Bygone Birds: Historical Highlights for May-June Neil Hayward October 1, 2023 2 MIN READ Bygone Birds 10 YEARS AGO May–June 2013 There were three reports of American White Pelicans in Chilmark, Sharon, and Stoneham. Swallow-tailed Kites—in Hatfield and Dalton—represented unusual inland sightings in western Massachusetts. A Common Ringed Plover on Plum Island on May 20–23 was the third record for the state and the first for the spring. The birding hotspot also hosted a Red-necked Stint on June 26–27. Two different Black-necked Stilts were reported: one at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth, the other on Plum Island. A Ruff in Rowley on May 14–16 was the first in four years. A Franklin’s Gull was found on May 29 at Bolton Flats—a very rare inland record for the state. A new pair of Peregrine Falcons in Watertown fledged three young, with another new pair nesting under the Sagamore Bridge. An unseasonal Cave Swallow at Great Meadows in Concord on May 27 was the third spring record for Massachusetts. A Mountain Bluebird continued in Williamstown until May 2. A Townsend’s Warbler on Nantucket on May 5 was the fourth spring record for the state. Best sighting: a Lewis’s Woodpecker was photographed in Lunenburg on May 26. This was the third record for the state, after birds on Naushon Island in May 1966 and West Newbury in June 1969. 20 YEARS AGO May–June 2003 A Wilson’s Plover was found on Crane Beach in Ipswich on June 4. A Western Willet was on North Monomoy on June 10. Two South Polar Skuas were seen on Georges Bank in early June. A Yellow-nosed Albatross was reported from First Encounter Beach in Eastham on June 2—the fourth accepted record for the state. A breeding-plumaged Pacific Loon was reported from Provincetown on May 17. An American White Pelican was observed flying over Truro in late June. A White Ibis continued in South Dartmouth until May 4, after which it relocated to Rhode Island and then Connecticut. Peregrine Falcon numbers continued to increase with a record nine or ten nesting pairs. Migration peaked on May 13 with 65 species—including a Summer Tanager—recorded in the Public Garden in Boston. The same day in Mount Auburn Cemetery produced 83 species. A Say’s Phoebe, present in Bedford on May 17–18, was the first record for the state. A Lawrence’s Warbler banded in Auburn was the first banding record for the state for this hybrid taxon. A Painted Bunting was seen in Plainville on May 13. Best sighting: a Red-tailed Tropicbird was seen flying over the island of Muskeget—including eye-level passes at less than 50 feet—on May 2. This was the fourth record for the state. To view the rest of the article you'll need to subscribe. Bird Observer publishes original articles on birding locations, on avian populations and natural history, on regional rarities, field notes, field records, photographs, and art work.