March–April 2001

“The” Eared Grebe continued at Gloucester through most of March. A strong spring nor’easter produced a Leach’s Storm-Petrel past First Encounter Beach on March 7, the first March record for the state. A Tundra Swan spent two weeks in April in West Bridgewater. Nantucket hosted six Bohemian Waxwings, while Martha’s Vineyard had a Yellow-throated Warbler. Naushon Island had a Harris’s Sparrow at the end of March. A long-staying Bullock’s Oriole was present in South Dartmouth from March 1 to April 15, and Malden hosted a Painted Bunting from March 7 to 25.

March–April 1981

A Tundra Swan was present in Fitchburg, March 26–April 11. The north end of Plum Island hosted up to 120 Iceland Gulls. A basic-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit was found at Point of Pines, Revere, on April 12. A Black-backed (Three-toed) Woodpecker was photographed in Baldwinville on March 11. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, missing its left tail streamer, was at Dwyer Farm in Marshfield in the last week of April. A Boreal Chickadee was found on Plum Island on April 18–19. Continuing birds included the adult male Black-headed Grosbeak in Walpole, and the Hoary Redpoll at Plum Island. Manomet Bird Observatory had an “Oregon” Junco for the month of March.

Best sighting: a Western Meadowlark was singing in Squantum for three days at the end of April.