August 2019https://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2019/August-2019Front Cover: August 2019https://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2019/August-2019/front-cover-august-2019Front CoverThu, 01 Aug 2019 08:08:00 GMTFront Cover: August 2019<h3>American White Pelican</h3> <p>The American White Pelican (<em>Pelecanus erythrorhynchos</em>) is a spectacular bird; a flock of these pelicans flying or soaring is a sight to remember. They alternately flap and glide in a synchronous manner, and usually fly in a long line, often in a V formation at the front. Flocks also soar on sunny days, sometimes to great heights. They are highly gregarious while nesting, foraging, loafing, and during migration.</p> <p>American White Pelicans (White Pelicans) are unmistakable among North American birds. They are large and white-bodied with black primaries and outer secondaries that are in sharp contrast in flight to the white body and the rest of the wings. The bill is huge and bright orange as are the legs and feet. In the breeding season, adults also develop a conspicuous horny, plate-like structure on the top of the bill. Juvenile birds are similar to adults in appearance, but are tinged light gray on the wings and neck. White Pelicans show little or no geographic variation and no subspecies have been described.</p> <p>DNA studies have thrown the Pelicaniformes into a muddle, suggesting that the Pelicanidae, which includes all of the world's pelicans, is more closely related to the New World vultures and storks than to other members of the former Pelicaniformes such as the frigatebirds, gannets, and cormorants. Sibley and Alquist's DNA studies (1990) led them to group the Pelicaniformes with the grebes, ibises, spoonbills, New World vultures, storks, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels to form the huge order Ciconiiformes. Subsequent studies however have reshuffled the families and orders to group the Pelicanidae with the herons, ibises and spoonbills, and two African single-species families: the Hamerkop (Scopidae) and the Shoebill (Balaenicipitidae). How's that for confusing? These nomenclatural problems are not settled and clearly need to be further sorted out.</p> <p>White Pelicans breed in scattered colonies across southwest Canada and the northwestern quadrant of the United States as far south as northern California and Colorado. They are migratory except for a year-round colony in Texas and two in Mexico. They winter from California and western Arizona south along the coast to Baja California and El Salvador, or from west Texas east to Florida and south through central and eastern Mexico to the Yucatan. In Massachusetts, up to the middle of the twentieth century American White pelicans were rare, with only a handful of reports. In recent decades however, sightings have been nearly annual along the coast, particularly on Cape Cod and the Islands and at Plum Island on the North Shore.</p> <p>White Pelicans are monogamous colonial breeders. Courtship and pairing occurs several weeks after arrival on the breeding grounds, which are mostly on low-lying islands. Courtship flights may follow or precede birds strutting single file with heads erect and bills down. Courtship displays include bowing with neck arched, wings elevated at the shoulders, pouch extended, and head swaying. They are generally silent even during courtship. Groups of newly-paired pelicans select a territory and nest site near other birds at the same stage of the nesting cycle, creating dense synchronized subcolonies that form the greater colony. Pelicans are territorial in the immediate vicinity of their nest, which both birds defend with bill jabbing; they give threat displays with head and bill forward, sometimes with the bill pouch extended ventrally. White Pelicans often share nesting islands with cormorants, gulls, and other birds.</p> <p>The nests are usually on flat or gently sloping surfaces on the breeding island, usually in sparse vegetation, but occas<a id="_idTextAnchor010"></a>ionally among bushes or trees. The nest is a shallow depression with a rim of gravel or vegetation. Neither parent develops a brood patch, but both incubate the clutch of two chalky white eggs by covering them with the webs between their toes. Incubating birds may extend wings, probably for cooling, and may also flutter the gular pouch to aid in evaporative cooling. The young hatch in about one month. Their eyes are closed for the first day and they are naked, and although they can raise their heads, they are helpless. The chick that hatches first is usually more aggressive, gets most of the food, attacks and pecks the second chick, and drives it to the edge of the nest where it usually starves to death, a victim of siblicide. The surviving chick usually stays in the nest for two to three weeks. When the parents of a sub-colony begin to leave the nests unattended, the chicks wander and form crèches, where all of the young from the colony stay for about a month. Initially, young birds may leave the crèche to be brooded by the parents at night. The parents feed the chicks by regurgitating small fish. As chicks get older, they feed directly from the adult's pouch and eventually feed by reaching down the parent's throat. Both parents continue to feed the surviving chick until it leaves the colony after 10–11 weeks, about a week after its first flight.</p> <p>White Pelicans feed mostly on fish that range in size from small schooling fish to large bottom feeders. While swimming or floating, they forage in shallow water by dipping their long bills into the water and scooping up fish in their large, flexible pouches. They raise their bills to facilitate swallowing. They are generally diurnal foragers, locating prey by sight, but also forage at night during the breeding season, when tactile location of prey becomes important. They often forage cooperatively, with flocks using coordinated movements, sometimes swimming and circling schools of fish or driving them into shallow water with bills dipping and wings flapping. They often synchronize their bill dipping. They never forage by plunge-diving as Brown Pelicans do.</p> <p>Nesting White Pelicans are preyed upon by foxes and coyotes, nests are raided by gulls, and young are taken by hawks, eagles, and owls. Human disturbance can be a major problem, often causing colony abandonment. Nesting birds, for example, are often dispersed by the close approach of motorboats. When a disturbed adult leaves the nest, it may result in gull predation or, in hot weather, heat-related damage to eggs or chicks. Habitat loss is also a problem. White Pelican populations declined through the 1950s but have subsequently increased. Protective legislation and public awareness have helped to stabilize White Pelican populations, so there is hope for the continued presence of this most interesting species.