Two weeks ago it was shearwaters, last week it was the brown booby and now it is a phalarope.
Unexpected is not an understatement. A brown booby is a pelagic species that some birders make special trips to the Dry Tortugas to see.
Long narrow wings and a fairly robust body, running along the water’s surface to become airborne, oceanic and a tube on top of their beaks to excrete excess salt. All are characteristics of shearwaters.
The Manuel F. Correllus State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard remains one of the six strongholds in Massachusetts for the whippoorwill.
On July 19, Red Beach was a perfect seven for seven.
Nobody claims shorebirds are easy to identify.
Both birds were observed in their yards, which is a good reminder to keep an eye on the birds near your house.
Do you remember when snowy owls were rare winter visitors?
At least one brown pelican was spotted on May 28. Maybe more than one is present.
On May 20, I visited the Pumping Station and migratory birds were plentiful.
