Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: David Brown, Greg McGuane, Scot Wiinikka, Ted Purcell
Visitors: We were aided by birders Lillie and Joe Luongo. We talked to many of the more than 100 hikers and other visitors to the summit. Lena Ficco spent some time with us asking questions about hawk watching, and was the first to spot one of the eagles as it passed by. We hope that she'll return soon.
Weather: A nice start to the day with partly cloudy skies, a light breeze and temps just around 70 F with moderate humidity and moderate haze in the air. Boston and the VT mountains were just barely visible; Mt Greylock never emerged from the haze. High thin clouds began to cover more of the sky as the morning progressed, and got thicker as the day wore on. The light was quite poor by the time that we left. Temps eventually rose to 82 F. The promised 5-7 mph winds never materialized, and instead hovered around 3 mph.
Raptor Observations: Encouraged by recent reports from VA, NJ and eastern PA sites, and wary of the forecast of rain over the coming weekend, I decided to start this season's watch a few days early. While only one migrant (a Coop) appeared, we had a busy morning watching local birds take advantage of some very good thermal activity. We had a good turnout of observers. Thanks to Greg McGuane, David Brown, Ted Purcell and Scot Wiinikka for coming out on such short notice.
Non-migrating raptors: TV - 15 (appeared in various numbers throughout most of the day) Osprey - 1 (flew up the NE side of the mountain, and perched on one of the towers for about 15 seconds before flying off again) Bald Eagle - 4 (2 Ad, 2 Imm) various combinations were seen flying together, so this might have been a family group. Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 (juvenile that made several appearances) Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (1 Ad, 1 Imm/juv) Broad-winged Hawk - 3 (juveniles flying together and interacting vigorously)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Chimney Swift-4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird-2, Downy WP-1, RE Vireo-2, Comm Raven-2, B-c Chickadee-1, Barn Swallow-2, Gray Catbird-2, Cedar WW-4, E Towhee-2.
Predictions: Overnight rain is expected to end by 8 am EDT, and will hopefully clear out entirely by our normal start time an hour later. After that, the forecast is for partly cloudy skies, temps in the high 60's to low 70's, moderate humidity and 8-10 mph NE winds. This should be fine conditions for any early migrators. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
More site information at hawkcount.org:https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=228
Date: 8/20/26 4:07 pm From: Brian Rusnica <velocicrafter...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting - 50th Anniversary: IN PERSON! Friday Sept 11th, 2026, 7pm at Middlesex Community College, Bedford Campus. Public Invited!
The 2026 Eastern Mass Hawk Watch annual meeting will be Friday, September
11th, 2026 at 7pm. We will gather once again at Middlesex Community College
in Bedford, MA. The meeting will take place in the Cafe East section of
the Campus Center. Please find a detailed campus map and driving directions
on our website here: https://massbird.org/emhw/annual-meeting/
2026 marks 50 years of Eastern Mass Hawk Watch! We'd like to extend the
invitation to our meeting to the public and welcome all who are interested
in learning more about hawkwatching and our organization. The annual
meeting is the traditional kick-off to the Fall hawkwatching season in
Massachusetts - it won't be long before the first kettles of Broad-wings
gather over the skies of New England!
Our keynote speaker this year is Mark Wilson, Wildlife Photojournalist and
Teacher Naturalist, presenting his Ten Wild Photos, Ten Wild Stories talk.
Join noted wildlife photojournalist and teacher naturalist Mark Wilson in a
unique slide program that explores some of Markâs best wildlife photos
taken over 30 years in some surprising places. Mark will present ten select
images. Each image will be discussed in-depth as to how and why it was
made. Supporting photos will help explain. Topics of discussion will
include photo techniques, equipment, ethics and natural history, and
staying comfortable and healthy in harsh environments. Aspiring beginner
photographers and traveled veterans alike will find inspiration to assess
and improve their own work. Non-photographers get to peek under the lens
cap and see how a pro comes up with knock-out photos.
Mark Wilson was a staff photographer for the Boston Globe for 23 years.