</p> <hr /> <p class="author">William E. Davis, Jr.</p> Birding the Squantum Section of Quincy, Massachusettshttps://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2019/August-2019/birding-the-squantum-section-of-quincy-massachusettsWhere to Go BirdingThu, 01 Aug 2019 08:07:00 GMTBirding the Squantum Section of Quincy, Massachusetts<h3>History</h3> <p>Only minutes south of Boston, the city of Quincy has a rich history. Referred to by some as the city of presidents, it is the birthplace of the second and sixth presidents of the United States, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and is home to Adams National Historic Park. Quincy is the birthplace of John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence and first American governor of Massachusetts, and it is the site of the Granite Railway, America's first commercial railway.</p> <p>Squantum derives its name from the Native American guide and interpreter, Tisquantum or Squanto, who brought the Plymouth Colony commander Myles Standish to visit Chief Chickatawbut of the Massachusett tribe at his ruling seat on Moswetuset Hummock in Squantum in 1621. Moswetuset is believed to be the origin for the name of the Massachusett tribe.</p> <p>Additionally, Squantum played a role in aviation dating back to the first part of the twentieth century. Squantum Point was a site for early airshows. The original civilian airfield— where Amelia Earhart was employed as chief pilot—dates back to 1910; it later became Naval Air Station Squantum, an active military base from 1923–1953.</p> <h3>Logistics</h3> <p>Squantum is a well-defined, relatively compact area—2.7 square miles—that starts at the intersection of East Squantum Street and Quincy Shore Drive. You can cover all of the featured birding locations within Squantum in as little as 2–3 hours or more extensively in 5–6 hours, depending on your pace. A good understanding of the tides will help you locate more birds, and if you have a vehicle you can optimize your birding success by moving from location to location to adapt to changing tides. Specific tide details will be discussed in site descriptions. A spotting scope can enhance your views of waterfowl and shorebirds. If you prefer a guided tour, the South Shore Bird Club (<a href="https://southshorebirdclub.wixsite.com/ssbc" target="_blank">https://southshorebirdclub.wixsite.com/ssbc</a>) offers a few trips every year.</p> <p>Driving directions: From Interstate 93, take Exit 12: MA - 3A S/Gallivan Blvd. Continue straight onto Hancock Street/Neponset Avenue for approximately one mile, keeping left on Quincy Shore Drive. Turn left onto East Squantum Street just before Wollaston Beach.</p> <p>Arrive by public transportation with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), stopping at the nearby North Quincy Station. MBTA bus #211 makes stops in Squantum.</p> <p>There are no public bathroom facilities in Squantum, so plan ahead. Dunkin' at the corner of East Squantum Street and Quincy Shore Drive has a bathroom. Or try your luck at one of the restaurants at Marina Bay's Victory Road waterfront.</p> <h3>Moswetuset Hummock</h3> <p>As its name suggests, the Hummock is a small, elevated, mostly oak-treed city park that looks out over Quincy Bay and an adjacent salt marsh. It is located along the main causeway at the beginning of Squantum and is next to the north end of Wollaston Beach. The parking lot is directly across the street from the Kennedy Center building at 440 East Squantum Street. (See Figure 1. Overview Map of Squantum.)</p> <p>The main trail follows the outside edges of the hummock and affords fine views. Morning light can be in your face when looking out into Quincy Bay, so if possible, visit midday or in the afternoon. Scan the salt marsh for Great and Snowy egrets and Glossy Ibis (uncommon) at higher tides. There is an active Osprey platform in the marsh. Other birds include resident American Black Ducks and summering Willets, Least Terns, and Barn and Tree swallows. In winter, check elevated perches at dusk for a Snowy Owl during flight years.</p> <p>Look south to Quincy Bay. High tide is best for views of wintering seafowl from mid-October through mid-April. Expect American Black Ducks, Common Eiders, Surf and White-winged scoters, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common and Red-throated loons, and Horned Grebes. Less common are Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Ducks. The occasional dabbling duck can be spotted among the Black Ducks, especially after a quick, early winter freeze of inland bodies of water.</p> <p>Low tide reveals extensive mudflats that can attract a variety of shorebirds and wading birds, with peak numbers from July to mid-September. A rising tide is best because it will push birds closer toward you. There should be Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Greater Yellowlegs; fewer Black-bellied Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, White-rumped Sandpipers (uncommon), Short-billed Dowitchers, and Lesser Yellowlegs. Look carefully through these flocks because Western Sandpiper is found annually in small numbers. Post-breeding Laughing Gulls forage along the water's edge from July through October in addition to the resident Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed gulls. Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and Snowy Egrets also work the shallows, adding height and color to the feeding scene.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/fullsizeoutput_5d66.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095311-690" /><br /> Squantum pans next to Kennedy Center. All photographs by the author unless otherwise<br /> indicated.</p> <p>The waters around Squantum seem to be a major staging area for migrating Double-crested Cormorants, where it's not uncommon to see a few thousand in the fall. Flocks of one hundred or more regularly depart for points south or southwest, especially early in the morning. Moswetuset Hummock is one of several vantage points around Squantum where one can witness large feeding frenzies during October, as masses of Double-crested Cormorants herd baitfish in the surrounding bays, which also attracts gulls, terns, and fish-eating waterfowl, particularly Red-throated Loons. Among the masses of gulls and terns, look for Bonaparte's Gulls keying in to these feeding aggregations. The majority of the terns are Common Terns, but a Forster's Tern or two are possible with a thorough search.