We saw these species last winter or last spring, so they are not new sightings for the year.

If you think sandpipers and sparrows are difficult to identify, you have not tried hummingbirds.

Nelson’s sparrows are one of the smallest and most secretive sparrows.

The shorebird nesting season is long over and most of the nesting species are long gone to their more southern non-breeding season homes.

For a number of weeks this column has detailed two completely unexpected species: one white pelican and two common ravens.

There were only two pairs of osprey nesting on Martha’s Vineyard in 1970. This year there were 89 breeding pairs.

I frequently take my bird tours to the headquarters of the State Forest. The sighting of two ravens on Sept. 2 tops the list.

A white pelican is totally unexpected. This is the fourth time that this species has been seen on Martha's Vineyard.

The most unusual species is a mostly winter plumage Wilson’s phalarope, found by Warren Woessner on August 16.

Dick Jennings and Antone Lima found a juvenile glossy ibis in a salt marsh on Cape Pogue on August 11.