The last straggler of a wave of at least four Pink-footed Geese that passed through the state in November and December, a bird continues to circulate around the goose flocks of Essex County through early March, appearing at various times in Ipswich, Topsfield, Rowley, and Wenham. Dan Prima took the photo above.
The female Painted Bunting, originally reported by Skyler Kardell just after Thanksgiving, was seen around Nantucket through mid-January. Then a male started visiting a few yards with feeders near Orleans in early February and continued in that area through early March. Jeff Offerman took the photo above.
The state hosted several Ross’ Goose in early 2017. An individual found by Ed Kittredge near Whitinsville on February 23 and 24 was apparently a first record for Worcester County. Sean Williams took the photo above.
The Tufted Duck that spent New Year’s Day on the Acushnet River near New Bedford continued to be found there through January 25. A few weeks after it stopped appearing there, Jim Sweeney found it or another of its species in Lakeville, where it remained for at least a few days. Justin Lawson took the photo above.
A trio of birders from Amherst first reported a Pacific Loon at Race Point on January 12. The very next day, another was discovered near Cathedral Ledge, Rockport. Both birds continued at least into late February, and Race Point was eventually confirmed to have two individuals. A more tentative report from North Chatham on January 9 was never re-found. Blair Nikula took the photo above.
A Mew Gull found at Nahant Beach by John Quigley on February 25 was re-found on subsequent days at Lynn Beach and King’s Beach. Zack Weber noticed that the bird was banded, and Dan Prima managed to read enough of the band numbers to confirm that the bird had been banded in Iceland on June 23, 2013! Dan took the photo above.