Saturday, November 26, 2011

Winter Meeting 2012

Join us Friday, February 3, 2012 at 7:30 PM, for our annual winter meeting at the Bedford Middle School Auditorium,  McMahon Road, Bedford, Massachusetts.

A social hour and light refreshments will begin at 6:30 PM.

Greg Miller with Jack Black

Photo by Cam Shaw

Our speaker for the evening will be Mr. Greg Miller.  In 1998, Greg zigzagged across the continent to try to see as many species of birds in one calendar year as possible. It was an incredible experience passing the 700-species mark—an achievement many birders aspire to in an entire lifetime. But there was competition. Two other birders, Sandy Komito and Al Levantin, also broke the 700-mark that same year.  Greg will entertain us with tales from that competitive experience, as well as stories of growing up as a birder, listing and how he came to do a big year.  He will also discuss Mark Obmascik's book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession and working on the 2011 20th Century Fox filmThe Big Year and his experience on the set with Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson.

Greg will be joining us for the social hour! He's looking forward to meeting Club members, posing for pictures and signing autographs! You DON'T want to miss THIS meeting!!

Members and guests are cordially invited.  Admission and parking are free. See here for directions.

Please bring your used binoculars and other biding equipment for the Birders' Exchange.  For information about the Birders' Exchange, check their website.

We invite you to join the BBC or renew your annual membership at our meeting.  See you there!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Christmas Bird Counts 2011

BBC members are encouraged to join a Christmas Bird Count. The following is the list of counts in Massachusetts with contact information for compilers.

Date to be Determined

Mid-Cape Cod: Peter Trimble and Jeremiah Trimble
Groton-Oxbow: Julie Lisk
Plymouth: Trevor Lloyd-Evans (508)224-6521
Stellwagen Bank: Simon Perkins
Tuckernuck: Simon Perkins
New Bedford: Michael Boucher

Wednesday, December 14

Sturbridge: Mark Lynch (Snow/Ice date: December 15)

Saturday, December 17

Andover: Lou Wagner (978)927-1122x2705
Athol: Dave Small (978)4113-1772
Buzzard’s Bay: Jeremiah Trimble (508)498-9646 and Peter Trimble
Central Berkshire: Tom Collins (413)499-2799 (Snow date December 18)
Millis: Elissa Landre (Snow date December 18)
Newport County, RI-Westport, MA: Robert Emerson
Northern Berkshire: Pamela Weatherbee (413)458-3538
Quincy: Glenn d'Entremont (781)344-5857
Springfield: George Kingston (413)525-6742

Sunday, December 18

Cape Ann: Jim Barber
Cape Cod: Blair Nikula
Greater Boston: Robert H. Stymeist
Northampton: Janice Jorgenson (413)585-0145
Worcester: John Liller

Tuesday, December 20

Truro: Tom Lipsky

Monday, December 26

Cobble Mountain: George Kingston
Marshfield: Sue MacCallum
Newburyport: Tom Young (603-424-4512, cell 603-493-1776) Westminster: Charles Caron

Saturday, December 31

Nantucket: Ken Blackshaw (508)238-0209 and Edie Ray (meets night before)
Quabbin: Scott Surner (413)256-5438
Taunton: James Sweeney
Uxbridge: Strickland Wheelock

Sunday, January 1

Southern Berkshire: Rene Laubach
Greenfield: Mark Fairbrother
Monday, January 2 Concord: Norm Levey (781)259-1162

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Gull ID Workshop with Wayne Petersen

The two-day Gull ID Workshop is filled. There are still spaces left for the classroom instruction.


The Brookline Bird Club and South Shore Bird Club will be co-sponsoring a two-day Gull ID Workshop with Wayne Petersen.  An evening of classroom instruction will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 680 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA. This will be followed by an all-day field trip to Cape Ann on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The field trip portion of the seminar is open to the first 30 people to register and send in their payment; the classroom will be open to 60 students.

Cost for this two day workshop is $15 for BBC and SSBC members and $30 for non-members; cost for the classroom instruction only will be $7.50 for BBC and SSBC members and $15 for non-members.  Advance registration is required; your place is secure only upon receipt of payment. Registration is limited! For more information and to register, please contact Eddie Giles.

