Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday January 25, 9 am; report for January 11 walk
sohz...@gmail.com
Folks,
The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is on Sunday, January 25 at 9 am. Details at the end of this email.
Note that there is NO WALK scheduled for Sunday January 18.
The January 11 walk was attended by about 15 people. Conditions after the previous day's warmer temperatures and rain were muddy. Nevertheless, participants enjoyed prolonged views of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs, as well as a seemingly expanding mini-flock of Eastern Meadowlarks -- now up to 4 individuals.
Thanks to Tim Brown for fulfilling list-keeping duties. If you were there, the following link will allow you to share the list:
https://ebird.org/mychecklists?subID=F8KNxrGPF2Vl5vIfTbS-kQ==&s=t.
Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US
Jan 11, 2026 9:25 AM - 12:25 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.016 mile(s)
32 bird species
Canada Goose 3
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 43
Surf Scoter 10
White-winged Scoter 10
Bufflehead 12
Common Goldeneye 12
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 20
Mourning Dove 52
Ring-billed Gull 10
American Herring Gull 75
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Common Loon 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Horned Lark 80 Many resident birds foraging in open fields in the Bear Creek Reservation. These are continuing wintering birds and is a low estimated count.
Carolina Wren 3
European Starling 150
Northern Mockingbird 1
Lapland Longspur 5
Snow Bunting 100
White-crowned Sparrow 1 Seen in foliage near the WINWaste property parking area during the Bear Creek birding trek.
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Meadowlark 4 Seen in grassy field in the Bear Creek Reservation.
Red-winged Blackbird 24
Northern Cardinal 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S293782278
Here are details for attending the walk at this property on January 25:
Bear Creek is an upland sanctuary built on the WINWaste (formerly Wheelabrator) landfill at the northeast corner of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and Revere. Access information is below. Wear waterproof walking shoes and be prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be prepared for sun, wind and weather.
This walk is free and open to the public, but also note that this property is accessible by invitation only and visitors need to be chaperoned at all times. Please allow roughly 4 hours for this field trip. The actual length of the trip depends on conditions and the birds present. It's usually difficult to break up the party if you need to be somewhere in the early afternoon. Come prepared to stay with the group.
WINWaste company has graciously stocked up on some extra pairs of binoculars, so if you or someone you know wants to learn about birds and birding, come on down. Please let Geoff Wilson s2...@comcast.net know you're coming so we can have a head count.
Bear Creek Sanctuary access is via the WINWaste plant, 100 Salem Turnpike (Rte 107), Saugus. The rotary at the intersection of Rtes 60 and 107 is about 1½ miles southwest of the plant and about 1 mile east of Rte 1 exit on Rte 60. When traveling northeast on 107, if you go over the Ballard Street bridge (just after a set of lights) you’ve gone too far — turn back. Here is a link to google maps:
When you arrive, drive through the plant gates, park in the parking lot immediately and wait for the group. Please do not drive farther into the property without an escort.
Soheil Zendeh
Littleton, MA
