Recent Central Mass Bird Sightings

Sightings are listed in reverse chronological order. The email address of birders submitting reports, as well as other Central Massachusetts birding info can be found via the Central Mass Bird Update homepage.

Bird News:

Bird Sightings:

8/20/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
A great egret flew fairly low over River Bend Farm this morning. Actually, it sashayed, flying this way and that way but never quite making a circle. "Should I stop for a fish? Yes. Maybe. No." After several minutes, it headed off to the northeast; but it was not seen at Rice City Pond or the West Hill marsh. (report from Beth and Paul Milke).

8/17/08 -- Harvard Pond, Petersham
This morning we birded in one small area in PETERSHAM: around the Harvard Pond/Tom Swamp area. BTW: Tom Swamp is actually the marshy and boggy north end of Harvard Pond. Most birds seen were in a post-breeding mode with family groups of migrant passerines spending most of their time in the upperstory of the forest, power feeding. You certainly could still be ticking some "Confirmed" codes for atlasing. Song was restricted to the vireos and peewees mostly, but there was the occasional outburst from warblers. Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (1); Wood Duck (24); Mallard (2); A Black Duck (5); Hooded Merganser (4imm); Red-shouldered Hawk (1imm+1ad: the immature dove into some water on the marshy edge probably trying for a frog and spent the next 15 minutes sitting low in a tree preening and trying to dry off); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Mourning Dove (3); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (3); E Wood Peewee (1); E Phoebe (7); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (24); Blue Jay (17); A Crow (4); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (20: migrating NW); Winter Wren (1); Black-capped Chickadee (59); Tufted Titmouse (6); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); Brown Creeper (4); Hermit Thrush (1); A Robin (3); Gray Catbird (9); Cedar Waxwing (17); Yellow-rumped Warbler (4); Black-throated Green Warbler (6); Pine Warbler (2); Black and White Warbler (6); American Redstart (3); Ovenbird (2); C Yellowthroat (5); Scarlet Tanager (3); Chipping Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (5); Swamp Sparrow (7); Bobolink (8: overhead); Baltimore Oriole (3); Purple Finch (1); American Goldfinch (4); PLUS: Beaver and a family of 4 River Otters. Butterflies included a good number of Red-spotted Purples ; White Admirals and a single Common Buckeye. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/17/08 -- Rt. 56 overlook, Leicester
We spent from 5PM-7:30PM watching for nighthawks from Rt.56 to Worcester Airport, spending almost all our time at the Rt.56 overlook. Weather was fair with a cloudless sky, making nighthawk watching difficult. There was very little breeze. Temps: mid 70s. NB: It's still a little early for the big movements, but watch for the flying ant swarms! Complete list: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Turkey Vulture (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); American Kestrel (4); Wild Turkey (5ad+4yg); BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (4: I heard the plovers overhead and luckily sharp-eyed Sheila spotted them, and I was able to get my scope on them. They flew down to a section of the runway out of sight from our vantage point. Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers are likely rare but yearly in fall in the airport environs, but you need good ears to pick them up as the fly overhead); Killdeer (13); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Ring-billed Gull (1); Mourning Dove (4); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (20: all but one went by within the first hour, either heading south or southwest); Chimney Swift (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Eastern Kingbird (10); Blue Jay (2); A Crow (26); Barn Swallow (2); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (5); E Starling (169); Cedar Waxwing (57); Yellow Warbler (3); Eastern Towhee (1); Savannah Sparrow (12); Bobolink (68); Eastern Meadowlark (1); C Grackle (22); A Goldfinch (6); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

