Back to Trip Reports Menu
Plum Island Trip
February 8, 2002
Mark Taylor led a small group of Athol Bird Club members to the
Gloucester/Rockport region, and then up to Plum Island to catch the Short-eared Owl show at dusk. We were buffeted by strong NW winds which made viewing a challenge to say the least. A female King Eider was seen by some at Andrews Point as well as the "East Arctic" female Common Eider( conjecture on my part: See Sibley). We found 4(1W) Iceland Gulls and 1 (1W) Glaucous Gull at the State Pier and a drake Barrow's Goldeneye looking out toward Ten Pound Island. Surprisingly we found 3 more "darker" (1W) Glaucous Gulls in close to the shore at Eastern Point Light. Along Atlantic Ave. we saw the typical group of Great Cormorants on Bass Rock(?) and farther north we saw a flock of 20
Purple Sandpipers perched on the lee side of a rock. All three species of Scoter were found as well as the Harlequins, but the absence of pelagic species was somewhat disappointing. I had two alcids, one identifiable as Thick-billed Murre. Viewing from Rowley Shore Drive was virtually impossible today, with gale force-like winds in our face.
Up at Plum Island we waited out near Cross Farm Hill for the appearance of a Short-eared Owl where we saw one briefly at the west end of the mound. As we headed out at sunset we were treated with at good show from a SEOW at North Pool Overlook. All in all, a rewarding day in the
field.
If you wish to volunteer to lead a trip please contact
Dave Small or
Events Coordinator Sue Cloutier 978-544-7500
Back to Trip Reports Menu
Back to Upcoming Events Menu