First Encounter Beach
Massachusetts · Northeast
About This Location
First Encounter Beach is a productive birding destination in Massachusetts, with 246 species recorded on eBird. This coastal habitat attracts Canada Goose, American Black Duck, and Red-breasted Merganser among many others. Spring and fall migration bring waves of warblers and shorebirds through the area.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Chuck-will's-widow
Antrostomus carolinensis
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Short-billed Dowitcher
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Lesser Yellowlegs
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Common Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Barn Swallow
Birding Tips
- 1
Check rocky shorelines and jetties at low tide for shorebirds.
- 2
Scan offshore waters with a spotting scope for seabirds and waterfowl.
- 3
Visit during mid-May for peak warbler migration.
Amenities
More in Massachusetts
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Historic Cambridge cemetery renowned as a spring warbler migrant trap.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Massachusetts barrier beach refuge vital for shorebirds and Piping Plovers.
Arnold Arboretum
Harvard's 281-acre living tree museum in Boston with 200+ bird species and outstanding warbler migration.
Massachusetts Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Massachusetts →