This Wednesday, Dave Weaver and I were favored by Poseidon, as it was a nice winter day for birding. We went all the way to parking lot #7 on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge road as fast as sightings along the way would allow, to get to Emerson Rocks before the tide covered them. There were some interesting raptors along the way, however. We were snagged by a other birders looking at a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a cedar near the Middens, and an immature Bald Eagle had us looking carefully as it flew north over the marsh. There were some Common Goldeneyes in the Plum Island River near the boat ramp, of note only because that species has yet to show up in the Merrimack River in the usual numbers. As we slowly drove south, it seemed all the American Black Ducks and Canada Geese of the Great Marsh took to the sky. Some thought they saw a falcon out there, but we know that the Bald Eagle we had seen may have been the instigator. The caboose van people spotted a Rough-legged Hawk in the trees on the west end of Cross Farm Hill. That bird gave us a nice show of its light-phase plumage, and a nice flock of Hooded Mergansers included displaying males on Stage Island Pool.

At parking lot #7, the birds we expect at Emerson Rocks were on display. There were Common Eiders and a few Black Scoters and White-winged Scoters, though not in the numbers we saw a week ago. Two pairs of Horned Grebes, only one Common Loon, some Long-tailed Ducks, and a strange Northern Gannet had us searching all the divers for some time. The gannet was a motley young bird sitting on the water and paddling around, but never taking flight. We worried for its health. We also wondered where all the loons are feeding. Early in the season there had been lots of Red-throated Loons, and many Common Loons, but there must be a special on herring in some other patch of water. One little flock of shorebirds flew from the rocks to the beach and back, a Sanderling and three Dunlins.

As always, the pools, dikes, and marsh at Hellcat are variable at this time of year. I took my family out there this week to find a Short-eared Owl at dusk. Sure enough, one was perched on the dike near Bill Forward Pool, and took off over the dike as we arrived. You should try this! In my case, my young adult daughter couldn’t help make a snide remark about the lack of splendor of our fleeting view. On Wednesday, we hoped for ground birds, but only experienced the chilling wind passing over dead grasses. Our one American Robin of the day departed the trees on the edge of the marsh. We laughed at our discomfort and continued on, buoyed in my case by the knowledge that there have to be moments of nothing to have others of rarities and bounty. Imagining that metaphysical reality can help get one through the dearth.

On our way to the north end of the Island, we found another Rough-legged Hawk over the marsh, an adult Bald Eagle out on the Osprey platform across from the boat ramp, and a snazzy Red-tailed Hawk in the neighborhoods. There certainly were birds in the windy last stretch of the Merrimack River, mostly the same varieties we had found at Emerson Rocks, with the addition of Red-breasted Mergansers.

Thus ended a year of Wednesday Morning Birding, with 203 species for this program in 2018. It is amazing how many stunningly beautiful displays of avian life enriched us this year, as they do every year. The lovely mix of birders – loyal regulars, travelers from distant places, people who come when they can over the years, experienced experts, and complete beginners – they bring a spirit to Joppa Flats programs, a spirit of fun, of deep caring for each other and for the birds of our beautiful earth. It is a great joy to be with you and with the birds. Happy New year to you all!

