Winter Finch Forecast says Look for Purple Finches, Red Crossbills

It's about to get finchy! The famous Winter Finch Forecast, put out by the Finch Research Network (which was founded by Matthew Young my coauthor of The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada) is predicting that great cone crops on white pine in eastern Canada and Northeastern U.S. may bring Red Crossbills and Purple Finches. Look for them in forests near you. You may also see Purple Finches at your feeders stocked with sunflower. Other beautiful finches like Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins may also make an appearance. This is always an exciting time of anticipation!!

 

Nor'easter September, 2026 Storm Birds

 

                                                    Razorbill

                                                   Iceland Gull

                                                 Wilson's Storm-Petrel

                             Common (left) and Thick-billed (right) Murres

While we are hunkered down in the nor'easter (we are OK and still have power), other birders have headed to coastal areas like (Cape Cod, Andrew's Point, Gloucester MA) to see all the storm blown birds coming closer to shore such as Razorbills, storm-petrels, jaegers, gulls and more. Storms bring possible excitement for rare birds showing up, as long as birders stay safe. Take care everyone.

Photos from other times.

It's Prime Time For Hawk Watching, Go Now!

Go hawk watching now! This is prime time for Broad-winged Hawks and other raptors to migrate past the hundreds of hawk watch sites across the Americas. Look for Broadwings to travel in big flocks that "kettle" up, rise on thermals as an energy efficient way of getting to their winter areas in South America. Find a hawk watch site near you by going to https://hawkcount.org/, the big database of daily sightings maintained by the Hawk Migration Association (I am a board member). Support raptors by donating to https://www.hawkmigration.org/ I started my career in ornithology when I met a Bald Eagle on Mt. Wachusett in the late '70s and was so impressed (they were very rare then) I changed my career. 36 book on birds and nature later I am still hawk watching. See you on the mountain!

(This is my composite photo of Broad-winged Hawk group, adult right, immature, left, from Stokes Essential Pocket Guide to Birds of North America)

 

STELLER'S SEA-EAGLE, WHITEWAY, NL 7/19/26

Wind, water, a rocky-cliffed, conifer-covered island and a quest to find my grail bird. I have waited over 5 1/2 years to see the spectacular Steller’s Sea-Eagle since it showed up in Massachusetts in 2021 and I missed it. Likely one of the most rare, famous, and photographed MEGAs in North America, the STSE has been called by some, “the bird of the century.” By now it is a legend.

This massive bird has a 7-8 ft. wingspan and at 5 lbs. heavier, a foot taller and longer, it dwarfs Bald Eagles. It normally lives in eastern Russia, the Korean Peninsula and northern Japan. With only about 4,000 left in the wild it is a vulnerable species. This Steller’s Sea-Eagle took off on an astounding cross-continent journey with the seeming ease that a weather satellite circles the globe. It began in Denali, Alaska in 2020 and then was discovered in Victoria, TX, 3/7/21, known to be the same bird because of the photo match of the border between the white and brown feathers on the upper wing pattern. Then it bounced to eastern Canada in the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec/New Brunswick in June then was in Nova Scotia three months later.

On December 19, 2021 there were rumors of it being spotted near the Taunton River in MA and on December 20th it was re-found and all hell broke loose. Word spread and birders descended and scoured the area until spotting it. Only about 200 lucky birders got to see it before it flew north after only hours of being there. I was not one of them. I near cried. I started an emotional support group for those who missed it called the “Big Dipper’s” club (joking, to dip is to miss a bird).

The STSE continued its journey to mid-Maine where it moved around for another few months. I could not follow it there because I had a sick husband who had Lewy-Body Dementia plus 2 Corgis. The STSE then went to NB and NS Canada, then back to ME briefly. Since November 2023 it has found a home in Newfoundland and been in a number of places there. Since late 2025 it has been seen in Trinity Bay at Green’s Harbor Point and now since July 2026 at Whiteway Bay, Salmon Point, accessible by boat.

Fast forward through my life in which Don died last year, I got remarried in May to Tony and the number one question we were asked was “where are you going on your honeymoon?” Where do you think - to see the Stellar’s Sea-Eagle!!! With no guarantee we would find the eagle since her track record is to move around, we went for it last week!

The trip was not easy, there are no direct flights, but we lucked through making a very tight connection between Montreal and St. John’s, the capital of NL.

