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Summer 2001 Currents

Bird Watching in the Watershed Viewing shorebirds in breeding plumage, May 2001. The Saugus River watershed provides significant habitat, feeding areas, and migration stops for a wide variety of birds. With the help of some local birding experts, members and friends of the Saugus River Watershed Council have been enjoying an up-close look at some of the many species that spend time in our watershed. On May 5th, local birder Craig Jackson led a leisurely walking trip through the Metropolitan District Commission’s Camp Nihan in Saugus. On this trip alone, guests viewed 30 different species of birds including: downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, canada goose, phoebe, tree swallow, barn swallow, blue jay, tufted-titmouse, robin, warbling vareos, black-capped chickadees, yellow warblers, catbirds, red-winded blackbirds, baltimore orioles, black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. The following species were viewed later that day in the Castle Rock area: american crow, blue jay, myrtle warbler, black-throated blue warbler, palm warbler, mockingbird, field sparrow, white-throated sparrow, grackle, and baltimore oriole. On May 26th, Geoffrey Wood, Supervisor of the Metropolitan District Commission’s Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, led a birding trip to several locations in and around the watershed in search of common and rare shore birds in breeding plumage. By carpooling, we were able to cover several locations in one morning. 1. Lynn Beach Our first stop involved watching birds feed in the algae along Lynn Beach. Ample public parking is available at this MDC-owned public beach. Sightings included bonaparte’s gulls, little gulls, and purple sandpipers. 2. Nahant Thicket This property, owned by Massachusetts Audubon Society, provides the first dense thicket as habitat for migrating birds moving in from offshore in the morning. Two unmarked parking spaces are available on Furbush Road. Birds spotted during our walk included: carolina wren, red start, magnolia warbler, black-throated green warbler, wilson’s warbler, ovenbird, black burnam warbler, and chestnut-sided warbler. We also saw the usually secretive white-eyed vireo. 3. Short Beach and Nahant Beach Depending upon tidal conditions, the presence of pillayella attracts birds. During this trip we saw sandlings coming into breeding plumage at Short Beach and black scoters swimming off of Nahant Beach. 4. Point of Pines The General Electric Bridge crossing over the Saugus River is host to a population of approximately 80 common terns. The best time for viewing is approximately three hours after high tide. We also saw black bellied plovers and brandt geese at this site. 5. Suffolk Downs, “Oasis” This unlikely haven for birds is located to the right of the Suffolk Downs parking lot. As the only freshwater pond in the region next to the coast, the site attracts birds that leave the marshes at high tide. We viewed egrets, tree swallows, and swift. 6. Snake Island, Winthrop This island can be reached by a half-mile canoe ride. While viewing the site from land, we saw turnstone and common terns, but didn’t spot the oyster catchers that are known to breed on the island. 7. Rosie’s Pond, East Boston This hidden spot is located at the corner of Palermo Road and Austin Ave. We saw black ducks and egrets. At dawn, up to 600 egrets can be found at this site coming in from the islands on summer mornings. 8. Rumney Marsh, Saugus and Revere The last stop on our carpooling trip involved donning rubber boots and moving in for a closer look at some of the birds feeding in the salt pannes of Rumney Marsh, east of Route 107. We viewed snowy egrets, common terns, least tern, semi-palmated plovers, and short-billed dowitchers. Special thanks to Craig Jackson and Geoff Wood for helping us to appreciate the beauty of birding in the Saugus River watershed and beyond.

Bird Watching in the Watershed
Saugus River and the Whaling Industry
SRWC Comments
Editorial: Pollution at Henkel Site
Patrick’s Place (Wiley Street, Wakefield)
Volunteers Clean Town Line Brook
CoastSweep 2001Team SRWC
Around the Watershed
Sediments Reveal Environmental
History of Lake Quannapowit