[MASSBIRD] Next Bear Creek, Saugus, walk on Sunday, November 5 at 9 am; report for October 29 walk

[Soheil Zendeh]

Folks,

The next walk at Bear Creek Sanctuary in Saugus is scheduled for Sunday, November 5 at 9 am. Details for attending this walk are at the end of this email.

The main highlight of the cloudy, cool and increasingly rainy walk on October 29 was the dark-phase Roughleg Hawk that was sighted briefly last week. This week it flew across and over our heads, then proceeded to hover at length over various areas of the landfill. When we left, it was perched in the rain at the entrance to the main landfill area.

Other highlights included a handful of White-crowned Sparrows and a couple of warbler species.

Our friend Matt Clarke, despite the murky conditions, managed to snag some terrific footage and even better photos (near the end of the video) of some of the birds seen, including the Roughleg and the ever-elusive meadowlarks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHIQDROqb0

Brendan Burke was the list keeper for the day. Here is a link for the shared list:
https://ebird.org/mychecklists?subID=UzE1MzM2Mjc2Nw..&s=t
If you were on the walk and want the list shared, use the link above; or write me and I will share with you.


Bear Creek Sanctuary (restricted access), Essex, Massachusetts, US Oct 29, 2023 9:09 AM - 11:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.21 mile(s)
42 bird species

Canada Goose 6
Mallard 1
American Black Duck 8
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 15
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Herring Gull 4
Double-crested Cormorant 100
Great Egret 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
American Kestrel 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 80
Northern Mockingbird 10
American Robin 15
House Sparrow 3
American Pipit 40
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 4
White-crowned Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 6
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 25
Swamp Sparrow 10
Eastern Meadowlark 5
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Yellow Warbler 1 Late
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153425007

Here are details for attending the walk at this property on November 5:

Bear Creek is an upland sanctuary built on the Wheelabrator (formerly RESCO) landfill at the northern end 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.

Wheelabrator 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 me know you're coming so we can have a head count.

Bear Creek Sanctuary access is via the Wheelabrator 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:
http://tinyurl.com/326v87d.

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
Lexington, MA 02421