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MASSBIRD for Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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Subject: NH Audubon Fall Pelagic Trip
From: Jon Woolf <jsw(AT)jwoolfden.com>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 6:26am
Listfolk,
NH Audubon is now taking registrations for our Fall 2009 Tri-State
Pelagic Trip! The plan is basically the same as last fall's trip:
depart from Rye Harbor about 8:00AM aboard the MV _Granite State_,
and spend the day at sea, returning to port between 5:00 and
5:30PM. Master birder Steve Mirick has generously agreed to lead us
in searching the waters along Jeffreys Ledge for whatever seabirds
(and other interesting things) we can find. We chose a date that
will (hopefully) be relatively easy on people's schedules: Tuesday
September 8th, the day after Labor Day.
What can we expect to see? Well, last fall's trip produced a total of
thirty-odd species, including at least eight pelagics: Puffin,
Northern Gannet, Red Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson's
Storm-petrels, and Greater, Manx, and Cory's shearwaters. All are
equally likely this time, and we might well add a few more, such as
Sooty Shearwater, Northern Fulmar, and possibly a jaeger or two.
MV _Granite State_ is a day-excursion boat owned by Granite State
Whale Watch and based in Rye Harbor, NH. She's 65 feet long, with an
onboard snack bar, enclosed main cabin, two passenger decks, and a
full set of navigation and safety equipment. Twin diesel engines give
her a cruising speed of 12-13 knots. Captain Pete Reynolds and his
crew have decades of experience at finding birds and whales in the
Gulf of Maine.
What to Bring: Binoculars and bird guide, of course. Bring a lunch
if you like. A digital camera if you have one -- both our previous
trips, last fall and this spring, produced spectacular photo
opportunities for birds, whales, and dolphins. Weather on the open
water is unpredictable: sometimes hot, sometimes rather
chilly. Prepare for both. Certainly bring sunscreen and
sunglasses. Bring motion-sickness pills if you're vulnerable to
seasickness. _Granite State_'s seating is mostly wooden benches, so
a seatcushion might be a good idea if you have trouble with sitting
on hard surfaces.
We need a minimum of 30 people to pay for the trip. We've set a
maximum of 50 so that the boat doesn't get too crowded. Cost is $65
for NH Audubon members, $85 for non-members. Contact Massabesic
Audubon Center (phone 603-668-2045, email mac(AT)nhaudubon.org) to sign
up. Contact either MAC or me with any questions you might have.
See you on board!
-- Jon Woolf
Manchester, NH
(Massabesic Audubon Center Programming Committee)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: "Plum Island, The Way It Was"
From: Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 6:52am
Birders,
The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will be offering a
great Coffeehouse Lecture this month.
~~SPlum Island, The Way it Was~T
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Location: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters' Visitor Center
Auditorium,
6 Plum Island Turnpike,Newburyport
Join local historian, Nancy Weare, the author of the book ~SPlum Island,
The Way it Was,~T for a look at the history of Plum Island as a resource
for farming and grazing, a life saving station and a tourist destination
prior to it becoming Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in 1942.
Learn about some of the people who were part of the original fabric of
the island, including Nancy herself, in this informative and
entertaining program.
This lecture is FREE. Bird-friendly coffee and pastries will be
available for sale with proceeds benefiting the Friends of Parker River,
a non-profit organization that supports the refuge. NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY
We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Sue
Sue McGrath
Newburyport, MA 01950 USA
978-462-4785
REPLY TO: newburyportbirders(AT)comcast.net
www.newburyportbirders.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Love Birds--Massachusetts
From: "larry berk" <larry.berk(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 8:12am
You'll love this article, from today's Globe:
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/articles/2009/07/08/birding_is_their_bond/
Larry Berk
Newton MA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Brant Rock big sit July 3-5 late report
From: "Rob Ranney-Blake" <rranney(AT)rcn.com>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 8:20am
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July 3-6
Ocean Street, Brant Rock
Marshfield, Mass.
Seen and heard during 4 days at a single 1/8 acre address:
Wilson's Storm Petrel (4, Saturday morning)
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Common Eider
BALD EAGLE (1 im. Sunday afternoon, flying north along seawall)
American Oystercatcher (2)
peep sp.
Laughing Gull (seen harassing Common Terns for just-caught fish)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Least Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Phoebe
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Also:
Monarch Butterfly
Rob Ranney
rranney(AT)rcn.com
Deerfield, Mass.
