New England Seabirds
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Seawatch W.I.P. |
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Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a peninsula which juts out into the Gulf of Maine just north of Boston. During the summer it is crowded with tourists and is the departure point for many whale watching boats. In winter the rocky shores are good for seawatching especially before and during a good strong Nor'easter. Any wind from the east enhances the birding at Cape Ann. There is an annual Cape Ann Christmas Bird Count.
There are two ways to visit Cape Ann. Both require warm clothes in winter and a good scope mounted securely on a strong tripod. Restroom breaks require advance planning.
On any winter day, birders may make a tour of the peninsula started at Gloucester and working around to Lanesville. Of course the tour can be done in the opposite direction as well. No birder would make this tour looking only at seabirds.
A second alternative is on the day of a good blow from the North East called a Nor'easter is to take a position at one point and count the birds that pass you at sea. The most popular places for this type of seawatch is Andrews Point in Rockport and Halibut Point State Park. To jump to the information on these sites use the navigation links at the top of the page.
Not Birder Friendly
Cape Ann is densely populated and there is very little public land on the peninsula. Most of the good seawatch areas are adjacent to private lands. Houses that twenty years ago were summer residences only have been converted in recent years to year round residences and the new owners not surprisingly find it disconcerting to have large groups of birders blocking streets.
The Massachusetts State law allows the public access to the beach or water area up to the level of high tide. There are usually public right of way to the beach between property line. The catch is they don't have to provide parking and access can effectively be blocked by banning parking on adjacent streets or by restricting it to residents with parking stickers. Birders must respect private property and parking regulations at all times. It is important to know where you can legally go and where you cannot.
While both birders and residents must respect the law, it is best to avoid problems. If you pull up to a viewing area and find a large group of birders already there, move on to the next spot and backtrack later. Large groups should not stay at any one spot very long.
Enhance The Birding Presence
If you patronize any restaurant, hotel, whale watch or other business on Cape Ann use the opportunity to make proprietors cognazant of the money birding brings to the area.Wear your binoculars when shopping, lay them on the table in the restaurant, ask birding questions at the hotel. And yes, do some shopping at Cape Ann. It is a great place to buy a Christmas Kissing Ball. Browse the shops and art galleries at Rockport before Christmas.
Handicapped Birders
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Fewer and fewer spots at Cape Ann allow birding from the car. Some points are accessible with only a short walk ( less than 100 yards). Look for this icon for accessibility information. |
Winter: Common and Red-throated Loons, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Eider, and if you are lucky King Eider, Harlequin Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Cormorants,, Guillemots, Razorbills, Murres.Dovekie, Gannets. Spring and Fall: Shearwaters, Jaegers, Wilson's and Leach's Storm-petrels.
See the seawatch data for 2000.
Gloucester
We will start our tour in Gloucester and proceed to Rockport and on to Lanesville. Take Route 128 north and east from I 95 around Boston. Take Exit 14 or Route 133 south. This will take you past the dock from which the Yankee Fleet whale watch and fishing boats depart.
Fisherman's Monument
The starting and car pooling point for many bird club trips is the statue of the Gloucester Fisherman. The monutment is located on Route 127 or ???? street. The street is divided with a median down the center. Parking on the water side of the median is short term only can be used for a quick scan of the water or a casual stroll along the waterfront. On the opposite side of the street cars can be parked all day. In the picture below the truck and blue stationwagon are parked on the long term side.
You can scan Gloucester Harbor for ducks, grebes, and gulls. For the last few winters an Eared Grebe has been present although usually seen from Easter Point. ( see below )
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The monument is a memorial to the more than one thousand Gloucester fishermen lost at sea . Gortons of Gloucester has made the statue famous by using it on their frozen fish packages. |
| Names of Gloucester fishermen lost at sea are listed on stones around the mounment. Look for the names of the 5 men lost in the "Perfect Storm" of 1991. A second monument honors the families who wait at home. Fishing is still a dangerous occupation. |  |
After scanning the Gloucester Harbor your next stop is usually Eastern Point. Continue on Route 127 into the heart of Gloucester making a right turn at the first light and a left turn at the bottom of the hill. ( Donut shop with restrooms on the left. ) After the left turn continue to the junction with Route 128. To skip Eastern Point and continue straight. on to Rockport stay on Route 127A. To go to Eastern Point turn right.
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From Niles Beach you can see all of Eastern Point , a densely populated high rent district that juts out into the sea from Gloucester harbor. At the tip, a breakwater protects the harbor. |
| Most but not all of Eastern Point is private property and
signs at the entrance discourage entrance. The public is allowed access to the
Coast Guard Station, a SPCIA property, and Massachusetts Audubon Property.
Enter respectfully, but do enter. |
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The U.S. Coast Guard Station at the far end of Eastern Point has a public parking lot. Be sure to lock your car here. Walk toward the breakwater for a better view of the outer harbor. |
| Dog Bar is a breakwater built to protect the harbor. You can scan the opposite side of the breakwater from the end and inside the breakwater from the parking lot. With caution you can walk out on the breakwater for an even better view. Be very careful during high winds as a rogue wave can wash over the top at any time. |  |
Andrews Point
| Andrews Point as seen from Cathedral Ledge in front of the Emerson Inn. Rocky shores encourage Alcids. |  |
An excellent article on seawatches from Andrews Point see Heil
Page author: Emmalee Tarry