Mass Audubon has reported a variety of notable bird sightings across Cape Cod through October 13, highlighting the region's ongoing importance for birdwatching and migratory species.

In Eastham, observers documented a lark bunting, a species not commonly seen in the area. While a crested caracara was not spotted at its usual location of Duck Harbor in Wellfleet, one individual was observed flying west past Red River Beach in Harwich.

Race Point in Provincetown remains a hotspot, with a diverse assemblage of waterfowl and seabirds recorded. Notable sightings included two blue-winged teal, three American wigeon, four Northern pintail, and three green-winged teal. Shorebirds included four American golden-plovers and two white-rumped sandpipers. Large numbers of seabirds were present, such as twelve parasitic jaegers, forty-five lesser black-backed gulls, one Iceland gull, and an impressive count of 700 common terns and 700 Cory’s shearwaters. Additional seabird species included a roseate tern, twelve Wilson’s storm petrels, seventy-five great shearwaters, forty-five Manx shearwaters, and around 300 Northern gannets.

Offshore at the southern end of Stellwagen Bank and Race Point waters, further marine bird activity was noted. These included a single green-winged teal, 280 surf scoters, approximately 1,800 white-winged scoters, 100 black scoters, and several jaegers—one long-tailed jaeger and one pomarine jaeger. Smaller storm-petrels were seen in numbers as well, including fourteen Wilson’s and eleven Leach’s storm-petrels. Two hundred Manx shearwaters and a bald eagle were also recorded in this area.

Several lingering passerine species were reported throughout the Cape. Ruby-throated hummingbirds continued to be seen in Sandwich, Barnstable, Brewster, and Harwich. Single common nighthawks were spotted in both Falmouth and Harwich, while West Barnstable hosted five yellow-crowned night-herons. Shorebirds included twenty-four willets and two whimbrels in South Chatham. Other noteworthy landbird observations included a gray-cheeked thrush on South Monomoy Island in Chatham, a mourning warbler and a snow bunting at First Encounter Beach in Eastham, seventeen Caspian terns at Fort Hill in Eastham, and a black-billed cuckoo in Wellfleet.

Mass Audubon encourages the public to report additional sightings or inquire about current bird activity by contacting the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or via email at cape.sightings@massaudubon.org.