April 1-16, 2001 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. Red heading indicates updated information

4/16/01 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre

Hawks migrating at Barre Falls today were 4 Turkey Vultures, 14 Osprey, 2 Bald Eagles, 17 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 82 Broadwings, 1 Merlin and 9 Kestrels. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/16/01 -- Blackstone River Corridor

We started in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence RI. A nice "where-to-go" article on this 'Mt. Auburn" of Rhode Island is in the current issue of BIRD OBSERVER. Like Mt. Auburn, it's an urban green space that gets some good movements of spring birds. Unlike Mt. Auburn, it has some nice wood lots with trails AND is right on the banks of a river: the Seekonk. This means your morning cemetery list has some decent waterfowl on it in season, and unlike Mt. Auburn, a scope is VERY handy. Generally speaking, this morning was a pretty slow day. Double-crested Cormorant (7); Mute Swan (10); Canada Goose (7); Green-winged Teal (2); A. Wigeon (5); Mallard (2); A. Black Duck (38); Buffelhead (83); C. Goldeneye (1f); Hooded Merganser (1f); Common Merganser (3); Red-tailed Hawk (1); COMMON BLACK-HEADED GULL (1 1stS: This was the surprise bird of the day. Though we have seen this bird several times much further south (not in the corridor) at Watchemoket Cove, we had never seen it actually in the corridor per se. It was seen (with a scope) among a large roost of gulls of the three common varieties across the river from the end of Riverside Rd. Nice cemetery bird); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); N. Flicker (10); E. Phoebe (1); Fish Crow (2); Carolina Wren (2); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4); Golden-crowned Kinglet (4); Hermit Thrush (2); Black-throated Green (1 singing); Yellow-rumped Warbler (4); Palm Warbler (3); White-throated Sparrow (10); Dark-eyed Junco (3); PINE SISKIN (1 calling, migrating north overhead);
Further south on the SEEKONK: Double-crested Cormorant (43); Great Cormorant (1 1stS)
INDIA POINT. We also surveyed the same area from across the way, atop the parking lot at the end of the bike path. This affords a dramatic overlook of India Point and Providence and the whole tip of Providence Harbor. Double-crested Cormorant (22); Great Egret (1); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (3); BRANT (4); A. Wigeon (9); Mallard (26); Buffelhead (2); Red-breasted Merganser (18); Osprey (pair nesting, plus one interloper that was driven out by them); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 migrating); Red-tailed Hawk (4, including a pair doing an amazing display flight high over the city); A. Kestrel (2 migrating); Tree Swallow (9: with some trying to nest in the old pilings); Carolina Wren (1); Pine Warbler (1);
Back in MA at WEST HILL DAM in Uxbridge: early afternoon and VERY slow. Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (2); Mallard (7); Hooded Merganser (1f); Turkey Vulture (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 migrating); Broad-winged Hawk (4 migrating); A. Kestrel (2 migrating); Belted Kingfisher (2); Tree Swallow (18); N. Rough-winged Swallow (22); Barn Swallow (2); BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1); Pine Warbler (2); Also: some nice views of N. Pitcher Plants starting to show through the ice at one end of the bog.
Back in WORCESTER (also part of the Corridor), we hit Leesville Pond and Notre Dame Cemetery and had very little other the typical birds, but did find (1) Pied-billed Grebe at Leesville and (2) E. Phoebes and (2) Pine Warblers at N. Dame. The Northern Rough-wings that breed near the fire station were back. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/16/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon today there were 2 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Common Mergansers, 1 Northern Flicker, and 1 Chipping Sparrow (seen and heard singing), among 18 species. On Friday (4/13) there was a singing Pine Warbler. (report from Rick Quimby).

4/16/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

There were 1 Coopers hawk, 2 barred owls, 1 yellow-bellied sapsucker, 50 tree swallows, chipping sparrows and 6 juncos. (report from Richard Spedding).

4/15/01 -- SUASCO, Westboro

I went out to the Westboro site today and noticed the Great-horned Owl is gone- seems a heron has taken up nesting in what I thought was the owl's nest. I also noted the osprey seems to like to chase the herons every now and then. It is very aggressive around its nest. If I'm not just blind, the owl probably just got chased away again. (report from Valerie Miller [fide Mark Lynch]).

4/15/01 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

A brief visit at Leesville Pond yielded the following birds: Pied-Billed Grebe, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Common Mergansers. (report from Simon, Lisa and Seth Hennin).

4/15/01 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre

Feeding in the grass along the edge of the parking lot at Barre Falls was 1 VESPER SPARROW. The migrating hawks were 5 Turkey Vultures, 1 Northern Harrier, 44 Osprey, 1 Bald Eagle, 43 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 169 Broadwings and 9 Kestrels. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/15/01 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

There is a Canadian Goose sitting on her nest in the cattail patch in between the northwest section of Notre Dame cemetary and the basketball court at Hadwen Park. The nest is on the right side of the patch viewed from the cemetary. Good views with binoculars, a scope would be better. The gander nearby, standing guard. Other highlights: 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 pair Green-Winged Teal, 7 Wood Ducks. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

4/15/01 -- Hodges Village, Oxford

An early pre Easter dinner walk this AM yielded the following highlights: 1 Hermit Thrush; 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet; 1 Fox Sparrow; 5 Palm Warbler; 3 Pine Warbler; 1 Ruffed Grouse (drumming); 2 Bufflehead; 12 Ring-necked Duck; 8 Wood Duck; 1 Pied-billed Grebe. And what had to be the highlight of the morning, upclose looks at a Fisher mousing in a forest clearing. (report from Paul Meleski).

