Winter birding in Essex County attracts birders from near and far. Every year in mid-February, we are visited by bird clubs from western Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and beyond.
Last weekend, five members of the Litchfield Hills Audubon from northwestern Connecticut, led by Dave Tripp, made their yearly pilgrimage here to find birds. Margo and I like to join them when we can during the weekend, and we try to help them find some birds while they are here.
On their way here, their first stop was in Merrimac to try to see the western tanager that is still coming to a feeder there. They were not disappointed. Not only did they see the tanager, they also saw the ruby-crowned kinglet that has also been there for months now.
They then went to River Road in West Newbury to try to find the Barrow’s goldeneye that has been there much of the winter mixed in with the common goldeneyes. Unfortunately, they missed the Barrow’s but they did spot an Iceland gull among the many gulls on the ice at the Rock’s Village Bridge.
They also enjoyed the other diving ducks on the river including common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers as well as bufflehead, ring-necked ducks, and the numerous common goldeneyes.
We caught up with Dave and his group in Salisbury where they were enjoying views of a long-eared owl. The raptor show continued with three harriers, five bald eagles and a merlin at the Salisbury Beach State Reservation. We spotted two horned larks in the wrack line near the boat ramp and added three mockingbirds and a cedar waxwing to the list.
The next day was spent at Cape Ann where we met up with the group near Good Harbor Beach where the rare Swainson’s hawk had been hanging out. There was another larger group from the Hoffman Bird Club of Western Massachusetts there watching for the hawk. Shortly after we arrived, the Swainson’s hawk was spotted circling over the marsh. It continued to circle toward us in great light, and eventually flew right overhead. I could hear the gasps and awes from the 20 or so birders around me.
Satisfied with our looks, we headed to Loblolly Cove where a rare spotted towhee had been wintering. We spent more than 2½ hours there looking for the towhee while enjoying some other songbirds, as well as the waterfowl in the cove. At one point, Dave and another birder in the group caught a glimpse of the towhee perched atop a small juniper for a split second before it disappeared again.
We found a hermit thrush and a catbird eating berries in one area as well as four cardinals and a Carolina wren. In the waters of the cove we spotting two black guillemots, all three scoter species, goldeneye, bufflehead, handsome harlequin ducks and two red-necked grebes – all in beautiful afternoon light! Most of us were eventually rewarded with a somewhat longer glimpse of the spotted towhee teed up on another juniper. We continued on and ended that day with views and photos of a male wood duck in Rockport Harbor.
The next day, we joined the group as they headed back to River Road in West Newbury for another attempt for the Barrow’s goldeneye. We first watched three male common mergansers wrestling with a large eel. They were ripping it in pieces and trying to swallow the thick pieces down their thin necks. Quite a sight to watch!
We next watched a young bald eagle that was across the river try to catch a fish. His technique was sloppy and the big raptor made a splash in the water but was very unsuccessful.
Not far away, an adult bald eagle swooped down and caught a fish – first try. The young bird tried to steal the fish from the adult but it took the prey and headed down river with the youngster in pursuit!
We saw good numbers of common goldeneyes a little further ahead and we stopped to scan the river. Dave was first to spot the Barrow’s among all the other ducks. It was a very handsome male and everyone got great views through the scopes and added another bird to their list.
We happened to mention to Dave that other birders were finding yellow-bellied sapsuckers along the road there and before we knew it, he started hooting like a barred owl!
We witnessed sapsuckers coming in to barred owl calls before, be but didn’t think one would respond there. Dave had the titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and a downy woodpecker all excited around us when, sure enough, a female yellow-bellied sapsucker came in as well! It was great way to end their visit to Essex County in February.
Steve Grinley is the owner of Bird Watcher’s Supply and Gift in the Port Plaza, Newburyport. Email him at Birdwsg@comcast.net. On the web: www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com.