Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - December 26, 2014

Bald Eagle

Main Street, Amesbury:
Eastern Bluebird 

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal

Elm Street, Byfield:
Eastern Bluebird

Various Areas in Exeter, NH:
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk 

Ipswich Center:
Peregrine Falcon

River Road, West Newbury:
Common Loon, Red-tailed Hawk

Morgan Avenue, Newbury:
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin

Ash Street Swamp, West Newbury:
Canada Goose, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-billed Gull

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Snow Bunting, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loon, 
Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Dunlin, Blue Jay, Snow Bunting  

Rogers Street, West Newbury:
Greater White-fronted Goose, Red-tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, American Crow, Mute Swan

Parker Street, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Greater White-fronted Goose, Bufflehead, Mute Swan, Blue Jay, Red-tailed Hawk

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker

Amesbury's Boat Launch:
Bald Eagle, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher

Various Areas in Nahant:
Brant, Canada Goose, Snowy Owl

Greenleaf Street, Amesbury:
Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Snowy Owl, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Sanderling, Large alcid species, Rough-legged Hawk

Marblehead Neck Sanctuary, Marblehead:
Townsend's Warbler 

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield:
Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Northern Flicker, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Swamp Sparrow 

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, King Eider, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Greater Yellowlegs, Cedar Waxwing, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Snowy Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, American Tree Sparrow, Northern Cardinal 

Newburyport Harbor:
Snow Goose, Bald Eagle, American Black Duck, Pied-billed Grebe 

Tara Lane, Newton, NH:
Pileated Woodpecker

Route 110, Salisbury:
Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Mallard, American Black Duck

Clark Pond, Ipswich:
Mute Swan, Hooded Merganser 

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimac:
Ring-billed Gull, American Coot, Common Merganser,Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Bald Eagle, Ruddy Duck

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
American Black Duck, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, Rock Pigeon, Horned Lark, American Crow, European Starling, Canada Goose

Various Areas in Ipswich:
Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Scoter species, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Wild Turkey, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eastern Screech-Owl, Snowy Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Peregrine Falcon, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse,  White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow  

Cherry Hill [Indian Hill] Reservior, West Newbury:
Common Merganser, American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull

Turkey Hill Conservation Area, Ipswich: 

Eastern Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Crow, Blue Jay, Canada Goose, Morning Dove, American Robin, Wild Turkey, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, House Finch, Song Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal

Bird's Nests, Fruitcake & Christmas Trees

Legend has it that good luck, happiness and friendship come to the household that finds a bird's nest in the branches of its Christmas tree. Icelandic lore says that a nest in the Christmas tree means a year of health and good fortune.

Many people either give or receive fruitcakes during the "giving" season.  Even though many don't enjoy fruitcake, it's a popular treat among birds as it can be rich with nuts, sweet pineapple, lush papaya, red cherries,honey and plump raisins!  Slice it and offer it in a suet cage.

The easiest and most popular way to recycle a Christmas tree for the birds is to add it to your brush pile. If you don't already have a brush pile, prop the tree up next to the garage, shed or fence where the birds can easily flit among the branches. This creates an instant roosting area to shelter small birds from wind, storms and other inclement weather, and the tree provides convenient perches for birds waiting their turn at your well stocked feeders.

I wish each of you good health, good fortune and good birding in 2015!

Happy Holidays,
Sue

Mosquitoes Prefer to Bite Male Birds

Baltimore Oriole by Phil Brown

http://www.futurity.org/male-birds-mosquitoes-802642/

Crossbill Foraging Style

Phil Brown

White-winged Crossbills can eat up close to 3,000 seeds in a day. How does one bird get access to so many seeds?
It's the structure of this bird’s unique crossed bill that aids them in obtaining seeds. Physical adaptation allow  the
White-winged Crossbill get at seeds from pine cones that other species with ordinary bird's bills can’t. What appears
at first to be an odd bill abnormality is an extremely advantageous feature.