</p> <p>The wooded part of Moswetuset Hummock can host passerines during migration. This is a classic "boom or bust" type of spot, but frequent visits can yield results. April migrants such as Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, Brown Creepers, Eastern Phoebes, and Northern Flickers can be viewed well before the foliage pops.</p> <h3>Squantum Marshes</h3> <p>The Squantum Marshes are patches of salt marsh along East Squantum Street. (See Figure 1). The first and most frequently birded of these is on the north side of East Squantum Street adjacent to the Kennedy Center. This marsh features salt pans or pools that host a wide variety of shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl in season. It is most productive from spring through fall. The ideal conditions here are during a high tide, preferably in the morning when the light is at your back. This is <em>the</em> location in Squantum during high tide because shorebirds get pushed out of their feeding areas on the incoming tide and congregate in these salt pans.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/P1180449.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095308-783" /><br /> Stilt Sandpiper and Dunlin at Squantum pans next to Kennedy Center.</p> <p>Park either at the Moswetuset Hummock lot across the street or alongside the marsh on the side road, 440B East Squantum Street, which is the north entrance to the Kennedy Center. This side road is a good place to begin birding. The largest pool touches the edge of the road, and a vehicle can make a nice blind as you initially scan. To get a more commanding view of all the pools and the marsh as a whole, walk along the sidewalk on the main road, East Squantum Street. Killdeer and Willets breed here. Other regular shorebirds include Semipalmated Plover, Least and Semipalmated sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Greater and Lesser yellowlegs. Less frequent, but regular are Pectoral, White-rumped, and Stilt sandpipers, as well as Dunlin (October). This marsh is one of only a few places in the Boston area that regularly host Stilt Sandpipers. The pools here are their favored habitat. Be on the lookout for Whimbrels, Western Sandpipers, and Long-billed Dowitchers, all rare but annual. Wilson's Phalarope is possible, with a few sightings in the past decade.</p> <p>All of this shorebird activity attracts the attention of avian predators. The sudden flushing of the flocks is a sure sign that a predator is about. Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, and Cooper's Hawks are the main pursuers and can totally clear the area of all shorebirds, a spectacular sight, but it can also cut your birding visit short.</p> <p>A dawn visit between July and mid-September can be quite rewarding. Up to 75 Great and Snowy egrets and a few Great Blue Herons congregate in the pans at daybreak, which makes for a spectacular up-close but short-lived encounter. Most of these birds disperse to more productive feeding spots within about 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the sky as well because Black-crowned Night Herons fly over with some regularity as they head to their daytime roost.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/P1160212.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095308-987" /><br /> Green-winged Teal at Squantum pans next to Kennedy Center.</p> <p>This section of salt marsh hosts two breeding birds of conservation concern. American Black Ducks are often overlooked as breeders in the area. Lucky observers can encounter black duck hens with ducklings in tow mostly during the month of May. This species has declined sharply as a breeding bird in Massachusetts over the past 25 years, especially away from coastal areas.</p> <p>Saltmarsh Sparrows also nest here, perhaps six pairs. Scan carefully—a scope is useful—for teed-up Saltmarsh Sparrows in the marsh. Patience is required because these secretive birds move around a lot and many times dive into the vegetation and disappear. This salt marsh specialist nests only on the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Virginia and is at center stage in the discussion about the impact of climate change on birds. Leading authorities predict successful nestings of these salt marsh denizens will diminish as sea levels continue to rise (Gorman 2018). I have not personally noticed a change in numbers at this particular spot, but one can't help to think about their fate as time goes by.</p> <p>Barn Swallows nest in an abandoned storage building next to the marsh and are a welcome distraction as they hunt low over this open area. Squantum is not known for numbers or variety of dabbling ducks. Along with Mallard and American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal is the only regular dabbler during migration in these pools. On occasion, Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers drop in for a brief stay. A few Least Terns hover over the pools in the summer. This state-listed species of special concern likely nests nearby on one of the Boston Harbor islands. Glossy Ibises occasionally feed in the marshes in spring and summer. A number of exciting rarities have been spotted over the years, including Baird's Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Clapper Rail, Tricolored Heron, and White-faced Ibis. Odonate aficionados will notice the seaside dragonlet (<em>Erythrodiplax berenice</em>) skimming low over the salt pans. This small dragonfly is the only North American species that can breed in seawater.</p> <p>Directly behind the Kennedy Center are a small patch of phragmites marsh, an old weedy baseball field, and some early successional brushy habitat that hold some interesting birds in spring and fall migrations. Look for Wilson's Snipe in early April. A small section of the old ballfield is tidal and can be wet, but a walk through it can be productive, with Song, White-throated, Swamp, and Savannah sparrows and the possibility of Field, White-crowned, or Lincoln's sparrows. Autumn migration days may feature many Yellow-rumped Warblers and others such as Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Blackpoll Warbler. This is the right habitat to hope for an uncommon Orange-crowned Warbler. Listen for Willow Flycatcher; a pair regularly breeds in the brushy area behind the old ballfield.