8/16/08 -- Blackstone National Corridor: RHODE ISLAND section
We spent the morning birding in the Rhode Island section of the Blackstone National Corridor. Highlights:
  • WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, Smithfield/Lincoln: Double-crested Cormorant (4); Great Blue Heron (2); Green Heron (1); Canada Goose (20); Red-tailed Hawk (2imm, calling incessantly); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Least Sandpiper (2); Eastern Phoebe (2); Eastern Bluebird (4); NB: the water levels here are still a bit high for this time of the year. Only a few small rocky/mud islands were visible above water.
  • LINCOLN: Cooper's Hawk (1imm);
  • SNEETCH POND, Cumberland: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Green Heron (3); Canada Goose (44); Wood Duck (9); Osprey (2); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Eastern Phoebe (7);
  • DIAMOND HILL/ARNOLD MILLS RESERVOIRS, Cumberland: Double-crested Cormorant (10); Great Egret (1); Great Blue Heron (6); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (31); Osprey (1); Semipalmated Plover (2); Killdeer (9); Greater Yellowlegs (3); Lesser Yellowlegs (7); Spotted Sandpiper (6); Least Sandpiper (31); Semipalmated Sandpiper (3); Pectoral Sandpiper (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); Barn Swallow (10+); NB: only Arnold Mills had lowered water. This is still the most difficult place to bird ?well? in all of the RI section of the Corridor.
  • 10 MILE RIVER at the Country Club, PAWTUCKET: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Egret (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (1); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (8); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (5); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (6); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (15+); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (20+);
  • SLATER PARK, Pawtucket: Mute Swan (8); Canada Goose (38); Mallard (72); SEEKONK RIVER, Providence/East Providence, south to Bold Point. Double-crested Cormorant (211); Great Egret (7); Great Blue Heron (29); Green Heron (1); Black-crowned Night Heron (3imm+1ad); Turkey Vulture (6); Mute Swan (33); Canada Goose (9); Mallard (218); Osprey (12); Laughing Gull (3); Ring-billed Gull (652); Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adS); Herring Gull (201); Great Black-backed Gull (634); NB: we did our standard point count of the river as the tide was just starting to lower. There was a tremendous concentration of fish (and fishermen); along the river. These included bait fish like Menhaden, but also much larger fish that the Osprey, herons and gulls were gorging on that looked like Blues. On the way out, we stopped by the small ornamental pond in Swan Point and found the old RED-EARED SLIDER that has been living there for decades, likely since some child let their small pet green turtle go in the 60s. Also in the same pond were several Eastern Painted Turtles and a large Snapper.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/15/08 -- Spencer
    This afternoon, before the rain, there was a circling flock of 15-20 common nighthawks near the Big Y parking lot on route 9 in Spencer. (report from Bart Kamp).

    8/10/08 -- Fitchburg/Gardner
    Highlights on a 25 mile biking loop from home through High Ridge WMA, into Gardner to Mount Wachusett Comm. College and back this morning: Wood Duck 4; American Black Duck 1; Common Loon 2; Double-crested Cormorant 1; Great Blue Heron 5; Great Egret 2 (1 at High Ridge WMA the other near rte 2 in Westminster); Green Heron 1; Turkey Vulture 4; Solitary Sandpiper 1; Black-billed Cuckoo 1; Chimney Swift 3; Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2; Hairy Woodpecker 1; Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1; Eastern Wood-Pewee 4; Empidonax sp. 3; Eastern Phoebe 5; Eastern Kingbird 6; Blue-headed Vireo 1; Warbling Vireo 2; Red-eyed Vireo 16; Barn Swallow 4; Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (adult w/ fledgling X2); House Wren 10; Hermit Thrush 4 Still some song; Cedar Waxwing 27; Yellow Warbler 2; Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 all 1st yr Imm.; American Redstart 1; Ovenbird 1; Common Yellowthroat 8; Eastern Towhee 1; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2; Indigo Bunting 1; Baltimore Oriole 3; Purple Finch 11; (report from Tom Pirro).

