Tom’s Birding Page

Quarter-Month Status
Birds of Plum Island, Essex County, Massachusetts
Ordered by Number of Sightings

Compiled by Tom Wetmore


This table shows the quarter-month status of the birds of Plum Island. It is based primarily on data I have collected over the past five years. The species are listed in the order of their numbers of sightings. The column labeled ‘n’ orders the species. The column labeled ‘N’ shows the number of different days that each species has been reported on the island over the period of data collection. Birds that have been seen between two and 99 times have a second number in their ‘N’ column. This is the number of years that the species has been seen recorded. Cells in these two columns may be colored. Red cells indicate species that just moved up in the ordering. Blue cells indicate species that just moved down. Yellow cells indicate species that were seen on the last day of sightings.


Quarter-Month Status of the Birds of Plum Island — updated March 28, 2024

 Species n N  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Herring Gull  1  6722 
Canada Goose  2  6669 
American Robin  3  6592 
Mallard  4  6461 
American Black Duck  5  6459 
Black-capped Chickadee  6  6309 
American Crow  7  6282 
Great Black-backed Gull  8  6255 
Song Sparrow  9  6214 
Northern Mockingbird  10  6052 
Northern Cardinal  11  5717 
European Starling  12  5617 
Blue Jay  13  5577 
Mourning Dove  14  5496 
Northern Harrier  15  5348 
Gadwall  16  5346 
American Goldfinch  17  5077 
Ring-billed Gull  18  5008 
Green-winged Teal  19  4726 
Double-crested Cormorant  20  4703 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
House Sparrow  21  4607 
Common Loon  22  4563 
Great Egret  23  4388 
Greater Yellowlegs  24  4378 
Rock Pigeon  25  4299 
Gray Catbird  26  4211 
Great Blue Heron  27  4138 
Mute Swan  28  4109 
Downy Woodpecker  29  4090 
Common Eider  30  4061 
White-winged Scoter  31  4011 
Red-winged Blackbird  32  3990 
House Finch  33  3815 
Eastern Towhee  34  3785 
Tree Swallow  35  3580 
Snowy Egret  36  3556 
Killdeer  37  3512 
Red-breasted Merganser  38  3509 
Common Grackle  39  3477 
Black-bellied Plover  40  3413 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Osprey  41  3387 
Cedar Waxwing  42  3381 
Northern Pintail  43  3213 
White-throated Sparrow  44  3211 
Long-tailed Duck  45  3140 
Brown Thrasher  46  3052 
Sanderling  47  3044 
Savannah Sparrow  48  3039 
Black Scoter  49  3021 
Bufflehead  50  2952 
Dunlin  51  2926 
Semipalmated Sandpiper  52  2892 
Semipalmated Plover  53  2890 
Marsh Wren  54  2861 
Purple Finch  55  2849 
Common Yellowthroat  56  2773 
Yellow-rumped Warbler  57  2753 
Red-tailed Hawk  58  2750 
Peregrine Falcon  59  2720 
American Tree Sparrow  60  2672 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Lesser Yellowlegs  61  2664 
Barn Swallow  62  2615 
Red-throated Loon  63  2563 
Eastern Kingbird  64  2536 
Horned Grebe  65  2483 
Northern Flicker  66  2457 
Yellow Warbler  67  2451 
Northern Gannet  68  2412 
Common Tern  69  2376 
Least Sandpiper  70  2304 
Turkey Vulture  71  2295 
Wild Turkey  72  2291 
Common Goldeneye  73  2285 
Bobolink  74  2276 
Red-breasted Nuthatch  75  2255 
Willet  76  2251 
Brown-headed Cowbird  77  2202 
Purple Martin  78  2187 
Short-billed Dowitcher  79  2177 
Hooded Merganser  80  2161 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Swamp Sparrow  81  2160 
Field Sparrow  82  2152 
Merlin  83  2147 
Dark-eyed Junco  84  2138 
Least Tern  85  2126 
Piping Plover  86  2124 
Baltimore Oriole  87  2050 
White-rumped Sandpiper  88  2031 
Saltmarsh Sparrow  89  2029 
Bald Eagle  90  2023 
Eastern Phoebe  91  2017 
American Redstart  92  1934 
American Wigeon  93  1930 
Cooper's Hawk  94  1870 
Surf Scoter  95  1869 
Black-crowned Night-Heron  96  1711 
Hermit Thrush  97  1688 
Red-eyed Vireo  98  1667 
Horned Lark  99  1658 
Bonaparte's Gull  100  1634 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Willow Flycatcher  101  1559 
Spotted Sandpiper  102  1554 
Red-necked Grebe  103  1528 
Golden-crowned Kinglet  104  1511 
Rough-legged Hawk  105  1480 
Snowy Owl  106  1476 
