My dad and me and Jess and Mayn went to Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich and Rowley. While driving north we spotted 2 Bald Eagles in Natick, My first bird of the year.We started at the fish pier. We saw a Harbor Seal, lots of gulls, pigeons and I tried to touch the pigeons. Got some fries to feed them. I saw Herring, Great Black-backed, Ring-billed, and an Iceland Gull. There were 4 Iceland Gulls!!!The Great Black-backed is the BIGGEST gull in the world and it has dark wings and a dark back! A Peregrine Falcon was sitting on one of the buildings.
Jodrey State Fish Pier, Essex County, Massachusetts, US
Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary & Dog Bar, Essex County, Massachusetts, US
We left Eastern Point and our next stop was Niles Pond and Brace Cove. There were lots of people ice skating on the pond. NO...Lesser Black-backed Gull. We did see 2 Snowy Owls on Brace Cove!
Our first stop at Bass Rocks we saw some Sanderlings flyby and some White-winged Scoters. We missed a really good bird there the first time....get to that later..
We stopped at Good Harbor Beach and Mayn kept driving to the Granite Pier. Here we got to see a Northern Harrier, Also there was a large flock of Horned Larks. In that flock there were some Snow Buntings and 1 Lapland Longspur. Also so Jess found us a White-crowned Sparrow.
Then we went to the Granite Pier in Rockport. I got to see Harlequin Ducks! They are pretty! they have a lot of different kind of colors. Also there was a Red-necked Grebe. Again I missed the Razorbills and Purple Sandpipers that my dad got!
Granite Pier, Rockport, Essex County, Massachusetts, US
While at Andrew's Point Marjorie Watson told us that she saw a King Eider back at Bass Rocks. So back we went as the day was ending! We got worried because we thought we wouldn't have enough light to get the Ross's Goose.
Back at Bass Rocks it took awhile but Mayn was able to finally locate the King Eider with a Common Eider by a fishing boat. It was to far for me to see in the scope. But my dad took a record shot where you can see the orange in its bill and black on its back. Ill have to wait another time to get it on my list!
Our next stop was Ipswich! I found the Ross's Goose while driving past the fields. Also Mayn after some looking finally found the Cackling Goose. My dad took some record shots. We didn't find the Red-headed Woodpecker that my daddy had found before.
Argilla-Northgate-Essex Rd. Fields Complex, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, US
Cackling Goose Digiscope Video
At home Jess, me and my dad had a Screech Owl!!
Thank you to the people that come up to me while out yesterday and said that they read my blog!
Hi Owen! I love your blog and look forward to reading it all year. It is inspiring to me to see young people so enthusiastic about birding - I have met a few others this past year and hope to meet you, too. I was there at Stackyard Road to see and hear the Short-eared Owl, so sorry you stayed in the car, it would have been nice to meet you and your dad. See you in the field!
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