Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - October 13, 2016

Double-crested Cormorant by Nate Dubrow

 Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Grasshopper Sparrow, Bald Eagle,  American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Orange-crowned Warbler

Willowdale State Forest - Eastern Sector, Ipswich:
Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch

 Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Great Blue Heron, European Starling, Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow, House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Canada Goose, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Blue Jay

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Barn Swallow,  American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Purple Finch

Horace Clark Conservation Area, Danvers:
Savannah Sparrow, Bobolink

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Northern Gannet, Swallow species, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco

Middle Road, West Newbury:
Wild Turkey, Hairy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture 

North Shore Community Gardens, Middleton:
Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco 

Granite State Whale Watch out of Rye, NH:
Great Shearwater,  Cory's Shearwater,  Northern Gannet,  Northern Fulmar, Common Eider, Common Loon 

Crane Estate, Ipswich:
Brown Creeper, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Crow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Cedar Waxwing 

 Various Areas in Marblehead:
Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Plum Island Turnpike, Newbury:
Great Blue Heron, Marsh Wren, Palm Warbler, Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Nelson's/Saltmarsh Sparrow (Sharp-tailed Sparrow), Savannah Sparrow

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Herring Gull, American Crow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - October 10, 2016

Golden-crowned Kinglet by Nate Dubrow

Willowdale State Forest - Eastern Sector, Ipswich:
Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch

 Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Great Blue Heron, European Starling, Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrow, House Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Canada Goose, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Blue Jay

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Barn Swallow,  American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Purple Finch

Horace Clark Conservation Area, Danvers:
Savannah Sparrow, Bobolink 

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, , House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle

 Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker

North Shore Community Gardens, Middleton:
Blue Grosbeak, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco  

Granite State Whale Watch out of Rye, NH:
Great Shearwater,  Cory's Shearwater,  Northern Gannet,  Northern Fulmar, Common Eider, Common Loon 

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Bald Eagle,  American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Kinglet 

Crane Estate, Ipswich:
Brown Creeper, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Crow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Cedar Waxwing 

 Various Areas in Marblehead:
Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - October 6, 2016

Blackpoll Warbler by Jeremiah Trimble

Hanover Street, Newbury:
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, House Finch, White-breasted Nuthatch,  Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Mourning Dove, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Baird's Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Kinglet 

 Atkinson Common, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow

Andrew's Point, Rockport:
Common Eider, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Razorbill, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake

Rye Harbor State Park, Rye, NH:
American Pipit

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport/Newbury:
Killdeer, Ring-necked Pheasant

Daniel Boone Park, Ipswich:
Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet  

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Great Blue Heron, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-throat Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, European Starling, Gray Catbird, House Finch, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager

New Hampshire Seacoast: 
Northern Fulmar, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Cory's Shearwater, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Razorbill, Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, Dickcissel  

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Belted Kingfisher, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Bald Eagle

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Red-necked Phalarope, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Black Duck, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow  

 Route 22, Essex:
Selasphorus Hummingbird species

Pike's Bridge Road, West Newbury:
American Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow 

Merrill Street, Salisbury:
Belted Kingfisher, Wild Turkey, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard, Great Blue Heron

Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth,NH:
Osprey, Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Greater Yellowlegs, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing
Long Wharf Landing, Gloucester:
Marbled Godwit 

Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead: 
Common Nighthawk, Blackpoll Warbler, Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebe, Coopers Hawk

Ipswich Town Wharf:
Fish Crow

Newburyport Birders October, November & December Programs 

Birders,
The days are getting condensed.  The birdsong has quieted to a whisper.  The migrants are fattening up, storing fat as fuel for their southward flights. The fall migration season is a more leisurely than the northward one in spring which is fueled by hormones.

Migrants often follow our coastlines during migration. Setting up on peninsulas with a north-south orientation can boost your daily list. Areas with a water source are known for attracting and retaining migrants.

Surf Scoter by Jeremiah Trimble



Monday Morning Birding
Date: Monday, October 10 
Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Fee: $15 
Meeting Location: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge's North Pool Lot

Explore Parker River National Wildlife Refuge's dike on foot during this interpretative program. The focus will be on field marks and where these migrants are headed. Dress in layers.




On the Wing on Plum Island 
Date: Sunday, October 16 
Time: 2:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15 
Meeting Location: Meet at the Plum Island Lighthouse  

We'll be birding the northern portion of Plum Island during this interpretative program. The focus will be on field marks and where these migrants are headed. Dress in layers. 


