Bird Sightings on Martha's Vineyard: June 2018
Royal tern.
Royal tern.
A happy colony of laughing gulls.
A happy colony of laughing gulls.
Yellow-headed blackbird.
Yellow-headed blackbird.
Snowy egrets appear in summer.
Snowy egrets appear in summer.
Eastern kingbird.
Eastern kingbird.
Scarlet tanager.
Scarlet tanager.
Black-crowned night-heron.
Black-crowned night-heron.
Red knots have usually left the area by the end of May
Red knots have usually left the area by the end of May
Barn owls are again widespread on the Island after die-off a few winters ago.
Barn owls are again widespread on the Island after die-off a few winters ago.
Little blue heron.
Little blue heron.
Juvenile screech owl.
Juvenile screech owl.
Snowy owl.
Snowy owl.
Yellow-crowned night heron.
Yellow-crowned night heron.
White-eyed vireo.
White-eyed vireo.
Green heron seen at Menemsha.
Green heron seen at Menemsha.
Indigo bunting.
Indigo bunting.
Yellow warbler brings dinner home to the nest.
Yellow warbler brings dinner home to the nest.
Eastern wood pewee.
Eastern wood pewee.
Cygnets follow behind a mute swan.
Cygnets follow behind a mute swan.
American robin chicks await mother to bring them dinner.
American robin chicks await mother to bring them dinner.
Least tern resumes incubation.
Least tern resumes incubation.
Northern flicker pair at Tashmoo.
Northern flicker pair at Tashmoo.
Nesting song sparrow chicks.
Nesting song sparrow chicks.
Unusual sighting of a brown pelican,
Unusual sighting of a brown pelican,
Roseate tern surveys Katama.
Roseate tern surveys Katama.
June has made it to our shores, even though the cool wet weather seems more suitable for May. Despite the weather, the nesting season is well underway, with many of our common nesting birds now fledging their first brood. Young robins, song sparrows, black-capped chickadees, cardinals, Carolina wrens, house finches, starlings and house sparrows are fairly conspicuous now, as are mute swans, Canada geese, and mallard. On the beaches it is time for the plover and least tern chicks to grow and fledge.
Keep up to date with bird activity on Martha’s Vineyard through the Bird News column, and report bird sightings to [email protected].