Date: 7/16/25 7:49 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Take action! Join us for the Protect Animals from Rodenticide Lobby, Day on July 24
Thanks to Gary Menin, Sr. for this post.
In order to get news on this topic, contact him directly in order to get on his mailing list.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...> *
From: gcmeninsr <gcmeninsr...> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:04:23 -0400 Subject: Take action! Join us for the Protect Animals from Rodenticide Lobby Day on July 24
Dear Massachusetts Wildlife Advocates
! ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW !
It's time to speak in one strong voice to our legislators telling them to stop the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in Massachusetts ! Join small groups advocating with your elected officials to support An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment (H965/S644). It will be a fun day starting with a Kick-Off Forum meeting the Red-tailed Hawk "Falco" from the New England Wildlife Center. Then, we will have a Meet & Greet Exhibition with legislators visiting tables hosted by community groups from across the state. Finally, we will break out by district to meet with our legislators. Everyone is welcome -you don't need to be an expert. We will have training sessions to help you feel confident. Registrants will receive a Lobby Day Toolkit with a full schedule, training invitations, and participant instructions.
Further - in this same vein please **join MASS AUDUBON's Heather Packard tonight (Wednesday, July 17, 7:00 - 8:00 pm) via Zoom for a free program - The State Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law. Join Heather to learn all about the legislative process including the role of advocates in how, where, and when to apply pressure. We will also learn how to follow legislation on Beacon Hill for prioritized bills. And finally we end with a quick overview of where each of Mass Audubon=E2=80=99s prioritized legislation https://www.massaudubon.org/take-action/advocate/policy-priorities is in this process
. If you can't make it, the meeting will be recorded and emailed to = anyone who has registered. You may also want to check out their Toolkit <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KGD3cA_4Zalad5H8BOkkhzTPWFfneSVbAIOoDU= p03A4/edit?usp=3Ddrive_link> for information on current actions, upcoming meetings, updates on our advocacy campaigns, and more !
Date: 7/15/25 12:09 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
Thanks to David Swain for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: David Swain <davidswain79...> Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:10:45 -0400 Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
As Soheil said, wait until the end of August. Right now there do appear to be some areas that are more open, but it's too soon to tell whether the extended drought of 2024 had an effect on the Lotus.
Date: 7/14/25 10:44 am From: Cherrie Corey <cherrie.corey62...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
Hi Greg,
Though I no longer live around the corner from Great Meadows in Concord, I know it and its lotus population intimately. The plants die back in the winter and new leaves don’t emerge until the water warms and their levels recede later in June. With the high water levels and cold temps this spring, I suspect they were delayed. I suspect the impoundments are blanketed over by now and their flowering should begin toward the end of July and continue into August.
As many here likely know, the USFWS staff tried for the past couple of decades to eliminate or at least delay the spread of the lotus. But soaring summer temps along with a critical period around 2010 when the impoundments were drained for a protracted period of time (due to permitting delays) before scheduled channel dredging could take place, the lotus population exploded. Since lotus seeds have been shown to be viable for 1000+ years and there are now millions of them in the GM impoundments, I imagine it would take an asteroid strike to make them disappear.
These American lotus are native to this continent, especially in warmer environments, but they don’t behave well, ecologically, when they land in impounded and shallow water bodies. They were first recorded in the Concord River back in the late 1800s, likely introduced by any one of Concord’s enterprising botanists or nurserymen.
If you can, I recommend taking in their expanse of white blooms under the full August moon!
Cherrie Corey | Marlboro, VT
> On Jul 14, 2025, at 11:33 AM, Greg Dysart <gsdysart...> wrote:
>
> Anyone know how the Feds got rid of the Lotus which used to cover the entire water surface. It was completely gone when I was there last June.
>
> Greg Dysart
> http://dysart.zenfolio.com/ > Natick, MA
>
>
>
Date: 7/14/25 10:13 am From: Greg Dysart <gsdysart...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
Thanks for the info Soheil.
On Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM <sohzendeh...> wrote:
> Greg, to my knowledge, the American Lotus is still very much there. It does
> not fully bloom or produce or those big flowers and, later, those nasty
> shower-heads, until later in the season. Like late July - August.
>
> I'm copying this to the Great Meadows survey group in case I'm mistaken or
> someone there has a better explanation.
>
> Soheil
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On
> Behalf Of Greg Dysart
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 11:33 AM
> To: Massbird <Massbird...>
> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
>
> Anyone know how the Feds got rid of the Lotus which used to cover the
> entire
> water surface. It was completely gone when I was there last June.
>
> Greg Dysart
> http://dysart.zenfolio.com/ > Natick, MA
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 7/14/25 10:03 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
Greg, to my knowledge, the American Lotus is still very much there. It does not fully bloom or produce or those big flowers and, later, those nasty shower-heads, until later in the season. Like late July - August.
I'm copying this to the Great Meadows survey group in case I'm mistaken or someone there has a better explanation.
Soheil
-----Original Message----- From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On Behalf Of Greg Dysart Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 11:33 AM To: Massbird <Massbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Great Meadows Concord
Anyone know how the Feds got rid of the Lotus which used to cover the entire water surface. It was completely gone when I was there last June.
