Tag Archives: birdathon

Wellfleet’s Not-so-Lame Ducks #mabirdathon

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Hillary T.

The Wellfleet Lame Ducks, part of the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Bird-a-thon team, are an accomplished fundraising force of beginner and intermediate birders. Hear from team leader, Peggy Sagan (pictured far right), about how the flock formed.

The idea for the Lame Ducks was hatched in 2011. At that time, there were several extraordinary women who were committed to the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary but didn’t consider themselves “real” birders.

Wellfleet Bay’s special events coordinator thought “What if we offer these women the opportunity to become better birders? Would they commit to fundraising for Bird-a-thon?” The answer, she soon found out, was a resounding yes.

Since then, Sanctuary Director Bob Prescott and other sanctuary staff have led the “Lame Ducks” (as the team was named) on a series of birding outings each spring to increase their bird knowledge and identification skills.

In return, what began as a small, laid-back clutch of mixed-ability birders has fledged into a fundraising powerhouse, regularly contributing one-third to one-half of Wellfleet’s Bird-a-thon total. And along the way, the flock has become just as competitive about their birding ability and species counts as they are about their fundraising prowess.

Although the individual lame ducks have come and gone as families relocate and personal situations change, most of the original members are still birding and fundraising for Wellfleet’s Bird-a-thon team and we are so grateful for their participation.

The 2017 Lame Ducks include: Ann Allan*, Josie Anderson, Marie Broudy, Janet Drohan*, Janet Golan, Mary O’Neil, Patty Shannon, Christine Shreves, Janet Sisterson*, & Lynn Southey (*original member)

Get Involved

Want to get more involved in Bird-a-thon? Join a team to create a fundraising page and/or contact a team captain to join a birding roster. Can’t participate in Bird-a-thon this year? Consider donating to a sanctuary or program team.

Thank You to our Bird-a-thon Sponsors

Lead Sponsor: Standard Auto
Support Sponsor: AmeriPride Services
Community Sponsor: MetLife

100 Great Wildlife Sanctuary Birding Spots

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Hillary T.

instagram640sqBird-a-thon, Mass Audubon’s annual birding competition takes place on May 13-14. Teams of birders will attempt to see (or hear) the most species in a 24-hour time span. At the same time, birders and “Bird-a-thon Boosters” are raising money to support wildlife sanctuaries and programs.

To kick-off Bird-a-thon and celebrate 100 Years of Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries, we compiled 100 great spots to bird on our wildlife sanctuaries. While we can’t make any promises, we offer a sampling of birds you may see at each location.

Love to bird or visit a sanctuary? Consider donating to a sanctuary team in honor of the 100th anniversary.

Greater Boston

Belted kingfishers © Susan Wellington

Belted kingfishers © Susan Wellington

Habitat Education Center, Belmont

  1. Along the Meadow Trail near the community garden: Nesting Cooper’s Hawk, woodpeckers
  2. Turtle Pond: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, migrating warbler, American Robin, Common Grackle, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee.
  3. Highland Farm Meadow: Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk, occasional Eastern Kingbird
  4. Weeks Meadow: Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk

Drumlin Farm, Lincoln

  1. Feeders and Ice Pond area adjacent to the visitor’s parking lot: Wild Turkey, woodpeckers songbirds at feeders; warblers, Eastern Phoebe by the Ice Pond
  2. Boyce Field: Killdeer, Eastern Bluebird, sparrows, swallows
  3. Top of the drumlin: Hawks (resident Red-tails, migrants)
  4. Deer Pen Wildlife Blind: Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, woodpeckers, finches
  5. Little red bridge behind the Audubon Shop: Songbirds

Boston Nature Center, Mattapan

  1. Overlook off the Fox Trail: Red-winged Blackbird, Warbling Vireo, occasional Northern Parula
  2. Meadows across from food forest: Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, occasional Wilson’s Snipe in migration
  3. Trees near Clark Cooper Community Gardens area: Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Song Sparrow
  4. Oak trees at main entrance: Roosting Wild Turkey, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler
  5. Snail Trail: Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird

Broadmoor, Natick

  1. Field in front of Nature Center: Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird
  2. Boardwalk (Accessible Trail): Mallard, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron
  3. Orchard Trail through fields: Blue-winged Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey
  4. Charles River Trail: Wood Peewee, Wood Thrush, Canada Goose
  5. Little Farm Pond trails: Osprey, Pileated Woodpecker

