Quarter-Month Status
Birds of Plum Island, Essex County, Massachusetts
Ordered by Number of Sightings

Compiled by Tom Wetmore

This table shows the quarter-month status of the birds of Plum Island. It is based primarily on data I have collected over the past five years. The species are listed in the order of their numbers of sightings. The column labeled ‘n’ orders the species. The column labeled ‘N’ shows the number of different days that each species has been reported on the island over the period of data collection. Birds that have been seen between two and 99 times have a second number in their ‘N’ column. This is the number of years that the species has been seen recorded. Cells in these two columns may be colored. Red cells indicate species that just moved up in the ordering. Blue cells indicate species that just moved down. Yellow cells indicate species that were seen on the last day of sightings.

Quarter-Month Status of the Birds of Plum Island — updated October 20, 2021

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	5848
Canada Goose	2	5802
American Robin	3	5739
American Black Duck	4	5608
Mallard	5	5599
American Crow	6	5463
Black-capped Chickadee	7	5444
Great Black-backed Gull	8	5409
Song Sparrow	9	5361
Northern Mockingbird	10	5238
European Starling	11	4886
Northern Cardinal	12	4877
Blue Jay	13	4767
Mourning Dove	14	4732
Northern Harrier	15	4627
Gadwall	16	4597
American Goldfinch	17	4377
Ring-billed Gull	18	4333
Double-crested Cormorant	19	4142
Green-winged Teal	20	4040
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Great Egret	21	3891
Greater Yellowlegs	22	3878
House Sparrow	23	3877
Common Loon	24	3848
Gray Catbird	25	3651
Great Blue Heron	26	3628
Rock Pigeon	27	3556
Common Eider	28	3485
Downy Woodpecker	29	3448
Red-winged Blackbird	30	3397
Mute Swan	31	3373
White-winged Scoter	32	3362
Eastern Towhee	33	3322
Tree Swallow	34	3203
Snowy Egret	35	3197
Killdeer	36	3059
Black-bellied Plover	37	3040
House Finch	38	3034
Common Grackle	39	3019
Osprey	40	3006
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Red-breasted Merganser	41	2991
Cedar Waxwing	42	2975
Northern Pintail	43	2722
Brown Thrasher	44	2716
Savannah Sparrow	45	2689
White-throated Sparrow	46	2681
Long-tailed Duck	47	2577
Sanderling	48	2567
Semipalmated Plover	49	2559
Semipalmated Sandpiper	50	2553
Purple Finch	51	2501
Dunlin	52	2489
Black Scoter	53	2476
Bufflehead	54	2464
Marsh Wren	55	2463
Common Yellowthroat	56	2453
Lesser Yellowlegs	57	2366
Peregrine Falcon	57	2366
Red-tailed Hawk	59	2336
Barn Swallow	60	2320
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Eastern Kingbird	61	2280
American Tree Sparrow	62	2253
Yellow-rumped Warbler	63	2237
Yellow Warbler	64	2184
Red-throated Loon	65	2146
Common Tern	66	2125
Northern Gannet	67	2104
Least Sandpiper	68	2063
Bobolink	69	2045
Northern Flicker	70	2042
Horned Grebe	71	2039
Wild Turkey	72	2035
Turkey Vulture	73	2011
Willet	74	1996
Short-billed Dowitcher	75	1955
Purple Martin	76	1941
Brown-headed Cowbird	77	1932
Red-breasted Nuthatch	78	1925
Least Tern	79	1897
Common Goldeneye	80	1881
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Field Sparrow	81	1863
Merlin	82	1854
Piping Plover	83	1835
Baltimore Oriole	84	1814
Dark-eyed Junco	85	1790
Saltmarsh Sparrow	86	1787
Eastern Phoebe	87	1771
Hooded Merganser	88	1763
White-rumped Sandpiper	89	1755
Swamp Sparrow	90	1719
American Wigeon	91	1711
American Redstart	92	1690
Bald Eagle	93	1590
Bonaparte's Gull	94	1530
Black-crowned Night-Heron	95	1518
Cooper's Hawk	96	1505
Surf Scoter	97	1477
Spotted Sandpiper	98	1405
Red-eyed Vireo	99	1391
Horned Lark	100	1387
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Willow Flycatcher	101	1374
Snowy Owl	102	1369
Rough-legged Hawk	103	1362
Hermit Thrush	104	1354
Red-necked Grebe	105	1322
Golden-crowned Kinglet	106	1284