    8/10/08 -- Dudley
    We spent the morning doing some very late season atlasing in DUDLEY (block: Webster 2). This is a block that has not (as yet) been covered. This is a shame because despite the sadly inevitable onslaught of sprawl, this block still contains quite a bit of farmland and decent-sized woodlots. Throw in a few small marshy ponds and a section of the Quinnebaug River, and you have an interesting block to bird. Even though many species have finished their breeding season, we were still able to "confirm" a number of species. It is obvious this block holds about 20+ other species as breeders.
    Great Blue Heron (6); Wood Duck (8); Mallard (10); Cooper?s Hawk (1ad); Broad-winged Hawk (2imm); NORTHERN BOBWHITE (1 calling inconsistently from a scrubby area near some forest edge. We could find no game farm nearby nor are there any wildlife management areas nearby where Bobwhite could be released in field trials. Still, it is very likely this is a released bird.); Virginia Rail (3); Killdeer (1); Spotted Sandpiper (4); Rock Pigeon (48); Mourning Dove (36: one bird was seen carrying nesting material, starting another nest at this late date!); Eastern Screech Owl (1); Chimney Swift (8); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (6); Downy Woodpecker (19); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (5); E Wood Peewee (13); Eastern Phoebe (22); Eastern Kingbird (11); Red-eyed Vireo (14); Blue Jay (13); A Crow (16); Tree Swallow (30+); Barn Swallow (35); Black-capped Chickadee (94); Tufted Titmouse (47); White-breasted Nuthatch (15); Carolina Wren (13); House Wren (8); Winter Wren (3); Eastern Bluebird (8); Hermit Thrush (2); Wood Thrush (2); A Robin (98); Gray Catbird (36); E Starling (200+); Cedar Waxwing (13); Yellow Warbler (12: some still singing); Pine Warbler (5); Black and White Warbler (6: some still singing); A Redstart (2: still singing); Northern Waterthrush (1 still singing); C Yellowthroat (6); Canada Warbler (1imm+1ad: bred in block); Scarlet Tanager (5); Eastern Towhee (9); Chipping Sparrow (56); Song Sparrow (24); N Cardinal (35); Indigo Bunting (5); Bobolink (30+); Red-winged Blackbird (2); C Grackle (27); Baltimore Oriole (7); House Finch (8); A Goldfinch (41: we watched adult males feeding fledged young); House Sparrow (260); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    8/6/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    On the Forbush Bird Club Night Heron Walk, highlights were Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, and Eastern Kingbird. Here is the complete trip list. (report from Bob Aiello fide Joan Gallagher).

    7/27/08 -- northeast Quabbin Reservoir
    We spent the morning atlasing the two blocks in northeast Quabbin, from Gate 39 to Gate 35. The weather was overcast with rumbles of thunder fast approaching as we left after noon. Breeding behavior was still very much evident, with a number of species feeding just fledged young or still tending nests. But song, other than vireos and peewees, has dropped off dramatically. One of the real mysteries of bird life in central and western forests in mid-July is what happens to all the Ovenbirds. They cease singing by mid-July, and after that, no amount of spishing, screech-owling or just careful searching will turn up an Ovenbird UNTIL fall migration begins in earnest. They have to be around somewhere in late July! Most of the birds we recorded were still either nesting or tending fledged young. Many more birds have fledged and are wandering the forest canopy. There was no indication of any movement of any warblers, vireos or thrushes. We recorded most of the birds where we have been noting them through the breeding season. Common Loon (4: two pairs, no sign of nesting, no sign of young at least in this area. According to sources at DCR, a loon with single young has been reported well south of this atlas area. Throughout Central MA, loons are having a terrible nesting season, though yesterday Fran McMenemy reported a loon with a chick at Wachusett Reservoir, the bird having re-nested on a floating platform.)

    Turkey Vulture (1); Wood Duck (1 yg); Hooded Merganser (4 fledged young still hanging together. We have actually followed this group this year beginning with the parent pair nesting.); Bald Eagle (1ad+1imm); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1ad: water levels have risen again at Quabbin, making this area less attractive to migrant shorebirds); Ring-billed Gull (8); Herring Gull (2); Mourning Dove (9); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (pair); Barred Owl (1imm); Chimney Swift (1 hunting in and among the deeper forested area. This could be one of those non-chimney nesting swifts); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2); Downy Woodpecker (10); Hairy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (5); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (6); E Phoebe (4); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); Eastern Kingbird (17); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (8); Red-eyed Vireo (41); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (11); C Raven (3); Tree Swallow (5: no significant movements today); Barn Swallow (4); Black-capped Chickadee (27); Tufted Titmouse (4); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); Veery (3); Hermit Thrush (8); Wood Thrush (2); A Robin (60); Gray Catbird (27); Cedar Waxwing (52: small flocks all along the power lines, feasting on various berries, but we only saw adults, no young birds);

