Massachusetts Bird Sightings — Friday, May 12, 2023
Quite a number of warbler migrants arrived this week, and outstanding unusual species included a flock of 11 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in the Berkshires, a Swallow-tailed Kite in Northampton, single White-faced Ibises in Essex County and Plymouth County, a Cattle Egret in urban Boston, a several Yellow-throated and Hooded Warblers at different locations across the state. We realistically could expect the peak of spring migration to occur in the next week or ten days.
Cape Cod luminaries this week included a Prothonotary Warbler at Santuit Pond in Mashpee, single Yellow-throated Warblers in Brewster, Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary in South Wellfleet, and Clapp’s Pond in Provincetown, single Hooded Warblers in West Barnstable and Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, single Worm-eating Warblers in the Falmouth Town Forest and the Provincetown Beech Forest, a Summer Tanager at Snake Hill in Provincetown, and a Blue Grosbeak and an Evening Grosbeak at High Head in Truro. Other species of note were a Tricolored Heron at Fort Hill in Eastham and likely the same individual at Nauset Beach in Orleans, a late Thick-billed Murre at Race Point in Provincetown, a Cattle Egret at Fort Hill in Eastham, a Little Gull at Harding’s Beach in Chatham, and likely the same wandering Sandhill Crane seen at the Pamet Harbor boat ramp, Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, and the Provincetown Beech Forest.
Bristol County fancy reports featured a Common Ringed Plover and a Kentucky Warbler at West Island in Fairhaven, a continuing Yellow-crowned Night-Heron off Star of the Sea Drive in Dartmouth, a Willow Flycatcher and 2 Seaside Sparrows at Allen’s Pond Sanctuary in South Dartmouth, 12 Harlequin Ducks and a late Razorbill at Gooseberry Neck in Westport, and a Yellow-breasted Chat at the Slocum River Reserve in Dartmouth.
Plymouth County notables were a White-faced Ibis with a flock of 27 Glossy Ibises at the Cumberland Farms fields off Wood Street in Middleboro, a Common Gallinule at the Atwood Reservoir WMA in Carver, a Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Caspian Terns off the Nemasket Trail in Plympton, 3 continuing Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, and 9 Red Crossbills in the campground at Wompatuck State Park in Hingham.
Norfolk County was graced by the presence of a Hooded Warbler on Great Blue Hill in Milton, single Louisiana Waterthrushes at Gavins Pond in Sharon and the Blue Hills in Quincy, a Grasshopper Sparrow in Canton, a Pied-billed Grebe in Wrentham, and 3 Piping Plovers at Wollaston Beach.
Suffolk County hosted a Cattle Egret at Eastport Park in Boston, a lingering Iceland Gull at Deer Island in Boston Harbor, a Willow Flycatcher and a Black-billed Cuckoo at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, 3 White-crowned Sparrows at Belle Isle in East Boston, and a single individual in the Arnold Arboretum. Three Broad-winged Hawks were spotted soaring over Franklin Park and 2 Ring-necked Ducks were tallied on the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Boston.
Essex County highlights were a Golden-winged Warbler, a Yellow-throated Warbler, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow at Plum Island, and a King Rail was heard calling in the marsh near the bridge leading to Plum Island. A White-faced Ibis was identified in the wet fields off Scotland Road in Newbury, and at Eastern Point in Gloucester a Black Guillemot and a Solitary Sandpiper were tallied.
Middlesex County birders were pleased to find a Golden-winged Warbler at the Heald Street Orchard in Pepperell, a Hooded Warbler at Nahanton Park in Newton, a Worm-eating Warbler in the Newton Cemetery, and a Summer Tanager at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. At Horn Pond in Woburn a Ring-necked Duck and a Little Blue Heron were spotted.
Berkshire County there was a remarkable flock of 11 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks moving about in Stockbridge and Lenox for several days, a Great Egret at Canoe Meadows Sanctuary in Pittsfield, 3 Ruddy Ducks on Richmond Pond in Richmond, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Grasshopper Sparrow at the Pittsfield Airport.
Franklin County continued to host a Yellow-throated Warbler at Cranberry Pond in Sunderland, and a flock of at least 11 Evening Grosbeaks on Webber Road in Whatley.
Hampshire County enjoyed a brief visit by a soaring Swallow-tailed Kite over the East Meadows in Northampton, a Purple Martin and a Hooded Warbler in Hadley, a Dunlin at Great Pond in Hatfield, and a singing Louisiana Waterthrush at Quabbin Park in Ware.
Hampden County was visited by 2 Dunlin at the Longmeadow Flats in Longmeadow, and an Upland Sandpiper was observed at the Stony Brook Wetlands in Ludlow.
Worcester County highlights included a Wilson’s Phalarope at the Bolton Flats WMA in Bolton and 4 Grasshopper Sparrows in the fields on Pine Hill Road in Bolton. Three juvenile Trumpeter Swans were still present at the Uxbridge Rice City Pond in Uxbridge along with a Worm-eating Warbler and a late American Tree Sparrow at the same location. A Red-breasted Merganser was seen at gate 40 at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton, and 3 Ring-necked Ducks were tallied at the High Ridge WMA in Westminster.
Martha’s Vineyard was proud to host 12 Black Skimmers at Sheriff’s Meadow Pond, a Black Tern at Katama Bay, 9 Harlequin Ducks at Squibnocket, a Prothonotary Warbler near Noman’s Watch at Aquinnah, at Yellow-throated Warbler on Lambert’s Cove Road in Vineyard Haven, and a White-eyed Vireo also in Aquinnah.
Nantucket birders were pleased to find a Blue Grosbeak on Madaquecham Valley Road, 2 Common Nighthawks at Madaket, and 3 Northern Shovelers and a Glaucous Gull at the Coskata Refuge.