Northern Shoveler	107	1204
Bank Swallow	108	1184
Blue-winged Teal	109	1178
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	110	1160
Snow Bunting	111	1096
Chipping Sparrow	112	1069
Brant	113	1009
Carolina Wren	114	988
Sharp-shinned Hawk	115	950
Glossy Ibis	116	948
Great Crested Flycatcher	117	941
Black-and-white Warbler	118	920
American Kestrel	119	912
Greater Scaup	120	895
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pectoral Sandpiper	121	843
Stilt Sandpiper	122	842
Blackpoll Warbler	123	832
Belted Kingfisher	124	828
Ruddy Turnstone	125	826
Seaside Sparrow	126	819
Razorbill	127	798
Black-throated Green Warbler	128	791
Northern Parula	129	770
Palm Warbler	130	758
American Woodcock	131	752
Great Cormorant	132	751
Laughing Gull	133	750
Red Knot	134	741
Northern Shrike	135	733
Magnolia Warbler	136	718
Pied-billed Grebe	137	716
Long-billed Dowitcher	138	715
Least Bittern	139	709
Orchard Oriole	140	701
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Blue-headed Vireo	141	694
Whimbrel	142	667
American Bittern	143	664
Black-throated Blue Warbler	144	652
Pine Warbler	145	644
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	146	615
White-breasted Nuthatch	147	613
Virginia Rail	148	611
Eastern Meadowlark	149	596
American Pipit	150	595
American Golden-Plover	151	582
Northern Waterthrush	151	582
Common Raven	153	579
White-crowned Sparrow	154	575
Hairy Woodpecker	155	570
Brown Creeper	155	570
Short-eared Owl	157	559
Lesser Scaup	158	557
Chimney Swift	159	550
Ruddy Duck	160	516
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Wilson's Warbler	161	508
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	162	496
Snow Goose	163	488
Sora	163	488
Nashville Warbler	165	479
House Wren	166	476
Ovenbird	167	463
Tufted Titmouse	168	445
Roseate Tern	169	434
Chestnut-sided Warbler	170	428
Purple Sandpiper	171	406
Eastern Wood-Pewee	171	406
Wood Duck	173	398
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	174	391
Wilson's Snipe	175	385
American Coot	176	383
Blackburnian Warbler	176	383
Swainson's Thrush	178	375
Black-legged Kittiwake	179	370
Common Merganser	180	361
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hudsonian Godwit	181	360
Great Horned Owl	182	358
Alder Flycatcher	183	356
Green Heron	184	355
Lapland Longspur	185	351
Common Redpoll	186	347
Baird's Sandpiper	187	346
Canada Warbler	187	346
Western Sandpiper	189	339
Scarlet Tanager	189	339
Least Flycatcher	191	336
Veery	192	330
Black-billed Cuckoo	193	326
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	194	320
Ring-necked Duck	195	315
Warbling Vireo	196	307
Red-bellied Woodpecker	197	306
Pine Siskin	198	303
Eastern Whip-poor-will	199	297
Prairie Warbler	200	290
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Eurasian Wigeon	201	277
Forster's Tern	202	276
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	203	270
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	203	270
Bay-breasted Warbler	205	266
Philadelphia Vireo	206	234
Wilson's Phalarope	207	230
Solitary Sandpiper	208	221
Lincoln's Sparrow	209	220
Fox Sparrow	210	216
Tricolored Heron	211	214
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	212	208
Cape May Warbler	213	204
Winter Wren	214	200
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	215	199
Clay-colored Sparrow	216	197
Lesser Black-backed Gull	217	194
Little Blue Heron	218	193
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	219	168
Wood Thrush	220	166
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Barred Owl	221	162
Caspian Tern	222	158
American Avocet	223	157
Redhead	224	152
Fish Crow	224	152
Red Crossbill	226	151
Cliff Swallow	227	147
Mourning Warbler	228	144
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	229	139
White-winged Crossbill	229	139
Tennessee Warbler	231	137
Indigo Bunting	231	137
King Rail	233	134
Black Tern	234	129
