We made several trips throughout the Northeast from May to July 2023. Spring migration in Florida was slow due to a lack of fronts and significant rain so it was nice to see so many great birds up north.
Rochester NY
Our first trip was to Rochester, where Mike volunteered at the PGA Championship in Oak Hills. A few of the best birds on the golf course were the Baltimore Oriole, Tennessee Warbler, and many Chimney Swifts. We stayed in Webster, NY, which is a quiet town with a lot of birding potential. We had Wilson’s Warbler and Brown Thrasher on the property. The Lilac Festival in Williamson is also a great time to see birds, and a Least Flycatcher was an excellent find.
Our final two stops in the area were at Sodus Bay. The wind was blowing, and the waves were crashing on the pier to the lighthouse at Sodus Point. We located our target bird, a Black-legged Kittiwake, as well as a bonus Bonaparte’s Gull. The Lake Shore Marshes WMA was an excellent stop with 24 species observed. Some of the best include Mute Swan, Eastern Wood-Pewee, American Redstart, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Connecticut
We visited Connecticut in the past, but did not spend much time bird-watching. With limited time, we chose the Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret as our destination. This is a beautiful property with multiple trails and habitats. We tallied 40 species in just over an hour and highly recommend this preserve. The Blue-winged Warbler was our target bird, and we heard them along the loop trail. We had an excellent recording of a Golden-winged Warbler, but the record was not accepted due to the common hybridization of the two species. A total of eight warbler species were recorded. Other fun observations were the nesting Barn Swallows and Northern Bobwhite in the farm field.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is another state we have visited but we did not have any reported birds. We went to the Cumberland Monastery, which is a great birding location with woods, wetlands, and field trails. While walking the property, we identified 28 species, including Red-bellied Woodpeckers feeding young, Warbling Vireo, and Cedar Waxwing. While we did not find the Rhode Island Red, the State bird, we did find clam Stuffies at a local seafood restaurant.
Massachusetts
We took the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and toured the island using the local bus system. This is a great, inexpensive way to go to Gay’s Head to see the iconic lighthouse, cliffs, and some very nice birds. Next, we rode the bus to Edgartown for outstanding lobster rolls and waterfront views. It was a short walk the next morning to the Farm Pond in Oak Bluffs, which had a nice variety of shore birds, including Common Eider, Common Loon, and Great Black-backed Gull. We observed 33 species during our roughly 24 hours on Martha’s Vineyard.
Our next stop was Race Point Beach and Lighthouse near Provincetown. We were happy to see the nesting Piping Plover in the roped-off areas on the beach. Additionally, we spotted a group of Gray seals swimming and feeding in the surf.
The highlight of our trip was a whale watching tour from MacMillan Pier. It was a short one-hour cruise, and the boat was only one-third full as we headed to the whale grounds. During the tour, we observed six humpback whales and two Minke whales. Additionally, we were delighted to see two Green Herons on the dock and about 20 Common Eiders near the docks and on the jetties.
Vermont
In June, we took the ferry from Essex, NY, to Charlotte, Vermont. The Charlotte Town Beach is one of our favorite birding spots, and during our one-hour visit, we observed 35 different bird species. This location is diverse, featuring a beach along Lake Champlain and beautiful wooded areas surrounding the parking lots. Notable sightings included a juvenile Common Merganser, a Wood Thrush, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, and American Goldfinches. Additionally, we spotted a rare Snowy Egret at Shelburne Bay.
While Mike played golf, I drove along Kelley Strand Road West. This seasonal road connects East Arlington and Stratton in the Green Mountains and runs parallel to the Roaring Branch River. The mosquitoes were vicious, making birdwatching a challenge. Fortunately, I managed to see my two target birds: the Canada Warbler and the Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Toronto and Niagara Falls
We took Amtrak from Utica to Toronto, and we recommend train travel anytime you are going to a big city where you can walk or use public transportation. We took advantage of the favorable exchange rate to attend a performance of “Hamilton”, a concert, and a baseball game. The only night birds we saw were when the Toronto Blue Jays flew past the Baltimore Orioles. Our birdwatching trip included visits to Trillium Park and Ontario Place. This waterfront park offers hiking trails, concert venues, and stunning views of the Toronto skyline. The highlight for birdwatchers was seeing a Mute Swan and an unexpected pair of Canvasbacks.
Our return train ride was delayed several days due to a derailment, which gave us the chance to visit Niagara Falls and see the view from the Canadian side. Horseshoe Falls was absolutely stunning both day and night. We highly recommend taking a wine tour if you are in the area. There were many ducks, geese, and gulls around the falls.
Closing
We had an incredible spring and summer traveling throughout the northeast. We visited some of the most beautiful places in the region, and we saw some amazing birds. We hope this blog post inspires you to visit some of these places and experience the joy of birding in the Northeast.
New York Year Birds: 115 NY Life Birds: 6
Connecticut Year Birds: 46 CT Life Birds: 33
Vermont Year Birds: 58 VT Life Birds: 30
Massachusetts Year Birds: 37 MA Life Birds: 21
Rhode Island Year Birds: 28 RI Life Birds: 28
Ontario Year Birds: 22 ON Life Birds: 15
Next Up: Bahamas Birding
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