Date: 7/13/25 2:32 pm From: Mark Fairbrother <bogelfin...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Hadley, Belchertown and Montague 7.13.25
At the dike in the Honeypot: Blue Grosbeak 1 ad m right near the gate; other folks farther out the dike reported 2 or 3 more there. Indigo Bunting 3, including 1 ad m that teed up on a corn tassel and gave extended looks while several people enjoyed the view. Just east of the dike.
Hadley, the tiny marsh across the street from the UMASS horse facility:
At least 5 dark Virginia Rail young walking around in the open, their dark plumage showing varying amounts of adult colors and stripes. Eastern Meadowlark 1 singing from a fence post in the horse paddocks directly across the street from the marsh.
Belchertown, Lake Wallace, first visit
Great Blue Heron 1 Green Heron 3 Canada Geese, E. Kingbirds and the usual suspects.
Montague Both Kestrel nest boxes I replaced late April (the originals having fallen apart) have pairs in residence, one has at least one juvenile also.
Here is the summary of the walk at Fruitlands this morning led by Sandy Oxley and I. Attached photos provided by Richard Fichera. - Rita
Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 100-132 Prospect Hill Road, Worcester, Massachusetts, US Jul 12, 2025 6:50 AM - 9:50 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Checklist Comments: 75F, humid, overcast and calm. Most notable was not seeing any turkeys (seen nearby coming and leaving the campus); nor raptors nor did we see or hear any ovenbirds. Sandy Oxley and Rita Grossman led the walk for Brookline Bird Club and the Boxborough Birders. Photos taken and provided by Richard Fichera. 48 species
Mourning Dove 1 Great Blue Heron 1 F-O just as we were getting into our cars to leave. Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 5 Fish Crow 3 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 4 Tree Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Northern House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 1 European Starling 5 Gray Catbird 11 Northern Mockingbird 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 Heard one singing in New Meadow and one on opposite side of campus near the Fruitland's Farmhouse house. Oddly, did not see any. Veery 1 Wood Thrush 5 Each heard singing in distinct areas of the campus and one seen by some of the group, briefly, on the boardwalk entry area to the woods leaving New Meadow. Cedar Waxwing 4 House Sparrow 1 House Finch 4 American Goldfinch 5 Chipping Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 3 Eastern Towhee 3 Baltimore Oriole 2 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Female near the Fruitlands Farmhouse house. Brown-headed Cowbird 3 Common Grackle 3 F-O Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 7 Scarlet Tanager 7 Excellent sightings across campus, especially on the Mulberry Tree near the Alcott House. And 2 males pursuing each other near the Willard site. Northern Cardinal 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Another excellent sighting of M and F on the Mulberry Tree near the Fruitland's Farmhouse. Indigo Bunting 7 Distributed across the campus with clear sightings on treetops in addition to hearing them sing.
View this checklist online athttps://ebird.org/checklist/S259299328
What a nice day to go birding. Comfortable temps and minimal sun. Beware of the greenheads deer flies, and mosquitoes. I birded from 1:45-7:15:
Snowy Egret 10+ Great Egret 4+ Great Blue Heron 1+ Oaprey 8including three young split between the two nests Wild Turkey 2 Killdeer 2 SHORT_BILLED DOWITCHER 90 Willet 6 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 7 American Oystercatcher 1+ Least Sandpiper 2 peep sp. 2 Common Tern 3 Least Tern 3 Eastern Kingbird 1usual spot! AMERICAN KESTREL 1 ad. male being driven off marsh by Two Common Terns! Common Yellowthroat 6 Squantum Point Park Yellow Warbler 6 Saltmarsh Sparrow 3
LEPIDS:
Monarch 1 butterfly sp' 1 Viceroy or Monarch Orange Sulphur 1 Clouded Sulphur 1 Cabbage White 4
Date: 7/12/25 4:42 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Juan Fernandez Petrel - Gloucester Whale Watch
From a whale watch out of Gloucester, here's the report from ebird.
Let's hope others are lucky enough to catch up with this one.
Juan Fernandez Petrel (Pterodroma externa) (1) - Reported Jul 11, 2025 16:11 by Andy Sanford - Seven Seas Whale Watch-leg6 42.49490, -70.53705, Essex, Massachusetts - Map:http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-70.53705&<ll...>,-70.53705 - Checklist:https://ebird.org/checklist/S259029683 - Media: 9 Photos - Comments: "425p Woah! Steaming in and looking NE, I spotted what I thought was a distant shearwater that was heading ENE, but after looking at pics and talking with Sam Z., seems it was something more interesting! (I said to Sam, "I guess it’s a very good thing I’ve never heard of that!”). Sam’s summary: “Good points favoring Juan Fernandez: tiny black mark at the wrist and black primary tips, otherwise clean white underwings, half-collar separated from face mask, small white rump patch in molt. Nothing else really looks like it, just a minor issue: IT’S IN THE WRONG OCEAN!!”. Indeed. Thanks Sam!"
Date: 7/10/25 6:42 pm From: Geoff LeBaron <geofflebaron...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] sad news - Tom Gagnon
Thanks, Barbara, for posting about Tom's passing.
Tom was never one who wanted to be celebrated for his own amazing knowledge
or accomplishments..he just wanted to be.included as a friend in the
birding, butterflying, and conservation communities.
I've "only" known Tom for the past 40 years when I've been back here in
Western Massachusetts as director of the Christmas Bird Count for National
Audubon. While I wasn't an employee of "The" Audubon here in
Massachusetts, he was still willing to talk to me!
