Geese through Grebes

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks continue to amaze, with two groups totaling 22 reported at Point Folly on Bantam Lake in Litchfield Co, CT, on 3 May (Bette Shaw ph.). A Trumpeter Swan, a second Connecticut record if accepted, was present 11–13 April  at the Wyndham Land Trust’s Aicher Preserve in Pomfret, Windham Co (Andy Rezeznik et al.). Two were present on 13 April on Lake Champlain (Bridget Butler), and in Massachusetts three were in several locations in Worcester Co from 9 Mar to 13 May (Noah Henkenius et al., ph).

Six Ross’s Geese at Marion, Plymouth Co, MA, from 1–10 Mar were the Bay State’s largest number since 2009 (M. Mauer et al., ph).  A holdover from winter was at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Fairfield Co, CT from 1–4 Mar (m.ob., phs).  Greater White-fronted Geese were reported from every state but Maine. The now-annual Pink-footed Goose was represented by singles on 19–21 Mar at Bartholomew’s Cobble, Ashley Falls, a first for Berkshire Co, MA (Jonathan Pierce et al., phs) and on 25 Mar at Colchester Intervale, Chittenden Co, VT (Taj Schottland). Single Barnacle Geese made extended March stays from Portland, Cumberland Co, to Lewiston, Androscoggin Co, ME (Doug Hitchcox, Louis Bevier et al., phs). and from Acton to Concord, Middlesex Co, MA (W. Martens, J&K Dia, m.ob., phs).  About a dozen Eurasian Wigeon were in all states but VT and ME. Eurasian Green-winged Teal consisted of four in MA, three in NH, two in ME and one in CT. The only Tufted Ducks were a continuing female at Lake Pearl in Norfolk Co, MA, on 1–5 Mar (Kathy Porter, m.ob., phs); an adult male on Nantucket on 23–27 Mar (Trish Pastuszak et al., phs); and a continuing adult male was at South Hero Causeway, Grand Isle Co, VT through 6 Mar (Liz Lackey et al., phs).

A surprise find near Cornwall, Addison Co, VT, on 13 May was an Eared Grebe in full alternate plumage (David Hof); the only others were in coastal Essex Co, MA, in a more expected migratory period: 3–8 Mar in Marblehead (Jan Smith et al., phs) and a continuing bird at Niles Beach through 25 Mar (Rick Heil et al., phs). Western Grebes were at Mashpee, Barnstable Co, MA, 24–29 Mar (Keelin Miller et al., phs) and at Winthrop Beach, Suffolk Co, MA, on 2 Apr (Cheryl McCue, phs).

Goatsuckers through Shorebirds

In addition to the usual handful of Chuck-will’s-widows in the southeast, two were found in the northern tier— one on 13 May at Star Island, Isle of Shoals, Rockingham Co, NH (Eric Masterson et al., phs), and one on 22 May in Blue Hill and two nearby on 31 May in Overland, both Hancock Co, ME (Leslie Clapp, Alex Lamoraeux et al.). King Rails proved both scarce and hard to find with one on 6–17 May at Plum Island (m.ob.) and singles on 1–12 May at two locations in Washington Co, RI (Bill Thompson, John Bean et al., phs). Although Yellow Rails are regular migrants, they are incredibly hard to find—the only one reported was at Jacob’s Point, Bristol Co, RI, on 18 May (Joel Eckerson). The only White-winged Dove was well off the beaten birder track on 24 May near Farmington, Franklin Co, ME (Barry Southard, phs). The only Rufous Hummingbird was at a feeder near Frankfort, Waldo Co, ME, 30 Apr–1 May (Seth Benz et al., phs).

