Friday, November 10, 2023

Notable events this week included a migrating flock of 22 Sandhill Cranes in Townsend, a Swainson’s Hawk in Provincetown, a Rufous Hummingbird in Natick, a Bell’s Vireo and a Townsend’s Warbler in the vicinity of Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard, a Summer Tanager in the vicinity of Eastern Point in East Gloucester, an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Halibut Point in Rockport, and a notable overhead movement of Purple Finches in Jamaica Plain.

Cape Cod highlights this week featured a continuing Yellow-headed Blackbird variously seen between the Old North Cemetery in Truro and among a cowbird flock on Shore Road in North Truro, a Swainson’s Hawk circling over the Beech Forest in Provincetown, a Black-headed Gull at Cahoon Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, and 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers at Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, a Short-eared Owl over the dunes at Nauset Beach in Orleans, a Lark Sparrow in the Harwich Community Gardens, and an American Redstart at Scusset Beach Reservation in Sandwich.

Bristol County sightings of interest were a continuing Eurasian Wigeon at the pond on Miller Street in Seekonk and 5 Clapper Rails at the Egypt Lane Ponds in Fairhaven.

Plymouth County luminaries were a Eurasian Wigeon at Hedges Pond in Plymouth, a tardy Osprey at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Manomet, a Spotted Sandpiper, continuing Hudsonian Godwit, and a Black Tern at Plymouth Beach, 5 Sandhill Cranes at the Cumberland Farms fields in Middleboro, 2 Marsh Wrens at the Tidmarsh Sanctuary in Manomet, and single Marsh Wrens at Burrage Pond Wildlife Area in Hanson, the Foot Hills Preserve in Manomet, the Shifting Lots Preserve in Plymouth, and the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield.

Norfolk County hosted a Barrow’s Goldeneye, 320 Ring-necked Ducks, and 252 Ruddy Ducks at Great Pond in Randolph, a Wilson’s Warbler at Halls Pond in Brookline, and 2 Nelson’s Sparrows at Passagesat Park at Broad Meadows Marsh in Quincy.

Suffolk County bright lights featured 2 Black-headed Gulls at the Belle Isle Reservation along with a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Pectoral Sandpiper, and a Long-billed Dowitcher. A Lark Sparrow was seen at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury, and a Common Yellowthroat and a Clay-colored Sparrow were spotted at Millennium Park in West Roxbury. Three Forster’s Terns were observed at Carson Beach in Boston, 3 Gray Catbirds were seen at the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and an impressive movement of 18 Purple Finches was tallied in Jamaica Plain.

Middlesex County was highlighted by a Rufous Hummingbird visiting the flowers at Lookout Farm in Natick and a remarkable tally of 22 Sandhill Cranes in flight over Townsend. Single Dickcissels were spotted at Fisher Hill Reservoir Park in Brookline, the Westford Community Gardens, and the Horn Pond Recreation Area in Woburn, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow was tallied near Lynnfield Marsh in Lynnfield and another at Danehy Park in Cambridge. Four Lesser Yellowlegs continued at the Arlington Reservoir in Arlington, and 4 Blue-winged Teal were at Hager Pond in Boxborough, and 3 more were spotted at the Cider Knoll Conservation Land in Marlborough, and 2 more at Weston Station Pond in Weston. Tardy migrants this week included a Red-eyed Vireo and a Scarlet Tanager at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, and a Baltimore Oriole at Danehy Park in Cambridge. Fortuitous was a Greater White-fronted Goose photographed in flight with a flock of Canada Geese in Groton, and a Clay-colored Sparrow continues to be seen near Draw Seven Park in Somerville.

Essex County luminaries were a Barn Owl at the Salisbury Beach Reservation in Salisbury, an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, a Summer Tanager in the vicinity of Eastern Point in Gloucester, and 2 Pine Grosbeaks at the Rough Meadows Sanctuary in Rowley. Other sightings of note were a Sooty Shearwater, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 30 Harlequin Ducks, an Indigo Bunting, and a Clay-colored Sparrow at Halibut Point State Park. At Plum Island a Common Gallinule continues to be regularly seen in the Bill Forward Pool on the refuge.

Berkshire County was graced by 4 Red-throated Loons and a Northern Shoveler at Lake Pontoosuc in Pittsfield, 57 Brant in flight over Pittsfield, a soaring Golden Eagle over Savoy, and a Snow Goose in Sheffield.

Franklin County continued to enjoy the periodic appearance of 3 Pink-footed Geese at Tri-Town Beach in Whately that seem to be regularly moving back and forth between Franklin County and several localities in Hampshire County, and a flock of 15 Brant seen in flight in Sunderland.

Hampshire County continues to host 3 Pink-footed Geese that variously spend time at Paradise Pond near the campus of Smith College in Northampton and the campus pond at UMass in Amherst, before periodically going to Tri-Town Beach in Whately in Franklin County. Other sightings of interest in the county include a Cackling Goose at the UMass campus pond, 2 Black Vultures in South a Hadley, a Nashville Warbler at Fog Hollow in Southampton, a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Lake Warner Conservation Area in Hadley, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow in the East Meadows in Northampton.

Hampden County made news by the presence of a Tufted Duck at the Whiting Street Reservoir in Holyoke, along with 2 Ospreys at the Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, and a Brant and a Dickcissel at South Congamond Pond in Southwick.

Worcester County was visited by a Red-throated Loon at Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, a Great Egret at the Dorothy Pond Recreation Area in Milbury, a Blue-winged Teal at Wickaboag Lake in West Brookfield, and 2 lingering Ospreys at Coes Reservoir in Worcester. Other sightings of interest were a Cape May Warbler the Rauscher Farm Conservation Area in Clinton, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the Westboro Wildlife Area, and an Orange-crowned Warbler at the Fitchburg State University campus in Fitchburg.

Martha’s Vineyard luminaries were a Bell’s Vireo in the Black Point area of Chilmark, and a Townsend’s Warbler, a Prairie Warbler, and a Sedge Wren near the Aquinnah Beach parking area, 350 Tree Swallows at Gay Head, 3 Bald Eagles at Katama Farm in Edgartown, and a Black Vulture at the Cove Meadow Preserve on Chappaquiddick.

Nantucket hosted a Cattle Egret in the Bartlett’s Farm vicinity, a Hudsonian Godwit at Eel Point, 4 Common Gallinules at Miacomet Park, 3 Common Ravens at Siasconset, and a Northern Shoveler at Hummock Pond. Several miles offshore, marine observers recorded 220 Great Shearwaters, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Red Phalaropes, 2 South Polar Skuas, and an Atlantic Puffin. At Tuckernuck Island a Swainson’s Thrush was recorded.