      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Yellow (4); Chestnut-sided (2); Magnolia (4); Black-throated Blue (2); Yellow-rumped (2); Black-throated Green (3); Blackburnian (1); Pine (1); Prairie (9); Black and White (1); C Yellowthroat (16);
    Scarlet Tanager (8); E Towhee (28); Chipping Sparrow (11); Field Sparrow (12); Song Sparrow (11); Swamp Sparrow (3); White-throated Sparrow (2); Red-winged Blackbird (6: still tending young/nests in marsh); Baltimore Oriole (2);
      WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (flock of 12. We were working an isolated area of power line crossing, when out of some old planted spruces, flew this group loudly calling away. We spished them down momentarily and could see juveniles and adults, but before we could get the exact make-up, then soon flew around some more and then back into the forest. I have had summering and potentially breeding Red Crossbills before in northeast Quabbin, and even summering Pine Siskins, but this is my first mid-summer record of White-winged Crossbills. BTW: several of the conifer species had decent cone crops)
    American Goldfinch (9); PLUS: Eastern Coyote (1); all the usual mid-summer blooms, but an especially nice showing of WOOD LILLIES; (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/27/08 -- Worcester Airport
    En route to Quabbin this morning, we stopped off along the Mulberry Street (Leicester) side of the Worcester Airport, to look for the UPLAND SANDPIPER found by Fran McMenemy and the Forbush Bird Club trip yesterday. We dipped on that bird but did have Great Blue Heron (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); American Kestrel (3); Killdeer (9); Lesser Yellowlegs (2); Tree Swallow (30+); Barn Swallow (50+); Savannah Sparrow (29); Bobolink (28); Eastern Meadowlark (5);. Returning from Quabbin, we tried again before the storms hit and also dipped. BUT: birder's should keep on trying, looking both from the Mulberry Street side (standing on the small grassy rise on the other side of the road from the runway); OR checking with a good scope from the Rt. 56 overlook. Late afternoon light is the best, but there is more bird activity at dawn. Typically when Uplands are seen here, they remain fro several days, but can easily disappear in the grasses along the runways, so several trys may be needed. (report from Mark Lynch).

    7/26/08 -- Route 56 Overlook of Worcester Airport, Leicester
    Highlights of a joint Forbush Bird Club / Massachusetts Butterfly Club trip to the fields on the Route 56 side of Worcester Airport were an Upland Sandpiper and three American Kestrels at the Worcester Airport, and an Osprey and Indigo Bunting at the Leicester landfill. Here is the complete trip list of the 34 bird species observed. (report from Alan Marble fide Joan Gallagher)

    7/26/08 -- ponds in northern MA
    I checked some of the loon nesting areas in Central Mass. this week. At Upper Naukeag Lake in Ashburnham, two loons, but no chicks. At Wachusett Lake in Westminster, two loons, but no chicks. At Hy-Crest Pond in Sterling, no loons. At Bickford Pond in Hubbardston ,one loon, but no chicks. At Bickford Pond it looks like the former nesting site is cover by fallen branches. At the Wachusett Reservoir two loon nest were being incubated in late May and early June. One nest in Boylston (South Bay) and one in Sterling (Crescent Is.). Both nest were swamped by rising water levels in early June. A re-nesting attempt was made by the pair in Sterling on the new raft that had been put in place by the DCR this year. This past week a single chick was hatched from this raft nest. It can be seen by walking in at gate 35, or with a scope from the causeway on Rt. 110 in Sterling.

    Also, this morning on the FBC's "Birds and Butterflies" trip an Upland Sandpiper was found in Leicester, between Mulberry St. and the end of the airport runway.
    (report from Fran McMenemy).

    7/26/08 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton
    A record 13 Great egrets have shown up in the beaver swamp at Wachusett Meadow. Our records indicate 6 was the previous high 9 years ago. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    7/21/08 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    There was a Greater Yellowlegs present. Other highlights included: Wood Duck (1), Green Heron (2), Cooper's Hawk (1, carrying food item while being mobbed. I haven't found a nest this year.), Red-tailed hawk (1imm), Killdeer (3), Spotted Sandpiper (4, 1imm), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Least Sandpiper (1), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2), Willow Flycatcher (5, 1 carrying food). (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    7/20/08 -- northeast Quabbin
    We spent the morning and the early afternoon atlasing in the northeastern section of QUABBIN. We spent most of the time in one block, SHUTESBURY 10 but also did a small bit in the adjacent block BARRE 1. Shutesbury 10 is an interesting block that covers most of the water between Gate 35 on the east and Gate 22 on the west and includes the northern end of Mount L. Today we were especially interested in the nesting success of the Common Loons of the area. According to recent posts by birders like Tom Pirro, Kevin Bourinot and Fran McMenemy posted on Rick Quimby's CENTRAL MASS BIRD UPDATE, this year Common Loons are having a tough time nesting in Central Massachusetts. Much of the reason may be changes in water levels at reservoirs and ponds, but there may be other causes too. Through this atlas season, we have been observing several pairs of Common Loons in Shutesbury 10, and even had birds attempting to nest on one of the small islands. So today, we returned to find out if the loons had any success and "upgrade" some other species to the "Confirmed" breeding status. The Deer Flies, Horse flies and mosquitoes were of "Biblical proportions" today. Hikers beware.