4/15/01 -- Bolton Flats/Barre Falls Dam/Boynton Park

We were up well before dawn and birded BOLTON FLATS up to Oxbow NWR. We stayed until first light to count waterfowl: Great Blue Heron (2) Canada Goose (110: we still did not luck out with the White-fronted Goose, which is still being seen in the last couple of days) SNOW GOOSE (flock of 30 heading north at dawn); Wood Duck (55); Green-winged Teal (41); A. Wigeon (3); Mallard (150); A. Black Duck (31); N. Pintail (2); Ring-necked Duck (70); Common Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (12); A. Woodcock (7); Common Snipe (97); Pectoral Sandpiper (12); Ring-billed Gull (300+); E. Screech Owl (1); Great Horned Owl (2); Barred Owl (1: Oxbow NWR); N. Flicker (6); E. Phoebe (5); Tree Swallow (only 2); Carolina Wren (1). PLUS: just before dawn we saw several groups of White-tailed Deer in fields. One looked amazingly white. Thinking it was a trick of pre-dawn light, we checked it out with bins, and it WAS indeed VERY light/whitish, almost ghostly. Weird looking.
We then headed up to BARRE FALLS DAM. In this part of the county, there is still sizeable areas of snow in shady areas and ponds are still mostly frozen. The roads into this tract are still gated as they are covered with of ice and snow in patches. So we only birded just the periphery. We helped Bart Kamp man the hawk-watch for only two hours (9-11). His totals for the day will obviously be much higher and hopefully either he or Jane Stein will post them. We did OK despite the dreaded "featureless blue" skies. We then hiked in to the Prison Camp area from Charnock Hill Rd. Along the river and fields here in this one spot we had (3) kestrels (2m, 1f); (3) Ospreys (at once), a sharpie, a Broad-wing and Red-tail all intent on hunting and not migrating. Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (7 flying); Turkey Vulture (10); Osprey (23); Sharp-shinned Hawk (21); Broad-winged Hawk (74); Red-tailed Hawk (9); A. Kestrel (5); Killdeer (1 overhead); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1m); N. Flicker (6: a pair working on nest hole); E. Phoebe (6); Tree Swallow (86: all nest boxes we saw were occupied by swallows not bluebirds); C. Raven( pair bringing food back to nest plus a group of 4 migrating or displaying or both); Red-breasted Nuthatch (18); Brown Creeper (2); Winter Wren (4); BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (1); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4); E. Bluebird (1); Pine Warbler (9); Palm Warbler (7); Yellow-rumped Warbler (6); Chipping Sparrow (3); Field Sparrow (2); A. Tree Sparrow (1); Fox Sparrow (4); Dark-eyed Junco (26); PINE SISKIN (2 migrating); A. Goldfinch (16); PLUS: (1) Mourning Cloak and (1) Compton's Tortoiseshell and a group of 4 deer.
Finally, back in the city of Worcester, we hit Boynton Park (part of the Blackstone Corridor) and after some hiking and waiting got: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1m: has bred here in past); Pileated Woodpecker (1: traditional place to look in the city for this species, 1 pair breeds nearby); Winter Wren (1: ditto); Lousiana Waterthrush (1: ditto); PLUS: (2) Mourning Cloaks. Nothing like seeing those species in the second largest CITY in New England. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/14/01 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

I recorded the following highlights with my class this morning: Turkey Vulture (4); Wood Duck (1 male); NORTHERN HARRIER (1 male); Red-tailed Hawk (1 - immature); AMERICAN KESTREL (1); Wild Turkey (1); Killdeer (2); Northern Flicker (4); Eastern Phoebe (4); TREE SWALLOW (6); Carolina Wren (1); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (5); Eastern Bluebird (4); YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1); PALM WARBLER (1); Field Sparrow (1); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (14); White-throated Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (2); Red-winged Blackbird (15); Brown-headed Cowbird (3). (report from John Liller).

4/14/01 -- Rt. 70, Boylston

Fran McMenemy found a drake Eurasian Wigeon this afternoon in a small temporary pond across from Tahanto High School on Rt. 70. We had the bird at 6:45PM with Joan Zumpfe. It was with a drake American Wigeon. Also present were several Black Ducks and Mallards. The ducks then left what is really just a wet field probably to roost for the evening heading in the direction of the radio tower. We checked a small pond and swamp in that area where the birds seemed to put down, but could not turn up anything. Our views of the swamp were very poor, though. Hopefully the bird will return tomorrow. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)>

4/14/01 -- Bolton/Barre Falls, Bolton/Barre

The White Fronted Goose was again at Bolton flats at 8:00 AM today. There was also a Greater Yellow Legs and 7 Pectoral Sandpipers. Migrating hawks at Barre Falls were 2 Turkey Vultures, 1 Bald Eagle, 27 Osprey, 40 Broadwings, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 10 Kestels. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/14/01 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

Last Sat 4/7/01 I stopped at Sterling Peat and saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. I only got a short look at it, but noticed the Dark Carpal patches. I didn't report it or add it to my list since I wasn't 100% certain. Today I stopped off at around 10:00AM and saw maybe the same Hawk. This time I got to watch it for about 15 minutes and I'm certain that it is a Light-morph, Dark Chest, Dark Carpal patches, White tail with a large dark Sub-terminal band. It hovered a number of times... I checked the recent Hawk Watches and no other Rough-leggs have been reported. Is this a 2nd Hawk migrating thru or has it stayed around Sterling Peat for a week? I find both of these improbable. Maybe some other Birders could keep an eye out!. Other birds of note: Osprey (3), Red-tail Hawk (2), Ring-neck Duck (90). (report from Peter Morlock).

4/14/01 -- Little Chauncey Pond, Northboro

At 7:30 a.m.- Little Chauncey Pond in Northboro was teeming with birds. The following notable birds observed were: D C Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 2, Wood Duck 5, American Widgeon 1, Ring-necked Duck 35, Common Goldeneye 2, Bufflehead 5, Common Merganser 70+/-, Ruddy Duck 1, Ring billed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black backed Gull.
In an area nearby I watched a Belted Kingfisher (m) with food flying into a nest hole. He would fly out and perch on a nearby branch and call loudly, fly off and return to repeat the process. A Ring-necked Pheasant was calling in the corn field below Westboro State Hospital. American Tree Sparrows 2, Savannah Sparrows 5 and White-Throated Sparrow 1 were also about. (report from Ann Boover).