http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/white-winged-crossbill-foraging-adaptation/

Essex County, MA & Southern NH Bird Sightings - December 22, 2014

Pileated Woodpecker by Phil Brown

Main Street, Amesbury:
Eastern Bluebird 

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal

Elm Street, Byfield:
Eastern Bluebird

Morgan Avenue, Newbury:
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin

Ash Street Swamp, West Newbury:
Canada Goose, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Snow Bunting, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loon, 
Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Dunlin, Blue Jay, Snow Bunting  

Parker Street, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Greater White-fronted Goose, Bufflehead

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker

Greenleaf Street, Amesbury:
Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco

Marblehead Neck Sanctuary, Marblehead:
Townsend's Warbler 

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield:
Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Northern Flicker, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Swamp Sparrow 

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail,Green-winged Teal, King Eider, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead,  Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Snowy Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, American Tree Sparrow, Northern Cardinal 

Newburyport Harbor:
Snow Goose, Bald Eagle, American Black Duck, Pied-billed Grebe 

Tara Lane, Newton, NH:
Pileated Woodpecker

Route 110, Salisbury:
Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Mallard, American Black Duck

Clark Pond, Ipswich:
Mute Swan, Hooded Merganser 

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimac:
Ring-billed Gull, American Coot, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Ruddy Duck

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
American Black Duck, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-throated Loon,  Common Loon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, Rock Pigeon, Horned Lark, American Crow, European Starling, Canada Goose

Bald Eagle & The Lower Merrimack River - Feb. 1, 2015

Bald Eagle by Phil Brown

Bald Eagles & The Lower Merrimack River

North Shore Community College
Date: Sunday, February 1, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
For more information and to register, please contact North Shore Community College at 978-236-1200.

The Bald Eagle is one of our national symbols. Each winter, Bald Eagles from northern New England move south to the lower Merrimack River which provides perfect, winter habitat for these majestic birds. These spectacular birds soar high over the water and then stoop to secure prey with their sharp talons. We'll visit Bald Eagle habitat along the lower Merrimack River. Dress in layers for outdoor weather, including waterproof boots, wool socks, hat and gloves. This program will be conducted outside along the river’s edge.  This one day course is a pass/fail course. 

Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - December 17, 2014

Long-tailed Duck by Jeremiah Trimble

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser,
Red-breasted Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Sanderling, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Horned Owl,
Barred Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, Rough-legged Hawk, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, Northern Cardinal

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Northern Pintail, Mallard, Green-winged Teal

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Wren

Annisquam River, Gloucester:
Snow Goose

Bill Forward Wildlife Management Area, Newbury:
Bald Eagle

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Pileated Woodpecker, Ring-billed Gull, American Crow, Mallard

Colby Farm, Scotland Road, Newbury:
Bald Eagle

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Carolina Wren

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury:
Ring-necked Pheasant, Horned Lark, American Pipit, Palm Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
American Woodcock, Snow Bunting, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loon,
Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Dunlin, Blue Jay, Snow Bunting

Newburyport Harbor:
Snow Goose, Black-headed Gull, Long-tailed Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Green-winged Teal

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Snowy Owl, American Black Duck, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-throated
Loon,  Common Loon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, Rock Pigeon,
Horned Lark, American Crow, European Starling, Canada Goose

Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead:
Townsend's Warbler

Parker River, Newbury:
Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter,  Purple Sandpiper, Razorbill, Red-necked Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Glaucous Gull, Common
Eider,  Canada Goose

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island:
Long-tailed Duck, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Horned Lark

Argilla Road, Ipswich:
Great Egret

Route 110, Salisbury:
Cedar Waxwing

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Northern Harrier, Common Goldeneye, Double-crested Cormorant, Glaucous Gull, American Coot, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Cooper's Hawk

Conomo Point Road, Essex:
Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Red-tailed Hawk,
Ring-billed Gull,  Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay,
American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,
Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Seaglass, Salisbury:
Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loon, Sanderling

Cottage Road, Newbury:
Seaside Sparrow, Gray Catbird

Ash Street Swamp, West Newbury:
Canada Goose, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser

White-cheeked Cotinga & Mistletoe

The White-cheeked Cotinga is a rare and local inhabitant of high elevation forests in the dry, western Andes of Peru.  Its diet consists almost entirely of berries of mistletoe.  It's the only frugivorous bird in Polylepis forests in its range, and it's thought that the White-cheeked Cotinga is likely the primary disperser of mistletoe. 

