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 June 27, 2022

	Species		n		N		Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Herring Gull	1	6091
Canada Goose	2	6043
American Robin	3	5978
American Black Duck	4	5845
Mallard	5	5834
American Crow	6	5687
Black-capped Chickadee	7	5685
Great Black-backed Gull	8	5638
Song Sparrow	9	5597
Northern Mockingbird	10	5460
Northern Cardinal	11	5114
European Starling	12	5087
Blue Jay	13	4991
Mourning Dove	14	4938
Northern Harrier	15	4834
Gadwall	16	4777
American Goldfinch	17	4554
Ring-billed Gull	18	4477
Double-crested Cormorant	19	4274
Green-winged Teal	20	4204
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Sparrow	21	4088
Common Loon	22	4032
Great Egret	23	4010
Greater Yellowlegs	24	3996
Gray Catbird	25	3817
Rock Pigeon	26	3769
Great Blue Heron	27	3743
Common Eider	28	3639
Downy Woodpecker	29	3637
Red-winged Blackbird	30	3564
Mute Swan	31	3557
White-winged Scoter	32	3556
Eastern Towhee	33	3433
Tree Swallow	34	3286
Snowy Egret	35	3270
House Finch	36	3246
Killdeer	37	3176
Red-breasted Merganser	38	3164
Common Grackle	39	3146
Black-bellied Plover	40	3114
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Osprey	41	3098
Cedar Waxwing	42	3077
White-throated Sparrow	43	2867
Northern Pintail	44	2847
Brown Thrasher	45	2789
Savannah Sparrow	46	2785
Long-tailed Duck	47	2764
Sanderling	48	2676
Black Scoter	49	2637
Bufflehead	50	2632
Dunlin	51	2627
Semipalmated Plover	52	2613
Semipalmated Sandpiper	53	2604
Purple Finch	54	2600
Marsh Wren	55	2561
Common Yellowthroat	56	2507
Peregrine Falcon	57	2461
Red-tailed Hawk	58	2450
Yellow-rumped Warbler	59	2432
Lesser Yellowlegs	60	2403
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
American Tree Sparrow	61	2393
Barn Swallow	62	2385
Eastern Kingbird	63	2330
Red-throated Loon	64	2277
Yellow Warbler	65	2242
Common Tern	66	2179
Horned Grebe	67	2176
Northern Gannet	68	2171
Northern Flicker	69	2162
Wild Turkey	70	2121
Least Sandpiper	71	2092
Bobolink	72	2091
Turkey Vulture	73	2084
Willet	74	2060
Common Goldeneye	75	2034
Brown-headed Cowbird	76	2030
Purple Martin	77	2011
Red-breasted Nuthatch	78	2004
Short-billed Dowitcher	79	1974
Least Tern	80	1946
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Field Sparrow	81	1944
Merlin	82	1930
Piping Plover	83	1901
Dark-eyed Junco	84	1885
Hooded Merganser	85	1874
Baltimore Oriole	86	1868
Swamp Sparrow	87	1849
Saltmarsh Sparrow	88	1826
Eastern Phoebe	89	1819
White-rumped Sandpiper	90	1802
American Wigeon	91	1766
American Redstart	92	1739
Bald Eagle	93	1732
Cooper's Hawk	94	1601
Surf Scoter	95	1579
Bonaparte's Gull	96	1550
Black-crowned Night-Heron	97	1545
Horned Lark	98	1473
Snowy Owl	99	1472
Hermit Thrush	99	1472
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Red-eyed Vireo	101	1438
Spotted Sandpiper	102	1419
Willow Flycatcher	103	1416
Rough-legged Hawk	104	1401
Red-necked Grebe	105	1378
Golden-crowned Kinglet	106	1339
Northern Shoveler	107	1273
Bank Swallow	108	1211
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	109	1207
Blue-winged Teal	110	1200
Snow Bunting	111	1168
Chipping Sparrow	112	1112
Carolina Wren	113	1072
Brant	114	1060
Great Crested Flycatcher	115	988
Sharp-shinned Hawk	116	984
Glossy Ibis	117	969
American Kestrel	118	960
Black-and-white Warbler	119	955
Greater Scaup	120	945
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Razorbill	121	878
Pectoral Sandpiper	122	859
Blackpoll Warbler	123	857
Ruddy Turnstone	124	855
Seaside Sparrow	125	850
Belted Kingfisher	126	848
Stilt Sandpiper	127	845
Black-throated Green Warbler	128	814
Northern Parula	129	806
Palm Warbler	130	794
Great Cormorant	131	781
American Woodcock	132	779
Northern Shrike	133	763
Orchard Oriole	134	758
Laughing Gull	135	753
Pied-billed Grebe	136	748
Red Knot	137	747
Least Bittern	137	747
Magnolia Warbler	139	738
Blue-headed Vireo	140	720
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Long-billed Dowitcher	141	716
Pine Warbler	142	708
American Bittern	143	699
Black-throated Blue Warbler	144	669
Whimbrel	145	668
Common Raven	146	658
Virginia Rail	147	657
White-breasted Nuthatch	148	638
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	149	632
American Pipit	150	608
Northern Waterthrush	150	608
Brown Creeper	152	605
Eastern Meadowlark	153	600
White-crowned Sparrow	154	594
American Golden-Plover	155	585
Lesser Scaup	156	580
Hairy Woodpecker	157	574
Short-eared Owl	158	571
Chimney Swift	159	566
Ruddy Duck	160	535
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
House Wren	161	526
Wilson's Warbler	162	525
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	163	516
Snow Goose	164	510
Sora	165	490
Nashville Warbler	165	490
Ovenbird	167	482
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	168	481
