Monday, July 1, 2024

Burrage Pond Breeding Bird Survey

On June 27, 2024, we held our annual breeding bird survey. This year, 11 members split up into 4 teams to cover the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area. We observed 74 different species and were able to confirm breeding for 19 of those.

Oddly enough, the most interesting sighting of the day is a species that is definitely not breeding at Burrage. Kim, Mike, Mary, and I covered the small ponds in the western part of the WMA. We had only just gotten started when we spotted an unusual bird perched on a submerged log - an Anhinga! This species has only been seen twice before in Massachusetts and both of those sightings were fly-overs. This is a new species for Plymouth County as well as a first for the South Shore Bird Club. We were able to get the word out and the other teams were able to come and see the bird.


Anhinga (Photo by Kim Wylie)

Dan, Annie, and Vin covered the main bog area near the Hawks Ave. entrance and were able to confirm two of the rare breeding species. They spotted Sandhill Cranes with a colt as well as a juvenile American Bittern. Jim and Wayne birded the southern end of the bogs near the Elm St. parking lot. They found an Eastern Kingbird nest and a Belted Kingfisher carrying food. They also saw a Common Yellowthroat feeding a young Brown-headed Cowbird.


Eastern Kingbird nest (Photo by Jim Sweeney)


Nate, Noah, and Stu covered the marshes at the northern end of the property. They had several Virginia Rails including some singing birds. They also found an American Woodcock and an Eastern Phoebe nest.


On our last trip to Burrage back in early May, the club found a very vocal King Rail. We were hopeful this species might breed here again as they did in 2016. However, this bird hasn't been seen in several weeks and was not found on our survey.


Thanks again to everyone who participated. The full list of species is below. An eBird trip report is also available at: SSBC BBS 2024 - Burrage Pond WMA - eBird Trip Report 


- Brian Vigorito



Species

Count

Highest Breeding Status Observed

Canada Goose

33

Confirmed

Mute Swan

6

Probable

Wood Duck

14

Probable

Mallard

13

Possible

Hooded Merganser

1

Possible

Wild Turkey

1

Possible

Mourning Dove

17

Possible

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

1

Possible

Chimney Swift

11


Virginia Rail

7

Possible

Sandhill Crane

7

Confirmed

Killdeer

5

Probable

American Woodcock

1

Possible

Anhinga

1


Double-crested Cormorant

11


American Bittern

3

Confirmed

Great Egret

26

Possible

Great Blue Heron

84

Possible

Glossy Ibis

20


Osprey

5

Confirmed

Red-tailed Hawk

1


Belted Kingfisher

4

Confirmed

Red-bellied Woodpecker

4

Possible

Downy Woodpecker

8

Possible

Northern Flicker

8

Probable

Eastern Wood-Pewee

8

Possible

Willow Flycatcher

1

Possible

Eastern Phoebe

6

Confirmed

Great Crested Flycatcher

3


Eastern Kingbird

25

Confirmed

Warbling Vireo

12

Confirmed

Red-eyed Vireo

5

Possible

Blue Jay

20

Probable

American Crow

7


Fish Crow

1


Black-capped Chickadee

13

Probable

Tufted Titmouse

11

Possible

Bank Swallow

6


Tree Swallow

290

Confirmed

Purple Martin

1


Northern Rough-winged Swallow

1


Barn Swallow

7


White-breasted Nuthatch

9

Possible

House Wren

1

Possible

Marsh Wren

15

Probable

Carolina Wren

19

Possible

European Starling

23

Possible

Gray Catbird

68

Confirmed

Northern Mockingbird

3

Possible

Veery

3

Possible

American Robin

36

Confirmed

Cedar Waxwing

26

Probable

American Goldfinch

17

Probable

Chipping Sparrow

8

Possible

Field Sparrow

2

Possible

Song Sparrow

49

Confirmed

Swamp Sparrow

64

Confirmed

Eastern Towhee

26

Probable

Orchard Oriole

8

Confirmed

Baltimore Oriole

5

Possible

Red-winged Blackbird

215

Confirmed

Brown-headed Cowbird

13

Confirmed

Common Grackle

112

Confirmed

Ovenbird

20

Probable

Northern Waterthrush

2

Possible

Black-and-white Warbler

2

Possible

Common Yellowthroat

86

Confirmed

American Redstart

1

Possible

Yellow Warbler

49

Confirmed

Pine Warbler

9

Possible

Prairie Warbler

2

Possible

Scarlet Tanager

1

Possible

Northern Cardinal

19

Possible

Indigo Bunting

1

Possible