Friday, June 2, 2023

A couple very warm days this week were likely responsible for occurrences of both Swallow-tailed Kite and Mississippi Kite in the Truro area of Cape Cod, and possibly also a scarce spring appearance of a Hudsonian Godwit at Nantucket and unusual occurrences of 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in Worcester County.  Several reports of Hooded Warblers and Blue Grosbeaks were also noteworthy.

Cape Cod luminaries featured a Swallow-tailed Kite over Pilgrim Lake in Provincetown, 2 Mississippi Kites in Truro, a Pileated Woodpecker in the Provincetown Beech Forest, a Royal Tern in Nauset  a below Tomahawk Trail in Eastham, a Forster’s Tern at Priscilla Landing in Orleans, a Caspian Tern at Race Point in Provincetown, calling Chuck-will’s-widows on Elaine Avenue in North Falmouth and another one in East Falmouth in the vicinity of the Cape Cod Beagle Club, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Kent’s Point Conservation Area in Orleans, a Blue Grosbeak and 16 Red Crossbills at the Crane WMA in Falmouth, and 6 more crossbills at Wing Island in Brewster, and a Hooded Warbler near West Pond at the Skunknet Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable.

Bristol County was highlighted by 6 late Ruddy Ducks at South Watuppa Pond in Fall River and a Wilson’s Phalarope at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth.

Plymouth County notable species included 3 Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, a Black Skimmer at Plymouth Beach, a Acadian Flycatcher at Manomet Bird Observatory, a Vesper Sparrow at Plymouth Airport, and a Long-tailed Duck at Green Harbor in Marshfield.

Norfolk County hosted a Least Bittern at the Causeway Street marsh in Medfield and another one at the canoe launch in Millis, 2 Caspian Terns at Lake Massapoag in Sharon, 7 Piping Plovers at Wollaston Beach, and a Mourning Warbler at Nickerson Rock Park in Squantum.

Suffolk County highlights featured a Mourning Warbler, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and an Acadian Flycatcher at McLaughlin Woods in the Mission Hill section of Boston, a Philadelphia Vireo, a Mourning Warbler, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Franklin Park, a Least Bittern at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, 2 Long-tailed Ducks and 6 Purple Sandpipers at Revere Beach, and 2 late White-throated Sparrows at the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Middlesex County distinguished itself with a Prothonotary Warbler at Brewster’s Woods in Concord, a Hooded Warbler at Long Lake Park in Littleton, another Hooded Warbler in the Middlesex Fells in Stoneham, and an Acadian Flycatcher at Fresh Pond in Cambridge.

Essex County birders were pleased by a Cerulean Warbler and an Acadian Flycatcher at the Marblehead Neck Sanctuary in Marblehead, a Caspian Tern and a Common Murre in Marblehead Harbor, single Philadelphia Vireos at Plum Island and the Kieran Sanctuary in Rockport, a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Yellow-breasted Chat at Plum Island, Caspian Tern at Rough Meadows Sanctuary in Rowley, a late Iceland Gull at Niles Pond in Gloucester, and a Black Vulture at Tattersall Farm in Haverhill.

Berkshire County was visited by a Short-billed Dowitcher Silver Lake in Pittsfield, a Sandhill Crane in Monterey, 2 Philadelphia Vireos the Dunbar Brook Picnic Area in Rowe, a Worm-eating Warbler in Great Barrington, and single Hooded Warblers on the Sunset Rock Trail in Monterey and another in New Marlborough.

Hampshire County luminaries were a Least Bittern at Great Pond in Hatfield, 4 Sandhill Cranes in Worthington, a Merlin and a Tennessee Warbler at Quabbin Park in Ware, a Hooded Warbler at Mitch’s Way in Hadley, and a Blue Grosbeak at the Honey Pot in Hadley.

Hampden County hosted 3 Upland Sandpipers off Perimeter Road in Ludlow, an Acadian Flycatcher in Granville, 2 Hooded Warblers on Reservoir Road in Westfield, and a Dickcissel and a Blue Grosbeak at the Southwick WMA in Southwick.

Worcester County was highlighted by a Brewster’s Warbler at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, a continuing Worm-eating Warbler at the Uxbridge Rice City Pond in Uxbridge, a Blue-winged Teal and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Bolton Flats WMA in Bolton, another Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Barre Falls Dam in Hubbardston, and 15 Grasshopper Sparrows at the Pine Hill Grasslands in Lancaster.

Martha’s Vineyard distinguished itself with an unusual spring occurrence of a Western Kingbird at Katama Farm, 9 Snow Geese in Edgartown, and 2 Grasshopper Sparrows at Katama Farm.

Nantucket notables were 5 different calling Chuck-will’s-widows in the general area of the Sesachacha Pond Heathlands Sanctuary, an unusual spring occurrence of a Hudsonian Godwit at Eel Point, a Clapper Rail at the UMass Field Station marsh, and a Glaucous Gull at Great Point.