On the Wing in West Newbury 
Date: Sunday, November 13
Time: 2:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15 
Meeting Location: The Park & Ride on Storey Ave. [Route 113], Newburyport - we'll carpool from there  

We'll be birding the the Artichoke Reservoir area and will focus on field marks. Dress in layers.








Horned Lark by Margo Goetschkes



Thanksgiving Morning Walk at Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm in Newbury
Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Fee: 2 for $20   
Meeting Location: At the end of Little's Lane in Newbury - look for the Newburyport Birders' A-Frame sign

We'll walk the agricultural fields in search of American Pipits, sparrows, hawks, Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. 
Directions: In Newbury Center, head south on Route 1A and continue through the only set of lights.  Then take your first left onto Little's Lane.










Common Merganser by Jeremiah Trimble




Look at Every Bird at Cherry Hill [Indian Hill] Reservoir in West Newbury 
Date: Friday, November 25
Time: 9:00 am - 11:30 am 
Fee: $15 
Meeting Location: First parking area you encounter on Moulton Street in West Newbury - look for the Newburyport Birders' A-Frame sign 

The Cherry Hill [Indian Hill] Reservoir is a perfect setting for waterfowl viewing. This public water source hosts Ruddy Duck & Ring-necked Duck, and both spend the fall here in the hundreds. Other species that can be seen here are Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Scaup, Bufflehead, the occasional Canvasback, Redhead and mergansers.


Sunset Birding at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Date: Saturday, November 26
Time: 2:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15 each
Meeting Location: The boat ramp parking lot at Salisbury Beach State Reservation 

The campground area is a prime area for Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings. The pines along the marsh edge often harbor owls and hawks. On Badger's Rocks at low tide, we usually see Harbor Seals hauled out.






Common Eider by Nate Dubrow












Birding at Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Date: Saturday, December 3
Time:  9:00 am to noon
Meeting Location: Boat Ramp Parking Lot at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Fee: $15.     

Join Sue for a birding program focused on the importance of the coastal habitats for birds. Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a fine birding destination.







Birding Along the Merrimack River  
Date: Sunday, December 11 
Time:  1:00 pm to sunset 
Meeting Location:  Cashman Park Boat Launch at Sally Synder Way which is off Merrimac Steet in Newburyport 
Fee: $15.    

Join Sue for a program focused on the importance of the Merrimack River for birds.. 




Good birding,
Sue

Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
Website: www.newburyportbirders.com
Blog:  http://nbptbirders.blogspot.com/



















































Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - September 29, 2016















American Golden-Plover by Jeremiah Trimble





Powow Hill, Amesbury: 
Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Eastern Phoebe, Mourning Dove, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch 

Main Street, West Newbury: 
Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk 

Various Areas in Exeter, NH: 
Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, Turkey Vulture 

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island: 
Grasshopper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Turkey Vulture, American Golden-Plover, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Philadelphia Vireo, American Pipit, Pine Siskin 

Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH: 
American Golden Plover 

Friend Street, Amesbury: 
Fish Crow 

Moulton Street, Newburyport: 
White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Screech-Owl, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal 

Crane Beach, Ipswich: 
Caspian Tern 

Morrill Point, Salisbury: 
Belted Kingfisher 

Riverbend Conservation Area, West Newbury: 
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cooper's Hawk 

Fern Avenue, Amesbury: 
Northern Flicker 

Cross Beach Road Area, Seabrook, NH: 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron 

Atkinson Common, Newburyport: 
Cooper's Hawk, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, House Sparrow, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch 

Seven Seas Whale Watch Out of Gloucester: 
Common Loon, Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Northern Gannet, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull 

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH: 
Wood Duck, Osprey, Mallard, Black Duck, Ring-billed Gull, Green-winged Teal, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler 

Newburyport Harbor: 
Caspian Tern, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Bonaparte's Gull 

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury: 
White-throated Sparrow, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, European Starling, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Meadowlark, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Turkey Vulture, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow, House Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Canada Goose, Northern Flicker, Great Blue Heron, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Common Yellowthroat, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk 

Odiorne Point State Park, Rye, NH: 
American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Common Loon, Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Eagle species, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,  American Golden-Plover, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Blackpoll Warbler 

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport: 
Belted Kingfisher, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Black-and-white Warbler, Pine Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Palm Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Cooper's Hawk, Great Horned Owl


















































WINTER FINCH FORECAST 2016 - 2017 by Ron Pittaway


























GENERAL FORECAST: Cone crops average poor in Southern Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, but crops are generally good to bumper in Northern Ontario, Western Canada and Alaska. The dividing line is roughly James Bay south along the Ontario-Quebec border. White-winged Crossbills and often Pine Siskins prefer to move east or west rather than go south in search of cone crops. Many crossbills and some siskins may have already relocated to northern Ontario and across the boreal forest to Yukon where spruce cone crops are abundant. Purple Finches in the East are currently moving south in numbers. See individual forecasts for other finches and further details.



