Friday, December 1, 2023

Among the more interesting reports this week were an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Cambridge, a large lingering flock of 76 Laughing Gulls in Beverly, a Tufted Duck, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and a Western Kingbird at Nantucket, a Greater White-fronted Goose in South Egremont, and a Painted Bunting in South Chatham.

Cape Cod highlights included a late Sooty Shearwater, 2 Common Terns, and a Black-headed Gull at Race Point in Provincetown, single Rough-legged Hawks at Head of the Meadow in Truro, Nauset Beach in Orleans, and Bray Farm in Yarmouth, a very late Whimbrel at West Dennis Beach, a Pacific Loon and a Forster’s Tern at Corporation Beach in Dennis, 2 late Piping Plovers at Sea Gull Beach in Yarmouth, 3 lingering Willets at Forest Beach in Chatham, 3 Long-billed Dowitchers at Eunice Shriver Beach at Ocean Park in Centerville, and a Painted Bunting at a feeder in South Chatham.

Bristol County hosted a Golden Eagle at the Mill Brook Bog Wildlife Area in Freetown, a very late Broad-winged Hawk on River St. in Rehoboth, single Great Egrets at the Egypt Lane Ponds in Fairhaven and Gooseberry Neck in Westport, and a Barrow’s Goldeneye at West Island in Fairhaven.

Plymouth County luminaries were lingering Laughing Gulls at Manomet Point and 2 at Windmill Point in Hull, a Great Egret and a Common Tern at Duxbury Harbor, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Bird Observatory, 2 Palm Warblers at the Cumberland Farms fields in Middleboro, a House Wren at the Nemasket Trail in Plympton, and a Baltimore Oriole in Marion.

Norfolk County featured 3 Black Vultures at the Mine Brook Marsh in Franklin, a Barrow’s Goldeneye at Great Pond in Randolph, a Great Egret at Stony Brook Sanctuary in Norfolk, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Richardi Reservoir in Braintree, a Blue-winged Teal near the Oak Street Woodland in Franklin, a continuing Wilson’s Warbler at Hall’s Pond in Brookline, a Magnolia Warbler and a Nashville Warbler at Squantum Point Park in Squantum, and a Clay-colored Sparrow Shea Naval Air Station in Weymouth.

Suffolk County notable observations included a Lark Sparrow at the Forest Hills Cemetery, a Black-headed Gull at Crystal Cove in Winthrop, a Virginia Rail, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Dickcissel at Millennium Park I West Roxbury, an Ovenbird in Post Office Square, a Cape May Warbler at Franklin Park in Dorchester, and a Nashville Warbler near Chadler Pond in Boston.

Essex County hosted a late flock of 76 Laughing Gulls at West Beach in Beverly, a Western Tanager, a Blue-headed Vireo, and a White-eyed Vireo at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Waring Field in Rockport, 6 White-rumped Sandpipers at Plum Island, 3 Cackling Geese at Putnumville Reservoir in Danvers, and a continuing Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a feeder on Bond Street in Gloucester.

Middlesex County was visited by an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Danehy Park in Cambridge, an Orange-crowned Warbler at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, an Ovenbird and an American Redstart at Drumlin Farm Sanctuary in Lincoln, a Yellow-breasted Chat at Nahanton Park in Newton, 2 Virginia Rails at Great Meadows Refuge in Concord, a Lesser Yellowlegs at the Arlington Reservoir, and a Clay-colored Sparrow at Weston Station Pond in Weston.

Berkshire County luminaries included a Redd-breasted Merganser at Lake Onota in Pittsfield, a Long-tailed Duck and 3 White-winged Scoters at Laurel Lake in Lee, and a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Snow Goose at Smiley’s Pond in South Egremont.

Hampshire County highlights included a continuing Cackling Goose at the UMass Campus Pond, 3 Black Vultures in Easthampton, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Nashville Warbler at Great Pond in Hatfield, and 8 Pine Warblers near the Quabbin Reservoir Headquarters in Belchertown.

Hampden County distinguished itself a lingering Osprey at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke and a late Cape May Warbler at Heritage Park Plaza in Longmeadow.

Worcester County birders were pleased with 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, an Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Great Egret at the Coes Park in Worcester, 16 Red Crossbills at Quabbin gate 43 in Hardwick, a Lesser Yellowlegs at the Bolton Flats Wildlife Area in Bolton, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the Westboro Wildlife Area in Westboro.

Martha’s Vineyard hosted a lingering flock of 135 Tree Swallows, an American Bittern at Black Point in Chilmark, a Willet and a Common Raven at Aquinnah, and a Laughing Gull in Edgartown Harbor.

Nantucket distinguished itself with a Tufted Duck on Long Pond, a Western Kingbird in the vicinity of Bartlett’s Farm, a continuing Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in the vicinity of Settler’s Landing in Madaket, and Eared Grebe seen from the Horse Farm Lookout at Hummock Pond, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Tuckernuck, a continuing Western Cattle Egret, 2 Northern Shovelers, and 2 Common Gallinules at Miacomet Park, 3 American Oystercatchers at the UMass Field Station, and a Great Egret at Sesachacha Pond.