Tom was an Icon here in Western Mass even when I came back in the
late 1980s. His accomplishments within the birding and hawk watching
community were legendary...and in recent decades his contributions in the
butterflying community were overarching. I remember checking in with him,
as "the" director of the CBC for Audubon, about things raptorial. He was
always available and accurate. When the first documented nesting of
Merlins in the state happened here in Florence, MA, back in July 2009, Tom
was the first one called about the noisy birds in someone's yard. He
initially scoffed them off as "of course" Cooper's Hawks, but with his
visit they were quickly confirmed ... with joy ... as Merlins.
Tom's stints at the hawk watches and his nighthawk watches locally are
legendary. But my best, most recent birding expedition with Tom was to
check out the incredible adult Brown Booby that was out at Onota Lake in
western Mass back in August 2018. However, what I will miss most is every
spring checking in about his local whip-poor wills or getting a call from
Tom asking if we can go check his favorite marsh here on the
Williamsburg/Chesterfield town line for migrating Olive-sided Flycatchers.
He knew they'd be there...or maybe they knew he'd come looking.
You're in flight now with the butterflies and birds in migration, Tom.
Enjoy the travels!
Geoff
Williamsburg, MA
On Thu, Jul 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...>
wrote:
> Tom was a special kind of friend - always ready to provide details to
> finding a bird or birding location, and then meeting you there to help on
> the pursuit. He was funny and fun - while birding or just chatting on
> the phone - always made me laugh. Along with other accolades mentioned,
> Tom was a life member of the Brookline Bird club and he cherished the
> personal handwritten note he received from the club Membership secretary
> upon becoming a life member. As well, he led a hawk watch for the club
> for decades at Mt Tom instilling interest and enthusiasm for raptors to
> many. Soar on Eagles's wings, Tom.
>
> Linda
>
> --
> Linda Ferraresso
> Salem, MA
> tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
>
> "Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
>
>
>
> On 7/9/2025 5:08 PM, Barbara Volkle wrote:
>
> On July 6, 2025, western Massachusetts birder and butterflier Tom Gagnon
> passed away:
>
>
> https://tributearchive.com/obituaries/43292521/thomas-gagnon/northampton/massachusetts/czelusniak-funeral-home >
> Tom was a wonderful naturalist, well versed in birds, butterflies and
> plants. He loved nothing better than a walk outdoors or time in the
> greenhouse. He loved to tell you of the latest bear or bobcat visit to his
> yard.
>
> He was a long-time member of the Hampshire Bird Club. He lead field trips
> and participated in many Christmas Bird Counts, hawk watches, and nighthawk
> counts over the years.
>
> He was a leading force in the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, organizing and
> leading trips, and overseeing printing of field cards and producing of tee
> shirts and hats. He participated in 4th of July Butterfly Counts each
> year.
>
> For many years, his garden plots were the center of butterfly activity in
> the Northampton Community Garden, where his verbena's purple stand was a
> beacon for butterflies.
>
> More than this, Tom loved to share his knowledge, to meet and greet his
> friends in the field.
>
> Those of us who knew him will miss him terribly. Godspeed, good friend!
>
> Barbara Volkle
> Northborough, MA
> <barb620...>
>
>
>
Date: 7/10/25 10:40 am From: Linda Ferraresso <tattler1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] sad news - Tom Gagnon
Tom was a special kind of friend - always ready to provide details to finding a bird or birding location, and then meeting you there to help on the pursuit. He was funny and fun - while birding or just chatting on the phone - always made me laugh. Along with other accolades mentioned, Tom was a life member of the Brookline Bird club and he cherished the personal handwritten note he received from the club Membership secretary upon becoming a life member. As well, he led a hawk watch for the club for decades at Mt Tom instilling interest and enthusiasm for raptors to many. Soar on Eagles's wings, Tom.
Linda
-- Linda Ferraresso Salem, MA tattler1(at)comcast(dot)net
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark" - Tagore
On 7/9/2025 5:08 PM, Barbara Volkle wrote: > > On July 6, 2025, western Massachusetts birder and butterflier Tom > Gagnon passed away: > > https://tributearchive.com/obituaries/43292521/thomas-gagnon/northampton/massachusetts/czelusniak-funeral-home > > Tom was a wonderful naturalist, well versed in birds, butterflies and > plants. He loved nothing better than a walk outdoors or time in the > greenhouse. He loved to tell you of the latest bear or bobcat visit > to his yard. > > He was a long-time member of the Hampshire Bird Club. He lead field > trips and participated in many Christmas Bird Counts, hawk watches, > and nighthawk counts over the years. > > He was a leading force in the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, organizing > and leading trips, and overseeing printing of field cards and > producing of tee shirts and hats. He participated in 4th of July > Butterfly Counts each year. > > For many years, his garden plots were the center of butterfly activity > in the Northampton Community Garden, where his verbena's purple stand > was a beacon for butterflies. > > More than this, Tom loved to share his knowledge, to meet and greet > his friends in the field. > > Those of us who knew him will miss him terribly. Godspeed, good friend! > > > Barbara Volkle > Northborough, MA > <barb620...>
Date: 7/9/25 8:04 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 7/9 Belle Isle Marsh Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2025 23:09:17 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 7/9 Belle Isle Marsh Highlights
I birded here from 10:15-12:15. The tide was high. I later went to Belle Isle Cemetery near low tide to check out the mudflats of Belle Isle Inlet.