During those years he also wrote regular columns on photography and birds
for the Globe. His wildlife photos have appeared in a wide variety of
publications including National Geographic (Oct. 1992 cover, bullfrog).
Mark and Marcia Wilson work as a team in the field, exploring remote areas
that few people get to visit. In 2001 they completed a 19-day canoe trip
down a North Slope River in Alaskaâs Arctic Refuge. That trip is the basis
for a chapter Mark wrote for the book Arctic Wings.
The meeting is free and open to the public (donations appreciated). A
social hour with beverages, appetizers and snacks starts at 6pm, followed
at 7pm by a brief business meeting and the keynote presentation. The
business meeting will review EMHW Watch Sites and how you can visit or
participate this upcoming migration season! Weâll also have the return of
our famous raffle, including many raptor-related and birding items and some
fantastic photography. Join us for a great evening!
If you are interested in contributing raffle items, refreshments, or
helping EMHW with the meeting, please let us know at
<e.masshawkwatch...> and we'll be in contact!
For complete information, including directions to the location in Bedford
(plenty of free parking), visit the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch web site at
massbird.org/EMHW.
Date: 8/20/26 12:07 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Belmont N. Saw Whet Owl Ruled as Gray E. Screech Owl Juve
Thanks to Fred Bouchard for this followup post.
That being said, please refrain from posts featuring owl locations. Let's work together to minimize disturbance to these birds.
Thank you everyone!
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: Fred Bouchard<frederickbouchard...> Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:54:56 -0400 Subject: Belmont N. Saw Whet Owl Ruled as Gray E. Screech Owl Juve
The Winn Brook Belmont Owl Kerfuffle Settled
https://ebird.org/checklist/S385030237 -- <frederickbouchard...> Instructions for living a life: *Pay attention.Be astonished.Tell about it.* --- Mary Oliver (1935-2023)
Date: 8/18/26 4:38 am From: Fred Bouchard <frederickbouchard...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Saw Whet Owl Report in Belmont
Hello, birders
Following up on this likely viable report today.
Fred B
--
<frederickbouchard...>
'One ought, every day, to hear a little song, read a good poem, sip a tasty
wine,
see a fine picture, and if possible, to speak a few reasonable words.'
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1836)
Instructions for living a life:
*Pay attention.Be astonished.Tell about it.*
--- Mary Oliver (1935-2023)
Date: 8/17/26 6:25 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/17 Marbled Godwit, Etc. Third Cliff in Scituate
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:23:12 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 8/17 Marbled Godwit, Etc. Third Cliff in Scituate
high tide was at 3:30 p.m.. I birded here from 1:30-4:00. I believe the Marbled Godwit was flushed up out of the marsh by a Northern Harrier, due to the very close time proximity. The godwit flew around for about two minutes and then dropped into the marsh grass on the Marshfield side, but barely. This was about an hour before high tide.
Great Egret 25 Snowy Egret 7 Great Blue Heron 9 Osprey 2 Northern Harrier 2 one twisted and dropped down to try to get a Horned Lark! Killdeer 11 Semipalmated Plover 1,,000 ?, 2,000 ? Piping Plover 4 Black-bellied Plover 15 Ruddy Turnstone 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper hundreds Least Sandpiper 150 70+40+40; mostly beautiful juveniles. Wow! Greater Yellowlegs 4 MARBLED GODWIT 1 SEE ABOVE Short-billed Dowitcher 20 several trying to find a place to land at high tide! Willet 9 Roseate Tern 7 near tip Least Tern 90 Common Tern 20 Laughing Gull 20 Tree Swallow 50 guess Barn Swallow 10 Horned Lark 2 Common Raven 1 Pine Warbler 1
Date: 8/14/26 6:56 pm From: Matt S. <accipiter22...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] August 14, 2026 Parker River NWR, Newburyport - Tree Swallow Extravaganza
Hi All,
Now that I live closer, I can go to Parker more often for the Tree Swallow
festivities every year, but still, there’s always one trip that stands out.
