Recent Bird Sightings from Plum Island

Tom’s Birding Page

Recent Bird Sightings from Plum Island

Here’s a list of recent bird sightings from Plum Island, located in Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley, and Ipswich, Massachusetts. Most sightings are from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, which makes up the southern two thirds of the island. This information is only as complete as the reports received. To contribute your sightings please send them to Tom Wetmore. Reports to the MassBird mailing list are integrated into this page.

See the legend after the list for an explanation of terms. You can find most of the locations on the Parker River NWR map.

There are 65 species currently on the list. The list covers the last 10 days.

Recent Bird Sightings from Plum Island — updated January 30, 2015

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
- 29 Jan, sev pi rv, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, mn pi rv, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, sev pi rv, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, h, n landry
- 23 Jan, 170, d williams
- 23 Jan, 50 pi rv, fw others, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 150 var, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, mn var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 100, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 200+ var, t wetmore
Gadwall, Anas strepera
- 25 Jan, 16+ merr rv seal rks, t wetmore
American Black Duck, Anas rubripes
- 29 Jan, sev pi rv, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, mn pi rv, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, sev pi rv, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 21 pi rv s one, n landry
- 23 Jan, 46, d williams
- 23 Jan, 40 pine ck, fw others, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 25 var, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, mn var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 50, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 2, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 200+ var, t wetmore
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- 25 Jan, 2 pi rv, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3-4 stage ck, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 8+ var, t wetmore
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
- 20 Jan, 14 south marsh, 1 pan s cross, t wetmore
Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca
- 20 Jan, 3 stage ck, j smith
Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
- 20 Jan, 1 m pi bridge, t wetmore
Common Eider, Somateria mollissima
- 29 Jan, 1 m one ocean, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 100+ merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 9 seven ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, 8+ seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 10 seven ocean, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, fw ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 flyby one, w tatro
- 20 Jan, fw one ocean, 40 pi sound, 20 seven ocean, t wetmore
White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca
- 29 Jan, 12 one ocean, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 1 merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 5 five & seven ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, fw ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, fw ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 one ocean, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 15 one ocean, 5 seven ocean, t wetmore
Black Scoter, Melanitta americana
- 29 Jan, 6 one ocean, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 22 seven ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, 2+ one ocean, 15+ seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 30 seven ocean, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 6+ seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 one ocean, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 8 seven ocean, t wetmore
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis
- 29 Jan, 1 one ocean, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 3 merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 5 seven ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, 2 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 6 pi sound, 3 ocean, t wetmore
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
- 29 Jan, 2+ pi sound, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 10 pi sound, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 1 pi rv s one, n landry
- 23 Jan, 16 pi sound f/wardens, d williams
- 23 Jan, 16 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 14 pine ck & seven ocean, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, fw stage ck, 10 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 1 pi rv, 40+ cks, 20 seven ocean, t wetmore
Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- 29 Jan, 2+ pi rv, 3+ pi sound, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, sev inc 3 pi bridge, 8 pi rv, 6 pi sound, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 2-3 merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 1 pi sound f/wardens, d williams
- 22 Jan, 3 pi bridge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 12 pi ri opp two, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 10 ramp, 6 stage ck, t wetmore
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
- 29 Jan, 2 pi bridge, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 1 pi rv s one, n landry
- 22 Jan, 1 f pi rv, t wetmore
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
- 29 Jan, 4 pi bridge, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 2 pi rv, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 6 merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 2 pi sound f/wardens, d williams
- 22 Jan, 1 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 5 one ocean, 2 seven ocean, t wetmore
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
- 23 Jan, 7 inc 5 m 2 f, d williams
- 23 Jan, 7 scurves, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 7 marsh n refuge, t wetmore
Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata
- 23 Jan, 1 one ocean, d williams
- 20 Jan, 3-4 one ocean, t wetmore
Common Loon, Gavia immer
- 29 Jan, 4 one ocean, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 3+ merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 4, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2-3 ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 one ocean, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 4 one ocean, 2 seven ocean, t wetmore
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
- 29 Jan, 10 one ocean, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 4+ merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 18 one, five & seven ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, 2 one ocean, 8 seven ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 8 seven ocean, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 1+ one ocean, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 5 one ocean, 5 seven ocean, t wetmore
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
- 29 Jan, 12 one ocean, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 1 one ocean, d williams
- 23 Jan, 8 one ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1+ one ocean, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 8-10 one ocean, t wetmore
Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus
- 22 Jan, 1 one ocean, t wetmore
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
- 29 Jan, 1 jetty f/one, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 1 jetty f/n end island, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2+ jetty f/one, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 1 flyby n seven ocean, t wetmore
American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
- 22 Jan, 1 rdside south marsh, g dysart
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- 29 Jan, 1 im flyby north marsh, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 1 ad 8 im together merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 2, d williams
- 23 Jan, 3 inc 2 ad 1 im, p roberts
- 23 Jan, 1 ad x/pi sound f/south marsh, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 north pool dike & pines platform, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 1, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 ad pines platform, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 im flyby ove pans, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 5 inc 3 im 2 ad var, t wetmore
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
- 29 Jan, 1 two, 1 other, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 1 north pool olook, n landry
- 23 Jan, 2, d williams
- 23 Jan, 2 inc 1 ad m 1 im, p roberts
- 23 Jan, 1 m north field, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 two & north field, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 3, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 marsh n refuge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 1 hellcat, 1 other, t wetmore
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
- 29 Jan, 1 n refuge, 1 one, 1 scurves, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 1, d williams
- 23 Jan, 2 ad, p roberts
- 23 Jan, 1 south marsh, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 two, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 2, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 n refuge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 2, p roberts
- 20 Jan, 1 north field, t wetmore
Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus
- 29 Jan, 1 north marsh, 1 north pool olook, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3 var, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 1, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 lt north field, 2 lt stage & cross, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3 lt, var along refuge rd, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 2 lt, p roberts
- 20 Jan, 1 lt north field, t wetmore
Sanderling, Calidris alba
- 23 Jan, 62 five beach, d williams
- 22 Jan, fk 30-35 flyby s one, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 30 flyby one ocean, w tatro
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- 23 Jan, 27 five beach, d williams
Thick-billed Murre, Uria lomvia
- 23 Jan, 1 flyby six ocean photo, j smith
Razorbill, Alca torda
- 22 Jan, 50+ one ocean, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 4 one ocean, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 25 one ocean, 6 seven ocean, t wetmore
Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
- 25 Jan, 6+ ocean f/n end island, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 2+ one horizon, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 1+ one horizon, t wetmore
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
- 22 Jan, 5, w tatro