</p> <p>Return to East Squantum Street and either walk or drive for 0.4 mile, then turn right onto Heath Street, and continue to the end of the cul-de-sac to view another section of salt marsh with an osprey platform. If the tide is high, it's worth checking the marsh, boat docks, and walkways that jut out into the marsh for birds; bypass this area at low tide. Before returning to East Squantum Street, park on Heath Street and cross the main road to scan north at the seawall into the waters of Dorchester Bay. The large condominium buildings of Marina Bay are in view across the bay with the Boston skyline in the background.</p> <p>This small embayment has nice birds and views, but is best with morning light and on a lower tide when the mudflats and sand spit are exposed. A spotting scope is useful for scrutinizing shorebirds and waterfowl. American Oystercatchers—local breeders—and Black-bellied Plovers frequent the sand spit, as do Laughing Gulls between July and October. The spit is one of a few places in the area to try for Caspian Terns in September. Semipalmated Plovers, Least and Semipalmated sandpipers, and Greater Yellowlegs regularly feed on the mudflats. Less common shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Dunlins (October), White-rumped Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers (rare), Short-billed Dowitchers, and Willets round out the possibilities. Common and Least terns feed along this stretch of water during the summer months. Keep an eye out for Black Skimmers, which are rare but can occur in some years. It is thought that juvenile birds disperse from breeding grounds to the south and feed in these shallow bays in late summer. Black-headed Gull and Red Knot are a couple of rarities that have shown up in recent years.</p> <p>This is another favored spot for wading birds such as Great and Snowy egrets and Great Blue Herons. Flocks of Brant, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, use this area; peak numbers occur during spring and fall migrations. The seawall is another vantage point from which to view the feeding frenzies of cormorants, gulls, terns, and fish-eating waterfowl.</p> <h3>Squaw Rock Park</h3> <p>Squaw Rock Park is Squantum's best migrant trap, another classic "boom or bust" kind of place during migration. Birders know it as Squaw Rock, but it also goes by Nickerson Beach or Chapel Rocks. Continue driving along East Squantum Street and go left when the road forks; it becomes Dorchester Street, hugging the seawall. In about 0.6 mile, just before the road curves right, you'll approach a wooded area on the left and then a set of low cinder block buildings (a former Cold War Nike missile site). You can park along the road in front of the Mollie Hirshberg Learning Center or turn left into the parking lot for the Robert I. Nickerson VFW Post 382. A trail skirts the edge of the park, and several less-traveled trails crisscross the center. It's easy to find your way around this small property. (See Figure 2. Map of Squaw Rock Park.)</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/Squaw_Rock_Rev_1.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-005028-687" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 2.</strong> Map of Squaw Rock Park.</p> <p>More than thirty species of warblers have been seen at Squaw Rock Park. May has the highest diversity, with Common Yellowthroats, American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, and Black-and-white, Magnolia, Yellow, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, and Wilson's warblers among the most frequently encountered. Flycatchers such as Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Eastern Kingbird are expected. Yellow-bellied and Alder flycatchers are rare but possible in late May through early June. Yellow-billed and Black-billed cuckoos, as well as Red-eyed, Blue-headed, Warbling, and Philadelphia (uncommon; September) vireos pass through, as do Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned kinglets, and Hermit and Swainson's thrushes. During fall migration, be on the lookout for Field, Fox, White-crowned, White-throated, Lincoln's, and Swamp sparrows.</p> <p>The habitat of this city park is mostly wooded with a few patches of open early successional growth, and a tiny, inactive quarry. Because this patch of green is surrounded by development and is situated at the coast, almost anything is possible. Kentucky Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Ash-throated Flycatcher are just a few of the many rare birds recorded here.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/P1190645.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095309-207" /><br /> Bay-breasted Warbler at Squaw Rock.</p> <p>A tiny, long-defunct quarry sits roughly in the middle of the park. The vegetation is lower here and makes a nice semi-open area from which to watch for migrants. Black-crowned Night Herons sometimes roost in the trees on the edge of the quarry. Northern Rough-winged Swallows have nested here. This is also a good spot to find Eastern Screech Owls.</p> <p>A midsummer visit isn't as rewarding as during migrations, but expect Gray Catbirds, Northern Cardinals, Yellow Warblers, American Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, Chimney Swifts, Northern Mockingbirds, Carolina and House wrens, American Crows, Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, and Cooper's Hawks. Sometimes you can find Spotted Sandpipers along the shoreline.</p> <p>The elevations at Squaw Rock provide several vantage points for looking at Boston Harbor, with fantastic views of the Boston skyline and some of the Harbor Islands, as well as commanding views of October feeding frenzies and of wintering waterfowl. Directly north is Thompson Island, part of the Boston Harbor National Recreation Area. Between these two land masses there is a prominent sand spit that attracts gulls, terns, cormorants, and shorebirds on a rising tide. This is a consistent spot for American Oystercatchers and Black-bellied Plovers in season. It is also one of the best places in the state to see Caspian Terns in September.</p> <h3>Orchard Beach</h3> <p>Orchard Beach is a tiny public beach in a quieter section of Squantum that looks out onto Quincy Bay. Tide isn't as critical here, but morning light is unfavorable. From Squaw Rock Park, head back on Dorchester Street for 0.2 mile, take a left onto Bellevue Road, continue for 0.4 mile, and turn left onto Huckins Avenue. In 0.1 mile, turn left onto Bayside Road, then park along the seawall. Orchard Beach is another good location to witness feeding frenzies.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/P1210684.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095309-050" /><br /> Orchard Beach</p> <p>At high tide, check the large rock formation on the right that juts out into the water from the end of the beach. This is a favorite daytime roosting or resting spot for American Oystercatchers and Laughing Gulls. Look for the occasional Forster's Tern mixed in with the Common Terns.