Parker River NWR, Essex, Massachusetts, US

Sep 10, 2024 6:48 AM – 10:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling

7.5 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    I joined the Brookline Bird Club walk led by Dave Williams. 

Mostly sunny 57-69 degrees with winds varying West 7 to NW 8 mph and gusts up to 15 mph.  Tide outgoing with low tide at 10:57 am. 

We stopped at the pans, North Pool Overlook, Hellcat dike twice, Sandy Point State Reservation, Lot 7 Emerson Rocks and Stage Island trail along the dike.  Distance estimated to  adjust for return trip.

37 species

Canada Goose  50    Rough estimate in Stage Island Pool

Mallard  5

Green-winged Teal  3    Hellcat Bill Forward Pool

Common Eider  10    Emerson Rocks

Sora  1    Continuing in corner of Bill Forward from Hellcat dike

Killdeer  1

Semipalmated Plover  25    Pans, Bill Forward Pool, Sandy Point and Lot 7 beach

Short-billed Dowitcher  16

Long-billed Dowitcher  11    Hellcat dike North Pool. One group of 3 and another group of 8 flew in. Long bills, hunch back shape stood out from other Short billed Dowitchers nearby

Greater Yellowlegs  18

Sanderling  5    Sandy Point State Reservation and Lot 7 beach

Dunlin  2    Main pans

White-rumped Sandpiper  10    Main pans

Least Sandpiper  2    On far shore main pans. Smaller shorebirds with yellowish green legs . Needed scope to see enough color.

Semipalmated Sandpiper  125    Rough estimate at pans, Hellcat, Sandy Point and Lot 7

Ring-billed Gull  10

American Herring Gull  15

Great Black-backed Gull  4    Sandy Point and Lot 7 Emerson Rocks

Common Tern  2    Sandy Point

Double-crested Cormorant  5

Black-crowned Night Heron  4    Immatures near the concrete water control at Hellcat dike North Pool

Snowy Egret  26    Main pans and Lot 3 pans

Great Egret  5

Great Blue Heron  3

Turkey Vulture  1

Osprey  2

Cooper’s Hawk  1    Seen flying near Cross Farm Hill with a Northern Harrier. Long tail and shape of Accipiter

Northern Harrier  3

Belted Kingfisher  1    Hovering and chattering calls near Lot 1 boat ramp

American Crow  2

Black-capped Chickadee  3

Barn Swallow  12    Beach Sandy Point and Lot 7 brach

European Starling  3

Gray Catbird  7

American Goldfinch  4

Song Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S206121028