Confirmed bird sightings on the Outer Cape in the week preceding the Independent’s deadline on Tuesday, Jan. 9 included the following, based on a report prepared by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sightings at Race Point in Provincetown included an amazing 4 Pacific Loons, a Harlequin Duck, 430 Razorbills, a Thick-Billed Murre, 18 Common Murres, and 12 Tree Swallows.
There’s an onslaught of Western Tanagers across Cape Cod, with one bird continuing near Highland Light in Truro. Most sightings of these rare visitors have been in cedars where they are feeding with robins. Also seen in Truro were late House Wrens and a Blue-Headed Vireo.
There was a Dickcissel at a feeder in Wellfleet.
The Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow, and Yellow-Throated Warbler continued at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham this week along with an Eastern Phoebe. Across town on the bay side, many seabirds were seen close to the shore, brought in on the nor’easter over the weekend. They included 6 Pomarine Jaegers, an Atlantic Puffin, 3 Thick-Billed Murres, 86 Dovekies, and 600 Black-Legged Kittiwakes, all at First Encounter Beach. Sighted elsewhere in Eastham: Late House Wrens, 4 Chipping Sparrows, and an American Bittern.
Highlights from the Truro Christmas Bird Count held on Jan. 2 included the Western Tanager in the Highland Light area, an American Oystercatcher at Great Island in Wellfleet, a Northern Waterthrush at High Head, 2 Sora along the Pamet River, and at least 130 Tree Swallows. (See story on the Christmas Bird Count)
If you have questions about these sightings or want to report a sighting, call the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or send an email to [email protected].