    Common Loon (7 birds seen, all adults. 2 pairs well out in water away from any nests, constantly preening, plus three "loners". No evidence yet of nesting or young.); Double-crested Cormorant (3ad); Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (57); Hooded Merganser (2 just about fledged young); COMMON MERGANSER (1f w/24 ducklings. This may seem like a lot of ducklings. According to the Birds of North America On-Line, clutch sizes for Common Mergansers range from 6-17 eggs, with 9-12 eggs being the most common. BUT brood parasitism ("egg dumping"); both intraspecific (among same species); and interspecific (between similar species); is common in both European ("Goosander"); and North American populations. Since the young all looked exactly the same, this was likely a case of INTRASPECIFIC BROOD PARASITISM. Bald Eagle (1ad); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (2 just fledged young screaming and screaming); Wild Turkey (4 young birds plus 2 adults w/9 poults); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Ring-billed Gull (13); Mourning Dove (7); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3: all just fledged birds of the year); Downy Woodpecker (6); Hairy Woodpecker (9); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Eastern Wood Peewee (22: we had 1 bird attending a nest with very young birds in it, nowhere near fledging); Least Flycatcher (18); Eastern Phoebe (5); Eastern Kingbird (4); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (140: a number of just fledged birds begging food from adults); Blue Jay (9); A Crow (20); Common Raven (5); TREE SWALLOW (500++: almost all around and on the large "phragmite island" at dawn, perched on the reeds or even on the small sandy shore. By mid-morning, they were almost completely gone from the area); Bank Swallow (2 passing by); Black-capped Chickadee (63); Tufted Titmouse (4); White-breasted Nuthatch (11); Veery (6); Hermit Thrush (12); Wood Thrush (3); A Robin (11); Gray Catbird (29); Cedar Waxwing (9);

      WARBLERS: Chestnut-sided (3); Magnolia (3); Black-throated Blue (6); Yellow-rumped (9); Black-throated Green (16); Blackburnian (8); Pine (11); Prairie (2); Black and White (5); C Yellowthroat (11);
    Scarlet Tanager (15); E Towhee (54); Chipping Sparrow (33); Field Sparrow (6); Song Sparrow (4); Swamp Sparrow (2); N Cardinal (5); Indigo Bunting (2); Red-winged Blackbird (4); Baltimore Oriole (1); A Goldfinch (8); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/19/08 -- Worcester
    I was startled by the call of this bird as I walked out of my house this morning. I ran for the camera which was in the trunk of my car. I managed to snap 5 pictures before the bird flew off. The attached is the best one. I'm sure everyone will recognize it as a Bobwhite. It called at least 6 times from this perch. (report from Bart Kamp).

