2012 Pelagic Schedule

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012: 7AM – 3PM

Hyannis to Nantucket Shoals area

Birds expected: Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Gannets, Phalaropes, Fulmar, Jaegers, Terns, several Gulls and Marine animals. Hope to see Skuas and any rarity.

Limit: 75 participants

Cost: BBC members: $ 75.00 / non-members: $ 90.00

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012: 2AM-7PM

Hyannis to Hydrographer Canyon area.

Birds expected: 4 or 5 species of Shearwaters, Leaches and Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Jaegers, Gannets, Terns, and several Marine Animals. We hope to see Band-rumped storm-petrel, Bridled Tern, Skuas and other rarities. Anything is possible.

Limit: 50 Participants

Cost: BBC members; $ 180.00 / non-members: $ 200.00

SATURDAY, SUNDAY. AUGUST 25, 26, 2012 5:30AM Saturday to 6:00PM Sunday

Hyannis to Hydrographer, Veaches and Atlantis Canyon area.

Birds expected: WHITE-FACED STORM PETRElS,(22 WHITE-FACED STORM-PETRELS seen in August, 2010), 4 species of shearwaters, Jaegers, Gannets, Gulls, Terns and Several species of Marine Mammals. We hope to see Skuas, Bridled Tern and other rarities. In 2007, we found a Little Shearwater, so anything is possible.

Limit: 50 participants

Cost: BBC Members: $ 295.00 / non-members: $ 315.00

SATURDAY, NOV 10, 2012 7AM- 3PM

Hyannis to the Nantucket Shoals Area

Birds expected: Alcids, Gannets, Shearwaters, Phalaropes, Jaegers, Gulls, Fulmar, marine mammals and any rarities such as Skua, etc.

Limit: 65 Participants

Cost: BBC members: $ 90.00 / non-members: $ 110.00

Please be advised that because of the possible increase in the cost of fuel, there may be a surcharge to cover any extra expense. Marshall Iliff, Steve Mirick, Jeremiah Trimble and James Smith usually lead these trips. Our boat, the Helen H, is a very comfortable, fast, 100 foot fishing boat with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Captain and crew. There are 38 bunks aboard which will be available to the first 38 who sign up. There is a full galley with excellent food at reasonable prices. Parking is free.

To reserve a space, send a check for the full amount made out to the 'BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB AGENT' along with a signed waiver to: Ida Giriunas, 83 Summer Ave., Reading, MA, 01867 and include either your email or your postal address for confirmation, boarding instructions and further information.

For additional information and the waiver to be signed, contact Ida at 781-929-8772 or via email.

Winter Meeting 2012

Join us Friday, February 3, 2012 at 7:30 PM, for our annual winter meeting at the Bedford Middle School Auditorium,  McMahon Road, Bedford, Massachusetts.

A social hour and light refreshments will begin at 6:30 PM.

Photo by Cam Shaw

Our speaker for the evening will be Mr. Greg Miller.  In 1998, Greg zigzagged across the continent to try to see as many species of birds in one calendar year as possible. It was an incredible experience passing the 700-species mark—an achievement many birders aspire to in an entire lifetime. But there was competition. Two other birders, Sandy Komito and Al Levantin, also broke the 700-mark that same year.  Greg will entertain us with tales from that competitive experience, as well as stories of growing up as a birder, listing and how he came to do a big year.  He will also discuss Mark Obmascik's book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession and working on the 2011 20th Century Fox filmThe Big Year and his experience on the set with Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson.

Greg will be joining us for the social hour! He's looking forward to meeting Club members, posing for pictures and signing autographs! You DON'T want to miss THIS meeting!!

Members and guests are cordially invited.  Admission and parking are free. See here for directions.

Please bring your used binoculars and other biding equipment for the Birders' Exchange.  For information about the Birders' Exchange, check their website.

We invite you to join the BBC or renew your annual membership at our meeting.  See you there!

Christmas Bird Counts 2011

BBC members are encouraged to join a Christmas Bird Count. The following is the list of counts in Massachusetts with contact information for compilers.

Date to be Determined

Mid-Cape Cod: Peter Trimble and Jeremiah Trimble
Groton-Oxbow: Julie Lisk
Plymouth: Trevor Lloyd-Evans (508)224-6521
Stellwagen Bank: Simon Perkins
Tuckernuck: Simon Perkins
New Bedford: Michael Boucher

Wednesday, December 14

Sturbridge: Mark Lynch (Snow/Ice date: December 15)

Saturday, December 17

Andover: Lou Wagner (978)927-1122x2705
Athol: Dave Small (978)4113-1772
Buzzard’s Bay: Jeremiah Trimble (508)498-9646 and Peter Trimble
Central Berkshire: Tom Collins (413)499-2799 (Snow date December 18)
Millis: Elissa Landre (Snow date December 18)
Newport County, RI-Westport, MA: Robert Emerson
Northern Berkshire: Pamela Weatherbee (413)458-3538
Quincy: Glenn d'Entremont (781)344-5857
Springfield: George Kingston (413)525-6742

Sunday, December 18

Cape Ann: Jim Barber
Cape Cod: Blair Nikula
Greater Boston: Robert H. Stymeist
Northampton: Janice Jorgenson (413)585-0145
Worcester: John Liller

Tuesday, December 20

Truro: Tom Lipsky

Monday, December 26

Cobble Mountain: George Kingston
Marshfield: Sue MacCallum
Newburyport: Tom Young (603-424-4512, cell 603-493-1776) Westminster: Charles Caron

Saturday, December 31

Nantucket: Ken Blackshaw (508)238-0209 and Edie Ray (meets night before)
Quabbin: Scott Surner (413)256-5438
Taunton: James Sweeney
Uxbridge: Strickland Wheelock

Sunday, January 1

Southern Berkshire: Rene Laubach
Greenfield: Mark Fairbrother
Monday, January 2 Concord: Norm Levey (alternate email) (781)259-1162

Gull ID Workshop with Wayne Petersen

The two-day Gull ID Workshop is filled. There are still spaces left for the classroom instruction.

