Outer Cape Cod, 19 November 2017

On November 19th 2017, three determined birders met in the howling wind and rain to begin a day of true adventure. One which- despite the adverse conditions- teemed with potential, waiting for those adventurous enough to take the plunge to grasp it. The day proved to be just that, and with a stroke of luck or two a great day of birding was had.

Heading out toward the Cape, the forecast determined that we would not be starting at Race Point, rather flipping the initial plan and starting low on the National Seashore and working our way up, ending the day there.

On the way out, we decided to make a quick pit stop at Marston's Mills Pond and were lucky enough to have a male Northern Shoveler point blank in front of us, affording great looks of the bird's massive bill, brilliant green head, and chestnut sides.

We began our ocean birding venture visiting Nauset Beach, which was recommended to us by a fellow SSBC member because there had been a lot of birds moving there recently. This is where we hit a stroke of luck; there was a gazebo which provided us with shelter from the rain. Peeking over the dunes we were able to tune up for the day to come, with species such as Baccaloo (Razorbill), Coddy Moddy (Black-legged Kittiwake), Bauk (Great Shearwater), and Gran Fou (Northern Gannet) all making appearances. Since this was such a prime location to be in the rain, we spent quite a bit of time there before continuing on our journey. Rain was forecast until about noon, so we took our time working our way up to Provincetown, making several stops along the National Seashore along the way. Along our drive the skies cleared and the sun made an appearance, giving promise that the rain was coming to an end.

Arriving in Provincetown, we grabbed some lunch to go and ate at Macmillan Wharf where five Razorbills were feeding right off the piers along with several eiders and a lone White-eye (White-winged Scoter). Turning around to the car, the weather suddenly turned what I referred to as "apocalyptic". Dark clouds filled the sky, and the winds howled. Luckily, this was merely a front passing through and the sun shone again shortly after.

Refuelled, we made our way to Race Point. Our first stop here was Race Point Beach parking lot, where we stood from atop the entrance of the beach and saw many Common Shearwaters (Manx Shearwaters), several Sea Swallows (Common Terns), and a Boatswain (Parasitic Jaeger) fly by. 

The crew hiking the long haul out to the rip

Gulls over Race Point Light

After this we drove to and walked the fire road. Along the way we saw several White Martins (Tree Swallows) flying over, huge flocks of Arctic Sparrows (Snow Buntings), and hundreds upon hundreds of gulls taking shelter in the dunes. Arriving at the rip, the ferocity of the surf had us in awe. Huge whitecaps lined the proximity of the beach, shearwaters swiftly wheeling through them and gannets plunge-diving into them. Although there were not huge numbers of birds here and what was sitting on the water was difficult to see due to the massive waves, we felt as one usually does when at this beach; that we were witnessing a true spectacle of nature. As we walked the fire road back to our car, the sunset over the dunes bode us farewell.

Waves at Race Point Beach

-Nate

Plum Island and vicinity

Three hardy birders braved the season's first cold blast, with temperatures in the 20's & 30's.
(Only six more months until the warblers are back!)

This trip focuses on ducks, as they head south for the season. But with the sudden freeze just the night before, a couple traditional puddle spots were naturally empty.
The ocean was painful to view as the biting easterly wind, left us teary eye. The ocean was actually quiet duck wise, with only a few species and individuals. The species that have big numbers was Red-throated loon. Most certainly under counted we had forty at parking lot 1 alone.
We found a Harlequin Duck associating with one of the few Common Eider and White-winged Scoters in the area.

Heading down the island, we found Mallards, Black Ducks, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneye and good numbers of Northern Pintail. In between the duck stops we birded the area for land birds.
Most of the birds, got the message to head south as it was generally quiet. Although the habitat certainly comes into play on Plum, we missed chickadee, nuthatch and titmouse for the trip. Even traveling inland to West Newbury!

However, we did manage to find a few notable birds. While heading back north on Plum, we can across another birder who had found a late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We had only a fleeting look as the bird flew off just as we brought our binoculars up to look at it. And just before reaching parking lot One, a lone Purple Finch, crossed the road to land in a small evergreen.

At Salisbury, David Ludlow found a very far and high immature Bald Eagle. Again, the area was quiet land bird wise. Only a few loons, eider and a couple of Brant were near the mouth of the river.
A very cooperative female Cooper's Hawk flew low and slow from tree to tree, affording us very  nice looks.

Heading over to West Newbury, we stopped along Scotland road, finding a Common Raven, Turkey Vulture, Hairy woodpecker and a Great Blue Heron, admiring itself while standing on a patch of ice.

Cherry Hill Reservoir and artichoke were our last stops of the day. Cherry Hill seem to be its ol' self again after noticeably low numbers of birds last year. Ring-necked ducks were in full force with the highest number of birds, Ruddy ducks followed and diminishing numbers of Hoody and Common Mergansers, and a pair of Lesser Scaup in attendance.

Below is a list for the day.

Mike  


Brant                                 2                                           
Canada Goose              644                                         
Gadwall                            7                                           
Eurasian Wigeon              1                                           
American Black Duck  271                                         
Mallard                         141                                       
Northern Pintail              53                                          
Green-winged Teal         36                                          
Ring-necked Duck        725                                         
Lesser Scaup                    2                                           
Common Eider             112                                         
Harlequin Duck                1                                           
White-winged Scoter     18                                          
Long-tailed Duck             8                                           
Bufflehead                      23                                        
Common Goldeneye        4                                           
Hooded Merganser         35                                          
Common Merganser        2                                           
Ruddy Duck                 140                                         
Red-throated Loon         82                          
Common Loon                 3                                           
Red-necked Grebe            1                                           
Double-crested Cormorant  82                                          
Great Blue Heron             3                                           
Turkey Vulture                 1                                           
Northern Harrier              3                             
Cooper's Hawk                 1                                           
Bald Eagle                        1                               
Red-tailed Hawk              4                                           
American Coot                 2                                           
Black-bellied Plover        6                                           
Dunlin                          524                                         
Greater Yellowlegs          3                                           
Ring-billed Gull              x                                     
Herring Gull                    x                                     
Great Black-backed Gull x                                        
Rock Pigeon                  20                                          
Mourning Dove             11                                          
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1                                           
Hairy Woodpecker          1                                           
Northern Flicker             1                                           
Merlin                             1      
Peregrine Falcon             1                                   
Blue Jay                          2                                           
American Crow            10                                          
Common Raven              1                             
Horned Lark                    3                                           
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1                                           
Eastern Bluebird             3                                           
American Robin           16                                          
Northern Mockingbird   4                                           
European Starling       500                                         
Cedar Waxwing            12                                          
Yellow-rumped Warbler     3                                           
American Tree Sparrow     2                                           
Dark-eyed Junco                7                                         
White-throated Sparrow     2                                           
Song Sparrow                    3                                           
Northern Cardinal             3                                        
Red-winged Blackbird      1        
House Finch                      7                                           
Purple Finch                     1                                           
American Goldfinch         3