    7/19/08 -- Princeton
    This afternoon I made a last atlasing visit to the Sterling 8 block, visiting the "hotspot" areas of Houghton, Bullard, and Coalkiln Roads, where the bulk of my atlasing was done in this block. I was fortunate in having two nearly "drive-by" confirmations of species that are notoriously difficult to confirm as breeders. First, as I was coming down Houghton Rd and just about to park and walk, I saw a small bird hopping on the side of the road. I stopped to look, and it was a BT Green Warbler carrying a green caterpillar! It flew up to a branch 8 feet from the car window, then flew down next to the car to hunt for another insect or two before flying off with the worm. Then when I drove away after my walk, a bird flew across the road in front of me, so again I stopped. It was a pewee, and it proceeded to catch a moth and fly off with it. Confirmed! I pulled over to watch more, and located a pair of pewees, but they seemed wary of doing anything while I was present, so I left. Also today I finally confirmed YB Sapsucker, after hearing and seeing them plenty from April-June. Finally, at the powerline cut on Coalkiln Rd, I heard what I believe was a moose tromping through a dense wooded, brushy swamp. It wasn't too far, though I never could see it, but the crashing brush made it sound like a pretty large animal. I already suspected the presence of moose, having found a pile of moose droppings nearby on 6/28, and a swath of flattened swamp grass. Here are highlights of the 48 species recorded: Wood Duck 1 heard; Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 ad; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 (adult accompanied by a fledgling at Coalkiln Rd powerlines, same area where I've had adults all season; Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 ; Eastern Phoebe 3 incl. one feeding a Cowbird fledgling Eastern Kingbird 2 ; Blue-headed Vireo 1; Red-eyed Vireo 15; Tree Swallow 2; Barn Swallow 37 most actually at the farm in S-9; Brown Creeper 1; House Wren 1; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4; Eastern Bluebird 2; Veery 1; Wood Thrush 1; Cedar Waxwing 4; Black-throated Blue Warbler 1; Black-throated Green Warbler 1; Pine Warbler 2; Common Yellowthroat 2; Scarlet Tanager 3; Eastern Towhee 3; Indigo Bunting 1; Eastern Meadowlark 5 in Sterling-9 block, extensive meadows along ? Rd (extension of Coalkiln); Baltimore Oriole 1; (report from Steven Sutton).

    7/19/08 -- Brookfields
    We spent the morning atlasing in WARREN 8, a block in the Brookfields that includes most of Lake Quabog and Lake Quacumquasit (South Pond);. Because of the time of the year, we were able to "Confirm" the breeding status of most of the species. Great Blue Heron (6); Canada Goose (22); Wood Duck (4: including some just fledged young); Mallard (24); Hooded Merganser 91 just about fledged young bird); Osprey (1: over South Pond SEE NOTE BELOW); Broad-winged Hawk (2 just fledged young; screaming constantly); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (2 young birds); Ring-billed Gull (2); Rock Pigeon (25); Mourning Dove (15); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1); E Screech Owl (1); Chimney Swift (4); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (1); Eastern Wood Peewee (5); Willow Flycatcher (2); E Kingbird (17: including several just fledged young); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (16); Red-eyed Vireo (30); Blue Jay (11); A Crow (20); Tree Swallow (12: all considered staging for migration); Barn Swallow (23: some still at the nest site); Black-capped Chickadee (55); Tufted Titmouse (26); White-breasted Nuthatch (12); Carolina Wren (3); House Wren (10); Eastern Bluebird (pair); Veery (12); American Robin (59); Gray Catbird (54); E Starling (22); Cedar Waxwing (13); Blue-winged Warbler (1); Yellow Warbler (8); Chestnut-sided Warbler (5); Pine Warbler (6); C Yellowthroat (27); Scarlet Tanager (8); E Towhee (7); Chipping Sparrow (32); Song Sparrow (27); Swamp Sparrow (19); N Cardinal (31); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3); Indigo Bunting (6); Red-winged Blackbird (62); C Grackle (23); Baltimore Oriole (8); House Finch (3); A Goldfinch (35); House Sparrow (51); PLUS: Among the non-bird attractions we found was the rather uncommon but spectacular ELDERBERRY LONGHORN BEETLE . AFTERWARDS: we went to Wild Bird Crossing and got to see the OSPREY NEST found by Ian Lynch and Bill Cormier in STURBRIDGE. This is in a microwave relay tower between the Mass Pike and Rt. 20, just west of WalMart. We had the pair of adults still tending 2 just about fledged young in the nest. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/17/08 -- North County ponds
    While atlasing over the past few weeks, I have checked on a few territorial Common Loon pairs. To date I have yet to find any young, hear is a brief summary:
  • Lake Wompanoag (Ashburnham/Gardner) 2 adults NO young, I paddled around the lake on 7/13.
  • Paradise Pond (Princeton) NO loons adult or young in several visits, I recall there was none last year. It appears the pair has vacated this body of water.
  • NoTown Reservior (Leominster) 2 and 3 adults (a few visits, the last being 7/12) NO young.
  • Hayes Reservior 7/13 (Leominster) 2 adult NO young
  • Mare Meadow 7/17 (Westminster) 1 adult NO young, this adult was banded by I could not tell what colors as it was dusk).
  • Bickford Pond 7/17 (Hubbardston) 1 adult NO young, it was getting dark and there could have been another on the pond that I didn;t see.