Most proceeds to benefit Massachusetts Audubon Important Bird Areas program.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Intermediate Photo Workshop

Intermediate to Advanced Digital SLR Workshop
Saturday, October 1, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Assabet River NWR, Sudbury, MA
Fee: Adults: $30.00 members; $45.00 non-members
Instructor: Eric Smith
Advanced Registration required

BBC Photo Workshop 005

Still mastering your digital camera? Still having difficulties using the correct exposure? This course is for you! Eric Smith will be conducting a five-hour bird/wildlife workshop, focusing on camera exposure. Topics will include hand-holding techniques, use of the depth-of-field preview button, demonstration of extension tubes, how to organize images and metadata, understanding what EXIF holds and similar advanced digital commands. We will also touch on editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom and PS Elements.

Instructions: Bring your camera and a laptop, as well as some way to take notes. Participants will have an opportunity to try out new techniques; with a laptop you can immediately evaluate your exposure timing.

Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the morning, followed by a catered lunch at mid-day.

Eric Smith has been shootingwildlife seriously for at least 7 years. He photographs all over New England, with an emphasis on birds. He loves being outdoors, which grew into wanting to share what he sees with others. Eric runs or participates in several photography clubs, teaches classes for Mass Audubon, and currently sits on the boards of both the Menotomy Bird Club and Eastern Mass Hawk Watch.

Advance registration is required; your place is secure only upon receipt of payment. Registration is limited! For information and registration, contact Eddie Giles (508) 378-3370

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Book Fund Donation

The Brookline Bird Club, through their School Book Fund program, purchased more than 40 books for the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville.  This is a K-8 school has a broad and diverse population with a staff that is committed to pursuing innovative teaching strategies that enable their students to meet every academic challenge, and to fully develop their life-long learning skills.  All of the books purchased for the school are about birds, nature, ecology, and science.  A BBC bookplate was attached to all of the books.

BBC Board Member David Williams presenting the books to Librarian Norah Connelly

BBC Board Member David Williams presenting the books to Norah Connelly, the Librarian at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Norah Connelly shows a couple of books to Jaderson

Librarian Norah Connelly shows a couple of books to Jaderson, a student at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Nephileen and Jaderson read from one of the over 40 books donated

Nephileen and Jaderson read from one of the over 40 books donated by the BBC Book Fund to the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Cassin's Sparrow Trip 5/18

Subject: Impromptu BBC Cassin's Sparrow Trip
Folks:

The Cassin’s Sparrow was seen this morning as late as 8:55AM.  So, Let’s go for it. Let’s car-pool.   We will make this an impromptu Brookline Bird Club Trip. Those from the North Shore can meet at 5:30 AM at Kohl’s Parking Lot (exit 36 off Rte 128, Washington St) in Woburn. Go to the traffic lights at the end of the turn-off, turn right, then go straight at the next  traffic lights into Kohl’s   After entering the parking lot, pull as far over to the left as possible.  Those from further south can meet at the Park & Lock parking lot at exit 14 (Road to Wompatuck), (Rte 228) in Hingham at 6-6:15AM. 
Please let me know I you will be joining us.  My Cell is 781—929-8772.

Thanks.

Ida Giriunas

Reading, MA
<ida8@verizon.net>


***
From:  Matt Malin <hossfeldt@yahoo.com>
Subject:  Cassin's Sparrow - midday/afternoon - NO
Birders -

I headed out late this morning to Truro for the Cassin's Sparrow.  A small group 
of birders were there, including Patty O'Neil.  The last good sighting was at 
about 10 AM, according to Patty just as she was getting out of the car as it 
dropped from a locust tree into the grass on the curve (Pamet Harbor side).  We 
had an appearance of a "flash" of a pale, grayish-backed sparrow being chased by 
a Song Sparrow around noon.  I'm not comfortable with what little I saw, so I 
didn't "see" the Cassin's Sparrow today, considering that I did see a pair of 
House Sparrows on the corner too.  I left at 3:45 PM and David and Fran Clapp 
were keeping the watch and Patty had returned from successfully seeing the 
Evening Grosbeak at Wellfleet Bay. 

