Birds of Interest The main attraction is the waterfowl, good in spring and better in fall. The featured species are ring-necked and ruddy ducks, both of which spend the fall here in the hundreds; many stay until the lake freezes, which is never before mid-December. Other species often seen here are pied-billed grebes, American coots, greater and lesser scaup, buffleheads, canvasbacks (rare), redheads (rare), common mergansers, and Canada geese. The flocks of geese should always be examined for a cackling or greater white-fronted goose. The conservation land is excellent for sparrows in fall, among other migrant songbirds. Eastern bluebirds have nested in tree hollows in the swamps below the dams. Viewing Information: There are no facilities. Boats are not permitted on the reservoir. Be sure not to trespass on private land, which lines the road on the other side. A spotting scope helps to study the waterfowl.

Cherry Hill Reservoir, owned by the City of Newburyport, is a large lake excavated in the late 1970s. It was built for that city’s water supply, and quickly became a magnet for migrating waterfowl. The southern border of the lake is West Newbury conservation land, consisting of weedy fields, a bit of fresh cattail marsh, and two outlet streams, dammed for the reservoir, and now good swamp habitats.

From the Scotland Road exit off I-95 in Newbury take Scotland Road west, which becomes South Street in West Newbury. Drive about half a mile and bear right where the road forks at the town line; a huge boulder will be on your left. Continue for another half mile or so (the road curves right) to the reservoir on the right. By following the road (now Moulton Street) around the lake, many vantage points can be gained, and you can park anywhere along the road by simply pulling over on either side.