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
- 29 Jan, sev var, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, var, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, mn var, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 27, d williams
- 23 Jan, sev var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 25+ var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 5, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 1, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 45+ var, t wetmore
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
- 29 Jan, 1-2, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, sev merr rv, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 3, d williams
- 23 Jan, 3-4 var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3+ var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 1, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 4-5 var, t wetmore
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
- 29 Jan, 12 n refuge, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, sev n refuge, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, fw n refuge, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 13 n refuge, n landry
- 23 Jan, 7 n refuge, d williams
- 23 Jan, 6 n refuge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, fw n refuge, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, ~10 n refuge, t wetmore
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
- 25 Jan, 12+ n refuge, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 11 n refuge, n landry
- 21 Jan, 2, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 3 n refuge, t wetmore
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus
- 21 Jan, 2 duetting pines opp north field, m halsey
Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiaca
- 29 Jan, 1 pines platform, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 1 marsh w/pans, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 1 hellcat dike, n landry
- 23 Jan, 4, d williams
- 23 Jan, 5 marshes, p roberts
- 23 Jan, 1 w/three, 1 south marsh, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3 inc 1 marsh w/one, 1 f/north pool olook, 1 n five dunes, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1, w tatro
- 22 Jan, 1 marsh w scurves, 1 north pool dk, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 1 north pool dike, m halsey
- 21 Jan, 2, p roberts
- 21 Jan, 1 hellcat dike, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 4 inc 1 two marsh, 2 flyby pans & scurves, 1 nelson is, t wetmore
Barred Owl, Strix varia
- 24 Jan, 1 scurves, n landry
- 21 Jan, 1 scurves, m halsey
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
- 29 Jan, 1 hellcat, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 1, d williams
- 22 Jan, 1, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 opp north field, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 2, t spahr
Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus
- 29 Jan, 1 scurves, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 1 scurves, t wetmore
Merlin, Falco columbarius
- 20 Jan, 1 flyby north pool olook, t wetmore
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
- 29 Jan, 5-6 var, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, h north pool olook, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, h hellcat, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 3, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1 north field, 1 goodno, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2 one & scurves, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 3, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 2 two, 2 hellcat, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 2, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 2-4 var inc goodno & hellcat, t wetmore
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
- 29 Jan, 5-6 var, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 2 n refuge, 2 north pool olook, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, fw var, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 1 wardens, n landry
- 23 Jan, 4, d williams
- 23 Jan, 6+ var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 6 var, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 2, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 3-4 var, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 3, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 3, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 8+ var, t wetmore
Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris
- 29 Jan, 3 flyby north pool olook, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, h n end island, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, h one dunes, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 6 one dunes, t wetmore
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
- 29 Jan, fw inc north pool olook, hellcat, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, h goodno, h hellcat, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, h hellcat, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 7, n landry
- 23 Jan, 7, d williams
- 23 Jan, fw rdside, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 6, g dysart