Weather was overcast and cloudy when I arrived at 11:20, and was clearing slowly 
and partly sunny sometime after 2:00.  Go figure.  Weather pattern still 
predicted to be east winds and rain/showers, so I am in agreement with comments 
before that the sparrow is still probably around.  Seem like early is best.

Also, be aware that there are short dump trucks hauling sand to Corn Hill beach 
for beach replentishment, and routinely come around the hairpin turn before the 
beach.  It is best to park in the beach lot and walk the short 100  or so yards 
to the curve where the bird has been seen - between the lone, scraggly pine tree 
between the house on the curve and the parking lot and the beech plum and locust 
trees on the hillside as noted before.

Best of luck everyone!

Matt Malin
Mashpee, MA
hossfeldt(at)yahoo.com

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Boston Harbor Islands By Boat

Date: Sunday, June 5, 2011
Time: 10:15 AM from Quincy Shipyard, 11:00 AM from Long Wharf, Boston. Returning to Boston at 3:15 PM and Quincy at 4:00 PM. Please be at the dock 30 minutes prior to departure from your location.
Cost: $18 general, $15 BBC member with blue book or club pin
Calling the birds will be our own Tim Factor!
We'll be taking one of the larger boats, either the Island Discovery or
Island Expedition, capacity 150-200.
Please reply to Sylvia Martin by June 1 to reserve a spot. Bring your BBC blue book or other evidence of membership to get $3 off at the dock. Bring extra layers and be prepared for strong breezes. The boat has restrooms and I believe a snack bar. Nonetheless, you might want to bring
a thermos and a bag lunch/snack.
SPECIAL NOTE: This is a harbor trip and not a pelagic, but to bone up on your seabirds, attend the seabird ID workshop by Marshall Iliff at Assabet River NWR a few days earlier, on June 1, sponsored by the BBC.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Basic Photography Workshop Photos

BBC Photo Workshop 001

Nicholas Hodge & retired BBC president Barbara Volkle eagerly await the start of the workshop.BBC Photo Workshop 002

Our instructor, Eric Smith. Eric has been shooting wildlife seriously for the last 7 years. He photographs all over New England, with an emphasis on birds. He loves being outdoors and that grew into wanting to share what he sees with others. Eric runs or participates in several photography clubs, teaches classes for Mass Audubon, and currently sits on the boards of both the Menotomy Bird Club and Eastern Mass Hawk Watch.BBC Photo Workshop 003

Twenty-two participants ultimately turned out, including three new members and two guests.BBC Photo Workshop 004

Eric used a series of instructional slides...BBC Photo Workshop 005

as well as some of his own work to visually illustrate the concepts introduced.BBC Photo Workshop 006

Some jotted down hand-written notes...BBC Photo Workshop 007

while others like Kathy Davis typed her notations directly into her laptop.BBC Photo Workshop 008

During the breaks, class members like Cameron Mitchell and Lori Joyal powered up their cameras to review the previous lesson.BBC Photo Workshop 009

Eric pressed on during the lunch hour, answering questions from the class between bites of pizza.BBC Photo Workshop 010

Eric went to ANY length to illustrate a point... :-)BBC Photo Workshop 011

The smiles on the faces of Suzanne Lyons and Richard Sullivan at the close of the workshop were indicitive of the class as a whole. Demand was high for future workshops like these, and the BBC will do its best to provide them.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Basic Photography Workshop

Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Venue: Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, 680 Hudson Ave, Sudbury, MA
Fee: Adults $30.00 members/ $45.00 nonmembers
Instructor: Eric Smith Advance Registration is required.
Looking to get better at Bird Photography? Are you a Beginner or Advanced Beginner photographer looking to take that next step? Eric Smith will be conducting a 5-hour bird/wildlife photography workshop covering all aspects of digital photography: before you take the picture, when you take it and what to do afterward. Topics will include camera settings, what the different modes mean, lenses and their notation, focusing modes, what ISO does and how to use it to your advantage, an overview of Adobe Lightroom, how to store your pictures and much more. While a Digital SLR is not required, a very simple Point and Shoot might not have every feature discussed. But that just prepares you when you move up to a more advanced camera!
Instructions: Bring your camera, laptop (if you have one) and some way to take notes. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the morning, followed by a catered lunch around mid-day.
Eric Smith has been shooting wildlife seriously for the last 7 years. He photographs all over New England, with an emphasis on birds. He loves being outdoors and that grew into wanting to share what he sees with others. Eric runs or participates in several photography clubs, teaches classes for Mass Audubon, and currently sits on the boards of both the Menotomy Bird Club and Eastern Mass Hawk Watch.
Advance registration is required; your place is secure only upon receipt of payment. Registration is limited! For more information and to register, please contact Eddie Giles (508) 378-3370.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB - April 15, 2011

Join us for the Brookline Bird Club Annual Meeting on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:30 pm at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Geological Lecture Hall,
24 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA.

Julie Ellis Ph.D. will present “Ecology of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls in Coastal New England”.  This presentation will cover the ecology and natural history of these two species of gulls in island ecology, including their reproductive biology, competitive and predatory interactions, dispersal, and their impacts on coastal environments.  Dr. Ellis is a Research Assistant Professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and conducts her research through the Shoals Marine Laboratory at the Isles of Shoals, a 9-island archipelago located about 6 miles from Portsmouth, N.H.  More on our speaker below.

Members and guests are cordially invited. Admission is free. Parking is free at the 52 Oxford Street garage (opposite Everett St). Tell the guard you are attending the BBC meeting.

Please bring your used binoculars and other birding equipment for the Birder’s Exchange (more information).


OUR SPEAKER:

Dr. Julie Ellis, Research Assistant Professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, is Director of the Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET); A more detailed description of Dr. Ellis and her work can be found at the SEANET website and blog

Dr. Julie Ellis also has a gull blog where she posts sightings of gulls banded at Appledore Island, Maine.

Dr. Ellis is providing opportunities to band gulls via the Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Maine in May and July.   In May, adult gulls are banded,  band numbers and nest locations of previously banded birds are recorded, and gull nests are mapped using a GPS unit.  Sarah Courchesne, her colleague will be leading this group, and will also do some lectures and a wet lab on marine bird anatomy and biology.  There will be a similar course for one week in July during which pre-fledgling gulls will be banded.  No previous experience in bird banding is required in these courses -  in fact, the participants will not actually band the birds  they will help capture and restrain them, help to mark nests, and walk around the island recording band numbers and GPS coordinates for previously banded birds.  It should be a lot of fun and participants will learn quite a bit from just being on the island.  It’s not at all like songbird banding, for those who have done that  capturing and holding adult gulls is quite an experience!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

2010 Statistical Report

2010 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT
By Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician

During 2010, the Brookline Bird Club listed 298 species of birds on 181 reported trips, seven less than last year. A total of 222trips were scheduled, 11 trips less than last year and 68 trips less than the all time high number of 290 in 2000. There were 50 all day, 143 mornings, 23 afternoons or evening, 4 pelagic and three weekend trips. There was one impromptu trip that was highly successful; on November 26 Bill Drummond organ- ized a “wild goose chase” to the Sudbury River Valley, which was one very hot birding location with birders from across the country flocking to our state in search of both Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese. Bill led 13 members and found the Club’s first Barnacle Goose and the first Pink-footed Goose for the Club in Massachusetts (Bill led an impromptu trip to Newport, Rhode Island for the Pink-footed Goose in 2007). That same trip recorded the only Snow Goose seen on Club trips in 2010. Forty-one trips were not reported, 17 were cancelled by weath- er and 24 went unreported. In Massachusetts the Club listed a total of 288 species, five less than last year on 175 reported trips. To put this in perspective, birders throughout the state recorded a total of 367 species during the year, thus the BBC total of 288 is 78% of all the species seen in 2010!
One new species was added to the overall Brookline Bird Club list of birds, a BLACK RAIL that was discovered on May 31 and was heard at the North Pool until at least June 21, and was added to the BBC Club list on Laura de la Flor’s Summer Solstice Saunter June 19. The Pink-footed Goose and Barnacle Goose mentioned above were the first reported on a BBC Massachusetts list.
Missing from the Club list in 2010 was: Northern Bobwhite, Tricolored Heron, Common Moorhen, Upland Sandpiper, Long- billed Dowitcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Connecticut Warbler. Two other species, Ruffed Grouse and Vesper Sparrow were not seen on any Massachusetts trip but were recorded in Maine. The Golden-winged Warbler again was missed despite a detour to Nahant on Bill Drummond’s big May Day trip. The trip to Nahant took over an hour to get there in traffic and the group waited for nearly four hours but missed it- now that’s dedication!
The Club visited Essex County most often, with a total of 76 trips (34 to Newburyport and Plum Island area, 27 to Cape Ann as well as five trips to Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, three trips each to Ipswich and Nahant and visits to Boxford, Manchester and Salem). The trips in Essex County accounted for 219 species which is 76% of all the birds reported on Club trips. Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge was second with 31 trips, 3 more than last year. There were also scheduled 24 trips in the Metropolitan Boston area, 14 trips each on Cape Cod and the South Shore and Sudbury River Valley areas, which included Great Meadows NWR, Oxbow NWR, the Assabet NWR and just three trips to areas in western Massachusetts, six less than last year. There were four pelagic trips scheduled.
Out-of-state trips included a weekend trip to the Machias area and to the Highland Plantation and Rangeley Lakes region in Maine, as well as a Summer Solstice Saunter to Maine’s southern coast. The combined total number of species on the Maine trips was 152 and included some boreal birds such as Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay and Boreal Chickadee. Ida Giriunas led her 29th annual Club trip to the Machias area which includes the famous Machias Seal Island and recorded over 4000 Atlantic Puffins! Ida and Eddie Giles have been leading these great trips for many years affording Club members the opportu- nity to see some northern forest and ocean birds that don’t nest in Massachusetts. There were two trips scheduled in New Hampshire; on June 12 Chris Ciccone led 6 members in search of Bicknell’s Thrush which was successful with four individuals seen; on November 7 Steve and Jane Mirick led their annual early winter trip along the coast, 22 members not only shared Steve’s favorite birding spots in New Hampshire, but they also really enjoyed the last stop in Salisbury, Massachusetts where a Northern Saw-whet Owl was found.
The Massachusetts Audubon Society (MAS) Checklist (07/2010) now includes most of the species that have been identified in the state as determined by the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC). The Club recorded the fol- lowing species that are listed as review species that the records committee is especially interested in as well as some species that are seen less than annual in occurrence.
Pink-footed GooseSudburyNovember 26
Barnacle GooseActonNovember 26
White-faced Storm-PetrelHydrographerAugust 28
Band-rumped Storm-PetrelHydrographerAugust 28
BLACK RAILPlum IslandJune 19
Great SkuaNantucket ShoalsAugust 28
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherPlum IslandAugust 8
SAGE THRASHERSalisburyJanuary 16