We hooked up with Steller’s Sea-Eagle Tour from Whiteway run by Robert Burgess (902-210-0444). Getting to the eagle is all about the wind! Newfoundland is a VERY windy place! Robert only goes out in his small boat when he thinks it is safe. Robert kept messaging me about a potential window of opportunity for good seas but the weather changed constantly producing weather anxiety on my part. We only had three days (Saturday-Monday) to be there. Finally, Robert said Sunday morning early looked best. We had dinner Saturday night and still had a few hours of daylight, so over-eager me talked Tony to going to a spot of land on Old Track Road 1.7 miles across the bay from Salmon Point. I got out our Swarovski AT Balance image-stabilized, hand-held scope and started scanning. My eye caught a very, very distant object in the conifers on the cliff that had two white wing patches and a big yellow blob (her bill!!) that moved left to right and back. OMG, it’s the STSE!!!! My first thought was to get Tony on it, which I did by handing him the scope and giving good (he said) directions, then to try to digiscope a bad photo (remember it could fly away at any time) which I did. I was so excited I contacted Robert and told him we were looking at the eagle and the seas looked (deceptively) calm to us. He said come over and obligingly took us out in what was rougher seas for a “record shot.” Yes, the boat ride was rocky but we got close enough for some shots of her up high on a conifer, thank goodness for autofocus!  Robert said the next morning would be much better for photos and it was, as you can see, although it was cloudy. Robert, who is a photographer himself, did an excellent job of getting us in good positions to take photos and is respectful of keeping about 100 feet away from the high cliff which is the STSE’s frequent spot. I used the Canon R5 Mark II with 100-500 mm lens, Tony was using the Nikon P1100 with its 3000 mm lens. Some of my  photos are heavily cropped. We left totally elated, my dream had come true. There is no feeling like that!!

Make no mistake, the Steller’s Sea-Eagle is a savy, skilled survivor far from her native land, although it is interesting that Newfoundland is on the same latitude as her home area. She (some people think it is a female) has skirmishes with the many Bald Eagles, sometimes hangs out with juvenile Bald Eagles and learns from gulls who may lead her to fish. Newfoundland has plenty of food, places to perch and shelter and she is making a good living. And no, there is no plan to import a mate.

We also had some other great bird experiences, Newfoundland is full of them, such as seeing millions of nesting sea birds like Northern Gannets, Atlantic Puffins, murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes. More photos to come next week.

P.S. If you want to go see this amazing bird, go now!! She seems localized in her patch at least for a while. The weather gets too bad soon and shuts down the boat tours in fall.

Little Blue Heron, Rare inland in MA!

Saw this Little Blue Heron at Horn Pond birding site inland in MA. Very unusual for this site and it thrilled all the birders who saw it. Little Blues are a rare nester in MA (mainly coastally).

Northern Yellow Warblers Have Returned!

 Here they come, Yellow Warblers (now called Northern Yellow Warbler) have arrived in MA! I hope to get out to see them soon. Such an exciting time of year!

Baltimore Orioles and Ruby-throated Hummingbids are arriving!

Here they come! Eagerly waiting for the return of the orioles and hummingbirds! EBird maps show where they are now. Get out the oranges and hummer feeders soon! After this brutal winter, the return of these beauties seems even more welcome!

 

Purple Finch female on migration now!

 

Yay! Purple Finch female/imm. arrived at the feeder today! Likely just passing through on migration. Welcome! So happy to see one of my beloved finches! Make sure and check out the new Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada. All things finch and so much more!

FOY (first of season) Chipping Sparrow has arrived!

 

                                                         Hellebore

                                                      Eranthis

Yay, FOY Chipping Sparrow has returned yesterday, I have been waiting. Hellebore and Winter Aconite (Eranthis, supposedly critters don't eat it like they do crocus) are in bloom. Happiness is -it is starting to really feel like spring. Pause and enjoy the blooms and the birds.

Happy Spring Eastern Phoebes Have Arrived!

 

Happy spring! FOY (first of year) Eastern Phoebe arrived yesterday here in MA, I was so excited to hear its slighly raspy "fee-bee" song. Pansies proliferate at the garden centers, and mini-daffies can be planted. After this long, difficult winter, spring seems so much sweeter!

