Geese through Grebes

An adult Ross’s Goose found on 21 Dec in Newport, Newport Co, RI, was seen by many throughout the season (Sue Palmer, m.ob., phs). The lone Pink-footed Goose was at Bass Rocks, Narraganset, Washington Co, RI, on 23 Dec (Paul L’Etoile et al., phs). A (Black) Brant was in New Bedford, Bristol Co, MA, on 12–15 Feb (Joel Eckerson, phs). Tufted Ducks consisted of an adult male on the western end of Nantucket throughout the period (Trish Pastuszak, m.ob., phs); an adult female present 15 Dec–16 Jan at Grannis Pond, East Haven, New Haven Co, CT (Paul Smith, m.ob., phs), with apparently the same bird at Konold’s Pond, Woodbridge, New Haven Co, CT on 4–12 Feb (John Oshlick et al., phs); a female on 17–25 Feb at Long Pond, Harwich, Barnstable Co, MA (Sue Finnegan et al. phs); and a female at Champlain Bridge, Addison Co, VT on 19 and 26 Feb (Mary Russ, Nate Dansereau).

An Eared Grebe that first wintered at Stonington Harbor, New London Co, CT, in 2017 was present again beginning on 26 Jan (Russ Smiley et al., phs). Another was present on 3 Feb at Sandy Point, West Haven, New Haven Co, CT (Alex Lin-Moore, Cody Limber). Others were on Nantucket starting on 16 Dec (Jacquelyn Papale et al., phs); at Marblehead Neck, Essex Co, MA, on 27 Jan–28 Feb (Pamela Mansfield-Loomis, m.ob., phs); at Quonochontaug Beach, Washington Co, RI, on 12 Feb (Patrick Felker et al., phs); and at Niles Beach, Gloucester, Essex Co, MA on 25 Feb (Nicholas Kwiatkowski, Rachel Cox). Two Western Grebes were both in MA—wintering at Winthrop, Sussex Co (vars. obs., phs) and in Mashpee, Barnstable Co on 7 Jan–8 Feb (Jamie Glydon et al., phs).

Hummingbirds through Gulls

Two Rufous Hummingbirds were banded on 6 Jan in Orleans, Barnstable Co, MA, and various sightings were made there and in Wellfleet (Sue Finnegan et al., phs); another wintered at Cos Cob, Fairfield Co, CT (Cynthia Ehlinger, m.ob., phs). Common Gallinules were at Plum I. to 2 Dec (Steve Babbitt et al., phs); on Nantucket from 5 Dec–16 Jan (Jared Smith et al., phs); and on 23 Dec at Moonstone Beach, Charlestown, Washington Co, RI, (P. Carl, Andrew Wheelan, phs). A Semipalmated Sandpiper on 1–6 Jan at South Boston was a January first for New England (S. Harris et al., phs). A historic coastal storm on 18 Dec impacted primarily coastal Maine, where Dovekies were found as far inland as North Pond in Somerset Co on 19 Dec (Louis Bevier) as well as others at places such as Sebago Lake, Cumberland Co (Alex Lamoreaux, phs) and Sabbattus Pond, Androscoggin Co (Gary Jarvis et al., phs). Much farther inland, one made it to Lake Willoughby, Orleans Co, VT on 20 Dec (Dovekie Data).

An adult Common (Kamchatka) Gull found 23 Dec at Cove Island Park in Stamford, Fairfield Co, CT, was a sixth-year returnee (Patrick Dugan, m.ob., phs). It was seen there and at several nearby locations through season’s end. This Asiatic subspecies was well-represented, with one seen 26 Jan–18 Feb at Lynn and Swampscott, Essex Co, MA (Suzanne Sullivan m.ob., phs). It has returned since at least 2008 (Marshall J. Iliff). Other sightings were on Nantucket on 27 Dec to 19 Jan (Sky Kardell et al., phs). In Maine, one was at Cape Neddick, York Co on 24 Jan (Rich Garrigus, phs) and one was at Eastport, Washington Co on 7 Feb (Chris Bartlett, phs). An adult Common Gull of the nominate race canus was at locations in Tolland and Windham Cos, CT beginning 1 Jan (David Mathieu et al., phs). A Short-billed Gull was at Holly Pond, Stamford, Fairfield Co, CT, on 4 Jan–1 Feb (Patrick Dugan et al., phs), apparently for a second year. A Common Tern was unexpected 17 Jan on Nantucket (Richard Veit).

Loons through Flycatchers

A great inland count of 19 Red-throated Loons was at Draw Seven State Park, Middlessex Co, MA, on 12 Feb (William Martens). Pacific Loons were ensconced as usual at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable Co, MA, with up to three present all winter (South Shore Bird Club, m.ob., phs). Others were at Block Island, Washington Co, RI on 14 Dec (Mike McBrien) and at Trustom Pond NWR, Narraganset, Washington Co, RI, on 1 Dec (Dan Berard, Allison O’Connor). An all-time Massachusetts high count of 80 Black Vultures were in New Bedford, Bristol Co, on 4 Feb (E. Tighe-Andino). Away from the Cape Islands, single Barn Owls were at Middletown, Newport Co, RI, on 16 Dec (Allison O’Connor) and at Manomet on 15 Feb (Alan Kneidel, Lisa Shibley, phs).

