Race Point birders document record scoter influx and rare gallinule
Mass Audubon data through October 20 shows heavy migration traffic on the Cape, including 1,200 Northern gannets and a rare purple gallinule in West Yarmouth.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
Observers at Race Point in Provincetown tallied 1,500 white-winged scoters in recent sightings reported to Mass Audubon through October 20. The count represents the largest single species total in the organization's latest data for the Cape.
The Race Point list also included 1,000 black scoters and 1,200 Northern gannets. Other waterbirds recorded at the site were 335 surf scoters, 3 American wigeon, and 6 Northern pintails. The birders also logged 250 Cory’s shearwaters and 155 great shearwaters, along with smaller numbers of storm-petrels and sandpipers.
A distinct find occurred at the Stay Fresh cranberry farm in West Yarmouth, where birders spotted an immature purple gallinule. The bird allowed photographers to get very close for images. Elsewhere in the region, a rough-legged hawk was seen near the Sandwich marina, and up to five yellow-crowned night-herons were observed in West Barnstable.
Migration patterns extended to other specific habitats across the Cape. At Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich, observers recorded 17 Eastern bluebirds, 9 gadwells, and 2 Northern harriers. In Nauset Marsh, Eastham birders saw three Western sandpipers, while 48 pine siskins and a black guillemot were noted in North Truro. Four purple sandpipers flew over Stellwagen Bank.
Mass Audubon collects these reports to track seasonal movement. Individuals can report new sightings by calling the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or emailing cape.sightings@massaudubon.org.
