Words On Birds 08-21-26

 

     Last week, I talked about the massive numbers of swallows that are gathering on Plum Island, and they are now showing in the tens of thousands this weekend. To view this spectacle, you need only to drive slowly down the refuge road on the island. Birds will be perched in the vegetation along the dune side and hundreds more will be streaming over the dunes. Similar numbers will be streaming over the marsh side as well.

 

    The swallows gather in larger numbers in the phragmites in the North Pool, Bill Forward Pool, and further south at Stage Island Pool. They often lift at once, creating clouds of swirling birds that is amazing to watch.

 

     To share these birds with others, Laura de la Flor leads a free Brookline Bird Club walk tonight, Friday Aug 1,9 5:30pm to dark. As with most BBC walks, it is open to the public and everyone is welcome. Meet at Lot # 4 Hellcat parking lot at 5:30.  

 

     As I mentioned last week, Bill Gette of the Friends of Parker River Refuge is also hosting a swallow event next Tues, Aug 27 (rain date wed, 28th), 5:30pm – dark. He is gathering on the dike behind Hellcat Lot #4 where this phenomenon can be best viewed.

 

     Meanwhile, the fall shorebird migration continues. Thousands of semipalmated sandpipers and semipalmated plovers, as well as greater and lesser yellowlegs, short-billed and long-billed dowitchers, black-bellied plovers and willets can be viewed all down the refuge. The main pannes and all three fresh-water pools provide the best viewing. 

 

     In addition, six red knots were seen in the pannes this week, and a Baird’s sandpiper has been present in Bill Forward Pool, best viewed from the blind. Also seen this past week were marbled and Hudsonian godwits, and an avocet was reported near the boat ramp in Salisbury.

 

     Margo and I joined the Brookline Bird Club aboard the Yankee Clipper out of Newburyport Harbor on a river cruise through the Plum Island marshes one evening this week. The weather was perfect and it gave us close-up views of shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons and egrets. The dedicated trip permitted the captain to slow the boat for birds and give all aboard the best chances to find the hidden birds of the marshes.

 

     We had many close views of the many shorebirds along the banks including yellowlegs, dowitchers, and a surprisingly high number of spotted sandpipers! We passed close by the many osprey nest platforms that now dot the marsh, many still occupied with young. This is a wonderful success story in the Great Marsh, thanks to Dave Rimmer and all the volunteers from the Essex County Greenbelt. Ospreys were everywhere we turned.

 

     We also saw three turkey vultures on one bank, feasting on what looked like a gull carcass. A male harrier was a great surprise as it lifted out of the marsh in another area. Harriers nested on the island for the first time in many years, nesting in what was the “North Field” area near the North Pool. 

 

     We motored past several close great egrets and great blue herons. We were hoping for views of sharp-tailed and seaside sparrows that nest in the marsh, but sparrows were scarce this trip. Last year, we had many sparrows, but I only saw a song sparrow on this trip.

 

     The boat provides a different perspective of the island. We could see the clouds of swallows against the sky over the houses and the dunes. And the swallows were omnipresent flying past us throughout our cruise.

 

     As we left the marsh, we headed toward the jetties at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Bonaparte’s and laughing gulls were seen among the many herring, ring-billed and black-backed gulls. Common terns were flying around the boat and perched on the jetties and nearby buoys, as were the many double-crested cormorants. Least terns could be seen flying along the Plum Island beach beyond the jetty. Hundreds of “peeps”, small shorebirds, most likely semipalmated sandpipers and plovers, could be seen along the dark rocks exposed by the falling tide inside the jetty on Plum Island.

 

     As we motored back toward our dock at the harbor, a sharp eye caught sight of two terns jockeying for position atop a tall buoy. White terns with black “ear patches” – Forster’s terns! An uncommon tern that was a treat for all to see. The captain and the Yankee Clipper saved the best for last!