Waseeka, Hopkinton

  1. Earthen Dam at the end of the Cart Path: Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher
  2. Sassafras Trail: Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper
  3. Parking area: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-capped Chickadee

South of Boston

Bobolink via Richard Johnson

Daniel Webster, Marshfield

  1. Observation Platform on Fox Hill: Osprey, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel
  2. Wildlife Observation Blinds overlooking the Wet Panne: Wilson’s Snipe, Greater Yellowleg (spring), Wood Duck
  3. Purple Martin Gourds on the Pond Loop Trail: Purple Martin
  4. Fox Hill Trail fields: Nesting Bobolink,Tree Swallow
  5. River Walk Trail: White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow

North River, Marshfield

  1. Hannah Eames Trail: Migrating warblers
  2. Observation Platform on North River: Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Willet, herons
  3. Field from River Loop trail: Eastern Bluebird, Osprey, Tree Swallow
  4. Bird Garden at Nature Center: American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  5. Fern Loop (Accessible Trail): Wood Thrush, Ovenbird

Stony Brook, Norfolk

  1. In front of the Nature Center looking over field to south: swallows, Purple Martin, Eastern Bluebird, raptors (e.g., Red-tailed Hawk)
  2. Along trail leading west from Nature Center during migration: Warblers
  3. First spillway along causeway, especially in early mornings during migration: Warblers, vireos, waterfowl
  4. Old mill site below the main spillway: Songbirds during migration, plus woodpeckers, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay
  5. Forest and ponds across the street from the Nature Center: Woodland birds such as woodpeckers of all kinds, Pine Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher

Moose Hill, Sharon

  1. Red maple swamp along the Billings Boardwalk on Billings Farm Loop: Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery
  2. Pepperbush/Vernal Pool Loop: Brown Creeper, Barred Owl, Northern Waterthrush (May through August)
  3. Farm Fields directly across from Moose Hill CSA Barn: Sparrows, American Pipit (fall)
  4. Pine/Ovenbird/Kettle Trail Loop: Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush (summer)
  5. Open Field just through the rock wall along the Kettle Trail: Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Broad-winged Hawk, Great Blue Heron

Allens Pond, South Dartmouth/Westport

  1. Stone bench at edge of marsh along Quansett Trail not far from Field Station: Terns, Seaside Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Osprey, Willow Flycatcher
  2. Quansett Trail at the far edge of a newly cleared area just as it heads around a stone wall: Blue-winged Warbler, White-eyed Vireos, American Woodcock (scarce), Yellow-breasted Chat (rare)
  3. Middle of the fields along the Grassland Loop: Bobolink, assorted sparrows, warblers
  4. Beach overlooking ocean along the Beach Loop: Cormorants, scoters, terns, Piping Plover, grebes, Glossy Ibis, Whimbrel
  5. Stone Barn farm yard and fields: Eastern Bluebird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (migration), owls, hawks
  6. Salt pannes southeast of Field Station: shorebirds, wading birds, Northern Harrier, occasional Clapper or Virginia rails, American Kestrel

Great Neck, Wareham

  1. Huckleberry Loop: Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpecker

Oak Knoll, Attleboro

  1. Field at the entrance: Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay
  2. Freshwater Marsh behind the solar panels: Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, ducks
  3. Oak Forest along the Puddingstone Loop Trail: Songbirds, woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk
  4. Bridge and stream: Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, songbirds
  5. Around Lake Talaquega: Waterfowl, songbirds

North of Boston

Eastern Kingbird via Richard Johnson

Eastern Kingbird via Richard Johnson

Ipswich River, Topsfield

  1. Fields on Bradstreet Hill: Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Blue-winged Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk
  2. Bunker Meadow Trail: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron
  3. South Esker Trail: Marsh Wren, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager
  4. Stone Bridge Trail: Warbling Vireo, Red-winged Blackbird, Swamp Sparrow
  5. Rookery Loop: Eastern Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler

Joppa Flats, Newburyport

  1. From the parking lot: Ring-necked Pheasant, Willow Flycatcher
  2. Merrimack River behind the building: Brant, Long-tailed Duck, Bald Eagle

Rough Meadows, Rowley

    1. Thickets along trails: Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Barred Owl
    2. Salt Marsh: Saltmarsh Sparrow, Willet

Endicott, Wenham

      1. Along Ellice Endicott Trail: Pileated Woodpecker, Great Horned Owl, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler

