Bygone Birds: Historical Highlights for January-February Neil Hayward June 1, 2021 1 MIN READ Bird Sightings, Bygone Birds 5 YEARS AGO January–February 2016 A Pink-footed Goose that was wintering in Connecticut made occasional visits to Agawam this period. A Western Grebe was discovered on Winthrop Beach on February 7. An injured Purple Gallinule, discovered at Hathaway Pond in Barnstable on January 11, was treated for anemia by a wildlife rehabilitator. A Barn Owl was found dead in Danvers. A Hammond’s Flycatcher discovered in Fairhaven on New Year’s Day was the third record for the state. Another third for the state was a Smith’s Longspur found on January 17 at Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Saugus. Ash-throated Flycatchers continued in Cambridge and Manomet, and a Mountain Bluebird was present throughout the period at the Crane Wildlife Management Area in Falmouth. Best sighting: a first-winter Yellow-billed Loon discovered at Race Point in Provincetown on February 27. This was the first state record. 10 YEARS AGO January–February 2011 A Ross’s Goose continued on Nantucket through February 17. A Mew Gull of the Asian kamtschatschensis or heinei subspecies was found at Lynn Beach at the end of February. The three Monk Parakeets continuing on Bremen Street, East Boston, were being fed suet and parrot food by local residents. This was a poor winter for Snowy Owls with no sightings during this period. A Varied Thrush was visiting a feeder in Centerville in February. Best sighting: two Harris’s Sparrows, one on Duxbury Beach, from January 9–February 27, another in Falmouth, February 1–26. 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.