I try to get the most videos and pictures that day, I try to drink it all
in and just stand there hoping to hear them come close enough that I can
hear or feel their wings against me. Today was that day. It was a really
good one too; the evening flocks when they go to roost are really dense,
probably 5x what you see in the day usually, but the staging during the day
today was pretty crazy. I stopped at the Wardens to get some video looking
south towards NPO, and part way through the video I was shooting from my
tripod, as I stood there, I saw a swarm start flooding over me. I looked
behind me and it was one giant wave the seemed to stretch north almost to
the horizon. They were diving down into the field north of NPO, and not
just for a minute, for several minutes. There is always some cool
experience during the swallow migration each year, and for me this was the
one today. I stood there and watched them congregate and eventually take
to the air again, and then headed to NPO where various clouds of them were
taking off in huge bunches.
Further south they were still around, but not as dense; the action today
was further to the north on the island. Still, the air was dry, it was
breezy with no bugs, and it was mild out. I walked along Hellcat for a
while, not expecting much, nor seeing a ton; a catbird or two, a male
redstart. At the beginning, near the restrooms I saw something above them
flitting about. It was a red-eyed vireo. So strange to see them being
quiet when just a couple of weeks ago they were still pumping out tunes
hundreds of times per hour. It’s like when they stop singing, so much of
the summer chorus seems to die down and move us from “summer†to “late
summerâ€.
That's all for now,
Matt s.
Newton, NH
<Accipiter22...>
---
https://ebird.org/checklist/S383271297 Plum Island--Parker River NWR & Sandy Pt. State Reservation, Essex,
Massachusetts, US
Aug 14, 2026 7:43 AM - 11:31 AM
Protocol: Traveling
8.208 mile(s)
41 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4
Green-winged Teal (American) (Anas crecca carolinensis) 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 31
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) X
Red Knot (Calidris canutus) 3 Lot 1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) X
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) X
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 26
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 51
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 37
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) (Ardea herodias [herodias Group]) 3
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Osprey (American) (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis) 1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus) 1
Peregrine Falcon (North American) (Falco peregrinus anatum) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 6
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1 At Hellcat restrooms. Always odd
to see them so quiet in comparison to how verbose they were even a few
weeks ago
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 40000 Large flocks even for this
time of year.
Purple Martin (Progne subis) 2
Marsh Wren (palustris Group) (Cistothorus palustris [palustris Group]) 2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 8
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 7
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica) (Melospiza melodia melodia/atlantica) 3
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 7
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) (Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus Group])
4
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Date: 8/13/26 8:03 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/11 Third Cliff in Scituate Highlights
reposting due to technical issues...
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:39:11 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 8/11 Third Cliff in Scituate Highlights
I birded here from 1:00-5:00. This was mid-tide to dead low tide. It is amazing how much water goes out from here between the two tides. Large expanses of mud exposed as the tide goes out. The entire cove becomes completely devoid of water
Great Blue Heron 11 seen from the observation platform along the Driftway (actual name of road) Snowy Egret 7 Great Egret 5 Osprey 1 Semipalmated Plover 300+ wild guess (I counted more than two-hundred in the cove alone Piping Plover 3 Black-bellied Plover 10 Killdeer 1 Scituate Country Club Least Sandpiper 30 Semipalmated Sandpiper 5+ (if I had been there at high tide, the birds would be roosting in large groups. They disperse to who knows where when the tide gets low Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Ruddy Turnstone 7 Willet 4 Sanderling 5 Dowitcher sp. 8; two with absurdly long bills; feeding near ocean edge in pool Roseate Tern 5+ Forster's Tern 1 adult seen and heard; carrying sand lance Common Tern 200 impossible to get good count Least Tern 200 impossible to get a good count Laughling Gull 180
Date: 8/13/26 8:01 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Thick-billed Murre Buzzards Bay
reposting due to technical issues...
Thanks to Alida Pellegrini-Toole for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Subject: Thick-billed Murre Buzzards Bay Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:34:39 -0400 From: AJ Pellegrini-Toole <aptoole...> To: Barbara Volkle <barb620...>
Sailing back north yesterday I spotted a lone bird sitting on the water. At first I thought it was a Laughing Gull as they are beginning to congregate in the bay. However, as we got closer I realized it was all wrong for a gull. We passed within 10-15 ft of it (it never moved away) and I realized it was a Thick-billed Murre. In August. We were just off West Falmouth I believe, but far enough away from shore that I'm not sure it would have been visible to anyone on land.