4/14/01 -- Douglas SF/extreme NW RI

We birded some of the more out of the way corners of the Blackstone National Corridor (or as out of the way as you can get in Rhode Island). There was a small movement of migrants.
DOUGLAS SF, MA: Wild Turkey (1); E. Phoebe (7); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (2); Fish Crow (1); Winter Wren (2 singing); Hermit Thrush (11); Pine Warbler (4); Chipping Sparrow (6)
BUCK HILL WMA, BURRILLVILLE and right nearby (extreme NW corner of the state): Wood Duck (4); Green-winged Teal (6); Hooded Merganser (5); Turkey Vulture (1); E. Phoebe (15); Tree Swallow (10); Golden-crowned Kinglet (15); Hermit Thrush (2); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1); Pine Warbler (4); Palm Warbler (4); Chipping Sparrow (6); Fox Sparrow (1); ALSO: a living Wooly Bear.
WESTERN GLOCESTER, RI border with Conn. just below Burrillville. We spent a little time in two small areas: Sprague Farm and Durfee Hill WMA: Great Blue Heron (1); Mallard (3); A. Black Duck (3); Green-winged Teal (2); Ring-necked Duck (8); Bufflehead (2); C. Goldeneye (3); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (7); Turkey Vulture (2); A. Kestrel (2); Wild Turkey (2); Ruffed Grouse (1); Barred Owl (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); E. Phoebe (15); Tree Swallow (5); Red-breasted Nuthatch (8); Golden-crowned Kinglet (11); Hermit Thrush (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1); Pine Warbler (7); Dark-eyed Junco (8); Chipping Sparrow (4)
ALSO: loads of Spring Peepers; lots of Wood Frogs and egg masses; a good number of E. Painted Turtles, and at Sprague Hill: Mourning Cloak (1); E. Comma (4)
On the way back to Worcester, we stopped off by the small MERRILL POND WMA in SUTTON, MA: Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (2); Mallard (6); Ring-necked Duck (73); Bufflehead (9); Common Merganser (30); E. Phoebe (3); Pine Warbler (1); AND: an amazing display of a huge number of White Suckers spawning.
Back in WORCESTER at Indian Lake: Fish Crow (1)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/14/01 -- Boynton Park, Worcester

This morning at 9:00 there were 2 Pileated Woodpeckers and 1 Louisiana Waterthrush at Boynton Park. Also, in Paxton off Keith Ave. there were 2 Am. Kestrels flying around. (report from Warren Jewell).

4/13/01 -- Bolton Flats and Barre Falls, Bolton/Barre

The White-fronted Goose (reported by Warren Jewell at 7:30 am, 4/11/01) was at Bolton Flats today at 8:00 AM. At Barre Falls I saw 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Rufous-sided Towhee and 24 migrating Great Blue Herons in groups of 5, 8 and 11. Migrating hawks were: 6 Turkey Vultures, 1 Northern Harrier, 15 Osprey, 1 Bald Eagle, 3 Cooper's Hawks, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 23 Broad Winged Hawks, 4 Merlin and 5 Kestrels. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/13/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton

A late afternoon check of the still VERY flooded Bolton Flats had some hawks still moving north along the ridge. Duck numbers were lower than expected. Canada Goose (69); Green-winged Teal (16); Mallard (38); A. Black Duck (19); Ring-necked Duck (90); Turkey Vulture (7); Osprey (5); N. Harrier (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (2); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Red-tailed Hawk (8); Killdeer (12); Common (Wilson's) Snipe (61: who knows how many are really out there); Pectoral Sandpiper (3); BONAPARTE'S GULL (3 adS+ 1 1stS); Ring-billed Gull (450+): feeding on worms; Herring Gull (6); Belted Kingfisher (1); Horned Lark (6); PURPLE MARTIN (1m): very uncommon in county AND VERY early too.; Tree Swallow (41); Still huge flocks of blackbirds working the area. I estimated: Red-winged Blackbird (2520+); C. Grackle (5000+); Rusty Blackbird (20+).
An interesting behavior note. Several of the 1stS Ring-billed Gulls were picking up ieces of dietrus---usually a (c. 3-5 inches long) piece of corn stubble, but one picked up a red shot-gun shell. They would fly high with this in their bill, hover for a bit, drop the piece of "stuff" and then dramatically swoop down and catch it before it touched ground. It reminded me of when I have seen migrating groups of Tree Swallows "play" with feathers. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/12/01 -- Rocky Narrows Reservation, Sherborn

Today I walked through the Rocky Narrows Trustees of Reserv. property in Sherborn and spotted a still, brownish bird on a large rock right next to the trail. It was a hermit thrush--I got a three minute close- up with the binocs to make sure it wasn't a veery or a wood thrush. I haven't yet heard any of these thrushes singing this season. (report from George Moore).

4/12/01 -- Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro

At 4:15 p.m. I observed 6 Green-winged Teal (3 pair), 2 (m) NORTHERN SHOVELER and numbers of Tree Swallows in the flooded area diagonally across from the main building of the Juniper Hill Golf Course off Brigham Street in Northboro. This area is a flood plain for the Assabet River and occasionally an interesting bird shows here. Also, at 5:15 pm a Blue-wing Teal was feeding with the two male Northern Shovelers and the six Greeen-winged Teal I'd seen an hour earlier. (report from Ann Boover).

4/12/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton

Amongst the birds at Bolton Flats this evening were 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, more than 30 Common Snipe and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers. The dog was not there. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/11/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

A winter wren was seen exploring the nooks and crannies of my wood pile; I'm hopeful they will breed again, as they did last year. (report from Richard Spedding).

4/11/01 -- Bolton Flats

In the early evening we joined Bart Kamp at a Rt. 117 overlook of the VERY wet and muddy Bolton Flats in the hopes of seeing the Greater White-fronted Goose seen there today by Warren Jewell. A lost dog out on the flats had flushed most of the ducks and geese up, but as time wore on, some returned. We had: Canada Goose (259); Wood Duck (8); Green-winged Teal (33); Mallard (68); A. Black Duck (18); Turkey Vulture (1); N. Harrier (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (12); Wilson's Snipe (6); Ring-billed Gull (850+: nice migratory group feeding on worms. At dusk most took off and headed south probably to Wachuset Reservoir); BONAPARTE'S GULL (1 adS); Huge numbers of blackbirds were moving across the flats, I estimated: Red-winged Blackbird (c. 2000+); C. Grackle (c.3000+); We reported the dog, which was still out on an island on the flats to the local animal clinic. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/11/01 -- Hudson

A pair of American Kestrels has taken up residence on the roof of our brick apartment building. They were being mobbed by a group of starlings and a blue-jay, but otherwise seem content. They were definitely not here last year. I saw only the female here yesterday and no sign of the male until this morning. They have been roosting together all afternoon in a black walnut tree on the edge of the property. (report from Michael Champigny).

