DATE – Saturday, August 2, 2025
TIME – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
WHERE – West Dennis Beach, Dennis, MA (Cape Cod)
QUESTIONS? hello@bostonbirdingfestival.org
This event is free. Please register in advance. Spaces are limited. You’ll receive an email with additional info, including the meeting location, parking info, etc. a day or two before this event
GPS ADDRESS
East Side Parking Lot
West Dennis Beach Road, Dennis, MA 02670
We recommend carpooling.
LINKS
Shorebirds don’t make it easy. World travelers, gathering in massive groups, often skittish, they can be difficult to count. Yet understanding shorebird populations and trends is critical to their conservation.
In 1974, Manomet, a Massachusetts organization and international leader in environmental research and solutions, has organized the volunteer-based International Shorebird Survey (ISS) to gather information on shorebirds and the wetlands they depend on. Dedicated volunteers conduct field surveys during spring and fall migrations—and on some of these walks your trip leader may be one of these volunteers tasked with collecting important data. Ask questions! And learn how you can become support shorebird conservation.
West Dennis Beach, Dennis, MA (Cape Cod)
Saturday, August 2, 2024, 5:30 PM to about 7:30 PM
Presented by the Cape Cod Bird Club
Support the count!! Your trip leaders are part of the International Shorebird Survey!
West Dennis Deach runs along Nantucket Sound. It is bordered on the west by the Bass River. Behind the primary dune, there is a sparsely vegetated area that hosts Least Terns and Piping Plovers. On the north side of this site is a long parking lot. Just beyond the lot is a tidal flat and salt marsh that serve as feeding grounds for a variety of shore birds. A hummock on the northern edge of the marsh attracts Common Terns.
Bonus? Sunsets here can be spectacular!
A wonderful introduction to shorebirds with fantastic local trip leaders in a magical location!
A few pairs of loaner binoculars are available—please email us in advance. Free. This evening trip can also help you avoid some traffic.
Spaces limited. Please register in advance!
New birders and the merely bird curious are welcome on this walk. This is a beautiful location, and we’ll be taking it at a leisurely pace.
TRAILS
Be prepared for beach birding with soft sand. We will be covering about 2.5 miles.
FACILITIES
There are restrooms on site near the parking lot. We recommend bringing a water bottle.
CHALLENGES
West Dennis Beach is a popular place to watch the sun set. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance.
Founded in 1971, the Cape Cod Bird Club has been a cornerstone of the Massachusetts birding and conservation community for over 50 years. Originally a gathering of local enthusiasts, the Club has grown into a dynamic organization offering dozens of free field trips, lectures, and educational programs throughout the year that bring people together to enjoy and protect the natural areas of the Cape.
Join us for a walk as we look for birds in stunning, off-the-beaten-path locations—salt marshes, barrier beaches, kettle ponds—places most people overlook. You’ll start to appreciate the Cape and its wildlife differently. [LINK]