Birding on Cape Ann:

Cape Ann Birding – A Winter Wonderland (and a special experience throughout the year!)

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds. Cape Ann offers fine birding year-round, but the region is renowned among birders—locally, nationally, and internationally—as a premier winter destination.

Each year, thousands of birders visit the rugged coast of Cape Ann and scan the adjacent waters hoping to spot some of the unusual and highly sought-after seabirds that spend the winter months just offshore.

One of the best ways to get to see these birds and experience them up close is to visit them in their natural habitat — on the ocean! The Chamber organizes an annual Cape Ann Winter Birding Boat Trip each winter. Other groups plan visits to Cape Ann, flocking to the region’s many birding hot spots, and birding experts have written extensively on this subject.  Many of these expert offer presentations on Cape Ann birding, and our artists display their work featuring the region’s birds. And finally, Cape Ann’s year-round accommodations, restaurants, and other businesses welcome birders visiting the region.

When it comes to birding, there is something for everyone on Cape Ann — whether you are a veteran birder or a birding novice, whether you visit with a group or on your own, whether you watch from the shore or the sea, whether you come in the winter or any other during the year. Come see for yourself – and don’t forget your binoculars.

Below you’ll find some resources to help you enjoy birding on Cape Ann.

Calendar

Cape Ann Birding Boat Trips – March 20; and November 12, Rain Date November 19
Hartford Audubon Society – January 15-16
2022 Winter Birding Speaker Series – Beauport Hotel (to be rescheduled), Blue Shutters Beachside Inn, Saturday, April 2, Emerson Inn, Saturday, April 30

Resources

A Guide to Winter Birding on Cape Ann
Mass Audubon Cape Ann
Birds of the New England Coast

Articles

Winter Birding on Cape Ann – Brookline Bird Club
Birding in Massachusetts (Cape Ann) — Audubon
7 Cool Seabird on Cape Ann — Addison Choate Hotel Blog
Winter Bird Watching on Cape Ann is an Off-Season Delight – Atlantic Vacation Homes Blog
Winter Birding on Cape Ann – Bird Watchers Digest
Talking Birds: Birdwatching Around Cape Ann – Discover Gloucester
13 Important Bird Areas – Gloucester Harborwalk
Hotspots Near You – 128, Rockport Headlands, Cape Ann – Birdwatching Daily
Ebirding Hotspots
Birding on Cape Ann – Christopher Leahy

Special Offers

Winter Birding Speaker Series 20% Discount – Blue Shutters Beachside Inn