Black-crowned Night-Heron 3?? ?? ??including one Lewis Lake night-heron sp. 1 juv, flew in and flew out due to many starlings assaulting it Great Blue Heron 2+ Great Egret 3 Snowy Egret 3 Osprey 4 three adults; one young in nest (that I could see) Killdeer 2 fifteen at Winthrop Beach Piping Plover 7 Winthrop Beach Short-billed Dowitcher 13 American Oystercatcher 5 Least Sandpiper 15 Willet 15 seen from cemetery on mudflats Greater Yellowlegs 10 Ruddy Turnstone 5 Winthrop B Least Tern 9 Common Tern 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 cemetery Willow Flycatcher 1 flycatcher sp. 1 cemetery Warbling Vireo 1 Purple Martin 3 usual spot; two adult males and one adult female Saltmarsh Sparrow 7 all from boardwalk tip Baltimore Oriole 1
Tom was a wonderful naturalist, well versed in birds, butterflies and plants. He loved nothing better than a walk outdoors or time in the greenhouse. He loved to tell you of the latest bear or bobcat visit to his yard.
He was a long-time member of the Hampshire Bird Club. He lead field trips and participated in many Christmas Bird Counts, hawk watches, and nighthawk counts over the years.
He was a leading force in the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, organizing and leading trips, and overseeing printing of field cards and producing of tee shirts and hats. He participated in 4th of July Butterfly Counts each year.
For many years, his garden plots were the center of butterfly activity in the Northampton Community Garden, where his verbena's purple stand was a beacon for butterflies.
More than this, Tom loved to share his knowledge, to meet and greet his friends in the field.
Those of us who knew him will miss him terribly. Godspeed, good friend!
Date: 7/9/25 8:14 am From: <jrees...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Update to New England Shorebird Guide
Thanks, Eric! I was looking for a way to do exactly that.
Jeff Rees
Auburn, MA
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On Behalf Of Eric Mueller
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 9:30 PM
To: <sohzendeh...>
Cc: <massbird...>; Arlingtonbirds <Arlingtonbirds...>; <Bostonshorebirds...>
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Update to New England Shorebird Guide
Hi all,
Many thanks to Soheil and all of the other folks who created this great shorebird guide, and to Bird Observer for making it available to everyone!
For those of us who aren't iPhone users (gasp!) and instead use the Chrome browser on our Android smartphones, there's also a simple way to add the website as an icon on your phone. Just click on the https://www.birdobserver.org/Better-Birding/New-England-Shorebird-Guide URL, and when that opens, click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of your screen. When the small black window opens, click on the "Add to Home Screen" function. That should add the Shorebird icon to your home screen, and you can then move that icon wherever you want. Easy peasy!
New England Shorebird Guide, a photographic guide to our shorebirds freely
available on the Bird Observer site, is now updated to cover 28 species of
shorebirds:
Due to severe declines in the populations of most shorebird species over the
past several decades, I think it is important that bird and nature-lovers
become as familiar as possible with these birds and advocate for their
conservation. Shorebirds are reputed to be difficult to identify. This may
be true for some species, but it is also partly due to the fact that most
shorebird species are highly migratory and travel long distances during the
course of a year. Most are in our region for only a few weeks every year, so
they are easy to miss and hard to learn to identify.
By learning their habits and habitats, as well as their behavior, shapes,
and plumages, most observers can identify 20-plus species-perhaps up to 30
species of shorebird-in New England and adjoining states and provinces each
year. To increase the fan base of appreciation for these birds, I created
the visual guide to shorebirds of New England and Bird Observer is
generously providing free access on its website.
The guide is designed primarily as a visual aid that can be used in the
field on your smart phone; it can also be installed on your tablet or
computer. I have prepared a brief user manual for the guide:
I hope you find this guide useful for finding and identifying shorebirds in
our region. It is also important that you communicate to me the
shortcomings, errors, and inconsistencies of the guide so that I can improve
future versions. You can reach me at <sohzendeh...> <mailto:<sohzendeh...> .
New England Shorebird Guide content was created by Soheil Zendeh. Marsha
Salett of Bird Observer was the editor. Eric Swanzey, web manager for Bird
Observer and other Massachusetts birding sites, created the web app.
Instructions for installing the guide icon on your iPhone were provided by
Jay Dia. The photos in the guide were contributed by many generous
photographers.
July, August and September are peak migration period for most shorebirds.
Enjoy them right now.
Date: 7/8/25 6:36 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Update to New England Shorebird Guide
Hi all,
Many thanks to Soheil and all of the other folks who created this great
shorebird guide, and to Bird Observer for making it available to everyone!
For those of us who aren't iPhone users (gasp!) and instead use the Chrome
browser on our Android smartphones, there's also a simple way to add the
website as an icon on your phone. Just click on the
https://www.birdobserver.org/Better-Birding/New-England-Shorebird-Guide URL,
and when that opens, click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner
of your screen. When the small black window opens, click on the "Add to
Home Screen" function. That should add the Shorebird icon to your home
screen, and you can then move that icon wherever you want. Easy peasy!