Highlights from the 2010 Brookline Bird Club Year

The Spring Meeting at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on April 16 featured Josh Rose, who worked at the World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Texas and who shared with us photos of birds like Green Jays and why this area of Texas is one of the top birding destinations in the country. The fall lecture meeting at Harvard featured our own member, Shawn Carey, who presented a grim first-hand account with images and video of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Shawn was joined by Drew Wheelan who works with the American Birding Association and was their representative in helping with the clean-up.
Laura de la Flor and Mark Burns opened up the start of 2010 by leading their 15th annual New Year’s Day birding trip. Thirty members enjoyed a perfect New Year’s Day of birding; the temperature reached a balmy 55 by afternoon. After a wel- coming toast of sparkling apple cider the group got down to birding and tallied a nice list of 51 species to start off the year.
Eddie Giles and Mark Burns led the 12th Annual Owl Prowl on January 9. The trip is an attempt to find by sight or sound all eight species of owls wintering in the state. The group found nine individual owls of five species. Ten members joined Jonathan Center on January 16 in Salisbury that found only the SECOND Sage Thrasher on a Club trip.
Eddie teamed up with Mary Kelleher on March 13 to lead the Club’s third Waterfowl Prowl. Like the owl prowl, the intent is to locate as many of the 30 species of ducks in one day on Massachusetts ponds. The leaders tallied 20 species of ducks including Eurasian Wigeon, Redhead and King Eider. On March 20, Laura and Mark led members on a Vernal Equinox trip from upper Cape Cod to Cumberland Farms, the temper- ature reached a very mild 72 degrees and the day ended with the courtship flight of the woodcock. On May 1, eight club members birded by bicycle up and down Plum Island, the tem- perature was ideal with abundant sunshine and no wind, the group tallied 77 species including 12 warbler species.
The Club scheduled Woodcock walks in Stoughton, Reading, and the Blue Hills. The Club continued co-sponsoring the TASL (Take a Second Look) surveys of the waterfowl of Boston Harbor and a Dawn Heron Census at Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston. Ongoing was a series of mid-week trips on Cape Ann in search for alcids led by Barbara Volkle Breeding Bird Surveys were conducted in Woburn, and in Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick. A weekend Campout at Wompatuck State Park had to be cancelled because of heavy rain, but three other trips there in the spring added some nice birds: American Bittern, Little Blue Heron, (both big surprises for the area) Yellow-throated Vireo and Worm-eating warblers. Glenn d’Entremont led the weekend jaunt out in the Berkshires birding Mount Greylock, where the Club recorded its only Black Vulture in Massachusetts for the year on Saturday and October Mountain on Sunday.
Of the four pelagic trips scheduled only one was cancelled because of weather and high seas. The first trip on June 26 was another great success, more so with the mammals than the birds. Two very rare Blue Whales, three Sperm Whales over 450 Short- beaked Common Dolphin and a very rare Green Sea Turtle were among the spectacular marine mammals. Four species of shear- water and 137 Leach’s Storm-Petrels gave great looks as they fed on the chum that was thrown to them. The August pelagic was nothing short of phenomenal, 22 White-faced Storm-Petrels was a record for the western Atlantic, as many as ten Band-rumped Storm-Petrels were recorded, a Great Skua gave great views on Nantucket shoals, while another skua eluded identification. Land birds included a Baird’s Sandpiper, 48 Hudsonian Godwits and a Red-headed Woodpecker, the only one seen on a 2010 BBC trip! On November 13 the final extreme pelagic saw amazing concen- trations of birds 350,000 Common Eider, 16,750 White-winged Scoter, 2,800 Great Shearwaters, 45 Northern Fulmars and a Great Skua.
Summer trips are highlighted by evening trips to Plum Island searching for early migrating shorebirds and flocks of herons fly- ing to roost. On August 8, the Club added Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and on August 18 and adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron was found on the refuge. Twelve members joined Laura and Mark on the annual Hawaiian Shirt Shorebird Safari to South beach, highlights were 16 shorebirds species including the only Marbled Godwits seen in 2010. The fall migration starts off with a three day Cape Cod Blitz hitting the hot spots on the outer Cape from Chatham to Provincetown; a total of 108 species were seen, including 8 Yellow-crowned Night Herons, a Baird’s Sandpiper, four Philadelphia Vireos and the only Hooded Warbler of the year. October brings the sparrows and frequent visits to community gardens in Wayland, Newton and Bolton Flats.
November finds our members visiting Cape Ann with six trips, a trip to Quabbin on November 20th was a great success for the leader and just one participant, and they got to see a record number of 19 Tundra Swans and 36 Wild Turkeys. Finally on November 26 Bill Drummond led an impromptu trip in search of some rare geese that were in the Sudbury River Valley. Thirteen members met Bill at the Riverside T station and were successfully in finding both the Pink-footed and Barnacle Goose, both new Massachusetts birds for the BBC overall list.
At the end of the year the Club suspends scheduled trips so that our members can participate in the Christmas Bird Counts (CBC). There are 34 count circles in Massachusetts and again this year, like 2009, stormy weather forced some counts to reschedule.
A total of 57 leaders guided our members around the state throughout the year. All of our dedicated leaders deserve a special thank-you including several leaders that deserve recognition for not only many years of leading but the number of trips they lead each year: Ida Giriunas, led the most with 16 trips, followed by Jonathan Center with 13, then Bill Drummond, Glenn d’Entremont and Sylvia Martin with12 trips each, Laura de la Flor, Linda Ferraresso and Bob Stymeist each led 10. Another 12 dedicated leaders accounted for five or more trips each.
The biggest trip list this year was Glenn d’Entremont’s South Shore Century Run trip, recording 114 species on May 8, sur- passing the usual late May trip on Plum Island and vicinity led by Bill Drummond who has in the past always topped the list.
In the following table you can see which trip in each month recorded the most species; this may help in planning for a big year of birding. Thanks to our group leaders!

