December 2018https://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2018/December-2018Bygone Birds: Historical Highlights for July-Augusthttps://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2018/December-2018/bygone-birds-historical-highlights-for-july-augustBygone BirdsSat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMTBygone Birds: Historical Highlights for July-August<h3>20 YEARS AGO</h3> <table class="table"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo46-6/Cover_1998.png" title="" /></td> <td> <h6>July–August 1998</h6> <p>On August 2 a juvenile Black Vulture fledged from the Blue Hills in Milton. This represented the first confirmed breeding record anywhere in New England. A <strong>Purple Gallinule</strong> was on Nantucket from July 12–August 7. Chatham hosted a pair of <strong>American Avocets</strong>, as well as the <strong>Bar-tailed Godwit</strong> that had previously overwintered in Plymouth. Flycatchers stole the passerine show with a <strong>Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</strong> on Martha's Vineyard and a juvenile <strong>Fork-tailed Flycatcher</strong> at Plum Island which stayed for over a month. A <strong>Northern Wheatear</strong> was found on Nantucket on August 30.</p> <p>Best sighting: a <strong>Red-necked Stint</strong> in breeding plumage was at the end of Duxbury Beach, August 21–September 7. Shuttle buses to the site allowed many birders to enjoy this third record for the state.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3>40 YEARS AGO</h3> <table class="table"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo46-6/Cover_1978.png" title="" /></td> <td> <h6>July–August 1978</h6> <p>Monomoy hosted up to 150 Hudsonian Godwits during August, while 2,500 Red Knot<a id="_idTextAnchor009"></a>s were counted at Scituate on August 3. A <strong>Sandwich Tern</strong> was found at Tuckernuck Island on August 21. The peak of the Common Nighthawk flight was 1,180 birds over Wellesley on August 30. A <strong>Loggerhead Shrike</strong> was at Plum Island on August 19.</p> <p>Best sighting: a <strong>Lewis's Woodpecker</strong> photographed in Lunenburg on May 26 represented the third record for the state.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>