    My inital reaction is its has been a poor reproductive year for the waters that I have checked this year. Perhaps the string strong thunder storms and associated rain had a negative impact on some of these birds. Usually between Bickford, Wompanoag, Notown and Paradise there would sign of a few young. Personally I have never seen young on Hayes or Mare Meadow, so no young is perhaps "no news" on those bodies of water. I have not checked Upper Naukeg (Ashburnham) or Fitchburg Reservior (Ashby, Middlesex County) this year.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    Note added from Kevin Bourinot:
    To add to Tom's post on breeding Common Loons in the area, I've been checking out Hy-Crest Pond (Princeton), West Waushacum Pond (Sterling) and Heywood Reservoir (Leominster) for the atlas. All have one adult present, but no young or evidence of breeding. I'm going to be checking these bodies of water more frequently in the weeks to come for fledged chicks.

    7/14/08 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    There were 11 Least Sandpipers and 1 Solitary Sandpiper this evening. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    7/14/08 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At noon there were 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (ad), 7 Mute Swan (2 ad, 5 imm), 5 Killdeer, 8 Least Sandpiper, and 1 Common Yellowthroat (singing). (report from Rick Quimby).

    7/13/08 -- West Hill Dam/Park, Uxbridge
    Highlights while atlasing in UXBRIDGE7: Great Blue Heron (1 - actually in Rice City Pond when we drove by); Eastern Kingbird; Yellow-throated Vireo (1 - singing); Warbling Vireo (3 - including adult feeding young); Red-eyed Vireo (1 - singing); Brown Creeper (1 - found in same location as several weeks ago); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4 - including adult feeding young); Eastern Bluebird (1); Veery (3); Hermit Thrush (1 - singing); Cedar Waxwing; Yellow Warbler; Black-throated Green Warbler; Pine Warbler; Ovenbird; Common Yellowthroat (including a definite pair); Scarlet Tanager (1 - singing); Eastern Towhee; Field Sparrow (3 - adult feeding young); Indigo Bunting (1 - very agitated male when we passed); Baltimore Oriole (including female feeding young); (report from John Liller).

    7/6/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Gate 35 and Clinton Landfill
    The Forbush Bird Club trip was led by Fran McMenemy. There were eleven participants, and 55 species recorded. The weather was Hazy, Hot, and Humid. This yearly trip usually counts on seeing newly hatch Loon chicks. This year the only two attempted nestings by loons were destroyed by the water level of the reservoir, which was raised significantly in June. Therefore there was no chance to see loon chicks this year. Surprisingly, the loon pair at Crescent Island re-nested on the new loon raft that the DCR had provided. We were able to see and hear this pair at the end of our walk-in at Gate 35. Here is the complete list of species recorded. (report from Fran McMenemy).