Connecticut’s third Western Flycatcher was found by a Connecticut College student on the grounds of its Lyman Allen Museum in New London, New London Co. (Skyler Kardell et al., phs). It was present 6–7 Dec. One found in November at Burlingame SP in Charlestown, Washington Co, RI, was present to at least 15 Jan (James Hatfield, m.ob., phs). It was a state first. A dead one was found on 3 Jan in Gill, Franklin Co, MA (Susannah B. Lerman, James P. Smith, phs). A long-staying Say’s Phoebe found on 10 Dec at Quabbin Reservoir, Hampshire Co, MA,  made it through the season (Mary McKitrick, m.ob., phs); one was at Uxbridge, Worcester Co, MA, on 27 Dec (Mary Ess-Why, phs). One birder’s year got off to a stunning start when an immature male Vermilion Flycatcher appeared at Burrage Pond WMA,  Plymouth Co, MA, on 1 Jan (William Marquardt, phs). MA had a notable five Ash-throated Flycatchers; there also were singles in Vermont and New Hampshire, quite a significant regional showing. All were found in Dec with latest being one that stayed to 13 Jan at Halifax, Plymouth Co, MA (Valerie Burdette et al., phs). Five Western Kingbirds consisted of four in MA and one in CT.

Vireos through Towhees

Bell’s Vireos were at Webb Memorial State Park, Norfolk Co, MA, from 14 Dec to 5 Jan (Sally Avery, Josh Bock et al., phs), and Sachuest Point NWR, Newport Co, RI, on 30 Dec (Susan Hochgraf, Jorge de Leon Cardozo, phs). Two Philadelphia Vireos slipped into the season; one at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence Co, RI, on 7 Dec (Melissa Alexander, phs) and another at Branford, New Haven Co, CT, on 16 Dec (Jim Hunter, Chris Loscalzo, phs). A smattering of Sedge Wrens saw three or four in MA and one in RI. The only Mountain Bluebird was at Clary Hill Preserve near Manks Corner, Knox Co, ME, on 26 Dec (Kate Doiron). Single Townsend’s Solitaires were in Caribou, Aroostook Co, ME, on 7 Feb (Sean Hatch, phs) and at Pilgrim Heights, Barnstable Co, MA, on 25–29 Feb (Susan Hedman, Ross Sormani, phs). The only Varied Thrushes were in Peterborough, Hillsborough Co, NH, on 19–22 Jan (Rich Frechette et al., phs) and at a private residence in Milford, Penobscot Co, ME, on 26 Jan–6 Feb (var. obs., phs).

There were three Yellow-headed Blackbirds in CT and two in MA. There were 25 reports of Clay-colored Sparrows, with only VT coming up empty. Lark Sparrows numbered five in MA, two in RI and one in NH. After an exceptional fall season with seven reports, the only LeConte’s Sparrow was at Sherwood Island SP, Westport, Fairfield Co, on 13–28 Jan (Jo Fasciolo, Adam Fasciolo et al., phs). A Golden-crowned Sparrow, apparently a second county record, was at a private residence at Goose Pond, Chatham, Barnstable Co, MA, on 22 Jan (Mary Keleher, Sue Finnegan et al., phs). A Spotted Towhee found in autumn, wintered at Fort Foster Park in Kittery, York Co, ME (m.ob., phs), and another was in a private yard in Franconia, Grafton Co, NH on 10–20 Jan (Ginny Jeffryes, phs).

Warblers through Buntings

New Hampshire’s second Virginia’s Warbler was present on 5–27 Dec at Bicentennial Park, Hampton, Rockingham Co (Steve Mirick, m.ob., phs). Three MacGillivray’s Warblers consisted of singles on 23 Dec–6 Jan at a high school in Hollis, Hillsborough Co, NH (Christopher McPherson et al., phs); on 31 Dec–15 Jan in Raynham, Plymouth Co, MA  (Vin Zollo et al., phs); and on 4 Jan at Millennium Park, West Roxbury, Suffolk Co, MA (Michael Bryant phs). About 10 Cape May Warblers for the season included one that wintered through the end of the season at a feeder in Moosup, Windham Co, CT (Deb Eccleston, et al., phs). Six Yellow-throated Warblers included three in MA, two in ME and one in NH. An adult male Black-throated Gray Warbler visited a feeder in Tolland, Tolland Co, CT,  on 5–7 Jan (Eileen Redshaw et al., phs). In a good season for Townsend’s Warblers, one was at private property in East Orleans, Barnstable Co, MA, on 17 Dec (Jeremiah Trimble, phs); one was at Ogunquit Beach, York Co, ME, on 23 Dec–3 Jan (Luke Seitz, m.ob., phs); one was at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence Co, RI, on 3–5 Jan (Melanie Torres et al., phs); one was in Cambridge, Middlesex Co, MA, on 20 Jan–27 Feb  (Ben Shamgochian et al., phs); and one was documented on 21 Jan at a feeder in Booth Bay Harbor, Lincoln Co, ME, where it was present for several weeks (Dough Hitchcox et al., phs). Connecticut’s third Hermit Warbler, a first-winter female, was a star attraction at Knox Preserve, Stonington, New London Co on 30 Jan–12 Feb (Dan Errichetti, m.ob., phs).

The bird of the season – a first for both Maine and New England – was a Hepatic Tanager found on 29 Dec in Stockton Springs, Waldo Co (Tom Aversa et al., phs). This HY bird was present to 25 Feb. A Summer Tanager that wintered at a private residence in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT, was believed to be the western race cooperi (Robin Nagy et al., phs). A remarkable showing by Western Tanager included as many as a dozen reports in MA, as well as three in ME and one in CT. The only Blue Grosbeak was at Kennebunk Beach, York Co, ME, on 5–13 Dec (Ken James et al., phs). The farthest north of five Indigo Buntings was at Dorset, Bennington Co, VT, on 23 Dec (Martha Pfeiffer, phs). The latest was at Forestdale, Barnstable Co, MA, on 20 Jan (Bari Greenfield, phs). Five Painted Buntings consisted of one each in every state but ME. The latest made it to 22 Feb at West Rock Ridge in New Haven Co, CT (Linda Olsen, et al., phs).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 03 Nov 2024.