Wednesday, March 11, 2020, was a lovely day to go birding on Cape Ann. Unbeknownst to us, it was also the last Wednesday before the coronavirus threat became a pandemic, and two days before Mass Audubon shut down all programs. With the whiff of all that in the wind, we were grateful to have the freedom to assemble for the love of birds. I would therefore describe the small group that met for WMB last Wednesday as “stalwart,” but in a new way. To illustrate the delight I felt, I have a story about a particular WMBer who showed up last week as well as on the Wednesday in 2016 that attracted the smallest audience of my tenure – six. There was Joyce Spencer that day four years ago, in spite of horizontal precipitation at near-freezing temperatures. She was covered – smothered! – in rain-repellent gear as almost-frozen droplets raced into our faces. And so we birded. Joyce is not tall, but she is very big in my mind. Still following protocol, she showed up last week too. I hardly know how to express my appreciation for Joyce’s dedication to our corporate effort to see birds, and for the same loyalty of so many other WMBers. We will be out there together again at some future date. Do remember that in this difficult time of uncertainty.

We began our excursion at Jodrey State Fish Pier as is our habit. We saw no special gulls, no Peregrine Falcon on the distant City Hall roof, but a Thick-billed Murre was floating around out in the mid-to-outer harbor. Yay! That bird sparked a search for a Surf Scoter, which we did see, and for white-winged gulls, which we did not. “Okay, let’s check the inner harbor, then head out to Eastern Point.” We moved on.

Eastern Point was different. Buffleheads were everywhere, courting like mad. Do Buffleheads watch the stock market? Red-breasted Mergansers looked resplendent, courting and diving in any water that promised prey. We tried to spy scoters, but only spry-eyed observers with spotting scopes, some well-shared, could find the few that were there.

Niles Pond was full of scaup. Some appeared clearly to be Lesser Scaup, and we assumed that most if not all were Lessers. There were also Ringed-necked Ducks, a few Mallards, gulls, and some passerines singing vigorously in the neighborhood.

Motoring along Atlantic Road, we saw the lingering Great Cormorants on the one rock they almost always roost on, named (of course) “Cormorant Rock.” One of them sported the white cheek-skin color seen in the breeding condition of that species. The other ones looked a bit “shoddy” – which pejorative shows my anthropomorphic misjudgment, however affectionate. Cormorants do not care what we think of their posture, plumage, soft-part color, or fecal production!

We next stopped at the Elks Club parking lot. A drama of Purple Sandpipers unfolded on the rocks below us. Many, many scoters, a mix of Black and White-winged, dotted the sea well offshore. Oh, how glad we were to see them! Scoters have been scarce this year, so seeing a bunch of them helped.

We stopped, as we must always, at the restrooms at Rockport Harbor. They were closed for cleaning!!! That is, until a nice young man expressed compassion, saw reason, and admitted us. No odd birds in the harbor this time. But along the road to the two great spots where we find the rocky-shore birds, we caught glimpses of a couple of Brant. Since we know that Brant show up on Front Beach in Rockport, we always glance that way. When they are there, we are filled with joyous satisfaction. Or, at least I am.

Our timing only left us Andrews Point. A plethora of Harlequin Ducks cavorted there, and an apparently mated pair of Black Scoters represented for their species in fine style. A Great Cormorant flew by offshore, and other species showed up in the bright sunlight.

None of the birds we saw last week acted differently from the usual, amazing way they always act and appear. They were spectacular. They have to be: that’s how they attract mates and ensure the continuation of their species. What do you say we make every effort in this time of difficulty to be spectacular in word and deed, to help everyone of our species survive and thrive, so that our successors will simply be? Is that a goal? I do think so.

