Bygone Birds: Historical Highlights for November-December Neil Hayward April 1, 2021 2 MIN READ Bygone Birds 5 YEARS AGO November–December 2015 November–December 2015 Rare geese included a Ross’s Goose on Plum Island on November 13, a Pink-footed Goose at Turners Falls on November 25, and three Barnacle Geese at Agawam on December 26. A Pacific Loon at Quabbin Reservoir on November 11 was the first inland record of the species for the state. A Swainson’s Hawk was photographed at Bear Creek in Saugus on December 20, the date of the Greater Boston Christmas Bird Count (CBC). A Purple Gallinule was photographed at the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Hanson on November 8. A major fallout of Franklin’s Gulls occurred on the East Coast on November 13, a result of storms across the upper Midwest. At least 22 were seen in Massachusetts. Single Black-chinned Hummingbirds were reported from Harwich and Dorchester. There were two Ash-throated Flycatchers in Rockport and nine individual Western Kingbirds. The Bell’s Vireo continued at Fort Hill, Eastham, through December 12. Townsend’s Solitaires were reported from Hanson, North Truro, and Rockport. A Mountain Bluebird was found at Crane WMA in Falmouth, and a cooperative MacGillivray’s Warbler was in Lexington. Best sighting: Common Ground Dove in Lexington, November 13. This was only the second state record after one was found on Monomoy Island on October 7, 1973. 10 YEARS AGO November–December 2010 November–December 2010 A Pink-footed Goose, only the third for the state, spent over a month in Sudbury, while a Ross’s Goose spent the end of December on Nantucket. November 20 was a memorable date, producing two flocks of Tundra Swans—29 in Brimfield and 19 at Quabbin Reservoir—and a Gyrfalcon at Plum Island. An adult Purple Gallinule in distress was rescued from Hull on December 27. Nantucket set a new record for Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 327 on November 26. A White-winged Dove appeared at a Watertown feeder on December 4 and remained for the Greater Boston CBC. A Rufous Hummingbird was banded in Worcester and a Black-chinned Hummingbird visited a feeder on Nantucket. An adult Fork-tailed Flycatcher appeared on Nantucket on the last day of November. A Boreal Chickadee chose Squantum Point Park in Quincy for a six-day visit in early November. The many visiting birders also found a LeConte’s Sparrow and a Yellow-breasted Chat. Other passerine highlights included Sedge Wrens from Weymouth and Nantucket, a Townsend’s Solitaire in Gardner, a Yellow-throated Warbler in Chatham, three reports of Harris’s Sparrow, and a Black-headed Grosbeak photographed in Easthampton. Best sighting: Northern Lapwing, Plum Island, December 2. The shorebird was observed flying in from the east, whereupon it briefly harassed a Rough-legged Hawk and then continued on its way headed south. To view the rest of the article you'll need to subscribe. Bird Observer publishes original articles on birding locations, on avian populations and natural history, on regional rarities, field notes, field records, photographs, and art work.