Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - 8/28/14

Newburyport Harbor:
Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Hudsonian Godwit, Great Egret, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, House Finch, American Goldfinch 

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Green Heron

Oak Hill Cemetery, Newburyport:
Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, Indigo Bunting 

Merrimac Street, Merrimac:
Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Spotted Sandpiper

Various Areas in Nahant:
Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Sanderling, Red Knot

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Sora, Virginia Rail, American Golden-Plover, Whip-poor-will, American Woodcock, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Wild Turkey, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Marbled Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Traill's Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Veery, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow 

Battis Farm, Amesbury:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird

Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead:
Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler,
Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Canada Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating
Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Wood Duck, Mallard, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Black-backed Gull, Mourning
Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin,
Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Great Blue Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Cooper's Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Tree Swallow

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island: 
Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Common Tern, Least Tern, Baird's Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitcher, Piping Plover, Merlin, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, Double-crested Cormorant

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black Scoter, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull, Common Tern, Forster's Tern, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Carolina Wren, Wilson's Warbler  

Atkinson Common, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Great Horned Owl,
Pine Warbler

Salisbury Jetty/Merrimack River:
Ruddy Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover, Black Tern

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, House Wren

7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester:
Common Eider, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Great Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull

Point Shore, Amesbury:
Cooper's Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Wild Turkey, Osprey, Bald Eagle, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing  

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Common Tern, Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Black-bellied Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,  Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull,
Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Downy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird,
Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, 
Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch

Newburyport Whale Watch out of Newburyport:
Cory's Shearwater,  Great Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet, Hermit Thrush

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, American Crow, Blue Jay, American Goldfinch, Great Blue Heron, Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, American Robin, European Starling, Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Song Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow

Birding Programs - 8/27, 8/31, & 9/1

NEWBURYPORT BIRDERS' BIRDING PROGRAMS

From The Overlook...
Date:  Wednesday, August 27th           
Time:  6:30 pm to dusk
Location: North Pool Overlook at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Fee: $15

Join us for an evening watch at the North Pool on Plum Island. 


Tree Swallows by Phil Brown
An Early Morning With Shorebirds 
Date: Sunday, August 31st
Time: 7:00 am - 9:00 am
Meet at: Newburyport's "Seawall" on Water Street. The "Seawall" is located between Neptune & Madison Streets. 
Fee:$15

We'll be looking for migrating shorebirds!  During our program, we'll focus on the many aids to field identification, including physical 
characteristics, habitat preference & feeding techniques.


Semipalmated Sandpiper
 Shorebirds on The Flats
Date: Monday, September 1st
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Meet at: Newburyport's "Seawall" on Water Street. The "Seawall" is located between Neptune and Madison Streets. 
Fee:$15

We'll be watching for migrating shorebirds!  Expect to see Black-bellied & Semipalmated Plovers, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs,
Semipalmated & Least Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Willets & more.  We'll teach you aids to field identification, including 
physical characteristics, habitat preference & feeding techniques.


With best wishes, 
Sue

Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - 8/21/14

Spotted Sandpiper by Bob Stymeist

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Little Blue Heron, Marbled Godwit, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover,  Sanderling, Greater Yellowlegs, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Tree Swallow Purple Martin, Black Scoter, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Savannah Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow

Hanover Drive, Newbury:
House Wren, Red-tailed Hawk

Atkinson, Common, Newburyport:
Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pine Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Chimney Swift, Tree Swallow, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal 

Bare Hill Road, Boxford:
Broad-winged Hawk

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Forster's Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch  

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler

Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead: 
Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Wood Duck, Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Great Egret, Tree Swallow,
Great Horned Owl

Granite State Whale Watch out of Rye, New Hampshire:

Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Great Cormorant, Black Guillemot, Osprey

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Common Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, Double-crested Cormorant

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island:
Laughing Gull, American Golden-Plover, Piping Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Pectoral Sandpiper, Forster's Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch

Battis Farm, Amesbury:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Cooper's Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Tree Swallow

Newburyport Harbor:
Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Hudsonian Godwit, Great Egret, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, House Finch, American Goldfinch 

Herrick Street, Boxford:
Broad-winged Hawk

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island: 
Black Tern, Least Tern, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Yellow-throat, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wild Turkey, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Least Bittern, Great Egret,  Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Common Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Peregrine Falcon, Traill's Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird

Birding Course at Parker River NWR

COMMUNITY COLLEGE BIRDING CLASS

North Shore Community College Class
Birds of Plum Island 
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2014 
Time: 9:00 am to Noon 
Meeting Location: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge's Parking Lot #1 on Plum Island in Newburyport 
Instructor: Sue McGrath, Past President of the Essex County Ornithological Club & Founder & Program 
Designer at Newburyport Birders 


Bird watching at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island is exciting because it’s a world famous, productive site. Learn to 
appreciate the world of birds! During this three-hour class, students will learn about birds in an “outdoor classroom”. This class will provide 
new birders with the aids needed to begin bird identification ~ special characteristics, bird behavior and habitat preferences. We will focus 
on bird identification techniques. We’ll be walking over gentle terrain at a slow pace. Sturdy footwear is necessary along with a long-sleeved 
shirt, long pants, hat, insect repellent and sunscreen. Bring a snack and a beverage. Class fee includes interpretive materials and entrance fee
to the Refuge. 

