JOIN THE MA YOUNG BIRDERS CLUB TO LOOK FOR LATE FALL MIGRANTS AND SEA DUCKS WHILE GETTING A GREAT VIEW OF BOSTON
On Saturday, November 19th the Massachusetts Young Birders Club set out on a chilly adventure to see which varieties of waterfowl were floating in Marina Bay in Quincy.
We began our journey in the Squantum Point parking lot and headed out to the point on a paved path that had ocean on one side and thick brush on the other. We were overwhelmed by the number of American robins and house finches who were snacking on berries right from the trees - for a moment, we weren't sure if we were going to see anything else!
We were also delighted by the number of nests that were visible in the thick brush due to the lack of leaves that usually offer birds some level of protection and camouflage. We made our way to Squantum Point where we got great looks at White-winged Scoters, Buffleheads, and Common Eiders. All of us were surprised by the speediness of Buffleheads as they flew across the top of the water!
After spending some time looking out into the bay and exploring the beach, we headed back to the parking lot. There was a lot more bird activity on the way back as the birds were getting warm enough to move around. We caught a glimpse of a bird of prey; however, weren't able to identify it before it dipped below the tree line and even heard a song sparrow singing - possibly as a way to warm up?
As we ventured back the way we came, we were able to get great looks at American robins drinking from slightly icy puddles in the middle of the path. All in all, it was a great morning with a lot of good looks at bird behavior and an opportunity to explore the nests of birds, which can often be tricky to find!