Daniel Webster Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary - Marshfield, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 05.263 W 070° 40.776
19T E 361088 N 4660879
This sanctuary located along a coastal estuary has several locations for watching birds, including two bird blinds, an observation deck, and a small shelter with windows by bird feeders.
Waymark Code: WMTYEE
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 01/23/2017
Views: 23
In Marshfield, at the end of Winslow Cemetery Road, is the Daniel Webster Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, which is specially suited to observing birds in many habitats, with observation points and shelters along the way.
To get to the sanctuary, following the directions, taken from their site:
From Rt 3 north or south: Take exit 12 (Rt 139). Follow Rt 139 east for 3.7 miles to Marshfield Center. Turn right at light onto Webster Street. Follow Webster Street 1.5 miles and turn left onto Winslow Cemetery Road. Sanctuary parking is 0.7 miles ahead (at the end of the road).
The parking lot has a path that leads to the first shelter. The place is not staffed, but there is a place to put money in. The first shelter has windows where you can observe the landscape as well as nearby bird feeders. There are also posters with subjects about the environment and birds.
On the paths there are objects and features that either favors birds or bird watching. One place has three stout posts with wires connecting them at the top. This is labeled in the map as a purple martin colony. Another stop is a boat launch where there is a view of a small pond. It is here that we saw white swans floating on the water. Further down is one of two bird blinds overlooking an estuary. Inside are posters identifying birds. Near the furthest point in the sanctuary is an open observation deck where you can view a post with an osprey next. It is here that we saw marsh hawks (harriers) flying about.
There is a pdf of a bird checklist for this sanctuary that has over 170 species listed. The following is a sampling:
- Great blue heron
- Osprey
- Red-tailed hawk
- Short eared owl
- American kestral
- Red bellied woodpecker
- Eastern bluebird
- Purple martin
- American woodcock
- Black capped chickadee
- Red-breasted nuthatch
- Baltimore oriole
- Tufted titmouse
- various warblers
- various sparrows
- Red-winged blackbird
- Fish crow
- wood thrush
- Northern pintail
- Common merganser
This location is definitely worth taking some time to explore.
Massachusetts Audubon is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving landscapes and teaching about birds and the environment.
Park Name: Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon
Sponsoring Organization: Massachusetts Audubon
Handicap Accessible?: Yes
Website: [Web Link]
Entrance Fee: 5.00 (listed in local currency)
List any Hides, Birding Towers, or other structures to assist in Birdwatching found at the location:
The shelter by the parking lot has windows to view the bird feeders. There are two shelters with signs identifying birds. There is an open observation deck with views of the estuary.
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
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