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22 November 1998

This data was gathered by eleven separate parties censusing seven designated regions of Boston Harbor. All observations were from land.

 

Notes

After two years of disappointingly low numbers, the results from this November's TASL census were a welcome rebound. Most species not only increased but were above the long term November averages. For example, Canada Goose, loons and grebes all were at an all time high. Bonaparte's Gull and Sanderling counts were the second highest. Common Eider numbers were only 24 short of the previous high set in 1996 and scoter numbers took a back seat only to 1997 totals. Clearly something seems to be going on with some of these species.

Also of note, scaup numbers were higher than we've seen in years. There has been a clear decrease in this species since the 1980s. Let us hope this signals a reversal in their fortune.

On the down side, not one Dunlin was spotted, the first time ever. The last three years have not provided many Dunlin in the harbor. While both American Black Ducks and Brant were above the numbers of 1996 and 1997, they were still way below average. It is of concern that for both species the last three years have had the three lowest totals on record for a full harbor count.

Maury Hall, TASL Data Compiler


Species Nahant Winthrop Central Squantum Hough's
Neck
Weymouth Hull Totals
11/22/98
Red-th Loon 5   38   12   52   9   7   5   128
Com Loon   1   1   2   6   2   1   9   22
P-b Grebe             1     1
Horned Grebe   36   78   11   120   107   17   51   420
Red-nec Grebe   26   56           17   99
Gr Cormorant   10       12         22
D-c Cormorant       35   2     3     40
cormorant (sp)     30           225   255
G B Heron   1   4   2   1   1   4     13
Brant   385   8   136   321   73   47   27   997
Can Goose     348   4   13   90   149   41   645
G-w Teal       4   19         23
A Bl Duck   31   63   54   329   187   146   92   902
Mallard     61   4   3   36   21     125
No Pintail               1   1
Gr Scaup   165   15   2   500     1   70   753
Com Eider   868   2502   850   1413   578   122   4469   10802
King Eider         1         1
Harl Duck   2               2
Oldsquaw         97         97
Bl Scoter   3   6           20   29
Surf Scoter   35   11     143     5   41   235
W-w Scoter   310   624   2   304   303   3   415   1961
scoter (sp)         500         500
Co Goldeneye     12   183   139   113   12   57   516
Ba Goldeneye         1         1
Bufflehead   466   387   191   388   106   493   369   2400
Ho Merganser             20     20
R-br Merganser   168   456   401   400   315   130   240   2110
Ruddy Duck             56   1   57
R-t Hawk       2   1         3
Am Kestrel   1               1
Peregrine         1         1
B-b Plover   6       1     1     8
Gr Yellowlegs     7   2   1   2       12
Sanderling   215   143             358
Pu Sandpiper     27             27
Bl-h Gull     1             1
Bon Gull   16   132   25   800   17     189   1179
Bl Guillemot   1               1
Ho Lark   3               3
Sn Bunting     60             60
Harbor Seal     3   8   2       5   18
Weather Mostly sunny
Wind WSW 5-10 mph
Temp 38-48°F/4-9°C
High Tide 1 PM

Thanks to all the November participants:

Nahant: Bob Stymeist
Winthrop: Joanne Benard, Pat Randall, Peter & Fay Vale
Central : Ken & Susan Barney, Craig Jackson, Soheil Zendeh
Squantum: Paul FitzGerald, Terrence Mulligan, Bill Zuzevitch
Hough's Neck: Bob Bowker, Ted Mara
Weymouth: Maury Hall
Hull: Fred Bouchard, Shawn Carey, J. Kuivenhaven


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Last Update: 1/16/1999
Compiler: Maury Hall
Email: szendeh@rcn.com