Words On Birds 04-24-26

 

     That was the headline posted by Tom Wetmore (a.k.a. Mr. Plum Island in the birding world) on his Plum Island GroupMe page this Thursday. Willets are those large gray shorebirds of the marsh who’s loud “will, will, willet” call resonates throughout the Great Marsh by early-May. Their bold black and white stiped wings make them easy to identify in flight. Though spring migration was slowed during the early part of this cold week, Wednesday night’s Birdcast showed some movement of birds into Massachusetts. Willets were one of the birds that made their move.

 

     Greater yellowlegs have arrived in numbers during the past couple of weeks and can be seen in Newburyport harbor when the tide is low enough. More shorebirds will be joining them in the weeks ahead. Unfortunately, none of the fresh water pools on the Refuge have been lowered to give them somewhere to feed at high tide where viewing is also easier. Even the water levels in the main pannes are erratic, either too dry or too high for roosting or feeding during high tide. 

 

     On the plus side, American bitterns have been seen and heard in both Stage Island Pool and North Pool, as have pied-billed grebes. A pair of handsome wood ducks were seen swimming in Bill Forward Pool this past week as well. Virginia rails were heard calling in the North Pool and soon they will be joined by sora and least bitterns in these refuge pools that continue to thrive as viable (and sorely needed) fresh water habitats on Plum Island.

 

     A pair of yellow-crowned night herons were found building a nest in an undisclosed location on Plum Island. This southern species of heron continues to try to establish itself in eastern Massachusetts. 

Latest word was that a raccoon was interfering with their efforts.

 

     Glossy Ibis are being seen in the hundreds from the farm fields and marshes of Ipswich to the marshes off Newman Road in Newbury to the Wet Meadows Greenbelt property in West Newbury. A few have been seen on Plum Island as well.

 

     The land birds have been slow to arrive, but the first warblers are moving through. Yellow-rumps in their spring blue, black and yellow plumage and the yellow palm warblers with rusty cap and bobbing tail are here. The trill of pine warblers can be heard high in the evergreens. Still waiting for black-throated green warblers and black & white warblers which are often early, but Louisiana waterthrushes have been seen in several areas. A few yellow warblers have been seen but most warblers will wait for May’s warmer days.

 

     The swallows have arrived. Tree, rough-winged and barn swallows have all been seen in the pond off Scotland Road in West Newbury and at the Artichoke Reservoir. The first purple martins are arriving at the gourds on at Lot 1 on the Refuge. The first chimney swifts are being spotted where open chimneys still exist.

 

     Last week, hundreds of juncos and white-throated sparrows littered the road along Plum Island, all making a push north for their summer homes in the mountains of northern New England. Moving in behind them are the chipping and song sparrows which will be here to clean up under your feeders.

 

     Speaking of feeders, a rare western tanager made a brief appearance in a yard in Gloucester last week. It was seen briefly on two mornings, visiting a bird bath and presumably eating sunflower hearts at the feeder. The photos show it to be a bright male, beginning to turn into breeding plumage. So do keep up your feeders and water offerings for both resident and returning birds, and for those special vagrants that may show up here off course.