Date: 8/5/26 8:47 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 8/4 Things are TERNING out Very Well at Third Cliff in Scituate
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2026 21:11:00 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 8/4 Things are TERNING out Very Well at Third Cliff in Scituate
This place never fails to deliver the goods. I was there from 12:45-3:45, which translates to mid-high tide. I did the usual loop, which is perhaps one and one-half miles long. It may feel longer due to having to walk on the sand and on some rocks.
Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 7 Snowy Egret 1 Black-bellied Plover 11 Piping Plover 12 Killdeer 2 Semipalmated Plover 200 guess (did have a group of one-hundred and fifty) Semipalmated Sandpiper 1,000 uncountable (getting flushed, too densely packed) Least Sandpiper 4 Willet 2 basic plumage Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Ruddy Turnstone 8 Sanderling 16 Forster's Tern 4 in mixed tern flock right in front of me on the beach at around 2:00 p.m.; repeatedly flushed but then went just a bit down the beach Roseate Tern 26 Common Tern 60 Least Tern 100 Horned Lark 2
Date: 8/4/26 10:08 am From: <jshetterly...> <jshetterly...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Intro to shorebird guide
Interesting. thanks
________________________________
From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> on behalf of <sohzendeh...> <sohzendeh...>
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2026 11:38 AM
To: <massbird...> <massbird...>
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Intro to shorebird guide
Mates,
As some of you know, for the past 2-1/2 years I worked on a free web app that is designed for smart phones; it helps with shorebird identification. Last week I gave a webinar on shorebirds and the use of the app to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC). It was recorded and generously shared by the BBC, so here is the link:
Date: 8/4/26 8:47 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Intro to shorebird guide
Mates,
As some of you know, for the past 2-1/2 years I worked on a free web app that is designed for smart phones; it helps with shorebird identification. Last week I gave a webinar on shorebirds and the use of the app to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC). It was recorded and generously shared by the BBC, so here is the link:
Date: 8/4/26 4:17 am From: Dan Poalillo <dapoal...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Request to participate in conservation study [posted with permission]
Dear MassBird birders
I am writing to let you know about an opportunity to participate in a research investigating the value birders and photographers place on the availability of bird habitat and their willingness to pay for that availability. This study will involve completing a survey. By participating in this survey, you may help researchers learn about possible means of preserving land for bird and wildlife conservation.
The survey will take about 10 minutes of your time. If you are a birder, birdwatcher, or wildlife photographer you may be eligible to participate. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
If you have any questions, please contact Dan Poalillo at <poalillod1...> or the PI Dr. Meghann Smith at <smithmeg...>
Thank you for considering participation in this study. This study has been approved by the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board, Study no. FY26-27-5316.
Sincerely,
Dan Poalillo, Masters Student [North Haledon, NJ]
Earth and Environmental Science, Montclair State University
Date: 8/3/26 2:52 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fall Hawk Watch begins at Mt Wachusett on Aug 23
Hello MassBirders,
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch is happy to announce that we'll begin our 51st consecutive season of daily Fall hawk watch coverage on the summit of Mt. Wachusett on Sunday, August 23 (weather permitting) and plan to run through mid-November. We invite everyone who enjoys watching birds and wants to experience the wonders of raptor migration to join us. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to scan the skies for raptors and give a shout out when you see something. We'll be happy to share tips on where to look, what to look for and how to identify the different species. The raptors often appear at a fair distance from the mountain, so binoculars are a must, and if you have a spotting scope, feel free to bring that along as well.
Our watches are always more successful (and enjoyable) when we have multiple observers on the mountain each day, so we invite folks who are interested to consider volunteering on a scheduled basis. Barring poor weather or other circumstances, we'll always have at least one veteran hawk watcher present each day to handle recording and reporting duties, so volunteers can just concentrate on spotting birds and calling out their locations. If you'd be interested in helping out this way, please contact me (Eric Mueller) at the email address or phone number shown below. This doesn't preclude you from just showing up whenever you can - we're always happy to have extra help at any time.
