Visiting New England USA

[Baz]

I am visiting New England starting Oct 17th, can anyone recommend a website which will tell me where to go birding and what I can see at this time of year.

[Tammie]

Can't help you on your question but I certainly do look forward to any landscape or scenery pictures you might post after your trip. Should be stunning at this time of year!

[Tammie]

Oh, and let me be the first to welcome you to the forum too! :)

[Beverlybaynes]

Welcome, Baz, from all the Admin staff and Moderators of Birdforum. You'll find lots of great information here, including some members from around New England.

Boy, you are going at a great time! I've visited New England but not in the autumn, and even though most of the color will probably be past peak, it'll still be gorgeous, I'm sure.

Jack Siler's website

www.birdingonthe.net

will have links for discussion lists throughout the country, including New England. Browsing about there should give you some ideas.

What is it you want to see? There are several places along the coastline to recommend themselves: Acadia National Park and other offshore islands off the Maine coast. Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Newburyport and Plum Island in NE Massachusetts are VERY well known at birding hotspots.

Outside of Boston, maybe Mt. Auburn Cemetary, which I think is in Cambridge -- if Screech answers, I'm sure he'll know.

By the way, this is a terrific forum, full of friendly and knowledge folks. Browse around, get to know the site, and have fun!

And I hope we'll get some reports about your trip when you return!

[Glen Tepke]

Baz,

Some links to information about birding in Massachusetts are in this thread:

http://www.birdforum.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6592

Enjoy your visit.

Glen

[eric s]

Where to find the bird report for Mass (divided by region.)
http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/rbas/MA.html

The Brookline Birding Club. It is supposed to be very active.
http://www.massbird.org/BBC/

Just a good place in general:
http://www.massbird.org/

Mount Auburn Cemetery is quite nice. I go there regularly (although not recently.) It has ample parking and is accessible by bus. I always enjoy going there, all year round. I’ve been on a Great Horned Owl hunt there in the past, as they regularly have one. Never found it, but I’m going to keep trying! They are amazing birds.

Out in Concord Mass is Great Meadows. It’s a NWR:
http://recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=(1407)

The web page is a bit slow, but it will come up. This place is great during the migrations for lots of water/wader birds. In the past month I have regularly seen a 1/2 dozen Great Blue Herons, 2-3 Egrets, 1-3 green herons, flocks of Teals, and with a scope you can see Wood Ducks (they are shy.) I’ve seen a Harrier there most times I’ve visited in the last month. Lots of fun to watch. Note that your movement is very limited because the trail is surrounded by water. But with good binocs or a scope it can be fun.

If you can get up to Acadia National Park it’s just a beautiful place. I’ve never done any birding there, but I’ve hiked their and its lots of fun. In the past years they’ve had peregrine falcons nesting on one of the mountains. There is also a set of cart trails that look to be great to hike/walk/bike on. Never done it, but I want to. The time of year I’m up there it’s packed with people, so I just stay away…. I’m usually further up the coast than that, so I go hiking/birding up in that area.

For a closer trip there is Parker River NWR (Plum Island):
http://parkerriver.fws.gov/

At the right times of year, this place is amazing. I haven’t been in several months because it’s at least 1 1/2 hour drive from me (and great meadows is only 15 minutes.) But loads of things flock there. I’ve photographed ibis, herons, egrets, terns, bobolinks… and much more. During the winter Snowy Owls make a regular appearance. It’s also nice because many of the places you go are quite near your car. If you have trouble walking long distances this place is still quite accessible. Note that it does cost money to enter, and it does fill up. But there is a Mass Audubon location right near by, so you can go there instead.

Many of the Mass. Audubon locations are very good (not surprising.) Their main link is:
http://www.massaudubon.org/

I’ve been to the Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary and like it a lot (out on Cape Cod.)

That should get you started. How long are you going to be out here?

Eric