A review of all the sightings mentioned in this column shows that we observed 264 species of birds on Martha’s Vineyard in 2016. That is a lot of species. Even more interesting is the monthly breakdown of species. The highest species total for any month is May, with 161 species. This is expected, as May is when the northward spring migration is at its peak, and many of us look carefully for these migrants. January and December are the next two highest monthly species counts, with 136 and 134 species respectively. These are the months that included the annual Christmas Bird Count (the 2015 count was on Jan. 2 and the 2016 count was on Dec. 30), which is when we have intensive coverage of much of the Island. Another reason for the high count in May is that we have intensive coverage due to the annual bird-a-thon, raising money for Felix Neck.
The low counts were in March and November, with 56 and 60 species respectively. While these are not months with lots of migrants, their totals are lower because of the nature of the column: our abundant year-round residents are seldom mentioned. House sparrows are rarely mentioned, even though they can be found on any visit to the Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs post offices. Similarly, anyone with a bird feeder or anyone out in the woods can easily find black-capped chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches. Species like these just do not get mentioned very often.
But 264 species is an amazing total for the Island. Kudos to Ken Magnuson, who observed 217 of these species.
Thanks to everyone who sent in sightings. Let’s see if we can do even better in 2017.
Bird Sightings
Last spring numerous people were excited to hear a barred owl calling in Edgartown near Sweetened Water Farm. Joel Graves reports that he heard the owl again on Jan. 31. As it is calling in the same locale, it likely has been there since last April, and now is starting to call to attract a mate and to re-establish its breeding territory.
Chris Murphy was surprised when a dovekie appeared near his boat on Chilmark Pond on Jan. 30. As dovekies are normally well out to sea, this is probably a bird that was blown our way by the storm of Jan. 23-24.
That same day Kayla Parkhurst found an immature bald eagle perched in a tree on Hine’s Point.
On Jan. 29, John Nelson found five meadowlarks out in the middle of the fields at the Farm Institute.
A pied-billed grebe at the Oak Bluffs Pumping Station was spotted by Olsen Houghton on Feb. 2. He also found five black-crowned night herons along with several American wigeon and a raft of about 100 greater scaup on the Lagoon side of the causeway. Jeff Bernier found another pied-billed grebe in Edgartown Harbor — a seemingly unlikely spot for this normally brackish or fresh-water species — on Feb. 5.
I was briefly excited on Feb. 5, thinking I had come across a flock of about 30 pine siskins near the headwaters of Deep Bottom Cove. But no, I realized they were house finches in relatively poor lighting. We have had only one sighting of pine siskins (in late November) and no redpolls or crossbills this winter. Feeder watchers keep your eyes out for these winter finches from the north. Please send photographs to confirm their identity if you see any of them.
Scott Stephens and Penny Uhlendorf found a Wilson’s snipe at Little Duarte’s Pond, the small pond next to Thimble Farm in Oak Bluffs, on Feb. 5. And the Barrow’s goldeneye is still hanging around in Eel Pond with the more common common goldeneyes, reports Ken Magnuson on Feb 5.
Anne Lemenager reports eastern bluebirds are at the Farm Neck Golf Club on Feb. 6.
Also on Feb. 6, Mr. Magnuson spotted lots of razorbills, a dovekie, great cormorants, black-legged kittiwake along woith the expected eiders and scoters.
And last but not least, the annual great backyard bird count will be held over the weekend of Feb. 17 to Feb. 20. Your participation is important; instructions for participants can be found at www.gbbc.birdcount.org.
Winter residents are plentiful and the first northbound migrants will soon be arriving; please look for them and report your sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert leads guided birding tours and is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
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