at the Fuller Street plowed field. Present were fourteen species of shorebirds, including one each (at least) Pectoral, Buff-breasted, and Baird's Sandpipers. The field was still extremely muddy in places, though drier than Saturday. The two Dickcissels discovered by Jim Sweeeney on Saturday were present not far in on the left at the main parking area (road to the manure piles, etc.). Both were quite vocal. Dickcissel was "heard bird" # 254 this year. Brian Cassie, Foxboro Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper - PI Airport 8/30 From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620 AT TheWorld.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:57:43 -0400 thanks to Steve Grinley for this report.... Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA barb620 AT theworld.com >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:55:04 -0500 (CDT) >From: "Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift" >To: plumislandbirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper - PI Airport 8/30 > > >Francois Grenon called the store at 11:45 pm to report a juvenile >buff-breasted sandpiper at the Plum Island Airport. The bird was >very near to the wooden fence near the main building. > >Steve Grinley >Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats >Newburyport, MA >BirdWSG AT Verizon.net >978-462-0775 >www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com Subject: eBird Report - Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit , 8/29/10 From: Alan Bragg <alan.ruth.bragg AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:13:45 -0400 Location:     Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit Observation date:     8/29/10 Notes:     WeeklyCensus by NWR volunteers Kathy Dias, Will Martens & Alan Bragg Number of species:     32 Canada Goose     27 Wood Duck     6 Mallard     2 Wild Turkey     1     entrance road Great Blue Heron     7 Black-crowned Night-Heron     2     in front of tower and flying south over lower pool Red-tailed Hawk     3 American Kestrel     1     hovering over lower pool Mourning Dove     7 Red-bellied Woodpecker     2 Downy Woodpecker     5 Northern Flicker     1 Eastern Wood-Pewee     2     Timber Trail Eastern Phoebe     2     boat landing Warbling Vireo     4 Blue Jay     11 American Crow     3 Tree Swallow     15 Black-capped Chickadee     10 Tufted Titmouse     9 White-breasted Nuthatch     8 Marsh Wren     4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1     boat landing Eastern Bluebird     2     boat landing Gray Catbird     4 Black-and-white Warbler     1     boat landing Common Yellowthroat     3 Swamp Sparrow     1 sparrow sp.     8 Northern Cardinal     2 Common Grackle     3 blackbird sp.     40 House Finch     6     boat landing American Goldfinch     9 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) We also had 2 Magnolia Warblers and an American Redstart along the river by the Borden Ponds. Alan Bragg Bedford MA Subject: FW: eBird Report - Mattison Field, Concord , 8/30/10 From: "Swain, David" <D.Swain AT snhu.edu> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:39:21 -0400 Location: Mattison Field, Concord Observation date: 8/30/10 Number of species: 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 5 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3 Eastern Phoebe 4 Eastern Kingbird 1 Blue Jay 10 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 1 American Robin 6 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 10 Bobolink 2 House Finch 7 House Sparrow 12 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Heard's Conservation Land , 8/30/10 From: Jim M <jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:19:55 -0700 (PDT) Lunchtime birding highlights were a merlin on the hunt in the orchard and an American redstart at Heard's. The fields were being mowed, which kept the numbers down. Location: Heard's Conservation Land Observation date: 8/30/10 Number of species: 16 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Merlin 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 2 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 3 American Redstart 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Common Grackle 2 American Goldfinch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Jim Malone Nahant, MA jamesjr_54 AT yahoo.com Subject: Vineyard Report From: SooSprey AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:18:39 -0400 (EDT) The Buff-breasted Sandpipers that were first spotted by R. Culbert on Sept. 28th are still at the Farm Institute at Katama as of Sept. 30 Fred & Winnie Spar sent me a photo of a Marbled Godwit taken in Katama Bay on 8/29. Many Vineyard birders tried to locate the bird this AM to no avail. We did see numbers of : Semipalmated Plovers Sanderlings 1 Piping Plover 6 Greater Yellowlegs 10 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 Western Willets 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 2 Ruddy Turnstones 1 Common Tern 2 Foster's Terns Fred and Winnie Spar spotted an immature Little Blue Heron at Katama on 8/27. At the Mill Pond in West Tisbury Pete Gilmore and Lanny McDowell spotted an immature Little Blue Heron on 8/30. Susan B. (Soo) Whiting _http://www.vineyardbirds2.com_ (http://www.vineyardbirds2.com) Subject: Middleboro, Halifax From: kr1946 AT verizon.net Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:36:55 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Middleboro, Halifax From: kr1946 AT verizon.net Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:25:09 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Middleboro, Halifax, Buff Breasted, Amer. Golden, Bairds From: kr1946 AT verizon.net Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:11:47 -0500 (CDT)