The gate to the summit road opens at 9:00 am each morning, so we start right after that. The address of the park entrance is 345 Mountain Road, Princeton MA. We typically stay until at least 2:00 pm each day early and late in the season, and to 3:00 pm or later during the heart of the season in mid-to-late September. The park closes the auto road entrance gate just before sunset each day. There are more details about the site posted on the hawkcount.org website at https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?r=on&rsite=228&go=Go+To+Hawkwatch+Profile . The auto road to the summit will be open daily through Sunday, October 25. After that, we'll continue to hike and bike up the mountain as the weather and our personal energy levels allow. We'll post daily reports of what we see on hawkcount.org, eBird and here on MassBird The reports normally include predictions about the following day's weather and alerts if we think that the next day's watch might be cancelled or delayed.
Wachusett Mt Reservation is a MA state park and DCR charges a daily parking fee of $5.00 for vehicles with MA license plates, or $20 for out-of-state. If you're a MA resident, you can buy an annual park pass (Jan 1- Dec 31) for $60. MA residents who are age 62 and older can purchase a lifetime park pass for only $10 (an excellent deal!) To purchase either type of pass, go to https://www.mass.gov/how-to/purchase-an-annual-parking-pass-for-massachusetts-state-parks . Each pass is linked to a single MA vehicle license plate, so have that information handy when you place your order. Parking is free for vehicles with disability plates or placards, or with Purple Heart recipient or Disabled Veteran plates. Many MA public libraries and recreation centers have daily park passes that MA residents can borrow for free. If you like to hike, there are multiple free parking spots at the trailheads surrounding the mountain.
We'll also be conducting the Mt. Watatic hawk watch (Rt. 119 in Ashburnham MA) this year from Saturday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 27. It requires a hike up the mountain and there are no facilities up there, but the birds often ride the uplifts coming up the steep slopes on both sides and can give you great, up-close views. Everyone is welcome.
The Eastern Mass Hawk Watch in-person annual meeting is scheduled for Friday evening, Sept 11 at Middlesex Community College in Bedford. Keep your eyes peeled for more details. It's always a great time!
If you have any questions about the upcoming hawk watch or about volunteering, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards, Eric
Eric Mueller EMHW Site Coordinator for the Wachusett Mt. hawk watch Clinton MA <ericmueller1912...> 978-337-9150 (voice and text)
Date: 8/2/26 2:36 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 7/31 Third Cliff Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2026 18:37:51 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 7/31 Third Cliff Highlights
Back for round two. I birded here from 1:40-4:40 from high tide to mid-tide. I also did some butterflying at the Scituate Recyle and Solar Panel Farm area, off the Driftway. Quite disturbing too see all those dead animals near the solar panel farm (where the black Scituate Police amphibious? vehicle is always stationed. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! Rhese animals are still rather fresh in appearance
Great Blue Heron 10 Great Egret 7 Snowy Egret 1 Osprey 2+ Red-tailed Hawk 2 Wild Turkey 1 next to the solar panels Piping Plover 5 Killdeer 8 including five at Scituate Country Club Black-bellied Plover 4 Semipalmated Plover 400 wild guess Semipalmated Sandpiper 1,000 wild guess; uncountable Least Sandpiper 40 Ruddy Turnstone 4 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Sanderling 4 Willet 5 ROSEATE TERN 2 gorgeous adult and juvenille Least Tern 120 Common Tern 60 Belted Kingfisher the Driftway Great Crested Flycatcher 3 the Driftway Horned Lark 5
LEPIDS:
Monarch 11 See Above plus ones seen along my walk to Third Cliff Common Wood-Nymph 4 Black Swallowtail 1 Tiger Swallowtail 2 Spring Azure 1 Orange Sulphur 3 Clouded Sulphur 1 Cabbabe White 40
DEAD ANIMALS:
RACCOON 2 SKUNK 1 laying atop one of the Raccoons SEE ABOVE RED_TAILED HAWK !