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Internal Virus Database is out of date.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.374 / Virus Database: 270.12.56/2161 - Release Date: 06/07/09 1=
7:53:00
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Subject: Montague Henslow's Sparrow
From: rmschs(AT)comcast.net
Date: 8 Jul 2009 8:42am
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We have been away and would like to get out to see the Henslow's Sparrow.
Can anyone tell me if the sparrow has been seen in the last day or so and give
directions to its location.
Offline is good.
Bob Stevens
Littleton, MA
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Subject: Waterbird survey results - Great Meadows NWR -
Concord 7/8/09
From: Barbara Volkle and Steve Moore <barb620(AT)theworld.com>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 9:08am
Thanks to Jason St.Sauver of the US Fish & Wildlife Service for the
following report.
Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
barb620(AT)theworld.com
* * *
Location: Great Meadows NWR - Concord Impoundments
Observation date: 7/8/09
Notes: The following species of waterfowl and other birds were
counted
during a recent waterbird survey conducted at the Great Meadows
National
Wildlife Refuge; Concord Impoundments on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. If
you
have any questions regarding this survey or management at the Concord
Impoundments, please contact the Refuge biological staff at
978-443-4661
x37, 24 or 23. Also seen were 21 Wood duck ducklings, 2 Canada goose
goslings, 17 Mallard ducklings and 2 Hooded merganser ducklings.
Number of species: 8
Canada Goose 72
Mute Swan 2
Wood Duck 8
Mallard 3
Hooded Merganser 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 4
Virginia Rail 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Jason St. Sauver
Biological Technician
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex
978.443.4661 x23
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: A. Oystercatchers-Plum Is. 7/8
From: Bird Watchers Supply & Gift <birdwsg(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 9:34am
Tom Wetmore just called at 9:25am to report 2 American Oystercatchers on Emerson
Rocks. The tide was coming in so he wasn't sure how long they would stay.
Earlier this morning, Tom and John Nelson also had a Wilson's storm petrel fly
by Lot 1 in the rain.
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats
Newburyport, MA USA
REPLY TO: BirdWSG(AT)verizon.net
978-462-0775
www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: shearwaters at Chatham Light July 8
From: Frederick Atwood <fredatwood(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 10:40am
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During the east wind this morning from about 9:15 to 9:45, I watched scores=
of shearwaters stream south past Chatham Light. Most were too far to ident=
ify, especially with the wind shaking the scope, but several passed by just=
beyond the breakers and they included a couple sooties, a few cory's and m=
any greaters. Also 3 gannets and 2 bonaparte's gulls flew by.=A0 I was surp=
rised that I could not see any storm-petrels, but maybe the waves hid them.=
On the south end of north beach island (is that what it is called?) among =
the hundreds of resting gray seals were about 85 dc cormorants and 7 common=
eiders. Wished I had been up at Race Pt this AM with this east wind, but h=
ad to bring my car in to the shop in Hyannis. BUt this was nice too, and I =
think Sooty and Cory's are new for my Chatham list.
Frederick D. Atwood, Chatham
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675=20
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
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Subject: Magnificent Mulberry Tree at Ipswich River
From: "Scott Santino" <ssantino(AT)massaudubon.org>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 2:14pm
Hello Mass Birders,
The mulberry tree next to the Barn at the Ipswich River Wildlife
Sanctuary is loaded with berries and each summer it brings in a
wonderful assortment of birds. This morning I observed...
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 5
Scarlet Tanager 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red Squirrel 2
The tree provides great photo opportunities because the birds are so
busy gorging themselves they pay little attention to the people passing
by. I don't recommend parking under the tree as your vehicle may become
covered in poop.
Scott Santino
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Jul 8, Plum Is, Oystercatchers
From: Thomas Wetmore <ttw4(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 4:00pm
PI Birders,
This morning there were three AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS on Emerson Rocks
off Lot Seven of the refuge. For large shorebirds they were difficult
to pick out, often out of sight between large stones. It was over half
an hour before we (I had been joined by John Nelson, Oakes Spalding
and Herman d'Entremont) were sure there were three birds rather than
the two reported to Steve Grinley. Two Oystercatchers had been seen
there on the fifth by Oakes and Herman, so these are birds that might
be in the area for awhile. As the rocks were covered by tide the three
birds left together, flew south over the Bar Head rocks, and then
turned west and flew into Plum Island Sound to parts unknown.