NOTE: Many birds will have a difficult time finding natural food sources this winter in Southern Ontario and the Northeast.



INDIVIDUAL FORECASTS: Forecasts apply mainly to Ontario and adjacent provinces and states. Three irruptive non‐finch passerines whose movements are often linked to finches are also discussed. Follow finch wanderings this fall and winter on eBird.



PINE GROSBEAK: Most should stay in the north because native Mountain-ash berry crops are good to bumper (some poor areas) across the boreal forest. A few may wander to southern Ontario where they like European Mountain-ash berries and small ornamental crabapples. At feeders they prefer black oil sunflower seeds.



PURPLE FINCH: Eastern Purple Finches were moving in early September at the Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac in Quebec The poor seed crops on most coniferous and deciduous trees indicate that Purple Finches will leave northern breeding areas. Purples prefer black oil sunflower seeds at feeders.



RED CROSSBILL: A scattering of Red Crossbills will likely wander widely in the Northeast this winter. Listen and watch for them on large-coned ornamental pines and spruces. Red Crossbills comprise at least 10 “call types” in North America. Most types are impossible to identify without analyzing recordings of their flight calls. Matt Young (may6 at cornell.edu) at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology will identify types if you email him recordings.



WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: This crossbill irrupts south only in years of widespread cone crop failures. Many eastern crossbills have probably moved to northern Ontario and to abundant spruce cone crops in western Canada. However, expect some White-winged Crossbills to be scattered across southern Canada and the northeastern USA. Both crossbill species increasingly use feeders with black oil sunflower seeds when conifer seeds are scarce.



COMMON REDPOLL: Last fall and winter’s large irruptive southward flight was unexpectedly halted north of latitude 45 degrees by a bumper seed crop on Balsam Fir. If redpolls move south this year, they will likely continue to southern Canada and the northern states because birch seed crops are generally low across the Northeast. In redpoll flocks, check for larger and darker “Greater” Common Redpolls (subspecies rostrata) from Baffin Island (Nunavut) and Greenland. Redpolls prefer nyger seeds in silo feeders with or without perches.



HOARY REDPOLL: Watch for Hoaries in flocks of Common Redpolls. The “Southern” Hoary Redpoll (nominate subspecies exilipes) breeds south to northern Ontario and is the subspecies usually seen in southern Canada and northern USA. However, “Hornemann’s” Hoary Redpoll (nominate hornemanni) which was formerly considered a great rarity south of the tundra is now reported more often likely because its ID features are better known. See link #2 below for photos and identification marks of Common and Hoary Redpoll subspecies.



PINE SISKIN: Some will irrupt south because cone crops in the Northeast are generally poor. Siskins were moving south in mid-September at the Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac in Quebec. However, some eastern siskins have likely relocated to abundant spruce crops in western Canada. Siskins prefer nyger seeds in silo feeders. See link #4 which discusses siskin irruptions related to climate variability.



EVENING GROSBEAK: The Evening Grosbeak is the world’s most spectacular winter finch. Its breeding populations continue to increase in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick due to increasing outbreaks of spruce budworm. Watch for them in Algonquin Park, Adirondacks and northern New England. A few are likely at feeders in southern Ontario where they prefer black oil sunflower seeds.



THREE IRRUPTIVE PASSERINES: Movements of these three passerines are often linked to the boreal finches.



BLUE JAY: Expect a much larger than usual flight of jays from mid-September to mid-October along the north shorelines of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The acorn, beechnut, hazelnut crops were generally poor but variable in central and southern Ontario. Drought has damaged many seed crops.



RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH:  An early southward movement began in early summer and continues as this forecast is posted. This widespread movement is evidence of poor cone crops in the Northeast. It indicates that Purple Finches, White-winged Crossbills and Pine Siskins are on the move too.



BOHEMIAN WAXWING: Very few Bohemians breed east of James Bay in Canada. Most Bohemians will likely stay in northern Ontario and western Canada because native Mountain-ash berry crops are good to bumper (some poor areas) across the boreal forest. In recent winters, however, Bohemians have been coming south regularly every winter possibly due to reliable annual crops of abundant Buckthorn (Rhamnus) berries. Watch for Pine Grosbeaks eating their favorite European Mountain‐ash berries and small ornamental crabapples.