Cheers,
Eric
Eric Mueller
Clinton MA
<ericmueller1912...>
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM <sohzendeh...> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> New England Shorebird Guide, a photographic guide to our shorebirds freely
> available on the Bird Observer site, is now updated to cover 28 species of
> shorebirds:
>
> https://www.birdobserver.org/Better-Birding/New-England-Shorebird-Guide.
>
> Due to severe declines in the populations of most shorebird species over
> the
> past several decades, I think it is important that bird and nature-lovers
> become as familiar as possible with these birds and advocate for their
> conservation. Shorebirds are reputed to be difficult to identify. This may
> be true for some species, but it is also partly due to the fact that most
> shorebird species are highly migratory and travel long distances during the
> course of a year. Most are in our region for only a few weeks every year,
> so
> they are easy to miss and hard to learn to identify.
>
> By learning their habits and habitats, as well as their behavior, shapes,
> and plumages, most observers can identify 20-plus species-perhaps up to 30
> species of shorebird-in New England and adjoining states and provinces each
> year. To increase the fan base of appreciation for these birds, I created
> the visual guide to shorebirds of New England and Bird Observer is
> generously providing free access on its website.
>
> The guide is designed primarily as a visual aid that can be used in the
> field on your smart phone; it can also be installed on your tablet or
> computer. I have prepared a brief user manual for the guide:
>
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ONLvB-JpLTrmcvTtypE0klbo4nRGm0gw/view?usp=d > rive_link.
>
> I have also uploaded instructions for installing an icon on your iPhone
> that
> directly accesses the app:
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NVpWGWzwt4RXGGGULi7JVxfZlJ5e14WZ/view.
>
> I hope you find this guide useful for finding and identifying shorebirds in
> our region. It is also important that you communicate to me the
> shortcomings, errors, and inconsistencies of the guide so that I can
> improve
> future versions. You can reach me at <sohzendeh...>
>
> New England Shorebird Guide content was created by Soheil Zendeh. Marsha
> Salett of Bird Observer was the editor. Eric Swanzey, web manager for Bird
> Observer and other Massachusetts birding sites, created the web app.
> Instructions for installing the guide icon on your iPhone were provided by
> Jay Dia. The photos in the guide were contributed by many generous
> photographers.
>
> July, August and September are peak migration period for most shorebirds.
> Enjoy them right now.
>
> Soheil Zendeh
> Littleton, MA 01460
>
>
Date: 7/6/25 5:39 pm From: Mary McKitrick <marymckitrick...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Heron Addict Brookline and Winthrop Beach NoN
Thank you Paul - that is indeed very frustrating and infuriating. I’m in
western Mass., don’t know the various municipalities of eastern MA - what
will you do about this and what can you or others suggest that the rest of
us do to help? Phone calls, letters, to whom or to which entities? I’m
always up for taking action for conservation and a push in the right
direction would be really appreciated.
Thanks again
Mary McK.
Mary C McKitrick, Ph.D
212-865-5041
https://ffbtours.com Support conservation while birding
On Sun, Jul 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
> Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
>
> Barbara Volkle
> Northborough, MA
> <barb620...>
>
> *
>
> Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2025 19:42:30 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...>
> Subject: Heron Addict Brookline and Winthrop Beach NoN
>
>
> First, let me get to the light-hearted bit. Last evening, while I was at
> an outdoor cafe eating pizza, a man walked by with an image of a heron
> emblazoned on his chest. Below it were the following words:Heron Addict!
> Now for the enfuriating story: A very well-known birder in the
> Winthrop and East Boston/Revere area witnessed a man, at 6:00 a.m.,
> about five days ago JOGGING WITHIN the bird exclosure. at Winthrop
> Beach?? He also mentioned that there were one or two UNLEASHED DOGS
> scaring the living daylights out of all the birds. There are signs at
> all the entrances to the beach warning people to keep their dogs on
> leashes UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15. I can't help but think of all the birds
> casualties that will ensue from that time until mid-September IF NOTHING
> IS DONE ABOUT THIS!
>
> Paul Peterson
> <petersonpaul63...>
> Boston
>
>
Date: 7/6/25 4:52 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Heron Addict Brookline and Winthrop Beach NoN
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2025 19:42:30 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Heron Addict Brookline and Winthrop Beach NoN
First, let me get to the light-hearted bit. Last evening, while I was at an outdoor cafe eating pizza, a man walked by with an image of a heron emblazoned on his chest. Below it were the following words:Heron Addict! Now for the enfuriating story: A very well-known birder in the Winthrop and East Boston/Revere area witnessed a man, at 6:00 a.m., about five days ago JOGGING WITHIN the bird exclosure. at Winthrop Beach?? He also mentioned that there were one or two UNLEASHED DOGS scaring the living daylights out of all the birds. There are signs at all the entrances to the beach warning people to keep their dogs on leashes UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15. I can't help but think of all the birds casualties that will ensue from that time until mid-September IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS!
Date: 7/5/25 5:27 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Cuckoo Clocking at Burrage Pond W.M.A., Etc.
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2025 20:23:34 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Cuckoo Clocking at Burrage Pond W.M.A., Etc.
7/4 I went to Burrage Pond in Hanson and Halifax in hopes of getting Sandhill Cranes. Success! But what was really interesting was, what I assume to have been, at least two cranes calling together making a sound that I can only describe as a very loud cuckoo clock! It was hard to pinpoint where the calls were coming fro, I also saw with just my bins two adults in the usual northwest area.( from the dike) Their color (rust) really stands out, so that it would be difficult to mistake them for Great Blue Herons. (that is provided that you actually get a look at them, They do disappear into the taller phragmites.
Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 4 Wood Duck 2 Osprey 3 nest is on the cell tower SANDHILL CRANE 4 Minimum Cooper's Hawk 1 Killdeer 1 Least Sandpiper 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 one doing knocking series, other kdowl series Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Kingbird 10 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Common Raven 1+ heard Marsh Wren 1 Common Yellowthroat 10 Yellow Warbler 10 Pine Warbler 4 Eastern Towhee 12 Field Sparrow 2 juv. Swamp Sparrow 7 Orchard Oriole 3 ad. fem. and two 1st summer males
Lepids:
Monarch 2 Viceroy 1 Little Wood-Satyr 2 Common Wood-Nymph 2
Date: 7/3/25 7:45 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 7/2 Belle Isle Marsh Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2025 00:23:53 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 7/2 Belle Isle Marsh Highlights
Yesterday evening, I went to Belle Isle in hopes of finding the Ruff. No luck, but a good time was had by all
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 including three Lewis Lake Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret?? 1 Snowy Egret 2 Oaprey 1+ Virginia Rail 1 called once at 8:40 p.m. between the boardwalk and pond; pig-like grunts Killdeer 3 Willet 2 Greater Yellowlegs 4 yellowlegs sp. 3 American Woodcock 1 flushed from the path! large shorebird sp. 4 either Willet or American Oystercatcher Least Tern 2 Willow Flycatcher 1 Saltmarsh Sparrow 6 two from end of boardwalk killer looks Baltimore Oriole 2 male and female adults at nest site
Nice walk in the AM coolness. Still lots of bird activity although the singing has waned a bit. Sapsuckers and Pine Warblers seem to be more vocal after being quiet for a while. The deer flies and mosquitoes ganged up on me in spots but were better along the shoreline. As I walked near the Spotted Sandpiper nest with 4 eggs I had found on 6/15 I heard an adult call very close by. I figured the eggs had hatched by now and when I looked in the nest there was one dead nestling. I guess they all don’t make it out. Both cuckoos was nice and the Merlin was a bit of a surprise.
Quabbin Reservoir--Gate 35, Franklin, Massachusetts, US Jul 3, 2025 7:23 AM - 11:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.65 mile(s) 63 species
Mallard 3 Female and 2 young Common Merganser 7 2 adults, 5 young Mourning Dove 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Killdeer 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Ring-billed Gull 5 Common Loon 3 2 seen together and another at least a mile apart. Double-crested Cormorant 10 Turkey Vulture 2 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Merlin 1 Took off from trees on shore ahead of me and flew right in front of me. Small dark falcon, pointed wings and steady flight. Eastern Wood-Pewee 5 Least Flycatcher 3 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 18 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 3 Tree Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Gray Catbird 3 Veery 6 Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 American Robin 6 Cedar Waxwing 4 Purple Finch 2 Pair near beaver pond American Goldfinch 3 Chipping Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 3 Eastern Towhee 5 Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 7 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Common Grackle 9 Ovenbird 14 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 10 Yellow Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Female Pine Warbler 9 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 Prairie Warbler 1 Powerline Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 3 Northern Cardinal 1 Indigo Bunting 1
Date: 7/2/25 5:55 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Stage Island water level management
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and MassWildlife announce Stage Island water level management timeline in advance of salt marsh restoration project
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has begun seasonal water level management of the Stage Island Impoundment near the south end of Plum Island to benefit migratory shorebirds. Throughout June, staff gradually lowered the water to expose mudflats, with a target of providing maximal foraging habitat in early July.
In collaboration with MassWildlife, this drawdown facilitates ongoing field work to develop detailed hydrodynamic models and design plans for the Stage Island Impoundment tidal restoration project. During this period, water levels will be temporarily lowered one week earlier than the normal schedule to facilitate topographic surveys and sediment sampling.
Since June 4, up to five least bitterns, a state endangered species in Massachusetts, have been observed using the Stage Island Impoundment. Given the timeframe and repeated sightings, both agencies are working together to avoid any potential adverse effects to these birds. If actively breeding, any young birds would have been mobile by late June. Accordingly, staff will wait until the second week of July to expose mud flats, providing mobile chicks the opportunity to adjust to these changes. The Stage Island flats will again be flooded in early August to provide foraging habitat for shorebirds through September.
Routine water level management is also ongoing in the Bill Forward and North Pools. In April, Bill Forward Pool was lowered for spring shorebird migration but was partially refilled by abundant spring rainfall. Drawdown resumed in June to provide foraging habitat through the fall migration. The water level in North Pool will remain high to support breeding marsh and wading birds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is responsible for the conservation of freshwater fish and wildlife in the Commonwealth, including endangered plants and animals. MassWildlife restores, protects, and manages land for wildlife to thrive and for people to enjoy. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/masswildlife.