Some other sightings today...
Common Eider -- one immature male off Lot Seven.
Black Scoter -- one adult male off Lot Seven.
Wilson's Storm-Petrels -- one (John had two) off Lot One, and four or
five off Emerson Rocks.
no Shearwaters or Jaegers
Northern Harrier -- one adult female over Pines Field, likely a local
breeder.
Spotted Sandpiper -- one probable juvenile on the beach at Lot Seven.
Short-billed Dowitchers -- 35 to 60 adult females (probably) various
locations around the south end of the island, including 35 feeding at
Sandy Pt.
American Woodcock -- one flew up out of the grass near the North Pool
Overlook.
Bonaparte's Gull -- ten Sandy Point.
Laughing Gull -- one+ one ocean, six flyby Emerson Rocks, one+ Sandy
Point.
Good birding,
Tom Wetmore
Newburyport, MA
http://bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/
Think globally, bird locally.
p.s. There have also been four large penguins near the Clam Shack
recently. Come by and check them out.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Machias 2009 : SPRUCE GROUSE, PUFFINS and FULMAR
From: "Ida Giriunas" <Ida8(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 7:16pm
MACHIAS, July 3-6, 2009
Nineteen birders headed up to Machias for the 28th Annual BBC Machias, ME.
Weekend from July 3-6, 2009. The goal of this trip was to seek out the
Boreal Species and birds not usually seen in Massachusetts. Several of the
birders were very experienced, a few were beginners. All contributed
greatly to the sightings because of their ability to spot and hear the birds
and their knowledge about them. The weather was perfect for birding; cloudy
but mild when birding on land, sunny but cool when out to sea and on Machias
Seal Island.
Participants drove through fog most of the way, arrived separately at the
Bluebird Motel in Machias on Friday, July 3 and met at 2 PM to bird around
the Motel and the Rogue's Bluff Area. Within minutes from stepping out of
the car on Birch Point Road, in Rogue's Bluff, a hen SPRUCE GROUSE was
spotted along with two chicks.
On Day 2, we birded in Topsfield, ME in a vast Boreal forest with Marion
Bates as our Guide. We went out to sea on day 3 to Machias Seal Island,
then to West Quoddy Head in the afternoon. We returned to the Boston area
on Day 4, but stopped at Lake Messalonskee in Belgrade to see more than 4
BLACK TERNS. Next we drove over to the Weskeag Marsh in Thomaston and saw
several NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS before finishing the trip.
Highlights of the trip were the 4000 PUFFINS, 2000 RAZORBILLS, 1000 COMMON
MURRES, 3 FULMAR, an Eagle's nest with two young, 14 SPRUCE GROUSE,
12 GRAY JAYS, one BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, ONE BOREAL CHICKADEE, a female
MOOSE in the road, 3 BLACK TERNS and several NELSON's SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS.
I think this was the most successful trip we have ever had. It may never be
this good again!
Total species = 107 birds. A complete list of birds with locations is
available if requested.
Ida Giriunas
Reading, MA
<ida8(AT)verizon.net>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: SABINE'S GULL, Little Gull, American
Oystercatcher in Hampton, NH
From: Steve Mirick <smirick(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 7:40pm
I usually tell birders to avoid Hampton Beach State Park in July at all
costs because it can be a zoo of beach goers. Today was different! 7
species of gulls were roosting on the grasses in the parking area while
a nice feeding frenzy of gulls and terns took place just outside of the
Hampton Harbor inlet and along both Hampton and Seabrook Beaches.
Fortunately, the bad weather kept the visitation to a minimum and
allowed for the roosting gulls, however there were still a couple of
school buses there in the morning, and the first time the Sabine's Gull
flew was because of a child chasing the gulls!
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//sabinesgull1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//sabinesgull2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//sabinesgull3.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//littlegull1.jpg
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 75 off Seabrook Beach. Only 32 counted early.
Then gill netter came in with at least 75 behind it.
Northern Gannet - 15
Piping Plover - 2 - Two adults on Hampton beach.
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER - 1 - Flew over Hampton Beach SP while watching
Sabine's Gull. Heading south behind a group of Short-billed
Dowitchers. Called once as it flew over.
Short-billed Dowitcher - 30 - Apparent migrating flock heading south.