</p> <p>Lower tides bring in shorebirds and roosting gulls and terns. Black-bellied and Semipalmated plovers, as well as a few Ruddy Turnstones favor this area. A scan of the waters can yield impressive numbers of Red-throated Loons during migration as well as a few Long-tailed Ducks in winter and early spring. Search for Northern Gannets; curiously, some gannets regularly come into the protected bays during a tight window of time in early April. Brown Pelican, Royal Tern, and Parasitic Jaeger are a few of the rarities seen at Orchard Beach.</p> <p>To return to East Squantum Street, take the first left (0.1 mile) from Bayside Road onto Brunswick Street. Drive 0.2 mile to the end, and take a left on Bellevue Road, then an immediate right onto Huckins Avenue. Take Huckins Avenue for 0.4 mile, and turn left at the end to get back on the main causeway.</p> <h3>Marina Bay and Squantum Point Park</h3> <p>Most of the birding opportunities in Marina Bay, or New Squantum, center around Squantum Point Park. If you are going to begin your birding trip here, take Victory Road, which is the first left off of East Squantum Street after passing the Kennedy Center. Coming from Squaw Rock, take a right onto Victory Road. Proceed for 0.4 mile to a rotary, continue on Victory Road for another 0.2 mile, then take the first left onto Ludlow Road, which has no street sign. Continue on Ludlow Road for 0.2 mile, then turn left at the entrance to Squantum Point Park into a large parking lot. The first hour of parking is free, but there is a fee if you stay longer.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/Squantum_Point_Rev_1.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-005027-857" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 3.</strong> Map of Squantum Point Park.</p> <p>This state park, run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, is approximately 50 acres, consisting of mostly wet, early successional forest and the maintained grassy strip of the former airport runway. The Neponset River flanks the west side of the property and flows into Dorchester Bay. (See Figure 3. Map of Squantum Point Park.) Two entry points at either end of the parking lot lead to the loop walkway around the old airstrip. An early morning visit is preferable because this is a favorite place for dog walkers.</p> <p>At the north tip of the paved loop is Squantum Point, which provides an open view of estuarine waters. This is a consistent location during the cold months for Red-throated Loons as well as a place to look for a rare Barrow's Goldeneye or King Eider. Check the sandbars on the lower tides for American Oystercatchers and Caspian Terns in season.</p> <p>In spring, a few American Woodcocks display at dusk in the open areas. Listen also for Virginia Rail, which has been known to nest in the remnant cattail marsh on the west edge of the runway loop. Expect breeding Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Cedar Waxwings, and a pair or two of Willow Flycatchers.</p> <p>The remaining patches of thicket habitat attract a variety of fall and early winter migrants. Chief among them are Yellow-rumped, Palm, and Blackpoll warblers, several species of sparrows, Hermit Thrush, and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned kinglets. Look for Lincoln's, White-crowned, American Tree, and Fox sparrows on the weedy edges of the old runway. Check for late-season migrants such as Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats, which are rare, but there is favorable habitat here. A Boreal Chickadee in 2010 delighted birders and also led to the discovery of a rare Le Conte's Sparrow. One can encounter American Robins during fall and winter as they go to and from their roosts at dawn or dusk. This concentration of birds attracts the attention of birds of prey, most notably Cooper's Hawks and the occasional Merlin.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/fullsizeoutput_5d65.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095311-927" /><br /> Marina Bay spit looking from across Heath Street</p> <p>The recently-completed Quincy Riverwalk offers access to the west side of Squantum Point Park as well as the northwest corner of loop around the old airstrip. Don't forget to cover the south end of the loop. Look at the abandoned runway through the vegetation along the chain link fence. Shorebirds, wading birds, and dabbling ducks may be in there when it is flooded. Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers sometimes drop in, and it is an alternative spot to check for Glossy Ibis.</p> <h3>Commander Shea Boulevard</h3> <p>Retrace your route from Squantum Point Park and head down Ludlow Road, then turn right onto Victory Road. At the rotary, take the first right onto Seaport Drive. Follow it 0.3 mile to the end, and take a left onto Commander Shea Boulevard. Almost immediately there is a small parking area on the right with a kiosk for the Quincy Riverwalk. The Commander Shea Boulevard area features small sections of salt marsh and nice views of the Neponset River. If you would prefer a longer walk, you can combine birding this area with Squantum Point Park because the riverwalk connects the two properties. Refer to the kiosk map for more details.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/squantum_thicket.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-005028-343" /><br /> Squantum Point Park thicket. Photograph by Peter Oehlkers.</p> <p>Follow the trail along the marsh toward the Neponset River. Scan for waterfowl and shorebirds and the occasional Caspian Tern flying over the water. This area is also an alternative feeding and roosting site for Greater Yellowlegs. Watch for Black-crowned Night Herons flying by at dawn or dusk. Uncommon and secretive, Nelson's Sparrows may be in the adjacent salt marsh from late September to mid-October. Check the creek opposite the parking area for American Black Ducks and Belted Kingfishers.</p> <p>For passerine migrants, walk south along Commander Shea Boulevard for about 0.2 mile. At the wooded area, there is a path on the east side of the road that winds through young forest and the edge of the salt marsh.</p> <h3>Reference</h3> <ul> <li>Gorman, James. 2018. Saltmarsh Sparrows Fight to Keep Their Heads Above Water. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/science/saltmarsh-sparrow-extinction.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/science/saltmarsh-sparrow-extinction.html</a>. Accessed April 21, 2019.