4/10/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton

Bought a pair of hip boots ( the British call them thigh waders) at Spags , and went straight to Bolton Flats. The water was at least 4" higher than the day before. The six Snow Buntings were still there. In the evening from the power lines at Wachusett Reservoir amongst the gulls were 3 Iceland Gulls, 1 adult and 2 2nd year birds. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/10/01 -- Notown Reservoir, Leominster

Late this morning there was a Bald Eagle sitting on the ice on Notown Reservoir, Leominster. The eagle was only about 50 feet from Route 2. (report from Chuck Caron).

4/10/01 -- Worcester

I was watching the feeder filled with sunflower hearts this morning, when a mostly yellow bird appeared. The feeder is regularly visited by about a dozen Goldfinches in various stages of molt. This bird was about the size of the Goldfinches but the wrong color yellow. It was a beautifully colored male PINE WARBLER. A back yard life bird. I watched it as it gorged itself with sunflower hearts less than five feet from the window.
Also, at 9:15 AM, my first back yard Fox Sparrow arrived. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/9/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

On my cross country ski route today I saw: 2 Killdeer, 2 phoebes, 3 ruffed grouse, 1 barred owl (calling), 2 flickers, 10 golden-crowned kinglets, and 2 ruby-crowned kinglets. This is my last trip of the season; it's so uncommon to be able to xc ski over 100 times in a season. (report from Richard Spedding).

4/9/01 -- Lonsdale Marshes, RI

BEFORE birding Westport, we hit the Lonsdale Marshes in Lincoln RI. These freshwater marshes are part of the Blackstone Corridor. Sadly, Purple Loosestrife has gotten a stranglehold on this important bird area, and areas of cattails are shrinking. An article about this spot appeared in Bird Observer some years ago. Birds included: Double-crested Cormorant (8); Mute Swan (10); Canada Goose (10); Wood Duck (7); A. Black Duck (7); Mallard (5); Gadwall (10); Common Merganser (7); Virginia Rail (2 calling furiuosly); E. Phoebe (3); Tree Swallow (only 1); Fish Crow (1); Carolina Wren (2); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Field Sparrow (1). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/9/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon there were 8 Ring-necked Ducks, 8 Hooded Mergansers, 17 Common Mergansers, and 1 Northern Flicker, among 21 species. (report from Rick Quimby).

4/8/01 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton

The male Tufted Duck has returned to Coachlace Pd. in Clinton. It was there this noon time with 1 Greater Scaup. The pond is ice free at the far Western end. A scope is necessary to see the ducks from Coachlace St. Also today I saw 10 Snow Buntings at Bolton Flats. (report from Fran McMenemy).

4/8/01 -- Bolton Flats/a few ponds in e. Worc. County

Despite the gray, dank, chilly drizzly day, we birded Bolton Flats. The flats are still very much flooded, accessable only with waders. There were a good selection of birds seen from roads: Great Blue Heron (1); Snow Goose (62: these birds took off north and then headed back); Canada Goose (207); Wood Duck (54); Green-winged Teal (116); A. Wigeon (1m); Mallard (195); A. Black Duck (122); N. Pintail (14); Blue-winged Teal (5); Ring-necked Duck (69); Turkey Vulture (1); N. Harrier (2); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (18); Common (Wilson's) Snipe (57: Strange story here. We were standing for some time with Fran McMenemy trying to see ANY snipe in the main fields with zip luck. We left, there were some downpours, it stopped, we returned and there were snipe in the same area EVERYWHERE. It was as if they came out of the mud. We watched them running, diplaying their tail and one even swam like a teal); Horned Lark (60); Tree Swallow (4); Golden-crowned Kinglet (flock of 15+); A. Robin (314); E. Towhee (1); A. Tree Sparrow (8); Song Sparrow (48); Dark-eyed Junco (55); SNOW BUNTING (5 including 1 br. pl M. Stood out like a sore thumb against the dark brown mud); LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1 br M w/larks; beautiful bird); Red-winged Blackbird (700++); Common Grackle (4070++: we tried to keep some kind of count as HUGE flocks poured over the trees from the north and headed south and into the flats); E. Meadowlark (3);
BARTLETT POND, NORTHBORO (still: 60% frozen): Mute Swan (pair); Canada Goose (5); American Wigeon (2); Mallard (19); Ring-necked Duck (8); Common Merganser (3)
LITTLE CHAUNCY POND AND ADJACENT WMA: (pond still 65% frozen) Great Blue Heron (3); Mute Swan (pair); Canada Goose (57+ 1 hybrid); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (10); Ring-necked Duck (22); Buffelhead (3); Common Merganser (46); Killdeer (2); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (31); Red-winged Blackbird (200+); C. Grackle (1000++)
SUASCO, WESTBORO (still 40% frozen): Double-crested Cormorant (1ad); Great Blue Heron (6 occ. nests; 7 birds seen); Mute Swan (1 seen, I suspect the mate is on the nest); Canada Goose (2); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (1); A. Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (14); Lesser Scaup (9 fly-overs); Buffelhead (6); C. Goldeneye (4); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (59); Osprey (pair at nest; we watched them mating); Great Horned Owl (1 still on nest); E. Phoebe (5); Tree Swallow (17); Song Sparrow (14); Tree Sparrow (10)
It is sobering that Mute Swans were on 3 of the 4 ponds we checked. They have truly invaded Worcester County over the last 2 decades. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/8/01 -- Gardner Area

I did a little birding in the area late this afternoon , conditions were basically miserable but a few "new" arrivals were seen: Wild Turkey 3 Templeton; Ruffed grouse 2 Templeton; Hooded Merg. 8 Templeton; Wood Duck 3 Templeton; C. Goldeneye 2 Gardner; Tree Swallow 4 Gardner; Golden Crn Kinglet 5 Templeton; Eastern Phoebe 7 Gardner; Palm Warbler 1 Gardner ; Yellow Rumped Warb. 1 Gardner; Swamp Sparrow 1 Gardner; Fox Sparrow 6 (1 Gard. 5 Temp.)
Also I a close look at an odd plumaged Black-capped Chickadee with a white head (a few dark streaks) , whitish back , the upper part of its bib was missing (i.e. white) , dark eye , white bill (appeared thinner than other near by BCCH , whitish feet turning a bit darker going up the legs. It appeared about 10-15% smaller than the surrounding BC Chickadees but had a normal normal BCCh call. Feet and legs (particularly the bill) really looked white although in poor light they could've been light pink. (report from Tom Pirro).