So Washington Irving, in Christmas Eve, relates the typical festivities surrounding the Twelve Days of Christmas, including kissing under the mistletoe (Washington Irving, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent). Irving continues his Christmas passage with
a footnote:

"The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked, the privilege ceases."

I hope you're enjoying the season's best,
Sue

Snowy Owl Facts

Snowy Owl by Jeremiah Trimble

The sound muffling fringes on a Snowy Owl feathers are less well developed than on other owls.  They're powerful fliers, and they use speed to secure their prey on with wing.

Images of Snowy Owls have been recognizable in cave art [prehistoric].  They're likely one of the oldest bird species.

Snowy Owls have acute hearing and can locate rodents as they tunnel through the snow.

Snowy Owls are diurnal in the Arctic during summer because daylight lasts 24 hours a day.  When they move south for the winter, they become primarily nocturnal hunters like most owls.

The female Snowy Owl is on average 1/3 larger than the male.

Purple Martin Story

Dr. Pam Hunt, NH Audubon's Avian Conservation Biologist, sent this martin story [that 
appeared on the VT Birds listserve] along to me as I'm the volunteer Purple Martin 
Landlord for the Plum Island colony.

Here's the link:
http://www.npr.org/2014/12/04/368324785/the-mystery-of-the-missing-martins


Here's the information on how one can adopt a gourd on Plum Island:


2015 ADOPT A GOURD PROGRAM - PURPLE MARTINS OF PLUM ISLAND 

Adopt one or more Purple Martin gourds for the 2015 breeding season. These birds at Plum Island have been 
studied and monitored for years. Adoption fees are $40/gourd. Purple Martin gourd adoptions would make great 
gifts for members of your family or friends this holiday season. 
  

With each adoption of a Purple Martin gourd for the 2015 breeding season, you will receive:

• A photo of your gourd,
• As the season progresses, updates via email on breeding biology at the colony ~ nest building, egg laying, 
• hatching and fledgling activities, 
• A final tally of the colony's reproductive success,
• An invitation to renew your adoption the following year.

Your adoption allows you to:

• Partake in a scheduled round of nest checks with a Purple Martin landlord,
• Know that you are helping provide housing for this human-dependent songbird.

Please make your check out to Friends of Parker River and mail your adoption fee to Sue McGrath, 44 Moulton St.,
Newburyport, MA, 01950. 

The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting
the conservation of the natural resources of the Refuge and fostering public understanding and appreciation of the Refuge.


With best wishes,
Sue 

Red Knots

The rufa Red Knot's migration nearly spans the globe. With habitat destruction and disappearing food resources these champion migrants are threatened.  The American Bird Conservancy has long been fighting for the rufa Red Knot’s future.  ABC helped the states of New Jersey and Delaware limit the harvest of horseshoe crabs, it's their eggs which fuel the birds during their long migration. ABC also helped restore beaches where Red Knots feed that were effected by Hurricane Sandy.

The Red Knot's Atlantic flyway population has declined by 75 percent since the 1980s. 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed listing the Red Knot under the Endangered Species Act.  The Red Knot is a tiny shorebird that undertakes a mind-boggling migration from the tip of South America all the way to the Arctic Circle.

