Early summer is the best time to see shearwaters and storm-petrels, as they have just migrated from their south Atlantic nesting grounds. Ashley Casciotti spotted two Wilson’s storm petrels and two great shearwaters from Wasque on June 30. David Benvent counted many shearwaters: 33 Cory’s, 30 great, 20 sooty, four Manx and 230 not identified to species. On July 1, he saw a parasitic jaeger from Norton Point. On July 2, at the other end of the Island on Moshup Beach, he found 53 Cory’s, 38 great, 73 sooty and seven Wilson’s storm-petrels. The same day Bob Shriber found five Cory’s, two great and one sooty shearwater from Moshup Beach.
Rock pigeons can be found across the Island. Noah H located eight at the Big Bridge on June 22, Stephen Schutt observed one in downtown Vineyard Haven on June 24 and Dan Foley had one at the pumping station on June 27. Joshua Cohen counted a flock of 16 at the southern end of Sengekontacket Pond on July 1, and Axelrein Teoste located seven at the Chappaquiddick ferry on July 4.
A species that is more widespread than we realize is the Virginia rail. David Benvent saw one Virginia rail in an Old Farm Road marsh on June 16, David Benvent spotted one at Cove Meadow Preserve on June 17 and another at Squibnocket Beach on June 26. Bob Shriber observed one at Lobsterville on June 23, and Ken Magnuson found one at the Edgartown Golf Club on July 4.
Northern house wrens are increasing in abundance. Jeff Peters found one at Blackwater Preserve on June 1, Rob Davey observed one near Menemsha on June 16, Shir Nir located one at Wequobsque Cliffs on June 21 and Penny Uhlendorf reports a pair nesting at Pilot Hill Farm in June. David Benvent has multiple sightings: one at Slough Cove and two at Katama Farm on June 17, one off Lighthouse Road on June 26 and one along Navy Way on July 1.
Scarlet tanagers can be found within the morainal woodlands of the North Shore. Since June they have been seen at Aquinnah (Bob Shriber, June 23, and Dan Foley, one, Gay Head Moraine June 24); Menemsha Hills (Rob and Pam Davey, two, June 10); Great Rock Bight (Pam and Rob Davey, one, June 6); Middle Line Woods (Jennifer Slossberg, one, July 2); Cedar Tree Neck (Sea Williams and Bridget Dunnigan, one, Irvin Trailhead, June 20, and me, along the white trail, June 27, and David Benvent, two, June 29); Hoft Farm (Pam and Rob Davey, one, June 7 and June 21, Caroline Heald, one, June 8, and David Benvent, one, Hoft Farm June 28); and Chappaquonsett (Caroline Heald, two, June 12).
Much less common is the summer tanager, with only two sightings, both in early June. Dr. Harvey Lederman had an immature male at Fulling Mill Brook June 7, and I saw one near SBS on June 3.
David Benvent spotted two eastern wood-pewees at the Hoft Farm on June 28, Nick Teague saw one at Seven Gates on June 30 and another at Great Rock Bight on July 3, and I hear them in the woods every time I go to Cedar Tree Neck.
Turkey vultures have been reported widely. On June 21, Shir Nir spotted two in Chilmark, Janet Woodcock and Nancy Weaver found four at Menemsha Pond, and David Benvent observed one in the state forest. Cynthis Bloomquist saw two at her West Tisbury home on June 22, Bob Shriber watched one in Aquinnah on June 23, Dan Foley located one at Red Beach on June 24, Stephen Schutt watched one in Menemsha Beach June 24, Felix Neck Early Birders spotted one at Felix Neck on June 25, and on June 27, Nick Teague saw one at Long Point and Bridget Dunnigan and Sea Williams observed one at the Hoft Farm.
A singing mockingbird is always fun to hear as they can mimic so many different bird songs. Shir Nir had two in Chilmark on June 21, Dan Foley found one at Tisbury Meadow on June 22, Bob Shriber heard three in Aquinnah on June 23, Dan Foley saw one at Red Beach on June 24, David Benvent observed one along Navy Way on July 1, David Benvent spotted one at Dogfish Bar on July 2, and Nick Teague saw one at Moshup Beach on July 3.
Brown thrashers are another mimic. On June 25, Felix Neck Early Birders located one at Felix Neck, as did Florence and Dan McAlvanah at Felix Neck. Their close relative, the gray catbird, is common just about everywhere.
The following sightings are not expected. Hannah Bauriedel saw and photographed a horned grebe in Quammox Harbor on Chappaquiddick on June 28. A little blue heron and a yellow-crowned night-heron were seen at Felix Neck.
The little blue was seen by the following observers: David Benvent on June 29, Nick Teage and the Felix Neck Early Birders on July 2, and Tom Stoye on July 3.
The yellow-crowned was observed by Nancy Weaver, Janet Woodcock and David Benvent on July 1, Nick Teague and the Felix Neck Early Birders on July 2, and Tom Stoye on July 3.
The continuing immature glaucous gull at Eel Pond has been seen by David Benvent on July 1 and Warren Woessner on July 2.
The following songbird sightings are also uncommon. Ira Goldklang spotted a male rose-breasted grosbeak off North Road in Chilmark on June 26, Seth Buddy observed a ring-necked pheasant near West Chop and Mink Meadows on July 1, I heard and saw one white-eyed vireo near the Cedar Tree Neck parking lot on June 29, and Phebe Bates had an adult red-headed woodpecker visiting her Vineyard Haven yard on June 24.
Please email your sightings to birds@vineyardgazette.com.
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
This article appears in July 10, 2026.