American Coot	169	480
Tufted Titmouse	170	479
Roseate Tern	171	445
Chestnut-sided Warbler	171	445
Eastern Wood-Pewee	173	432
Purple Sandpiper	174	418
Wood Duck	175	412
Blackburnian Warbler	176	401
Swainson's Thrush	177	392
Wilson's Snipe	178	388
Common Merganser	179	383
Alder Flycatcher	180	378
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Black-legged Kittiwake	181	374
Great Horned Owl	182	366
Canada Warbler	183	364
Hudsonian Godwit	184	361
Ring-necked Duck	185	358
Green Heron	185	358
Red-bellied Woodpecker	187	353
Lapland Longspur	187	353
Least Flycatcher	189	348
Common Redpoll	189	348
Baird's Sandpiper	191	347
Scarlet Tanager	192	346
Western Sandpiper	193	339
Veery	193	339
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	195	334
Black-billed Cuckoo	196	330
Warbling Vireo	197	323
Eastern Whip-poor-will	198	304
Pine Siskin	198	304
Prairie Warbler	200	302
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	201	284
Eurasian Wigeon	202	279
Forster's Tern	203	277
Bay-breasted Warbler	204	274
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	205	271
Fox Sparrow	205	271
Philadelphia Vireo	207	238
Tricolored Heron	208	237
Wilson's Phalarope	209	233
Solitary Sandpiper	210	224
Lincoln's Sparrow	210	224
Winter Wren	212	212
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	213	211
Cape May Warbler	213	211
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	215	199
Clay-colored Sparrow	216	198
Lesser Black-backed Gull	217	197
Little Blue Heron	218	196
Fish Crow	219	184
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	220	174
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Wood Thrush	221	171
American Avocet	222	162
Barred Owl	222	162
Caspian Tern	222	162
Redhead	225	153
King Rail	225	153
Red Crossbill	227	151
Cliff Swallow	228	148
Mourning Warbler	228	148
Tennessee Warbler	230	144
Iceland Gull	231	143
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	232	139
White-winged Crossbill	232	139
Indigo Bunting	234	138
Black Tern	235	131
Black Guillemot	236	126
Little Gull	237	124
Dickcissel	238	122
Common Gallinule	239	118
Nelson's Sparrow	240	113
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Blue-winged Warbler	241	106
King Eider	242	103
Yellow-throated Vireo	243	102
White-eyed Vireo	244	99/19
Orange-crowned Warbler	244	99/20
Clapper Rail	246	98/13
Marbled Godwit	247	96/18
Rusty Blackbird	248	94/19
Common Nighthawk	249	86/20
Ring-necked Pheasant	250	84/12
Yellow-breasted Chat	250	84/15
Olive-sided Flycatcher	252	82/20
Black Skimmer	253	80/13
Western Grebe	254	71/7
Manx Shearwater	255	65/18
Lark Sparrow	255	65/17
Red-shouldered Hawk	257	63/15
Connecticut Warbler	257	63/21
Harlequin Duck	259	57/11
Parasitic Jaeger	260	55/18
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hooded Warbler	261	54/18
Great Shearwater	262	53/13
Vesper Sparrow	263	51/17
American Oystercatcher	264	50/18
Glaucous Gull	265	48/14
Eastern Bluebird	266	46/17
Gull-billed Tern	267	44/8
Northern Goshawk	267	44/17
Gray-cheeked Thrush	267	44/18
Summer Tanager	267	44/13
Northern Saw-whet Owl	271	43/14
Dovekie	272	42/14
Thick-billed Murre	272	42/17
Cory's Shearwater	272	42/11
Broad-winged Hawk	275	41/16
Western Kingbird	276	40/10
Black-headed Gull	277	39/12
Royal Tern	278	37/12
Barrow's Goldeneye	279	35/7
Long-eared Owl	280	33/14
			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Arctic Tern	281	32/13
Red-necked Phalarope	282	29/12
Worm-eating Warbler	282	29/12
Red Phalarope	284	28/8
Cattle Egret	285	27/9
Greater White-fronted Goose	286	26/2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	287	25/2
Grasshopper Sparrow	287	25/9
Curlew Sandpiper	289	24/5
White-faced Ibis	290	22/7
Canvasback	291	21/8
Sooty Shearwater	291	21/13
Kentucky Warbler	291	21/10
Upland Sandpiper	294	19/10
Black Rail	295	18/1
Ruff	296	17/9
Pine Grosbeak	296	17/5
Prothonotary Warbler	296	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
Acadian Flycatcher	302	14/11
Bohemian Waxwing	302	14/8
Evening Grosbeak	302	14/5
Ash-throated Flycatcher	306	13/3
Blue Grosbeak	306	13/5
Eastern Screech-Owl	308	12/8
Green-tailed Towhee	308	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
Golden Eagle	321	7/6
Red-headed Woodpecker	321	7/4
Gyrfalcon	321	7/5
Swainson's Warbler	321	7/1
Cerulean Warbler	321	7/5
Sandhill Crane	327	6/6
Wilson's Plover	327	6/3
Red-necked Stint	327	6/2
Atlantic Puffin	327	6/4
Sandwich Tern	327	6/2
Northern Fulmar	327	6/4
Pacific Golden-Plover	333	5/1
Franklin's Gull	333	5/4
Brown Pelican	333	5/1
Say's Phoebe	333	5/3
Yellow-headed Blackbird	333	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
Sage Thrasher	350	1
Townsend's Solitaire	350	1
Bicknell's Thrush	350	1
Chestnut-collared Longspur	350	1
Black-throated Gray Warbler	350	1