Northern Shoveler  107  1365 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  108  1346 
Bank Swallow  109  1324 
Carolina Wren  110  1266 
Blue-winged Teal  111  1263 
Snow Bunting  112  1262 
Chipping Sparrow  113  1221 
Brant  114  1151 
Great Crested Flycatcher  115  1135 
Greater Scaup  116  1117 
Sharp-shinned Hawk  117  1068 
Razorbill  118  1041 
Black-and-white Warbler  118  1041 
American Kestrel  120  1022 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Glossy Ibis  121  1015 
Stilt Sandpiper  122  981 
Pectoral Sandpiper  123  973 
Common Raven  124  965 
Belted Kingfisher  125  950 
Seaside Sparrow  126  930 
Blackpoll Warbler  126  930 
Ruddy Turnstone  128  908 
Pied-billed Grebe  129  884 
Northern Parula  129  884 
Long-billed Dowitcher  131  881 
Least Bittern  131  881 
Orchard Oriole  133  880 
Palm Warbler  134  877 
Black-throated Green Warbler  135  876 
Laughing Gull  136  840 
American Woodcock  137  817 
Great Cormorant  138  807 
Magnolia Warbler  139  795 
White-breasted Nuthatch  140  783 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Red Knot  141  779 
Blue-headed Vireo  142  777 
American Bittern  143  765 
Northern Shrike  143  765 
Pine Warbler  145  740 
Virginia Rail  146  735 
Black-throated Blue Warbler  147  723 
Whimbrel  148  721 
Lesser Scaup  149  704 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  150  699 
Brown Creeper  151  689 
American Pipit  152  684 
House Wren  153  658 
White-crowned Sparrow  154  644 
Northern Waterthrush  155  643 
Short-eared Owl  156  636 
American Golden-Plover  157  631 
Hairy Woodpecker  158  623 
Chimney Swift  159  621 
Eastern Meadowlark  160  618 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Tufted Titmouse  161  611 
Ruddy Duck  162  581 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  163  575 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  164  574 
Wilson's Warbler  165  558 
American Coot  166  550 
Nashville Warbler  167  542 
Roseate Tern  168  520 
Snow Goose  169  517 
Ovenbird  170  516 
Sora  171  506 
Eastern Wood-Pewee  172  503 
Chestnut-sided Warbler  173  475 
Purple Sandpiper  174  467 
Red-bellied Woodpecker  175  466 
Common Merganser  176  451 
Wood Duck  177  442 
Swainson's Thrush  178  426 
Blackburnian Warbler  179  425 
Wilson's Snipe  180  415 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Black-legged Kittiwake  181  403 
Green Heron  182  398 
Alder Flycatcher  183  397 
Canada Warbler  184  394 
Hudsonian Godwit  185  380 
Ring-necked Duck  186  377 
Least Flycatcher  186  377 
Great Horned Owl  188  376 
Veery  189  375 
Baird's Sandpiper  190  374 
Lapland Longspur  191  370 
Scarlet Tanager  191  370 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  193  362 
Western Sandpiper  194  359 
Pine Siskin  195  358 
Common Redpoll  196  352 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  197  347 
Black-billed Cuckoo  198  343 
Warbling Vireo  199  337 
Prairie Warbler  200  330 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Eastern Whip-poor-will  201  326 
Bay-breasted Warbler  202  323 
Fox Sparrow  203  288 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  204  284 
Eurasian Wigeon  205  283 
Forster's Tern  205  283 
Philadelphia Vireo  207  261 
Cape May Warbler  208  259 
Lincoln's Sparrow  209  255 
Solitary Sandpiper  210  252 
Tricolored Heron  211  247 
Wilson's Phalarope  212  242 
American Avocet  213  234 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  214  232 
Clay-colored Sparrow  215  228 
Lesser Black-backed Gull  216  226 
Winter Wren  217  225 
Barred Owl  218  216 
Red Crossbill  219  215 
Buff-breasted Sandpiper  220  211 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Little Blue Heron  221  209 
Fish Crow  221  209 
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher  223  185 
Wood Thrush  223  185 
Caspian Tern  225  180 
Common Gallinule  226  176 
Tennessee Warbler  227  174 
King Rail  228  166 
Wilson's Storm-Petrel  229  159 
Mourning Warbler  229  159 
Cliff Swallow  231  157 
Indigo Bunting  232  155 
Iceland Gull  233  154 
Redhead  234  153 
Black Tern  235  147 
Black Guillemot  236  146 
Dickcissel  237  144 