4/8/01 -- Tatnuck Square, Worcester

This morning about 8:30 I had my first PINE SISKIN of the winter at my thistle feeder. It flew in with a half dozen or so Goldfinch, chowed down on thistle, then switched to sunflower seeds. About 8:45 it zoomed off with the Goldfinch. Tres weird. ...P.S.: Yesterday, at Broad Meadow Brook sanctuary, among other species, I had 2 Phoebes, a probable Cooper's (resident?), a Carolina Wren, 2 male Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and a FOX SPARROW . (report from Howard Shainheit).

4/7/01 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

I recorded the following highlights with my class on a walk at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) this morning: Great Blue Heron (1); Wood Duck (2); Red-tailed Hawk (1 - immature); Killdeer (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 - male); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Northern Flicker (3); Eastern Phoebe (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (2); Eastern Bluebird (4 - including a pair excavating a natural cavity); American Robin (30); American Tree Sparrow (6); Field Sparrow (6); Fox Sparrow (2 - singing); Song Sparrow (24); Dark-eyed Junco (20); Red-winged Blackbird (9); Brown-headed Cowbird (4). (report from John Liller).

4/7/01 -- Winimusett WMA, New Braintree

Seen roadside in the fields of Winimusett this afternoon were 28 Snow Geese, an American Kestrel and 250+ American Robins. (report from Chris Buelow)

4/7/01 -- Gardner

In our back yard in gardner a Fox Sparrow was present. Late afternoon while driving into the Solamon Pond Mall in Berlin A Barn Swallow flew close past the car. Dark blue back and long forked tail were seen. (report from Tom Pirro).

4/7/01 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston

Two Common Loons were reportedly seen in the small area of open water at Gate # 26 yesterday morning (4/6/). I did not see them there later in the day and they were not there today. This evening (4/7) amongst the many gulls on the ice at this location there were 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 adult Iceland Gull. Also today in Auburn at Leesville Pd. I saw a Pied-billed Grebe. The male Northern Shoveler is still being seen at South Quinsigamond Ave. in Shrewsbury. (report from Fran McMenemy).

4/7/01 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester

Early this afternoon I saw a pair of Osprey circling over the north end of the lake opposite the Sand and Gravel. One briefly landed in a tree. Upon returning home later in the afternoon (I live on Lake St.) a pair of Osprey were circling right over the Gymnastic Learning Center. They then moved over the water. One of the birds was calling continually. (report from Denis Mahoney)

4/7/01 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling

I saw the following birds this morning: Great Blue Heron (1), Canada Goose (29), Mallard (4), Ring-necked Duck (27), Common Goldeneye (12), Hooded Merganser (2), Common Merganser (9), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Killdeer (3), Common Snipe (10) all bunched close together in the wet field to the right of the pond, Ring-billed Gull (1), Crow (13), Robin (5), Tree Sparrow (1), Red-winged Blackbirds (5), Goldfinch (1) (report from Peter Morlock)>

4/7/01 -- Brook Road, Hardwick

Among the highlights of a morning spent on Brook Road were a Northern Harrier, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 Winter Wrens, a Hermit Thrush, 12 Fox Sparrows and a second active Red-tailed Hawk nest in the Valley. (report from Chris Buelow)

4/7/01 -- Bolton flats, Bolton

Hilites of a trip to Bolton Flats were:
Neck Road (Lancaster) corn field: 307 SNOW GEESE, 1 "BLUE" GOOSE, 400+ Canada Geese, 1 Pintail, 12 Green-winged Teal, 3 American Wigeon, 25 Ring-necked Ducks and 40-50 Blacks/Mallards;
Route 117 corn fields: 3 Pintail, 10 Blue-winged Teal, 1 Common Snipe and 15 Horned Larks. Hip boots required to get through second water hazard on both sides of 117. Corn field on north side of 117 soft. You sink into the mud up to your ankles then you have to pull your feet out of the boot sucking mud. ([graphic] report from Bart Kamp).

4/7/01 -- Blackstone Corridor MA& RI

We hit just a few spots in the Blackstone River watershed this morning.
FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON MA: COMMON LOON (1 breeding plumage; VERY unusual for this bird to be in this small partly marshy pond); Pied-billed Grebe (1); Mute Swan (3); Canada Goose (225); Green-winged Teal (49); COMMON TEAL (1m: see below); Wood Duck (49); American Wigeon (3); Mallard (143); A. Black Duck (97); N. Pintail (7); Blue-winged Teal (1f); Ring-necked Duck (41); Bufflehead (1m); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); American Coot (1); Killdeer (2); Eastern Phoebe (3); Tree Swallow (51); Eastern Bluebird (1m); Field Sparrow (3); Eastern Meadowlark (1);
A Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), was found in this pond last year by Fran McMenemy and seen later by us. Fran and Joan Zumpfe refound a Common Teal here less than two weeks ago, but Sheila and I could not refind the bird despite lots of searching. Last weekend, Fran and Joan found a HYBRID CommonXGreen-winged and wondered if they had possibly mis-ID'd the Common Teal this year, though both could not believe they would have overlooked the brilliant white vertical bar on the hybrid. This past Thursday, Fran refound the Common Teal, proving there is both a Common and hybrid teal in this pond, so birders beware. Sheila and I spent 2 hours here this AM and we did not see the Common Teal despite intense searching. Returning in midafternoon, we stopped by the north impoundment (behind Riverview Apts off Rt. 122), and had the Common Teal fly in and had great views. Common Teal is much rarer in Worcester County than it is on the coast.