To learn more and to register, call North Shore Community College at 978-762-4000.

New Boardwalk at The Grove - Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Early this morning, I birded Salisbury Beach State Reservation on an outgoing tide.  I took the time
to walk the new board walk in "The Grove".  This boardwalk has an entrance opposite Row F in the
campground and another entrance opposite Row H. There's a platform at a marsh overlook at a low
point.

This will greatly assist limited mobility birders to explore "The Grove".  Thanks to the DCR!

Good birding,
Sue

Lots of Tree Swallows at Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Tree Swallows by Sue Mcgrath

Lots of Tree Swallows  -  8/15/14

There are swarms of thousands of Tree Swallows along New Hampshire's seacoast, Salisbury and on Plum Island.  They're be swallowing high-lipid bayberries, to build their fat stores for migration.  

Northern Bayberries contain carbohydrates and fat. The fat content of bayberries is nearly
50%;  Arrowwood Viburnum fruit contains 41% fat, and Virginia Creeper fruit  has 23%
fat.  These staging migrants will also consume lower energy fruits such as Pokeweed and
Chokeberry. 

Bayberries are a small, spherical fruit - yes, that same with a waxy fruit used for making fragrant candles. I know of a tradition that involved Bayberry Candles ~ burn one bayberry candle on Christmas Eve and another one on New Year's Eve, and that will bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead. 

I hope these migrants have a peril-free journey and a favorable winter in South Carolina, Florida, along the Gulf Coast and proceeding as far south as Panama. Tree Swallows' primary food is insects,and they forage buggy, southern wetlands, sometimes in huge flocks.  They consume dragonflies, damselflies, flies, ants, wasps, beetles, stoneflies, butterflies, mayflies, caddisflies, sawflies, bees, moths, spiders and mollusks.

Good birding,
Sue

Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - 8/14/14

Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Phil Brown

Atkinson Common, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Pointe Shore, Amesbury:
Cooper's Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Northern-Rough-winged Swallow, Wild Turkey, Osprey, Bald Eagle, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing 

7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester:
Common Eider,   Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Great Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater,Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Common Tern, Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Black-bellied Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,  Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull,
Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Downy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird,
Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper,
Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk,  Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Common Tern,
Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Peregrine Falcon, Traill's Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, American Robin, 
Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat,  Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, 
Saltmarsh Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird  

Blynman Canal, Gloucester:
Common Eider, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Ferry Road, Newburyport:
House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Chimney Swift, Tree Swallow

Cherry Hill Reservoir, West Newbury:
Green Heron, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Willow Flycatcher, Osprey, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler,
Barn Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Mallard, Canada Goose

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
American Redstart

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island:
Upland Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, White-rumped Sandpiper

Ferry Road, Salisbury:
Osprey, Wild Turkey, Tree Swallow

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Red-eyed Vireo, Spotted Sandpiper, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Wood Duck, Eastern Phoebe

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Purple Martin, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Snowy Egret,  Whimbrel, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Canada Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Nelson's Sparrow, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Least Tern, Black-crowned Night-Heron

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Chipping Sparrow

Bray Steet, Gloucester:
Little Blue Heron

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Black-crowned Hight-Heron

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
House Sparrow, American Robin, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, European Starling, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Cooper's Hawk, Blue Jay, Chimney Swift, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Yellowthroat, Black-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow Warbler

Andrew's Point, Rockport:
Common Loon, Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Black-bellied Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red-necked Phalarope, Long-tailed Jaeger, Atlantic Puffin, Little Gull, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow

Do Birds Prefer Suburbia?

Kenn Kaufman's article on Do Birds Prefer Suburbia:


http://mag.audubon.org/articles/birds/do-birds-prefer-suburbia

Puffin Videos from Iceland

Birders,

Shawn Carey of Migration Productions traveled to Iceland and created these outstanding videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzrVWgAQErY&list=UUpvN92XqeO50Cb7NHUEyRVw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w00KzKQQ8v0&list=UUpvN92XqeO50Cb7NHUEyRVw

Enjoy,
Sue

2014 Report of Piping Plovers on Plum Island

Piping Plover Chicks by Rick Heil

Adult Piping Plover by Rick Heil

Nesting Pairs  -  25
Fledged Young   -  40
Young Nearly Ready to Fledge  -  19 

Source: PRNWR Biologists

With best wishes, 
Sue

NPR - Where Birds Are...

