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

  • The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) recorded 275 species for 2023, based upon 200 trips reported from Massachusetts, and those from out of state.  We recorded 267 species in Massachusetts, three more than 2022, with 8 additional species reported from New Hampshire and Maine. 

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