- 22 Jan, fw h rdside, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 5, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 6, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 12+ var, t wetmore
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
- 22 Jan, 3 rdside near five, w tatro
- 20 Jan, 2+ hellcat, 3+ pines, t wetmore
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
- 23 Jan, 1 marsh trail, d williams
- 22 Jan, 1 marsh trail, w tatro
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
- 29 Jan, 3-4 rdside, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 3, n landry
- 23 Jan, 2, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1 rdside, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 10, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 1, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 20+ var, t wetmore
Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
- 29 Jan, 1 just s goodno, t wetmore
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
- 29 Jan, 1 one, 2 north field area, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 1 north field, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, 2-3, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 2, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1 one, 3 north field, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 2, g dysart
- 22 Jan, 1 north field, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 1, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 1 one, 1 wardens, 2 north field, t wetmore
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
- 25 Jan, n refuge, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, fw n refuge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 43 var, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 5+ pi bridge, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, 15 pi bridge, t wetmore
Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
- 21 Jan, 1 one dunes, m halsey
- 20 Jan, 6 one dunes, t wetmore
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata
- 20 Jan, 1 six, j smith
American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea
- 29 Jan, fw inc one, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, fw var, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, fw rdside, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 6, n landry
- 23 Jan, fw rdside, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 hellcat, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, 6, g dysart
- 22 Jan, fw h rdside, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 5, w tatro
- 21 Jan, 5, t spahr
- 20 Jan, fw rdside var, t wetmore
Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
- 20 Jan, 1 five pines, j smith
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
- 22 Jan, 2 hellcat & cross, d chickering, l cooper
- 21 Jan, 4, t spahr
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
- 29 Jan, 3 scurves, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, 3 scurves, 1 north field, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, 1, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1 north field tree island, t wetmore
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
- 29 Jan, h n refuge, t wetmore
- 26 Jan, scurves & goodno, t wetmore
- 24 Jan, 2, n landry
- 23 Jan, 2, d williams
- 23 Jan, 1-2 h, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, 1 hellcat, d chickering, l cooper
- 22 Jan, h r refuge, 1 refuge rd, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 3, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 1 scurves, t wetmore
House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
- 23 Jan, h n refuge, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 2, t spahr
- 20 Jan, flyby one, t wetmore
Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea
- 22 Jan, 20 hellcat bwalk, g dysart
- 21 Jan, 80+ hellcat, m halsey
- 21 Jan, 60-80, p roberts
- 21 Jan, 150+ marsh trail, t spahr
- 20 Jan, 200+ hellcat, s riley
- 20 Jan, 1+ n hellcat, 1+ hellcat, t wetmore
Hoary Redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni
- 21 Jan, 2+ marsh trail, t spahr
American Goldfinch, Tristis tristis
- 22 Jan, h opp north field, t wetmore
- 21 Jan, 1, t spahr
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
- 29 Jan, n refuge, t wetmore
- 25 Jan, h n refuge, t wetmore
- 23 Jan, n refuge, t wetmore
- 22 Jan, h n refuge, t wetmore
- 20 Jan, n refuge, t wetmore

Legend

m - male
f - female
pr - pair
fk - flock
ad - adult
im - immature
jv - juvenal
sm - small
lg - large
lt - light morph
dk - dark morph
n - north
s - south
e - east
w - west
inc - including
migr - migrating

forward - Bill Forward Pool
one - Lot one area
three - Lot three area
seven - Lot seven area
emerson - Emerson Rocks
cross - Cross Farm Hill area
pans - North pans to lot three
north field - North boundary field
south field - South boundary field
north marsh - salt marsh from gate to wardens
south marsh - salt marsh from pines to cross
stage - Stage Island Pool area
pines - Pines Trail area
gate - Gate house area
blind - Blind on Bill Forward Pool
wardens - Sub-headquarters area
sound - Plum Island Sound

January 30, 2015, Tom Wetmore