Slaty-backed Gull: Marshall Iliff was hoping to relocate the Mew Gull at Niles Pond in Gloucester on January 25, but instead discovered an adult Slaty-backed Gull. This is only the fourth record of this species in the state, the first three being in December 2007, two of them in Gloucester! Oh, and by the way, he also saw the Thayer's gull.

Ivory Gull: On January 23 Dan Zimberlin and his father discovered an Ivory Gull near Richmond Pond in Westport. Later in the day Geoff Dennis saw and photographed an Ivory Bill a scant quarter-mile away at Quicksand Pond in Little Compton, RI. No one has seen the Provincetown gull since - same bird?

Thayer's Gull: Tim Spahr reported a Thayer's Gull at Niles Pond in Gloucester on January 17. On January 20 James P. Smith got photographs of a first cycle bird there. Marshall Iliff also so it on January 25.

Ivory Gull: On January 14 Bennet Porter reported "Thanks to some birders whose names I forgot to ask, I got some great looks at an adult Ivory Gull at Race Point in Provincetown." Mark Faherty finally discovered the mystery birders: Ivan Ace and Ed Yargeau, volunteers at WBWS. On January 15 Mary Keleher got video and Blair Nikula got photos. Check out photos from Peter Trull and Bob Stymeist from January 16. Myer Bornstein, Peter Bono and James P. Smith on January 17. Alex Hildenbrandt on January 21. 

Townsend's Solitaire: Yard bird for Peter Bono in Yarmouthport on January 12! Peter says: "I was sitting at my kitchen table eating breakfast and looking out the window. At the top of a distant bare tree (say, 150 feet away), I could see this grayish, fairly upright bird perched. I thought it might be a waxwing or female bluebird, but it had a relatively long tail. I put my binoculars on it--and immediately noticed the complete eye-ring and the buffy wing marking with white pale edgings." Check out his photos. Mary Keleher made a visit on January 22 and got lucky - captured video and photographs.

Sage Thrasher: Brian Parker discovered this bird in Salisbury on January 11. Photos from Mike Thompson and Lee Hansche and Rick Heil on January 11. On January 12,  Jim Fenton, Peter Trimble, Tom Murray, and Peter Trull. On January 13 David Jones. It was still there on January 16 for Julie Waters.

Eared Grebe: On January 2 Mary Keleher discovered an Eared Grebe on Mill Pond, in Marstons Mills and managed some photos and video in the snow. This is a very rare inland record of this species. Jeremiah Trimble dropped by later in the day (between snow flurries?) and managed some photos.

Tundra Swans: Lanny McDowell was walking the beach in Chilmark on January 1 and looked up to see two Tundra Swans circle the pond and then fly west. Two Tundra Swans had been found on Nantucket on December 15 and were also seen on January 1 on the Nantucket CBC. How many swans?

White-winged Dove: Another? Yup! This time in Plymouth. On private property, but photographed unequivocally in the December 20 snowstorm!

White-winged Dove: On December 14 Ian Lynch discovered a White-winged Dove in Sturbridge. Bruce deGraaf was there shortly thereafter to photograph it. Rick Heil photographed it on December 22, and Bruce deGraaf on January 1.

Painted Bunting: When Nancy Burkert discovered an odd bird at her feeder in Orleans she leafed through her Sibley and identified it as a Painted Bunting. She contacted Wellfleet Bay WS on December 8, and Mark Faherty went over and photographed it. Mary Keleher saw it on December 11 and got some photos. On December 13 Jeremiah Trimble photographed it.

Common Shelduck: Jim Malone was checking the ducks at Short Beach in Nahant on December 6 when he spotted a Common Shelduck. On December 7 David Jones captured some photographs.

Mew Gull: Rick Heil discovered a Mew Gull in Gloucester Harbor on November 26, and grabbed some photographs. Phil Brown got some photographs on December 7. On December 8, Tim Factor found another Mew Gull in Lynn (no shelduck!), and Margo Goetschkes photographed it. On January 21, James P. Smith refound the Gloucester bird and photographed it.

MacGillivray's Warbler 2: On November 21 Anna Piccolo saw an unfamiliar warbler at Wright's Pond in Medford. She didn't have her "bird lens" but managed to get off a fuzzy shot anyway. She puzzled over it when she got home, and couldn't find any match except MacGillivray's Warbler. She sent the photo to Marj. Rines who agreed with her identification.

