I wasn’t sure why I choose this morning – the coldest and windiest day of the week – for my 6-mile Pownal walk, but despite more-than-a-little blustery conditions, I was rewarded with quick, but very good, looks at 4 White-winged Crossbills. This loop that I walk every now and then passes through some very nice mixed woods, including some good stands of spruce. One stretch of Libby Road, at the edge of Bradbury Mountain State Park, has looked especially good for finches, and it was here where I saw the crossbills today.

The weather yesterday, however, couldn’t have been better for mid-winter on the New England coast. I headed south to Cape Ann, Massachusetts to join up with my friends from New Jersey Audubon’s Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. Yes, it is a fairly social event, but I earn my keep as an unofficial assistant leader, and the birding is always good.

In fact, yesterday, it was excellent. After a quick stop to not see a Shrike at the new Parker Island NWR office, we headed into Gloucester and began there. Our second stop was the state pier, where we were treated to a fantastic gull show – the best I have seen in a while. The three adult Black-headed Gulls were a real treat, and the 1st Cycle Glaucous Gull standing next to a 3rd Cycle Iceland Gull provided a great opportunity for close study. At least one other Iceland Gull, an adult, was also present. Personally, I could have stayed here forever, but we all elected to move on.

One half-decent shot of a Black-headed Gull, taken through binoculars.

A group of 15 Lesser and Greater Scaup off Rocky Neck were tallied, making up for our “dip” on a reported Dickcissel. Then, the big shock of the day – we actually SAW the mythological Eared Grebe off of Niles Beach! And, we saw it well!

This bird has been returning to the same area for at least 11 years now. However, despite many visits to East Gloucester in winter (and this location is along the road to Jeannette’s parent’s house, so we check for it with some regularity), this was only the 2nd or 3rd time that I have seen this bird! And, the previous two times, it was a distance spec – identified only by its distinct silhouette. This time, the bird was in perfect light, and not TOO far away! In fact, of 8 or 9 years that Scott and Pete have run this SHBO trip, this is only the second time that they have seen it as well. Yet, today it was even with range of some lousy digiscoped photos.

We found the drake King Eider that has been spending the winter off of Atlantic Avenue in Gloucester, and it was enjoyed by all. We also added to our Harlequin Duck tally, which ended the day at a decent 81 birds!

Our glee turned to frustration at the Granite Pier where we studied as frighteningly far loon that was certainly suggestive of a Pacific. But, it was WAY too far to call. I jokingly told Pete I would count it only if I needed it on my Massachusetts list. When I got home, I noticed I did, but I still won’t make the call! Chalk it up to one that got away.

We then birded our way through Rockport, and headed to Plum Island to search for Short-eared Owls at dusk. Unfortunately, the gate had already closed (about a half-hour before sunset, which is odd, we thought), so we were forced to scan only the northern end of the marsh. A couple of Northern Harriers were spotted, but no Short-ears.

Only later in the day did we find out a drake Redhead was at Niles Pond (which we thought was frozen) – a potential state bird for Scott and me! We were also alcid-less, except for a scattering of Black Guillemots (which in Maine we become jaded about, but is quite exciting if you’re usually only birding in NJ, for example).

Oh well, considering our day list included Iceland, Glaucous, and Black-headed Gulls; King Eider; lots of “Harlies;” and an –err, THE - Eared Grebe, no complaints (well, no REAL complaints) were to be heard – at least in my van, anyway. Good birds, good friends, and great conversation (and lots, and lots, of joking), made for a wonderful day.