Here's a link provided by Harvard University:

http://eol.org/info/behavior#podcasts

Pelican Dreams Showing in Newburyport

Brown Pelican by Phil Brown

Birders,

A limerick was written by Dixon Lanier Merritt in 1910 about a pelican: "A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill will hold more than his belican. He can take in his beak, Food enough for a week, I'm damned if I know how the hell he can!"

PELICAN DREAMS is now playing at Newburyport's Screening Room on State Street.
Running time: 78 m.
Rated: G
www.pelicandreams.com

Written and directed by Judy Irving who also made WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL it tells of the somewhat famed incident where an injured Brown Pelican landed on the Golden Gate Bridge. The bird was taken to rehab and followed from there to its nesting grounds. It is a story of friendship with the wild.

Here's the schedule:
Dec. 5 - 18
Mondays - Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 4:45, 6:45 & 8:45 pm  
Sundays at 3:00 & 5:00 pm

I so enjoyed this film.  Please take the time to see it - you'll be glad you did!

Here's a link to a review:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-pelican-dreams-review-20141107-column.html

Good birding,
Sue

Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - December 8, 2014

Northern Shoveler by Margo Goetschkes

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Snowy Owl, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider, Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, White-winged Scoter, Horned Grebe, Common Loon

Route 110, Salisbury:
Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck 

Rogers Street, West Newbury: 
American Coot, Pine Siskin, Red-tailed Hawk

Newburyport Turnpike, Newburyport:
Osprey 

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island:
Snowy Owl, Lapland Longspur 

Daniel Lucy Drive, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter, Purple Sandpiper, Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting, American Bittern, Snow Bunting, Northern Harrier

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Eastern Bluebird

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
King Eider, Common Eider, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, American Black Duck, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, American Tree Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Snowy Owl, Purple Sandpiper, Horned Lark, Iceland Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Harlequin Duck, Razorbill, Horned Grebe, Mute Swan 

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Snowy Owl, Purple Finch, Horned Lark

Oak Hill Cemetery, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker

Ferry Lots Road, Salisbury
Wilson's Snipe

Erie Avenue, Newburyport:
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch

Suntaug Lake, Peabody/Lynnfield:
Canada Goose, Scaup  species, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Blue Jay  

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Northern Flicker, Fox Sparrow

Lynnfield Marsh, Lynnfield:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser,
Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, American Tree Sparrow,
Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow  

Cherry Hill [Indian Hill] Reservoir, West Newbury:
Redhead, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron

Ferry Road, Salisbury:
Barred Owl

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Mute Swan, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron

Young Birder Scholarship

Atlantic Puffin

Do you know a young birder interested in our Young Birder Scholarship? 

The 2015 Brookline Bird Club scholarship will cover the full cost ($995) of the Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens program at National Audubon’s Hog Island camp in Maine during the week of June 21-26, 2015. The cost includes housing, boat travel, and all meals.  

The purpose of the scholarship is to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders by providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve their field skills, expand their range of experience as birders, and meet others of their age with like interests.

Applicants must be New England residents, ages 14-17. Completed applications must be received by the BBC by January 10, 2015. 

For scholarship instructions and an application form, go to
http://www.brooklinebirdclub.org/p/young-birders-scholarship.html

Help us get the word out to possible applicants. 

2015 ADOPT A GOURD PROGRAM - PURPLE MARTINS OF PLUM ISLAND

Purple Martin by Nate Dubrow
Adopt one or more Purple Martin gourds for the 2015 breeding season. These birds at Plum Island have been studied and monitored for 
years. Adoption fees are $40/gourd. Purple Martin gourd adoptions would make great gifts for members of your family or friends this 
holiday season.

With each adoption of a Purple Martin gourd for the 2015 breeding season, you will receive:

• A photo of the gourds,
• As the season progresses, updates via email on breeding biology at the colony ~ nest building, egg laying, hatching and fledgling activities, 
• A final tally of the colony's reproductive success,
• An invitation to renew your adoption the following year.

