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

Common Redpoll by Tim Spahr

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Redpoll, Barred Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Great Egret, Black Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Short-eared Owl

Moseley Avenue, Newburyport:
Turkey Vulture

Niles Pond, Gloucester: 
Ring-necked Duck, Great Egret, Lesser Scaup

Parker River, Newbury:
Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, American Robin, Mourning Dove  

Turkey Hill Road, West Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, American Robin, Killdeer, Wood Duck

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Green-winged Teal, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Killdeer

Brace Cove, Gloucester:
American Pipit

Scotland Road, Newbury:
Wilson's Snipe, Green-winged Teal

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow, American Crow

Route 495 North, Amesbury:
Turkey Vulture

Crane Beach, Ipswich:
Horned Lark

Rolfes Lane, Newbury:
Wild Turkey

Winter Street & Route 27, Exeter, NH:
Bald Eagle

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Gadwall, Mallard, Mallard x American Black Duck 

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Hooded Merganser, Mute Swan, Ring-necked Duck

Sunset Boulevard, Newbury:
Wild Turkey, Canada Goose, American Robin

Route 110, Merrimac:
Common Raven

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Carolina Wren

Suntaug Lake, Lynnfield:
Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser

Argilla & Northgate Roads, Ipswich:
Pink-footed Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, American Crow, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal

Oak Hill Cemetery, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, Wood Duck

Plum Island Turnpike, Newbury/Newburyport:
Horned Lark, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Great Horned Owl, Great Egret, Common Eider, Brant, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Red Crossbill 

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbird

Appleton Farm, Ipswich-Hamilton:
Barred Owl, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch 

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Shoveler

Salem Street, Bradford:
Sandhill Crane

Plum Island Airfield, /Newbury/Newburyport:
Horned Lark, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker

PRNWR Open House

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Refuge to Hold Two Open House Sessions on Thursday, March 30^th

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will host two open house sessions at the Refuge Visitor Center in Newburyport on Thursday, March 30^th – at 2:00 pm and again at 7:00 pm.  Refuge Manager Bill Peterson will provide an overview of a broad range of new and ongoing research and management activities taking place at the refuge.  He will also address 

upcoming special events and other public programming for the year ahead.  Following the presentation, the manager and his senior staff will answer your questions.  There is no preregistration for this free program.  

The Refuge Visitor Center is located at 6 Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, MA.  For further information, please contact the Refuge at (978) 465-5753.

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

Turkey Vulture by Margo Goetschkes

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, King Eider, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Northern Gannet, Brant, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Great Cormorant, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, House Finch   

Eastern Marsh Rail Trail, Salisbury:
Hairy Woodpecker, Ring-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Turkey Vulture

Rough Meadows Sanctuary, Rowley:
American Woodcock, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Great Horned Owl

Mill Pond, West Newbury:
Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher 

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Fox Sparrow

Crooked Pond, Boxford:
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Wood Duck, Winter Wren

Haverhill Road, Rowley:
Turkey Vulture

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

Plains Road, Ipswich:
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Ash Street Swamp, West Newbury:
Wood Duck, Wild Turkey

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, Turkey Vulture

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

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

Lake Attitash, Merrimac/Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Mute Swan, Bald Eagle

Green Street, Newburyport:
Cooper's Hawk

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Red-tailed Hawk

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Razorbill, Turkey Vulture, Black Scoter, Glaucous Gull, Killdeer

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - March 2, 2017

American Woodcock by Bob Stymeist

Parker Ridge, Newburyport:
Red-winged Blackbird

Powwow River, Amesbury:
Osprey, Belted Kingfisher

Rough Meadows Sanctuary, Rowley:
American Woodcock, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird

Lake Attitash, Merrimac/Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Mute Swan, Bald Eagle

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Red-tailed Hawk

Squamscott River, Exeter, NH:
Common Merganser

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle, Hooded Merganser, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird

Newburyport Industrial Park, Newburyport:
American Woodcock

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Red-winged Blackbird, Brant, Razorbill, Snow Bunting, Northern Harrier, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Killdeer, Canada Goose, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird 

King's Beach, Lynn/Swampscott:
Brant, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, 
Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon

Old County Road, Salisbury:
Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird 

Clarks Pond, Amesbury:
Red-winged Blackbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Herring Gull, Mallard, American Goldfinch

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Iceland Gull, Killdeer 

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury:
Brant, Common Loon, Killdeer, Horned Lark

Powwow River, Kingston, NH:

Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Mute Swan, Green-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Great Black-backed Gull, Northern Pintail, Bald Eagle

Woodsom Farm, Amesbury:
Killdeer

Low Street, Newburyport:
Turkey Vulture

Ash Street Swamp, West Newbury:
Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Hill Road, West Newbury:
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Woodcock

