5 Bird-Watching Destinations in Massachusetts
In an earlier article I shared my favorite locations for bird-watching on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and today I’ll cover additional destinations for bird spotting in the rest of the state.
Quabbin Resevoir
Quabbin Reservoir:
Perhaps one of the least known places to watch wildlife in Massachusetts is Quabbin Reservoir. Constructed in 1930’s to quench the expanding thirst of Boston, the reservoir and surrounding watershed area covers 121,000 acres.
Located in central Massachusetts 12-miles east of Amherst it’s a mecca for bird-watchers. Quabbin Park is home to loons, great blue herons, and an abundant array of songbirds. A trip to the park should start out at the visitor’s center and administration building where you can pick up maps and guides. The 3-mile round trip walk from Goodnough Dike to Pepper’s Mill Road is a recommended trip for bird-watching.
Bartholomews Cobble
Bartholomew’s Cobble:
A cobble is a geological expression for specific size and type of rock formations. One of these lies in the southwest corner of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts and is known as Bartholomew’s Cobble. Bartholomew’s Cobble is 278 acres and includes a natural history museum, interpretive trails, ponds and plenty of walking paths.
Corbin’s Neck is a great place for bird-watchers to spot grassland birds such as eastern bluebirds, and the river running through the property attracts herons and egrets, and the forest areas are home to songbirds and five species of woodpeckers. This makes a delightful destination for families on a Berkshires vacation.
Sparrow perches and sings
Sparrow perches and sings
Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge:
Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge is another one of those hidden bird-watchers gems. Near the banks of the Connecticut River at Longmeadow it delights with its 333-acres of marsh, forest, meadow, ponds and fields attracting an abundance and variety of birds throughout the season, and especially water fowl in the spring and fall migratory months.
Around the ponds expect to spot kingfishers and on the trails to Raspberry Cove you should see plenty of waterfowl.
Near the main parking area there is a map of the refuge showing all the trails and if time is limited then just follow the trail down to the Connecticut River and be on the lookout for shorebirds, egrets, ducks and raptors.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge:
Up on the north shore of Massachusetts and close to the border with New Hampshire are Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is an important stopover on the Atlantic Flyway migratory path.
During spring and early summer months some of the beach is closed to protect the nesting area for the piping plover. The summer months provide deep variety of bird sightings and these include: black-throated green warbler, American woodcock, bobolink, swallow, chickadee, great blue heron, egret, marsh wren, osprey, peregrine falcon, northern mockingbird, spotted sandpiper and Baltimore oriole.
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is located just outside Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard and is operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. It is considered one of the best bird-watching locations on the island.
Trails in the sanctuary skirt Sengekontacket Pond and provide a wonderful opportunity to view over 100 species of birds along 2-miles of trails over 350-acres. The sanctuary contains woodland, meadow, pond, salt marsh and a barrier beach in its habitats. This attracts a large diversity of wildlife including water fowl, wild turkey, Canada geese, osprey, double-crested cormorants, American oystercatchers, and great blue herons.
If the tide is right you’ll be able to traverse the trails that create a large loop around the sanctuary and take you through the tranquil habitats where birds nest and feed, and which creates a perfect bird-watching destination just a few miles from the busy Martha’s Vineyard vacation towns of Edgartown and Vineyard Haven.
For more details on these and other attractions to see during Massachusetts Vacations and to pick up your free trip planner package go to Cliff’s New England Vacation Guide at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com
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