On a sunny Sunday, post hurricane Lee, we drove from our New Hampshire accommodations to Parker River NWR on the Atlantic shore of Massachusetts. We were not the only birders there scoping out the marsh on the western edge of the road. There was quite a crowd!
From our first stop at Salt Pannes we saw lots of Great and Snowy Egret, American Black Duck, Mallard, and a few great Crested Cormorant, Semi-palmated Plovers and Sandpipers, and American Wigeon.
Great Egret
American Wigeon
We walked the .6 mile Hellcat raised boardwalk trail through marine forest of pitch pine, sassafras, beach plum, myrtle, and other lush flora many of them laden with berries. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew across our path sending the nearby Blue Jays into a frenzy. A Least Bittern stepped out from the cattails, Mallard and Black Ducks dabbled, and Great and Snowy Egrets gathered while Canada Goose flew into the ponds.
In the forest we saw numerous Grey Catbirds and a Phoebe. A Black-throated Green Warbler gave us excellent views:
Other winged things made themselves known on the trail.
And red squirrels chattered from the trees.
At the visitor center located on the Plum Island causeway, a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk perched in a nearby tree giving stunning views to anyone who glanced up.
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