Species P-S

Palm warbler: The banks of the Mystic catch a certain number of warblers on their passage through, and this palm warbler was one. Less common; Nesting: No
Pied-bill grebe: This grebe, in its fall plumage, was seen splashing about in mid-September, under the Route 28 bridge. Less common; Nesting: No
Pine warbler: This is a fall pine warbler, presumably migrating south. I never see pine warblers in the spring; only in the fall, both in my yard and by the Mystic. Less common; Nesting: No
Red-breasted merganser: Mergansers do what you and I should never do, namely eat fish from the Mystic. Seasonally common; Nesting: No
Red-eyed vireo: Usually a bird of passage, but one summer a few were visible all summer near the boathouse on the Mystic. Seasonally common; Nesting: Probably
Redhead: A rare winter visitor to the Mystic.  This pair hung about for a bit, and attracted their share of attention. Rare; Nesting: No
Red-tailed hawk: Our most familiar raptor. This one was up in a neighbor's tree, being hassled by the robin behind, as well as some other birds.  A mockingbird eventually drove it off. Common; Nesting: Probably
Red-throated loon: A bird of the Arctic, these loons range far south during winter, cleaving to the coasts.  They're not terrifically common in these parts, so I was lucky to see a pair of them just below the Amelia Earhart dam. Rare; Nesting: No
Red-winged blackbird: This common bird doesn't have a huge presence in Somerville, for lack of the marshy habitat they favor. That said, you'll see and hear a few along the Mystic starting in early spring.  This particular female seemed to be paired up with a nearby male. Seasonally common; Nesting: Yes
Ring-billed gull: These gulls (the smaller ones in the photograph) are the most common gulls we see in Somerville. Abundant; Nesting: No
Ring-necked pheasant: This bird gets a mention because I almost stepped on one in my front yard many years ago.  Haven't seen one since, not surprisingly. Rare; Nesting: No
Rock pigeon: The iconic city bird.  This one is having a bit of a stroll by the seaside (if the dock at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse can be called the seaside). Abundant; Nesting: Yes
Ruby-crowned kinglet: The kinglet is one small dinosaur.  They're smaller than just about everything that isn't a hummingbird, but are known, surprisingly, for the enormous clutches of eggs they lay -- as many as a dozen in one go. Less common; Nesting: No
Ruby-throated hummingbird: This is the lousiest picture of the whole collection. I only see hummingbirds during migration, so maybe a couple times a year, and they're awfully zippy. Less common; Nesting: Possibly
Ruddy duck: On the Mystic, particularly below the dam where the water is saltier, and therefore ice free, there are always diving ducks to be seen in winter.  The ruddy duck is less common than the mergansers, but I sometimes see them. Less common; Nesting: No
Savannah sparrow: It's a bit far-fetched to think of Somerville as a birding destination, but I will say that the edge of the Mystic boasts a tolerable range of sparrows, of which the Savannah is one. It's mostly a winter visitor. Less common; Nesting: Possibly
Snowy owl: Here's one bird that was neither seen nor photographed by me.  It was reported in the Somerville Patch that this owl had been seen on the roof of the Healy School, with the picture credited to James O'Keefe. Rare; Nesting: No
Song sparrow: From the banks of the Mystic, where they're a year-round presence. Common; Nesting: Yes
Spotted sandpiper: Another late-summer sandpiper hunting on the floating vegetation of the Mystic. Less common; Nesting: No
Swainson's thrush: Mountain ash is well loved by thrushes, though Swainson's is an irregular visitor to the banquet. I've seen them once or twice in spring as well. Less common; Nesting: No
Swamp sparrow: In the long roster of Mystic sparrows, the swamp sparrow is one of the more uncommon ones.  Less common; Nesting: Possibly