The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is located along the northeast coast of Massachusetts. I was established in 1941 to provide feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds.

It is a wonderful place to go, with trails and boardwalks. There are many different habitats to attract a variety of birds. Unfortunately most of these photos were taken on a cold and cloudy day in the winter.

Red-throated Loon

The smallest of the Loons, they breed in high latitudes in Eurasia and North America. The Red-throated Loon differs from other Loons, by not needing to patter on the water’s surface to takeoff, they can actually start flying right from the ground and unlike other loons, they do not carry their young on their backs.

Snow Goose

In the winter they can be found in areas on both the East and West coasts of the US. Occasionally you may find them in some inland areas. These Geese will breed in colonies on the tundras of Northern Alaska and Canada near the coast. They forage in open habitats such as freshwater ponds, fields, grasslands and marshes. I found these Geese with a flock of Canada Geese at the coastal marsh.

Razorbill

In 2009 one Razorbill was located breeding on Bradley Island in the United Kingdom, it had been originally banded as a nestling in 1968, making it 41 years old! I found these two just swimming around in the cold water.

Common Eider

You can often see these big, heavy-bodied ducks floating offshore in large flocks that can have up to several thousand ducks. The largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere can be found along the seacoasts. The males are black and white, while the females are a dull striped brown.

White-winged Scoter

During migration you might find these large black ducks inland on lakes and rivers. It is the largest of the three North American scoter species. The males are black while the females are a dark brownish-black.