Our List:
Brant (2) – Front Beach, Rockport.
Canada Goose (~ 25) – various.
Gadwall – Eastern Point cove.
Mallard (5) – Niles Pond.
American Black Duck (6) – Eastern Point.
Ring-necked Duck (~ 20) – Niles Pond.
Scaup sp. (~ 50) – probable Lesser Scaup; Niles Pond.
Common Eider – common.
Harlequin Duck (~ 35) – Andrews Point.
Surf Scoter (2) – 1, Jodrey Fish Pier; 1, Elks Club.
White-winged Scoter – common, mostly at Elks Club.
Black Scoter – common.
Long-tailed Duck (~ 20) – various.
Bufflehead – common.
Red-breasted Merganser – common.
Horned Grebe (2) – Elks Club.
Red-necked Grebe (16) – Elks Club.
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer (2) – Eastern Point cove.
Purple Sandpiper (5) – Elks Club.
Thick-billed Murre (1) – Jodrey Fish Pier.
Ring-billed Gull (2)
Herring Gull – common.
Great Black-backed Gull – common.
Common Loon (5) – 2, Eastern Point; 2, Elks Club; 1, Andrews Point.
Great Cormorant (5) – 4, “Cormorant Rock,” Atlantic Rd.
Turkey Vulture (1)
Red-tailed Hawk (3) – 2, Eastern Point.
Downy Woodpecker (1) – Niles Pond.
American Crow – common.
Black-capped Chickadee (1) – Eastern Point.
Tufted Titmouse (1) – singing; Eastern Point.
White-breasted Nuthatch (1) – Eastern Point.
Carolina Wren (1) – Elks Club.
American Robin (1)
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch (6) – various.
Song Sparrow (~ 10) – singing; various.
Red-winged Blackbird (5)
Common Grackle (3) – Eastern Point.
Northern Cardinal (3)

Dave Weaver and I had one thing going for us as we prepared for Wednesday Morning Birding this week: lots of eagles! The reason we have so many Bald Eagles in the Great Marsh and along the lower Merrimack River this year is unknown. We assume they come to our area when they are forced away from frozen lakes and rivers, but there have been colder winters than this one, with fewer eagles. The influx of eagles in our area, or the lack of one, may have to do with the timing of freezes, or maybe the timing of freezes in a given region. But so far, no one has trackers on all of the eagles of North America, so we can only speculate. In any scenario, we really enjoy them!

We started at the north end of Plum Island to leave time for the falling tide to expose Emerson Rocks, which helps draw sea birds to that spot. The wind had picked up to a frenzy; we estimated 20 – 30 mph! While it was not very cold, the wind chill was real. The tide was going out, so there was no eddy on our side of the river, which on incoming tides will bring birds close to the Newburyport bank. Therefore, we squinted over at the Common Eiders and Red-breasted Mergansers sheltering on the Salisbury side of the river, and squinted even more tightly at a few scoters out on the wide section toward Joppa Flats. Yikes!

All speculative avoidance of authoritative statements about Bald Eagles aside, just after we entered Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, we spotted two young ones standing in the marsh fairly close to the refuge road. Soon they were being buzzed by a Northern Harrier, and we wondered if there was a kill there that we could not see. As we got out of the vans, someone pointed out an adult eagle, also on the ground a bit farther south.

Before we left, one of the young birds flew off clutching some rather wispy vegetation. Since Bald Eagles use sticks to build nests, and do not breed before they attain definitive adult plumage in their 5th year, we again can only speculate that the bird was “practicing.” To make the scene even more interesting, a Peregrine Falcon flew through, making a little false dive at the young eagle. The poor kid couldn’t catch a break!

After our refuge visit started with such picturesque activity, we proceeded south past the salt pannes, where the surface was frozen, so no ducks were present. We looked for birds in North Field and didn’t see any. We looked for a wintering Northern Shrike in the thicket, but couldn’t find one, and continued all the way south to parking lot #7. By the time we headed out to the beach, a good amount of the rocks had appeared, and there were some birds present, but only a few loons and other sea birds. Common Eiders and Horned Grebes, one Common Loon, and a couple of Common Goldeneyes and Long-tailed Ducks were the tally in the water. A group of Sanderlings landed on the exposed rocks; another flock of 11 performed classic Sanderling foraging in the edge of the wash in front of us.

Stage Island Pool had a good amount of open water, but only a couple of small groups of Buffleheads took advantage of it. An adult Bald Eagle flew over Grape Island out past the South Marsh, but we don’t know if it was a different bird than the first one we saw. Hellcat was really quiet this week. As we sometimes do, we imagined that standing repeatedly in the rather chilly gale was enough suffering, what with the lack of birds, to build metaphysical credit for future outings. Everybody needs a story to tell themselves when the birds don’t show up! Here’s another one: standing in these open coastal areas in the teeth of fierce wind makes one feel very alive; nature is wild and wonderful, even when people are misguided or acting in other unfortunate ways.

We got another dose of eagles when we arrived at the salt pannes, where two young Bald Eagles, but older young eagles than the first ones we found, were also standing, then flying about. One took off over the marsh, giving us good views of the white marks on its back and in the axillaries, which told us it was a 2nd- or 3rd-year bird. The individuals we first encountered had the dark bodies of 1st-year birds.

We still had a bit of time, and we decided to try one more spot on the ocean at parking lot #1. Often when you arrive there and see very little, birds soon begin to appear as you look carefully. Not this week. We saw not one individual floating on the surface. So we called it a day, all of us looking forward to that future trip where the birds just fill the trees or cover the sea. We hope that you can get out there now too and find joy in the beauty in spite of the effort and sometimes even pain: it will make those easy days feel all the more luxurious!

OurList:
Canada Goose – common.
Mute Swan (1) – marsh sw. pannes.
Mallard (~ 10) – mostly marsh w. Hellcat.
American Black Duck – common.
Common Eider (~ 40) – ~ 30, north end; ~ 10, Emerson Rocks.
White-winged Scoter (2) – north end.
Long-tailed Duck (2) – seven ocean.
Bufflehead (~ 15) – Stage Island Pool.
Common Goldeneye (2) – seven ocean.
Red-breasted Merganser (5) – north end.
Horned Grebe (3) – seven ocean.
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Sanderling (~ 26) – 11, seven beach; ~ 15, Emerson Rocks.
Ring-billed Gull (2)
Herring Gull – common.
Great Black-backed Gull (2) – seven beach.
Common Loon (1) – north end.
Great Cormorant (2) – probable, perched on marker at end of Salisbury
jetty; seen from lot #1 platform.
Northern Harrier (3) – 2 females, 1 male.
Bald Eagle (5-6) – 1 ad, 2 juvs – initially on ground in marsh just s.
lot #2; 1 ad (possibly same ad cited first) flying s. adjacent to Grape
Is.; 2 2- to 3-yr-old birds in marsh n. pannes.
[Red-tailed Hawk (1) – on power line along Plum Is Tpk, n. PI Airport.]
Peregrine Falcon (1) – flyby, marsh n. pannes.
Blue Jay (2) – vicinity Stage Island Pool.
Northern Mockingbird (1) – vicinity s. Cross Farm Hill.
European Starling
House Finch (2) – in housing while en route north end.

Our next-to-last Cape Ann trip of the season went very well this week, with new bird experiences for just about everyone! Dave Weaver and I toured the rocky coast with 35 birders, who behaved reasonably well, for the most part, and from whom we got some new ideas about managing groups there due to some mildly novel behavior! More on that later.

We began as always, at Jodrey State Fish Pier, which was interesting enough with eiders, scoters, mergansers, and loons visible on the harbor, with gulls flying everywhere, and with reports of alcids and uncommon gulls in our heads. Then some folks who had been there either earlier in the day or previous days walked over to check the south channel for one or more Thick-billed Murres that have been there. Sure enough, we eventually spotted three of them! We enjoyed the big show of flying gulls that erupted with a high fly-over of a 2nd-year Bald Eagle. We were about to leave, and in fact a few people did leave for our next destination, when sharp eyes spotted a Dovekie out on the harbor near the shrink-wrapped Schooner Adventure.

With multiple individuals and two species of alcids under our lids, we moved on, intending to stop at Rocky Neck, what with all the alcids in the harbor, when we heard from a group that had left ahead of the caravan that there were no new species at Rocky Neck. Since we often have large and at times unwieldy caravans on Cape Ann, it might be good to intentionally send some ahead to scout! The little salt marsh and intertidal cove at Eastern Point was filled with clear morning light and Gadwalls, who have freshly molted into their gorgeous alternate plumage. Buffleheads and Red-breasted Mergansers were scattered all over the more protected parts of the harbor nearby, and a handful of Surf Scoters were easily spotted about half-way out. One Greater Scaup joined a raft of eiders.

