Friday, February 16, 2024

Persisting notable species this week were a Western Grebe, Feb 16, 2024e in Winthrop, an Eared Grebe in Marblehead, a Tufted Duck at Nantucket, a Say’s Phoebe in Belchertown, a Townsend’s Warbler in Cambridge, a Yellow-throated Warbler in Milton, and a Western Tanager in Beverly.

Cape Cod luminaries this week featured a continuing Western Kingbird and a Lark Sparrow in the vicinity of the Cape Cod Seashore Visitor’s Center in Eastham, a Pacific Loon, Glaucous Gull, and 11 Tree Swallows at Race Point in Provincetown, 3 Black Vultures at Scusset Beach State Reservation in Sandwich, a Northern Shrike at the Crane WMA in Falmouth, a Yellow-breasted Chat at Fort Hill in Eastham, a continuing Willet at Forest Beach in Chatham, and a Semipalmated Plover at Craigville Beach in Barnstable.

Bristol County highlights included a Cackling Goose at the Bristol County agricultural fields in Dighton, a “Black” Brant (the western counterpart of the Atlantic Brant) observed from the New Bedford Cove Walk in New Bedford, 2 Barrow’s Goldeneyes near the Nonquitt saltmarsh in Dartmouth, 2 Northern Shovelers at Interchange Park in Fall River, 2 American Woodcocks at Carvalo Farm in Fairhaven and a Brown Thrasher at the Egypt Lane Ponds in Fairhaven.  Also noteworthy were an Orange-crowned Warbler on Gulf Road in South Dartmouth and a Baltimore Oriole on Division Road in Dartmouth.

Plymouth County notables were 86 Red Knots at Duxbury Beach, 2 Sandhill Cranes near Centennial Pond Circle in Kingston, a Vesper Sparrow at Leland Farm in East Bridgewater, and a Black-crowned Night-Heron at North River Sanctuary in Marshfield.

Norfolk County reports of note included a Yellow-throated Warbler at a feeder in Milton, 3 American Woodcocks at the Norfolk Airport, a Short-eared Owl at Squantum Point Park in Squantum, a Dickcissel at a feeder on Madison Avenue in Franklin, 4 Rusty Blackbirds at Cutler Park in Dedham, single Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon and Whitney Woods in Cohasset, a Baltimore Oriole at a feeder in Wellesley, and 2 Black Vultures over the Franklin State Forest in Franklin.

Suffolk County luminaries were a continuing Western Grebe at Winthrop Beach, a Red-shouldered Hawk at Franklin Park, a Gadwall at Leverett Pond, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the Boston Public Garden, a Fox Sparrow at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Roxbury, a Northern Shoveler at Chandler Pond, and an Orange-crowned Warbler at Deer Island in Boston Harbor.

Middlesex County birders were pleased to enjoy a lingering Townsend’s Warbler at the Alewife Linear Park Bike Path in Cambridge, along with 6 American Woodcocks at the Assabet NWR in Stow, 8 Rusty Blackbirds at a feeder in Groton, 8 Northern Pintails at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Acton, 3 Northern Shovelers at the Woburn Community Gardens, and a continuing, Orange-crowned Warbler at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Essex County highlights featured a Western Tanager at a private address in Beverly, a continuing Eared Grebe off the Marblehead Neck Causeway, a Golden Eagle at the William Forward WMA in Essex, a Common Murre off Salem Willows Park in Salem, 4 Black-crowned Night-Herons at Flax Pond in Lynn, a Yellow-breasted Chat at Nahant Thicket, an American Bittern at Plum Island, a Clapper Rail in the marshes adjacent to Newburyport Harbor, and 8 Pine Warblers at a feeder at 5 Meadowview Road in Georgetown.

Berkshire County bright lights were a continuing Dickcissel at a feeder on Jug End Road in South Egremont, a large flock of 600 Red-winged Blackbirds in Sheffield, 9 Rusty Blackbirds at a swamp on Gale Avenue in Pittsfield, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers on the Great Barrington Riverfront Trail, 5 American Wigeons at Smiley’s Pond in South Egremont, and 10 Green-winged Teal at Lake Onota in Pittsfield.

Franklin County notables were highlighted by a Red-headed Woodpecker in Sunderland, 4 Black Vultures in Sunderland, a Long-tailed Duck and 3 Buffleheads at the Turner’s Falls power canal in Montague, a Sandhill Crane on Wall’s Ferry Road in Montague, and a Clay-colored Sparrow at North Meadows in Deerfield.

Hampshire County distinguished itself again with the continued presence of a Say’s Phoebe at the Quabbin Reservoir Visitor’s Center in Belchertown, with other species of interest including 21 Green-winged Teal, 2 Wood Ducks, and 7 Rusty Blackbirds at Great Pond in Hatfield, 8 Black Vultures over fields in East Hadley, a Horned Grebe at Hanks Meadow in Ware, and 7 Fox Sparrows at the Southampton WMA in Southampton.

Worcester County reports of note were a Canvasback and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers at gate 36 at Wachusett Reservoir in Sterling, 3 Sandhill Cranes on Center Bridge Road in Lancaster, 92 Greater Scaup at Fletcher Street Bridge in West Boylston, 2 Barrow’s Goldeneyes at Mass Central Rail Trail in West Boylston, and 11 Red Crossbills at gate 43 at Quabbin Reservoir in Hardwick.

Martha’s Vineyard highlight reports were led by 2 Northern Shovelers at Brush Pond in Oak Bluffs.

Nantucket luminaries were a continuing Tufted Duck at Madaket and a Dickcissel and a Brown Thrasher at a feeder at 215 Madaket Road, a Willet in Nantucket Harbor, and 5 Northern Shovelers at Long Pond.