White-winged Crossbill  238  140 
Nelson's Sparrow  239  135 
Little Gull  240  124 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
King Eider  241  117 
Orange-crowned Warbler  241  117 
Blue-winged Warbler  243  114 
Yellow-throated Vireo  244  105 
Rusty Blackbird  244  105 
White-eyed Vireo  246  104 
Clapper Rail  247  102 
Marbled Godwit  248  100 
Yellow-breasted Chat  249  98/17 
Common Nighthawk  250  90/21 
Olive-sided Flycatcher  251  85/21 
Ring-necked Pheasant  252  84/12 
Black Skimmer  253  80/13 
Lark Sparrow  254  75/19 
Western Grebe  255  71/7 
Red-shouldered Hawk  256  68/18 
Manx Shearwater  257  67/20 
Connecticut Warbler  258  65/23 
Parasitic Jaeger  259  59/19 
Hooded Warbler  259  59/19 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Harlequin Duck  261  58/12 
Eastern Bluebird  262  57/20 
American Oystercatcher  263  56/19 
Broad-winged Hawk  264  55/18 
Great Shearwater  265  54/14 
Dovekie  266  53/16 
Vesper Sparrow  266  53/17 
Glaucous Gull  268  51/16 
Gray-cheeked Thrush  269  50/19 
Cory's Shearwater  270  45/12 
Summer Tanager  270  45/14 
Gull-billed Tern  272  44/8 
Northern Goshawk  272  44/17 
Thick-billed Murre  274  43/18 
Northern Saw-whet Owl  274  43/14 
Black-headed Gull  276  40/13 
Royal Tern  276  40/13 
Western Kingbird  276  40/10 
Red-necked Phalarope  279  38/13 
Barrow's Goldeneye  280  35/7 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Arctic Tern  281  33/14 
Long-eared Owl  281  33/14 
Red Phalarope  283  30/9 
Worm-eating Warbler  284  29/12 
Cattle Egret  285  27/9 
Greater White-fronted Goose  286  26/2 
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher  287  25/2 
Grasshopper Sparrow  287  25/9 
Curlew Sandpiper  289  24/5 
White-faced Ibis  290  22/7 
Canvasback  291  21/8 
Sooty Shearwater  291  21/13 
Kentucky Warbler  291  21/10 
Upland Sandpiper  294  19/10 
Black Rail  295  18/1 
Common Murre  295  18/10 
Ruff  297  17/9 
Bohemian Waxwing  297  17/10 
Pine Grosbeak  297  17/5 
Prothonotary Warbler  297  17/10 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Pacific Loon  301  16/7 
Acadian Flycatcher  301  16/12 
Evening Grosbeak  301  16/6 
Hoary Redpoll  301  16/7 
Ross's Goose  305  14/4 
Ash-throated Flycatcher  306  13/3 
Blue Grosbeak  306  13/5 
Pomarine Jaeger  308  12/8 
Eastern Screech-Owl  308  12/8 
Green-tailed Towhee  308  12/1 
Black-tailed Godwit  311  11/1 
Leach's Storm-Petrel  311  11/7 
Black-necked Stilt  313  10/2 
Cave Swallow  313  10/6 
Yellow-throated Warbler  313  10/5 
Black Vulture  316  9/7 
Louisiana Waterthrush  316  9/9 
Cackling Goose  318  8/3 
American White Pelican  318  8/7 
Golden Eagle  318  8/7 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Golden-winged Warbler  318  8/5 
Common Ringed Plover  322  7/2 
Red-headed Woodpecker  322  7/4 
Gyrfalcon  322  7/5 
Swainson's Warbler  322  7/1 
Cerulean Warbler  322  7/5 
Sandhill Crane  327  6/6 
Wilson's Plover  327  6/3 
Red-necked Stint  327  6/2 
Atlantic Puffin  327  6/4 
Sandwich Tern  327  6/2 
Northern Fulmar  327  6/4 
Say's Phoebe  327  6/4 
Yellow-headed Blackbird  327  6/5 
Pacific Golden-Plover  335  5/1 
Franklin's Gull  335  5/4 
Brown Pelican  335  5/1 
Sedge Wren  338  4/4 
Northern Wheatear  338  4/2 
Chuck-will's-widow  340  3/3 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Swainson's Hawk  340  3/2 
Loggerhead Shrike  340  3/1 
Western Tanager  340  3/1 
Tundra Swan  344  2/1 
Eared Grebe  344  2/1 
Ringed Turtle-Dove  344  2/1 
Northern Lapwing  344  2/2 
Long-tailed Jaeger  344  2/2 
Sabine's Gull  344  2/2 
Little Egret  344  2/2 
Mississippi Kite  344  2/2 
Western Meadowlark  344  2/1 
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck  353 
Elegant Tern  353 
Neotropic Cormorant  353 
White Ibis  353 
Pileated Woodpecker  353 
Prairie Falcon  353 
Monk Parakeet  353 
Fork-tailed Flycatcher  353 
 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Yellow-green Vireo  353 
Sage Thrasher  353 
Townsend's Solitaire  353 
Bicknell's Thrush  353 
Chestnut-collared Longspur  353 
Black-throated Gray Warbler  353 

Total reports are 968,198. Total sightings are 428,696.

March 28, 2024, Tom Wetmore