Matt Hillman Refuge Manager Parker River, Thacher Island Great Bay and Wapack NWRs 6 Plum Island Turnpike Newburyport, MA 01950 O: 978-572-5613 C: 774-303-9090
------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019
Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>
Date: 6/27/25 1:33 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 6/26 Brown Thrasher in Squantum (Not where you think)
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:34:22 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 6/26 Brown Thrasher in Squantum (Not where you think)
I birded in Squantum from 2:30-7:00 I was delighted to see a Brown Thrasher in an area where most people don't bird. I heard several calls. After a short while, I realized that I could be hearing a thrasher I hurried over to the area in time to see the bird land briefly on a tree top and then dive into dense brush. This is the area where the old, long-abandoned swing set and ball field used to be. It is at Airport Rd. at Saratoga Rd. I covered all of Squantum with the exception of Nickerson Park That means the salt pannes, Moswetuset Hummock, Squantum Pt. Park, nature trail opposite nursing home, river trail, and Billings Salt Marsh Trail
Gloss Ibis 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1+ Snowy Egret 4+ Great Egret 4 + Osprey 4+ CLAPPER RAIL 1 calling between the two salt pannes Wild Turkey 3 Killdeer 7 American Oystercatcher 2 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Willet 5+ Least Tern 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 2 House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 2 Brown Thrasher 1 Gray Catbird 12+ Yellow Warbler 12+ Common Yellowthroat 3 Saltmarsh Sparrow 5 Kennedy Center salt panne Swamp Sparrow 1 Baltimore Oriole 2
Date: 6/25/25 8:57 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Purple Martins Nesting on Nantucket
Thanks to Mary Keleher for this news.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:32:21 From: Mary Keleher <maryeak...> Subject: Purple Martins Nesting on Nantucket
With the recent increase in the Purple Martin population within the state I thought this might be of interest. Purple Martins are nesting on Nantucket Island for the first time.
Mary Keleher, Mashpee, MA
Current Nature: New Species for Nantucket - Give a Warm Welcome for…
CURRENT NATURE: NEW SPECIES FOR NANTUCKET - GIVE A WARM WELCOME FOR…
This AM we kayaked about 1.5 miles of the Upper Millers River and a small section of the Otter River. Birds were active with lots of singing. Along the shore grackles were very active feeding young. Two Bald Eagles, both looked to be 4th year old birds, were moving up and down the river.
Millers River- New Boston Rd crossing -Winchendon US-MA 42.64666, -72.09822, Worcester, Massachusetts, US Jun 25, 2025 9:05 AM - 11:10 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.65 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Kayaked from New Boston Rd put in to the confluence with the Otter River. Went up the Otter River to old bridge abutments. 40 species
Mallard 2 Mourning Dove 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 2 Bald Eagle 2 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Least Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 5 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 Tree Swallow 2 Gray Catbird 4 American Robin 3 Cedar Waxwing 2 Purple Finch 1 American Goldfinch 2 Chipping Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 6 Swamp Sparrow 3 Baltimore Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 3 Common Grackle 7 Ovenbird 2 Common Yellowthroat 5 American Redstart 1 Yellow Warbler 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Pine Warbler 2 Prairie Warbler 1 Powerline Scarlet Tanager 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Date: 6/22/25 1:43 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Moose Hill in Sharon Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2025 18:17:30 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: Moose Hill in Sharon Highlights
I birded here from 1:00-6:00 I hit the Hobb's Hill Loop Trail, then all of the Kettle Trail, the Field Loop, Billings Loop, the Pasture Trail, the Old Pasture Trail, and finally, most of the Bluff Trail.. Along the Old Pasture Trail, three birds of the same species were singing, down low, an amazing song that was warbler-like. The song had three different sections to it, each section seeming to end the song, but then the bird would sing more and more! Winter Wren? The song wasn't high and tinkling like I would expect from this species.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Wild Turkey 9 including six adorable poults crossing Moose Hill Parkway with mum Killdeer 1 Barred Owl 1 minimum Hairy Woodpecker 3 family Great Crested Flycatcher 5 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Common Raven 2 minimum Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 first ones in a while Brown Creeper 3 Winter Wren 3 See Above Veery 6 Wood Thrush 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 Ovenbird 35 Pine Warbler 25 Northern Wterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 6 Eastern Towhee 7 Swamp Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 6 a surpirise
A chuck-wills-widow was heard this morning at 3:45 to 4:00 am from Roxy Cahoon Road just a little north of the village at the south end of Great Herring Pond. There is a small parking area and from there a distant Chuck was heard with about 6 Whips.
From the power lines adjacent to Whispering Pines in Plymouth on Sol (might be Solomon?) Joseph Road which is a continuation of Sandy Pond Road there were quite an assortment of raptors the best of which were 6 rather distance Mississippi Kites. These power lines are on the border of Plymouth/Bourne and gives quite a view of sky in several directions.
The cicadas were increasing in volume and quantity all through the early morning!
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
Date: 6/20/25 10:53 am From: Kathy Dia <katbirder...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] BBC Birds and Blanding's Kids' Walk
Spaces remaining!!
Birds and Blanding’s Family Walk — A walk for kids ages 8+ with
accompanying adult(s
*Sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club*
*Thursday June 26, 8-10AM, Concord area*
Special guest Dr. Bryan Windmiller of Zoo New England will talk about the
endangered Blanding’s turtles that call Great Meadows NWR home. Then we
will head out to see what turtles, birds, and mammals and other wildlife we
can observe on the refuge. Dr. Bryan will set a live turtle trap the night
before, so we hope to have the opportunity to see a live Blanding's
turtle! Group size is limited. Please email trip leader Kathy Dia to
register (<kdia...>). Due to limited group size this walk
is limited to kids age 8+ and their parent/adult chaperones. Meeting
location will be sent to all registrants three days before the walk.