DateLocation# SpeciesLeader
January 9Westport58Bob Stymeist
February 11Scituate-Plymouth72Glenn d'Entremont
March 20Outer Cape Cod59Laura de la Flor
April 25Boston73Bob Stymeist
May 8South Shore Century Run114Glenn d'Entremont
June 20October Mountain73Glenn d'Entremont
July 19Plum Island68Tom Young
August 28Marshfield-Middleboro72Glenn d'Entremont
September 11Wellfleet83Bob Stymeist
October 16Newburyport-PI69Tom Young
November 6Outer Cape Cod86Laura de la Flor
December 17Cape Ann36Barbara Volkle
The Club recorded nearly 81% of all the birds that were noted during 2010--pretty impressive! A total of at least 367 species were observed and reported by birders across the state during 2010. There were no new birds added to the official state list. Impressive species seen during the year not recorded on BBC trip lists were: Ross’ Goose, Eared Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Swallow-tailed and Mississippi kites, Purple Gallinule, Wilson’s Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint, Ivory Gull, Slaty-backed Gull White-winged Dove, Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Townsend’s Solitaire, Spotted Towhee LeConte’s Sparrow, Western Tanager, Painted Bunting and Common Chaffinch.
Weather wise 2010 was 2.2 degrees warmer than normal, with above average temperatures being recorded in all of the first ten months; in 2009 only four months recorded above normal readings. In November and December the average was just below the norm, the biggest weather event occurred just after Christmas when a blizzard left 18.2 inches of snow in Boston and caused severe damage along the coast, with Scituate bear- ing the brunt of the northeast gales. The summer was a sizzler, a total of 25 days had temperatures of 90 degrees or higher with 100 noted in Boston on July 6, 2010. In 2009 there were just 9 days that reached the 90 degree mark.