Note: You may need some patience to find this bird as there is a large grassy marsh area in the center of the pond with no good overlook and many ducks hide out in there. Though you can get decent looks of the north end of the pond from behind the Riverview apartments or by walking down the power lines on Rt. 122 (see Places to Bird for directions), the southern end of the pond is very difficult to observe. You need to go behind some apartments on 122A, go down a hill, through a hole in a fence and then along the site of a burned down mill. Even then you are looking through a chain-link fence. BTW: Fisherville pond is great for migrating waterfowl spring and fall, and if water levels are low in late summer, the north impoundment is good for shorebirds.

WHITIN POND, UXBRIDGE MA: Pied-billed Grebe (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Tree Swallow (20+);
WEST HILL DAM A.C.E., UXBRIDGE (just a short walk): Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (6); Wood Duck (6); Mallard (8); A. Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (10: males in a frenzy of display); Common Merganser (4); Cooper's Hawk (1); Eastern Phoebe (4); Tree Swallow (8); N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (2: breeds here); Golden-crowned Kinglet (9); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); Eastern Bluebird (3); Hermit Thrush (2: 1 SINGING); PINE WARBLER (1: also in song); Purple Finch (1);
ALSO: had my first Wood Frog egg masses of the year, and (sadly) a freshly squished Spotted Salamander.
NE CUMBERLAND, RI: Canada Goose (32); Wood Duck (3); Ring-necked Duck (62); Bufflehead (6); Common Merganser (6); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Killdeer (14: one group); Wilson's Snipe (2); Eastern Phoebe (5); Lots of Spring Peepers calling in midday.
BLACKSTONE RIVER, BLACKSTONE MA: Mute Swan (pair: damn!) (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/6/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster

At 5:00 p.m. after the rain, there were 149 Snow Geese in the corn field at Neck Rd. in Lancaster. One of the geese was an adult Blue Goose morph.
At Bolton Flats I had 5 Blue-winged Teal (3 males), 30 Green-winged Teal, 27 Common Snipe, and a female Harrier.
At 6:15 pm., again at Neck Rd. there was no sign of the Snow Geese. At the Wachusett Reservoir, Gate # 26 at 6:30 p.m. there were: 15 Ring-necked Duck, 79 Common Goldeneye, 4 Bufflehead, 42 Common Merganser, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser, and 1 adult Iceland Gull. (report from Fran McMenemy).

4/6/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At 1:45 pm there were 12 Ring-necked Ducks, 14 Hooded Mergansers, 18 Common Mergansers, and 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. The RB Merg was actively displaying in a group of 5 Commons (2m, 3f). Shortly after I arrived the group of 6 took off together, the RBMerg mixed right in with the others and matched their flight well. The group headed north (toward Indian Lake?). (report from Rick Quimby).

4/6/01 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester

This morning for about half an hour, Sheila and I checked for the cuckoos with zip luck. We actually did BB Cuckoo calls, so if birds were in the area they would have responded, and we called in the area where the birds were reported and then all along the edge of the river. Also present in the short time at Notre Dame Cemetery were 12+ Wood Ducks, good numbers of Mallard, Blacks and Canada Geese. More importantly, a decent movement of passeriiformes, with (2) E. Pheobes, (1) Brown Creeper; (3+) Golden-crowned Kinglets; (12+) Ruby-crowned Kinglets; (20+) A. Tree Sparrow; (20+) White-throated Sparrow and (30+) Dark-eyed Junco.
Later a walk on Bancroft Tower Hill revealed mostly common birds, but these were in breeding mode. Also seen were Eastern Phoebe (pair at tower); Brown Creeper (1); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (5); White-throated Sparrow (8); Dark-eyed Junco (43). Sapsuckers are due to pass through any day now. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)

4/5/01 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

In the (McM/Zumpfe) post of 3/29/01 it was reported that a male Green-winged "Common " Teal was seen in Grafton on the South sided of Fisherville Pd. Then on 4/1/01 on the North side of Fisherville Pd. (McM/Zumpfe) reported seeing a Green-winged X Common Teal intergrade with both a horizontal stripe and vertical chest bar. Then the question was were there two birds involved or one cross duck showing both marks. Today (4/5/01) I observed the "Common" Teal on the South side of Fisherville Pd. and it is definitely not the bird that was seen 4/1/01. This bird had no sign of a vertical chest stripe and its head markings were consistent with the markings of a "Common" Teal. Green-winged Teal at this location have increased to 47 birds. There were still two pair of Pintails and an American Wigeon there. A female Harrier was also seen. (report from McMenemy).

4/5/01 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston

At the end of the day from the power lines at Wachusett Reservoir amongst the ducks and gulls were the following: 1 pair of Pintails, 14 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 male Lesser Scaup, 85 Common Goldeneyes, 6 Buffleheads, 12 Hooded Mergansers, 130 Common Mergansers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 1 adult Iceland Gull.
Hawk watching at Barre falls there were 22 Turkey Vultures, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks and 3 American Kestrels. Seen daily since the end of February along the eastern shores of the Holden reservoirs has been a herd of a least 15 deer. (report from Bart Kamp).

4/5/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon there were 11 Hooded Hergansers, 21 Common Mergansers, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (m), 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk (migrating), 1 Belted Kingfisher, and 1 Tree Swallow, among the 25 species observed. (report from Rick Quimby).

