Friday, October 13, 2023

Notable species this week were highlighted by a Virginia’s Warbler that spent several days at the Putnam Farm Conservation Area in Orleans for a first record for Massachusetts, a Western Tanager at Long Pasture Sanctuary in Cummaquid, a Le Conte’s Sparrow in the Plum Bush area of Newbury, and a sprinkling of Clay-colored Sparrows from various locations across the state.

Cape Cod highlights this week were highlighted by a Virginia’s Warbler in the Putnam Farm Conservation Area in Orleans for a first record for Massachusetts.  Other notable sightings featured a Western Tanager at the Long Pasture Sanctuary in Cummaquid, a Barn Owl at the Monomoy Lighthouse on South Monomoy, 6 Black Skimmers at the Strong Island Landing in Chatham and 2 more at Chapin Beach in Dennis, a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Wing Island in Brewster and another Gray-cheeked Thrush at South Monomoy where a Common Gallinule was also observed, single Black-billed Cuckoos at the Hopkins Lane Gardens in Orleans and Wing Island in Brewster, a late Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Peterson Farm in Falmouth, and 3 tardy Roseate Terns at Race Point in Provincetown.  Single late Common Murres were seen at the Wellfleet Town Pier and in Sesuit Harbor in Dennis.

Bristol County included a Caspian Tern, a Connecticut Warbler, and a Clay-colored Sparrow at Gooseberry Neck in Westport, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth, and a tardy Yellow Warbler at West Beach in Westport.

Plymouth County was graced by the presence of 5 Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond Wildlife Area in Hanson, and possibly the same group of 5 at Leland Farm in East Bridgewater.  Other notables included a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Little Harbor in Wareham where 6 Nelson’ Sparrows were also tallied, a Hudsonian Godwit at Plymouth Beach, a late Yellow-throated Vireo in Marion, single Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Ellisville Harbor in Plymouth and at the Manomet Bird Observatory, where a Hooded Warbler was also observed.

Norfolk County hosted a Clapper Rail and a Lark Sparrow at Passanageset Park at Broad Meadow Marsh Park in Quincy, a White-eyed Vireo, a Clay-colored Sparrow, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Squantum Point Park in Squantum, and 4 Forster’s Terns at the Squantum Marshes in Squantum.

Suffolk County notables included 6 American Oystercatchers at Winthrop Beach, a Forster’s Tern at Revere Beach, an American Golden-Plover and a Dickcissel at Belle Isle Reservation, 3 Green Herons, a Prairie Warbler, and a Scarlet Tanager at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, a Pileated Woodpecker in the Arnold Arboretum, and an American Oystercatcher at Deer Island in Boston Harbor.

Middlesex County birders were pleased to find a Black-billed Cuckoo at Sandy Beach at the Mystic Lakes in Winchester, a tardy Broad-winged Hawk at the Newtown Hill Conservation Area in Littleton, 2 Stilt Sandpipers at the Arlington Reservoir, a late-lingering Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the Woburn Community Gardens, and single Clay-colored Sparrows on Fitch’s Bridge Road in Groton, Drumlin Farm Sanctuary in Lincoln, Rock Meadow in Belmont, and Nahanton Park in Newton.

Essex County was highlighted by a LeConte’s Sparrow in the salt marsh near the Plum Bush area in Newbury, a continuing Cackling Goose at Wenham Lake in Wenham, 9 Harlequin Ducks at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, a Hooded Warbler at Cedar Pond Sanctury in Wenham, a Common Gallinule and a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Plum Island, and a tardy Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Gloucester.

Berkshire County hosted a Northern Shoveler at Shaker Mill Pond in West Stockbridge, a Cackling Goose at Laurel Lake in Lee, a Green Heron in Cheshire, a late Yellow Warbler at Linear Park in Williamstown, and a Dickcissel at Howden Farm in Sheffield.

Franklin County was visited by a Green Heron, a Black-crowned Night-Heron, an Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 7 Lincoln’s Sparrows, and a Dickcissel in the North Meadows in Deerfield.

Hampshire County was graced by the continued presence of 3 Pink-footed Geese and a Cackling Goose on the UMass Campus Pond in Amherst, 4 continuing Sandhill Cranes at Arcadia Sanctuary in Northampton, Philadelphia Vireo also at Arcadia Sanctuary, and a Clay-colored Sparrow at the Little Neponset Floodplain in Hatfield.

Hampden County notables were 2 lingering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Granville, and 13 Chimney Swifts and 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallows at the Longmeadow Flats in Longmeadow.