MacGillivray's Warbler: On November 28, 1999 Bob Stymeist discovered a MacGillivray's Warbler in the Victory Gardens in Boston's Fenway. Just short of a decade later on November 17 Paul Peterson discovered another at the same location. See photos from November 18 from Jeremiah Trimble, Margo Goetschkes, Greg Dysart, and Ryan Schain. On November 21 Matt Garvey got some video and Erik Nielsen some photos. On November 22  Phil Brown got some shots. See photos from John Harrison on November 29.

Western Tanager: On Friday the 13th of November Tim Factor spotted a Western Tanager in the Boston Public Garden. Jeremiah Trimble and Bob Stymeist made it there shortly thereafter and were able to get photos.

Lark Bunting: Cumberland Farms continues to produce - shades of the "Patagonia picnic table effect." On November 4, Jim Sweeney discovered a Lark Bunting, and later that day Wayne Petersen got a photo. On November 5, Ian Davies got photos. On November 6 Jeremiah Trimble and Hank Levesque got photos. On November 8, Tom Murray got photos. Still there on December 12 when Erik Nielsen got photos.

Allen's Hummingbird: Audubon's South Shore sanctuary got a call on October 22 about a Rufous Hummingbird coming to a feeder in Scituate, so John Galluzzo went to check it out. It was ambiguous plumage, but Master Bander Sue Finnegan captured and measured it, and it is an Allen's! This is only the second record for this species, the first in 1988.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: When Dave Small got a call from Jeff Johnstone on October 21 he wasn't expecting a report of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the Orange Airport! Dave published some photos on his blog,and later that day Bob Stymeist got some photos. On October 22 more folks came, and you check out photos from Jeremiah Trimble and Hilke Breder.

Barnacle Goose: When Lanny McDowell got a phone call from Janet Norton telling him there was a Barnacle Goose near her home in Edgartown, he wasted no time going over to check it out. You can check out Lanny's photographs.

LeConte's Sparrow: Marshall Iliff is having a good fall at Cumberland Farms in Halifax/Middleboro. On October 20 he discovered a LeConte's Sparrow, and got great photos, a neat trick with any Ammodramus sparrow. Jeremiah Trimble captured more photos later that day. Hank Levesque saw it on October 21. Mike LaBossiere caught this image on October 22, and Myer Bornstein got these photos on October 23. On October 24 Bruce deGraaf and Erik Nielsen got photos. On October 24 Matt Garvey got some video.

Cackling Goose: On Friday, October 16 Simon Perkins found and photographed a Cackling Goose at Nine Acre Corner in Concord, then on the 18th Jeremiah Trimble found and photographed one on Old Bedford Road in Concord, and on the 19th David Sibley discovered one in the School Street fields in Concord. How many geese? Compare Simon's and Jeremiah's and see what you think!

Brown-chested Martin: Matt Garvey, Marshall Iliff and Jeremiah Trimble were stunned to discover a Brown-chested Martin at the Cumberland Farm Fields in Halifax/Middleboro on October 12. The first North American record of this species occured in Massachusetts on June 12, 1983. If approved by the MARC this will be only the second state record, and possibly only the sixth U.S.record. Check out photos from Matt, Marshall, Jeremiah. Rick Heil wasn't far behind and also captures photos and video. Check out photos from Hank Levesque

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Mark Faherty is having a good week. On September 29 Pat Ryder told him about "something weird" at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mark identified it as  a Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Check out Mark's photos, and also Mary Keleher's. It was still there on October 2 when Bob Stymeist captured some photos. Still there two days later when Rick Heil got some shots and video.

White-winged Dove: Mark Faherty was leading a trip out of Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, September 25, and discovered this White-winged Dove at the Eastham Stump Dump. Photographs from Mark here.

Say's Phoebe: On September 13, Alan Keith discovered a Say's Phoebe in Chilmark, and on September 14 Lanny McDowell captured these photos.

BBC Extreme Pelagic: Once again, the Brookline Bird Club's popular pelagic trip didn't fail to please. Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Bridled Tern, Long-tailed Jaeger, and many many more. See photos from John Hoye, Ian Davies, Jeremiah Trimble, and Paul Cozza.