Our list:
Canada Goose – common.
Mute Swan (2) – adults loafing on ice of Main Panne.
American Black Duck – common (many in air at once due to passing immature Bald Eagle).
Mallard (~ 25) – various.
Common Eider – common; parking lot #7 (seven) ocean & north end.
White-winged Scoter (3) – seven ocean.
Black Scoter (6) – 2, seven ocean; 4, north end.
Long-tailed Duck (6) – 5, seven ocean; 1, north end.
Bufflehead (5) – Stage Island Pool.
Common Goldeneye (9) – 5, Plum Island River; 4, seven ocean.
Hooded Merganser (7) – Stage Island Pool.
Red-breasted Merganser (2) – north end.
Common Loon (1) – seven ocean.
Horned Grebe (4) – seven ocean.
Northern Gannet (1) – seven ocean.
Bald Eagle (2) – 1 immature, flying north over marsh west of pannes; 1 adult, perched on nesting platform west of the boat ramp.
Northern Harrier (3)
Red-tailed Hawk (2) – 1, perched in cedar between parking lot #s 1 & 2, west of refuge road; 1, overhead north end.
Rough-legged Hawk (2) – 1, perched in, then flying out of, tree west end Cross Farm Hill; 1, flying south over marsh west of pannes — both light morphs.
Sanderling (1) – Emerson Rocks.
Dunlin (3) – Emerson Rocks.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (1) – north end.
Rock Pigeon – several flocks, north of refuge gate.
Blue Jay (2)
American Robin (1) – Hellcat parking lot.
Northern Mockingbird (1) – between new blind & Hellcat parking lot.

It was great to get back to Plum Island this Wednesday, as the past three weeks took us away to Cape Ann and up the New Hampshire Coast. We started at the north end of the island as we often do in the winter because of the abundance of seabirds that forage in the mouth of the Merrimack River. Just as we arrived, a young (second-year) Bald Eagle flew over us and across the river, almost landing on the beach in Salisbury, but then it drifted off. The day was classic in regard to foraging seabirds, though the mix of birds was not typical. The diving ducks in the river were dominated by Black Scoters, which we saw on Cape Ann as well last week.

The scoters and Common Eiders were diving onto a presumed mussel bed about 2/3 of the way across the river, in a strong outgoing current. The birds dive down to swallow the mollusks whole, and then are swept out toward the sea as they surface. From there, they must fly back to the beginning of this cold, watery “conveyor belt” of seaduck-feeding activity. We see this pattern there often, with differing mixes of birds, through each winter season. We did see a few Common Loons, but no Common Goldeneyes and not many Long-tailed Ducks. There were a few of the latter across the river and here and there, but not the numbers of both species that we usually see by this time of year. We did, however, have a merry time with two Razorbills that briefly appeared as they floated out toward the ocean.

Our outing had a chilly start, but the sun and gentleness of the wind made us feel we could survive up on the dune platform at parking lot #1 on Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The sea there looked empty at first, but as is often the case, things gradually appeared. Two Horned Grebes kept popping up out in front of us, and four Razorbills spent scant time on the surface not far off the beach a bit north of the platform. Eventually, we spied a few Red-necked Grebes, and flocks of a few White-winged and many Black Scoters moved about. We found a few Red-throated Loons at some distance. Two Northern Harriers foraged and perched on the dunes.

The salt pannes were frozen over, and the thickets yielded nothing more than Black-capped Chickadees as we drove south on the refuge road. We arrived at parking lot #7, however, to a very excited Dave Adrien and another birder with a huge lens, who told us that there were not just one, but two King Eiders at Emerson Rocks. When we reached the platform, the birds were both sitting on the same rock. One that we think was an adult male had his bill tucked most of the time, but the unmistakable blue of his crown showed up. The other bird, a “subadult” male, did not have the pretty looks he will eventually have, but was well on his way to full adult plumage and soft parts. He swam around in the water a bit for better views.

We also saw many Black Scoters and Common Eiders, and more White-winged Scoters than we had seen at the previous locations. A flock of Purple Sandpipers that we rushed to identify, since they were on the rocks, sat very still on a large boulder. Dave Weaver was careful to confirm their relatively straight bills that help distinguish them at a distance from Dunlins. Later, a big flock of Sanderlings with a few Dunlins mixed in arrived and settled on the rocks near the Purple Sandpipers. That goes to show that, just because sandpipers are on rocks in the winter doesn’t mean you don’t have to look at them carefully!

We enjoyed a much closer Horned Grebe and struggled to get good looks at a few more Razorbills that actually did breathe the air for tiny moments off the rocks. Then, out of the mouth of the Ipswich Bay, a giant flock of more than a thousand Common Eiders came flying in to settle all up and down the seascape in front of us. What a show of health and fecundity in our ocean to see all those big ducks out there! We hear much about loss in our seas, so it is a great solace to observe any moment of such abundance, even if they do not occur as often or at the scale they once did.

After all that excitement, the thickets, pools, dikes, and marsh at Hellcat were a contrast in bird quietude, unlike the crescendo we sometimes find there. Not even some redpolls that others had seen in the area would show themselves. We did find a pair of adult Bald Eagles near the North Pool Overlook and The Warden’s. We encountered a Cooper’s Hawk cruising the edge of the marsh as we drove toward home at Joppa Flats, where Dave Larson was preparing his brown-bag lunch lecture on bird flight. Many stayed to enjoy this special perk of the season.

How blessed are we to revel in this natural beauty by the sea, to delve into the details of all these spectacular birds and how they accomplish their feats of every day existence! The marvelous spirit of friendship, inquiry, and love of nature that happens at Joppa Flats every day is because of all of you. With gratitude, we wish you continuing joy as the solstice comes to turn the dark into light again.

Our list:
Canada Goose – common.
American Black Duck (4)
Mallard (4)
KING EIDER (2!) – both males – 1 adult & 1 subadult; Emerson Rocks.
Common Eider (1500+) – a few on river north end; major share flying from Ipswich Bay to parkling lot #7 (seven) ocean.
White-winged Scoter (~ 35) – parking lot #1 (one) & seven oceans.
Black Scoter – abundant; one & seven oceans.
Scoter sp. (abundant) – far out at sea, especially off seven.
Long-tailed Duck (~ 15) – ~ 12, north end; 3, seven ocean.
Bufflehead (1) – seven ocean.
Common Goldeneye (4) – 2 Plumbush River; pr., seven ocean.
Red-breasted Merganser (1) – hen, North Pool; from Hellcat dike.
Red-throated Loon (3) – one ocean.
Common Loon (5) – 3, north end; 1, one ocean; 1, seven ocean.
Horned Grebe (3) – 2, one ocean; 1, seven ocean.
Red-necked Grebe (5) – one ocean.
Bald Eagle (3) – 1 immature., north end; 2 ads – 1 perched, lollypop cedar, North Pool dike, & 1 soaring high above pannes.
Northern Harrier (4) – various.
Cooper’s Hawk (1) – flying s., w. lot #2.
Red-tailed Hawk (1) – perched atop cedar just s. entrance Hellcat parking lot.
Sanderling (~ 30) – Emerson Rocks.
Purple Sandpiper (12) – Emerson Rocks.
Dunlin (4) – Emerson Rocks.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Razorbill (8) – 2, north end; 4, one ocean; 2, seven ocean.
Rock Pigeon (~ 30) – on wires n. refuge entrance.
American Crow (~ 5)
Black-capped Chickadee (~ 8) – various.
American Robin (5) – Hellcat.
Northern Mockingbird (2)
Dark-eyed Junco (1)

This Wednesday, Dave Weaver and I were back on Cape Ann with Wednesday Morning Birding. The weather was fine with lots of sun, appropriately cold temperatures, and not too much wind. Our new meeting place puts us just down the street from the Jodrey State Fish Pier, our traditional first stop. The flock of Common Eiders that was loitering there was composed almost entirely of adult birds of an even mix of males and females. They swam about in a tight raft as the males performed vigorous courtship displays. Excellent light made their show a real treat. The harbor did not have a great diversity beyond the Red-breasted Mergansers and gulls that were scattered everywhere, though several Common Loons appeared singly far out from the pier. We examined many gulls for anomalies, but nothing definitive showed up.

Eastern Point was busy with Gadwalls, eiders, a few Buffleheads, and scoters. Out near the raft of ducks by the breakwater, we found one Black Guillemot that was hard to get a look at. We moved on to Niles Pond, where a medium sized flock of gulls was roosting on the ice near a bit of remaining open water. Two Iceland Gulls were mixed in with the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, and a flock of 12 Greater Scaup fit tightly in the little patch of open water. After we examined the gulls and ducks for a little while, a small flock of American Wigeons and a Ring-necked Duck flew in.

As we began searching the coast along Atlantic Road, “Cormorant Rock” delivered an even 10 Great Cormorants, which clearly displayed their different field marks and plumages in the good light. Two Northern Gannets flew too far out for many of us to get decent looks at them. There were a couple of female Common Goldeneyes near the rock, and we began seeing lots of Black Scoters and some White-winged Scoters, with an unusual preponderance of the former. In the ocean off the Elks Club, we found the usual array of Buffleheads and scoters, and this week we were lucky with a nearby and cooperative Black Guillemot in its somewhat dazzling white winter plumage. After I had found some nice big flocks of Purple Sandpipers there earlier in the week, it was odd to see only two of them perched on a rock in the cove near Bass Rocks.

Our pit stop at Rockport Harbor did yield that one odd duck that happens there sometimes, this time a Northern Pintail. One of those was regular there last winter, making us wonder if it is the same bird. Then, on the way out of the parking lot, lightning struck. As we were trying to identify a soaring bird as a Red-tailed hawk, we realized it was actually a Black Vulture circling around over the town. We did a bit of Keystone Cops-style chasing of that bird all over Rockport, and a number of us got good looks. If you want to look for it yourself, the bird has been seen a number of times at the Rockport Transfer Station. A Joppa birding group saw three Black Vultures in the western Massachusetts town of Montague last weekend, and it seems fair to say that the inevitable arrival and colonization of our state by this bellwether of climate change could be taking place at least a little bit more.

With just a little time left, we went straight to Andrews Point, where again there were lots of Black Scoters. They were a nice mix of drakes and hens, all very close to shore for good photos. Plenty of Harlequin Ducks joined the many eiders cavorting in the surf to create a beautiful tableau of our rocky coast avifauna, capping off a lovely Cape Ann birding trip with some of our favorite species, nearby, well lit, and full of beans.

Our list:
Canada Goose (~ 15) – various.
Mute Swan (1) – Rockport inner harbor.
Gadwall (6) – Eastern Point.
American Wigeon (4) – Niles Pond (a small space of open water remaining).
American Black Duck (~ 50) – various.
Mallard (~ 30) – Rockport inner harbor.
Northern Pintail (1) – Rockport inner harbor.
Ring-necked Duck (1) – drake; Niles Pond.
Greater Scaup (12) – 1 drake, 11 hens; Niles Pond.
Common Eider – common.
Harlequin Duck (~ 20) – Andrews Point.
Surf Scoter (1) – Eastern Point.
White-winged Scoter (~ 20) – Atlantic Road.
Black Scoter – common; Atlantic Road & Andrews Point.
Long-tailed Duck (1) – Atlantic Road.
Bufflehead – common.
Red-breasted Merganser (~ 12) – various.
Common Loon (5) – outer Gloucester Harbor.
Northern Gannet (3)
Great Cormorant (10) – “Cormorant Rock”; Atlantic Road.
BLACK VULTURE (1) – seen high over downtown Rockport heading north.
Red-tailed Hawk (1) – over Good Harbor Beach parking lot.
Purple Sandpiper (2) – Bass Rocks, Atlantic Road.
Ring-billed Gull (2) – Niles Pond.
Herring Gull – common.
Iceland Gull (2) – 1st winter birds; Niles Pond.
Great Black-backed Gull – common.
Black Guillemot (2) – 1 at Eastern Point, and one near Elks Club on Atlantic Road.
Rock Pigeon
Blue Jay (2) – Niles Pond.
American Crow (~ 10) – various.
Black-capped Chickadee (2) – Niles Pond.
European Starling
Song Sparrow (2) – Niles Pond.