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Mallard, American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck

Cherry Hill [Indian Hill] Reservoir, West Newbury:
American Wigeon, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull 

Ring's Island, Salisbury:
Carolina Wren, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Cormorant

Meadowbrook Pond, Amesbury:
Ring-necked Duck, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Merganser 

Ferry Road, Newburyport:
Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk

Middle Street, West Newbury:
Hairy Woodpecker, Mallard, Common Grackle, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Killdeer, Snowy Owl, Barred Owl

Rogers Street, West Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Ring-necked Duck

Newburyport Birders' March & April Program Schedule

Brant by Nate Dubrow

Sunset Birding at Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Date: Sunday, March 5, 2017
Time: 3:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15.
Meeting Location: At the boat ramp parking lot at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Birding Salisbury Beach State Reservation is always fun and productive. We'll search various habitats for birds.

American Woodcock by Bob Stymeist

Woodcock Watching With Friends

Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Time: 6:00 pm to dusk Fee: 2 participants for $25
Meeting Location: At the junction of Patmos & Stackyard Roads in Rowley

The American Woodcock engages in one of the most demonstrative & unusual courtships. Males of this cryptic, secretive shorebird species perform an impressive, aerial display flight at dusk. First, we'll learn about the natural history of these birds, and then we'll walk to nearby fields to watch & listen to this remarkable display. We will also search for early spring migrants. Bring your sense of wonder & binoculars; be prepared to walk on unpaved, possibly wet & uneven terrain. Dress in layers as it is cooler as the sun sets.

Common Merganser by Nate Dubrow

Signs of Spring in West Newbury

Date: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Time: 4:00 pm to sunset
Fee: $15.
Meeting Location: Park & Ride on Storey Ave. [Route 113] in Newburyport Celebrate the longer days with Newburyport Birders! Join Sue & search for birds in West Newbury. If you have binoculars & a field guide, please bring them along. Please dress for the weather [in layers; wear warm socks & waterproof shoes]; remember it's always cooler along the water.

Red-winged Blackbird by Jeremiah Trimble

Searching for Signs of Spring in Rowley

Date: Sunday, March 19, 2017
Time: 4:00 pm to sunset
Fee: $15
Meeting Location: At the junction of Patmos & Stackyard Roads in Rowley
Celebrate the longer days & go birding. If you have binoculars & a field guide, please bring them along. Please dress for the weather [in layers; wear warm socks & waterproof shoes]. No facilities are available at this site.

Bird Walk Along the Merrimac River

Date: Sunday, April 2, 2017
Time: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Fee: $15.
Meeting Location: Newburyport's Cashman Park Boat Launch at the end of Sally Snyder Way - which is off Merrimac Street. We'll be birding along the Merrimac River; so please dress in layers.

Bring A Friend Birding

Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Time: 4:00 pm to dusk
Fee: 2 for $25
Meeting Location: Junction of Hale Street & Malcolm Hoyt Drive in Newburyport
Join us as we bird the Industrial Park's wetlands.

Please dress in layers for outdoor weather. If you have binoculars, please bring them. Introduce your friends to the joys of birding. We hope to see early migrants & displaying American Woodcock.

Searching for Spring Migrants

Date: Sunday, April 9, 2017
Time: 3:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15
Meeting Location: At the junction of Hale Street & Plummer Spring Lane in Newburyport
Come birding to celebrate the longer days! We'll search for newly arriving birds. If you have binoculars & a field guide, please bring them along. Please dress for the weather. Remember birding by the water can be cool & windy. No facilities are available at this site. 

Wednesday Evenings in Wild West Newbury

Dates: Wednesdays, April 12 & 26
Time: 6:00 pm to dusk
Fee: $15
Meeting Location: Pike's Bridge Road parking area on Turkey Hill Road in West Newbury
We'll be exploring the Pike's Bridge Road area & other highly productive sites in West Newbury during these evening programs. Some carpooling is involved. No facilities are available during this program.


Directions: From the Scotland Road exit off I-95, take Scotland Road heading west; then take an immediate right onto Turkey Hill Road. Drive north on Turkey Hill Road about half a mile to a large, dirt pull off on the left [this is where the road curves right]. Pike's Bridge Road is a dirt road with a metal gate across it which allows no vehicles to enter.

Third Annual Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Conservation Film Festival is this coming weekend!

The festival kicks-off on Friday night, March 3rd at 7:00 pm and continues through Sunday, March 5th.

Click on the link below to view the entire schedule of films that we will be screened this weekend.  The schedule has links to the trailer.

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/2017_FilmFest_Schedule_FINAL.pdf