</li> </ul> <hr /> <p><em><strong>Vin Zollo</strong> lives in Walpole, Massachusetts, with his wife and two kids and works on the property staff at Mass Audubon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, Massachusetts. His longtime passion for the environment was ignited 25 years ago during a Winter Raptors trip led by Blue Hills Trailside Museum director Norman Smith. Bird-related activities include leading bird trips for Mass Audubon and the South Shore Bird Club, field trip coordinator for the South Shore Bird Club, overseeing Moose Hill's Bird-a-thon team, and raptor banding (currently studying migration of Northern Saw-whet Owls). His other interests include sports, exploring new places, and learning about Odonates.</em></p> Great Black-backed Gull 2AK Grows Uphttps://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2019/August-2019/great-black-backed-gull-2ak-grows-upFeature ArticlesThu, 01 Aug 2019 08:06:00 GMTGreat Black-backed Gull 2AK Grows Up<p>Great Black-backed Gulls (<em>Larus marinus</em>) take up to four years to reach maturity For the past five years, I have photographed Great Black-backed Gull 2AK from pipping in 2015 (Figure 1) to young adulthood in 2019 (Figure 2). L. William Clark and I have put together a short photographic study of Great Black-backed Gulls, focusing on 2AK, that I've excerpted here to help readers identify the plumage stages of Great Black-backed Gulls. For the full presentation, go to <a href="http://www.gullsofappledore.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.gullsofappledore.wordpress.com</a>.</p> <p>The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull in the world and is common along the Atlantic coast from Labrador and Baffin Island to North Carolina. It measures 25–31 inches in length, with males larger than females. The wingspan is 57–65 inches. Whether you place this gull under the heading of dumpster diver, predator, or "consummate kleptoparasite" (Dunne and Karlson 2018), this accomplished camp raider is indeed the dominant "King of the Beach." Other species keep a respectable distance, especially when food is available.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/2AK2.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-103702-293" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 3.</strong> (left) These downy chicks will become fierce predators. <strong>Fig. 4.</strong> (right) "Teenagers" on the beach, 2015.</p> <p>These downy chicks don't look fierce (Figure 3), but they grow at a rapid rate. They hatch in June and fledge by August. Figure 4 shows some "teenagers" in July.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_9083.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095308-520" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 5.</strong> 2AK in juvenal plumage, September 2015.</p> <p>Gull 2AK was banded as a chick on May 5, 2015, at the Appledore Island Migration Station (AIMS). Here he is in juvenal plumage at Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island in September 2015 (Figure 5). Juvenal plumage is quite different from adult plumage. Notice 2AK's large black bill, dark eye, and head and underparts that are streaked gray brown. The blackish brown mantle, scapulars, and wing coverts are edged in white, which create a bold checkered pattern, but the coverts may appear more barred than checkered (Good 1998). Juvenile 2AK departed Plum Island for parts unknown on September 12, 2015. He returned on July 11, 2016, just about one year after he hatched. (See Figure 6.) As an immature or first-year bird, 2AK has a dark eye, a whitish head, a whitish chest that is finely streaked, and checkered wing coverts (Sibley 2014). Good (1998) notes that in first-year plumage, the back is grayer brown and the checkered pattern is less bold than in juvenal plumage. According to Dunne and Karlson (2018) a first-year bird's "upperparts appear cut from coarsely patterned gray granite."</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_2398.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095308-877" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 6.</strong> 2AK as a first-year bird in July 2016.</p> <p>Figure 6 shows 2AK transitioning from first-winter to first-summer plumages, which are similar; the head and chest may become a little whiter in first-summer birds (Good 1998). A first-winter bird still has an entirely black bill. In first-summer birds, the bill may turn pinkish at the base and there is sometimes a pale horn tip (Howell and Dun 2007). The eye is dark.</p> <p>I photographed 2AK for the last time at Plum Island on September 7, 2016, before he disappeared for the winter. I didn't find him again until July 28, 2017 (Figure 7). A second-year Great Black-backed Gull is still an immature bird. There's not much difference between first-year and second-year plumages other than the head and chest are whiter with less streaking (Sibley 2014, Dunne and Karlson 2018) and the coverts are less checkered (Good 1998). Notice 2AK's bill: the base is now pink, with a subterminal black band and a pale tip (Good 1998).</p> <p>In 2018, 2AK showed up at Plum Island on June 25. As a third-year or subadult bird, his plumage begins to resemble that of an adult Great Black-backed Gull. (See Figure 8.) 2AK's head and underparts are white and his back is almost entirely black, with a brown lower wing panel (Dunne and Karlson 2018). His bill is almost entirely pink except for a thin black band and a bit of orange near the tip. According to Good (1998) bills of third-year birds can differ in color from yellow to cream to pink with varying amounts of red or orange near the tip.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_3229_copy.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095311-317" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 7.</strong> In 2017, 2AK as a second-year bird, with plumage similar to that of the previous year.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_1218.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095311-830" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 8.</strong> As a third-year or subadult bird in 2018, 2AK is beginning to look like an adult.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_2196.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095308-270" /><br /> <strong>Fig. 9.</strong> This is 2AK in adult plumage, June 12, 2019.</p> <p>When I saw 2AK back at Plum Island on June 12, 2019, it was the moment I was waiting for. I have now captured the complete life history of this gull from fledging to adulthood, albeit young adulthood (Figure 9). An adult Great Black-backed Gull has a black back and is the darkest gull that occurs regularly in the United States (Sibley 2014). It has a white head, underparts, and rump. The iris varies from yellow to grayish with a red orbital ring. The legs are pale pink and the bill is yellow with a red spot near the tip. 2AK's bill retains some of the black band from his subadult stage, but otherwise he looks like an adult.