    7/6/08 -- Oakham-Warren
    We spent several hours this morning atlasing two new blocks. The first, NORTH BROOKFIELD 11, is in OAKHAM as well as NORTH BROOKFIELD and features lots of forest, some farm and fields, the inevitable suburbia and Saint Joseph's Abbey. We will be atlasing this block in earnest in 2009. THEN, we atlased in block WARREN 4, which is in West Brookfield and Warren. This includes the southern third of Lake Wickaboag; some of the Quabog River and marshes, and a small part of the Quabog WMA. We only scratched the surface of that block and racked up 55 species, a nice "head start" for whoever takes this block eventually.
    OAKHAM block / WARREN block: Double-crested Cormorant (2imm); Great Blue Heron (0/1); Hooded Merganser (2 almost fledged young/0); COOPER'S HAWK (2 just fledged young in Oakham. These birds were first seen sitting in the middle of a road. They weakly flew up to a tree, and here ran along branches, and flew to the roof of a nearby house set in the woods. There is little doubt judging by their performance that they JUST left the nest.); Broad-winged Hawk (1 / pair); Wild Turkey (3ad w/11yng / 0); Rock Pigeon (0/19); Mourning Dove (4/13); Black-billed Cuckoo (0/1); Barred Owl (1/0); Chimney Swift (0/1); Belted Kingfisher (1/1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3 / 2); Downy Woodpecker (17 / 13); Hairy Woodpecker (3/0); N Flicker (1 ad feeding 2 fledged yg / 5); E Wood Peewee (17/8); Least Flycatcher (6/0); Eastern Phoebe (12 / 3); Great Crested Flycatcher (0/1); Eastern Kingbird (0/10); Yellow-throated Vireo (6/1); Blue-headed Vireo (5/0); Red-eyed Vireo (49/11); Blue Jay (17/6); A Crow (10 / 21); Tree Swallow (0 / 20+ staging for migration over the Quabog); Barn Swallow (0 / 18); Black-capped Chickadee (36 / 34); Tufted Titmouse (21 / 3); White-breasted Nuthatch (12 / 11); Brown Creeper (2 / 0); Carolina Wren (0 / 1); House Wren (2 / 9); Marsh Wren (0 / 2); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4 / 0); Eastern Bluebird (0 / 1); Veery (18 / 5); Wood Thrush (11 / 4); A Robin (65 / 39); Gray Catbird (31 / 22); N Mockingbird (0 / 2); E Starling (30+ / 45+); Cedar Waxwing (6 / 6);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (0 / 1); Yellow (0 / 7); Chestnut-sided (12 / 0); Black-throated Blue (1 / 0); Black-throated Green (12 / 0); Blackburnian (1 / 0); Pine (10 / 2); Black and White (1 / 1); A Redstart (14 / 2); Ovenbird (17 / 0); N Waterthrush (2 / 0); C Yellowthroat (17 / 10); Canada (1 / 0);
    Scarlet Tanager (16 / 4); Chipping Sparrow (19 / 39); Savannah Sparrow (0 / 2); Song Sparrow (18 / 34); Swamp Sparrow (0 / 38); N Cardinal (11 / 21); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (9 / 2); Indigo Bunting (9 / 1); Bobolink (0 / 6); Red-winged Blackbird (6 / 120+); Common Grackle (13 / 43); Brown-headed Cowbird (2 / 4); A Goldfinch (4 / 9); House Sparrow (35 / 88); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    7/5/08 -- East Brookfield/Spencer
    We spent a few hours this morning atlasing our two blocks in East Brookfield and Spencer. This included hiking in a bit along the new rail trail in Spencer, south of Rt.9, which goes to a very nice pond and a section of the Spencer SF. Combined list for the two blocks: Great Blue Heron (6); Canada Goose (14); AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (5 almost fledged young. Amazingly, we were able to document the nesting of Black Ducks in Worcester County this year in a marsh); Mallard (1ad w/4yg); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1ad); Cooper's Hawk (1ad); Red-tailed Hawk (1imm mobbed relentlessly by a kingbird even though it was soaring VERY high overhead); Wild Turkey (1ad w/3yg+2ad w/5yg); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (2); Rock Pigeon (2); Mourning Dove (5); Chimney Swift (10+); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (6: including several newly fledged young attended by adults); N Flicker (1); E Kingbird (15); Yellow-throated Vireo 91); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (13); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (13); Bank Swallow (30+ still active colony); Barn Swallow (16); Black-capped Chickadee (13); Tufted Titmouse (20); White-breasted Nuthatch (10); House Wren (4); Veery (13); Hermit Thrush (3); A Robin (56); Gray Catbird (13); E Starling (23); Cedar Waxwing (4);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Yellow (7); Chestnut-sided (2); Black-throated Green (2); Pine (5); Black and White (1); Ovenbird (10); C Yellowthroat (27);
    Scarlet Tanager (9); Eastern Towhee (2); Chipping Sparrow (41); Song Sparrow (24); Swamp Sparrow (25); N Cardinal (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3); Indigo Bunting (2); Bobolink (2); Red-winged Blackbird (320+); Common Grackle (41); House Finch (5); A Goldfinch (13); House Sparrow (16); PLUS: (2); Northern Pearly-eye (butterfly);. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    For previous sightings, see June 2008 Archives or Archive Index