On Nov. 21, Tom and Jen Hawkins were driving along and noticed a small animal standing on the white line at the edge of the road. It was a red phase screech owl, and their seven-year-old daughter Grace O’Hanlon, who loves all creatures great and small, was surprised at the small size of the owl.
Her Dad, Tom Hawkins, picked up the seemingly groggy owl. They took the owl to Gus Ben David, a licensed animal rehabilitator, hoping that the owl would be okay. He reassured Grace and her family saying the owl’s eyes looked good when he checked them with a small flashlight.
Mr. Ben David released the bird unharmed the next day. Grace concluded: “I am glad we got to help an injured owl.”
Bird Sightings
The southward migration is slowing down as the vast majority of animals have already flown to warmer climes. But migration is far from over. This week three new-for-the -season species showed up.
On Nov. 28, Susan Whiting, Bob Shriber, Allan Keith, Geoff Muldaur, Pat Hughes and Hal Minis visited Squibnocket and their highlights were two new species spotted in the ocean: two razorbills and a red-necked grebe. They also spotted a Virginia rail, seven greater scaup, two lesser scaup, seven long-tailed ducks, five horned grebes, two northern gannets, a marsh wren, and a swamp sparrow.
The third new-for-the -season species is the red crossbill, a dozen of which were spotted by Matt Pelikan by the pond at the state forest headquarters. This is yet another irruptive species that has arrived on our shores due to food scarcity in their normal far northern wintering grounds. He also spotted a handful of green-winged teal on the pond.
Further evidence of the ongoing migration is that red-throated loons are peaking in abundance. Normally, common loons are more common but not now. On the above mentioned visit to Squibnocket, 25 red-throated loons and 12 common loons were found. And on Nov. 29, Bob Shriber counted 22 red-throated loons and eight common loons in Aquinnah.
Another species from up north is the snowy owl. Brian Packish reports that one has been on Chappaquiddick for the past week or so. Mark Ervin spotted it on Nov. 27, and Hans Goeckel spotted it on Nov. 29. Please, please remember to keep your distance, no matter how badly you want a photo of these spectacular birds. Although they may look calm, cool and collected, you are way too close if the owl is constantly staring at you. Such unnecessary disturbance can harm the owls and/or chase them away so the next person does not get to see them.
The brant that frequent Ocean Park continue to increase in abundance. On Nov. 25 I carefully counted 180 of these small geese. This is the highest count I have ever recorded.
Purple sandpipers are also more abundant. Tony Lima spotted a flock of them at Moshup Beach on Nov. 24, Will Harcourt-Smith spotted one at Lobsterville on Nov. 27, and Lanny McDowell teamed up with Geoff Muldaur to find a flock of 10 of them at the Gay Head cliffs on Nov. 29, as well as harlequin ducks and sanderling.
All of a sudden there are small numbers of laughing gulls around. Will Harcourt-Smith spotted one at Felix Neck on Nov. 24, and another at Lobsterville on Nov. 27. Allan Keith spotted one at Lobsterville on Nov. 25, Lanny McDowell spotted one off East Chop trying to steal a fish from a common loon, and I spotted one at Ocean Park during the rainy and strong easterly winds of Nov. 30.
Mary Volpe had the good fortune to spot two adult bald eagles flying around near the Little bridge on Nov. 21. The next day Jeff Bernier found 25 snow buntings at South Beach. Golden-crowned kinglets have been spotted by Peter Enrich at Middle Line Woods on Nov. 22 and by Laurie Meyst at Fulling Mill Brook on Nov. 29. Sharon Simonin observed the black-crowned night-herons at the Oak Bluffs Pumping Station on Nov. 24, and a lone black-bellied plover in Aquinnah on Nov. 25.
On Nov. 16 Allan Keith spotted a merlin at Lobsterville and a phoebe at his Chilmark house. On Oct. 17 he spotted a grackle in his yard and a greater yellowlegs at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary. At nearby Little Beach Scotty Goldin found three American oystercatchers and 20 turkey vultures on Nov. 25, while James Frietas found a large flock of them at west basin on Nov. 20. The next day he spotted a meadowlark at Long Point as well as two horned larks and two northern harrier.
Finally, the 61st annual Christmas bird Count — a much anticipated and enjoyable event — will be held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. Your help is needed as some of the usual participants from off-Island are unlikely to be here because of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Go to biodiversityworksmv.org/our-projects/mvcbc/ to find out how you can help us by counting and reporting the birds that visit your yard that day.
Please email your sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant with Nature Watch LLC living in Vineyard Haven.
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