4/5/01 -- Midstate Trail, Rutland

Today on a walk on and off the Midstate trail in Rutland: A Rufous-Sided Towhee working over a bare patch of ground in the still deep snow covered area, and I saw an Eastern Phoebe fly off his perch and snag an insect. (report from Brian Mulhearn)>

4/4/01 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

On a walk through Hadwen Park today I observed these highlights: American Robin[41];Red-Tailed Hawk[2];Great Blue Heron[4];Green-Winged Teal[pair];Song Sparrow[8];Red-Winged Blackbird[65];Common Grackle[6];Pine Warbler[2];Dark-Eyed Junco[6].
In the thicket between the railroad trestle and the northwest corner of Notre Dame Cemetary were 2 possible BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, 1 was calling. [Ed. note: this is a very early date for this species, and further verification is needed -- details provided so far: "I saw the white spots on the underside of the tail and a cinnamon color above on his upper body. One flew onto a branch about 25 feet up and started making his call over and over for about 3 minutes he then flew away. He had a 2 tone look to his body,light underneath and dark above. On the branch where he was I unfortunately had to look into the sun but his beak looked black. He kept repeating the same call over and over which is described in Peterson's guide as cucucu, cucucu, cucucu.etc."] (report from Brian Mulhearn).

4/3/01 -- Quabaoug River, West Brookfield

A late afternoon of kayaking the Quabaoug from route 19 to route 148 turned up American Back Duck(10), Mallard(40), Green-winged Teal(20), Wood Duck(30), Ring-necked Duck(75), Hooded Merganser(2), Northern Harrier(2), Tree Swallow(250+) and Rusty Blackbird(15).
I also had an American Kestrel in New Braintree and a Mourning Cloak in Hardwick. (report from Chris Buelow)

-----------------Barry Van Dusen interview

On Sunday, April 15th at 5 PM, WICN (90.5 FM) will broadcast my interview with natural history artist Barry W. Van Dusen. His work can be seen in THE BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS, on several Bird Observer covers, and in many, many other places. He talks about his evolution as an artist, the challenge of painting birds and his experiences with the Artists For Nature group in India, Ireland, and Spain. In India, he actually got to draw tigers from atop an elephant!
A show of Barry's work is currently on exhibit at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden on 11 French Drive, Boylston MA (508 869 6111). It's called: INSPIRED BY NATURE and will up till April 30th. BTW: Tower Hill is not a bad place at all to bird during the migration period both for landbirds and hawks. You are right next to Wachuset Reservoir and a stone's throw from Bolton Flats. (submitted by Mark Lynch).

4/3/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Noontime birds included 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 9 Hooded Mergansers, 54 Common Mergansers, and 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (m). (report from Rick Quimby).

4/2/01 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard

I stopped here on my way to work this morning 7:00 AM and saw the following highlights: Canada Geese 5; Wood Duck 2; American Robins 3; Song Sparrows 2; Northern Cardinal 1; Red-winged Blackbirds 6; Eastern Meadowlark 1; Common Grackles 90; Brown-headed Cowbirds 2. (report from Peter Morlock).

4/2/01 -- Winimusett WMA, New Braintree

Seen roadside at Winimusett were Eastern Meadowlark(6), Killdeer(6) and Canada Goose(110). (report from Chris Buelow)

4/2/01 -- Sudbury Reservoir (South), Southboro

This afternoon from 4:15-4:30 I observed: Great Blue Heron 2 (1 on nest and 1 just above it in this small rookery), Canada Geese 9, Mallard 6, Ring-necked Duck 2, Common Goldeneye 2, Bufflehead 1, Common Mergansers 13, Ring-billed Gull 7, and Herring Gull 11. Except for the Mergansers these are the first birds to put in here this Spring that I've seen. (report from Ann Boover).

4/1/01 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster

The Forbush Bird Club Trip to Bolton Flats and Vicinity was held from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Bolton Flats was too snow and ice-covered to attempt walking into. We checked the area across the street from the parking lot, where we found Wood Duck, along with common species. We proceeded to Neck Road in Lancaster where we had more interesting sightings of: Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, Hooded Merganser, Eastern Phoebe, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow. We headed over to Coachlace Pond in Clinton and found Ring-necked Duck. At Route 140 in West Boylston near the bridge across from the stone church there were Bufflehead. The temperature stayed at 32 under a calm but overcast sky. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

4/1/01 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton

It seems that possibly the Green-winged Teal that was called a Common Teal may have played a joke on Fran McMenemy and me. We find it hard to believe that the bird we saw last Thursday is the same one we saw at Fisherville today (April Fool's Day!). Today's bird is a Hybrid, as Mark Lynch reported, and may possibly be the offspring of the Common Teal that has been seen here in recent past years. This bird has both the vertical and horizontal white lines. Other than the usual sightings of waterfowl, we heard Great Horned Owl calling and had 11 Northern Pintail (5D, 6F) at Fisherville as well as 30 Wild Turkeys at Tufts University which include 3 Toms strutting their stuff. Many Common Mergansers were in every pond we checked and Common Goldeneye numbers are increasing. Still no Greater or Lesser Scaup or Tufted Duck as of 4/1/1.
Also, after making a brief stop at Hodges Village (Oxford) on my way home last night where I saw a male Eastern Bluebird, I checked Marsh Road just beyond the Pierpont Mass Audubon Sanctuary in Dudley and saw 14 hen Wild Turkeys with a Tom on a hillside. While going down Schofield Ave to check whether the pond had started to unfreeze ( it hadn't), I finally heard my first, for 2001, Eastern Phoebe calling. I had seen one briefly in Lancaster on Fran's FBC trip in the morning. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