The Brookline Bird Club and South Shore Bird Club will be co-sponsoring a two-day Gull ID Workshop with Wayne Petersen.  An evening of classroom instruction will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 680 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA. This will be followed by an all-day field trip to Cape Ann on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The field trip portion of the seminar is open to the first 30 people to register and send in their payment; the classroom will be open to 60 students.

Cost for this two day workshop is $15 for BBC and SSBC members and $30 for non-members; cost for the classroom instruction only will be $7.50 for BBC and SSBC members and $15 for non-members.  Advance registration is required; your place is secure only upon receipt of payment. Registration is limited! For more information and to register, please contact Eddie Giles.

Most proceeds to benefit Massachusetts Audubon Important Bird Areas program.

Intermediate Photo Workshop

Intermediate to Advanced Digital SLR Workshop
Saturday, October 1, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Assabet River NWR, Sudbury, MA
Fee: Adults: $30.00 members; $45.00 non-members
Instructor: Eric Smith
Advanced Registration required

Still mastering your digital camera? Still having difficulties using the correct exposure? This course is for you! Eric Smith will be conducting a five-hour bird/wildlife workshop, focusing on camera exposure. Topics will include hand-holding techniques, use of the depth-of-field preview button, demonstration of extension tubes, how to organize images and metadata, understanding what EXIF holds and similar advanced digital commands. We will also touch on editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom and PS Elements.

Instructions: Bring your camera and a laptop, as well as some way to take notes. Participants will have an opportunity to try out new techniques; with a laptop you can immediately evaluate your exposure timing.

Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the morning, followed by a catered lunch at mid-day.

Eric Smith has been shootingwildlife seriously for at least 7 years. He photographs all over New England, with an emphasis on birds. He loves being outdoors, which grew into wanting to share what he sees with others. Eric runs or participates in several photography clubs, teaches classes for Mass Audubon, and currently sits on the boards of both the Menotomy Bird Club and Eastern Mass Hawk Watch.

Advance registration is required; your place is secure only upon receipt of payment. Registration is limited! For information and registration, contact Eddie Giles (508) 378-3370

Book Fund Donation

The Brookline Bird Club, through their School Book Fund program, purchased more than 40 books for the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville.  This is a K-8 school has a broad and diverse population with a staff that is committed to pursuing innovative teaching strategies that enable their students to meet every academic challenge, and to fully develop their life-long learning skills.  All of the books purchased for the school are about birds, nature, ecology, and science.  A BBC bookplate was attached to all of the books.

BBC Board Member David Williams presenting the books to Norah Connelly, the Librarian at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Librarian Norah Connelly shows a couple of books to Jaderson, a student at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Nephileen and Jaderson read from one of the over 40 books donated by the BBC Book Fund to the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park in Somerville, MA.

Cassin's Sparrow Trip 5/18

Subject: Impromptu BBC Cassin's Sparrow Trip
Folks:

The Cassin’s Sparrow was seen this morning as late as 8:55AM.  So, Let’s go for it. Let’s car-pool.   We will make this an impromptu Brookline Bird Club Trip. Those from the North Shore can meet at 5:30 AM at Kohl’s Parking Lot (exit 36 off Rte 128, Washington St) in Woburn. Go to the traffic lights at the end of the turn-off, turn right, then go straight at the next  traffic lights into Kohl’s   After entering the parking lot, pull as far over to the left as possible.  Those from further south can meet at the Park & Lock parking lot at exit 14 (Road to Wompatuck), (Rte 228) in Hingham at 6-6:15AM. 
Please let me know I you will be joining us.  My Cell is 781—929-8772.

Thanks.

Ida Giriunas

Reading, MA
<ida8@verizon.net>


***
From:  Matt Malin <hossfeldt@yahoo.com>
Subject:  Cassin's Sparrow - midday/afternoon - NO
Birders -

I headed out late this morning to Truro for the Cassin's Sparrow.  A small group 
of birders were there, including Patty O'Neil.  The last good sighting was at 
about 10 AM, according to Patty just as she was getting out of the car as it 
dropped from a locust tree into the grass on the curve (Pamet Harbor side).  We 
had an appearance of a "flash" of a pale, grayish-backed sparrow being chased by 
a Song Sparrow around noon.  I'm not comfortable with what little I saw, so I 
didn't "see" the Cassin's Sparrow today, considering that I did see a pair of 
House Sparrows on the corner too.  I left at 3:45 PM and David and Fran Clapp 
were keeping the watch and Patty had returned from successfully seeing the 
Evening Grosbeak at Wellfleet Bay. 

Weather was overcast and cloudy when I arrived at 11:20, and was clearing slowly 
and partly sunny sometime after 2:00.  Go figure.  Weather pattern still 
predicted to be east winds and rain/showers, so I am in agreement with comments 
before that the sparrow is still probably around.  Seem like early is best.

Also, be aware that there are short dump trucks hauling sand to Corn Hill beach 
for beach replentishment, and routinely come around the hairpin turn before the 
beach.  It is best to park in the beach lot and walk the short 100  or so yards 
to the curve where the bird has been seen - between the lone, scraggly pine tree 
between the house on the curve and the parking lot and the beech plum and locust 
trees on the hillside as noted before.

Best of luck everyone!

Matt Malin
Mashpee, MA
hossfeldt(at)yahoo.com