Cape Ann/Newburyport Trip Report

January 13 and 14, 2024

Trip Leader: Frances D’Amico

Participants: Al Gatti, Sharon Pope, Greta Gribkoff, Polly Parker, Roy Parsons, & Wendy Parsons

*Sharon joined the birders for meals and spent time exploring the area.

It was raining on Saturday morning and forecasted to last until noon. After breakfast, Al gave an impromptu tutorial in eBird which lasted till 10 am the rain had stopped. The six birders piled into 2 cars and headed out for the day’s adventure. It was a good day of birding in spite of the wind. There was one more short downpour in the late afternoon. Wind was the only remnant of the storm.

The first stop at Folly Cove where our bounty included Canada Goose, Mallard, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks, Surf & White-Scoters, Bufflehead, Great Cormorant, American Crow, & Common Goldeneye.

Then on to Halibut Point State Park, where we walked out to the Point which juts out into the ocean. Birds had to be identified as they bobbed between the huge waves. Common Eider, Herring Gull, and a small flock of Northern Gannet flew by us. As the gannets got further out in the water, we observed how they dive head first into the water to feed. There were some songbirds (Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren as we emerged from the trail and back to our cars. After lunch back at the Rockport Inn, our last stops in Rockport were at the Granite Pier and Emerson Rocks which added Black Scoter, Common Loon and Common Merganser to our bird list before heading to Gloucester to finish the afternoon of birding.

Heading down the coast in Gloucester, we parked in the Elks lot and crossed the street. This has always been a reliable spot to see Purple Sandpiper, and they didn’t disappoint. It was impossible to get an exact count because the birds’ feather coloration blended well with the rocks and could only be seen when they moved. The waves were pretty ferocious, bringing the cold air off the ocean. Satisfied, we headed down to Jodrey Fishing Pier, where the boats bring in their catch to be processed. Lots of gulls were seen but none were white-winged. However, the bird of the day and maybe even the trip was a Dovekie – a small black and white bird in the Auk family which every one of our group was able to see.

Sunday we packed cars and had an early start to Newburyport environs. It was disappointing that the Mass Audubon building at Joppa Flats is no longer open on Sunday.

We crossed over the bridge to Plum Island and headed south onto the Parker River National Refuge stopping at Parking Lot 1, where we saw a pair of Northern Harriers. Next stop was the Salt Pannes, great for waterfowl this time of year and for shore birds in summer and fall. There was a Bald Eagle seen proudly sitting on a hillock taking advantage of this raised vantage point to survey the marsh. Our final stop was at Hellcat where we attempted to walk the boardwalk in search of land birds, but it was icy, and we retreated. Shortly thereafter our group began to retreat towards home. Maybe more of you will be tempted to join us next year and the lemmings will be gone forcing the snowy Owls to come further south in search of food.