Cape and Islands

Osprey via Richard Johnson

Osprey via Richard Johnson

Wellfleet Bay, South Wellfleet

      1. Silver Spring Trail: migrating warblers
      2. On the boardwalk at sunset: Whimbrel, Tree Swallow
      3. Goose Pond: shorebirds, herons, egrets
      4. Tidal Flats: Migrating shorebirds, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling

Long Pasture, Barnstable

      1. Around bird feeders at Visitor Center: Songbirds
      2. Open fields: Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Song Sparrow
      3. Beach: Shorebirds, raptors

Ashumet Holly, East Falmouth

      1. Around the Barn Swallow Barn: Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird
      2. Black locust trees along the Ashumet Farm Trail: Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole

Barnstable Great Marsh, Barnstable

      1. Salt Marsh via the Overlook: Willet, Osprey

Felix Neck, Edgartown

      1. Parking lot: Osprey (nest nearby), Turkey Vulture, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing.
      2. Sassafras Trail on boardwalk over Turtle Pond: Green Heron, Mallard, American Black Duck, Belted Kingfisher
      3. End of Shad Trail on Sengekontacket Pond: American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Black Skimmer, sandpipers, Laughing Gull, Double-crested Cormorant
      4. Old Farm Road, field leading to opening to Elizabeth’s Pond: Wood Duck, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Common Grackle, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker
      5. Tip of the Red Trail looking out over marsh, Sengekontacket Pond, and Sarson’s Island: Willet, Whimbrel, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Oystercatcher, Greater and Lesser yellowleg, Common Tern, Least Tern, Saltmarsh Sparrow

Sesachacha Heathlands, Nantucket

      1. Quidnet Beach and Sesachacha Pond: Waterfowl, Northern Harrier, Savannah Sparrow

Central Massachusetts

Baltimore Oriole via Richard JohnsonWachusett Meadow, Princeton

      1. South Meadow Oak: Swallows, hawks, Eastern Bluebird, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting
      2. Hemlock Seep: vireos, Winter Wren, Black-throated Green Warblers, Pileated Woodpecker
      3. Warbler Hollow/Beaver Bend Trail: warblers, sparrows, ducks, flycatchers, American Bittern, Green Heron
      4. Brown Hill Summit: Hawks, sparrows, Prairie Warbler, Rufous-sided Towhee
      5. Chapman Trail: Blackburnian Warbler, Barred Owl, thrushes, vireos, Scarlet Tanager

Broad Meadow Brook, Worcester

      1. Wilson Meadow looking out over the red maple swamp: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Red-winged Blackbird, Mallard, Wood Duck
      2. Troiano Trail: Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, ducks, sandpipers
      3. Powerline Trail: Field Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird

Connecticut River Valley

eaglesrichardjohnson

Bald Eagle via Richard Johnson

Arcadia, Easthampton/Northampton

      1. Ned’s Ditch: Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl
      2. Old Springfield Road along meadows: grassland birds including Bobolink, American Kestrel
      3. Old Orchard: warblers, other migratory songbirds
      4. Fern Trail Observation Tower: Wood Duck, herons

Berkshires

Wood Duck via Richard Johnson

Wood Duck via Richard Johnson

Pleasant Valley, Lenox

      1. Yokun Trail (all along Yokun Brook): Louisiana Waterthrush, Brown Creeper, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker
      2. Yokun Trail (the footbridge that crosses over the lower pond): Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo

Canoe Meadows, Pittsfield

      1. Sacred Way Trail (the back section of the trail separated by Crossover Trail): Great Crested Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wood Duck, Solitary Sandpiper (migrant), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (migrant).
      2. Carriage Road (along the marsh area and into the hemlock woods): Pine Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Black-throated Green Warbler, Winter Wren (migrant), Rusty Blackbird (migrant)

Lime Kiln Farm, Sheffield

      1. Lime Kiln Loop (the entire loop and small section leading to the parking area): Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Cape May Warbler (migrant), Bay-breasted Warbler (migrant)

New Hampshire

Pileated woodpecker © Kim Nagy

Pileated woodpecker © Kim Nagy

Wildwood Camp*, Rindge, New Hampshire

      1. First Point on Hubbard Pond: Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Wood Duck, Cedar Waxwing, Tree Swallow
      2. Camp Store Field: Scarlet Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Goldfinch
      3. Sand Bank: Chipping Sparrow, Common Raven, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo

*To bird at Wildwood, register for the Wildwood Bird-a-thon Special. Sightings at Mass Audubon Wildwood camp are the only non-Massachusetts sightings that count toward Bird-a-thon totals.