Friday, July 14, 2023
Highlights this week were 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in Worcester, a Brown Booby observed from a whale-watching boat on the southwest corner of Stellwagen Bank off Provincetown, and a Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage on Plymouth Beach. Other reports of interest was an unusual scattering of summer Blue Grosbeaks at several localities in western Massachusetts.
Cape Cod sightings this week were highlighted by a Brown Booby observed on a whale watching boat on the southwest corner of Stellwagen Bank and a Chuck-will’s-widow calling neat Nauset Light in Eastham. Other notable reports were an Iceland Gull at Minimoy off Chatham, 2 Ruddy Ducks at South Monomoy, an Arctic Tern at Race Point in Provincetown, 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at Forest Beach in Chatham, and single Yellow-crowns at Hallet’s Mill Pond in Yarmouth, Morris Island in Chatham, and Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary in Wellfleet. Also of note was a continuing Blue Grosbeak at the Crane WMA in Falmouth.
Plymouth County was highlighted by a Curlew Sandpiper at Plymouth Beach, an American Bittern and 2 Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, a continuing Pomarine Jaeger at Manomet Point, and 3 Forster’s Terns noted passing Manomet Point.
Norfolk County luminaries were a continuing Clapper Rail in the Squantum Marshes off East Squantum Street, 5 Piping Plovers at Sandy Beach in Cohasset, and an Acadian Flycatcher calling at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon.
Suffolk County hosted a Blue-winged Warbler at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, and a Willet at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation in East Boston.
Essex County highlights were single Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at the Ipswich Town Wharf and the Forest River Conservation Area in Marblehead, a Sandhill Crane at the Appleton Farm in Ipswich, 2 summering Long-tailed Ducks at Sandy Point State Park on Plum Island, a Solitary Sandpiper at the Tospfield Fair Grounds, a Black Guillemot at Andrews Point in Rockport and 4 Caspian Terns observed flying over Straitsmouth Island in Rockport.
Middlesex County was visited by a Common Loon on Walden Pond in Concord, several Purple Martins in Dunstable, an American Bittern at the Russel Bird Sanctuary in Westford, and 3 Short-billed Dowitchers and a Pectoral Sandpiper on a wet field on School Street in Acton.
Berkshire County birders were pleased with a Great Egret in Sheffield, a Whimbrel at the Great Barrington Airport, and several Red Crossbills on Olson Road in Florida.
Franklin County was visited by 8 Red Crossbills near Cranberry Pond in Sunderland.
Hampshire County notables included 2 Least Bitterns at Great Pond in Hatfield, 2 Great Egrets at Lake Warmer in Hadley, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs in the Northampton East Meadows, 2 Short-billed Dowitchers on Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley, single Blue Grosbeaks in a field on Brook Street in Granby and Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley, and 3 more in the Hatfield meadows.
Hampden County also hosted a Blue Grosbeak at the Southwick WMA in Southwick.
Worcester County highlights included 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Silver Lake Park in Worcester, a continuing Brewster’s Warbler at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, an Upland Sandpiper at the Fitchburg Airport in Fitchburg, a Common Merganser at the Coes Reservoir in Worcester, 6 Evening Grosbeaks in Royalston, a Black-crowned Night-Heron at the Westborough WMA in Westborough, and 4 Eastern Meadowlarks at gate 37 of the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton.
Martha’s Vineyard birders tallied a Willow Flycatcher near Squibnocket Pond, and an Acadian Flycatcher and a Northern Parula in Chilmark.
Nantucket was visited by a continuing Glaucous Gull and a wandering Black Skimmer.