Date: 8/2/26 6:32 am From: Jane Carper <jmcarper09...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Sandhill Cranes Burrage Pond
Hello MassBird Community,
My name is Jane and I am a local birder in Quincy. Yesterday, I spent about
3 hrs stumbling around Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area looking for
the Sandhill Cranes.
Unfortunately I didn't see them, but I did see a Green Heron, Marsh Wren,
and a Broad Winged Hawk, amongst others.
I would like to go back and try to see them again this week, and am
wondering if anyone who has seen them before might be able to point me in
the right direction of where to look (from a respectful distance)? I don’t
take photos, I just birdwatch.
I saw an eBird sighting 7/26 “two in the old bog to the left†and “Opposite
the EPO station†but am not sure what/where the EPO is. I’ve also seen “at
the north end of the north reservoir.â€
Anyway, any tips on the most likely location/time of day would be helpful
or coordinates on the map. I parked at the train tracks parking lot.
Date: 8/1/26 7:53 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Shorebird trip to Winthrop Beach Tuesday Aug 11 at 9 am
Thanks to Soheil Zendeh for this announcement.
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
*
From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: Shorebird trip to Winthrop Beach Tuesday Aug 11 at 9 am Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2026 13:28:34 -0400
Folks,
I lead a shorebirds trip to Winthrop Beach on August 11 at 9 am. Meet at the intersection of Winthrop Shore Drive and Sturgis Street. There are a few additional details in the Brookline Bird Club announcement :
Date: 8/1/26 5:30 pm From: Marsha Salett <msalett...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] August 2026 issue of Bird Observer now online
Massbirders -
Bird Observer announces that our August 2026 issue is now online at www.birdobserver.org <http://www.birdobserver.org/>.
Where to Go Birding highlights “Birding Grassland Rarities at Shea Airfield, Union Point, South Weymouth, Massachusetts†by Matt Sanda.
Articles feature “Two Decades of Extreme Pelagic Birding†by Naeem Yusuff and “Reflecltions on Hog Island Camp: Celebrating 90 Years of Nature Teaching†by John Kricher. The photo essay depicts birds of Hog Island.
Field Notes describe “New England’s First Limpkin†by Lily Morello and “Hummingbirds and Downy Woodpeckers Share a Feeder†by Marsha C. Salett.
As usual, we include Musings from the Blind Birder by Martha Steele, About Books by Mark Lynch, Bygone Birds by Robert H. Stymeist, Bird Sightings by Jason Forbes and Robert H. Stymeist, Hot Birds by Joshua Rose, and Wayne Petersen’s At a Glance.
The cover art features John Sill’s Little Blue Heron. “About the Cover: Little Blue Heron†was written by John Kricher.
All of Bird Observer’s content from 1973 to 2015 has been digitized to SORA, the Searchable Ornithological Research Archive at https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/. You can access articles through SORA as well as through Bird Observer’s online archives.
Bird Observer is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Marsha Salett (she/her)
Editor
Bird Observer
<msalett...> <mailto:<msalett...> Needham, MA
Date: 7/31/26 6:06 am From: Richard Veit <rrveit23...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Bridled Tern - Nantucket
I doubt this was the scituate bird; there have been a flurry or re ords
from rhode island to eastern maine in the last few weeks. Noting age class
woukd be a help
Richard R. Veit
Professor, Biology
CSI/CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-354-9802
On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 3:07 PM Barbara Volkle <barb620...> wrote:
> Ken Harte reports seeing a Bridled Tern on Nantucket on July 27.
>
> It was at the east end of Sesachacha Pond, near a sandbar and cut to the
> ocean. It was with a large group of Common Terns. It flew to the
> couth from there.
>
> A quick view of ebird reports shows additional reports - a 7/28 report
> from Tom Nevers Field and a 7/29 report from Aquinnah.
>
> Is this the Scituate bird?
>
> Thanks to Ken for this report!
