James Kowalsky had perhaps the most improbable feeder bird of the spring when a male Black-headed Grosbeak appeared in his yard. After he posted it to eBird on May 19, several birders were able to enjoy it the following day. Lisa Schibley took the photo above.
After several years without any records, Massachusetts has documented Loggerhead Shrike for four years in a row. Jon Skinner (his photo above) found this year’s Loggerhead at Fitchburg Airport on June 6. It stuck around for a couple of days, making many birders happy.
Captain Larry Backman (his photo on the left) spent Independence Day fishing south of Nantucket on his boat, the Skipjack. A Red-billed Tropicbird crossed his path and circled the boat for about 15 minutes, spicing up an otherwise quiet East Atlantis Canyon.
Single sightings of Swallow-tailed Kites in March and April were followed by no fewer than five reports in May, one of which included a pair soaring together. Mary (her photo above) and Ashley Keleher managed to see both species from their yard on the same afternoon, May 18.
Mississippi Kites have not been documented as nesting in Massachusetts, but at least a few turn up here every spring, perhaps more than usual this year. In mid-May, they were reported from 10 towns in a 10-day span: May 14 in Chatham and Provincetown, May 15 in North Dighton, May 18 in Mashpee and Easton, May 19 in Cambridge, May 20 in Marshfield, May 22 in Kingston and Truro, and May 23 in Ashland. A pair of June reports followed: Pilgrim Heights on June 6 and Sudbury on June 11. At least three of these reports featured multiple kites. Ben Shamgochian took the above photo.