Note:
To those who are unfamiliar, these social distancing “walks” are not in-person
walks but rather a group chat where members share their experiences for the
morning and stay connected. South Shore Bird Club is strict about (and very
impressed by its members) adhering to social distancing guidelines, which
includes avoiding populated areas, large groups, and close social interaction.
We fully support members enjoying the healing and mindfulness that nature can
provide and want to foster a social environment for those who may feel
isolated- these walks are intended to achieve both of these goals with safety
at the forefront of our mission.
Early to Mid-July can be the slowest time for birding in
Massachusetts, but things begin to pick up again in late July as migrating shorebirds
pass through on their way back from the breeding grounds. So, it should come as
no surprise that many of our participants chose to head to the coast this
weekend and search the beaches and saltmarshes.
Altogether, we found 14 species of shorebirds, with multiple
observers finding Semipalmated Plovers, Willets, and Least and Semipalmated
Sandpipers. Short-billed Dowitchers, American Oystercatchers, and Solitary
Sandpipers were also seen.
 |
| Semipalmated Plover by Carol Molander |
Breaking with the coastal trend, Nate went kayaking at West
Meadows Wildlife Management Area this week. A few shorebirds were present
there, as well as Virginia Rails, and a Least Bittern, which is a new species
for the social distancing list.
 |
| Least Bittern by Nate Marchessault |
Seabirds may be hard to come by this year with boat trips
being cancelled. But if you can’t actually get offshore, Race Point Beach is
the next best thing. Glen found our first pelagic species there this week. He
saw a Parasitic Jaeger, 3 species of shearwater, and a rare Sabine’s Gull that
has been hanging around in the area.
Non-bird sightings this week include Fiddler Crabs in
Dartmouth and a Red Fox in the Molanders’ back yard.
- Brian Vigorito
 |
| Fiddler Crabs by Kim Wylie |
The full list of bird sightings
(102 species) is below:
| Species | Count |
| Canada Goose | 34 |
| Mute Swan | 22 |
| Wood Duck | 5 |
| Mallard | 35 |
| American Black Duck | 2 |
| Northern Bobwhite | 1 |
| Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) | 1 |
| Mourning Dove | 18 |
| Chimney Swift | 51 |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3 |
| Virginia Rail | 9 |
| American Oystercatcher | 5 |
| Semipalmated Plover | 28 |
| Piping Plover | 21 |
| Killdeer | 19 |
| Ruddy Turnstone | 8 |
| Sanderling | 51 |
| Least Sandpiper | 97 |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | 147 |
| peep sp. | 40 |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | 13 |
| Spotted Sandpiper | 8 |
| Solitary Sandpiper | 3 |
| Greater Yellowlegs | 10 |
| Willet | 8 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | 2 |
| Parasitic Jaeger | 1 |
| Sabine's Gull | 1 |
| Bonaparte's Gull | 6 |
| Laughing Gull | 346 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 3 |
| Herring Gull | 207 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | 1 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 60 |
| gull sp. | 270 |
| Least Tern | 194 |
| Roseate Tern | 152 |
| Common Tern | 1191 |
| Arctic Tern | 2 |
| Sterna sp. | 150 |
| Cory's Shearwater | 250 |
| Great Shearwater | 50 |
| Sooty Shearwater | 200 |
| Manx Shearwater | 25 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 85 |
| Least Bittern | 1 |
| Great Blue Heron | 20 |
| Great Egret | 18 |
| Snowy Egret | 6 |
| Green Heron | 2 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 |
| Osprey | 32 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 4 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 4 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 9 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 3 |
| Northern Flicker | 7 |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 2 |
| Willow Flycatcher | 3 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 6 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | 8 |
| Eastern Kingbird | 12 |
| Warbling Vireo | 4 |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 2 |
| Blue Jay | 13 |
| American Crow | 10 |
| Fish Crow | 10 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 15 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 12 |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 8 |
| Purple Martin | 50 |
| Tree Swallow | 37 |
| Bank Swallow | 34 |
| Barn Swallow | 21 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 7 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 |
| House Wren | 8 |
| Carolina Wren | 14 |
| European Starling | 15 |
| Gray Catbird | 33 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 4 |
| Wood Thrush | 2 |
| American Robin | 43 |
| Cedar Waxwing | 5 |
| House Sparrow | 30 |
| House Finch | 5 |
| American Goldfinch | 46 |
| Chipping Sparrow | 17 |
| Field Sparrow | 3 |
| Savannah Sparrow | 2 |
| Song Sparrow | 36 |
| Swamp Sparrow | 8 |
| Eastern Towhee | 14 |
| Orchard Oriole | 2 |
| Baltimore Oriole | 4 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 82 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 4 |
| Common Grackle | 427 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 11 |
| Yellow Warbler | 7 |
| Pine Warbler | 2 |
| Prairie Warbler | 7 |
| Northern Cardinal | 14 |