American Woodcocks Have Arrived "Peent"

FOY (first-of-year) American Woodcock recently, my target bird! Went out to a known area hoping the snow would be melted enough for woodcocks to have some open ground to display and it was. No sooner got there than 2 woodcocks flew in over my head. The craziest thing was my good friends and Big Year (a birding competition to see how many birds you can see in a year) birding legend record holders in the North America and AOU area Tammy McQuade and David McQuade called me to say hello at that moment, just as I was getting the bird I had come after. Perfect serendipity timing! One woodcock then landed, began "peenting" and launched into a display flight rising 200 ft. in the air and making a twittering sound with his wings, then spiraled down making a chirping sound. Females come to the display area, chose and mate with males then breed in a ground nest in the woods and raise the young themselves. Look for woodcocks now at dusk in open areas near woods and you may see (or hear as it is hard to see with binoculars in the dim light) this amazing ritual. A true sign of spring. I love woodcocks! Photo from another time.

Winter Bird Therapy: Beauty at your Bird Feeders!

Through the window, winter bird therapy: Symphony in blue, yay! the Carolina Wren is surviving, black on white, our winter "snowbirds." Hope you all who are stuck indoors and enduring the frigid temps, are feeding the birds. It's beauty, entertainment, engagement, and knowing you are helping these feathered spirits.

 

Red Squirrel Cuteness!!

Red Squirrel has a home under the now buried brush pile that was originally for the birds. It did not come out during the storm. Red Squirrels (unlike gray) are territorial and have territories averaging 2-5 acres. They have a main cache of food usually hidden in the ground, a stone wall, a burrow, or under a brush pile. They can make their nest in trees, or live under fallen logs, in stone walls, buildings, or underground tunnels they dig themselves. Ounce for ounce they are one of the feistiest critters out there but so cute!

 

How To Help Birds in Severe Winter Weather

                    

American Goldfinches and Pine Siskin on lower right 

Dark-eyed Junco in snow

Severe winter weather with below 0 degrees temperatures and storms is invading much of the eastern area of the country now. This makes it hard for birds to find food and survive. Birds cannot live for more than a day or two without food and providing feeders may help them survive. To help your birds get through winter in areas of the country where there is severe winter weather, start with an excellent bird feeder set up. Make sure you include multiple tubular, hopper, screen, and suet feeders filled with a variety of quality bird seeds and suet. Focus on providing black oil sunflower (which has a high oil, thus calorie count), seed mixes that contain a good amount of black oil sunflower and, for finches, Nyjer (thistle) or finch mix seed. Also include suet which is a calorie-rich food that provides much needed energy for birds in cold weather.

Place feeders near cover so the birds can escape wind and cold. Near pines or other evergreens is ideal, especially if they face south. Place feeders on poles with squirrel baffles and locate them 12 or more feet from any place from which a squirrel can jump.

 Clean off snow from feeders whenever it accumulates from a storm. This includes shoveling snow from under the feeders so ground feeding species like Mourning Doves, White-throated Sparrows and juncos can access seeds that birds drop from the above feeders.Consider using the snow blower to clear under the feeders if it is feasible. Some people make a big brush pile with a hollow middle inside and sprinkle seed on the ground in the middle of it so ground feeding species can get the seed. The more feeders you have, the more kinds of birds you will attract. 

Winter target birds. In addition to regular winter birds like chickadees, titmice, goldfinches, nuthatches, cardinals, jays, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, juncos, and White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, you may attract rarer species like Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and Evening Grosbeaks.

Once you finish shoveling the snow go inside, pour a cup of hot chocolate, get out your binoculars and field guide and, though the window, watch a lot of happy birds flock to your feeders.

And if you're looking for to identify the birds you see, get our new Stokes Essential Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America. With 250 species and over 580 stunning photos,  it contains all the birds you will see at your feeders and the essential ones beyond. For the more advanced birders on your list get our best-selling, 

Buy Now! The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America

It was recently divided into Eastern and Western editions, and we also have a new pocket guide for backyard birders.

Buy Now! The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Eastern and Western Regions

Buy Now! The Stokes Essential Pocket Guide to Birds of North America

Enjoy!

Winter Birding

Cold. Windy. Car birding. That's what it's been like. A Northern Mockingbird warms up on the roadside near its treasured winter food supply of winterberry. 5 Song Sparrows make a living on the weedy roadside. Eastern Bluebirds are still here and eat berries (and suet at my feeder). A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found on my Christmas Bird Count, one of a handful in the CBC area, unusual to have so many here now relatively speaking.

(Nikon P950 photos)

FIRST BIRD OF THE YEAR!

 What was your first bird of 2026? Mine was 25 juncos with a Fox Sparrow mixed in! Happy New Year and good birding in 2026!

HAPPY BIRD-FILLED NEW YEAR1

MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL 2026 FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL BIRDS AND MANY LIFERS!

 

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!

Happy Winter Solstice! Enjoy the birds, get out in nature and celebrate the return of increasing daylight hours!