The Cape Cod trip had 15 participants on Saturday with many doing their own thing on Friday and Sunday.
The Friday trip to the Cape proved interesting for some, as we had great views of a Red-shouldered hawk, TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, Great cormorants, Harlequin ducks, Horned larks, Greater and Lesser Scaup, and a NORTHERN LAPWING, to name a few.
Saturday began with a feeder watch where a flock of 16+ turkeys greeted us. Nauset beach had Black, Surf and White winged scoters along with Common eider and Long-tailed ducks. The Cove Motel had a Coot, Great blue heron, Mallards, Black ducks, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Red-breasted and Hooded mergansers, and Mute Swans. We continued to Fort Hill, the National seashore headquarters, Coast Guard beach and LeConte Hollow Rd. Eastern meadowlark, Common and Red-throated loons and Horned grebes were seen and we headed to Race Point and Provincetown airport with visions of a SPOTTED TOWHEE (which was being reported), dancing in our heads. A prowling red fox, however, kept the bird hidden and it took a visit by a couple of participants on Sunday, to see the bird. We did get Northern mockingbird, flicker, and cardinals, along with 2 Field sparrows. Provincetown Harbor produced a beautiful drake Harlequin duck and Common eider very close to the pier. Our last stops of the day were First Encounter Beach and Herring Pond. Brant, American widgeon, a Belted kingfisher, Ringed-necked ducks, 7 Great blues, all 3 Merganser species, and a Red-tailed hawk being harassed in flight by 3 Crows, ended the day.
A snowfall that night started us off later than usual but stops at Mill Pond, the cranberry bog at John Parker Road, and Falmouth center provided us with a very good look at a flock of over 70 American robins feeding on a crabapple, a perched female Belted kingfisher, and a drake White-winged scoter. Our trip ended with a pre–Super Bowl lunch in Falmouth center.
A total of 64 species made the trip list.
Peter Stephan, Trip Leader
