Couple photos of the incredible Yellow-billed Loon from Race Point last weekend:

Center with Common on the left, Red-throated on the right.

Catching up a bit. Was hoping for 372/556 back on the 31st with the Smith’s Longspur at Bear Creek, but no bird found. Nice Short-eared and Kestrel made it worth the effort at least. With the afternoon free and halfway to the north shore, I zipped up to Gloucester. Awful sun or big crowds had me moving to Andrew’s fairly quickly. After a few minutes at the end of the driveway, I moved to the end of the road. A couple other birders were there and I overheard some muttering about puffin. A few minutes later, there was a gray-faced alcid with a bright looking bill in my scope. A bit far, took a little while to feel totally confident after the fact, but state #372. Other than one brief look a couple minutes later, it disappeared. Fortunately, the Common Murre in close at the other side was nice for all.

I decided to go back for the Mountain Bluebird Saturday. Took the long way, with a stop in Hopkinton for what is likely the first Lesser Yellowlegs in New England away from the coast in January.

Reached Crane, found it almost as windy. Walked out this time and the bird was in the juniper as expected. Got decent scope views thanks to John and Audrey and Bobbie before it flew over our heads. I wandered back after it, but a photographer leaving said it was returning to the juniper every 20 minutes or so, so I went back and waited. Close to 45 minutes later, I gave up and went back to the car. The bird promptly dropped into the depression by the parking lot.

Wednesday 11/18: Race Point at dawn had tons of birds including Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, another(?) Little Gull, and an overdue Common Murre. Pilgrim Heights was birdy but nothing terribly exciting. Checked a couple ponds without anything of note and then ran into too many hunters, so headed to Burrage WMA to try for the Townsend’s Solitaire. Not sure I ever found the right spot and not much around (other than meadowhawks). Raven at the Whitman/Brockton line on the way home was nice.

Amazing work by Suzanne Sullivan.

The one standing at the back center does look a bit different but I’m sure 99% of us would have gone right past it.

See here, here, here, here, or here among others for actually identifiable photos.

Another perfectly timed chase. Got there 15 minutes before this Pacific Loon took off.

And here it goes:

Some shots of the Mew (Common) Gull at King’s Beach on the Lynn/Swampscott line on Sunday:

Flying off after 20 minutes (by which point almost everyone else had left):

Easy chase Monday made better when a second was found 15 minutes away. Both distant and I didn’t get the flight views I wanted but no complaints.

Finally got down to Rhode Island for the Wood Sandpiper today (after thinking about it both days last weekend and yesterday). Ride down was easy, and walk out was easy (although muddy and we started in the wrong direction). The bird couldn’t have been easier to see (50 feet away at most and by itself).