4/1/01 -- Blackstone Corridor MA&RI

We hit only a few spots in the Blackstone Corridor today. Generally the further south you went from the city of Worcester, the more open water and less snow. North Worcester County is still pretty wintry.
GRAFTON, MA: FARM FIELD ON RT. 122: Mallard (54); A. Black Duck (68); Common Merganser (4); Killdeer (1); AMERICAN PIPIT (1); Filed Sparrow (1 singing)
GRAFTON, MA:FISHERVILE POND: Double-crested Cormorant (1 imm); Great Blue Heron (2); Mute Swan (3: a recent nest was washed away); Canada Goose (607); Wood Duck (37); Green-winged Teal (8); Mallard (136); A. Black Duck (32); N. Pintail (2); Ring-necked Duck (46); Common Merganser (13); Turkey Vulture (1); OSPREY (1. A pair built a dummy nest on some utility poles here last year); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); N. Flicker (3 calling); Eastern Phoebe (2); Tree Swallow (1); FISH CROW (1); Carolina Wren (2); YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1); A. Tree Sparrow (9); FIELD SPARROW (2 singing); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (42);
Nota Bene: we tried for almost two hours to find the COMMON TEAL that Joan Zumpfe and Fran McMeney had on Thursday. This was the same pond where another Common Teal was found last year. Much later in the afternoon, we bumped into both of them and they said that this morning they had a HYBRID CommonXGreen-winged here, and were wondering if that was the bird they had on Thursday, though both could not believe they would have missed the white bar at the breast. Fisherville has a large vegetated/swampy area in the center that offers no good overlooks, and numerous waterfowl hide out in that area. It is possible that both a Common and a hybrid are in there somewhere.
One thing occured while we were monitoring Fisherville Pond. We had hiked down under the power lines from Rt. 122, and were standing on the small bluff that overlooks the north end of the pond. As we were counting ducks, we kept hearing a woodcock "peent".....but from directly high ABOVE us. This call was repeated and repeated. As I scanned in vain (hey, it COULD be ventriloqual), I realized that a starling perched on the power lines high above us was doing the peenting. Now whether this was just yet another in a long line of weird starling vocalizations OR a genuine case of mimicry, I don't know....but it was PERFECT. BTW: we were in a good spot to hear displaying woodcock. This was the most unusual case of mimicry in MA I have heard since we saw a Mocker imitate a Virginia Rail at Bolton Flats. So much for ticking "heard only" birds.......
INDIA POINT, PROVIDENCE RI: Common Loon (1); Great Cormorant (5 all imm); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (12); American Wigeon (17); EUROPEAN WIGEON (1m: seen from India Point over on Bold Point Park. This was a great find for us for the corridor. We had seen Euro Wigeons a bit south of the corridor, in Providence Harbor, Warwick. We had hoped that "maybe" it would wind up in this tiny cul-de-sac, and it did...or at least another did. We drove over to Bold Point and refound the bird and got great looks.); Mallard (8); A. Black Duck (3); Greater Scaup (8); Bufflehead (4); Red-breasted Merganser (27); Common Merganser (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1).
SEEKONK RIIVER, PROVIDENCE RI: boats and sculls were out, so waterfowl was scattered. Double-crested Cormorant (2ad); Great Cormorant (11ad, including one far up river in Pawtucket and not in the Seekonk anymore); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (13); A. Wigeon (2); Mallard (51); A. Black Duck (194); Buffelhead (345); C. Goldeneye (1f); Common Merganser (4); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Tree Swallow (4); Very few birds at Swan Point Cemetery: too cold and damp.
JAMES V. TURNER RESERVOIR, EAST PROVIDENCE/SEEKONK MA: almost completely open. Great Cormorant (3); Mute Swan (12); Canada Goose (31); Mallard (46); Ring-necked Duck (16); Bufflehead (1); Common Merganser (73); Ruddy Duck (16); American Coot (33); Carolina Wren (2)
FORT NATURE RESERVE, N. SMITHFIELD RI: This small Rhode Island Audubon property is tucked off the main drag. It consists of some nice trails through wet, mixed woodlands with several small ponds (frozen today). Lots of conifers, several vernal pools. The trails were VERY wet today, and several inches of snow lay in low, shady areas. We only hiked the first loop and found mostly typical birds, but the area looks great for species like Barred Owl. Besides chickadees and titmice, we had Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); Brown Creeper (3: 1 in full song); Golden-crowned Kinglet (12); Fox Sparrow (4); White-throated Sparrow (24); Dark-eyed Junco (14); Purple Finch (1). Nice area.
PRATT POND, N. SMITHFIELD (right on Rt. 146): Mute Swan (pair w/nest)
LACKEY POND/MUMFORD RIVER, rt. 146 UXBRIDGE MA: Wood Duck (10); Ring-necked Duck (11); Bufflehead (1); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (40); Turkey Vulture (2); Tree Swallow (30); A kayaker came by and flushed all the ducks.
MEADOW POND, NORTHBRIDGE MA (still mostly frozen) Canada Goose (164); Mallard (5); Ring-necked Duck (4); Common Merganser (88)
Back in Worcester, we looked for the drake Shoveler that has been on Flint Pond seen from the tiny marshy overlook on S. Quinsigamond Ave, with no luck. We did have a pair of Mute Swans, (the pen on the nest and the cob emphatically chased some nearby Canada Geese and a pair of Black Ducks); Wood Duck (8: including some checking out nesting boxes); Mallard (34); Hooded Merganser (6). We searched the downtown area of the city for the Peregrine with no luck, but did have (2) Turkey Vultures and a male Kestrel perched on a lamp next to the chinese restaurant we went to. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

4/1/01 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro

I observed 34 species of birds at various locations within in the Westboro WMA. Of note were: Great Blue Heron 1, Canada Geese 360, Wood Duck 3, Northern Harrier 1 male, Red-tailed Hawk 4, American Kestrel 1, Ring-necked Pheasant 1, Killdeer 11, Eastern Screech Owl 1 (calling), Great Horned Owl 1 (calling), American Tree Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbirds 750+, Common Grackles 1200+.
The whiteness of the male Northern Harrier was a spectacular sight set against the stark trees of a damp dark spring day. I watched a Red-winged Blackbird repeatedly attack the backside of a fleeing Red-tailed Hawk. I stopped counting the blackbirds in the trees and cornfields below Westboro State Hospital between Little Chauncey and Lake Chauncey. I've never seen the fields here so flooded, I've never seen or heard so many Grackles and Red-wings. (report from Ann Boover).

4/1/01 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester

This morning on the waterway between Hadwen Park and Notre Dame Cemetary as daylight arrived, over 3000 Red Winged Blackbirds and Grackles were in the cattails behind the basketball court. Within a half hour they had all departed flying off to the northwest. Also 2 pair Ring Necked Ducks, 12 American Black Ducks, 60 Mallards, 36 Canadian Geese, 1 Domestic Greylag still here, 2 Great Blue Herons, and 15 Wood Ducks (12 m, 3 f).
At New Swedish Cemetary: 25 Common Mergansers, 4 Great Blue Herons, 2 Killdeer, and 15 Robins. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

For previous sightings, see March 2001 Archives or Archive Index