Your adoption allows you to:

• Partake in a scheduled round of nest checks with a Purple Martin landlord,
• Know that you are helping provide housing for this human-dependent songbird.

Please make your check out to Friends of Parker River and mail your adoption fee to Sue McGrath, 44 Moulton St., Newburyport, MA, 01950. 

The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of the natural resources of the Refuge and fostering public understanding and appreciation of the Refuge.

Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend: Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2015

Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend: January 30 – February 1, 2015

Harlequin Duck by Jeremiah Trimble

Harlequin Ducks and at least one Snowy Owl have arrived along the rockbound shore of “the other Cape,”so it’s time to sign up for the Sixth Annual Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend: January 30 – February 1, 2015, sponsored by Mass Audubon and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. 

This year’s program includes bus tours of Cape Ann’s birding hot spots led by some of the state’s best birders; an entertaining slide show on Winter Birds of Cape Ann by Mass Audubon scientist Robert Buchsbaum; Eyes on Owls - an opportunity to get up close
and personal with these spectacular and fascinating creatures with Mark and Marcia  Wilson; Osprey in Essex  County – The Dramatic Comeback Story of This Magnificent Bird of Prey by Dave Rimmer of the Essex County Greenbelt Association - and of course The Sunday Boat Trip on Seven Seas Whalewatch boat, Privateer IV skippered by Jay Frontierro. 

As in past years, the venue is the Elks at Bass Rocks in Gloucester where you can bird in comfort from the picture windows, enjoy a variety of exhibits and try out the best birding optics on the planet, or step outside and scan the Atlantic for a King Eider. 

For a detailed schedule and information and registration go to: 

http://web.capeannchamber.com/events/Cape-Ann-Winter-Birding-Weekend-2015-1597/details

The space on the buses and boat is limited, so sign-up soon so you don’t miss the fun!

Newburyport Birders' December 2014/January 2015 Programs

 Newburyport Birders' December 2014/January 2015 Birding Programs

Winter Birding at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014
Time:  12:00 pm to dusk
Meeting Location: Boat Ramp Parking Lot
Fee: $20. 

Take some quiet time before that holiday frenzy sets in and join Sue for a birding program focused on the importance of the coastal marshes during winter. Salisbury Beach State Reservation is one of the finest birding destinations in winter. We'll look for finches, sea ducks, loons and grebes, and with some luck, we'll see a few owls.   


Winter Birding at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 
Date: Sunday, December 14, 2014
Time:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm 
Meeting Location: Hellcat Parking Lot on Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 
Fee: $20.

Take some quiet time before that holiday frenzy begins and join Sue for a birding program focused on the importance of the Refuge  during winter. Plum Island is one of the finest birding destinations in winter.  We'll explore, looking for winter finches, sea ducks, wintering loons and grebes, and with some luck, we'll see some owls.   


New Year's Day at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Date: Thursday, January 1, 2015
Time: 2:00 pm  to dusk
Meeting Location: Boat Ramp Parking Lot
Fee: $20

Join Newburyport Birders for an afternoon of birding on the first day of the New Year.  Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a wonderful, winter birding site.   Please dress warmly in layers; wear warm, waterproof footwear. 


Afternoon Birding at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2015
Time:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm 
Meeting Location: Lot #1 on Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 
Fee: $20.

Take some quiet time before that holiday frenzy begins and join Sue for a birding program focused on the importance of the Refuge  during winter. We'll explore, looking for winter finches, sea ducks, wintering loons and grebes, and with some luck, we'll see some owls.   


Winter Birding in Salisbury, Seabrook & Hampton
Date: Sunday, January 4, 2015
Time:  12:00 pm to dusk
Meeting Location: Boat Ramp Parking Lot at Salisbury Beach State Reservation [we'll carpool from there]
Fee: $20. 

Take some quiet time and join Sue for a birding program focused on the importance of the the seacoast during winter. Winter birding along the seacoast is great fun in winter.  We often find winter finches, sea ducks, wintering loons and grebes and wintering owls.