Focus on Massachusetts Shorebird Hotspots

By Noah Henkenius -- with help from several Massachusetts birders

With much of the state bordering the Atlantic Ocean and possessing a well-maintained coastal habitat, Massachusetts is a good place to find shorebirds year-round. During migration, many shorebird species will stop at various hotspots along the coast and further west in Massachusetts' inland region to fuel up for their trips to and from breeding grounds in the Arctic. Autumn migration in particular is strong for shorebirds in Massachusetts as birds tend to be in less of a rush and more likely to stay in a single spot for longer. Autumn is also the best time to find vagrant shorebird species. In the summer months, the famous Piping Plovers will breed in various spots throughout the Massachusetts coastline. In the winter months Sanderling, Dunlin, and Purple Sandpipers are common winter residents; occasionally migratory species will linger behind, especially during milder winters.

The following is a selection of some of the most notable hotspots within the state of Massachusetts for shorebirds. Not all of these hotspots will have shorebirds year-round, however, each can be considered a notable "shorebird destination" at some point throughout the year. Our main goal was to focus on hotspots that:

• Have some way for the general public to access them (even if it is only from the roadside)
• Consistently have high quantities of shorebirds
• Locations that stand out as being "shorebird destinations" within their region of Massachusetts

While this list is not all-encompassing if you're looking for shorebirds in Massachusetts... These hotspots are a place to start.

North Shore

• Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
• Topsfield Fairground *Parking lot viewing only

Boston Area

• Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
• Squantum Marshes
• Winthrop Beach & The Five Sisters

South Shore/South Coast

Plymouth County

• Plymouth Beach
• Duxbury Beach
• Ellisville Harbor SP

Bristol County

• Gooseberry Neck
• Shaw Road *Roadside only

Cape Cod & The Islands

Cape Cod

• Race Point Beach
• Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge *Some parts of Monomoy have restricted access
• Sandy Neck
• Brewster Wing Island
• Nauset Beach
• Coast Guard Beach

Nantucket

• Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge--Great Point
• Esther Island
• Smith Point

Inland

Berkshires

• October Mountain State Forest--Washington Mountain Marsh *Does not receive "high quantities" of shorebirds, but stands out as a "shorebird destination" within Berkshire County.

Connecticut River Valley

• Longmeadow Flats
• Longmeadow Sandbar

Worcester County

• Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area

Honorable Mentions

• Tuckernuck Island *Restricted access
• Muskeget Island *Restricted access
• Minot and The Glades *Very reliable spot for Purple Sandpipers in winter, but not much else in terms of shorebirds.