Back to all
Alan Kneidel
CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST
More than 300 bird species have called Manomet’s headquarters home over the last century. With recorded observations dating back as early as 1941 from the Ernst family — the property’s previous owners before they donated the land to Manomet’s first Executive Director in 1969 — you can imagine how many rare and unusual species have taken birdwatchers by surprise over the years. (Including those that made the 2023 Top Birds at Manomet’s Headquarters list.
Manomet’s headquarters campus includes a variety of habitats, including freshwater wetlands, a coastal forest, upland meadows, gardens, and an oceanfront bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay. This abundance of natural resources makes the property an ideal spot for birds to either rest and refuel after a long migratory journey, or even settle down and raise young during the breeding season. For scientists, birdwatchers, and casual naturalists, Manomet’s headquarters property is the perfect place to find a broad diversity of birdlife any time of year, from nesting Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows in the spring to Harlequin Ducks and Razorbills in the winter.
In 2024, 214 bird species were documented onsite. In this list, we rank the top seven bird records, gauging their significance by cross-referencing Manomet’s eBird database, bird banding lab records, and journal entries from previous staff over the course of Manomet’s more-than-50-year history. (Thousands of bird encounters through the decades may not have been recorded for posterity; here, a “first record,” for example, refers to the first time a species has been entered into our official files.
Swainson’s Warbler – 1st property record (05/31/24)
The banding crew captured and banded this first property record on May 31. A bird of southern forests with dense understory, the warbler settled into dense, shady thickets along Stage Point Road. It was seen by several birders on June 1, but not after, detected sporadically by its explosive, rich song.
Little Blue Heron – 1st property record (04/29/24)
Although an annual visitor to interior wetlands Plymouth County, there’s little enticement for a Little Blue Heron to visit our property. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this first property record was detected as a flyover. First spotted by Director of Landbird Conservation Evan Dalton, it was enjoyed by the entire banding crew. Field notes from the checklist reference its slaty blue body and purple head, confirming it as an adult.
American Barn Owl – 1st property record (02/15/24)
First detected in 2023, this continuing first property record remained until late winter 2024. Going weeks at a time between sightings, our final glimpse occurred on February 15, when a raucous group of chastising crows led us to the owl, sleeping in a juniper.
Pacific Loon – 2nd property record (11/04/24)
All credit to this second property record goes to North American Coordinator of the International Shorebird Survey Lisa Schibley’s expertise and keen eye. As her eBird checklist outlines, she first spotted this rarity in a mix of Common and Red-throated Loons off the Manomet bluff. Spotted twice over a four hour period, it eventually drifted out into the bay and was never relocated. Pacific Loons overwinter regularly off of Race Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, so it’s possible this was one of those individuals out for a little extracurricular adventure.
Sedge Wren – 2nd property record (10/18/24)
The expert ears of Evan Dalton alerted him to the twangy chirps of this skulking grass-dweller at the start of the viewing blind boardwalk. Interestingly, this is the exact same location that the first property record was spotted in 2019 by Lisa. The diverse tangle of herbaceous wetland plants in the Big Bog is perfect habitat for this species, so we anticipate more sightings in the future.
Snow Goose – 2nd property record (10/11/24)
It certainly helps to have a team of budding ornithologists at Manomet each migratory season. Bander Liam Norton’s regular walks around the property yielded several good birds in 2024. Thankfully, he was usually toting his camera, and used his quick trigger finger to document this wild flyover. This is our first photo documented record of Snow Goose.
Red-headed Woodpecker – 3rd property record (10/12/24)
Manomet’s Bird-A-Thon took place on October 12, and the team covering Manomet combed the property with a fine-toothed comb. In doing so, lead bander Amy Hogan turned up a very unexpected Red-headed Woodpecker along the swale. Perhaps attracted by a bumper crop of acorns, the woodpecker hung out for at least a few more hours but was not refound in subsequent days.
Savannah (Ipswich) Sparrow – 1st property record (11/04/24)
Arguably, this bird should be higher on the list. But given that it’s only a subspecies, it’s been demoted down the list. Friend-to-Manomet (and amazing photographer) Jim Sweeney and Lisa Schibley photographed this pale beauty on the farm. Usually restricted to dune habitat on outer beaches, the “Ipswich” Sparrow breeds on Sable Island off of Nova Scotia and winters along the Atlantic Coast.
Western Kingbird – 8th property record (03/15/24)
While not an unprecedented species, a March Western Kingbird is! Typically detected as a vagrant during southbound migration in the fall, this is the first March record for the Northeast. Plumage details noted in photos confirm that this is the same individual that was reported at the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center from December 22, 2023 to February 27, 2024.
Caption of the Species accumulation curve
Excited By These Sightings?
Come Visit The Kathleen (Betty) Anderson Nature Trail, open daily at Manomet HQ! Either on your own or on our First Friday Bird Walks…
Full list of Manomet all-time species can be seen here: