Words On Birds 05-22-26

 

     Mid-May is the peak of spring songbird migration in Massachusetts. This year, cooler weather and north/northwest winds in the first half of the month slowed the movement of birds.  Many birds were slowed and even “backed up” south of New England waiting for more favorable southerly winds. Our spring onshore winds diverted some birds away from coastal areas like Essex County and many birds took a more westerly route through the western and central parts of the state. 

 

     The hot summer-like weather earlier this week, fueled by southwest winds, finally brought many birds to Plum Island, Cape Ann and other North Shore locales. Warblers are always the highlight, and Monday through Wednesday were days that tallied 15 or more species of warblers for area birders. In addition, more colorful Baltimore and orchard orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings and hummingbirds have arrived, with more sightings of these birds in the field as well as at backyard feeders.

 

     Warbler highlights include uncommon hooded warblers seen on Plum Island, at the Marblehead Neck Audubon Sanctuary, at Eastern Point in Gloucester, and in a backyard near Conomo Point in Essex. Tennessee, bay-breasted, Cape May and Canada warblers were among the flocks of warblers seen in many locales.

 

     A rare Kentucky warbler has been the “star” of the week. This southern warbler rarely makes it to New England and I have probably seen fewer than a half dozen in Massachusetts in the past 50 years. One was found in the Rockport Town Forest by David Peterson of Rockport earlier this week and local birders are flocking to see it. The bird is yellow with black “sideburns” on the side of its head. It has a clear loud song, but is often hard to find in dense vegetation. Reports are that many birders have heard it and only a few have made their way through thick bramble to try to see. 

 

     Other rarities this week included a blue grosbeak in the same area of Rockport Town Forest as well as one on Plum Island. Summer tanagers have been seen on Plum Island, at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield and at Seine Field, a Greenbelt Property in Gloucester. 

 

     Both species of cuckoos are being seen and heard in many locations including on Plum Island where four species of thrushes have also been seen.  More kingbirds are arriving and other flycatchers are moving through.

 

     Shorebirds migration has also started with yellowlegs, willets, least sandpipers, black-bellied plovers,  semipalmated plovers, and short-billed dowitchers stopping by Newburyport harbor and, during high tide, the salt pannes on Plum Island. None of the fresh water pools on the refuge have been lowered for them, but a few yellowlegs try to use a shallow edge near the Bill Forward Blind. A pair of Wilson’s phalaropes were trying to feed along the edge of Bill Forward Pool, while one was also seen in the back of the main salt pannes.

 

     A rare Ruff from Europe was found in the pannes ten days ago, but it only stayed for a few hours. Margo and I re-found it at Conomo Point in Essex among some dowitchers this past week. Also at Conomo Point were a red knot, black-bellied plovers, least sandpipers and dunlin.

 

     On a different note, the summer heat “preview” that we had earlier this week, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees, should remind us to have fresh water available for the birds. Adding a bird bath with fresh water helps birds to survive the summer heat.  Add movement to the water with a recirculating pump, or a battery operated “water wiggler” to aerate the water attracts more birds. Many different birds will come to water to drink and to bathe, while they may not be interested in seed feeders. 

 

     Friends of ours in West Peabody are building a water feature in their small yard with a waterfall and flowing water. Before they could finish, even with some of the liner still exposed, a rare golden-winged warbler stopped by to partake of the fresh water! You never know what will show up in migration!