</p> <p>Thank you to L. William Clark for his assistance with the 2AK project.</p> <p class="caption"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Assets/bo47-4/IMG_2355.jpg?ver=2019-08-01-095309-020" /><br /> 2AK with a fish.</p> <h3>References</h3> <ul> <li>Dunne P. and K.T. Karlson. 2018. <em>Gulls Simplified.</em> Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.</li> <li>Good, T. P. 1998. Great Black-backed Gull (<em>Larus marinus</em>), version 2.0. in <em>The Birds of North America</em> (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Eds.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.330 Accessed June 26, 2019.</li> <li>Howell, S.N.G. and J. Dunn. 2007. <em>Peterson Reference Guide: Gulls of the Americas.</em> New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.</li> <li>Sibley, D.A. 2014. <em>The Sibley Guide to Birds,</em> 2nd ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.</li> </ul> <hr /> <p><em><strong>Dave Adrien</strong> retired from the lumber business in June 2014 and has been a full-time birder since. Most weekdays he can generally be found somewhere on Plum island.</em></p> <h4>Editor's Note:</h4> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Here's a note <a id="_idTextAnchor001"></a>about gull age classes in order to explain the differences between "year" and "cycle." A first spring bird in juvenal plumage is a second year bird, since "year" refers to the calendar year, while "cycle' refers to molt. The first cycle in large northern gulls begins with hatching in the spring or summer, proceeds through a first prejuvenal (PJ) molt into juvenal plumage (basic 1 or B1), followed by a prealternate molt (PA1) in late summer or early fall through the winter (first winter,). The second cycle begins in the following spring with a prebasic molt (PB2), followed with the second prealternate molt (PA2). The third cycle begins with the third prebasic molt (PB3) in the spring, followed by a prealternate molt (PA3) in the late summer. The length of a prebasic molt usually coincides with the time required to replace a set of primaries, which can be up to six months in large gulls. The length of time required for these molts, interruptions of molts, differences in the feather tracts molted in different cycles, bleaching and wear, and environmental factors all combine to explain the complexity of characterizing gull appearance.</p> <p class="author">David M. Larson</p> A Year List? Pshaw, That's Nothing. Try David Ludlow's Lists!https://www.birdobserver.org/Issues/2019/August-2019/a-year-list-pshaw-thats-nothing-try-david-ludlows-listsFeature ArticlesThu, 01 Aug 2019 08:05:00 GMTA Year List? Pshaw, That's Nothing. Try David Ludlow's Lists!<p>That's right: monthly bird lists. Ludlow has seen 100 species a month in Massachusetts for 14 of the last 16 years—more than 168 months—and is still going strong. (The two missing years were not unsuccessful; he didn't attempt the project.) One hundred species in May or October is easy; it can be done in one long day of birding. But 100 species in December, January, February, March, and even April presents a challenge. Massachusetts offers the opportunity, but it takes birding skills and local knowledge, along with willingness and dedication, to achieve such numbers.</p> <p>David Ludlow is a naturalist, largely self-taught and now widely experienced. He has been a core member of Mass Audubon's statewide Herpetological and Butterfly Atlases, contributing more records to the Herp Atlas than anyone else, according to Mass Audubon's Wayne Petersen. Ludlow's expertise covers flora, especially ferns, as well as fauna, including birds, of course.</p> <p>Property Manager for Mass Audubon's South Shore Sanctuaries (Daniel Webster, North River, and North Hill Marsh), Ludlow is involved in ecological management of the properties as well as building and site upkeep. Former sanctuary director David Clapp offered Ludlow a property manager's position in 1987 and he has worked for South Shore Sanctuaries ever since. "I didn't know I had a dream job until I got this one," Ludlow said. He has attended or led the Friday morning bird w<a id="_idTextAnchor002"></a>alk for the South Shore Sanctuaries for about 30 years, beginning with the first walk that Clapp initiated in May 1986, and continuing the tradition during current sanctuary director Sue MacCallum's tenure since 2006. That's more than thirty years of 48–51 walks per year, depending on winter weather. In addition, Ludlow has led walks for the South Shore Bird Club.</p> <p>You'd think that such an active and avid birder as Ludlow would have started birding at a young age, but although he watched the birds at the feeders at his parents' house as a kid, it wasn't a passion. When he graduated high school, he went to work as a sawyer at DeMoranville's Sawmill in Hanover, Massachusetts. He never even heard of keeping a life list until he read an article in the weekly newspaper "The Mariner" about Marshfield birder Warren Harrington. This inspired him to start his life list, which he did on April 17, 1984. He was working at the sawmill that day, noticed a robin, and began his list.</p> <p>Ludlow met Harrington at a slideshow program sponsored at the North River Sanctuary. Harrington invited Ludlow to join a bird club century run—to see 100 birds in a single day—on the North Shore. "I didn't know anyone on the trip or what I was doing, I was that new to birding." He got 35 life birds that day. Harrington became Ludlow's mentor. Over the years, Ludlow traveled with him to four continents: North America (including Central America), South America, Europe, and Africa.</p> <p>In 1990, Ludlow had his first successful year of 100 species per month, but it wasn't until 2003 that he decided to make this a yearly project. What drives him to continue this feat month after month, year after year? "The point is to get out the door—it's not the list. It's the joy of being out birding and seeing what you don't expect." As an example, he described recently watching a chickadee pull apart a ball of fluff, adding more and more bits to its mouth until it couldn't hold any more and dropped all of the fluff. Then the chickadee flew down and started pulling apart the fluff again until again it picked up one more mouthful of fluff than it could hold, and lost it all once more. Fascinated, he wanted to see what the chickadee would do and watched it repeat the process several times.