Hudson River Audubon Society Field Trip
Cape Ann Field Trip
November 24-26, 2007
Noon Saturday to noon Monday
Gloucester is a 4.5 hour ride from Yonkers, so allow time for stops and traffic.
Meet at 12 noon Saturday at the Vista Motel where we will be staying:
Vista Motel
22 Thatcher Road
Gloucester, MA 01930
http://www.vistamotel.com/home.html
978-281-3410
~ $85-95 a night
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a peninsula which juts out into the Gulf of Maine just north of
Boston. In winter the rocky shores are good for sea watching especially with
easterly winds.
In winter one can expect to see Common and Red-throated Loons, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Eider, Harlequin Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Cormorants, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Purple Sandpipers, Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting and Northern Gannets and if we are lucky King Eider, Murres, Dovekie, and Barrow’s Goldeneye.
Itinerary
Saturday
We'll take a look at Halibut Point for both land and seabirds.
Sunday
Halibut Point State Park/Plum Island
An early contingent will meet at 6 AM to look for seabird at Halibut Point at
sunrise (6:45 AM), then return to the motel at 9:30 AM to pick up the rest of
the group/ buy sandwiches for lunch and head north to Plum Island (aka Parker
River NWR).
Monday
Flexible - depends on the weather and what birds we missed
Direction from Yonkers, New York (4.5 hours)
1) Take the Cross County Parkway East to the Hutchinson River Parkway North
2). Take the Hutchinson River Parkway North 8 miles to I-684 North.
3) Take I-684 North 28 miles to I-84 East
4) Take I-84 East 108 miles to I-90 East (Mass Turnpike)
5) Take I-90 East (Mass Turnpike) 44 miles to I-95 North
6) Take I-95 North 25 miles to Route 128 North (Waltham / Gloucester)
7) Take Route 128 North 21 miles into Gloucester; you will then pass through two rotaries.
8) After second Rotary, stay in the left lane and turn left at the first traffic light onto Route 127 North (Eastern Ave).
9) Proceed 0.5 miles and turn right onto Barn Lane just after a small shopping plaza.
10) At the bottom of the hill turn right onto Thatcher Road. You will see the Vista Motel sign immediately on your right. Office is at the top of the driveway.
Directions to Halibut Point (15 minutes)
Turn left out of motel onto
Thatcher.
After 0.1 mile turn left onto Barn Lane
After 0.1 miles turn right onto Eastern Ave / Route 127
Follow Route 127 2.5 miles.
Turn left to continue on Route 127 (now Railroad Ave)
Follow Route 127 another 2.5 miles to Gott Ave and the State Park on the right.
Directions to Plum Island
(1 hour)
Take 128 S to Route133
Take Route133 for 8.0 miles where it merges with Route 1A
Take Route 1A/133 for 3.7 miles
Stay straight to continue on Route 1A
After about 7.3 miles turn right onto Rolfes Lane/ Hanover St which then becomes
Ocean Ave.
At the end of Ocean Ave turn right onto Plum Island Turnpike. Go 1.5 miles and
turn right to get to the wildlife refuge.
Reverse Direction (Note Sunset is 4:15 PM)
Head out on Plum Island Turnpike and turn left onto Ocean Ave.
Take Ocean Ave which becomes Rolfes Lane 0.5 miles.
Turn left onto High Road Route 1A.
Take Route 1A 11.1 miles and turn left onto Route 133
Take Route 133 8.0 miles to Route 128 N
Take Route 128 4.2 miles back to Route 127 traffic light and proceed as per the
motel directions
Trip Leader: Michael Bochnik, Home Phone 914-237-9331 Cell Phone: 914-953-7409
Dress appropriately for the weather, expect windy conditions. For more information contact Michael Bochnik or call him at (914) 237-9331.
Species we will search for:
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| White-winged Scoter | Harlequin Duck | Northern Gannet |
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| Snow Bunting | Iceland Gull | Glaucous Gull |
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