Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - February 23, 2017

Red-headed Woodpecker (immature)

Appleton Farm, Ipswich: 
Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Great Black-backed Gull, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Common Grackle 

Newburyport Harbor:
Rough-legged Hawk, Mute Swan, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye

River Road, Merrimac:
Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Common Merganser

Strawberry Hill, Ipswich:
American Black Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird  

Nahant Thicket, Nahant:
Winter Wren

Kenoza Lake Area, Haverhill:
Red-winged Blackbird

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport/Newbury:
Merlin, American Kestrel, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk

Deer Island, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon 

Cashman Park, Newburyport:
Bald Eagle, Common Goldeneye, Common Loon, Bufflehead, Mallard, Great Blue Heron  

Various Areas in Gloucester:
Turkey Vulture

Salisbury Marshes, Salisbury:
Northern Harrier, American Crow, Fish Crow, Great Blue Heron

Pine Island Road, Newbury:
Red-winged Blackbird

Plum Island Point, Newburyport:
Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Fox Sparrow, Turkey Vulture

Point Shore, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle

Parker Ridge, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, European Starling, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch

Various Areas in Seabrook, NH:
Glaucous Gull, Northern Harrier, Greater Scaup, Black Scoter, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Purple Sandpiper

New England Biolabs, Ipswich:
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch 

Pleasant Valley Road, Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye

River Road, West Newbury:
Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Canada Goose

Route 1, Topsfield:
Turkey Vulture

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport:
Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Brown Creeper, Pine Warbler

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Northern Shoveler, Mallard, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Horned Lark

Riverbend Conservation Trail, West Newbury:
Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle

Merrimac Street, Newburyport: 
Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Fish Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser

Plum Island Sound from Ipswich:
Brant, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Razorbill, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, American Crow, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal 

Niles Pond, Gloucester:
Red-winged Blackbird

New Hampshire Seacoast:
American Black Duck, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Purple Sandpiper, Black Guillemot, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill

Lower Artichoke, West Newbury:
Hooded Merganser

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury: 
Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - February 16, 2017

Pileated Woodpecker by Phil Brown

Bartlett Street, Salisbury:
Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker

River Road, West Newbury:
Bald Eagle, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker

Moulton Street, Newburyport: 
Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, American Goldfinch, Pine Warbler

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, American Robin, Horned Grebe, White-winged Scoter, Song Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Bald Eagle

Green Street, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk

Route 133, Ipswich:                                                                                                                                                                                                            Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl 

Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH:
Bald Eagle, Eastern Bluebird 

Plummer Avenue, Newburyport:
Sharp-shinned Hawk

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield: 
Virginia Rail, Barred Owl, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,  Northern Flicker, Eastern Bluebird, Swamp Sparrow, Purple Finch, Brown Creeper

Newburyport Harbor:
American Wigeon, Mute Swan, Long-tailed Duck, Canada Goose, Gadwall, American Black Duck 

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Fox Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
American Wigeon, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck x Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Rock Pigeon, Pileated Woodpecker, Song Sparrow

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Wild Turkey, Sharp-shinned Hawk

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Black-Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Peregrine Falcon, King Eider, Common Eider, Iceland Gull, Purple Sandpiper, Horned Lark, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Sanderling, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, House Finch, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, Common Loon, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck

Appleton Farm, Ipswich:
Cooper's Hawk, Barred Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow

Various Areas in East Kingston, NH: 
Turkey Vulture

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Red-tailed Hawk

Mass Audubon Birders Meeting

The 25^th annual Mass Audubon Birders Meeting will take place on Sunday, March 19, at UMass/Boston.  The theme of the meeting is Warblers: From Soundscapes to Landscapes, and will feature presentations focused on aspects of warbler natural history including ecology, taxonomy, warbler vocalizations, and conservation.  There will also be several mini-presentations profiling Mass Audubon’s avian research agendas. The all-day program will include lunch, and access to a variety of vendors and raffles.  To obtain more information about this always popular event and to register, visit  http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/birds-birding/birders-meeting

Winter Birding Boat Trip

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is running a Winter Birding Boat Trip a great winter excursion Cape Ann Winter Birding Boat Trip onboard the 7 Seas Privateer IV on March 11, 2017.  Many of the area’s top ornithologists will be onboard! 

For a great perspective on the trip, please read the following article that Captain Jay wrote:

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds. Each year thousands of birders visit the rugged coast of Cape Ann and scan the adjacent waters hoping to spot some of the unusual and highly sought-after seabirds that spend the Winter months just offshore. While some of these species do occasionally venture close enough to land to be seen from shore through a telescope, undoubtedly the best way to get to see these birds and experience them up-close is to visit them where they live… on the ocean!

On this trip we will be visiting one of New England’s most productive marine habitats: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Stellwagen Bank is probably best known for its large concentrations of whales (Humpback and Finback especially) which attract tens-of-thousands of eager whale watchers each Spring through Fall. But the activity continues all year long! Even in Winter many species of marine wildlife can be seen, and while this trip will focus primarily on the birds of Stellwagen Bank, the possibility certainly exists that we may sight non-avian marine wildlife as well… including whales just returning from the Caribbean!

This a special opportunity for bird lovers of all skill levels to join expert guides on a tour of one of New England’s most productive marine habitats at a time when most other passenger vessels have closed down for the year. The possibilities of what we might see on this winter boat trip are endless, but in the five years we have been running this trip we have seen:

Black-legged Kittiwakes, Iceland Gulls, Glaucous Gulls, Razorbills, Dovekies, Common Murres, Thick-billed Murres, Atlantic Puffins, Common Eiders, King Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, all three scoter species, Greater Scaup, Northern Gannets, Buffleheads, Common Loons, Red-throated Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, and even a Snowy Owl just to name a few! (I’m still hoping for that Great Skua!) 

You may register at: http://web.capeannvacations.com/events/Winter-Birding-Boat-Trip-2778/details

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - February 9, 2017

Peregrine Falcon by Nate Dubrow

Spring Lane, Newburyport:

Peregrine Falcon, Belted Kingfisher

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Snowy Owl, Razorbill, Harlequin Duck, Northern Gannet, Peregrine Falcon, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Merlin, Purple Sandpiper

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimac:
Common Merganser, Mallard

Water Street, Ipswich:
Turkey Vulture

Various areas in Rockingham County, New Hampshire:
Wood Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Wild Turkey, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Purple Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eastern Screech-Owl, Snowy Owl, Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Golden-crowned Kinglet

Cashman Park, Newburyport:
Great Blue Heron

Various areas on Plum Island:
Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Snow Bunting

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle

Route 133, Ipswich:
Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose 

Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH:
Bald Eagle 

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield:

Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Bluebird, Swamp Sparrow, Purple Finch, Virginia Rail, Barred Owl, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Brown Creeper

Newburyport Harbor:
American Wigeon

Various areas in Nahant:
Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Brant

Bradley Palmer State Park, Hamilton:
Brown Creeper, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Northern Harrier, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Murre, Razorbill, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Snowy Owl, American Crow, Horned Lark, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler,  American Tree Sparrow