It was a good spring for Black-necked Stilt with singles, probably some involving the same individual, reported 1–5 May in coastal Plymouth Co, MA (Jenny Hook, m.ob.); on 14 May in Old Saybrook, Middlesex Co, CT (Nick Bonomo et al., phs); on 18 May in Hampton, Rockingham Co, NH (Steve Mirick et al.); and on 28–31 May in the Scarborough Marsh area of Cumberland and York Co, ME (Eric Miner, Benjamin Becker et al., phs). The only American Avocets were at Succotash Marsh in Washington Co, RI, 20–26 Apr (Todd McLeish, m.ob. phs) and at Milford Point, New Haven Co., CT, on 18 Apr (William Batsford, Kathy Van der Aue, et al., phs).  An Avocet was also seen later that day across the Housatonic River mouth in Stratford, Fairfield Co, CT (Frank Mantlik et al., phs). A Common Ringed Plover found 8 May at West Island, Fairhaven, Bristol Co, MA, (Jim Sweeney, phs) was relocated nearby on 13 May (Joel Eckerson et al., phs). Those who braved stormy weather on 30 Apr on the Massachusetts coast were treated to a monumental phalarope fallout. The 2500 Red Phalaropes at Nauset Beach, Barnstable Co, was the second highest ever for the state and came in a month where the previous high was only 30 (Keegan Burke, Peter Flood, et al., phs). At least 17 Red-necked Phalaropes moved along with the Reds (Peter Flood et al., phs). A smattering of Wilson’s Phalaropes included at least four in MA, two in ME, one in RI and one in VT.  The only Curlew Sandpiper was found on 16 May at Eastham, Barnstable Co, MA (Philip Kyle, phs). A Baird’s Sandpiper, rare in spring, was at a gravel pit in Sandwich, Carroll Co, NH, on 5–6 May (Ken Klapper et al., phs). A Stilt Sandpiper was record early on 5 Mar in Stratford, Fairfield Co, CT (Frank Gallo et al.).

Gulls through Anhinga

In keeping with a long-term decline, the only Little Gull reports were two on Cape Cod, Barnstable Co, MA—at Race Point on 13 May (Peter Flood et al., phs) and on 16 May at Nauset Bay (Ross Sormani, phs). Also impressive was the unexpected inland appearance of up to eight Black-legged Kittiwakes on 5–8 May at Barkhamsted Reservoir, Litchfield Co, CT, starting with discovery of four on the first day (Dorrie Holmes et al.). The birds were seen in varying numbers over the five-day period, with eight seen by several observers on 6 May (Paul Smith et al.). This coincided with reports of one on 4 May at the Stockbridge Bowl in Berkshire Co, MA, and up to two on the Hudson River in New York 5–13 May from Rhinebeck in Dutchess Co to Hudson Highlands SP in Putnam Co (Ryan Del Pizzo, Charlie Roberto et al., phs). The Bay State had the only Franklin’s Gulls. Two reports were on 22 Apr at Dighton, Bristol Co, a record early date (Joel and Matthew Eckerson, phs) and on 23–24 Apr at Wachusett Reservoir, Worcester Co (Valerie Burdette et al., phs).

Common Gulls of two subspecies generated much interest. A European bird was present 8–18 Mar in Nahant, Essex Co, MA (Ben Shamgocian et al., phs), but Connecticut remains the hot spot for these forms. A Common Gull (Kamchatka) present during the winter in the Cove Island area of Stamford, Fairfield Co, CT, remained to 6 Mar (Patrick Dugan et al., phs). In addition to a Common Gull (European) that wintered in Tolland and Windham Cos, a second one was present in the same area 19–21 Mar (Phil Rusch, et al., phs) and another one was at Long Beach in Stratford, Fairfield Co on 6–11 Mar (Greg Hanisek, et al., phs).

Pacific Loons were reported through the period at six coastal locations from Nantucket to Schoodic Point in Acadia NP, Hancock Co, ME, with up to three from reliable Race Point in Provincetown, Barnstable Co, MA, (Liam Waters, D & K Lima, Chris Floyd et al., phs). During a flurry of Anhinga sightings in NY, NJ and PA, two reports—likely of a single bird—came from the lower Connecticut River in Middlesex Co, CT, on 26 Apr in East Haddam (Dan Rottino) and 8 May in Essex (Chris Gill).

