We're visiting Massachusetts for 2 weeks from mid August. This will be our first visit to the USA so we're keen to expand our list of American species while on a family holiday. After 3 nights in Boston we have 3 nights in Concord and will visit Great Meadows. We then have 1 week on Cape Ann based in Lanesville. Obviously we will include at least one visit to Plum Island plus Ipswich, Gloucester, etc. My question is how many species is realistic at this time of year and given that it is not only a birding trip. Does approx 100 species sound possible? Hope someone can give us some advice.
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Two weeks in Massachusetts (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MKBirder
- Start date
Without trying to rack up species, I tallied 114 during the entire month of August in Eastern Massachusetts last year. It is not a great time of year though for general birding, but good for shorebirds and terns. Great Meadows is going to be rather unexciting in August. If you can, I would suggest getting out to Monomy National Wildlife Refuge/South Beach on the Cape, near Chatham. The Massachusetts Audubon Society usually runs trips there (the best way is to take a short boat ride from the mainland) in August. If you cannot get out to South Beach, multiple trips to Plum Island/Sandy Point State Park should be productive. For Parker River NWR, try to get there at high tide for shorebirds, since that concentrates the shorebirds away from the coast and into the various pools and salt pannes along the refuge road.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Hope this helps,
Jim
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While I have never been there in August I really like the Audubon Ipswich River Sanctuary in Topsfield (very close to Ipswich). One of your best bets that I know of for Pileated Woodpecker that I know of as well as many other species. It has a nice varied landscape (open woodland, forest, meadow, and wetlands) providing a lot of different habitats. Also, very nice and affordable canoeing options on the river from here.
I appreciate the advice. Apart from a fantastic week for American vagrants on Scilly which included black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos on the same day in the UK!!!! most of what we see will be new to us. We will certainly give Topsfield a visit and add an extra day at Plum Island.
Thanks,
Alan.
Thanks,
Alan.