2010 ANNUAL LISTS

Without a doubt the best bird of the year is one that nobody saw--the Black Rail. It received the most votes not only because of its rareness but also because of the experience of just being in its presence. Doug Chickering wrote “I don’t think I have ever seen so many birders so delighted NOT seeing a bird--that great phantom of birding--the Black Rail. I still get a quiet pleasure when I recall that ki-ki-krrr drifting over to us in the gathering darkness from the North Pool on Plum Island.”
Another described the Black Rail as a big adventure “Waiting along the road on the Parker River refuge for the Black Rail to call, the mosquitoes were vicious, comradely was a treat, and just as the “federale” were chasing us out, the bird called!”
The great assembly of geese in the Concord area was among the top favorites. A Pink-footed Goose, only the third state record, as well as a very rare Barnacle Goose, played hide and seek moving from one field to the next, frustrating the many birders who made numerous trips to find them. One observer commented on one occasion when birders attempted to see the Pink-footed Goose in a far rear field by climbing trees and building make-shift elevated platforms; they were rewarded with seeing at most the head and maybe the upper body. Another observer was pleased to see ALL eight species of geese that have ever been seen in the state during the year.
“The Purple Gallinule in Rockport on BIRDATHON day was a real treat. We got to see it before the crowds started aggravat- ing the neighbors.”
“My life looks at a Long-tailed Jaeger while on an Aquarium Whale Watch. It flew directly overhead and was no more than 100 feet away!”
Ida’s Extreme Pelagic trips to offshore waters provided great opportunities to see some of the rarer seabirds “Being on board to see an amazing 22 White-faced Storm Petrels, sever- al Band-rumped Storm-Petrels and a Great Skua to boot.”
“My favorite was the BBC boat trip to Nantucket Shoals, over 300,000 Common Eiders-- that was a really amazing sight to see all those birds out there.” “Best birding experience: easily the November BBC pelagic and the thrilling experience of watching clouds of hundreds of thousands of eiders and scoters in Narragansett Sound. The great skua on the trip was anti-climatic.”
Weather related events made for some observers memorable moments: “May 1 was the day to be out birding and Plum Island was the place to be--98 species, 14 species of warblers, most notably the Northern Waterthrushes singing loudly and seemingly everywhere on the island.”
“The August storm that produced a fallout of Common and Black Terns on inland lakes.”
Personal moments such as a close encounter with a male Northern Goshawk, “as I walked down a trail I was warned I was getting too close to the nest with a couple of close fly- over’s forcing me to duck. Needless to say, it worked”.
“After years of missing Ruffed Grouse, a brief but very satisfy- ing sight at Assabet NWR.”
“Focusing on a flying Northern Hawk Owl heading right toward me and feeling his wings as he passes right over my head.”
“Seeing over a thousand Broad-winged Hawks passing over Mt. Watatic in one day.”
“Watching a female Cerulean Warbler feeding three fledglings in a nest.”
“Having a Common Chaffinch in my yard every day for two and a half months.”
For one birder, working on the Breeding Bird Atlas has taken away from chasing birds, but “I have to admit that it's really been fun to work on this project and I'll really miss working on it when it's over.”
Other “best” birds included: Tundra Swan, Ivory Gull of Race Point, Ivory Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Thick-billed Murre, Long- eared Owl, the Red-headed Woodpecker in Dracut, Cave Swallow, Western Kingbird, Sedge Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire, Sage Thrasher, Blue Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. The latter for one observer was only his second in his home town in 25 years.
For the most part there was little to be disappointed in the birding year 2010, though there are those moments that can be quite frustrating especially when one puts in an effort to see a reported bird. “The Greater White-fronted Goose eluded me after repeated trips to areas where it had been found even though I kept seeing the rarer Barnacle Goose four times and the Pink-footed Goose three times.”
“Missing the Tufted Duck in Waltham in an area that I bird almost every day except the one day it was found.”
“Not seeing a Golden-winged Warbler for the fifth straight year.”
“My most disappointing miss was a Dovekie that I never saw the on the boat trip and they were right there in front of me.”
“Missing a Pomarine Jaeger which is surprising considering I got TWO species of skua from land!”
“My biggest miss was Cape May Warbler, not sure when the last time I missed this considering the amount of time I spend in the field in the spring.”
Again some of the regular occurring birds were missed by the top listers: Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Bobwhite, American Bittern, Tricolored Heron, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Broad-winged Hawk, Semipalmated and Pectoral sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Yellow-throated Vireo and the follow- ing warblers: Orange-crowned, Connecticut, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-breasted Chat and Fox Sparrow.

ANNUAL LISTS
Jeremiah Trimble, Cambridge333
John Hoye, Wayland331
Audrey McCarthy, Wayland320
Linda Ferraresso, Watertown311
Chris Floyd, Lexington311
Glenn d’Entremont, Randolph309
Ida Giriunas, Reading305
Neil Hayward, Cambridge304
Herman D’Entremont, Somerville301
Oakes Spalding, Cambridge300
Bob Stymeist, Arlington300
Fay Vale295
Steve Grinley, Newburyport292
Bev Chiasson, Newton290
Margo Goetschkes, Cambridge290
Karsten Hartel, Arlington277
Fred Bouchard, Brookline276
Jonathan Center, Chelmsford266
Doug Chickering, Groveland260
Jason Forbes, Waltham252
Tom Wetmore, Newburyport *251
Laura de la Flor, Salem213
Bob Stymeist, Arlington **201
George Leet, Beverly162
Jason Forbes, Waltham ***156
Plum Island only *
Suffolk County only **
Waltham only ***