NEW ENGLAND 
One of three Iceland Gulls found in New England in summer 2009, this bird was discov- 
ered by the photographer at Quicksand Pond, Newport County, Rhode Island 17 July 
(here early August) 2009. Photograph by Geoff Dennis. 
sippi Kites at Cumberland, Cumberland, ME 1 
Jun (W. Russell, fide LS) and one at Granby, 
Hampden, MA 25 Jul (T. Tynan). Indicative of 
the pernicious effects of the early summers 
rainy weather were 1 1 active Bald Eagle nests 
in New Hampshire that fledged 16 young (24 
in 2008; C. Martin, /ide TV) and 21 nests in 
Massachusetts that fledged 21 young (33 in 
2008; TE, M.D.EW.). Connecticut’s eagles 
fared better, with 18 active nests successfully 
fledging 31 young (21 in 2008; fide JV). In 
spite of reduced productivity, overall pair 
counts continue their upward trend through- 
out New England. A pair of Northern Harriers 
in Windsor, Berkshire, MA throughout the pe- 
riod (ML) was intriguing; this threatened 
species is practically unknown inland as a 
nesting bird in Massachusetts these days. A 
long-standing American Kestrel nest-box trail 
in se. Massachusetts saw 29 out of 64 boxes 
occupied. Despite the influence of adverse 
early season weather and five nest failures, the 
92 chicks banded from 22 nests represented 
an increase over 83 young banded in 2008 
QM). Merlins that successfully nested at 
Martha’s Vineyard last season were this year 
unsuccessful; however, a different pair suc- 
cessfully raised 2 young in Florence, Hamp- 
shire, MA 30 Jun-i- (L, Peugh et al, fide B.O.) 
for a 2nd Bay State nesting record. The num- 
ber of Peregrine Falcons fledged in New Eng- 
land continues to soar, as reflected by 64 in 
Vermont (fide ME, A.V), 29 in New Hamp- 
shire (A.S.N.H., fide TV), and 39 in Massa- 
chusetts (fide TE M.D.EW.) A wandering Pur- 
ple Gallinule appeared on Nantucket 1. 23-24 
Jun (ph. P. Burchell et al.). In Maine, Com- 
mon Moorhens successfully nested at the 
S.S.D.E (m.ob., Jide LS) and at L. Josephine af- 
ter an eight-year absence (BS). 
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH ALCIDS 
Once again, Piping Plover totals reflected the 
efficacy of Regional recov- 
ery efforts. Preliminary 
nesting totals included 27 
pairs in Maine (fide 
M. D.I.EW), five pairs in 
New Hampshire (fide B. 
Clifford, N.H.EG.), ap- 
proximately 585 pairs (a 
new high) in Massachu- 
setts (fide Mass Audubon, 
N. H.E.S.P,U.S.EW.S.),84 
pairs in Rhode Island (fide 
RE), and 44 pairs in Con- 
necticut (fideJV). Despite 
a record high pair num- 
ber, Massachusetts plovers 
fledged only about 0.8 
chicks per pair, a number 
insufficient to sustain the 
population over time. 
Massachusetts also host- 
ed approximately 181 
pairs of American Oyster- 
catchers, where a fledging 
rate of 0.8 chicks per pair 
was the lowest in several 
years (SM, N.H.E.S.P.). 
Despite this low fledging 
success, Bay State oystercatchers enjoy some 
of the highest productivity on the East Coast. 
It is likely that only one Black-necked Stilt 
was responsible for sightings at Nantucket 1. 
6-7 Jun (E. Ray et al.), Chappaquiddick 1., 
Martha’s Vineyard 13 Jun (R. Whitten), and 
Muskeget I. 16 Jul (ph. RV, 
J. Barrera). Shorebird re- 
ports were notably scarce 
this season, the only re- 
ports worth highlighting 
being an American Gold- 
en-Plover at South Beach 
5 Jul (F. Atwood, fide 
B.O.), 2 Western Willets at 
South Beach 27 Jun (BN), 
an ad. Baird’s Sandpiper at 
Plum I. 28 Jul (ph. RH), a 
Ruff at Martha’s Vineyard 
26 Jul (ph. L. McDowell), 
and a Red Phalarope at 
Littleton, Grafton, NH 8 
Jun (M. & R. Aldrich, Jidc 
TV). While not exception- 
al, the totals of 650 Ruddy Turnstones, 90 
Red Knots, 1200 Sanderlings, 30 White- 
rumped Sandpipers, and 90 Dunlins at South 
Beach 3 Jun (BN) demonstrated that many 
northbound Arctic-nesting shorebirds were 
still moving in Jun. Of greatest interest 
among southbound shorebirds were 30+ 
Hudsonian Godwits at South Beach 20 Jul 
(D. Clapp, Jide B.O.), 3 Marbled Godwits at 
Charlestown Breachway 30 Jul (R. Larsen, 
fide RE), and a Long-billed Dowitcher at Ply- 
mouth Beach 30 Jul (ID). 
Among the crowd pleasers this summer was 
an imm. Sabine’s Gull at Rye, Rockingham, NH 
26 Jun-26 Jul (M. Harvey, ph. SM, m.ob.). 
Slightly less unusual were 2-3 Black-headed 
Gulls between New Hampshire and Massa- 
chusetts in Jul (fide TV, B.O), an imm. Little 
Gull at Hampton, Rockingham, NH 8-25 Jul 
(SM et al.), an ad. Franklin’s Gull (p.a.) at 
Block 1., RI 8Jul (M. Magarian,/ide RE), 2 Ice- 
land Gulls in Massachusetts (B.O.) and one in 
Rhode Island (ph. G. Dennis), and 4 Lesser 
Black-backed Gulls at Provincetown, Barnsta- 
ble, MA 4 Jul (S. Sinner et al). A Laughing 
Gull colony at Plymouth Beach increased from 
261 pairs in 2008 to 1067 this season, an ex- 
plosion causing growing concern over the im- 
pact that these rapidly increasing gulls could 
have on the Bay State’s largest tern colony at 
the same site (M.D.EW, SM). 
Massachusetts — the epicenter of New Eng- 
land breeding terns — hosted a total of 3524 
pairs of Least Terns, 1339 Roseate Terns, and 
15,899 Common Terns (fide S. Melvin, B. Har- 
ris, M.N.H.E.S.P, U.S.EW.S.). The Bay State 
tally of Roseate Terns is slightly below last 
year’s 1375, again underscoring the need for 
continued stewardship and careful monitoring 
of this endangered species. In Vermont, 180 
pairs of Common Terns produced approxi- 
mately 160 chicks at L. Champlain (MLeB). 
A rarity at any season in Maine, this Lark Bunting was present 9-10 (here 10) June 
2009 at Kennebunk, York County. Photograph by Derek Lovitrh. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 4 
571 
