Friday, June 9, 2023
With spring migration winding down, migrant highlights this week were primarily several species of the typically late-moving flycatchers and several warbler species, most notably Mourning Warblers. A Franklin’s Gull at Race Point in Provincetown was undoubtedly the most unusual report of the week.
Cape Cod highlights this week were headed by an adult Franklin’s Gull at Race Point in Provincetown where they were joined by 43 Red-necked Phalaropes, 24 late Black-legged Kittiwakes, 3 Arctic Terns, a Black Tern, and a late Razorbill. Elsewhere on the Cape there was a Least Bittern at Pilgrim Heights in North Truro, calling Chuck-will’s-widows on Elaine Avenue in North Falmouth and on Milford Road in East Falmouth, an Acadian Flycatcher at the New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee, a Hooded Warbler near West Pond at the Skunknet Conservation Area in Barnstable, a Blue Grosbeak at the Crane WMA in Falmouth, and a Barn Owl on South Monomoy off Chatham.
Bristol County luminaries were a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Cove in Swansea and an Acadian Flycatcher at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth.
Plymouth County was highlighted by a Least Bittern at the Daniel Webster Sanctuary in Marshfield, 5 Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, and a nice assortment of late-moving migrants at Manomet Observatory including 2 Acadian Flycatchers, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a Swainson’s Thrush, and warblers including 4 Blackpolls, 2 Canadas, and a Blackburnian Warbler, a late White-throated Sparrow.
Norfolk County distinguished itself with 7 Piping Plovers at Wollaston Beach, a Clapper Rail off East Squantum Street in Squantum, and a Hooded Warbler at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon.
Suffolk County hosted a Caspian Tern at Belle Isle Marsh off Bennington Street in East Boston, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Lewis Lake in Winthrop, a Least Flycatcher at the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, an Acadian Flycatcher and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at the Arnold Arboretum, and 2 Mourning Warblers at Millennium Park in West Roxbury.
Essex County birders found an Olive-sided Flycatcher, an Acadian Flycatcher, and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at the Marblehead Neck Sanctuary in Marblehead, a Common Murre off the Marblehead Causeway, a late Iceland Gull at Great Neck in Ipswich, single Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at Plum Island and Rumney Marsh in Saugus, 3 Bay-breasted Warblers, a Philadelphia Vireo, and 2 Swainson’s Thrushes at Plum Island, and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Children’s Island off Marblehead.
Middlesex County was visited by an American Bittern at Great Meadows Refuge in Concord, single Prothonotary Warblers at the Little Meadow Conservation Area in Bedford and Brewster’s Woods in Concord, a Hooded Warbler at Long Lake Park in Littleton, an Alder Flycatcher at Arlington’s Great Meadows, and an Acadian Flycatcher at Dunback Meadow in Lexington.
Berkshire County luminaries included a Least Bittern at the Tierney Conservation Area in Pittsfield and a Hooded Warbler in Sheffield.
Franklin County highlights were an Olive-sided Flycatcher at the Montague Plains WMA in Montague and a Mourning Warbler calling along the roadside on North Cross Road in Gill.
Hampshire County was blessed with 4 Sandhill Cranes off Old Post Road in Worthington and a hybrid Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler near the Upper Church access to the Mass Central Rail Trail in Ware.
Hampden County hosted several Upland Sandpipers between Perimeter Road and the Stony Brook Wetlands in Ludlow, 4 Acadian Flycatchers in Granville, a Hooded Warbler at the Grace Robson Wildlife Sanctuary in Westfield, and a Blue Grosbeak at the Southwick WMA in Southwick.
Worcester County featured an Olive-sided Flycatcher at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at the Birch Hill WMA in Templeton, and 3 Evening Grosbeaks in Royalston.
Martha’s Vineyard reports included a Gadwall at Quansoo and a late Razorbill at Menemsha Pond.
Nantucket highlights were a Northern Shoveler at Sesachacha Pond, where 3 Chuck-will’s-widows were heard calling at the Sesachacha Heathlands Sanctuary. A Merlin was noted at Madaket, and at the UMass Field Station a Clapper Rail was seen.