This was very interesting...


http://www.radiolab.org/story/where-birds-are-not-where-youd-think_kw/

Essex County & Southern New Hampshire Bird Sightings - August 7, 2014

American Bittern by Margo Goetschkes

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron by Margo Goetschkes

7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester:
Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
House Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Chimney Swift

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island:
Least Tern, Piping Plover, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Red Knot, Roseate Tern

Stackyard Road, Rowley:
American Bittern

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Purple Martin

Page School, West Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, Chimney Swift, Eastern Towhee

Pointe Shore, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle

Concord Street, West Gloucester:
Whip-poor-will, Eastern Towhee, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Chimney Swift, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
American Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Bobolink, Northern Waterthrush, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Black Scoter, Wild Turkey, Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Avocet, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover,  Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper,  Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Least Tern, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Blue-winged Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Atkinson Common, Newburyport:
Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, American Robin, Pine Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Goldfinch, Eastern Kingbird 

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Osprey, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Whimbrel,
Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed 
Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Black Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird,  
Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird,  
European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle,  
Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch 

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Tree Swallow, Dark-eyed Junco

Blynman Canal, Gloucester:
Common Tern, Common Eider, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Fish Crow, Greater Yellowlegs

Cushing Street, Newburyport:
Chipping Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Cooper's Hawk

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Ruddy Turnstone, Little Gull, Orchard Oriole, American Kestrel, Snowy Egret x Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, Merlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marsh Wren, Purple Martin, Least Tern, Merlin, Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Wood Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Loon, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Great Egret, Green Heron 

Newman Road, Newbury:
American Bittern

Merrimac Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow, Red-tailed Hawk

Cape Ann Whale Watch out of Gloucester:
Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet, Great Blue Heron, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Tern species

Middleton Street, Boxford:
Broad-winged Hawk

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Great Blue Heron, Eastern Bluebird, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, American Crow, House Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow, European Starling, Chimney Swift, Northern Mockingbird, House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark

Storey Avenue, Newburyport:
Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Fish Crow

American Woodcock Report 2014

American Woodcock by Bob Stymeist

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published its 2014 American Woodcock Population Status report in June, it includes data from 786 survey routes run in the northeastern U.S. and neighboring Canada. The survey results are intended to estimate the size of breeding populations of this species.

Within the survey coverage, the counts are in two regions, Eastern and Central. The 2014 survey shows no significant difference from 2013 in the Eastern Region, but significant decline (7.3%) in the Central Region. Overall, there was a significant decline trend for American Woodcocks in both regions between 2004 -2014.

Since 1968, singing-ground surveys for American Woodcocks have been conducted using the same protocols. No state or province has exhibited any long-term increases since 1968.  The trend since the late 1980's is particularly troublesome.

Click to view the 16-page population status report here:
http://tinyurl.com/WoodcockReport

Bayberry & Tree Swallows

Bayberry Bush

Yesterday evening, spurred by Doug Chickering's post on Tree Swallows on Plum Island,
I spent the evening on Plum watching the swallows gather to roost.  There will be swarms of thousands of Tree Swallows along New Hampshire's seacoastand on Plum Island.  They'll be swallowing high-lipid bayberries, [once ripe] to build theirfat stores for migration. Northern Bayberries contain carbohydrates and fat. The fat content of bayberries is nearly 50%; Arrowwood Viburnum fruit contains 41% fat, and Virginia Creeper fruit  has 23% fat.  These staging migrants will also consume lower energy fruits such as Pokeweed and Chokeberry.  Bayberries are a small, spherical fruit with a waxy covering and are used for making fragrant candles. I know of a tradition that involved Bayberry Candles ~ burn one bayberry candle on Christmas Eve and another one on New Year's Eve, and that will bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

Bayberry

I hope these migrants have a peril-free journey and a favorable winter in South Carolina, Florida, along the Gulf Coast and proceeding as far south as Panama. Tree Swallows' primary food is insects, and they forage buggy, southern wetlands, sometimes in huge flocks.  They consume dragonflies, damselflies, flies, ants, wasps, beetles, stoneflies, butterflies, mayflies, caddisflies, sawflies, bees, moths, spiders and mollusks.  Some of these wetlands have been degraded and developed for housing, agricultural and industrial 

land use.  A change in water quality can also occur at development sites.  Tree Swallows have been a periodic bird-strike problem at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, creating runway closures, delaying flights and damaging aircraft.  There were 65 Tree Swallows collected and examined at JFK Airport in October 2001.  It was determined that the birds were attracted to the airport because of northern bayberry there. 

Link to the article's abstract:

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/hwi/1/

Good birding,
Sue

Tree Swallows

Tree Swallow Numbers are building on Plum Island

Tree Swallows