Date: 6/20/25 5:36 am From: Lynette Leka <lynetteleka...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] not receiving any MassBird postings
hi - I seem to be out of the loop again, nothing from MassBird (or Spam) for about a week, can you help?
thanks!
------------------------------------ (by)..."not noticing birds in one's daily environment, one misses a whole segment of life on earth that can deliver joy every day." Bruce M. Beehler, 2019
Lynette Leka Newbury, MA 01951 email: <lynette.leka...>
A fine-looking adult male Orchard oriole flew in front of me this afternoon in the Arnold Arboretum (Boston). It was along the southwest stretch of the main paved road that skirts Bussey Hill and was singing shortly before flying.
thank you Barbara. I didn't know that, but will keep that in mind moving
forward. :)
On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...>
wrote:
> Thanks to Lynn Pelland for this post.
>
> Unfortunately, massbird does not handle images, so I had to remove that
> before forwarding this post.
>
> Barbara Volkle
> Northborough, MA
> <barb620...>
>
> *
>
> From: Lynn Pelland <lpelland...>
> Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:55:54 -0400
> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Brightwater Bog, Shutesbury
> To: Josh <opihi...>
> Cc: Massbird <massbird...>
>
> Very nice list. Sounds like a must visit bog.
>
> If anyone is in the area of Montague. I had beautiful views of a
> Black-billed Cuckoo at the Montague Plains yesterday morning. I heard at
> least 3, but only saw one. After I spotted a Coyote (which we saw each
> other at the same time) and a weird spider with spikes!!
>
>
>
>
--
Lynn Pelland
Facilities Services Assistant
Facilities Management
Smith College
126 West St
Northampton, MA 01063
p 413.585.2391
f 413.585.2398
<lpelland...>
--
Date: 6/16/25 8:56 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 6/16 Fowl Meadow in Milton and Canton
Thanks to Paul Peterson for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 6/16 Fowl Meadow in Milton and Canton Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:45:17 +0000 (UTC)
I birded here from 10:30-4:30
Green Heron 1 flyover Red-shouldered Hawk 1 min. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 perched, where else, but on the top of a dead tree Hairy Woodpecker Willow Flycatcher 4 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Kingbird 1 (min.) Warbling Vireo 8 river trail mostly Red-eyed Vireo 4 Common Raven 1 Cleary Square Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Wood Thrush 3 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 20 Common Yellowthroat 18 Ovenbird 4 Swamp Sparrow 6 Eastern Towhee 20 Scarlet Tanager 1 near marker 6101 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Baltimore Oriole 4 Northern Leopard Frog 2 (min.) Green Frog 6 Painted Turtle 1 also one dead on Neponset Valley Pkwy White-tailed Deer 2 Eastern Raccoon 1 dead on Neponset Valley Pkwy Gray Squirrel x Eastern Chipmunk x Silver-spotted Skipper 1 Little Wood Satyr 2 Cabbage White 1 skipper sp. 7
If anyone is in the area of Montague. I had beautiful views of a Black-billed Cuckoo at the Montague Plains yesterday morning. I heard at least 3, but only saw one. After I spotted a Coyote (which we saw each other at the same time) and a weird spider with spikes!!
Sorry can not do any more than just a few highlights from this weekend.
Mt Greylock: rain from 6:00 to 9:30. We waited it out at the summit. After the rain the first surprise was an adult male Northern Parula just my second time in June and the latest. One Blackpoll was present. We ended up with 14 warblers including 2 Canadas on the Saddleball trail. Due to the rain bird song was very quiet and a lot of birds were silent.
Since we could not do the mountain road the way I wanted I had about 20 minutes on Sunday morning to go up the mountain road before needing to get to the meeting spot for that trip. Windows open I drove up a couple of miles slowly turned around and came back down. Just one mile/one and quarter miles from the visitor's center I heard a Mourning Warbler (normal) which is why I wanted to go back.
Sunday's trip had its own surprise with a Blue-winged Warbler on October Mountain at the corner where the road goes to the picnic area next to Schoolhouse reservoir (I think thats the name). There is little to no habitat for this and this area was cut about 7 years ago so the secondary habitat has grown, but the make up of species is not what one would find blue-winged, but it was constantly singing.
The other interesting bird was two Red Crossbills which seemed to be searching for something; heard three times and seen in flight twice.
93 species for the weekend.
Glenn
Glenn d'Entremont: <gdentremont1...> Stoughton, MA
Yesterday Sam McGullam and I co-led a walk for the Hampshire Bird Club. We went to Brightwater Bog, a fairly new preserve owned by the Kestrel Trust; before Kestrel acquired the land it was known as Julian’s Bower, named for the owner whose outdoor sculptures are still featured along one section of trail, and whose poetry is posted on a few trailside trees. The bog and preserve surround Ames Pond in Shutesbury. We tallied 46 bird species, plus several butterflies and dragonflies, a couple of orchids, some carnivorous plants, and various other critters.
Bird highlights: A pair of Broad-winged Hawks soaring low over the forest canopy, one of them calling A pair of Red-shouldered Hawk, one of which was carrying a snake Some Common Ravens making a racket Alder Flycatcher cooperatively calling from atop a snag in the bog 9 warbler species singing, and one of the Ovenbirds popping up by the trail while carrying food