WHERE TO SEE FINCHES: Algonquin Park is an exciting winter experience about a 3.5 hour drive north of Toronto. Most cone crops are poor (good on White Cedar) in the park so crossbills and siskins will be very scarce or absent. However, feeders at the Visitor Centre (km 43) should attract Common Redpolls (watch for Hoaries), Evening and Pine Grosbeaks. The Visitor Centre and restaurant are open weekends in winter. On winter weekdays, the facility is open, but with limited services (no restaurant, but snacks and drinks are available for purchase). Birders can call ahead to make arrangements to view feeders on weekdays by phoning 613-637-2828. The bookstore has one of the best selections of natural history books anywhere. Be sure to get Birds of Algonquin Park (2012) by retired park naturalist Ron Tozer. It is one of the finest regional bird books ever published. The nearby Spruce Bog Trail at km 42.5 and Opeongo Road at km 44.5 are the best spots for finches and other species such as Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse and Black-backed Woodpecker.




 



FINCH INFORMATION LINKS:











#1. Finch Facts, Seed Crops and Irruptions















#2. Subspecies of Common and Hoary Redpolls – ID Tips and Photos















#3. Interview with Ron Pittaway in OFO News 34(1):1-3, 2016








 



#4. Climatic dipoles drive two principal modes of North American boreal bird irruption








 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I thank staff of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the many birders/naturalists whose tree seed reports allow me to make annual forecasts: Alexandre Anctil (Chibougamau, Quebec), Christian Artuso (Manitoba), Dennis Barry (Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes), Angus Baptiste (Grand lac Victoria, Quebec), Eleanor Beagan (Prince Edward Island), Peter Burke, (Georgian Bay, Ontario), Joan Collins (Adirondacks and northern New York State), Pascal Cote (Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac, Quebec), Bruce Di Labio (Eastern Ontario), Charity Dobbs (Ontario Tree Seed Plant), Carolle Eady (Dryden, Ontario), Cameron Eckert (Southern Yukon), Dave Elder (Atikokan, Ontario), Bruce Falls (Brodie Club, Toronto), Walter Fisher (Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch, Toronto), Marcel Gahbauer (Eastern Ontario), Terry Gauthier (PEI), Michel Gosselin (Canadian Museum of Nature), David Govatski (New Hampshire and Vermont), Leo Heyens (Kenora, Ontario), Tyler Hoar (Southern Ontario), Kris Ito (French River, Ontario), Jean Iron (James Bay and Northeastern Ontario), Hilde Johansen (Chibougamau, Quebec), Gordon Kayahara (Timmins, ON), Dan McAskill (PEI), Bruce Mactavish (St. John’s, Newfoundland), David McCorquodale (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia), Stacy McNulty (Adirondacks NY), Brian Naylor (Nipissing District, Ontario), Stephen O’Donnell (Parry Sound District), Justin Peter (Algonquin Park, Ontario, Gatineau Park, Quebec), Fred Pinto (Nipissing District, Ontario), Brian Ratcliff (Thunder Bay District ON), Rosamund and Jim Pojar (Central British Columbia), Harvey and Brenda Schmidt (Creighton, Saskatchewan), Michael Runtz, (Algonquin Park), Don Sutherland (Southern James Bay and Nova Scotia), Doug Tate (Northwest Territories), Ron Tozer (Algonquin Park ), Declan Troy (Alaska), Mike Turner (Haliburton Highlands, Ontario), Richard Welsman (Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto), the late Alan Wormington (Point Pelee, Ontario), Matt Young (New York State). Jean Iron made many helpful comments and hosts the forecast on her website.











Ron Pittaway





Ontario Field Ornithologists





Toronto, Ontario





22 September 2016























































Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - September 22, 2016















Pied-billed Grebe by Bob
Stymeist





Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Great Black-backed Gull, Blue Jay, American Crow, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Eastern Phoebe, European Starling, American Crow, Northern Mockingbird, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk 

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport: 
Eastern Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker

Cross Beach Road Area, Seabrook, NH:
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron

Morrill Point, Salisbury: 
Belted Kingfisher

Riverbend Conversation Area, West Newbury:
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cooper's Hawk  

Stump Dump/Heritage Trail, Nahant: 
Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting

Newburyport Harbor, Newburyport:
Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Semipalmated Sandpiper

Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead: 
Worm-eating Warbler 

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Belted Kingfisher, Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard, Greater Yellowlegs 

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport:
Common Loon, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Mallard, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Towhee

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Tree Swallow, Northern Flicker

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Goldfinch 

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Belted Kingfisher

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Red-necked Grebe, Blackpoll Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Black-crowned Night-Heron,Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Caspian Tern, Western Sandpiper, Northern Gannet

Emery Lane, West Newbury:
Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker









































        

      









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