>
>
> Barbara Volkle
> Northborough, MA
> <barbb620...>
>
Date: 7/30/26 11:59 am From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Bridled Tern - Nantucket
Ken Harte reports seeing a Bridled Tern on Nantucket on July 27.
It was at the east end of Sesachacha Pond, near a sandbar and cut to the ocean.  It was with a large group of Common Terns. It flew to the couth from there.
A quick view of ebird reports shows additional reports - a 7/28 report from Tom Nevers Field and a 7/29 report from Aquinnah.
Date: 7/30/26 11:53 am From: Cliff Cook <ccook13...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Massachusetts Naturalist Camera Club Photo Exhibit and Reception
The following is from Shawn Carey:
Hello everyone, I wanted to invite you to attend a reception for the
Massachusetts Naturalist Camera Club photo exhibit taking place at the
Scituate Senior Center next week.
This is a fantastic photo exhibit from some of the best nature and wildlife
photographers in the area. I hope you can join us and meet some of the
photographers in person.
Exhibit: The Natural World (as seen by Mass CamNats)
Date: Thursday August 6, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Scituate Senior Center
333 First Parish Rd.
Scituate, MA 02066
Cliff Cook
Watertown
Date: 7/29/26 9:38 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] 7/28 Third Cliff in Scituate Highlights
Thanks to Paul Peterson for the following report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
*
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:05:17 +0000 (UTC) From: Paul Peterson <petersonpaul63...> Subject: 7/28 Third Cliff in Scituate Highlights
A nice day to be at the shore, with nary a person in sight. This is most likely due to a low tide. Also, the fact that it was a tuesday. I always get an excellent bird or more here whenever I visit. I birded from mid-tide to low, from 3:00-6:00
Common Loon 1 Snowy Egret 8 Great Egret 5 Red-tailed Hawk near the station Bald Eagle 1 ad. flew right by me, scaring up all the birds Piping Plover 9+ Killdeer 5 Semipalmated Plover 15 Black-bellied Plover 3+ Semipalmated Sandpiper x White-rumped Sandpiper 1 RED KNOT 2 Sanderling 4+ Greater Yellowlegs 1 Willet 3 Ruddy Turnstone 2+ BLACK TERN 1 ad. roosting on sandbar with Common Terns; beautiful ROSEATE TERN 2 ditto; calling too Common Tern 100 Least Tern 300 wild guess Laughing Gull 50 Great Black-backed Gull 40 Eastern Kingbird 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 conservation park (along The Driftway) Red-eyed Vireo 1 ditto Common Raven 2 at Third Cliff; later seen at the station (Greenbush Station) HORNED LARK 4 ad. with three juv. American Redstart 1 Conservation Park Pine Warbler 1
LEPIDS:
Tiger Swallowtail 3 various places, including one at Third Cliff Monarch 2 Cabbage White 5 butterfly sp. 1
P.S. Paul Bowers told me my friends could park in front of his house to bird at Third Cliff. He lives on Collier Rd. at the corner of Lincoln Rd. It's the house with the flagpole in the yard. This is a short walk from the Third Cliff entrance, whick is located where Collier Rd. meets Moorland Rd. (at the turn, and very difficult to see
A beautiful day to bird watch. The BALD EAGLE and the OSPREY were seen within fifteen seconds of each other.
Great Blue Heron 1 Wood Duck 6 a surprise Bald Eagle 1 ad, Osprey 1 See Above Chimney Swift 2 Eastern Kingbird 2 Common Raven 1 Brookline Village Station House Wren 1 Italian Lizard 2 Monarch 2 Red Admiral 1 Cabbage White 4 Beautiful Flowers many
Date: 7/25/26 6:15 am From: <blafley...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Red Crossbills- New Salem
Hello,
Heading out for a bike ride this morning had a Red Crossbill go over the barn and down the road then on our return heard them in a neighbors large spruce. Have heard them frequently in several N Quabbin locations over the past couple of weeks. The other day had 6 feeding in Pitch Pines at Gate 35 and was able to record their calls. Emailed it to Cody Porter who I have sent recordings to in the past few years. Does anyone know if anyone is still id’ing crossbill calls?