Iceland Gull	235	127
Black Guillemot	236	125
Little Gull	237	124
Dickcissel	238	122
Common Gallinule	239	118
Nelson's Sparrow	240	111
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Blue-winged Warbler	241	103
King Eider	242	98/11
Yellow-throated Vireo	243	97/17
Clapper Rail	244	96/12
Marbled Godwit	244	96/18
White-eyed Vireo	244	96/18
Orange-crowned Warbler	244	96/19
Rusty Blackbird	248	86/18
Common Nighthawk	249	84/19
Yellow-breasted Chat	249	84/15
Olive-sided Flycatcher	251	77/19
Black Skimmer	252	76/12
Western Grebe	253	70/6
Manx Shearwater	254	65/18
Lark Sparrow	254	65/17
Red-shouldered Hawk	256	63/15
Connecticut Warbler	256	63/21
Ring-necked Pheasant	258	60/10
Parasitic Jaeger	259	54/17
Great Shearwater	260	53/13
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hooded Warbler	260	53/17
Harlequin Duck	262	51/10
Vesper Sparrow	263	49/16
American Oystercatcher	264	48/17
Glaucous Gull	264	48/14
Eastern Bluebird	266	45/17
Gull-billed Tern	267	44/8
Northern Goshawk	267	44/17
Summer Tanager	267	44/13
Northern Saw-whet Owl	270	43/14
Cory's Shearwater	271	42/11
Gray-cheeked Thrush	271	42/17
Dovekie	273	41/13
Broad-winged Hawk	273	41/16
Black-headed Gull	275	38/11
Thick-billed Murre	276	37/16
Royal Tern	276	37/12
Barrow's Goldeneye	278	35/7
Arctic Tern	279	31/12
Long-eared Owl	279	31/13
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Worm-eating Warbler	281	29/12
Red-necked Phalarope	282	28/11
Red Phalarope	283	27/8
Western Kingbird	283	27/9
Greater White-fronted Goose	285	26/2
Cattle Egret	285	26/9
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	287	25/2
Curlew Sandpiper	288	24/5
Grasshopper Sparrow	288	24/8
White-faced Ibis	290	22/7
Canvasback	291	21/8
Kentucky Warbler	291	21/10
Sooty Shearwater	293	20/12
Black Rail	294	18/1
Upland Sandpiper	295	17/8
Ruff	295	17/9
Pine Grosbeak	295	17/5
Prothonotary Warbler	295	17/10
Common Murre	299	16/9
Hoary Redpoll	299	16/7
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pacific Loon	301	15/6
Ross's Goose	302	14/4
Bohemian Waxwing	302	14/8
Evening Grosbeak	302	14/5
Ash-throated Flycatcher	305	13/3
Blue Grosbeak	305	13/5
Eastern Screech-Owl	307	12/8
Acadian Flycatcher	307	12/10
Green-tailed Towhee	307	12/1
Black-tailed Godwit	310	11/1
Pomarine Jaeger	310	11/7
Leach's Storm-Petrel	310	11/7
Black-necked Stilt	313	10/2
Cave Swallow	313	10/6
Yellow-throated Warbler	313	10/5
Black Vulture	316	9/7
Louisiana Waterthrush	316	9/9
Cackling Goose	318	8/3
American White Pelican	318	8/7
Golden-winged Warbler	318	8/5
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Common Ringed Plover	321	7/2
Red-headed Woodpecker	321	7/4
Gyrfalcon	321	7/5
Swainson's Warbler	321	7/1
Cerulean Warbler	321	7/5
Sandhill Crane	326	6/6
Wilson's Plover	326	6/3
Red-necked Stint	326	6/2
Atlantic Puffin	326	6/4
Sandwich Tern	326	6/2
Northern Fulmar	326	6/4
Pacific Golden-Plover	332	5/1
Franklin's Gull	332	5/4
Brown Pelican	332	5/1
Golden Eagle	332	5/4
Say's Phoebe	332	5/3
Yellow-headed Blackbird	332	5/4
Sedge Wren	338	4/4
Northern Wheatear	338	4/2
Chuck-will's-widow	340	3/3
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Loggerhead Shrike	340	3/1
Western Tanager	340	3/1
Tundra Swan	343	2/1
Eared Grebe	343	2/1
Ringed Turtle-Dove	343	2/1
Long-tailed Jaeger	343	2/2
Sabine's Gull	343	2/2
Little Egret	343	2/2
Western Meadowlark	343	2/1
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	350	1
Northern Lapwing	350	1
Elegant Tern	350	1
Neotropic Cormorant	350	1
White Ibis	350	1
Mississippi Kite	350	1
Swainson's Hawk	350	1
Pileated Woodpecker	350	1
Prairie Falcon	350	1
Monk Parakeet	350	1
Fork-tailed Flycatcher	350	1
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Yellow-green Vireo	350	1
Townsend's Solitaire	350	1
Bicknell's Thrush	350	1
Sage Thrasher	350	1
Chestnut-collared Longspur	350	1
Black-throated Gray Warbler	350	1