There is only one spot left on the last Star Island trip of the spring, this coming Monday May 27th. Be warned though – New Hampshire Chronicle will be joining us to film a segment on Birdwatching in New Hampshire! Let me know asap if you are interested by e-mailing me at eric.masterson AT myfairpoint.net

I have included a few photos below from a couple of recent trips to the island. As has been widely reported across New England, this has been a slow spring. However Star Island in May (and fall) is always worthwhile, and it did not disappoint. There were no rarities (though it does not fit the standard definition of a rarity, an American Crow was a first for the island for me during our recent birdathon on Saturday May 18th), but we had a few decent sightings, including a couple of Purple Martins on May 12 (with Greg Tillman and Chris Borg), and as always, the birds provided breathtaking views.

Birdathon Species List, Star Island May 18 2013

1. Brant (26)
2. Mallard
3. Common Eider (two with broods)
4. White-winged Scoter (50 migrating)
5. Red-breasted Merganser
6. Common Loon
7. Northern Gannet
8. Double-crested Cormorant
9. Merlin
10. Black-bellied Plover
11. Semipalmated Plover
12. Spotted Sandpiper
13. Willet (uncommon migrant on Star)
14. Purple Sandpiper (8)
15. Laughing Gull (1)
16. Herring Gull
17. Great Black-backed Gull
18. Common Tern
19. Black Guillemot
20. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
21. Eastern Kingbird
22. Blue-headed Vireo
23. American Crow (rare – first record for Star on one of my trips)
24. Tree Swallow
25. Barn Swallow
26. Red-breasted Nuthatch
27. Carolina Wren (including recent fledglings from a nest)
28. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
29. American Robin
30. Gray Catbird
31. European Starling
32. Northern Parula
33. Yellow Warbler
34. Chestnut-sided Warbler
35. Magnolia Warbler
36. Yellow-rumped Warbler
37. Black-throated Green Warbler
38. Blackpoll Warbler
39. Black-and-white Warbler
40. American Redstart
41. Northern Waterthrush
42. Common Yellowthroat
43. Wilson’s Warbler
44. Canada Warbler (1)
45. Scarlet Tanager
46. Chipping Sparrow
47. Song Sparrow
48. Swamp Sparrow
49. White-throated Sparrow
50. White-crowned Sparrow
51. Bobolink
52. Red-winged Blackbird
53. Common Grackle
54. Baltimore Oriole
55. Pine Siskin
56. American Goldfinch
    

    Blackburnian Warbler, Star Island May 2013

Bobolink, Star Island May 2013

Northern Parula, Star Island, May 2013

Purple Martin, Star Island May 2013

Purple Sandpiper, Star Island, May 2013