Herons through Mimids

The northernmost report of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was on 16 Apr in Burlington, Chittenden Co, VT (L. Farina et al.). Reports of single birds, but an unknown number of individuals, were in York and Cumberland Co, ME, from 17 Apr to 20 May (Dana James et al., phs).  The northernmost Western Cattle Egrets were at Missisquoi NWR, Franklin Co, VT, on 15 May (Larysa Bachinsky) and at Stockton Springs, Waldo Co, ME, on 1 May (Bill Carpenter).  A White Ibis was at Burrage Pond WMA, Plymouth Co, MA, on 21–22 Apr (R. Bedard et al., phs). An early run of White-faced Ibis, now regular in May at several coastal locations, produced records beginning on 1 Apr on the Hammonasset River, Middlesex Co, CT (Adam & Jo Fasciolo et al., phs);  on 7 Apr in Concord, Middlesex Co, MA (Scott Dresser et al., phs); on 8 Apr in Newport Co, RI (Louise Ruggeri et al. phs); and on 12 Apr in Scarborough Marsh, Cumberland Co, ME (John Lorenc et al., phs).

Reports of overshooting Swallow-tailed Kites included eight in MA, two in CT and one in VT, ranging from mid-April to mid-May. Aside from a few expected appearances on Cape Cod, Mississippi Kite reports centered mainly on known and suspected breeding sites in CT and NH. The northernmost Red-headed Woodpecker was reported from Vergennes, Addison Co, VT, on 9 Apr (Ryan Kayhart).

The only Say’s Phoebe was at Canterbury Shaker Village, Merrimack Co, NH, on 15 May (Ruth Smith, m.ob., phs). A holdover Mountain Bluebird was at Great Bay NWR, Rockingham Co, NH, through 8 Mar (Pamela Hunt et al., phs). A Townsend’s Solitaire that wintered at Hammonasset was last reported on 1 Mar (Russ Smiley, phs). In MA one was at Atwood Reservoir WMA, Plymouth Co, from 17 Mar to 9 Apr (m.ob., phs), and one was om Martha’s Vineyard , Duke’s Co, on 5 Mar (Luanne Johnson et al., phs). A wintering Varied Thrush remained until at least 12 Mar at Fannie Stebbins WR, Hampden Co, MA (Ben Shih et al., phs); others were near Sandwich, Barnstable Co, MA, on 3 Mar (Eliz Cronin, phs) and one present since late fall in Bath, Grafton Co, NH, remained to at least 16 Mar (var. obs., phs). A Sage Thrasher was on private property in Carver, Bristol Co, MA, on 3 Mar (var. obs., phs).

Sparrows through Buntings

The now widely reported Clay-colored Sparrow was found at 13 locations, a number of them on coastal islands off Maine and New Hampshire. Most were present from mid to late May, but a few were wintering holdovers. The season’s only Lark Sparrow was near Belfast, Waldo Co, ME, on 27 May (Brewster Moseley, phs). A wintering Harris’s Sparrow remained to 3 May at Turner, Andoscoggin Co, ME (Anne Brown et al., phs). The wintering Green-tailed Towhee in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT, was last seen on 19 Apr (m.ob.). Another winterer was still at Sachuest Point NWR, Newport Co, RI, on 20 Apr (Tim Metcalf, phs) and was seen there again on 3 May (Richard McKetchnie).

The only report of a Western Meadowlark, Connecticut’s fifth, was at Hammonasset 26–30 Mar (Regina Hausmann, Michael Rosano phs). A wintering Bullock’s Oriole visited a feeder in Westbrook, Cumberland Co, ME, to 5 May (Dianne White et al., phs). A Yellow-headed Blackbird was in Easthampton, Hampshire Co, MA, on 1 Apr (N. Singer, phs). The northernmost Prothonotary Warblers were at two locations in coastal New Hampshire: on 15 May at Star Island, Isle of Shoals, Rockingham Co (Eric Masterson et al. phs), and 20 May at Great Bay NWR, Rockingham Co (Taylor Phillips). A Swainson’s Warbler was banded on 15 May at Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Barnstable Co. The region was swamped with Yellow-throated Warblers, with nearly 30 reports spread around all six states.

There were about 25 Summer Tanagers and 20 Blue Grosbeaks. Holdover Western Tanagers were at Greenland, Rockingham Co, NH, on 1 Mar (Dan Hubbard et al.); and at Blue Hill, Hancock Co, ME, to at least 13 Mar (UMaine Bird Squad et al., phs).  A female type Painted Bunting was near Blue Hill, Hancock Co, ME, on 25 May (Downeast Audubon, phs).

Report processed by Randi Minetor, 25 Jul 2024.