SABINE'S GULL - 1 - 1st summer bird continues. First seen on 6/26 in
Rye, then seen again on 7/3 in Hampton. Today seen off and on between
11:30 AM and 4:45 PM. Mostly roosting with other gulls in Hampton Beach
State park. Flew off to ocean side where it was seen feeding with terns
and gulls, but returned two hours later. Also seen on Seabrook beach.
Last seen about 5 PM flying back over toward ocean side from Hampton
Beach SP.
Bonaparte's Gull - 40 - Didn't count carefully.
LITTLE GULL - 1 - 1st summer bird roosting in grasses with Bonaparte's
Gulls at Hampton Beach SP.
Laughing Gull - 30+ - Including 18 sitting in one group on Seabrook
Beach! 8 was max count in Hampton Beach state park. About 2 or 3 to 1
ratio of adults to 1 year olds. Very high count for NH for July.
Fish Crow - 1 - Called a few times while poking around in grasses with
gulls.
Least Tern - 3 - Adults flying over Seabrook beach.
Roseate Tern - 4 - Possibly more. Offshore with terns. Not thoroughly
scanned for this species.
Common Tern - 200 - Ballpark estimate. Nice feeding frenzys of gulls
and terns off Seabrook and Hampton Beaches.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Provincetown Seabirds; Tues., 7 July 2009
From: Richard Heil <rsheil(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 8:54pm
TUESDAY, 7 JULY 2009:
PROVINCETOWN, MA (0805-1150, 1220-1700 hrs.)
Weather: Partly cloudy becoming overcast by 1200, occasional rain
showers after 1300, 62 F.
Richard S. Heil (and Blair Nikula until 1150 hrs.)
I spent 7 hours watching from Race Point Beach below the parking lot,
with one walk to Herring Cove late morning to look for roosting terns
and gulls. There was a very good shearwater show in the morning from
the Race, but the real numbers occurred in the afternoon. I threw
all out of my A.M. shearwater numbers (2+ hours) and began counting
fresh when a steady and intense stream of shearwaters began parading
past east to west along the Race Point Beach at 1220 hours. I remain
in situ another 4.5+ hours as the remarkable seemingly unstoppable
flow continued unabated until it began to finally diminish around
1700, just before heavy rain arrived. All birds were moving
unidirectionally, even those smaller numbers far offshore, although
the densest stream for the entire period was only roughy 1/4 to 1/2
mile off the beach! Occasionally a feeding frenzy would momentarily
ensue en route when tuna or strippers drove bait to the surface. An
amazing show!
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Provincetown Seabirds; Tues., 7 July 2009
From: Richard Heil <rsheil(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 10:20pm
TUESDAY, 7 JULY 2009:
PROVINCETOWN, MA (0805-1150, 1220-1700 hrs.)
Weather: Partly cloudy becoming overcast by 1200, occasional rain
showers after 1300, 62 F.
Richard S. Heil (and Blair Nikula until 1150 hrs.)
I spent 7 hours watching from Race Point Beach below the parking lot,
with one walk to Herring Cove late morning to look for roosting terns
and gulls. There was a very good shearwater show in the morning from
the Race, but the real numbers occurred in the afternoon. I threw
all out of my A.M. shearwater numbers (2+ hours) and began counting
fresh when a steady and intense stream of shearwaters began parading
past east to west along the Race Point Beach at 1220 hours. I remain
in situ another 4.5+ hours as the remarkable seemingly unstoppable
flow continued unabated until it began to finally diminish around
1700, just before heavy rain arrived. All birds were moving
unidirectionally, even those smaller numbers far offshore, although
the densest stream for the entire period was only roughy 1/4 to 1/2
mile off the beach! Occasionally a feeding frenzy would momentarily
ensue en route when tuna or strippers drove bait to the surface. An
amazing show!
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Concord Great Meadows Monday
From: Linda Thompson <linda.thompson50(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 8 Jul 2009 10:03pm
Hi
I made a last minute stop at Concord Great Meadows on Monday and spent
only 45 minutes there, but it was well worth it. Someone told me there
was a Black-billed Cuckoo in and out of the reeds and sometimes in the
tree. I never saw him in the tree so I had to battle the reeds. The
location was where the first set of benches were on each side of the
dike. The Cuckoo was on the right side.
Then not far beyond there was a young Pied-billed Grebe catching a
meal. I have posted some photos in my Concord Great Meadows Album.
Sorry for the late post.
www.picasaweb.google.com/letarlington.
Linda Thompson
Arlington, MA
lthom781(at)comcast.net
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