</p> <p>Admittedly, the list does give him a reason to get out there and bird. Then he added, "You really don't need a list to go birding. There's no right or wrong way about birding. Anyway you do it is fine."</p> <p>There is neither method nor madness in Ludlow's approach to achieving 100 species every month, no hard and fast plan. Mostly, he birds the South Shore and Cape Cod with an occasional foray up to the North Shore or out to western Massachusetts. He doesn't have a single favorite patch; he likes to change things up. Birding many different habitats is key to his success.</p> <p>If there's a good bird somewhere, Ludlow will start there. Or else he'll go for volume first. In winter, this means a day trip to Provincetown for ducks and alcids. It may entail a pelagic trip during warmer weather. Although most birders consider May the month to find the most species, Ludlow thinks October is the better birding month because with juveniles migrating, too, there are more individuals around. The shorebirds linger when they are migrating south as opposed to being in a hurry to get north in May. There are also more sparrows in October. The toughest months are February and March.</p> <p>Most months, he starts with the South Shore Sanctuaries' Friday morning bird walks and sees what he finds before he plans the rest of the monthly birding. These weekly walks provide birding opportunities for rarities as well as common species. It has rained on many Friday mornings this spring of 2019, which has been good for finding uncommon birds. "David's rainy-day rarities" is how one regular Friday birder describes them. On May 17, the rainy-day rarity that surprised the group was a King Rail—the first one Ludlow has ever seen at Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary.</p> <p>The King Rail was not the "best" rail, he ever found on Friday morning birding. That accolade goes to a Yellow Rail seen in Scituate behind what used to be PJ's Country House Restaurant. A group of 18 birders was standing around at a flood tide when Ludlow noticed a bird run down the dike. He got it in his scope. It was a Yellow Rail standing at the edge of the water and it didn't fly away, so everyone saw it well. It was a life bird for all but two of the participants. Ludlow explained, "I really enjoy other people's reactions to new stuff and when they get really good looks at the birds."</p> <p>Was there ever a month that Ludlow didn't think he'd make the 100-species quota? He recalled that the winter of 2015 was particularly snowy and in February he got to 99 with only a day or two left. He decided to try for an Eastern Screech Owl, but had no luck. Instead, he found a Great Horned Owl—and kept the streak alive.</p> <p>Species diversity and numbers have changed since Ludlow began compiling his monthly lists. In 1990, his baseline year, he saw American Kestrels every single month. To see a Wild Turkey, he had to make a special trip to Quabbin Reservoir in western Massachusetts. Today, it's the opposite—turkeys are everywhere and kestrels make the list only a few months per year. Ludlow noted that bobwhites and pheasants have basically disappeared. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are now common in Massachusetts and Blue Grosbeaks are becoming regular.</p> <p>Although Ludlow keeps written records of his lists, he does not analyze the data. "David Clapp likes to look at the numbers," he said. Fair enough. In the rest of this article, Clapp analyzes Ludlow's lists to show you that seeing 100 birds per month every year is not easy. Clapp divides Ludlow's lists into three categories:</p> <ul> <li>Birds seen only once, twice, or three times per year</li> <li>Birds seen 11-12 months per year</li> <li>Birds seen in all 12 months per year</li> </ul> <p>Surprisingly, Ludlow averages only 32 species seen in every month and 52 species seen 11 or 12 times per year. That leaves a lot of work in our winter months to reach the century mark. The number of species that Ludlow sees on average in only one, two, or three months is stunningly high. The most was 95 and the average is 88—that makes 88 species from the usual Massachusetts annual list that you cannot count on seeing 70% or more during the course of the year.</p> <p>Factor in that our May migrants and many of our summer breeders—Purple Martin and Orchard Oriole for example—are here but briefly and then they are simply not available. Blackburnian Warblers and many of their kin show up in May and then again in September and October, but rarely after that. The need to visit special habitats also plays a role in annual lists; pelagic birds are not usually available away from the coast and often you need to get offshore to see them. Many of our pelagic species are warm weather birds and don't really help with the monthly list during the slowest months.</p> <p>Then there are the western Massachusetts birds, starting with Pileated Woodpecker and moving west to the Cerulean Warblers and the winter finches; these are much more common in the central and western parts of the state than in the coastal towns.</p> <p>The numbers are what you might expect, with January and February averaging under 110 species and May through October above 130. May is usually in the 160s but Ludlow has had several in the 170s and even one above 190.</p> <p>Ludlow always has a few rare birds included in the year lists. There have to be, in order to make the 100-species list work. Some of his one-time-wonders included Yellow-billed Loon, Ross's and Slaty-backed gulls, Sage Thrasher, and Black-backed Woodpecker. And each year must include many of the near-annuals to Massachusetts: American White Pelican, Long-tailed Jaeger, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cave Swallow, Gull-billed Tern, Pine Grosbeak, and Townsend's Solitaire.</p> <p>Ludlow's achievement is a decent accomplishment in a single year, but for 14 years and running, it is truly remarkable. Give it a try—just for one year—and you will learn a lot about your neighborhood, the local countryside, and your threshold for challenges and success. Go for it.</p> <p>And congratulations to David Ludlow.</p> <hr /> <p><em><strong>David Clapp</strong> has had two overlapping careers, one of 35 years with Mass Audubon as a sanctuary director, mostly on the South Shore, and a second as a tour leader, primarily for the Smithsonian Institution's travel program. He currently works with the famous Tanzanian guide Joseph Ndunguru to operate a small-group safari company operating mostly in Tanzania.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Marsha C. Salett</strong> is editor of </em>Bird Observer.</p>