They say a picture is worth a thousand words — but for Nancy Nordin, one photo turned into a once-in-a-thousand bird sighting.
On April 4, Nancy captured what she believed was a juvenile bald eagle feeding on prey along Aquinnah’s West Basin. After submitting the sighting and photo to eBird, she was contacted by the local eBird reviewer with surprising news: the bird she had photographed wasn’t a bald eagle but a much rarer ferruginous hawk! This predator of the western plains is typically not found east of Texas. It is the largest member of the Bueto genus which is characterized by broad wings used for soaring and robust bodies.
This sighting marks only the second location this species has been seen in Massachusetts and is one of only a handful of reports from the eastern U.S. The first-ever state record for this species came just a few months prior, in December 2024. An individual was spotted at Monomy Wildlife Refuge in Chatham where it stayed until February 1, delighting observers. There were no other reports of this vagrant until this month. Nancy’s individual turned out to be a one-day wonder but keep your eyes peeled for a very large, dark brown hawk with rust colored feathers covering its legs.
Another exciting sighting from this week was the highly anticipated return of the black skimmer. On April 16, a surprised Nancy Weaver spotted this year’s first skimmer resting along the western shore of the Lagoon among a flock of gulls. Nancy’s sighting was confirmed by Margaret Curtin later that same day. It will be another few weeks before they begin nesting but the arrival of these charismatic birds encourages us to think of the warmer days ahead.
There were several other firsts this week. Harriet Potter had a blue grossbeak at her Chappaquiddick feeders on April 18. A welcome swatch of blue on an otherwise gray day. Bridget Dunnigan and Sea Williams saw this year’s first ovenbird in the state forest on April 18. That same day, Jillayane Wheeler reported a wood thrush from Presbury Norton Farm. Additionally, Matt Pelikan saw a newly arrived field sparrow in the West Tisbury portion of the state forest on April 20.
As spring progresses so does the Island’s sparrow diversity. On April 18, Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock worked hard to get a good look at a swamp sparrow on the edge of Sherrif’s Meadow Pond in Edgartown and I had a vesper sparrow at Long Point on April 10. Chipping sparrows are steadily arriving with Matt Pelikan hearing what is perhaps the first one on April 17 near the BiodiversityWorks headquarters. The MV Bird Club walk led by Lisa Maxfield reported several. The club also viewed a mature bald eagle, always an impressive sight. Bald eagle sightings were abundant across this Island this week with Nancy Weaver seeing one
at Hoft farm on April 17 and Timothy Johnson photographing one engaging in a dogfight with an osprey in Oak Bluffs on April 14. Purple finches continue to move through on their journeys to their nesting grounds. I happily came across five on my walk through Waskosim’s Rock on April 19 and Cynthia Bloomquist reported a high count of eight at her feeders on April 17.
Lately, it feels as though every wide-open space is occupied by an American kestrel, surveying the landscape for prey. On my inter-Island flight back to the Vineyard, one bid me farewell at the Nantucket Airport, while another welcomed me as I landed at MVY. Robert Culbert also reported one still lingering at the Katama Airfield on April 18. It’s fascinating to watch these original masters of the skies reclaim their airspace. I couldn’t help but marvel at their ease of flight and effortless hovering beside the tarmac as we lumbered down the runway in a rickety Cessna, straining to create lift.
A black-headed gull was a welcome surprise at Ocean Park, identified by Thaw Malin on April 16. This individual appeared to be transitioning into its breeding plumage, its black hood filling in. This was a good winter for this species with at least three seen in Mensemsha just a few months ago.
Winter ducks are still present but in smaller numbers which is why Nancy Nordin’s high count of 78 harlequin ducks off Squibnocket was a shock.
Other notable sightings include a common raven spied by Dough McNamara at Lighthouse Beach, an elusive brown thrasher seen by Bob Shriber at Herring Creek on April 18, and a hermit thrush at Sheriff’s Meadow Pond seen by Jennifer Slossberg on April 15. Additionally, a yellow-bellied sapsucker was spotted by Nancy Weaver at Hoft Farm on April 17 and a green heron was seen by Lisa Maxfield at Doug’s Cove on April 18.
Shea Fee is coastal ecologist with The Trustees of Reservations.
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