At Niles Pond, a big flock of scaup, in which we found a couple of Lessers among the Greaters, greeted us near shore. As they drifted away from us, we found a Ring-necked Duck among them as well. The large raft of gulls out on the pond contained all three of our common species, but none that were “white-winged.” Few passerines jumped onto our list there, and come to think of it, we heard just one spring song, a Tufted Titmouse, singing on the far side of the pond. Many singers are becoming stronger every day in more protected inland areas. Then it was on to Atlantic Road, where we paused at Cormorant Rock to appreciate the newly alternate plumage and soft-part color of the Great Cormorants there.

As we disembarked at the Elks Club, some participants spoke in hushed tones of seeing sandpipers along the road, but no definitive suggestion such as “Add 25 Purple Sandpipers” emerged. Fortunately, one, then two, then a third Purple Sandpiper did emerge into view on a rock in front of us, seemingly by mitosis, or as if they had oozed out of a crack. The sea was dotted liberally with White-winged Scoters. We searched in vain for alcids there, but just hang on to your hat.

After stopping for self-care in the Rockport municipal parking lot, we made it to Cathedral Ledge. The sea was calm, the light was bright, and Harlequin Ducks were all up and down the shoreline for great views. A handsome drake Black Scoter floated calmly out on the water, and became a reference point for one, then two, then three Dovekies, which surfaced for only seconds between long dives. Later, at least two more of them joined in on our game of “Dovekie Whack-a-mole.” We stayed playing that game long enough for a big flock, fifty or more, of Brants to hurry by low over the ocean. Their rapid headlong flight was nothing like that of their larger goose cousin. Alas, we ran out the clock with not enough time for Andrews Point, though some of our group did stay to continue there. We have one more Cape Ann trip scheduled for this winter on March 11. Don’t miss Cape Ann this year, whether with us or on your own. The alcid show is really great!

Our list:
Brant (~ 50) – flock flying low over water off of Cathedral Ledge, heading north.
Canada Goose (~ 65) – mostly Good Harbor marsh.
Gadwall (16) – cove, Eastern Point; drakes were strikingly beautiful in morning sun.
Mallard (~ 8) – Good Harbor marsh.
Ring-necked Duck (1) – drake, Niles Pond.
Greater Scaup (~ 50) – Niles Pond.
Lesser Scaup (2) – Niles Pond.
Common Eider – common.
Harlequin Duck (~ 30) – Cathedral Ledge.
Surf Scoter (6) – 1, inner Gloucester Harbor; 5, Eastern Point.
White-winged Scoter – common.
Black Scoter (~ 13) – ~ 12, Elks Club; 1 drake, Cathedral Ledge.
Long-tailed Duck (2) – Eastern Point.
Bufflehead – common; various.
Common Goldeneye (5) – 1, Eastern Point; 1, Niles Pond; 3, Elks Club.
Red-breasted Merganser – common.
Wild Turkey (4) – Rt 127, Rockport.
Red-necked Grebe (1) – Cathedral Ledge.
Rock Pigeon – mostly Motif #1.
Purple Sandpiper (3) – Elks Club.
Dovekie (6) – 1, Gloucester Harbor; 5, Cathedral Ledge.
Thick-billed Murre (3) – inner Gloucester Harbor.
Ring-billed Gull (~ 20) – Niles Pond.
Herring Gull – common.
Great Black-backed Gull (~ 20) – 5, Gloucester Harbor; ~ 15, Niles Pond.
Common Loon (~ 20) – various.
Great Cormorant (6) – “Cormorant Rock,” Atlantic Road.
Bald Eagle (1) – immature soaring high over inner Gloucester Harbor.
American Crow ( ~ 15) – various.
Tufted Titmouse (1) – singing, Niles Pond.
Northern Mockingbird (1) – Good Harbor Beach entrance.
European Starling
House Sparrow