Friday, July 7, 2023

Increasing numbers of early migrating shorebirds are now appearing at a number of coastal locations, especially Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers, but observers should be confidently on the lookout for a variety of other species in the next several days.

Cape Cod highlights this week featured solo Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at Hallet’s Mill Pond in Yarmouth Port and Forest Beach in Chatham, a Glaucous Gull at Harding’s Beach in Chatham, 10 rather early Forster’s Terns at the Water Street marsh in Yarmouth, 2 Royal Terns and a single Arctic Tern at Race Point in Provincetown, and 2 continuing Blue Grosbeaks at the Crane WMA in Falmouth.

Bristol County was visited by a Little Blue Heron at the marsh on Winsegansett Avenue in Fairhaven.

Plymouth County luminaries were a lingering Pomarine Jaeger at Manomet Point, along with 60 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and 2 Leach’s Storm-Petrels offshore at Manomet Point, a summering Great Cormorant off the Manomet Bird Observatory, 3 continuing Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, and an Acadian Flycatcher at Wompatuck State Park in Hingham.

Norfolk County hosted a Winter Wren at Noon Hill Reserve in Medfield and 3 more Winter Wrens at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon along with 2 Acadian Flycatchers.  At nearby Moose Hill Farm, a Dickcissel was observed. A summering Ring-necked Duck continued to be observed at Houghton’s Pond in Milton, and a Clapper Rail was tallied in the Squantum Marshes near the Kennedy Center off East Squantum Street in Squantum.

Suffolk County observers noted 15 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and a Black Tern off Winthrop Beach.

Essex County notable sightings featured 2 Caspian Terns at Plum Island and a single individual at Crane Beach in Ipswich.  Also sighted at Plum Island were a Least Bittern, a Long-tailed Duck, a Black-legged Kittiwake, and a Black Guillemot.  Four Black Guillemots were also seen off Andrews Point in Rockport along with 2 Arctic Terns.  Two continuing Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were found at Childrens Island off Marblehead, and an Acadian Flycatcher was recorded at Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich.

Middlesex County reports were headed by 3 Common Terns and a Common Loon at the Cambridge Reservoir in Waltham, another Common Loon at Flints Pond in Lincoln, and an out of season Dark-eyed Junco in Arlington.

Berkshire County sightings included a Northern Goshawk and 2 Hooded Warblers in Great Barrington, a single Hooded Warbler at the Hopkins Memorial Forest in Williamstown, a Least Bittern at Richmond Marsh, and single Merlins in in Pittsfield and Lenox.

Hampshire County hosted a Least Bittern at Great Pond in Hatfield, a Merlin in Northampton, and a continuing Blue Grosbeak at the Honey Pot in Hadley.

Hampden County’s sole highlight this week was 2 Least Bitterns at the Fannie Stebbins Refuge in Longmeadow.

Worcester County birders were pleased with the continued presence of a Brewster’s Warbler at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, a flock of 20 Glossy Ibises in flight over Cedar Street in Milford, 2 Black Vultures soaring near the Hardwick Winery in Gilbertville, and 5 Evening Grosbeaks in Royalston.

Martha’s Vineyard notables were a Bald Eagle at Felix Neck, an out of season Razorbill in Lobsterville, an Acadian Flycatcher and a Northern Parula at Waskosim’s Rock in Chilmark, and a Common Raven at Aquinnah.

Nantucket highlights were a Glaucous Gull at Coskata Pond, a lingering American Coot on the flats in Nantucket Harbor where a Clapper Rail was also observed, and a Merlin at Nantucket Airport.