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Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary
Birding Community Newsletter
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A PUBLICATION OF NORTHEAST WETLAND RESTORATION
Issue 2017-11 | Thursday, June 22 2017 | 897 Subscribers
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A Cool Wet Spring Prolongs the Arrival of Spring Migrants
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Rain soaked Southerlies round off the migration season with a steady flow of migrants back into the Rumney Marshes ACEC. With the arrival of the last summer residents, former traveling companions prepare to spend the brief breeding season Vis-à-vis on the grassy plain of the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary.
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June 11, 2017 Annual Summer Breeding Bird Survey I
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Bear Creek Sanctuary
(restricted access)
, Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts, US
June 11, 2017
7:37 AM - 10:46 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 Mile(s)
43 Bird Species
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Canada Goose 8
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 10
Wild Turkey 4
Double-crested Cormorant 13
Great Egret 7
Snowy Egret 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 7
Northern Harrier 1
Killdeer 9
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Willet 2
Herring Gull 60
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Least Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Warbling Vireo 2
American Crow 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
American Robin 20
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 75
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 1
Yellow Warbler 12
Savannah Sparrow 35
Song Sparrow 12
Bobolink 17
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 15
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This week's bird of the week goes to the male Bobolinks that arrived on a strong south wind. Not bad guys, you're looking pretty snazzy in your Sunday's best breeding plumage.
The first Bobolink spotted in the sanctuary this year was a team effort. It was first heard by Evelyn and, then shortly thereafter, spotted by Nancy.
The three males above, presumably traveling companions, arrived ahead of the pack, and enjoyed free reign over the grassland of the Rumney Marshes ACEC.
Runner-up this week goes to the Black Swallowtail butterfly pictured below. Delicate and very cold on the day that the picture was taken, Black Swallowtails are a stunning open country butterfly. Often exposed and vulnerable, the number and diversity of butterflies and moths in the grassland are remarkable.
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SCANNING ACROSS THE GRASSLAND
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During the breeding season, the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary conducts two annual breeding bird surveys. During the first annual survey, performed on Sunday, June 11, participants observed 43 bird species in the sanctuary.
In the next newsletter, we will post the results of the second annual survey and recap the season to see how 2017 compares to the past 18 seasons.
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The Sanctuary is currently closed for the breeding season. The Autumn bird walk season will resume in mid-August.
NOTE: The Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public for guided tours only. If you would like to visit the sanctuary, please attend one of our regularly scheduled nature walks, or contact us to arrange a private tour. Thank you.
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Special thanks to Soheil, Patricia, Tim, Linda, Alan, Sebastian, Caroline, Pat, Evelyn, Nancy, Greg and everyone else who contributed pictures and support this week. Without your help, this publication could not be produced.
Additional pictures from this season:
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ABOUT BEAR CREEK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
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The
Wheelabrator Saugus Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is a 370-acre property abutting a 2,274-acre estuary on the outskirts of Boston, located in the heart of the Rumney Marshes ACEC. Maintained and managed grasslands, salt marshes, shrublands and maturing woodlands combine as one of the largest bird migration staging areas on the North Shore and a habitat for nearly 200 bird species, as well as other wildlife such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons and snakes. Visitors can enjoy the more than 14,000 feet of walking trails that permeate the site, a half-acre exhibit garden, and meeting and lecture areas, which are scattered throughout nine of the restored ecosystems. Situated directly behind Wheelabrator Saugus, the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is maintained and managed by Geoff Wilson of Northeast Wetland Restoration. Follow along with us as the birds change with each passing season!
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